Teacher's day special blog

My last blog commitment was 10 minutes a day post for one month. But I could not successfully do it because with a 2 year son and his birthday party arrangements. I just was lost from past 1 month. So now as I have decided to get back to my passion of blogging and cooking.  On this occasion of teachers day I would like to share one more thing with you all. 1 year I worked as a teacher and today evening was missing all my dear students and was feeling very low because I quit my job I got a surprise from my first son. He had planned and he went and got two gifts for me. He hugged and wished me " Happy teachers day" Mom . I just felt blessed. I also would like to wish all my teacher's on teacher's day. What I'm today is because of them.

 

Day 25: chakli ready mix

u need:
3 cups dosa rice,
1 cup fried gram,
5 tbsp urad dal,
5 tbsp chana dal.
Method: wash rice 5 times and allow it dry on a cotton cloth overnight. Once u feel the rice is dry. Heat a Kadai now add the rice and fry it until ur hand can feel the rice is just hot. Remove it on a cloth and allow it to dry. Now fry urad dal and china dal separately. Once the rice is cool add everything to it even the fried gram and get  it powdered in the flour mill and store it in airtight jar. It is better you use before 1 month of preparation of this powder.
 

Day 24: Rava dosa ready mix

u need:
2 cups rava( fried upma rava),
2 cups rice flour,
1 cup Maida,
1/2 cup besan flour,
1 tbsp jeera,
1 tbsp til seeds,
1 tsp turmeric,
2 tbsp salt.
Method :
Mix everything in a mixing bowl and store it in airtight box. On a lazy Sunday morning all you need to do is just mix it with water and add fresh coriander and green chili and prepare fresh dosa. If you plan well you can prepare this ready mix when you are free and just store it. It come handy when guests come or when your school going kid gets up early on a Sunday morning and demands for breakfast soon. This dosa you can have with chutney powder or coconut chutney.

 For rava dosa preparation method u can see the below link
http://anyonecancook-passion.blogspot.in/2011/12/rava-dosa.html

 

Day 23:Baby Aloo Paneer fry

u need :
10 baby aloo,
200 grams paneer,
1 tsp salt,
1 tsp chilli powder,
1 tsp garam masala powder,
1 pinch of pepper powder,
2 tbsp oil,
coriander to garnish.
Method:
wash baby aloo and pressure cook them and remove the skin of the aloo.
Heat oil in kadai now add baby aloo and fry it and add all the masala. add paneer and fry it for 2 mins and turn off the gas and cover the lid of the kadai.  serve this with tomato sauce and garnish it with finely chopped coriander. 

Day 22: Instant kesribath mix

u need:
1 cup chiroti rava,
2 cups powdered sugar,
1/2 cup ghee,
1/2 mixed dryfruits( grapes, cashewnut, cran berry)
4 to 5 cloves,
2 elachi pods,
1 pinch of orangefood color.
Method:
heat ghee in kadai when it melts add dry fruits , cloves and elachi. fry it for 1 min. when the dry fruits turn golden brown add rava and fry until u get a pleasant aroma from the rava. fry on low flame.
switch off the stove and once it is at room temperature add sugar powder and mix well and store it in an airtight container.

to prepare kesribath.
u need :
4 cups water and 1 cup ready mix.
Method:
Boil water in kadai and when it is boiling just add this mix and mix it well and close the lid of the kadai and cook it on high flame for 5 mins. now just open and mix it again and cook it for 5 more mins on low flame and now the kesribath is ready within 15 minutes.

 

Day 21: Papad in microwave

u need :
2 urad dal papad,
1 tsp oil.
Method apply little oil on one side of the papad with oil applying brush and microwave it for 1 minute. you can do this without oil also.
 

Day 20: Instant rava idli

http://www.anyonecancook-passion.blogspot.in/2014/07/day-18-upma-ready-mix.html

this link above contains ready mix upma recipe.
so for rava idli all you need to do is for the 1 cup upma mix you just add two cups of fresh curds and allow it for 30 mins add 1 tsp of baking soda and mix well and steam it in idli stand and serve it fresh and hot.

 

Day 19: Baby dosa

dosa batter:
3 cups rice,
1 cup urad dal,
1/4th cup poha,
5 tbsp chana dal.
Method:
wash everything separately and soak it separately for 6 hours and grind it in mixer and allow it to stand overnight.


u need:
dosa batter
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt,
5 tbsp oil.
Method:
heat the tava and just with the help of a spoon make small dosa on the  tava. at one stretch you can make 10 dosas of small size. kids just love this.
 

Day 18: upma ready mix

u need:
1 kg upma rava,
1 cup oil,
2 tbsp mustard seeds,
2 tbsp jeera,
1 tbsp urad dal,
1 tbsp chana dal,
4 tbsp groundnut,
10 to 15 fenugreek leaves,
10 to 15 green chilli,
1 small cup chopped coriander,
1 inch ginger washed and finely chopped,
salt as per taste,
1 lemon.
Method:
heat oil in kadai, add mustard, jeera and ground nut and fry it for 1 min. now add urad dal and chana dal and fenugreek leaves and chilli. fry it well. add chopped ginger. now add rava and mix well and fry for 10 mins. and now add salt , lemon juice. fry it for 5 more mins on low flame and add chopped coriander and switch of the stove. your ready mix is ready. once in a month if you prepare this u can prepare upma in 5 mins.  only thing which has to be taken care is the taste of green chilli and salt.

to prepare upma all you need to do is boil 2 cups of water in a kadai. when water is boiling add one cup of rava and mix well. and cover the lid for 5 mins on high flame and switch off the stove. now you be ready to eat this hot and tasty upma.
this ready mix my mom prepared it for me when I was going to US. and now I always prepare when my hubby travels.

Day 17: Instant Rava roti with dal

u need:
2 cups of  chiroti rava,
2 cups water,
pinch of salt.
1 cup rice flour to roll the roti.
5 tbsp oil to fry roti's.
Method:
boil water in a kadai when water is boiling add pinch of salt and now slowly you add rava and keep mixing it so that there will be no lumps. now when close the lid of the kadai and allow it to cook in low flame. after 5 mins uncover it and mix well. if u feel the dough is watery add little rava and mix well. if u feel if it is hard just sprinkle little water and cover the lid and switch of the stove. allow the dough to cool and once it is at room temperature. make small equal portions of the dough to make rotis. using rice flour evenly roll the roti's and fry it on the tava.
The best part of this roti is u can roll these roti's and store it one on top of the other and u need not bother they will not stick to each other and when u need you can make hot roti's. so if any guests are coming home if you want your kitchen to be neat and tidy or if you want to spend time with your friend or relatives. all you need to do is prepare this simple roti and fry it once they are ready for lunch or dinner. this is very easy only if the dough comes out well. only way to check is apply little oil to the hand and make small roll if the dough sticks to your hand then it is not ok u need to cook for 5 more mins, orelse the dough is ready to be rolled. it is very good for kids above one year. it will be very soft and if they have it with ghee they will feel filled also. one of my close friend told me how to prepare this and now I prepare them regularly for dinner.

