Being a mom is the best thing in the world. I love being a mom and I want to be the best in what I do for my kids. Its not just me holding this feeling but all the moms in the world are like that. It is lovely the way it is :) Now why did I write this here. I am not sure why this came up now but well that I have written it I dont want to use the backspace button to either erase it. My heart just doesnt want to do so let it just stay there :)
Coming to this snack that am sharing here, it is simple and quick and a sure hit among kids and adults too. Fixing school snacks, after-school snacks and simple breakfast for lazy mornings is not tough but its always about thinking about the right thing at the right time. This snack will fit in right in the above. We make this snack often as it is a very well-known favorite at ours.
This time I picked a new pack of biscuit cutters as the old ones were just too old to work through my kitchen any more. Seeing the new pack of cutter my kids were all set to try them on almost everything that could be cut. So this day we had these different shaped cutlets for snack, shaped mini chapathis, heart biscuits baked and what not.
These cutlets can be made in advance and stacked up in the freezer. Pull them out 15 mins before you wanna fry them and all set. The best part in our home is that the kids love to help me every time I make these so we have a good fun time in the kitchen and also that feel very proud to help me. So when Daddy's home you will sure hear this "Dadda we helped mommy in the kitchen today and she was very happy"
Summer summer summer... yes summer is in. Temperatures are soaring, we are raining sweat, tired is a common word around, thirst is not something thats getting quenched very easily and the list goes on and on. I love coffee but drinking hot coffee is getting ruled out from my list nowadays. Love to hold something cold all the time to sip on and on. Juices, shakes, butter milk, ice cream, chilled fruits, popsicles, crushed ice and mainly cold water are all the star highlights these days. Cant pass a day without atleast couple of these being dragged along ;)
Coming to coffee, as I said 'I love coffee' but drinking it hot is not much fun at this time of the year. I love making this simple cold coffee "My style Coffee Mocha" as I call it. Couple of minutes and a tall glass of chilled coffee is ready for the sip.
Whipped cream will have an added effect but I dont use it on a daily basis as I use fresh cream from 'boiled and cooled' milk. I feel it gives an extra flavor
Are you among those who throw away the stalks leftover after using spinach leaves from a pretty good bunch? I sure was one like that but not anymore... yes i make the best and tastiest use of it. I try to use most of them in the gravy if it involves blending as I feel it all blends together nice and smooth. But in case when I am into sauteing or doing some stir fry I never feel like adding the stalks. Its just that I dont feel like adding them in. I was wasting all the stalks until the day my mil told me not to and use it in some kind of soups. She told me that it had all the nutrients that the leaves would have so why waste it. This gave me the idea to make this soup.
My elder kid is a little fussy when eating spinach gravies. Its not that he doesnt eat but I am pretty sure he doesnt like it and eat it for the sake of eating. So the no-stalkwasting business gave me a simple idea of a clear soup. Clear soup is my kids favorite and they drink loads of it. So there we were, both in the same happy boat this time.
I threw the usual ingredients that go in a soup and loved the outcome. Now happy that nutrients are getting in more without any fussy or funny faces
Pasta is every kids favorite... no no its an adults favorite too in many cases like me here. For an extra special Friday evening dinner we have tables lined up with plates of pasta ... the specialty is that we dont share with each other :) I know thats bad but its just too good to share with others. Having kids gobble down their meals at jet speed is every mamma's dream and I am no exception to that. For me Friday evenings are like the dullest when it comes to household chores. Its not about exhaustion but sure a laziness looking forward for a fresh-break weekend. So I feel that its the right time of the week to sparkle some shine on my kids faces without huddling around the kitchen for a long time.
When they hear the word 'pasta' or they see the pasta jar filled up with those tiny shells and pipes and swirlies and ribbons, they just cant resist. To make them smile the easiest way on a dinner table is to serve them this favorite of theirs. We have variations all around but finally end up with the word pasta... whichever it may be.
This simple recipe calls for tomato, garlic and coriander for the base sauce. Simple to make but brilliant to taste. Just the right measure to get the perfect taste and I can assure you bowls getting emptied in no time :)
Strawberries are sweet and lemonades are yummm so Strawberry lemonade should yummily sweeeeeettt..... and yes they are. They are one of the best lemonades at my home. We have loved this every time we've made. It is so much loved that I make a ont-time syrup and chill it in the refrigerator. Every time we want to relish this heavenliness, we just need a couple of minutes before we can sit down, relax and enjoy.
