Junior's Joy Box from Domino's

Since my princess is going to go away to her grandparent's in two days, so i thought she deserved a treat. Hence i ordered the newly launched Junior's Joy Box from Domino's.

The Junior's Joy Box from DOMINO'S

First look of the box, it looked very colorful and attractive for a kid. And it had some pretty caricatures on top. And it came with a Mango beverage and a toy, Sponge Bob Square Pants.

The Joy Box from inside

 My princess finished all of it and said that it tasted divine. I agree with her although i didn't taste it, just smelled and looked at it.

Cheesy Pizza sticks, Garlic bread stick, Custard Pizza Stick

 So if i had to give a rating, i would give it a score of 4.5/5.

Sponge Bob ready to devour the Custard Pizza Stick

Mango Sooji Halwa with poori

Mango sooji halwa with varq and poori

Since the mango surge in the market, my princess needs mango in everything possible. So i tried in the sooji halwa and made it exotic. It sure did smell good.

Golden halwa with silver decoration

 Ingredients-

Ghee- 2 tbsp
Sooji- 1/2 cup
Mango puree- 1/2 cup
Sugar- 6 tbsp
Milk- 1/2 cup
Silver varq- 1/2 sheet, for garnish

Method-

1. In a pan, heat the ghee and saute the sooji till almost golden in color.
2. Add the mango puree and the milk at the same time to the pan and mix well.
3. Let the sooji soak up all the liquid and keep stirring continuously.
4. If required add 1-2 tbsp more milk to make it as per your consistency.
5. add the sugar and mix well and let it all melt.
6. Remove in a bowl and garnish with the silver varq.
7. Serve with hot pooris or even luchi.

Mango Cake

Since the EU ban, mango has flooded the market. Hence i had to try various uses of mango and also because it is my princess's favorite fruit.This fruit she will ask to be given at any time of the day. Any other fruit has to be coaxed past her eyes.

The white turning into yellow

 Hence it was mango cake with fresh mango puree. I used the south Indian safeda. They were huge as i got about 3 in a kg. So each one weighed more then 300 gms easily.


Ingredients-

Sugar- 1 cup
Maida- 1 cup
Oil- 1 cup
Eggs- 2 nos
Mango puree- 1 cup
Baking pwd- 1 tsp

The cake and the top

Method-

1. Cream the eggs and the sugar till light and fluffy.
2. Add the oil and mix well.
3. Add the puree and mix well.
4. Fold in the flour and do not over-mix.
5. Pour into a greased baking tine.
6. Bake at about 180 C for about 30 minutes.

Chickpeas & Aubergine Masala

Hello all!! I know what you all must be thinking. Chickpeas and aubergines together is a very weird combination. But believe you me, it tastes awesome. Since my venturing into healthy eating to have a control over my hypothyroidism life, i have been on a road to discovering new combinations even after being a chef for the last 19 years of my life.

Healthy chickpeas with aubergine

Ingredients-

Chickpeas- 1 cup, soaked and boiled
Aubergine- 1 cup, cut into 2 cm dices
Onion- 1 small, chopped
Tomato- 1 small, chopped
Ginger & garlic paste- 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Turmeric- 1/2 tsp
Red chilli pwd- 1/2 tsp
Cumin pwd- 1/2 pwd
Fresh coriander- 2 tbsp, chopped
Olive oil- 2 tbsp

Method-

1. In a pan, heat oil.
2. Add onions and saute well till more than translucent
3. Add the ginger and garlic paste and cook till the raw flavor goes away and it turns golden brown in color.
4. Add the tomatoes and cook well till the tomatoes are cooked properly
5. Add the dry spices and mix well. You could also add about 2 tbsp of water to mix the spices well into the onion and tomato mixture.
6. Add the aubergine and saute well and coat well in the spice mixture.
7. cook for about 7-8 minutes.
8. Now add the chickpeas and stir to mix all together.
9. Cook for another 7-8 minutes and add 2-3 tbsp water if the mixture gets stuck to the pan.
10. check for seasoning and add salt.
11. Take off fire and garnish with fresh chopped coriander.

Note- this could be served with chapati or even had with rice.

Mushroom & Baby corn Enchilada

Good morning all!!
In my previous post i forgot to mention Enchilada which is also made from corn or whole wheat tortilla.

Enchilada- is a rolled and filled corn tortilla which is then smothered in a spicy tomato salsa or sauce. It can have any number of fillings or combinations of ingredients, such as meats, vegetables or even potatoes.

I made Enchilada but without cheese and did not smother it with any sauce. Why? Because am trying to shed some of my excess baggage due to hypothyroidism. Hence am trying to eat healthy.