Day 16: sprouted methi seeds salad

u need : 1 cup of methi seeds,
1 cup grated carrot,
1/2 cup soaked ground nut,
10 badam,
1 pinch of salt,
1 pinch of pepper
1 tsp lemon juice,
little coriander to garnish.
Method:
Soak methi seeds, badam and ground nuts separately for 4 hours. Then drain the water and allow them to sprout overnight.  Morning in a mixing bowl u add grated carrot, sprouted methi seeds, badam and groundnut . add salt and pepper and lemon juice and mix well, garnish it with coriander and serve it fresh. Badam and ground nuts need more time to sprout so soak them for 6 hours.
This salad is very good and methi seeds will not taste bitter and highly energetic.
u can turn this salad into a chat item also just by layering it on a papdi and garnishing it with sev and coriander.

day 15: Ragi Malt for above 1 year kids

I will post the recipe soon. this is one of the most rich in nutrition and it all in one food for above 1 year children. But very difficult to prepare and u need lot of patience to prepare this powder.

Day 14. sprouts salad

u need:
1 cup sprouted green gram,
1 cup grated carrot,
1 cup pomegranate seeds,
1 pinch of salt ,
1 pinch of pepper powder,
1 tsp lemon juice,
1 tsp oil,
1 tsp mustard seeds,
5 fenugreek leaves,
Coriander to garnish.
Method:
Heat oil in Kadai add mustard and fenugreek leaves and turn it off and now add all the other remaining items and mix well and garnish with coriander and serve fresh. This salad is always very refreshing and I just love the pomegranate which blends so well.
 

Day 13: tricolor salad

u need:
1 cup grated carrot,
1 cup grated cabbage,
chopped coriander,
Pinch of salt ,
Pinch of pepper,
6 drops of lemon juice.
Method:
Add all of them in a mixing bowl mix it well and garnish it with coriander and better served  fresh. A vegetable salad is a must for everyday lunch. It is very easy to prepare and oil free, fat free and tension free because it hardly needs 10 minutes to prepare and it is very good  mid day snack also. It makes you feel filled and healthy and happy always. The fresh color of the salad is always appealing to the eyes.
I just love salads and it always has made me feel good.

day 12: pudina chutney

u need :
1 bunch Pudina leaves,
1 tbsp jeera,
2 green chili,
1tsp salt,
1 tsp jaggery,
1 onion( optional)
Method:
Wash Pudina, add everything else in mixer and dry grind it and now add Pudina and grind it again with little water. Store in an airtight box.
This has a shelf life of 1 week in refrigerator. So this goes well with masala chappathi, dhokla, you can apply this on  fresh bread toast. This I prepared on 9th as it was my friends b'day. I don't know whether my friend likes dhokla or not. I prepared it and it was little spicy and  did not know what to do so I added onion and by just the smell saw it was more spicy. Anyway it was very good with dhokla was the review given by my friend. Sometimes  I get confused while cooking. I don't taste any food prepared before serving. By just the flavor and color I guess the taste.
The main reason is because of this crazy green Chili's because they never have the same taste. I have got enough scolding's from my hubby because of this green chili. Red chili powder by the color of the recipe I make out whether it is spicy or not. But this green chili trouble me a lot. I buy them once a week wash them and store in fridge. So by the time I get used to them they will get over and when the new set come it is very difficult to guess whether they are spicy or not. Now I have found a new method. I cut and smell it . if it has strong spicy fragrance it means it is spicy.
Pudina has a unique flavor and it does not blend well with few vegetables. If you add Pudina it will override all other flavors and it will stand on top in that recipe.

My aunt prepares one more variety of Pudina chutney. Will upload it soon. It goes well with rice.
I'm posting my 10 minutes a day blog post today only because on Saturday and Sunday I will not get 1 min break also because I have to manage all work and 2 kids and shopping also.

day 11: coconut dry chutney

u need :
1 cup grated fresh coconut,
3 green chilli,
fist full of fried gram,
1smallcup coriander,
1 tsp salt.
Method :
This is very easy to prepare. Just put everything in a mixer and grind it for 2 minutes. Do not add water at all and store in air tight box.
The shelf life in refrigerator is 4 to 5 days.
This goes well with Palak puri , masala chappathi, dosa , idli.  

day 10: palak puri

u need:
1 big bunch palak,
2 cups wheat flour,
5 tbsp besan flour,
1tbsp ajwain seeds,
1 tbsp salt,
3 tbsp oil,
5 tbsp chili powder,
1 cup Water to knead the dough.
1 cup oil to fry puri.
Method:
Heat oil in kadai add washed and chopped palak. After 5 mins add salt, chili powder and mix well. Fry for 5 more minutes. Switch off the stove and allow it to cool, add wheat flour and bean flour. Add ajwain seeds at last and knead the dough. The dough should not be soft so add little water while making the dough. Keep it aside for 15 mins.
Now heat oil in Kadai and when it getting heated. Roll small puri's and fry it in oil. Serve it hot with coconut chutney or tomato sauce. It tastes good even with curds.
This dough I usually prepare it the previous day only when I get time and store it in refrigerator. So that early morning I can prepare  breakfast for my elder son. Palak is very good for children. But kids may be fussy eating it so we have to find new ways to make them eat good food rather than arguing with them. If you want to pack it for lunch box puri's will be soggy so make small chappathi's from same dough and pack it.

day 9: hershey's choco milk

This milk shake was done by my elder son. Seeing me cook and blog he wants to learn cooking from me. So he tried this seeing the ad in the TV.
You need :
1 cup slim milk,
1 tbsp Hershey's Choco syrup,
1 tsp sugar.
Method:
Add everything in a blender and blend it well. And it is ready to serve.
 

day 8: dodda patre chutney

This chutney is so healthy very good home remedy for cold and cough. This recipe is given from my aunt. When I had severe cold and cough she got it for me and within two days cold and cough ran away.
Dodda patre is also known as ajwain leaves. You can grow this in your garden. It does not need much care only needs to be watered and it grows very fast so we have to be careful because it will cover the garden within 2 months if it is rainy season.
You need:
25 to 30 leaves of Dodda patre,
1/2 cup grated dry coconut or fresh coconut,
5 red chili,
1 tsp salt,
1 tsp jaggery,
1 tsp oil to fry.
Method :
Fry the leaves in oil for 5 mins on low flame. Add red chili and fry. Add everything in a mixer and grind it. Prepare Tadka from oil and add chutney into it and store in an airtight container and store it in fridge. It goes well with idli, dosa and chappathi.