It seems like I have been making this for ages now but no.... its just after my elder kid turned one. It was only after that time that I had somebody to ask me for specials all the while. Each time my little one has asked me for something special, I have always tried to give my best at it. This one is another such addition that has been introduced into our home's quenchers menu for my little nunnu - thats how I called him when he was one. I have called him by a thousand different names after that :)
I know that everybody knows how to make a lemonade and also know that it is easiest thing to remember. This is my style with little top-ups for a perfectly balanced-out taste to suit our style. We love this better than stocking up store bought juice bottles. Easy to make and perfect to quench your fiery thirst :)
This post has been sitting in my folder for such a long time that I have to post it now.... am doing my homework you see...
Summer heat has started creeping up here. I know it is just the beginning of March and my comment is too early to say this. But it is so very true... days are so very hot. The only good thing is that nights are better off when compared. Huff... its so very tough to fight these sunny and over-hot days.
It has been a good practice in our homes to have chilled buttermilk to keep our bodies cool. My mil always makes this for us whenever she is around and we are so addicted to this drink in summers. It really keeps our body cool from inside. The best way to get refreshed when you are already losing all your body water through sweat.
We prefer to have this before going out in the hot sun. It helps our energy cells sustain freshness for a long time without getting dehydrated. There are various recipes for buttermilk and here's an addition to it :)
We had been to a cake shop few days back when my kids ordered themselves some dessert shots. I was scolding them for always trying such junk stuff... its not that I dont eat but cos they would just eat half and waste the rest. Pretty much after that I will have to eat that whether i like it or not :) But this time I was surprised by the size when they showed me their dessert glasses. They were mini size... yes i would say 'the right size' that you can happily relish these sinful delights without a second thought.
I bet they were good seeing the way my kids were enjoying. When I asked my little one he did not bother to share. My elder kid loves me soooooooo much .. he shared a little scoop in his tiny spoon and yummm I had to ask him for more... but this time my request was rejected :( I wanted it too so I had to order one for myself . Seeing this my hubby also decided to get one for himself. We all fell in love with this simple but super-delicious dessert. I wanted to make it .. not the same fancy style but a little different with what i had at hand. But first hand I had to buy these small glasses... finally could manage to get 4 glasses after a real treasure hunt.
I made this with my kids couple of days back and it was a real real hit. All of us enjoyed our version especially my mother-in-law. She was just wowwed :)
This recipe tastes like karakuzhambu - the spice, sourness and texture is almost the same. The ingredients are same too. Egg gravy is usually with boiled eggs or egg poured in. But this one calls for omelettes with lots of onions in it. My mom makes it the best and i think I am good too if not perfect like her. But there you go... moms are moms.. they are just perfect :)
I learnt this recipe from her and have made it loads of times for my family. My mother-in-law love this so much that she learnt it from me :) Now that makes me feel happy... nice mil you see. This pleases taste buds of both kids and elders alike so no one is left out at the meal table.
This tastes best with rice and serves itself as side-dish and gravy too. So you don't have to make another dish when making this one. I like this kind of recipes... less time in the kitchen is more time to do something else for the day
I made some guava smoothie today but this recipe is not the one for the drink I made. I will be posting that soon. This one here is another smoothie that I again made past breakfast time (second smoothie round for the day) today to try out a recipe that I luckily picked up from my friend after I enjoyed some at her house. Couldn't resist trying it out myself so made it pretty quick just now and happily served myself a tall glass of chilled Guava Banana Smoothie. Yummm...
Here is the part of today's story .....I stopped by my friends house today morning for something we had to talk about. A neighborhood friend whom i meet everyday but Guess what ????? Today I was warmly and very smilingly served with a glass of this chilled yummy smoothie. Wow... I should say it was marvellous. I loved every sip of it and enjoyed the very same way till the last sip... no no I should say 'the last drop of it' :) Thanks to you J ;) You made my day with your gesture and special smoothie too. Hope you don't mind me sharing this recipe here.
Chicken is a must on Sundays at our home. Alterations have to be there to make it more inviting than every other time. We are used to making chicken with coconut based curry - atleast that was the case in my childhood and even at in-laws house. And when it comes those extra calories thru coconut in the menu I just tend to simply hate them. I dont say I dont make it that way - but i have this new tendency to avoid it and make it more rare for appearance.
