Savory Cornmeal Pancakes

Reminder: Please remember to send in your Kid friendly dishes to Kid's Delight - What Kids love...for Summer! ENDS July 15th! 

Well BM # 16 is coming to the end today! I am glad I was a part of it and am really glad that I could do both weeks. I hope all you had as much fun I had cooking up and dishing it out to you guys! 
I will be ever grateful to Srivalli for having so much patience and taking care of all simple problems that come along the way and just making such a  huge BM family! I am even very glad to have made new friends and to have come across new and wonderful blogs each time I do the marathon!
So guys if you are looking for something really fun to do, check out Srivalli announcement for the next edition and join in the fun!


Like I mentioned I might be a little scarce from the blogging area as my In-Laws are coming over and also summer vacation will be starting soon here, so it will be fun time with the kids. But I surely will be looking forward to posting some in between...cos I will be lost if I don't do it! :)


Anyways coming back to today's post, here is an easy savory pancake recipe which you can mix up in few minutes and have a hot hot pancakes or more like utthapams in a few minutes. All you need to have in your pantry is cornmeal. Did you even know the you can make wonderful savory pancakes with cornmeal! Here is the recipe!


Ingredients:

1 cup Corn meal
1/2 cup rice flour
1/4 cup yogurt
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 onion, chopped tiny
2 green chilies, chopped tiny
1 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped
salt to taste
1/4 tsp jeera, cumin seeds
enough water to make into batter
oil to fry on tava like a pancakes

Method:

Mix all the ingredients and whisk together so that no lumps are formed into a dosa / pancake batter consistency.

Heat the tava or a pan. Put laddle full into the pan, do not spread it.
Add a few drops of oil. Flip over when its brown on one side. Let it brown on other side too.
Remove and serve.
Serve hot with any pickle or chutney.
Enjoy!!!

Hop over to the other marathoner's kitchens to see whats cooking!

Read More

Instant Oats Gunta Ponganaalu / Paniyarams

Reminder: Please remember to send in your Kid friendly dishes to Kid's Delight - What Kids love...for Summer! ENDS July 15th! 

As the long weekend is here, I got some time to relax and enjoy at my mom's house. With my sis also coming over, the kids are enjoying with their pinni and babai! So now I get some time to really breathe, after a hectic last week. Having different kind of breakfasts every morning and then enjoying Mom's cooking too!
Then again comes Monday...well this time its going to be Tuesday and time to fall back into routine of everyday chores and being a driver for the kids. Soon my In-laws will be here and also school vacation is going to start in less than 3 weeks, everything is going to go out of schedule! Late mornings to late bedtimes too! Well lets see what will happen then!

One of the easy and fun breakfast are gunta ponganaalu. Its probably because of the shape and also just like dosas or idlis, they are very easy to make and also very versatile with the flavors you put into it.

All you need is an aebelskiver pan or a gunta ponganaalu pan which is easy available in an Indian grocery store here in US. These are also called appam and a sweet version can also be made. 

But for the breakfast, here is a savory one using instant oats as the key ingredient, which gives lots or fiber and is also light as using this pan, gives us a chance to use very less oil, making it also guilt free.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup rice flour
1/2 tsp ENO fruit salt
salt to taste
1/4 tsp jeera
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
1/2 tbsp chopped curry leaves
1/2 onion chopped
1 green chilli, chopped
enough water to make into batter

Method:

Mix all the ingredients together with a whisk so that no lumps are formed.
Heat the gunta ponganaalu pan or the paniyaram pan.
Put a drop of oil in each of the holes.
Pour the batter to fill the holes.
Let it cook for 2 minutes, until it browns the bottom side.
Slowly flip over and let it brown on the other side too.
Serve hot with chutney or even sambar.
Enjoy!!!

Hop over to the other marathoner's kitchens to see whats cooking!

Read More

Chicken sausage fry - Indian Ishstyle

Reminder: Please remember to send in your Kid friendly dishes to Kid's Delight - What Kids love...for Summer! ENDS July 15th!


This dish might be a new one many of you guys...as not many might know that we do get chicken sausage and that too without any casings (which is usually pork casing).


Not many stores carry this tho! We have to look around to see where this is available. I get mine from Trader Joe's. Not all sausages in Trader Joe's are like that tho. So if you don't eat pork, carefully read the package to see if the sausage you are taking is 100% chicken with no casings.


