Badam Flavored Fruit Salad / Raksha Bandan Special

Raksha bandan or Rakhi Poornima is a special day to celebrate a love between Brother and Sister. On this special day, sisters tie rakhi on brothers wrist to express their love and in return brothers take pledge to protect his sister in all circumstances and express it by giving a special gifts. That is why, it is called "Knot of protection".

 I am very blessed to have a lovely brother who takes care of me very much. Though he is younger than me, the way he protects me in all circumstances was like my elder brother. We fight a lot, We argue a lot, We tease a lot but our love on each other still remain the same. Couple of years back celebrated Raksha Bandan by preparing his favorite food, so that at least he can enjoy them virtually.

Check out my 2012 Rakhi special posts:

Pavaka Chips / Bitter gourd Chips

Garlic Chutney

Urad Dal Curd Kuzhambu

Wheat Bread Jamun

Unfortunately, we did not meet this time to celebrate Raksha Bandan, so prepared few recipes of his most favorites and shared him virtually on Raksha Bandan day.

So, Now you all know whats gonna be my upcoming posts :)

Here is my special yummy Dessert Brother :) Enjoy and Happy Raksha Bandan :)

Fruit Salad is an easy and healthy dessert which is served in most of the parties. It is a kid friendly recipe and lots of fruits can be included along with lots of dry fruits to make it rich and more healthy. This is my special recipe too because my son involved in each and every step of preparation from washing the fruits to placing it in the fridge. 

Ingredients :

• 6 Pomegranate
• 5 Apples
• 5 Bananas
• 400 ml Milkmaid
• 1/4 Cup Badam Health Drink mix
• 1 Cup Milk
• 1/2 Cup Pistachio
• 1/2 Cup Tutti Frutti + 1 Tbsp for Garnishing

Method :

• Boil milk and keep aside. 

• Wash apples and chop them into small pieces.

• Peel the Bananas and chop them into small pieces.

• Cut the pomegranate and remove the seeds. ( Normally,I use ladle to tap and remove the seeds).

• Take 1/4 cup of Badam drink mix and add the boiled milk.

• Mix well and keep aside.

• Now pour milkmaid in a small bowl and add the badam milk. Mix well.

• Add all the chopped fruits in a big bowl and add the badam milkmaid.

• Add pistachio and Tutti Frutti.

• Mix well and refrigerate it. 

• Remove after 3-4 hours and pour it in a tall galss.

• Garnish with Tutti Frutti and serve chill.

Serving Options :

Serve chill with any flavored Ice cream.

Note : 

• Any health drink can be used instead of Badam drink mix.

• Extra fruits can also be added of your choice.

Linking this recipe with Gayathri's "WTML"

Veggie Macaroni Soup

I am feeling sleepy ! I am feeling drowsy ! I feel like eating hot and spicy ! I feel like slurping warm soup !

yeah ! In this monsoon, what else we utter other than these dialogues :) Only Hot and Spicy foods has the magical power of waking up our laziness in this season. And Soup is always my priority during monsoon to boost up my energy and when it is done at home with healthy ingredients, it gives immense pleasure and happiness. To make it as a complete meal, I have included Macaroni in this soup. This soup is also very special for me.... Wanna know the reason?

It goes to one of my favorite event '5 Ingredients Fix Challenge' which runs every month by an Energetic Blogger Vimala Lakshmi from "cookingclub17.blogspot.com'. Every month, 5 fixed Ingredients will be given to us along with the recipe name and Innovative dish have to be prepared. And for this July month, "Onion, Tomato, butter, Carrot and Herbs" were given as our ingredients and innovative Soup has to made, which is also perfect for this season. 

Veggie Macaroni Soup is a creamy soup with an Italian flavor which is loaded with healthy veggies and served with Macaroni to make it a complete wholesome meal. I did not strain the soup after blending since my family members loves this way. While serving, add a small piece of butter on top of the soup to make it more delicious and creamier but it is purely optional.This can also be served as breakfast or Mid-day meal with a Toasted bread or croutons.

Get ready to enjoy your monsoon with this Italian flavored creamy soup !

Ingredients :

• 2 Tbsp Butter
• 1 Onion, finely chopped
• 3 Tomatoes, finely chopped 
• 5 Garlic pods, crushed
• 2 Carrots, Finely chopped
• 1 Big Potato, Finely Chopped
• 1/2 Cup Macaroni
• 1/2 Cup Masoor dal
• Salt to taste
• 1 1/2 Tsp Paprika (Chilli powder can also be used)
• 1 Tbsp Mixed Herbs ( Oregano, Basil, and Thyme )
• 2 Cups Veg Stock

Method :

• Wash and Soak Masoor dal before starting the cooking process.