Mushroom and baby corn Enchilada

Ingredients-

Mushrooms-5 nos sliced
Baby corn- 5 sliced
Red bell pepper- 1/2, juliennes
Onion- 1 small, sliced
Olive oil- 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Salsa- 2 tbsp
Corn Tortilla- 2 nos

Method-

1. Blanch the baby corn in boiling water for 2 minutes. And refresh in cold water.
2. In a pan, heat the olive oil.
3. Add the onion and saute till translucent.
4. Add the mushroom and saute till all moisture has evaporated.
5. Add the baby corn and toss to mix.
6. Add the salsa and mix well. Check for seasoning.
7. Remove and put on the tortillas and roll.

Sausage Quesadilla

Let's try some Mexican food today that i made for my princess. Before we begin the recipe let me explain some of the basic Mexican dishes to you for better understanding.

The start of some of these interesting and yummy dishes is with a flat bread called Tortilla. A Tortilla is made with whole wheat flour and very similar to our chappati or phulka. It could also be made with maize flour or corn flour( no not the white corn flour, but the makki ka atta). Tortilla is made from an unleavened, water based dough, rolled and cooked over a griddle.

Once you have the basic tortilla ready with you, you can make several other dishes derived from the humble tortilla, like taco, burrito, etc.

Taco- Is one of the most traditional Mexican dish which is a tortilla folded into half and has a filling. The opening is left open and not sealed in any way.  The filling can be made of anything and everything that your taste buds fancy. it could be fish, chicken, beef, and even non traditional fillings like tofu. It also has lettuce, vegetables and cheese added in the filling. It is traditionally eaten directly from the hand with the use of any utensils. There are a whole lot of accompaniments that go along with Mexican food like salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, etc,.

Fajita- is basically any grilled meat which is usually served on a tortilla and piled with 
the accompaniments and also addition of shredded lettuce, onions, tomatoes and heaps of cheese. Traditionally it was a grilled beef steak but now the grilled meat can be anything from shrimps to chicken or even fish.

Burrito- A corn or wheat a tortilla which is rolled into a cylindrical shape to enclose the filling completely. The filling co

uld also include other ingredients such as cheese, shredded lettuce, and other vegetables. In traditional Mexico homes the refried beans with meat is the traditional filling of a burrito.

Chimichanga- This is a deep fried burrito and is popular in the southern america which is influenced by the Mexican cuisine. The difference between a burrito and a chimichanga is that the chimichanga is folded into a rectangle shape and deep fried as compared to a burrito which is cylindrical. It could have a variety of fillings and is accompanied with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, etc,.

Quesadilla- Lastly the star of my post. A quasadilla is a tortilla which is folded into a half moon with filling and cheese and then finished on a griddle. But i made a change and i used two corn tortillas. The name is derived from Spanish word queso for cheese and tortilla.

 

Cheese and shredded lettuce

 Ingredients-

Corn tortilla- 2 nos
Chicken sausages- 3 nos, cut into juliennes
Olive Oil- 2 tbsp
Onion- 1 small, sliced
Garlic- 2 cloves, chopped
Red bell pepper- 1/2, cut into juliennes
Yellow bell pepper- 1/2, cut into juliennes
Green bell pepper- 1/2, cut into juliennes
lettuce- 4 leaves, shredded
Cheese cheddar- 6 tbsp grated
Salt- to taste
Crushed black pepper- to taste
Salsa- 2 tbsp (you could substitute with tomato ketchup if you do not have salsa)

Filling

 Method-

1. In a pan heat the olive oil.
2. Saute the garlic and the onion till translucent.
3. Add the bell peppers and saute till the color becomes bright.
4. Add the sausages and mix well. 
5. Add the salsa and mix well and check for seasoning.
6. Gently heat the tortillas on the griddle on a low flame to make them warm
7. On one of the tortilla, spread half of the grated cheese. Layer with the shredded lettuce.
8. Top with the sausage and pepper mixture. cover with the remaining cheese.
9. cover this with the other tortilla.
10. Put it back on the griddle and heat through on both sides till the cheese is melted
11. Cut into 6 or 8 pieces like a pizza and serve with sour cream or salsa.

Finally on the griddle

WHOLE WHEAT CINNAMON ROLLS

This recipe was modified so that my 6 year old princess could make it herself. Hence no yeast and proofing. Super easy for kids to make on their own.

Ready to knead the dough

 Ingredients-
For the dough-
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp butter
1 cup milk
For filling-
2 tbsp butter, melted
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp cinnamon powder
For the topping-
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp milk or water

About to enter the baking

 Method-
1. Put the flour, salt, baking powder and the soft butter in a big bowl.
2. Mix the butter into the flour with your finger tips to make a sandy texture.
3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.
4. Mix well to form a firm yet soft dough using all the milk.
5. Dust the work surface with whole wheat flour and roll the dough into a square shape about 1/2 cm thick.
6. Mix the powdered sugar with the cinnamon powder.
7. Brush with the melted butter.
8. And sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
9. Roll into a thick roll. Cut into about 1 inch rolls.
10. Arrange them loosely into a greased baking dish.
11. Bake in a 180  C oven for about 20 minutes.