This recipe is actually from my Mom. She used to make this as a snack for us after coming from school. This slowly became our breakfast when we started cooking for ourselves. This being, kinda spicy and something which has protein, made for a good heavy morning breakfast which will kept us full til lunch time. 
The addition of Maggi hot and spicy sauce gives it a yummy and spicy taste to it, but the addition of regular ketchup balances it out! If you want it more spicy, add some chili powder. But you can surely customize it to how ever you like it!

For 1 serving

Ingredients:

1 chicken sausage
1/2 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 tbsp maggi hot and spicy ketchup
1 tbsp regular ketchup
1/2 tsp oil
Chopped coriander leaves for garnish

1 Hot dog bun or sandwich bread


Method:

Cut the sausage into small pieces.
Heat oil in a pan. Add the garlic and onion and saute till translucent.
Add the sausage and saute till they turn brown.
Add both the ketchups and mix well.
If you leave it long, the ketchup will dry up, so remove immediately! Garnish with coriander leaves.
Heat the bun or toast it.
Serve the sausage spread on the bun, hot.
Enjoy!!!

Hop over to the other marathoner's kitchens to see whats cooking!

Read More

Quinoa and mixed vegetable Upma

Reminder: Please remember to send in your Kid friendly dishes to Kid's Delight - What Kids love...for Summer! ENDS July 15th! 


Like I said before on my quinoa blogs..I fell in love with this grain, because of its closeness in taste to rice. Believe me it tastes so much like rice that you can eat it like rice everyday. Cooking it is not difficult and it is as versatile as rice, so we can make all the dishes we make with rice, with quinoa.
Its high is fiber and protein and very good for you!


Here is a simple preparation with all veggies to make a upma just like we do with ravva or semolina. This is very quick to make and if you use frozen cut veggies, it will be even ore simple. You get all the healthiness of veggies as well as quinoa.

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa
1 water (+ 1/4 cup if needed)


1/4 tsp chana dal
1/4 tsp urad dal
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp jeera
2 dry red chilies
1 tbsp cashews


1/2 onion
1/2 tsp ginger
3 green chilis
1/2 tomato
1 cup of mixed veggies like carrots, beans, corn, peas


1 tsp oil
coriander leaves for garnish

Method:

Wash Quinoa and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pot.
Add chana dal, urad dal, mustard seeds and jeera. When they splutter, cashews, red chilies and curry leaves. Saute for a minute.
Add onions, green chilies and ginger. Saute till onions turn color.
Add tomato and let it cook down completely. Add the veggies and cook for 2 minutes.
Add water and let it come to a boil.
Lower the heat and add the quinoa. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes.
Keep looking to see if the water has totally evaporated. If it did add more water.
You will know it is fully cooked, when tails come out and quinoa becomes translucent.
Fluff with a fork.
Serve hot with chutney, pachadi or even podi!
Enjoy!!!

Hop over to the other marathoner's kitchens to see whats cooking!

Read More

Huevos Rancheros with an Indian twist

Reminder: Please remember to send in your Kid friendly dishes to Kid's Delight - What Kids love...for Summer! ENDS July 15th! 

Huevos Rancheros is a Mexican dish which is served as breakfast. Its mostly served on a warm tortilla which is like a roti, topped with sauteed onions and tomatoes, which is then again topped with eggs.

When I first time had it, topped with spicy sauce, it was just wonderful. Once a few months ago I saw clicks of a Naan pizza topped with paneer tikka...this led to me making this, which is so much easier and fun to eat in the mornings, more like a Sunday brunch item. I just made the curry as spicy like we Indians like it, with onions and tomatoes.

The eggs I put on it a little on the runny side, if you like your eggs to be well done, just cook it to well done and then top it on the Naan.
I used Trader Joe's Naan as my base, so that this thing will be ready in very less time. This is the easiest it can get, but if you want to try with freshly made naan , go ahead.
You can also make it vegetarian by topping it with veggies instead of eggs, or go a step further and top it with chicken or mutton! I am sure everything will come out tasty!

Ingredients:

1 naan
2 eggs
1 small onion chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 tsp grated ginger
1 green chili
salt to taste
1/4 tsp chilli powder
pinch of turmeric
1/4 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp oil
Chopped coriander leaves for garnish
Chopped green onions for garnish

Method:

In a pan, heat the oil and add the onions, green chillies.
When the onions are translucent, add the ginger and tomato, and cook till the tomato is soft.
Add the salt, chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder and cumin powder. Mix well till combined.