• Heat butter in a pan and add finely chopped Onions.

• Saute till it turns translucent and add the chopped tomatoes.

• Saute for 3-4 minutes in a medium flame or till it turns soft.

• Add the Crushed garlic pods followed by the chopped carrots and potato.

• Mix well and add paprika or chilli powder,herbs and salt.

• Drain water from masoor dal and add it to the pan.

• Mix well and add the measured stock.

• Simmer and cook it for 20-30 minutes.

• Meanwhile, cook macaroni according to the instructions and keep aside.

• Remove soup from the flame and cool it for 10 - 15 minutes.

• Blend it into smooth paste using blender and add it to the same pan.

• Add Macaroni and boil it for couple of minutes.

• Remove from the flame and serve warm.

Serving Options :

Serve warm with Toasted bread or Croutons.

Linking this recipe with  Lakshmi's "5 Ingredients Fix Challenge"

Chicken & Spinach Soup

I love soups! It makes me very energetic and whenever I step in to Restaurants, I make sure that soup is also ordered. I love tasting variety of soups but being a solo soup lover its very difficult to try at home. Luckily this month theme for "5 Ingredient Fix Challenge" by Lakshmi vimala was Soup. Every month, 5 Ingredients will be declared by her and its our challenge to try out something Innovative. And coming to March month, we got 5 Lovely ingredients " Olive Oil", "Homemade Stock", "Chicken or Veg", "Green leafy veggie" and "any kind of pulses". And keeping all my challenge ingredients, tried this delicious soup for our Sunday lunch menu which turned out a huge hit :)

Adding pureed dal gives a creamy and thick consistency so adding of corn flour is not necessary. This can be served as warm soup with fresh cream on top along with croutons or can also be served with hot rice. My son loved it with hot rice and ghee. 

And here is my march month challenge.....

Ingredients:

For Stock:

• 250 gms Boned Chicken
• 1 Big Onion, chopped or sliced
• 1 Tbsp Pepper corns
• 1 Carrot, chopped
• 5 Garlic, crushed
• Water, as needed

For Soup :

• 3 Tbsp Masoor dal
• 15 Spinach leaves, washed and chopped
• Salt to taste
• 1 Tsp Pepper
• Water, as needed
• 2 Tbsp Olive oil
• ¼ Boiled Chicken, cut into small strips
• Basil leaves for Garnishing

Method :

• Add all the ingredients given for preparing stock in a large vessel and add required amount of water.

• Simmer and cook it for 45 minutes.

• Meanwhile, Pressure cook the dal and spinach leaves for 4-5 whistles.

• Once cooker cools down, blend the dal and spinach to a smooth paste. Keep aside.

• Heat olive oil in a pan and add the chicken strips.

• Saute for a minute and add the pureed spinach-dal mixture.

• Remove boned chicken from the stock and blend the remaining ingredients using blender.

• Strain and extract the stock.

• Now add stock to the boiling dal-spinach mixture followed by salt and pepper and boil it for 10 minutes or till the soup consistency occurs.

• Once done, remove from the flame, garnish with basil leaves and serve hot with croutons.

Note : 

Fresh cream can also be added for extra richness.

Linking this recipe with  Lakshmi's "5 Ingredients Fix Challenge"

Bread Sticks

Yummy and crunchy bread sticks flavored with oregano is a perfect evening snack to munch with hot tea and also kids friendly recipe. Feeling very happy to be part of "Taste and Create" group after a long break.This time I was paired with a famous blogger Padmajha PJ from www.seduceyourtastebuds.blogspot.in.She has an amazing blog with loads of delicious recipes and especially I loved her baking recipes. Thank you padma for these flavored bread sticks. 

Recipe Source : http://seduceyourtastebuds.blogspot.in/2014/02/bread-sticks-we-knead-to-bake.html

My so far "Taste and Create" recipes....

