Kabuli Chana Masala

This is a snack that I make on some lazy evenings when I m hungry and want to cook something in couple of minutes. I have some cans of chick peas stored, they come in handy most of the times. My hubby loves this a lotttttt. Im sending this for the MLLA Event hosted by Sia of http://www.monsoonspice.com/ and the event was initiated by Susan of the http://www.wellseasonedcook.blogspot.com/. Click here to know about the event details.

Ingredients:
Kabuli Chana / Chick Peas - 2 cups boiled or 1 can
Tomato sauce - 1 tsp
Chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt and oil as per taste

Steps:
1. Heat little oil in a pan, add the chickpeas and saute for a minute.
2. Add tomato sauce, chilly powder and salt. Saute for 2 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and garnish with lemon juice and onions.

You can add more spices as per your palate to enhance the flavour. I also added Buffalo sauce to this, it tasted yum...
Have it as a tea time snack. Its good during the monsoon and winters.

Health Quotient:
Chick peas/Garbanzos give you energy to burn while stabilizing blood sugar. In addition to its beneficial effects on the digestive system and the heart, soluble fiber helps stabilize blood sugar levels. If you have insulin resistance, hypoglycemia or diabetes, beans like garbanzos can really help you balance blood sugar levels while providing steady, slow-burning energy. Studies of high fiber diets and blood sugar levels have shown the dramatic benefits provided by these high fiber foods. To know more about the benefits and storage of these, click here.

Chewy Chocolate Walnut

Own version of chewy bars. Chewy bars are something I love to eat. Thought of making one for kids. This one comes in a package. I mean, chocolate and walnut-museli or cornflakes combo. Kids will love the chocolate, and you'll be delighted to make them eat nuts and cereals. You can alter the recipe as per your palate. I have used the ingredients available in my kitchen.

Ingredients:
Corn flakes / Oats /Muesli - 1 cup
Walnuts - 1/4 cup, chopped
Chocolate chip - 1/4 cup
Milk - 1/2 cup

Steps:
1. Using a double boiler or microwave, melt the chocolate. Click here to know the details.
2. Once the chocolate melts, add muesli(Oats/Cornflakes).
3. Stir well and add milk a little at a time. Keep stirring at frequent intervals.
4. Add the walnuts and stir well for a minute or so until you get a perfect blend of all the ingredients.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Place these on a parchment paper or greased plate and refrigate it for 30 minutes. You can also mould them in a silver foil and refrigate it for 30 minutes.
Serve cold with milk or as a dessert.

Health Quotient:
Walnuts are a delicious way to add extra nutrition, flavor and crunch to a meal. Adding walnuts to your diet can be an important step in improving your cardiovascular health. To lower your risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease, enjoy a handful of walnuts, or other antioxidant-rich nuts, at least 4 times a week. To learn more about walnut nutrition and health benefits, click here.
This is my entry for CFK -chocolates hosted by Hema of salt2taste.blogspot.com and Sharmi of http://www.neivedyam.com/ who initiated the CFK event.

Chocolate Glazed Almond Stuffed Strawberry

I had a tough time thinking about a chocolate recipe. Being a die-hard chocoholic, made the job even more difficult, to say the least. Any type of chocolate, even a teeny-weeny one doesnt escape my ever hungry chocolate deprived tummy. Sending this entry to Hema of salt2taste.blogspot.com, who is hosting her first CFK event. I have used strawberry, if you dont find it in the market, try using some other fruit like apple, plums, banana or any fruit you have at home. After all, CFK(my opninion) is all about healthy and fun cooking for kids.

Ingredients:
Strawberry - 10
Chocolate chip - 1/2 cup
Almonds - 10
Milk - 1/4 cup

Steps:
1. Wash the strawberries gently in a colander and immediately wipe it with a tissue paper. Make sure not to remove the stems while washing, as exposure to water will affect the texture and flavor. Alternatively, use a wet tissue paper to wipe the strawberries.
Note: Strawberries should be removed from the fridge an hour before use. This makes glazing easier and the flavor of strawberries are best at room temperature.
2. Soak the almonds in milk for 30 minutes.
3. Melt the chocolate chips on the stove, microwave or double boiler. Click here to find the details.
4. Once the chocolate chip is melted, hold the strawberry using the stem and glaze it in the chocolate evenly. Do the same with all the strawberries and place it on a greased plate.
5. Glaze the almonds in the chocolate and place it on a greased plate or parchment paper.
6. Refrigate the almonds and strawberries for 10 minutes.
7. Remove the stem off the strawberry using a knife.
8. Once the stem is removed, pierce the almond into the strawberry.
OR
You can cut the strawberry and stuff it with the almond and put another coat of chocolate on top.
Serve it cold with icecream or by itself as a dessert.