At this time, heat the naan according to package instructions (which may need pre-heating the oven, which you should do before cooking everything, you can put in the naan later)

In a different pan, break open the eggs and fry till they are done. You can flip them and cook or leave them sunny side up. You can also fully cook them or leave them a little runny.

When the Naan heats up, top it with the tomato mixture and then the eggs. Garnish with cilantro leaves and green onions.

Serve hot. This can be eaten at breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.

Enjoy!!!

Hop over to the other marathoner's kitchens to see whats cooking!

Read More

Lemon Sevai / Lemony Rice Noodles

Reminder: Please remember to send in your Kid friendly dishes to Kid's Delight - What Kids love...for Summer! ENDS July 15th! 

I have come to know Rice noodles only very recently, maybe 2-3 years ago. The only sevai I knew was vermicelli, which are also known as wheat noodles, Bambino.

But I think I am liking Rice noodles much better, tho I do still like my Bambino! Well lets leave that at that!
Rice noodles or wheat noodles, both taste very good to me! I like them both with lots of veggies made like upma. But I do like the rice sevai made as pulihora too. Here today I am sharing with you Lemon Sevai or Lemony rice noodles, which is nothing but rice noodles made as lemon pulihora.

Since rice noodles cook very quick, this can be made very fast. This can be eaten as breakfast or even as a snack or tiffin, no waiting around for rice to cook! I used to even make this for my hubby lunch box, since it is quick to cook in the morning.


Ingredients:

1 cup rice noodles

1 tbsp peanuts
1 tbsp cashew nuts
1/2 tsp chana dal
1/4 tsp urad dal
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp jeera, cumin seeds
few curry leaves
1 tbsp oil
salt to taste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 cup lemon juice (to taste)

Method:

Cook the rice noodles according to package OR Boil water in a pot, Add salt. Add the noodles and cover for only 3-4 minutes. Drain and keep aside.

Add oil of a kadai and heat it up.
Add the peanuts and saute for about 30 seconds.
Add the cashew nuts, chana dal, urad dal, mustard seeds and jeera.
Add the curry leaves when cashews start to turn brown and mustard starts to splutter.
Add the turmeric powder.
Add the drained rice noodles and saute along with some salt. (remember you added some salt before)
Add the lemon juice, little by little, so that it doesn't become too sour.
At this point taste to see if you have to add more salt or lemon juice.
Serve hot with chutney or pickle.
Enjoy!!!

Hop over to the other marathoner's kitchens to see whats cooking!

Read More

Simple Omelet Sandwich ~ Second week of BM #16

Reminder: Please remember to send in your Kid friendly dishes to Kid's Delight - What Kids love...for Summer! ENDS July 15th!

Can't believe second week of the BM has started so soon. 7 days have gone by so fast and now for the first time I am going to do the second week of the marathon too! Wow I cant believe my self that I am going to do it continuously!  I am happy too and sad too!
As after this again I would have slow down in blogging for a few months as my In-Laws will be here and I might to be able to post as much. I am going to try to post from time to time, because this will be my only let out and I don't want to loose touch with you guys!

Anyways coming back to my post for the 1st day of Blogging Marathon #16, as usual, its a very simple dish! As I was thinking which one to post first, I thought what better than to post with something which I eat 70% of the days. Well this will be different when my In-Laws will be here as there will be more different kinds of  Upmas, Idlis and Dosas as breakfast on the menu, which I totally love, but will still miss eating my cereals and Omelet sandwich as breakfast every morning.

I believe in having some kind of protein in the morning (though it doesn't always happen so) and this I think has a perfect balance of everything.
So coming to the Omelet, it can be made many different ways, like an Indian Spicy Omelet, omelet with meat, veggies or cheese or both or just as simple as fried eggs, sprinkled with salt and pepper.

My everyday sandwich has a simply fried egg topped with tomatoes and green bell peppers. I like to eat it this way with tomato and bell pepper, but if you prefer any different veggies as topping, go ahead and try it with that.