Day 7: Instant dosa

u need :
1 cup Maida,
1 cup rice flour,
Pinch of salt,
Pinch of soda,
1 cup Luke warm water.
Method :
Mix Maida and rice flour in Luke warm water and keep it aside for 2 hours. Later add salt and soda and spread it evenly on a tava and you will get crispy dosa.  Serve it hot with coconut chutney.
This is very easy and tasty dosa which you can prepare when you have not planned of preparing dosa and batter is very easy to prepare. Kids will just love if served hot with ghee , pickle or chutney powder.

day 6: Ragi dosa

u need:
1/2 cup urad dal,
1/2 cup poha ( gatti avalakki)
1 cup ragi flour,
1 tsp salt ,
1 tsp soda,
1/ cup water,
4 tbsp oil.
Method :
Wash and soak urad dal for 4 hours. Grind it together in a mixer or grinder. Now add the ragi flour and mix it well and add water if required and keep it aside overnight and in the morning add salt and baking soda and make dosa the similar way you make regular dosas and serve it hot with coconut chutney or chutney powder.
It can be given to kids above 1 year. Ragi is very good for all and if you are diet conscious it is must at least 3 times in a week.

day 5:karibevu chutney powder

u need :
1 cup dry grated coconut,
1 cup fengreek,( karibevu)
1 cup fried gram dal,
1 tsp oil.
salt and chilli powder according to your taste.
Fry fenugreek in oil until it becomes crispy and allow it to cool. Add all other things in a mixer and grind it coarsely. It goes well with dosa , chappathi, idli and hot rice with ghee.
Karibevu is very good for hairgrowth. So if you fry it in oil and keep it in a jar it comes handy when you prepare dal , sambhar. You can just powder it and add it. And no tension that kids will remove while eating and the flavor will be so good they will never find it bitter. Or you can microwave it for 1 minute and store it in fridge.

day 4: 10 mins break

We all need at least 10 mins break in a day is what I feel. So moms who are tired of your babies below 2 years don't worry I have few tips how to take small breaks during long sessions of parenting.
If you have a hyper active child also don't worry just you be over smart so you can keep the kid busy and you also should get a break.
1. Books
Books are really very good. So once the baby is born buy, hire or share board books and keep spending at least 5 mins in a day with those books with the baby. So day by day it will start liking books and by 1 year the baby will do picture reading.
Now my son is 1 yr 10 months he accompany's me while I read news paper for 10 mins. I give him previous days news paper and make him sit on the floor and I just ask him to find plane or some animal or vehicle in the paper while he is busy finding it I just take 5 mins glance of the current news paper.
2 . sibling
If the child has a elder sibling just request the elder sibling to take care. Because the 10 mins break you get will keep you active for next few hours.
3. Lego
This is a real boon from god. The color of the Lego are so attractive no kid can just neglect it without touching and feeling it.
4. Clothes cover
Fill small clothes in a cover and give it so the baby will remove everything and again put the clothes back into the cover. 1 year and above kids will like this.
5. Water game
This is little bit messy but if trained well you can get 30 mins break. 2 glass of boiled and cooled water. 2 paper cups, 1 cloth to clean the water and all you have to do is you just pour water from one glass to another and rest of the game the kid will manage to play. Sometimes they drink the water while playing so better give boiled and cooled water. Both my kids can play for 3 hours.
6. Balloon
blow a balloon and just tie it to the hand with just a simple knot.
7. Crayons and news paper
Be careful this game can mess up your floor and walls tooooooooo.
8. Vessels and spoons game.
Give some vessels and spoons so they play and make different sounds.
9.snacky game
Fill a small bowl with some mixture or oat bites or small biscuits and allow the baby to eat on its own.
10. Cartoon network, discovery kids, pogo , or any animated cd's
Little Krishna in discovery kids starts at 7 am in the morning it is just too good.
11. Hide and seek game
You hide a toy and ask your baby to search.
12. Power talk
Creatively keep talking and encourage the kid also to talk.
All you need to do is have lot of patience and making up new stories which even you don't know.
13. Walking
Just take the baby for a morning walk or evening walk. If the kid has started to walk then buy shoes and make the baby walk. Benefits is a good walk will help the baby sleep better. Don't make anything a habit because they get addicted soon.
14. Sky watch
Everyday make it a point to see the moon and stars. Kids really enjoy this
15. Last tips but not the least all these will work only when the kid is not hungry and not sleepy when the baby is in good mood. It holds good to kids above 1 year.

day 3. BABY CARE

From 4th july I could not find 10 mins also to login and write a blog. So 3 more blogs I have to try to write today or tomorrow.
You all might be wondering what is this baby care in this food blog.
I believe that how much new food we try for kids but there are other important things which also needs to be taken care.
Cleanliness, hygiene, good environment very essential for babies growth. From the day a baby is born making a baby take bath is very important and oil massage also plays a very important role in the growth of the baby. Some babies are allergic to oil so consult the doctor for the advice or else initially coconut oil is more than enough for the massage. Giving a baby bath is the most difficult thing. From the second month if the weather is fine you can make the baby take oil bath once in two days. olive oil , castor oil also can be added to coconut oil. Massage the oil for 10 mins and later make the baby take bath in hot water.
 My second son was just one month old I with lot of courage started to give bath. First day was so scary and I was like what will happen and I was in tears. But he was so confident and so safe in my hands he never cried and with in 1 week I just became v confident and by the end of second month I used to take my first son's help to make him take bath. I felt so happy and the feeling cannot be expressed in words it can just be felt.Life just make you strong, though you will feel you cannot manage. Lesson's learnt in life is nothing is impossible, if you have strong will power.

day 2.Jam milk shake

1 year and above.
u need:
1 small cup cold milk,
2 tbsp kissan mixed fruit jam,
1 tsp sugar.
Method :
Add everything and blend it well. Use only cold milk or milk at room temperature. So serve it in a plain glass or a small smiley cups so that the presentation will please the kids. If required you can add little more jam. Kids will love this.
 

10 minutes a day 1

I want 10 minutes in a day to write a blog. I want to commit myself for 1 more month. Because until and unless no limitations  I cannot write one blog also. Because I like to do too many things in a day. 24hours is just not enough for me because I love reading news paper, I like gardening , I love playing with my kids, The work load at home is also too high,  I just want to do everything which is impossible. I have become well versed in multitasking. I now feel I wish I was like ravana with 10 heads. Because my second kid is a talkative I have to keep talking and monitoring him while I'm managing the other work at home. If anybody listen to my morning schedule you all will go crazy and will ask me why do u want to manage so many things. But life is challenging only when you are busy and you have problems otherwise life is just boring.

Ok today my simple power snack item is.