This is a super-simple fool proof recipe that has been entertained at our home ever since I have started making it. It serves for lunch and also makes it way to the dinner menu for a hit with rotis. So here is the recipe
I made this for my mom this time on her visit home. She doesnt eat curd... not that she is allergic to it but she simply it even by smell. She is so different that she doesnt even eat stuff that has curd-like texture. When I made this chicken for her she fell in love with it and happily told me that it was too good and also a little different from the usual stuff. Oh.. i felt great and my dad still calls me up and says "that days chicken was super Nimma ... " I havent given my mom the secret yet as she will not try it the next if i say curd. Let her enjoy the taste :)
Dahi vadas are everybodys favorite in my house. I am so hooked up to its taste that I can never ever resist it in any restaurant. If I see it on the menu then I am sure to try it. But the best ones are the ones made at home. I love the juiciness, softness, sourness and little spiciness that it has to offer. You can eat a lot of them at the same time as they are not the heavy-kind food being non-greasy.
Vadas are made at all almost all south-indian festivals and at our home it is a must. I make in big batches so that we sure have left-overs to make this leftover special recipe.
Making this is so simple that you will also want to make more than required vadas the next time you make them.
I have already shared a carrot soup version some time back. This is a very similar one but a few little changes here and there. My family loves this version too. Soups are fun to serve and very healthy to eat. I find this a very good way to serve some nutrition to my kids who are sometimes fussy about healthy eating styles. But when it comes to soup there is no saying NO here :)
This is a very good way to help your kids with the goodness of vegetable that they need without having them fussy about it. Simple and quick and easy to make is the secret to keep you and your family happy. Try this version too and enjoy the goodness
I love making evening snack for my kids. They are just so hungry when they wake up after their nap that they tend to open every cookie jar or snack bags within their reach. Instead of such snacking we love making our own snacks. I lovingly accept every possible little help from my little helpers. They are so very happy to make their stuff but also fight on who wants to do what. But whatever it is snack time and snack-making time is fun-time for us. Thats my secret that I never feel tired being in the kitchen when fixing these tiny meals.
I usually make this for Niks school too as a mid-time snack. I know that this is the best-shared snack among all those that he carries regularly. He always says... 'last time this friend ate 2 and the other one asked for one more so pack 3 extras this time... ' So nowadays I have to pack a few more than usual... and yes I do it with loads of love and happiness.
This recipe can be made using any vegetable of your choice. Pick the best that you think your kid should have. I usually alter this recipe with vegetables that they hate to eat. Say beetroot, squash, sweet potatoes and may be a few more that I cant remember right now. Its a beautiful way to give them those veggies that they refuse to eat. I know this is not a very healthy way but atleast IT IS A Way :)
Spices can be altered as per your taste. I sometimes go for the greener side - coriander, green chillies, curry leaves, onions etc whereas sometimes i go for red chilli, jeera, turmeric etc. They are a little different in taste but have their own uniqueness. Try this and your kids are sure to love it.
Chicken 65 is a perfect addition to every non-veg appetizer menu. Eat it as a snack or as an appetizer it doesnt get away without satisfying your taste buds. My mom had made this for years and now I have made it for so many years too ... but every time I have had it I have always wanted more. It is lip-smacking every time its served.
Try this as an appetizer for parties and they will make way without any hassle... just that there will be more servings than usual. Kids and elders, everybody likes it.
It is super simple recipe that everybody knows but it is here just to remind that it is a recipe that everybody likes.
Cheese fills are mini cheese balls but its just that I flatten them a little so that they look like little discs. A kids plus mommy's favorite snack to keep our mouths busy from the time they are served till the plate turns out to be empty. Hmmmm I love them too. Yes they are so attractive, crispy, crunchy and gooey in the middle with a simple spice combo in every bite that it will keep your kids busy munching them till they are all done. Kids who have tried this at my home have always loved it asking for more.
Ever since I have been making these, we have loved them the same way as we had the first time. I never made these till my elder kid was about 2 yrs old. Then only was the need to make this when I had him growing up into a fussy eater. I had to come up with new and different type of things to keep him happy and also to bribe him too ... "Nikki ...If you eat todays lunch fully with veggies, then in the evening I will make a cheesy surprise for u" and yup the job wud be done in no time. Lunch would be a merry time rather than cribbing time :) Snack time gets merrier than that as I always have my kids help me around in the kitchen when we make their favorites. They love to know what goes in and are always ready to lend their tiny little helping hands. Yes it sure does get messy but in a very lovely way that you cant help hugging your bunnies for their lovely help rather than thinking about the beautiful mess.
This recipe takes little time to put together everything and serve plate-fulls of love to your lovely buggity bugs ;)