Ingredients:

To make one Sandwich

2 slices bread
few drops of oil
1 egg
few slices tomato and green bell pepper
salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Toast the slices of bread.
Heat oil in a skillet.
Break open the egg in the skillet and fry till it browns on one side and then flip over.
Brown then other side too. Salt and pepper to taste.
Top one slice of bread with the fried egg or omelet.
Top the omelet with sliced tomatoes and green bell pepper.
Close with the other slice of bread.
Serve hot with your daily morning coffee or iced coffee in my case and fruit on the side.
Enjoy!!!

Hop over to the other marathoner's kitchens to see whats cooking!

Read More

Warm Spiced Apples with nutty granola topping with ice cream aka Instant Apple crisp

Just a quick reminder, please do send in your Kid friendly dishes to Kid's Delight - What Kids love...for Summer! ENDS July 15th! 

For the 7th and final day to Group 1 of  BM #16 here is a perfect summer and fall dessert!
I tend to divert towards warm desserts even in summer. Warm desserts with cold ice creams are just to tempting and are nothing but heavenly to enjoy on warm or cool summer nights! My older son has taken after me and along with me enjoys these warm desserts.

So what can we put under these warm desserts? Warm brownies, warm chocolate cake, warm cookies all served with cold vanilla ice creams come under my favorite list. If any restaurant has this on their menu, we tend to order it along with 4 spoons. Since one person wont be able to finish the big piece of dessert which the restaurants serves, we all share it, trying to see who gobbles it up first!

But I am even partial to our warm Indian desserts and can't stop from mentioning warm jalebis with rabri, hot gulab jamuns with ice cream and many many more.

The best thing is when preparing the same at home, we are able to control the portion size and are able to make it in a healthier way, than we get at a restaurant.

Here is an easy and simple warm dessert which can be put together in under 1 hour if done by the stove top way. Warm cinnamony apples, topped with crunchy nutty granola on the side of ice cream. Aren't we having the best of both worlds?? Now I do consider this dessert healthy mind you! Apples, come on! whole fruit!!

I used brown sugar to sweetened the apples up, but you surely can try with a sweetener or eliminating it totally!

Ingredients:

4 good firm apples (baking apples or any apples if good, I used Galas)
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder

To serve: 1 tbsp crunchy granola with nuts (home made or store bought)
               1 scoop vanilla ice cream


Method:

Wash and peel the apples. Core and slice them thin.
You can either stew the apples on stove top or in the oven.
Mix the apple slices with the lemon juice, brown sugar and cinnamon powder

For Stove top: In a sauce pan, cover and cook until the apples are tender and cooked, stirring from time to time.
For Oven: Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Put apples in a oven proof dish, cover with a tin foil and cook until tender or cooked.

When cooked, remove from heat and cool to warm.
Serve topped with crunchy granola and cold ice cream on the side.
Enjoy!!!

Sending this to Srivalli's Kid's Delight event here on my blog - What Kids love....for Summer

Check out what the other marathoners are cooking up in their kitchens here. 

Read More

Minty Mint Lemonade

Just a quick reminder, please do send in your Kid friendly dishes to Kid's Delight - What Kids love...for Summer! ENDS July 15th! 

For today, I have a easy breezy recipe which all kids love! My kids love it a lot and i enjoy it with them too. I am sure no kid or adult is going to say no to this refreshing drink! It can be made to how you like it. How sweet or how sour you like it! How minty or how lemony you like it! How cold or how warm you like! Well my kids think it tastes the best with few cubes of ice and a sprig of mint to smell and taste the flavor in the lemonade. Yes its Minty Mint Lemonade...cool cool and cold cold Minty Lemonade! A very refreshing summer drink which is sure to cool everyone down in this summer heat!

I like to crush the mint leaves in the juice to get the flavor out of the leaves into the drink and strain it to serve for the kids. If you don't mind eating the leaves along with the drink, you can leave them in the drink.


Makes about 4 cups
Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar (more or less, depending on taste)
3 cups of water
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (more or less)
a bunch of mint leaves, about a 1/4 cup

Method:

Add sugar into 1 cup of water and bring it to a slow boil. Make sure all the sugar is dissolved. Let this cool down.
Add the rest of water and lemon juice together with the sugar syrup.
(Add the sugar syrup and lemon juice, little by little, and taste to see if you are not making it too sweet or sour for your taste)

Add the mint leaves and crush them with the back of a wooden spoon.
Strainer the mint leaves and chill till serving time.
Serve over ice or just like that with a slice of lemon and a leaf of mint.
Enjoy!!!