This is very simple but very handy and you should have it at least once a day.
u need :
5 tbsp dry grapes,
10 almonds,
5 pista,
2 dates,
1 prune,
1 apricot,
1 anjeer.
Method:
Just mix everything and store in a small lock lock box in the morning. If you are working just carry this with you. If you are home maker just keep it on the table and have it arround 11am or in the evening. If you are health conscious just have it once or twice in a week. Or else you can have it daily. If you want u can pack this for ur kids short break or you can give it to your husband once he is back from office. Almonds are really good and instead of a pack of lays have 10 almonds. This can be given for children above 2 years.

 

Ragimalt powder/ Ragi malt

Babies above 5months.
Ragi malt powder.

U need :
 1 kg Ragi,
Method :
 Wash and soak ragi for 6 hours. After 6 hours drain the excess water and spread it evenly on a old cotton saree. It will take 1 day to dry in summer. Allow it dry inside the house. If there are small crawling kids at home better be careful they can go and play with it and mess everything before the malt powder is done. Once it is dry u need to go to the atta flour mill. Ask that person to break the ragi into two halves. If u tell it is for small babies he will surely understand and will just do the needful. So once u come back immediately spread it on a paper and allow it dry and later u can use cotton cloth to sieve the powder or the finest atta siever to sieve it. u really get the best malt powder.  powder will be brownish white. If there are strong grandmother's to do this better sieve it in cotton cloth. But it is heavily time consuming and body aching activity . So I being a smart mom I just used the sieving method. So if u prepare this powder in large quantity u need to be careful and every week u need to spread and keep it for drying because we would have soaked ragi in water.
The powder should be stored in air tight container. For 1 kg ragi u just might get 1/2 kg of malt powder.

Ragi Malt
u need:
2 spoons of ragi malt powder,
Pinch of salt ,
Pinch of sugar or jaggery,
2 tbsp of ghee,
1/2 cup water,
5 tbsp milk (optional).
Method:
Take a small cup put the malt powder and add just 2 tbsp water and mix it and keep it aside.
In another small vessel keep little water for boiling when water starts boiling add pinch of salt. Now add the malt powder mixed in water to it and immediately keep stirring it with no break until the malt has no lumps in it and if required add little water. Now add little sugar or jaggery just for taste. And at last add ghee and mix it. Now the delicious baby ragi malt is ready. It has to be given hot to the baby and baby should be hungry. If the baby likes to sit and eat u can feed it with a spoon of with ur fore finger. Make this in small quantity and day by day u can increase the quantity according to ur choice.
This is the best food to start for 5 months baby. u can make this with milk also instead of water just replace it with milk.

One more fact I should share with u all is I have made both my kids eat this. But I never tasted or I never liked it. I as a kid never ate it is what my mom and aunt keep saying.  Ragi is rich in calcium so we should give it for children and we also should try new variety in it.
My grandmother used to make papad with this powder. She is above 95. Very strong lady. She has 8 children. Oh my god imagining it only is so scary and god only know how they managed so many kids. Now for only one or two kids we go crazy and we feel like life is so hectic.
This blog is dedicated to my lovely grandmother and I have so many unique recipes from her to be uploaded she cannot read my blog today but she has been my biggest support and inspiration .
The  best advice I have got in life from her during my marriage is "you are a kid you just be like that only ,never change. Whatever may happen never step back, never loose your selfconfidence and self respect. Never say anything against anybody and you are the youngest in the family so u need to manage everything and balance it. If somebody is happy the reason behind it is you and if somebody is sad the reason is you have done something wrong. So try to correct yourself before correcting others. This was the blessings I got from her and I'm always the same I have never changed.


 

palak paneer with pulka

u need :
1 bunch of palak,
10 apple tomatoes,
2 onion ( optional) most of the recipe's  I  might have left onion or garlic please add it if required. Because I don't use it when  I cook.
1 tbsp jeera,
3 green chili,
200gm paneer,
1 tbsp salt,
2 tbsp oil,
1 tbsp jeera powder,
1 tbsp chili powder,
1 tsp garam masala powder.
4 tbsp cream( optional)
Method:
Wash Palak 5 times and pressure cook it with tomato with just 1/4 cup water. Now make onion paste. Heat oil in Kadai, add jeera and slit green chili vertically. add onion paste fry for 5 mins. Now only take the pressure cooked tomato and grind it and add it to the Kadai. To the onion paste which is in the Kadai add tomato paste. Make Palak paste and add it to the Kadai. You need not wash the mixer every time. plan well so make the paste as I have done. So 3 in 1. Now cut paneer and soak it in the pressure cooker which has the Palak broth. Paneer will be very soft and tender if we do so. Now to the Kadai add jeera powder, chili powder , salt, garam masala powder. Mix well and keep the lid closed on the Kadai or else the gravy will pop out everywhere while boiling. Switch off the stove and add paneer to it.
This goes very well with freshly prepared pulka, roti, nan, kulcha and even rumali roti.

 

Baby food tips

This post I should have posted it before I posted all the baby food recipes. But now also it is not late. I'm not finding time to write from 1 week.
It is better to start giving food to babies once they are 5 months. Any food we start we should give in small quantities. We should be bold and confident to try new food. Any changes we can feel within 1 day. So if the baby has got used to the food there will be no change in the health we can happily continue it , Incase of cold , cough or fever. It is better to stop it for 2 days and better try some other new food. By 1.5 yr the kids will start liking food and they will have their own likes and dislikes so we should recognize and prepare the food what they like.
I always prefer homemade food, or fresh fruits rather than packed food. If we start by 5 months the baby by 1.5yr will be able to eat the breakfast prepared. u need not worry what has to be given.
Idli, dosa, chappathi, puri are kids best friends. So if u are travelling also these foods u get everywhere easily so the kids will adjust easily.
The 2 main reasons kids cry or trouble the parents are when they are hungry or when they are sleepy. If we manage these things properly the time they are awake they will enjoy learning something or will make u learn something.
It is always better to give fresh and hot food for the babies. Drinking water it is always better to carry in the baby bag.
Giving ghee is a must. But when baby is having cold or cough it is better to avoid.
Fruit should be given. Most of the time mango and papaya kids love because of the color.
Junk food it is better given in limited quantity. We should make the kids understand what is good food and bad food.
Chocolates it is better to give once in a day.
Ragi is rich in calcium so we should give it. malt, dose, roti or in any form ragi has to be given.
Dry fruits chop it and give it in a bowl so they will learn hand to mouth coordination.
By 1.5 yrs kids will be able to eat dos, chappathi , dry fruits, mixture and puffed rice or puffed wheat on their own. So if we give these things in a bowl and keep monitoring it is good time pass for both kids and moms, we can happily read something when they keep eating it. We will have some breathing time.
Next post I will be writing about how to keep the kids busy when we are cooking?
 

