Om podi / Plain Sev

Om podi / Sev has been an all-time favorite for me. I have loved it on every occasion. As a child my mamma used to make this for me when I stayed in a hostel. I used to take them in big covers and stack them in my shelf for quite a while. After coming back from college this had been a perfect tea-time friend for all those lonely evenings. Not only then I have enjoyed this every time it was made

Now my kids enjoy them too but they dont call it om podi - instead they have named it baby murukku. They love it - the only problem being the clean-up task after they have finished eating. You can find bits and pieces of them around every corner of the house they have visited with their bowl in hand. Yes the spilled bits linger around even after a week that we finished eating it ;)

We make this as a regular stock-up snack and also a festive special snack. They also find a good place in chaat items 

Homemade banana chips

Had some raw bananas that one of my neighbourhood friends shared with us. Niks asked me to make some chips for evening snack. So I decided to use up the bananas so that they can serve as snack for the evening and as school snack the next day. Making these chips is very simple. All you need is bananas, salt and oil and of course a little patience

These chips stay fresh for about a week if stored properly in an airtighht container. My kid loved them so much that he keeps asking me make them again. Planning to make some more today evening

  

Besan Bread toast ... a lovely snack

Bread is a very important part of our lifestyle. There are countless recipes to make with bread as the basic ingredient. We love it in so many ways. Mix a few ingredients n veggies together, top them on bread slices or sandwich them or roll them in bread and yes a new fancy delightful recipe is in front of you. Try using whole bread for better health and improved nutritional value

We love bread but we dont like having it the same way every other time. So I keep looking for new ways to make even though I have a bundle of recipes that run through our menu list. Starting from a simple bread omelette to fresh vegetable sandwich to fried bread rolls, everything is perfect to taste in their own way. They help if you want to eat a very light and healthy meal or even if you want a rich and heavy meal. It all just depends on the way its made - a little tweak n twist and you can line up recipes

This recipe is a simple toast but heavy to fill you up with a healthy breakfast or perfect evening snack

Homemade Ghee...

Sometimes there are basics which are not necessary to be posted as per some people. Even I think "Why to post when everyone knows this and I am sure I will not come to my blog to check how to do it as it is a part of my daily life?" But you know what, there are times when my friends ask me how I do it and I stay puzzled thinking "Is this something that has to be learnt?" There are also times when I post a simple recipe or some kitchen basics when my friends ask "Why did you have to put even that on your blog?" The answer to all this is simple ... not everyone knows everything. For some, kitchen basics might be a snip but for some it may just be a trick to learn

I am posting this for a friend who wanted to learn making homemade ghee when she learnt about its goodness. She has always had store bought ghee but when she tried homemade stuff she just fell in love with it

Wraps with leftover cutlet/pattie mixture...

Leftover cutlet/patties mixture can help you make a delicious and filling breakfast/snack. Usually when there is just a little left which doesnt convince anyways, I like to make wrap and enjoy a hearty meal. Sometimes I just even leave it in the freezer for a couple of days before I can take it out again and transform into a wrap

Dont go by the color of the cutlet mixture here. The picture shows it too gaudy whereas it wasnt as bad when I made the cutlets. I think the flash in my camera gave that scary red look. I admit that this time it was deep red - coz it was a red cutlet we made ;) and it was my niks who named it so. It so happened that we had beetroots to be moved from the fridge. So left with no other choice that day, we made beetroot cutlets / red cutlets to be correct. Oops they look like red meat to me now 

Anyways the key here is to use the leftover cutlet mixture to make long thin shaped patties and then roll them in whole wheat flatbread with some fresh onion and cabbage for a perfect wrap to enjoy

Beetroot soup...

Soups no longer need an explanation to be included in healthy lifestyle. Kids who love to stay away from veggies can get the same nutrients in without making fuss. Yes many kids dont like eating their vegetables the regular and my kids are not an exception either. I have to follow lots of tips and tricks to get nutrition into their regular diet. Yes I do have to remember that I should see smiling faces when they eat it and they dont intend to waste it

For me the best option to get beetroot into our routine is through this soup. They have always liked it. Initially I remember my elder kiddo did not like the color as it was too deep to convince our senses. But we started with lots of talks before we got into the process of drinking. I still remember the day when i first made this for niks. He was not even three then. He was at a learning stage when he loved guessing colors of anything and everything around.  So yes we tried the colors game together. We tried to guess the color of all the soups we had till then... say orange, white, brown, green and so on. Finally we said today is a new color for our soup .... and it is darrrkkkkk red. He liked the stress in it. Well he was reluctant to try for the first time but he did try and yes he liked it. We enjoyed it till the last drop

The recipe is simple as for most soups. I hope you and your kids like it too

Bread croutons ... topping for soups

Bread croutons are a must for us to enjoy our soups. We love adding them more than we enjoy salt crackers in them. We love this homemade, delicious and crispy croutons. Making  them is simple and we can store it an airtight container to keep it crisp for a while. My kids enjoy them so much that they sometimes eat them alone just as snacks. Even I love to pop a few in when I see them around ;)

Jalebi... Instant jalebis without using yeast

Jalebis .... oh my god!!!!! the name makes my mouth water. In my home everyone loves jalebis. My hubby and me are very big fans of this wonderful dessert and now my kids are no less. We cant even wait till all are done. The moment they are out of the pan ans then out the syrup, they have to be served. We like it nice and warm

The best ones we fell in love with were a time when we were dining at a punjabi restaurant. OMG they serve the best jalebis ever. Those were the ones which made me crazy about these sweet little treats. I knew I would sure try it when I have a kitchen of my own. And yes I did .... as soon as I got a chance. It has always been a pleasant experience every time I make it and we have it. Love it always

This recipe is to make instant jalebis which means just no waiting to enjoy ;). I make this without using any yeast which means no  fermentation in any way. It tastes the same good way as other versions

Wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR - WELCOME 2014

Wish you a very happy new year. I hope you had a great time welcoming the new year. We enjoyed it as "Happy, Peaceful and Simple" 

Being with family and friends around this time of new years eve gives a cozy and warm feeling. We enjoyed happily and made lot of resolutions too. Dont know how many we would stick to ;)

My resolutions have been pretty simple but lengthy - I want to be a little more nice, little more smiling, little more helping, little more caring. little more busy, little more cooking, little more crafty, lot less lazy and lot less angry. Wish I follow each one. Too much to wish for this "little me"

WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HOPE THIS YEAR BRINGS IN THE BEST

Thalicha kelangu...Tadke wala tapioca...