Sending this to Srivalli's Kid's Delight event here on my blog - What Kids love....for Summer

Check out what the other marathoners are cooking up in their kitchens here.

Read More

Mini bagel pizzas

Another crowd pleaser and kid friendly dish for any party or for a quick snack at home is this very simple and easy dish known as Mini bagel pizzas.

Which kid doesn't like pizza right!? Best of all, you can have any topping your kid wishes. I think this dish is too good when you want to involve the kids in cooking but don't want to deal with a whole lot of mess of the dough and flour.

These bake quickly and so the kid's don't have to wait to a long time for their snack either. since the bagels are already cooked and it only takes a couple of minutes for the cheese to melt on the top, it can be made in a jiffy!

These are perfect to make on very tiny bagels to the very large ones. But the mini bagels or the medium sized ones are better for the kid's to handle, so I prefer them. You do find these in frozen section of the grocery store, but they are easy and quick to make so why go for the packaged one?

I put whatever topping my kid's like at the point of time and this time they wanted only cheese, so that's what they got!

I used three bagels as a snack, you can use how many ever as you wish!

Ingredients:

3 mini bagels
1/2 cup of cheese
1/2 cup of Ragu or marinara sauce

Method:

Preheat broiler to high.
Halve the bagel and spread the marinara sauce on both sides of the bagel.
Sprinkle cheese along with any other toppings you wish.
Put under broiler for 3-4 minutes or until the cheese melts.
Remove and serve immediately after a minute of cool down or they will be very hot!!
Enjoy!!!

Sending this to Srivalli's Kid's Delight event here on my blog - What Kids love....for Summer

Check out what the other marathoners are cooking up in their kitchens here.

Read More

Jam cookies out of premix sugar cookie dough

I love to have dough handy, so that I can make what ever I think of easily and without thinking twice about whether I have this ingredient in my pantry or that stuff in my pantry! I am talking about ready to mix dough and mixes. Even I like to keep Murruku mix ready with me. In case I need murukku quick within an hour or so, this really comes handy, as it is pre-mixed, I just have to make them.

In the same way cake mix, pancake mix or cookie dough  mix all are very handy. I know they are very easy to prepare from scratch but sometimes using such mixes is a no-brainer really and can be made in very less time.
I use sugar cookie dough mix because, making this from scratch always eluded me. I don't know why I struggle so much with this, but I do! Nobody is prefect, maybe someday I will perfect it!:) But for now I am happy using this and since my kids like to eat cookies from time to time, its very handy. The good part is that it doesn't only have to used as a sugar cookie dough, but can be transformed into other types, like here I made jam cookies out of the same premix. They are very easy to prepare, works well when you are in a hurry or for potlucks or picnics, even for birthday parties.

I used strawberry jam here but you can use any jam you like and wish. Jams work much better than jellies, as jellies tend to liquefy more when heated.
I prepared the dough as per directions on the pouch, but felt the dough was pretty sticky to get a good shape. For drop cookies that's fine , but if you want to flatten it out and put jam on top, that won't work. So I added in extra all purpose flour to make it less sticky and where they dough can be rolled into a ball and flattened.

Ingredients:

1 pouch sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter at room temp, or softened butter
1/2 cup all purpose flour ( more or less as needed)
1 egg
1/2 cup strawberry jam

Method:

Grease a baking sheet lightly with butter and keep aside.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix all ingredients according to the directions on the pouch.
Add flour little by little till the dough is less sticky and can be rolled into a ball by hand.
Make golf sized balls and lay them on the baking sheet.
Gently flatten them, more in the middle to get a dip in the middle.
Add a little bit of jam in the center.
Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until the edges start turning brown.
Remove and let them cool before serving.
Enjoy!!!

Sending this to Srivalli's Kid's Delight event here on my blog - What Kids love....for Summer

Check out what the other marathoners are cooking up in their kitchens here.

Read More

Mango Smoothie with different juices

During summer months, its natural to feel to eat light and healthy. I guess it because of the sun and the amount of sun light we absorb during the day.
If I eat anything heavy, I feel so uncomfortable and uneasy. That's why I like easy to put together stuff, so that I don't have to spend much time in the kitchen. For this reason I love the semi-homemade dishes!

One of our family favorite is juice, in any form, but the most favorite is the one made of mangoes.
Summer is the best time to enjoy all kind of juices, smoothies, pops, ice creams and other cold stuff. Instead of buying from the grocery store at a higher price, making it at home beats it all, and not to mention, keeping it clean, healthy and sugar free to the most part. Kids surely enjoy it!