Baby pakoda

1.5 yrs and above.
u need:
1 cup besan,
5 tbsp rice flour,
1 cup chopped onion,
1/2 cup grated carrot,
1 cup chopped sabbaki soppu ( dil leaves),
1 cup chopped Pudina
1 tsp chili powder,
1 tsp  salt,
1/2 inch crushedginger,
1 cup water,
1/2 tsp soda,
250 gms oil to deep fry,
5 tbsp tomato sauce.
Method:
Heat oil in Kadai, in a bowl just add besan four and add 4 tbsp steaming hot oil. Turnoff the gas. Now to the besan add all the other ingredients. Mix it with water so the consistency should not be too hard nor too soft. and keep it aside for 15mins. Now heat the oil again and with a spoon u put the pakoda batter in the oil so u can make baby pakoda.
Serve it hot with sauce.

This is my kids favorite snack.
When I was a kid my mom used prepare. We never had burger , pizza. Homemade snacks were the top priority. My second son just loves this and calls it boda boda boda ( bonda) and first son is great fan of this pakoda.  This post is dedicated to both my kids.

Idli chutney

9 months and above babies and it is the famous breakfast in south india.
u need:
3 cups idli rice,
1 cup urad dal,
1 cup rice flakes( avalakki).
1 tsp salt,
1 tsp baking soda,
2 tsp oil,
1 cup water for grinding.
Method:
Wash  rice , urad dal and rice flakes 4 times. Soak everything separately for 6 to 8 hours. Grind urad dal and rice flakes together in a mixer or grinder , later grind the rice. Use less quantity of water and the batter should be fine with no lumps. Allow it rise overnight and in the morning add salt and soda in a spoon add water to it and put it on top of the batter and mix just 6 times. Don't mix the batter too much because it will make your idli hard.Now pour the idli batter to the oil greased plates and steam it for 15 mins.
Serve it hot with coconut chutney.
Kids just love this idli it is v soft and u can add ghee on top of it. For extra calories for children , not for diet conscious people. It can be served with sugar or sweet chutney. Chutney recipe I will upload soon.
The best idli I have eaten is in Madurai , Murugan idli it is v famous and it is just too good.


 

Rava idli

u need:
2 cups rava, (any rava can be used chirooti rava or upma rava)
4 cups curds,
1 tsp mustard seeds,
1tsp urad dal,
1 tsp oil,
1 tsp salt,
1 tsp baking soda,
4 to 5 fenugreek leaves,
3 chopped green chilli,
Coriander , cashew nuts, tomato, carrot to garnish.
Method:
Heat oil in a kadai, add mustard, urad dal, green chili, fenugreek leaves. Fry them for 1 min and add rava fry it for 5 mins  and when u feel the rava is mixed well add salt and switch of the stove. After 5 mins add the curds and mix well so that there are no lumps in the batter, add little baking soda and allow it for 15 mins. Now garnish the idli stand with 1 cashew , little grated carrot , 1 tomato slice and coriander and later add the rava idli batter into the stand. Steam it for 15 mins and serve it hot with coconut chutney.
Tips:
Add curds only once u switch off the stove. Use little water if u feel the batter is too thick. If you are diet conscious u can use only water or go for 2: 2 ratio of curds and water. When u get bored of regular idli u can prepare this when u have no idli batter ready.
You can give this idli to babies who are above 1 year. This is a good way to start giving curds to babies.

Paneer mutter masala

u need :
200gms paneer,
2 onions ,
3 tomatoes,
1 cup green peas,
1 small cup grated coconut,
1 tsp jeera,
2 tsp chilli powder,
3 tsp south indian sambhar powder,
3 tbsp oil,
Salt as per taste,
Coriander to garnish.

Grind onion  and make paste keep in a bowl, next  tomato paste keep in a separate bowl, now grind together coconut chili powder and southindian sambhar powder and make a fine paste.

Method: now heat oil in Kadai , add jeera and add onion paste once the onion paste turns golden brown, add fresh green peas or the frozen green peas after 5 mins add tomato paste and mix it well and cook until the raw smell goes. Now add the masala paste prepared at last in the mixer. Add water if the gravy is too thick. Now add salt as per taste. Mix well and now at last  turnoff the stove and just add the diced paneer and cover the Kadai with a lid.  Stir again after 5 mins , transfer it into a serving bowl and garnish it with coriander.  It goes well with fresh Pulkha, roti's, kulchas.

Tips :
Try to buy fresh stock paneer, I always buy amul paneer , wash it with fresh water and later make cubes and keep it ready. If everything is ready this gravy just takes 20 mins to be ready .
Weekends are very lazy I don't feel like cooking but everybody will be at home for hygienic reasons I avoid hotel food. So morning while preparing breakfast I make this gravy and keep it aside , I knead the Pulkha or kulcha dough and keep in the fridge so during lunch I need feel oh my god I have to prepare lunch.

31. 1 month of blogging experience

From 2 days I wanted to write this blog but somehow was so busy could not write. 1 month of blogging has made me learn so much. I started this recipe a day blog on may 11th on Mother's day and day by day got new ideas. Another 2 months I can blog I have so many new recipes. In 1 month my total blog view is 612 on June 12 ,2014.
This post is dedicated to my mother.
In life we read many cook books , we eat in many hotels, relatives places, parties, chat corners, MCD , CCD, and  in hundred's of other places. But according to me where we eat or in whichever part of the world we are we will just miss home made food and especially the food made by our mom. The reason behind this is just the love and care showed by our mother. Nobody in this world can cook like her and can replace her position in our heart. God created Mother's because he cannot be everywhere. Today I'm mother of 2 kids but still I crave for the food prepared by my mom. Past 13 years I'm cooking and I have tried many new recipes and got into baking also. But, my mom is the best cook. Due to health complications she stopped cooking from past 4 years. My sis-in-law manages  cooking and more than my mom she cares for me. Some days I feel so low and just want to go and tell my mom " MA I'm not able to manage anything " . But I cannot do that.
I took up the responsibility of life just before I realized it will be so difficult. Now I cannot say anything, all I can do is just smile and say "ALL IS WELL". I just pray god to make my mom strong and healthy. One nature in me is good or bad I don't know, I just don't share my worries with my parents however difficult might be the situation, I try to manage. Life has made me learn to hide my tears, and god has blessed me with the best always.
But my dear friends and wellwishers are always with me, wherever they are their wishes are with me and has made me grow strong.  When I used to run to college in the morning my mom used to forcibly make me eat, but now some days I don't even remember I had breakfast or not. In the night Dinner time she used to make sure I eat first , but now after winding up all the work and after the next days planning I feel so tired. Now I wish some angel come's and tells me , "I will manage everything u just don't worry". Oh my god ! wish home maker's also had 1 hr off at least . Everyday planning for breakfast , lunch and dinner and what for next day? makes life hectic.
I thank all the blog readers. u all are my greatest support.

