Make way for  Salads since summer is here! Versatile, scrumptious and healthy Salads make a refreshing meal in itself.  And making a good salad needs a little bit of knowledge about which oil to use and what kinds of Vinegars would go well. The most common ratio for a perfect salad is one part vinegar to three parts oil, with spices of personal taste.  A good dressing should be mild and not overpowering and should be able to bring out the best of flavours from the vegetables and fruits in it.

Homemade salad dressing add extra zing to the salad, and its quite economical and healthy too, as you can adjust the fats in the dressing according to your taste.

Dips and spreads add flavors to the food and makes an excellent appetizers when combined with crackers, bread sticks, veggies, and fruits. And are a great addition to the pantry when one is hard pressed for time and needs a quick breakfast.

Vegetable fried rice with fresh yogurt Raita is what I count upon for a quick meal when unexpected guests arrive at home. There are countless ways this humble recipe can be prepared using various spice mixes and veggies to go in it. But my favorite is this simple recipe of fried rice cooked using Basmati rice, seasonal veggies and a few spices. For my mega party too, I chose the same recipe and it came out very flavorful and delicious. I served this vegetable rice with fresh Yogurt Raita.