Even if you cannot make all the juices at home, here is a smoothie where you can combine different juices you have at home or to make it from scratch, use the fruit what you have readily at home to create a healthy drink. Adding sugar is always optional when you do this. I prefer not adding any sugar, cos I think the fruits are enough sweet already, and if I am using the store bought juice, they already have enough sugar in them already!
This can also be made in pops. Just pour into molds and freeze!


Ingredients:

2 cups of mango puree from fresh mangoes (canned mango can be used)
1 banana
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup coconut water (if available)
water to make to required consistency

Method:

Blend everything together. Strain to remove any fiber or unblended pieces.
You can also blend it with some ice or pour it on ice.
Chill and serve.
Enjoy!!!

Sending this to Srivalli's Kid's Delight event here on my blog - What Kids love....for Summer

Check out what the other marathoners are cooking up in their kitchens here.

Read More

Coconut Chocolate chip Pecan Banana Bread

Ya I know that's a long name, but what else could I name it?...It does have all the said ingredients and the name should reflect what the product consists of, so that's why the long name :).

I have made so many Banana bread these past few days....why? because I had tons of bananas which were past the eating point. The best way to consume them is to make a delicious banana bread and all are done!

What I noticed is that if I added chocolate chips to the banana bread, it would be finishes faster than the plain one. And I wanted to try a coconut banana bread, so went ahead and tried it! I make only one small loaf at a time, double it if you want a bigger loaf.

I love warm desserts and my old son has taken after me. We both tend go in the direction of warm desserts like warm banana bread with cold ice cream or warm brownie with ice cream. This has been one of our favorites now since I have been making this very often!

Ingredients:

Wet Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter @ room temperature
1 cup mashed bananas, about 3 medium sized
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk

Dry Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups All purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup mini semi-chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped, roasted pecans, walnuts

Method:

Grease a loaf pan with butter and keep aside.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mashed bananas. Mix in butter, egg, vanilla extract, milk and brown sugar.
In another bowl, stir in the rest of the dry ingredients together, expect the coconut, choco chips and walnuts.
Mix in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients slowly, being careful not to over mix.
Add and stir in the coconut, choco chips and walnuts.
Pour into loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean.
Serve when warm or cold.
Enjoy!!!

Check out what the other marathoners are cooking up in their kitchens here.


Sending this to Srivalli's Kid's Delight event  Whats Kids love....For Summer

Read More

Back again, Hosting Kid's Delight & Starting BM # 16 with Mango Shrikhand with Greek yogurt

Writing after a long time...hmm I am having to think what to write. There is a lot to put into words, but it going to take some time to get my flow back I guess!
With so much happening, my motivation had been at it highest low...hmm is there anything as 'highest low'...well you know what I mean...I am trying my best to get back and pursue my interests and get back in line of doing what I like to do and enjoy! Well that doesn't happen much does it? with kids running around and or rather me running behind them keeps me occupied for the most part!
Then, come some other stuff which I need to remember to remind my self to let go...just let go....that will surely will keep me a happy person! But that doesn't happen much either does it!!
Well that's OK, I guess that's how life is, cruel and mean sometimes and sometimes the best!!
So coming out of my philosophical mode, I am back again, with two things happening here on my blog.

I am hosting Kid's Delight, the theme being What Kids Love....for Summer! Such a beautiful topic and at the right time, don't you think. One of the best events here for kids started by Srivalli of Spicing your Life.

Here in US, Summer vacation is just about to start, well maybe in another Month, where as in Indian, Summer vacation is just about to finish. Well do the kids care??? Noooo...Summer vacation is all about enjoying and making some of the best memories of your life with their friends and family. This goes with the older beings...us adults too!! We like to do the best for our kids, take vacations, go on picnics, parks, hiking , swimming and the best of all - cook the most wonderful and most delicious food around this time. Well why don't we take the opportunity and advantage of this special time and do just that!

COOK, or rather MAKE or rather CREATE the fun foods enjoyed by our kids, their friends, nephews, nieces and all the other kid's who join in to have the fun during the summer vacation. It can be sweet or savory, hot or cold, baked or cooked, veg or non-veg...anything the little kids love, something easy and fun to eat as quickly as possible so that they can get back to doing what they were enjoying!