• Crunchy Chocolate Cups
• Curry Chicken Rice
• Eggless Pancake
• Chicken Vegetable and Rice curry

Ingredients :

• 1 Cup All purpose flour / Maida
• 1/2 Cup Wheat flour
• 1 Tsp Active dry yeast
• 3/4 Cup Luke warm water
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Olive oil
• 1/2 Tsp Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil for brushing the dough
• 1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil for greasing the pan / Baking tray
• 1 Tsp Oregano

Method :

• Add sugar and yeast in a Lukewarm water and mix well.
• Keep aside for 10 minutes or until it turns frothy.
• Add All purpose flour and wheat flour in a bowl and slowly add the yeast mixture.
• Add 1 1/2 tbsp Olive oil o the flour and knead well to a soft and smooth dough.
• Grease baking tray or pan with 1/2 tbsp oil, spread the dough on the tray and score rectangles with a sharp knife and cover it with a cling foil 
• or damp cloth.
• Set aside till it is puffy ( For me it took 2 Hours).
• Brush 1 Tbsp Olive oil on the dough, sprinkle oregano over it and press gently.
• Bake it in a pre-heated oven at 200 degree C for 15 minutes or till the top is brown.
• Remove from the oven and cool it in a cooling rack.
• Once it is cool, break into pieces along the scored line and again arrange on a baking tray.
• Bake it for another 5- 15 minutes.

Note : Baking time for the second time baking depends on the crispiness you 
prefer. I baked it for 15 minutes to get more crunchy.

Serving Options :

Serve with Mayo Sweet Red chilli sauce and Tomato sauce.

Bengali Matarsutir Dal

I have used green peas in lots of recipes but never tried this recipe using only green peas as major veggie with aromatic spices in it. Very simple recipe and tasted really delicious and creamy because of the addition of milk. And having picky eaters at home, this is really a magic dish. Served this with hot rice n ghee for my kid and he loved the taste. Have to thank my favorite chef Tarla Dalal for this healthy recipe.

Adapted From Tarla Dalal Cook book.

Here is the recipe for Creamy and aromatic Dal...

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Green Peas
• 1 Tbsp Ghee
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1/4 Cup Milk
• Salt to taste
• Coriander leaves, for garnishing

To Blend :

• 1/2 Tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/2 Tsp Chilli powder
• 1/2 Tsp Cumin / Jeera Powder
• 1/2 Tbsp Ginger, grated
• 1/4  Tsp Garam Masala
• 1/2 Tsp Pepper Powder
• 1 Tbsp Water

Method :

• Blend all the "To Blend" ingredients by adding 1 Tbsp water and make paste.
• Boil green peas or pressure cook it for 4-5 whistles and keep aside.
• Heat ghee in a pan and add Bay leaf followed by cooked peas.
• Add the ground paste and add salt.
• Now add milk and cook it for another 5 minutes.
• Remove and cool to blend the mixture.
• Retain few cooked peas for adding into the dal.( optional )
• Cook the blended mixture for couple of minutes and garnish with coriander leaves.
• Serve hot.

Serving Options :

Serve hot with Rice or Roti.

Linking this recipe with Shruti's "Only Food For Growing Children" and Pari's "Fooddelicious"

Thumbprint Cookies & Virtual Birthday Treat !

                   Many more HAPPY returns of the day dear Nalini Suresh :)

Tried this delicious Thumbprint Cookies from one of a sweet n energetic blogger friend Nalini Suresh from Naliniscooking.com for her Birthday as Virtual Treat. Thank you so much for this recipe...we enjoyed it a lot :)

As the name mentioned, the cookies are lightly pressed with thumb in the middle of cookie and filled with Jam. 

Here is the recipe for Buttery, crunchy, tasty and melting cookies.....

Ingredients :

• 1 Cup All Purpose Flour / Maida
• 100 gms Butter
• 1/4 Cup Sugar, Powdered
• 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
• A pinch of Baking Soda
• 1 Tbsp Jam ( Any Flavor)

Method :

• Mix all the dry ingredients ( Flour, Baking powder and Baking soda) and keep aside.

• Cream the butter and sugar till its turns fluffy and smooth. 

• Add vanilla extract and mix well.

• Now add the dry ingredients little by little and mix well.

• Wrap the soft dough using cling foil or butter paper and refrigerate it for 30 minutes.

• Take the dough and divide into equal balls, smooth it gently and arrange in a baking tray lined with baking sheet.

• Gently press the top of cookie with the thumb and fill it with Jam.

• Bake it 18 to 20 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 180 degree C.

• Remove and cool it for 10 - 15 minutes.

• Store it in an air tight Container.

Once again, Happy Birthday my dear friend.... Enjoy :)

Sending this recipe to "Love2Bake" by Spicy Treats.

Baked Apple Chips

I am very happy to be part of "Love2bake" group hosted by one of our lovely blogger, sangee from spicy treats. This is a weekly event, which happens on every monday and all members will be posting baking related stuffs like recipes, tips and tricks, etc. The Event starts today and I feel very glad to post my recipe. Thanks sangee for this lovely opportunity and am sure that lots of baking related stuffs can be learnt from this group. All the best !
Interested bloggers, please click HERE to join.