30. Rava roti with dal

u need:
Roti:
2 cups chiroti rava,
Pinch of salt,
1/2 cup Water required for making the dough.
1/2 cup rice flour / Maida for rolling roti's.
Method:
In a mixing bowl add rava, pinch of salt and add little water and knead the dough. Just add water little by little because rava gets soft soon. So knead the dough same as the puri dough. Keep it aside for 6 to 8 hours. u need not refrigerate the dough. Before doing the roti's just knead the dough on the platform. Make small equal portion of the dough and roll it into small roti's and fry it on the tava.
Serve it hot with dal. The roti's turn to be very soft and tasty. u can serve it with ghee or butter for kids.
Dal:
1 cup toor dal,
1 cup Palak ,
1 tsp jeera powder,
1 tsp pepper powder,
1 tsp salt,
1/2 tsp mustard seeds,
2 tbsp tamarind paste,
1 pinch turmeric,
5 to 6 curry leaves,
2 tsp oil.
Method:
Wash and chop Palak leaves. Pressure cook dal and Palak with pinch of turmeric and 1 tsp oil.
In a Kadai heat oil and add mustard seeds, curry leaves and tamarind paste, add jeera and pepper powder, salt. Add this to the pressure cooked dal when it is hot. This dal goes well with rice and chappathi's also.

29.Paneer fry

u need :
200gms paneer,
2 capsicum,
 1 onion,
1 tsp salt,
1 tsp chili powder,
1 tsp garam masala powder,
Coriander to garnish,
2 tsp oil.
Method:
Chop capsicum and onion. Cut paneer into small cubes and keep it aside. Heat oil in the Kadai, add onion and fry until it turns golden brown. Add capsicum and fry until it is soft. Add chili powder, garam masala and salt, mix well now add paneer and turn off the stove. Garnish with coriander and serve it hot. U can eat this as a starter or it goes well with chappathi or u can put it inside bread slices and make grilled toast.

28. Easy lunch box snacky or evening snacky

u need:
1 Khakra packet ( welbaked wheat khakra ) with different flavors.
2 tbsp chutney powder,
2 tbsp ghee,
1 pinch of salt and chat masala powder,
1 small cup Grated carrot,
Coriander to garnish.
Method:
welbaked khakra is what I use. Take 1 khakra and it is very delicate so handle it carefully, spread chutney powder and add ghee and spread it evenly with spoon now spread carrot and on top of it sprinkle salt , chat masala and coriander. In one pack u get 13 to 14 khakras. u can break this in small pieces and fill in a box. If u are packing it for lunch box avoid carrot, salt and chat masala. Because carrot will make it soggy and u don't feel like eating it.
 

27. Mango seekarne with pulka

u need:
5 fresh mango ( Raspuri variety)
1/2 cup jaggery or 1/2 cup sugar,
1 tsp salt ,
1 banana ( optional)
Method :
Wash the mangoes 3 times in salt water. Now remove the skin of the mango and squeeze the pulp of the mango in a bowl. Add salt and jaggery and mix well. If u need add  cut slices of banana.
Serve it with hot holige.
This is very famous in mango season. This goes well with holige , chappathi or u can just drink like that.

 

26. chapathi with milk.

1yr and above.
u need :
1 small chapathi,
1 small cup milk,
1tsp sugar.
Method:
 Make fresh chapathi. Add milk, sugar and chapathi in a bowl and mash it and make it soft. Now u can feed the baby.
I somehow don't like giving packed food. Because we just bring it and make the baby eat. We never have time to even see the expiry date, what are the ingredients in it. When they have packed it. We take everything very lightly. But I'm very particular when it comes to packed food for small children. So I have been blogging many easy food which is easily available at home and easy for us to give it to kids. Home made food is fresh and tasty rather than going for packed food. I'm not against packed food when we travel outside we can give it but if we start giving homemade food by 2 years baby will eat what is prepared at home and easily adjust when we go to anybody's house or any function.
We parents can be in safe zone. 

25.Healthy snacks for kids below 2 yrs

We all love snacks. Kids below 2 years  also need snacks. So here is my blog dedicated to healthy snacks which we can give to the kids and feel good they are enjoying it.
1. Oat bites ( Kellogg's ).
2. Dry grapes.
3. Puffed wheat.
4. Puffed rice.
5. Choco chips.
6. Salt biscuits.
7. Nuts ( walnut, cashew nut, roasted ground nut )
8. chikkis ( ground nut Chikki , cashew nut Chikki)
9. Cup cakes.
10. Home made French fries.
Any food item when given to kids. It is mandatory to be supervised by elders. They can get creative any time and stuff into others ears or nose or self stuff. Or they can throw on the bed , sofa or on the floor and they love to eat the food fallen on the floor. For hygienic reasons give in a bowl and give small amount and just keep monitoring until it gets over. If they want ur assistance better feed them or if they love to eat on their own just guide them.

24. water melon cubes

1.5 years  and above.
u need :
1 slice of water melon,
1/2 pinch of salt and pepper.
Method :
Deseed the fruit and make very small cubed and sprinkle salt and pepper and feed the baby.
This is the first fruit my second son recognized wherever he saw. By 1.5 yrs he could recognize this fruit in book , TV , in vegetable market , on road side when we go in car, when some body else is eating on roadside fruit stall. He used to just shout Hannu , Hannu ......................................and he used to just tell me it is his favorite by tapping his hands on himself and aya , aya , aya.........................................hannu , hannu...........

Sprinkling salt and pepper on the fruit helps us to avoid the baby getting cold and cough. It will be a new food for them and they also need their own time to like the fruit and enjoy it.

23. Papaya cubes

1.5 years and above
u need :
1 slice of papaya,
1/2 pinch of salt and pepper.
Method:
Cut it into small cubes. Sprinkle salt and pepper. The color of papaya and mango is so bright kids get attracted soon.Feed the any with a fork or toothpick . I prefer giving my kids fresh fruits than making juice. It is easy for me and healthy for them.
When I have blogged this easy fruit recipes here I need to share one more thing. Many might feel so simple things was not required to blog. But there are so many blog readers who might have a doubt which fruit to give for my child and what is the right age to give. They might have settled in abroad and managing the baby alone. These simple blogs are for them. One or two fruits per day we should give the kids.
My second son is just 1 yr 10 months. Alternate days a papaya seller comes to our street, If I'm busy in cooking or doing some work.  As soon as my son hears the voice of the fruit seller he just takes a bag and runs and from the window he calls him , "Papayi Hannu , Hannu , Hannu ..............."comes again running to me and asks me to take money from my purse and forces me to go and buy the fruit.
If I say fruit is there at home he personally goes and checks the basket and says , "illa , illa Hannu".
I have to somehow convince him.