After baking with the frosting

12. Till then mix the powdered sugar with the milk and mix well.
13. If it becomes too thin add more sugar. and if it is too thick then add more milk.
14. When the rolls are baked to a golden perfection, then top with the frosting while still hot.
15. Let it cool and devour.

Healthy Oats Bar- No Sugar, No Butter, No Flour.... Just healthy

Today i made healthy Oats bars with banana. And they have no added sugar, no added butter and no added flour. Just the plain and healthy goodness of oats, banana, almonds and raisins.

Oats and Banana Bar

 Ingredients:
2 large over ripe bananas, mashed till almost liquidy
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup almonds roughly chopped
1/4 cup raisins
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

Ready to go into the oven

 Method-
1. Mash the bananas well in a bowl till almost liquidy.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well till a very thick mixture is formed and all are mixed evenly.
3. Grease a baking tray with 1/2 tbsp olive oil.
4. Spread the mixture evenly into the tray and smooth-en the mixture with the back of a spoon.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180C for about 30 minutes or till the crust becomes golden brown.
6. Take it out and let it cool before cutting.

My house is smelling of the goodness of baking banana

Noodles pakora

Hey all, i know you all are angry with me for not posting for a last two months. But here i am back with a new recipe for you all.

I made this for my princess's tiffin. Now she has grown up and in a big school. 

Ingredients-

Boiled noodles- 1/2 cup

Red bell peppers, chopped- 3 tbsp

Besan- 5 tbsp

Spring onions, chopped- 5 tbsp

Salt- to taste

Water- as per requirement

Oil- for frying

                                        

Method-

1.Put all the vegetables and the noodles in a bowl and mix well to evenly distribute the ingredients.

2. Add salt and check for seasoning.

3. Add the besan and add little water to make a thick mixture which is just coating the noodles and the vegetables mixture.

4. heat oil in a kadai.

5. Drop little spoonfuls of the noodles and besan mixture into the hot oil.

6. fry till golden brown and crispy.

7. Serve with Ketchup or mint chutney.

Note- You can add any vegetables that you like. I added red bell peppers as my princess does not like any other veggie with red bell pepper. It is just her favorite veggie.

RAW BANANA & PANEER KEBAB

HHmmm its been really looong!!!!!!!!!!!

What can i say???????????

"How u doin????"

Hope all is well at your end..........

so here goes.........

Ingredients-

1 medium boiled potato, grated

100 gms paneer grated

2 small raw banana, boiled and grated

3 tbsp chopped coriander

1 small onion chopped

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp black pepper powder or freshly crushed

salt to taste

Oil to shallow fry

4 tbsp breadcrumbs

Method-

1. Mix all the ingredients together except the oil.

2. Add the breadcrumbs, if the mixture is little too soft.

3. Take about 50 gms of the mixture and shape into long cigars.

4. In a non-stick pan, sprinkle a few drops of oil and heat through.

5. Put the kebab cigars and cook on all sides till golden brown on all sides.

6. Have it just like that as a kebab with mint chutney. Or roll it inside thin tortias with some shredded lettuce to make kebab rolls.

SPINACH AND BREAD BAKE

Of late, my chikoo's favourite veggie is spinach... And this is good and am happy for her.
So i made these spinach and bread bake for her lunch box today morning. And the good news it was all gone, hopefully into her stomach.

So here goes......

Ingredients-

Spinach- 1/2 bunch
Onion-1, small
Tomato-1, small
Salt- to taste
Pepper- to taste
Oil- 1 tbsp
Bread slices- 6
Cheese-4 tbsp, grated
Butter- to grease
Egg-2
Cream- 1 cup
Oregano=1/2 tsp

Method-

* Cut the sides of the bread slices and apply buter on one side.
* Grease 6 steel bowls or muffin tray.
* Wash and shred the spinach and chop the onion and tomatoes.
* In a pan heat the oil and saute the onion.
* Add the spinach and tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Keep aside.
* In a bowl, mix the egg, cream and cheese and season with pepper and oregano.
* Place the slice of bread in a bowl with the unbuttered side towards thebowl and let it take the shape of the bowl.
* Place little of the mixture in the centre of the bread bowl.
* Do the same with the other slices.
* Pour in the cream and egg mixture into all the six bowls.
* Put the bowls in a baking tray and bake in a pre-heated oven for 10-12 minutes or till the cream and egg mixture becomes solid and forms a golden brown crust.
* You can use any combination of veggies, but the veggies should be cooked to remove all excess moisture.

