Looking for some novel ideas for yummy bites this Christmas? Try these simple to make bite sized variation of old fashioned biscuits. What’s good about this recipe is that it is perfect for serving at parties and works as a great appetizer with almost every beverage as well. Here is how to go about it…

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1/4 cup ground cooked lower-sodium ham

3 tablespoon low-fat milk

Makes approximately 30 biscuits

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Method

Preheat the oven to 450°F. In a medium-size bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, dry mustard, baking soda, and onion powder until well mixed. Using a wooded spoon, stir in the sour cream, ham, and milk; mix just until a soft dough forms.

Now, knead for 30 seconds then pat into a 7-inch circle. Using a well-floured 1-inch round cutter, cut this into biscuits then reroll and cut scraps. Place biscuits 1 inch apart from each other on a lightly greased baking sheet. Follow it with brushing the top of the biscuits with additional milk if you like. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden. Your mini ham biscuits are ready to serve.

Coffee addicts will admit, their day cannot begin without a cup of coffee, nor can any work progress fruitfully. But drinking the same old concoction day in day out can bore your taste buds. So here is a coffee recipe with a twist for coffee addicts:

SPICED COFFEE

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 cups of ready coffee

3 tbsp sugar or as per taste

8 cloves, whole

Cinnamon sticks, about 4-5 depending on length

2 cups of water

Whipped cream (optional) or Vanilla ice cream

Ground cinnamon

One vanilla bean

Method

Prepare 2 cups black coffee. Mix this with 3 tbsp of sugar, cloves, stick cinnamon, vanilla bean and water on the flame. Cover it and bring to a boil. Remove this from the flame and allow it to stand for about 5 minutes. Now strain the mixture.

Pour this into cups and top each of them off with a spoonful of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream as desired. Now sprinkle some cinnamon on top of it. Enjoy the merging yet distinct flavours.

Want something sweet to quench your desire for sweets but don’t want to put on those extra kilos? Try this very pleasant for the taste buds- fruit fusion – healthy, low on calories and rather filling.

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh grapes, chopped into halves

1 cup fresh Strawberries sliced into four

1 cup fresh peaches finely chopped

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 cup low-fat yogurt

Directions:

Mix grapes, strawberries, and peaches. Mix gently. Sprinkle brown sugar over fruit. Top with yogurt. Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours. Gently stir fruit to mix it and serve in pudding/ice cream bowls.

Makes 3 Servings

Maintaining a healthy diet is important for everyone. Even those who are watching their weight must ensure that they are getting their share of nutrients for the required energy and stamina levels and of course for maintaining their immunity. Keeping a diet that meets the strict nutritional requirements and yet does not over shoot on calories is a critical part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Here is a recipe that could help you cut down on calorie intake during dinner while providing you with all the required nutrients and leaving you feeling full…

Chicken-Rice Soup

Ingredients:

250 gms small chicken pieces

½ cup salad leaves chopped

½ cup rice, uncooked

1 small onion cut into four

1 cup carrots, diced

½ cup capsicum diced

Bay Leaf (Tej Patta in Hindi)

1 pinch pepper

Water for boiling

Directions:

Simmer the chicken in the water with the salad leaves, onion, 2 pinches salt and tej patta for one hour over low heat. Drain the chicken broth and retain it in a separate container. Place the chicken pieces in a clean plate and bone the chicken. Chop it into small pieces. Combine the broth, chicken, rice, capsicum and carrots in a saucepan and continue cooking for 30 to 40 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Makes 3 Servings

Most chilli potato, tangy potato recipes will tell you to fry the potato wedges first. After all, that’s how it is done traditionally. But with health and diet control becoming so important, it is time to twist the traditions to suit our health. Here is a twisted tangy potato recipe that includes not even a single drop of oil. This is how it’s done:

Ingredients

3 potatoes- boiled

Coriander- finely chopped

Black olives for garnishing- sliced

Ingredients for the sauce

Ground black pepper - 1/2 tsp

Salt - to taste

Seedless tamarind – 2-3 medium sized pieces

water – 2 spoons

Ketchup - 1 tbsp

Soy Sauce - 3 tbsp

Sugar - 2 tsp

Red Chilli sauce/Chilli paste - 1 tbsp

Ginger grated - 1/4 inch piece

Garlic grated - 4 cloves

Finely chopped Onion – half

Cashews- about 10 pieces

Juice of 1 lemon

Method

Mix all the ingredients in a mixer and make a consistent paste. Now take boiled potatoes and cut them into medium sized wedges. Place these wedges in a non-oiled baking bowl and then pour the ready sauce over it. With a fork, mix the potatoes well and microwave it at normal for 6-8 minutes. Garnish with chopped coriander and olives. Your healthy tangy entrée is ready.