I remember when we were kids, hunger was the last thing on our minds, and eating was the last thing we wanted to do! This gradually changed when we got older and we started cooking for our friends and having fin during summer. So kids of different ages like different stuff, so be creative and have fun with them, include them in your kitchen projects, this will surely get them interested too!!

Just don't forget to send them over here, I mean to my email Smitha(dot)joga(at)gmail(dot)com

What Kids Love...For Summer!

Few quick guidelines:


Veg and Non-veg dishes are accepted

Should be kid approved dishes

Sweet or savory, hot or cold anything is possible

Last date for sending in entries to above email id is 15th June

Non-bloggers are also welcome to send in their entries to the above email id (please send in a picture with your recipe)

Only 2 archived recipes will be accepted if they are reposted with the logo and link to the event announcement

Linking each entry to this page is mandatory and use to logo will be highly appreciated!

I hope you guys will join me and make this event successful!

Coming to the BM# 16, another event started to Srivalli, which I have been participating on and off, but I wish I could be more regular, but I couldn't!! This time around I decided to do it again and for the first week of the marathon, I will be posting recipes for the above event Kid's Delight - What Kids Love....for Summer!

Whats' summer vacation without enjoying the yummiest fruit which is available during this time...Yes I am talking about MANGO! Here is a simple and easy dessert which is usually made during the season of mangoes - Mango Shrikhand or Amar Khand, which is a dessert made of mango and thick yogurt or Greek yogurt.
And who doesn't love flavored yogurt? Kids love it a lot and the simplicity of the dessert and even the easiness to make it, makes it so wonderful!

This can be made even when mangoes are not in season, by using canned mango or even frozen mango slices, but using fresh mango beats it all! Powdered sugar or confectioner's sugar is used to sweetened this, but I used only honey, which suited us just fine, since the mangoes were enough sweet too. A touch of cardamom and kesar (saffron) makes this so delectable and heavenly!
And why only as a dessert?...it can also be eaten as a snack! Its healthy and has the goodness of honey which is also a great summer cooler. Sure hit with the kids!

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 cup of thick yogurt (I used Greek yogurt)(or you can always hang the yogurt in a cheese cloth for 4-6 hours, so that all the water is drained out)
pulp of one sweet mango (more or less depending on your taste and sweetness of the mango)
Pinch of cardamom powder
pinch of kesar, saffron strands
Chopped nuts (optional)
1 tbsp of honey (more or less depending on your taste)

Method:

Using a hand blender I pureed the mango pieces to pulp.
Then mix the rest of the ingredients, except the nuts, using the hand blender.
Pour in serving bowls.
Add nuts or garnish the nuts on top. You can add extra mango if you wish.
Chill in refrigerator until to be served.
Can also be served with rotis or pooris!...tastes heavenly!!
Enjoy!!!

Check out what the other marathoners are cooking up in their kitchens here.

Read More

Flavorful and Easy Green lentils and rice

There was a time when I didn't know the difference between green lentils and whole masoor dal or red lentils. Since they both looked the same I thought they both are one and the same. Since I didn't use either of the lentils that much, I didn't know the difference in their cooking times either. Now I know the they both are different, other than the looks which is the whole red lentils are kind of smaller than the green lentils and where as the green lentils cook much faster than red lentils, which cook for a way longer time or have to be pressure cooked.

There is a Greek rice dish which is made of these green lentils known as 'Majadra'" which is cooked with lots of caramelized onions and garlic. A very flavorful 'Pilaf' as they call it!
This is a twist on that dish....the twist being making it Indianized with addition of Garam masala and ginger garlic paste. I left out adding green chillies and making it more spicier, but for the adult version, I think you should add few chopped green chillies and add more chilli powder. When I make this for my kids, I can't stop eating it, because I love having whole lentils in rice. It surely gives a whole new texture to the rice.