22. Mango cubes

1.5 years and above
u need:
1 mango ( Alphonso or badami variety)
Method :
Wash the. Mango 5 times in salt water. The cut it in the sides and take the sliced mango and with the knife make horizontal and vertical cuts and feed the baby with the spoon. If the baby finds it difficult to swallow, mash it and feed the baby. Pls give mango in small quantity because some kids get adjusted soon, but  some take time.
From 1 month as it is mango season we are getting vgood variety of mangoes in Bangalore. All in our house are so fond of mangoes. So No other fruit enters our house during this season. My second son likes it so much knows 3 languages now just because of this mango. If I ask my first son, "Do u want Aaam ?" My second son comes running mummy manga, manga , manga...................According to him manga means mango . Maavina Hannu if some fruit seller calls on the street he keeps jumping in the house  manga , manga ...........................
Now this tasty mango has bcom manga , manga .
So mango, mavina Hannu and aaam all mean same he has recognized. So I and my elder son now split the alphabets and speak if we want to speak anything in secret. M A N G O................................

 

21. Boiled vegetables

9 months and above.
u need:
1 baby potato,
1 carrot ,
1 small cup green peas( frozen)
Pinch of salt.
Method:
 Wash the vegetables and dice potato and carrot.Pressure cook these vegetables. If  the baby likes to chew u can serve it in a colorful bowl or mash them and feed the baby. Any other vegetables can be added to this list.

20. Apple mash

5 months and above
u need :
1/2 apple.
Ginger Grater.
1 tsp sugar( optional)
Method :
Wash the apple in salt water 3 times.Cut the apple and remove the seeds. And take the slices and grate in the ginger grater. You will get a fine mash of apple. You can feed this mash with a spoon.
An apple a day keeps a doctor away is what the old saying says but if we put the kids on fruit diet,
Atleast 1 fruit per day it has it's own benefits. Any food or fruit should be given to the baby when the baby is hungry, we should not stuff the food forcibly they will develop food phobia. 1 day they might not like but we should do enough R & D and keep trying . Parenting tips are very easy to be suggested but very very difficult to follow. Each and every child has its own identity, rules and restrictions and their own taste. They might not be able to read my blog but they will select only what they like.
 

19. pomegranate juice

5 months and above
u need:
1 cup pomegranate.
Lemon squashed
1 tsp sugar ( optional)
Method :
In the lemon squasher fill pomegranate and just squash it. Collect the juice in a bowl and feed the baby.
It is v good for health. It is very difficult to prepare juice in a mixer and it is headache to separate the seeds also but in this lemon squasher within 5 mins u can get fresh juice and No tension of washing the juice maker or cleaning the mixer or siever. 1 cup of pomegranate u will get 8 to 10 spoons of juice. Any fruit given in fresh form is good for the baby. Sugar is optional because the juice will be very sweet. Once the baby is 1 or 1.5 we can give the whole fruits only. It is better to try new food in summer for small babies.

18.Banana mash

5 months and above.
u need :
1/2 banana ( preferably the elakki banana)
Method :
Mash the banana with the hand in a bowl and make the baby eat. u can start giving this mash when the baby is 2 months. Kids love this mash. Pls don't give when the baby has cold or cough.

17. Ghee milk

This can be given for babies above 5 months.
u need:
1 small cup milk( Good life),
2 tbsp ghee ,
1 tsp sugar ( optional).
Method:
Boil the milk and add ghee and sugar. Allow it cool for 5 mins in a bowl. This can be given to the baby in spoon.
Milk is rich in calcium. Initially the baby needs sometime to adjust to new food. Ghee in the milk will help the babies to put on weight. Once they are 9 months u can add complan or any other milk supplements. It can be given twice a day. Morning and in the evening. By 1.5 yrs they easily start using the glass.
I suggest one more thing we should always cultivate good habits in the kids so our life also should not be complicated. Glass and spoon are boon for kids so we can start using it from the day baby is born. If washed in hot water it is safe. But if we start using feeding bottles and we have to sterilize it we have to clean it and many more complications might be there. I don't know because I have not used it at all. Parenting is all about experience and experiments. 

16.Badam - dates paste

u need :
2 almonds( badam),
2 Dates,
2 cloves,
1 inch of bhaje,
1 inch athi Madura,
1 nut meg, ( nutmeg should be washed and pressure cooked . put it with rice in the cooker )
1 spoon ghee,
1 small spoon of honey,
Saane kallu.
u get all these things in the shop where u buy Pooja items ( grandhige angadi)
Method:
This paste I have given for both my kids .I started when they were just  1 month old till  they were 9 months. This should be given when the babies are hungry. Preferably in the morning.
We need saanne kallu. In everybody's house we use this for preparing sandalwood paste for Pooja .
Wash it nicely and use it and keep it separately for 9 months only for making the paste for the baby.
One more useful tip is keep a small box and store all the items. So everyday u need not search for all the items. First on the stone put one spoon of ghee and rotate the nut meg on the stone for 2 mins , badam and dates also in the same way for 2 mins each. clove and bhaje just for 1 min.  Just make the baby eat the honey first so it will like the taste and later slowly give the paste. Nut meg helps the baby to sleep well. Ghee helps them to put on weight, honey helps in making the tongue sharp so they start speaking soon, bhaje helps in digestion, athi Madura , cloves helps the child against cold and cough. My mom and my grandmother used to always tell this,  I also felt it is good for my kids and have given them. If the child has cold and cough pls don't give this and let it be any new food pls give only in small amount. Day by day u can increase the quantity .

15. Baby soup

This soup can be given to babies above 5 months.
u need :
1 cup dal ,
Any vegetable of ur choice,
1 pinch of salt,
1 pinch of sugar,
1 pinch pepper powder,
1 crushed garlic,
1 tsp ghee,
2 cups water.
Method:
Just pressure cook  dal and vegetable and remove the water in a bowl. Add other items and mix well.
If it is summer it is better to give this and babies also will like this. And it is very healthy summer drink for the kids and v energetic. It better when it is freshly prepared. The remaining dal can be eaten by elders with Tadka .