Baked Apples with the mild sugar dusted on top gives yummy and tangy flavor. Absolutely healthy and crispy chips, especially perfect to munch when we are in diet ;).

Ingredients :

• 3 Apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 Tbsp Sugar ( I used powder sugar )
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon ( Optional )

Method :

• Wash and Slice the apples.

• Arrange in a tray and Sprinkle sugar on top of it.

• Bake it for 45 minutes in a Pre-heated oven at 180 degree C.

• Flip the other side and bake it for another 30-40 mins or until crisp.

• Remove and cool.

• Store it in an air tight container.

Notes :

• Granulated sugar can also be used instead of powder sugar.

• Baking time varies so check frequently to avoid over burnt.

Sending this recipe to "Love2Bake" by Spicy Treats.

Carrot Kheer

Ingredients :

• 5 Carrots, cut into pieces
• 2 Cup Milk
• 2 Tbsp Condensed Milk
• 2 Tbsp Sugar
• 2 Tsp Ghee
• 1 Tbsp Raisins
• 2 Elachi, crushed
• 5-6 Badam, sliced

Method :

• Pressure cook the carrot pieces for 3-4 whistles.

• Wait till the cooker cools down, remove the cooked carrots and let it cool.

• Then grind into a fine paste by adding little water.

• Boil milk in a thick bottom vessel.

• Now add the carrot paste and mix well.

• Add sugar and condensed milk to the carrot- milk mixture.

• Boil for 5-7 minutes in a medium flame until the milk reduces half its quantity.

• Meanwhile, heat ghee in a pan and add raisins followed by elachi and badam.

• Now add the fried items to the carrot kheer and mix well.

• Remove from the flame and serve.

Serving Options :

Serve Hot or Cold.

Notes :

• I have added both condensed milk and sugar but either one can be added.
• Adding condensed milk will give extra richness and flavor.
• Pista and cashews can also be added for garnishing.
• Increase sugar according to your taste.

 En Iniya Illam's " Passion On Plate "

Tomato - Carrot Dosa / Breakfast Recipe

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY DEAR FRIENDS :)


Cooking Time : 20 mins

Ingredients :

• 2 Carrots
• 2 Tomatoes
• 2 Green Chillies
• 2 Cup Dosa batter
• Salt to taste

Method :

• Chop the carrots, tomatoes and chillies.
• Grind them together to a fine paste without adding water.
• Now add the ground paste to the dosa batter.
• Add salt and mix well.
• Heat the dosa tawa and pour the batter using ladle and slowly spread it like a thin circle.
• Cook for a minute and slowly flip the other side.
• Once done, remove from flame and serve.

Serving Options :

Serve with Coconut chutney.

Linking this recipe with

Sara's Kitchen " Dish in 30 minutes - Breakfast "

LemonKurry's " Innovative Recipes "

Gayathri 's " WTML " hosted by  Nithu's " Nithu's Kitchen "

Very easy finger food for toddlers - Carrot n potato mini idly

When you have nothing to give as finger food for toddlers, you can try this recipe. Very simple, healthy and can be prepared in less time.

 Ingredients :

1 Carrot, Finely chopped or grated
1 Potato, finely chopped or grated
Idly Batter
Salt to taste
1 Tbsp Ghee

Method :

Grate the vegetables or finely chop in chopper.
Heat ghee in a pan and add veggies, Saute well by adding salt.
Mix in dosa batter and spoon into mini idly plate.
Steam and serve them as finger food.

Simple potato masala dosa for toddlers

Ingredients:

1 Onion, Finely chopped
1 Tomato, finely chopped
1 Carrot, grated
1 Green chilli, chopped
2 Big potatoes
3 Garlic pods, finely chopped
Pinch of turmeric powder
Salt to taste
1 Tbsp ghee / oil

Method:

Heat ghee/oil in a pan and add chopped onions, fry them till translucent.

Add garlic and green chilli, saute well and add the chopped tomatoes.

Saute by adding turmeric powder for 2 minutes, till tomato becomes soft and add grated carrot.

Meanwhile, boil potatoes and mash them.

Now add mashed potatoes in the carrot masala. Add salt and mix properly, simmer and cook for couple of minutes.

Remove and serve it with ghee dosa.

Note :
I prepared this recipe for my 15 months old kid, so did not add anything else.
Adjust spicy level according to your toddler.
Cooked peas and cauliflower can also be added.