This is the recipe for a popular Gujarati snack shared by my dear friend Raj's mom. Healthy and delicious, Patra can be made ahead of serving time and simply heated for 20-30 seconds in the microwave and tempered once your guests arrive.

Homemade vinaigrette is fresh, easy and the flavour can be adjusted as per your need. Just remember the magic formula - 3 parts oil and 1 part vinegar. This vinaigrette does not require much seasoning except salt and black pepper. 

A very easy recipe to work with. Use a fork or preferably a food processor to cut the butter into the flour to quicken the process. Just remember not to over-knead the dough since too much handling will toughen the pie crust. So bring the dough together, cling film it and refrigerate to get that perfectly flaky crust. This dough can be kept frozen for months and comes in real handy for a variety of quick appetizers. Measurements here yield a 9" double crust.

This simple and delicious recipe can be made yummier by doubling up the quantity of cooking oil and using no water at all. Cover and cook the masala mixture to accentuate the flavours of the capsicum / bell peppers. The recipe calls for only 1 green and red bell pepper (half of each), but the quantity can be increased to a total of 2 and you can add yellow peppers too. 

Like everyone else, I'd make mango juice first thing in the morning and had to ensure it would be consumed by evening. That's because the milk had the potential of curdling and ruining the juice. Then it struck me - why not replace milk with yoghurt? It worked! The yoghurt adds body to the juice, makes it last longer and tastes fantastic. Of course, the type of mango you use is crucial to the final flavour of the juice.

Curd cheese is really simple to prepare and has many culinary uses. It is a good substitute for cream cheese in cheesecakes and dips. When mixed with cream and a little vinegar, it can be a substitute for sour cream too.

This recipe is by Mitra Iyengar, a Bengali who moved to Hyderabad after getting married and has, over the years, picked up a distinct Hyderabadi style of cooking. Mitra is an English teacher, a lovely cook, has a great sense of humour and is blessed with a big foodie family! 

Satiate your fried potato craving minus the calories! This makes for a great snack, appetizer or even a side dish. This recipe is very versatile - try it with sweet potatoes too. Adjust the seasoning as you please.

Oats muffins are a wholesome breakfast choice or snack. Including oats in your diet is also a great way to lose weight. This recipe derives its flavours from the seasoning and herbs which can be adjusted as per your taste. I've used wheat flour to give a certain denseness to the muffins but you can use all-purpose flour too if you like your muffins really soft.

Chillas are savoury Indian pancakes. They can be eaten for breakfast or as a snack. You can serve them plain, add fillings of your choice, sandwich them between slices of bread or roll into a chapatti. Serve with mint chutney or tomato ketchup.