CORN AND BELL PEPPER CAKES

These are corn and bell pepper cakes which i made for my chikoo's tiffin box. I used red bell pepper because she loves it and asks me to buy it every time we go veggies shopping.

Ingredients-
2 nos boiled potatoes
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 cup corn kernels
1 onion
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 tsp oil

Method-

* Chop the onion and bell peppers finely.
* Mash the potatoes without any lumps.
* In a pan heat the oil and add the onion and saute till translucent.
* Add the corn and saute till soft.
* Add the bell peppers and saute till bright in colour.
* Season with salt and pepper and add the oregano and mix well.
* Add the vegetable mixture to the mashed potatoes and mix well.
* Add little of the breadcrumbs in to hte mixture and mix well.
* Form walnut sized balls and flatten into small cakes or patties.
* Coat with the breadcrumbs.
* Shallow fry the cakes. Or they can be even grilled on a non-stick pan without any oil.

She loved them so much that her tiffin box was empty, no little crumbs even.

You can even try these with other veggies if you like.

ALPHABET PASTA AND SPINACH FRITTATA

Ingredients-

2 nos eggs
1 tbsp grated cheese
1/2 cup boiled alphabet pasta
1 small onion, chopped
1 small tomato, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
10-12 spinch leaves, shredded
Salt to taste
Crushed black pepper to taste
1 tsp oil


Method-

* Beat the eggs with salt and pepper.
* In a non-stick pan, heat oil and saute all the vegetables for about 2-3 mins.
* Add the pasta and mix well.
* Then add the beaten egg and mix well.
* Let the frittata cook on the bottom on a low flame.
* When the bottom is cooked, sprinkle the cheese on top.
* Put the pan under the top heat of an oven and let the cheese brown and the rest of the frittata cook till done.
* If u dont have an oven , then just simply turn the frittata up-side down and let the other side also cook till done.
* Cut into wedges and serve with tomato ketchup.

NOTE- If u want , u can add any vegetables that u like. My angel likes spinach n red bell peppers and onions and tomatoes, hence have added these.
And the pasta can also change according to preference.

But for sure, the kids will love it.

CHEESE PARATHA

Today i gave cheese paratha to chikoo in her lunch box.

And it is very easy to make. And since kids love cheese and anything to do with cheese i'm sure there will be nothing in the lunch box when she returns.

Ingredients:

Cheese- 2 tbsp, grayed
Coriander-2 sprigs, chopped
Onion- 1 small, chopped
Salt- to taste
Pepper- to taste
Whole wheat dough- enough to make 1 paratha
Ghee- 1 tbsp


Method:

1. Mix the cheese, coriander and onion and season with salt and pepper.
2. Make a ball of the dough and flatten it out a little with your fingers and palm.
3. Stuff the cheese mixture into the flattened dough and make a ball again.
4. Roll the stuffed dough into a paratha.
5. Put on a tawa and apply ghee, cook till golden brown on both sides.
6. You can cut the paratha into triangles like a pizza and put in the lunch box.

Easy Grilled Cheese with Tomato

Today i gave my chikoo grilled cheese with tomato in her tiffin or lunch box.

It is very easy to make.

Ingredients:

Bread slice- 2 nos
Cheese slice - 2 nos
Tomato- 1 no, sliced thinly
Butter- 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Pepper powder- to taste

Method:

1. Heat a nonstick pan or even a tawa will do.
2. On one slice of bread apply the cheese slice and top with 5-6 slices of tomato.
3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper powder.
4. Cover the sandwich with the other slice of bread.
5. Put the sandwich on the pan or tawa and apply butter on both the sides and toast to a golden brown colour.
6. You can eat it with the sides on or withpout the sides.
7. I prefer to remove the slices for my chikoo as it gets cold in the lunch box and in turn the slices get harder to chew for the kids.

TIFFIN TIMES

Hello all!!!!!!

I know i have been back after a long time, as my kids, in the college that i teach in, were busy with their examinations.
And from today onwards i will be posting a Kid Friendly recipe almost every day for it the summer vacation but mothers are still thinking that when the school starts what should i be making for their tiffins.
So this post and all the next ones with tiffin or lunch box ideas are dedicated to my friend and ex-colleague from delhi, Rene.

So here goes......................

so we will start with green poori or green roti.........

GREEN POORI OR GREEN ROTI

Ingredients-

Spinach puree-1/2 cup
Salt- to taste
Whole wheat flour- 1 cups
Oil or ghee- for frying

Method-

1. Make a dough of the flour using the spinach puree and water as required.
2. Divide the dough into balls.
3. Roll out the dough into circles about 3 inch in diameter if making pooris or larger if making rotis.
4. Fry the pooris or make rotis or parathas depending on what you are making.
5. The pooris or rotis will be green in colour and it will something different for the kids.

Hope you have fun making them and the kids have fun eating them.