Tapioca is a good participant in meals to provide a significant amount of dietary fiber. This takes the path towards providing us a healthier lifestyle. Being low in cholesterol and fats but richer in starch and carbohydrates it helps in healthy weight gain. We include it as a part of our breakfast menu or sometimes in our evening tea-time snack menu. Healthy to eat and using less oil makes me prefer this a lot of times

This recipe is simple and has been the same from my grandmothers time. My mother followed it and now am too in the line

Quesadillas with leftover rajma curry

Rajma curry is a great addition to regular menu and leftover rajma is a greater addition. Guess how?? I love making sandwiches and quesadillas-kind with leftover curry. I feel they taste really good when used as leftovers too. A sense of satisfaction that I did not waste food and a good treat to my tummy in a way that I love. Sometimes I want to eat it so much that I make extra rajma curry to deliberately have extra as leftovers

Making quesadillas with leftover rajma curry saves time and also gives a new taste to the same curry with a gentle and scrumptious twist. Add cheese and a few other toppings to give a refreshing taste

I always preferred quesadillas when opted at any mexican restaurant. I could never just have enough. My H always makes fun of me about eating too much of it. He says "what is in it that makes you love it so much". The simplest answer is "I dont know but i just love it". I dont make it the perfect original recipe way but love this kind-of version which suits better in my menu

I havent added any veggies topping in this post as I made this one for my kid who stays away from fresh cut uncooked veggies. I could not take pictures of my quesadilla... consider excuse #526 ... he he. Anyways try this and enjoy

Chapathi chips ... fun evening snack

Leftover chapathis ??? Try this delicious snack for a cozy evening time. It is a perfect snack for kids and adults too. You might want to munch on these healthy whole wheat chips for your chai time. We make this sometimes when there are leftover chapathis or sometimes I make a few extra chapathis purposefully to make these in the evening. First I used to make tortilla chips with leftover tortillas that we used to buy. Now back in India I use the same idea but make it with leftover rotis

Sweat out time is minimal here so no standing in the kitchen and stirring or mumbling for an evening snack. Just put everything together, then line up on a baking tray and bake till done. Isnt that simple and super quick? Try it and you will love it for sure

Make salsa for the side dip and you will crave for more. Kids love hung curd dip and that combi turns out be their favorite. So we make both dippings always

Bread Pakoda ...

Simple snacks that have been serving us for ages are just great. I always wonder how they thought of cooking. Now its easy ... google it, watch it on tv and try it to get the best. But think of olden days when people had very limited communication but they still they used to cook lot of simple and fancy foods. Hats off to them. I should say hats off to our moms. I specially admire the way my mom learnt cooking over the years - Different kinds of food from different kinds of people. She is great and she is the perfect cook from my perspective of whatever she knows

Bread pakoda is an evening snack that is filling and tasty too. Make it at small get-togethers or kitty parties or just for a cozy warm evening chai. Every time its served its loved by one and all. Sometimes mamma used to pack this to school too and I remember having fun those days

Below is my moms recipe which is the same that I have always followed. I have enjoyed this as a kid and my family enjoys it now

Paneer and Green Capsicum in a silky soft gravy...

Paneer with capsicum is such a lovely combi. I should say, they complement each other really well. I have had so many versions in different restaurants and different places/homes but I have never said no it. It is just my favorite. I like it more when it made with a silky gravy, a little thick which cover everything lightly but doesnt submerge the paneer into the gravy. Its actually that I like the semi-gravy version

This recipe here is simple, nothing too tricky. I follow the rule to cook it on low flame to bring out the flavors and also the silkiness. Its not that you sweat around the stove for hours but just a few extra minutes. No stirring too much, leave it on low flame and let it slow cook

Make this with roti or naan and you are sure to appreciate yourself for a job well done

Watermelon Masti ...

My kid did not like the watermelon juice that I made but that did not disappoint me as I could help him enjoy the same taste with these magical tricks. So whatever juice I made for them was leftover and remade into this recipe

My baby niks doesnt like fruits a lot. So I have to take some extra efforts to get him the goodness in different ways that he would to enjoy natures best creations... fruits. He is a growing kid and he needs all the good stuff of fruits so I have to try my best. Sometimes I try smoothies, sometimes shakes, juices, popsicles, fruit yogurt and sometimes I dont know what ;) but sure a lot more

Watermelon is something he hates as he keeps saying it drips when he eats. I know its just an excuse. Last time I made Watermelon juice for myself (recipe in previous post) when he was running around. I said its strawberry juice and wanted him to try. But no luck, I knew it wont work , he tried and said "no way". He just says he doesnt like the taste. So I wanted to tell him watermelon but with a very fancy name that will lure him. I tried making him watermelon popsicles and called another as watermelon sorbet. Guess what, this time it really worked and there were more than helpings. Kids enjoyed it so much that these fancies were enjoyed many a summer days. So I should say my try was a pure success