To make this rice, you will have to be little bit of prepared, as you to boil the lentils for about 10 minutes before making the dish. The lentils should be only cooked so much that they don't loose their wholeness or split open or become mushy. When you check if they are cooked, there should still be a slight bite to it. They will cook completely when you cook them again as a dish.
It makes for a yummy one pot meal, as well as a nutritious lunch box dish for kids or adults.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup green lentils, washed and boiled for 10 min
1 cup cooked rice
1/4 piece onion, cut lengthwise
1/4 piece of tomato, chopped
coriander leaves for garnish

Pinch of shah jeera or kala jeera
pinch of jeera, cumin seeds
1/4 ginger garlic paste
1/4 tsp chilli powder
pinch of turmeric
1/4 tsp garam masala
salt to taste
1 tsp oil

Method:

Wash and boil the lentils, till they are tender but not split open or mushy. Takes about 10 minutes. Drain and keep aside.
Heat oil in a kadai and add the shahi jeera and jeera. Let them splutter.
Now add the drained lentils.
Add the some salt and add the ginger garlic paste. Saute for a minute.
Add the chopped tomato, along with turmeric, chilli powder and garam masala. Cover and cook for 2 minutes, till the tomatoes are soft.
Add the chopped onions and saute for about a minute.
Add the cooked rice and some more salt. Mix well. Cover and cook for another couple of minutes.
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Serve hot or warm.
Enjoy!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 13

Read More

Instant Egg rice (with Dhaniyalu podi or coriander lentil powder)

If I ask my little one what should I make for lunch, he will reply Peas rice....little does he know that egg also goes into it and its more like an Egg rice instead of a Peas rice.
He doesn't mind eating it everyday, only I do get bored of making it everyday! I guess he just likes the taste of what goes into it!
He will say I don't like onions..don't feed me onions, but then he sees that rice and say..thats fine, just feed me the onions, I like the onions in peas rice.
Well here is his version of 'peas rice' and my version of 'Instant Egg rice' :) Both being same!
All you need to have is the Dhaniyalu podi (which we use as idli or dosa podi too) on hand and if you have some leftover rice, its very quick to make.
Comes in handy when you are pressed for time and want something to do done very quick! For adult version, add some chopped green chilies and spike the chili powder! :)


Ingredients:

1 cup cooked rice
1 egg
1/4 cup peas (frozen or fresh)
small piece of onion, chopped

1/4 tsp ginger garlic paste
pinch of turmeric
pinch of chilli powder
1-2 tsp dhaniyalu podi / coriander lentil powder
1 tsp of oil
salt to oil
chopped coriander leaves for garnish

Method:

Heat the oil in a kadai.
Add the egg and scramble it well.
Add the onions and saute for a minute.
Add the ginger garlic paste and saute it well.
Add the peas and some salt and cook for couple of minutes till they are cooked.
Now add the rice along with all the powders (turmeric, chilli powder, and the dhaniyalu podi). Mix everything up well. Add salt to taste.
GArnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Serve hot.
Enjoy!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 13

Read More

Easy Okra Rice / Lady's finger Rice / Bendi Rice

Bendakaya is the most popular vegetable in my house. Every week we have to have Bendi fry or any dish which has Bendi in it. I use it in rasams, sambars and pulusus too! My kids, along with me love it a lot and so no one had any complaints when I make any dish with okra. I just wish I had a constant supply of okra all the time! :) well my grocer is not too bad in carrying fresh ones most of the time.

So having this is in lunch box it surely a hit. In lunch box I mean as lunch as my kids rarely take rice to school!
I sometimes even add a few pieces of cashew nuts to this rice and it tastes yummy! This is surely for the kids who love bendi and cashews!

This dish is pretty easy to make, all you need is a few bendi on hand along with cooked rice. Bendi doesn't take much time to cook and cutting like about 10 bendi in the morning isn't much of a hassle. You can always cut them the day before and have them ready for you to use.

Ingredients:

10 Okra, cut into small pieces
1 cup cooked rice
1 small piece of onion, chopped

pinch of urad dal
pinch of mustard seeds
pinch of jeera or cumin seeds
1 dry red chili, broken
few curry leaves
salt to taste
pinch of chili powder (optional)(as per taste)
pinch of turmeric
1 tsp of oil
garnish with chopped coriander leaves

Method:

Heat oil in a kadai and add urad dal, mustard seeds and cumin.
After the brown and splutter, add the red chili, curry leaves and onions.
Saute till translucent.
Add the cut bendi and salt, cover and cook for about 5-10 minutes, until the bendi is cooked through.
Add the chili powder, turmeric and saute well.
Add the cooked rice and mix it up well with the cooked bendi.
(If you want to add cashews, add them just before you add onions and them brown a little)
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Serve warm or hot. Pack in a hot box for lunch. I don't mind eating it cold either :).
Enjoy!!!


Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 13

Read More