Health Quotient:
A strawberry is a superstar when it comes to antioxidant power, says Dr. Barry Sears in his book The Top 100 Zone Foods. Also a good source of Vitamin C and packed with flavonoids. Almonds are one of the most nutritious of all the nuts. Cancer prevention, protection against cardiovascular diseases, lower cholestrol are some benefits reaped with almond consumption. As Hema mentioned, chocolate is not all that bad if taken in moderation. To know the benefits of chocolates and to know the type of fat associated with it, click here.

Hope you try this easy recipe for your kids. Im sure they'll love it. I am sending this to Hema of salt2taste.blogspot.com who is hosting CFK - chocolates and Sharmi of http://www.neivedyam.com/ who has initiated the CFK event.

Navaratri special

It's been a long time that I last visited my blog. Was busy with 'nav-rathri' celebrations. Had a very good time these 9 days. Each day one sundal, one sweet as neivedhyam was tooooo much of good food. Alas!!! dint get any time in clicking pics of the yummy decadent delicacies....

This is what I offered as neivedyam:

Day 1 - Semiya payasam and brown chickpeas sundal

Day 2 - Channa dal sundal

Day 3 - Kidney beans sundal

Day 4 - Green gram rice

Day 5 - Moth bean sundal

Day 6 - Sabudana payasam and sabudana khichdi

Day 7 - Sakkarai pongal

Day 8 - Sabudana and semiya payasam

Day 9 - Kesari, puri, white chickpeas sundal, potato curry

Today, I m making Paruppu vadai. As I have already posted this recipe before, I m not going to repost it.

Today, I am not going to post any food recipe, just spreading the joy of Dussehra/navaratri with all my fellow bloggers. May the divine blessings of Goddess Durga help you achieve success in whatever you do.

Grapes-Blueberry juice

Recently, you may have read or heard alot about antioxidants in conjunction with good health or avoiding diseases. Antioxidants have been getting great press lately, and rightfully so. But what are they? What do they do once inside our bodies? And how can we get more of them? This is a simple drink which is very healthy and the same time tasty..

Ingredients:

Black grapes - 1 bunch

blue berries - 1/2 cup

water - 1/2 cup

milk - 1/2 cup (optional)

Steps:

Grind all these in a mixer/blender. Add very little water.

Health Quotient:

Blueberries are known for the antioxidants. Antioxidants in our food can save us from virtually everything. Antioxidants provide stronger immune resisitance to flues, viruses and infection, reduced risk of all cancers and anti-aging of cells and overall body. These are just a few benefits. Black grapes are a healthy food, and if you enjoy eating them, there is nothing to stop you from making them a regular part of your diet. Grapes contain a large variety of nutrients, and are particularly rich in minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium, as well vitamin C.

Potato Peas curry / உருளை பட்டாணி குருமா /आलू मटर की सब्जी

Whether mashed, baked or fried, people often consider potatoes as comfort food. This one is a favorite at my home. It is an important food staple and the number one vegetable crop in the world. Potatoes are available year-round as they are harvested somewhere every month of the year. It's one easy to make dish, which goes well with chappati, dosa, rice or bread. Boiled potatoes are healthier than fried potatoes. This is what I think while cooking these, to avoid the guilt-conscientious. This is a common recipe, so why blog it. This site is all about cooking by a naive person and it has all the basic recipes, often the most known and easy ones as well.

Ingredients:

Potatoes - 2

Green Peas - 1 cup

Onion - 1 finely chopped

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Coriander powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Chilly powder - 1 tsp

Amchur powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt and Oil as required.

Steps:

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them 1 inch cubes. Add water and boil it in the microwave for 7 minutes. If using pressure cooker, pressure cook for 2 whistles and then cut the potatoes. Potatoes should not be completely cooked.

2. Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds. Once they splutter, add the cumin seeds and saute for a minute.

3. Add ginger garlic paste and saute until the raw smell goes.

4. Add the onions and saute till it turns translucent.

5. Add the CTC(chilly, turmeric, coriander)powders and saute till masalas are cooked.

6. Once the raw smell masala goes, add green peas and saute for 2 minutes till it mixes well with the onion masala.

7. Add the boiled potatoes and saute for 2 minutes. Pour little water and let it cook in slow flame till the potatoes are fully cooked. Cover with a lid.

8.Add the amchur powder and mix well. Cover with lid and let it cook for a minute on slow flame.

Serve hot with chappati, roti, naan or dosa.

Health Quotient:

Potatoes are very low in saturated fat and have no cholestrol. Potatoes have good water content. They are a very good source of vitamin C, a good source of vitamin B6, copper, potassium, manganese, and dietary fiber.

Potatoes as such are healthy and have all the essential nutrients. People shunning these for weight issues, please go ahead and have potaotes cooked in proper manner, which retain most of the nutrients.

Wheat - Oats Blueberry Scones

Got this recipe from http://www.brooklynfarmhouse.com/ site. This recipe is adapted from the fantastic Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. All the recipes in the blog are good and the way the author writes is very impressive. I read the site for almost 2 complete hours. It's one of the best cooking sites I have visited so far. It inspired to eat something healthy. I have made few changes to the original recipe. I added only milk without adding any yogurt.


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons brown sugar (dark or light)
1 teaspoon grated ginger
7 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup milk (lowfat is OK)
1 egg
2 tablespoons yogurt or milk
1 teaspoon high-quality vanilla extract
1 cup frozen blueberries tossed in 1 teaspoon flour
1 cup rolled oats

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 425ºF. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat, with parchment, or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, 1/2 cup oats, baking powder, salt, brown sugar, and ginger.
3. Cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingers.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, the egg, the yogurt (or additional milk), and the vanilla extract.
5. Add the liquid mixture to the flour-butter mixture, and stir until just combined. Stir in the blueberries.
6. Make round balls of the dough and coat them with Oats and place it in the baking sheet
7. Bake the scones for 12-15 minutes, or until they are light golden brown. Serve warm.

Health Quotient:
Blueberries are packed with antioxidants. Oats are a good source of dietary fiber. Eating oats makes you feel fuller and less hungry. It eventually leads to weight loss.

Chilli Parantha

This is chilli paratha, my apologies if you mistook it for Chilli Porotta. This is not the Chilly Porrotta served in the Kerala restaurants. I too love them a lottttttt. This is a Punjabi version, Chilli Parantha. We used to have this in Bangalore, in a place called Punjabi Dhaba. We used to gorge on all kinds of parathas, it was often difficult to select from the wide variety of parathas. Aloo paratha, methi paratha, Mooli paratha, Onion paratha, Gobi paratha, chilli paratha are the ones that we used to eat often.
This is just a simple paratha, with minimal ingredients, but it tastes ....... hot(what else :)) and yummyyyyy. Do try at your own risk, cos this is realllyyyyyyy hotttttttt.

Ingredients:
Green Chilli - 15 - 20
Lime juice - 1 Tsp
Wheat flour - 2 cups
Salt and water as required

Steps:
1. Slit the green chillies and soak it in the lime juice for 30 minutes. This is to reduce the heat of the chillies, you can skip this step if you want it really hot.
2. Grind the chillies in a blender or mixie. You can also chop them.
3. Knead all the above ingredients to a pliable dough.
4. Make round balls of equal size and roll it.
5. Heat the tawa/skillet, cook the parathas. Use oil or ghee to enhance the texture and flavour.
Serve hot with dal, curd or raita.

Health Quotient:
The nutritional value and health benefirts of green chilly make it ideal for maintaining optimal health and weight loss.
If you cant take too much heat, try adding peanuts along with chilly, that tastes yum too. This goes to Anita from http://madteaparty.wordpress.com/, an experienced blogger who is celebrating 3 years of blogging. I often visited her blog, before I started blogging. Her blog is really coolllllll and her conversations are lively and interesting, not to forget the yummy recipes.