14. Healthy dry fruits toast/ paste

This week I have decided to put recipes only dedicated to kids. For my first son I have really had a tough time trying new food and new taste. Today also v difficult to convince him to try out new dishes. I still remember when he was in playschool he used to get his lunch box back without even opening and seeing what is there inside the box but he was v smart in giving reasons for not eating.
So one whole week he did not even bother to open what I had packed and I was so worried went and complained to his teacher and Next day I had packed bread and jam .He came back home and I asked y he did not eat today. Ma so spicy ( kara) it was. y pack only spicy things in my box so I don't eat .
I was wondering from when did kissan jam turned spicy.
I tried this healthy dry fruits toast / paste.
u need :
6 slice sandwich bread,
1/4 cup dry grapes,
1/4 cup cherry,
1/4 cup prunes,
1/4 cup dates,
1/4 cup apricots,
1/4 blanched almonds,
1/4 cup cashew nuts,
1/4 cup walnut,
1/4 cup cran berry,
1/4 cup blue berry,
1/4 cup rasp berry,
1/4 cup anjoor ,
1 tbsp honey.
Method for paste:
For 5 months and above babies it is better to make paste. Bread is not required.
Just soak everything in hot water in a bowl for 3 hours but reduce the quantity of dry fruits. This quantity of dry fruits will be enough for 1 weeks for small babies. Make a fine paste and add little honey and make the baby eat when it is freshly prepared and when the baby is v hungry and use only boiled and cooled water for grinding. Initially when u start only give v little so later u can increase the quantity. If u see any changes and feel baby is not feeling ok just stop it for 2 days. Because u cannot predict anything in parenting each kid has its own likes and dislikes. I cannot say my kid likes so all the kids in the world will enjoy this. Give this paste alternate days. But it is so healthy if the kid gets adjusted protein , calcium, vitamins and many more things will be included in one simple paste. Any other dry fruit can be added or reduced from this list. It is left to the mothers and kids choice.
Please do not refrigerate it cannot be stored .
Method for toast:
Mix all the dry fruits in a bowl and add honey and mix well. Fill this in the bread and use a sandwich toaster and toast it and serve it fresh. Toddlers just love this toast. U can mix all the dry fruits and keep it ready in an airtight container so in the evening for snacks or in the morning for breakfast u can prepare this healthy toast.



 

13. Mentya hittu

u need:
5 tbsp methi seed,
1 cup gram dal,
1tsp salt.
Method:
Roast gram dal in a Kadai until it turns color and u get a very nice aroma from it and later roast methi seeds. Allow it to cool add salt and grind it in mixer until u get a nice powder. Now sieve it and store in an airtight container. Shelf life is 1 month if u store it outside.
It goes well with hot chappathi and ghee, hot rice and ghee.

12. spicy redchilli chutney

u need:
100 gms red chilli ( byadgi variety),
2 onions,
2 tbsp methi seeds,
1 small round of tamarind,
3 tbsp jaggery,
2 tbsp salt,
2 tbsp oil ,
1 tbsp mustard seeds,
5 to 6 curry leaves.
1 small cup water.
Method:
chop onions, wash tamarind and keep all other items ready.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a Kadai add methi seeds, onion and fry until it turns golden brown , add red chilli and fry well. Add everything in a mixer and grind it the chutney turns into a fine paste use very little water.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in kadai add mustard and curry leaves and allow it to cool and mix it well to the chutney store in an airtight container and refrigerate it. Remove and use it when required.
The color of the chutney is red and little spicy also so better use in small quantities. Shelf life is 15 days if refrigerated. It goes well with hot chappathi and ghee, with hot rice and ghee, for dosas, and idli also. It can be applied on hot masala dose base before filling the aloo palya in it.
I don't eat this chutney but prepare it for others. I don't like spicy things. This is my mother in laws most liked chutney.
 

11.Onion chutney

u need:
2 onions,
1 cup grated dry coconut,
6 to 8 redchillis,
1 small roll of tamarind,
1tsp salt,
1tsp jaggery,
1tsp mustard,
1 tbsp oil,
5 to 6 curry leaves,
1/2 cup water.
Method:
Heat oil in a kadai add chopped onion and fry until it turns golden brown, add red chilli and fry for 5 mins. Allow it to cool and add all other things into the mixer and grind it with very less water.
Heat oil in Kadai  add mustard and curry leaves and add this as Tadka for chutney before serving it.
Shelf life of this chutney is 1 week if u store in refrigeratorin an airtight container. This goes well with chappathi, dosa , paratha and Akki roti when u get bored eating coconut chutney.

10. Garlic pepper rice

u need:
2 tbsp ground nut,
1tsp urad dal,
1tsp gram dal,
1tsp mustard,
4 red chilli ,
1 tsp pepper powder,
1 tsp salt ,
1 small cup grated fresh coconut,
5 to 6 garlic pieces,
5 to 6 curry leaves,
2 tbsp oil,
 1 bowl freshly prepared rice.
Method :
Heat oil in a Kadai, add mustard , ground nut, urad dal , gram dal, curry leaves, once they get fried add broken red chilli, pepper powder, crushed garlic and salt and switch off the stove immediately. Add rice and freshly grated coconut and mix well and heat it again. Serve it hot.
 

9.Mango shake

u need:
2 Alphonso mango pulp ,
1/4 cup sugar,
1 pinch elachi powder,
1/2 cup water,
1 pinch salt.
Method:
Add everything to a mixer and just blend it for 2 mins. Serve it with ice cubes. Very easy to prepare and very tasty also.

 

8.Mango jam

u need :
2 raw mango ,
2 cup powdered  jaggery ,
Pinch of salt .
Method:
Grate the raw mango and add the powdered jaggery and pinch of salt  and keep it aside for 3 hours. Keep mixing it in between. Once the jaggery and grated mango gets mixed well, keep the vessel on the stove and on low flame allow it to boil. Every 5 mins u need to see to it that the bottom of the mixture does not stick to the vessel. The mixture will reach a consistency when dropped in water it will not spread. So immediately turn off the gas and allow it to cool and later store it in glass bottles.
The taste is just yummy u can eat with chappathi, dose or use it as mango jam spread on bread for ur kids. I prefer preparing sweets with jaggery .

7. Mango chutney

u need :
1 raw mango ,
1 cup grated fresh coconut ,
10 red chili ,
2 tbsp roasted gram,
1 tbsp mustard seeds,
1 tbsp  methi seeds,
1 tsp salt ,
1 tsp jaggery ,
1 tbsp oil,
5 curry leaves.
Method :
Grate mango and coconut , fry mustard and methi and keep it ready. Now add roasted gram, mustard, methi , redchilli in a mixer and grind it and now add the remaining items and add little water and make the chutney.  Heat oil in a Kadai and add little mustard seeds and curry leaves and add it to the  chutney.
u can eat this chutney with hot rice or with chappathi , Akki roti.
It is my favorite chutney but I'm not able to prepare the way my mom used to prepare .
 

6. chutney powder

u need:
1 cup ground nut,
1 cup roasted gram,
3 tbsp chili powder,
1 tbsp salt,
Fresh coriander 1 small cup.
Method :
Wash coriander and microwave it for 1 min so all the water content gets dried up, fry ground nut and allow it to cool.  Add everything to a mixer and make a coarse powder and store it in an airtight jar.
Shelf life is for 15 to 20 days.
u can add curds and eat it with hot chappathi's or just apply some cheese spread and chutney powder and make a toast or u can add it on a dosa on the tava and fill it with aloo palya and make it masala dosa . It goes well with curd rice also.
 

5. Easy breezy oats breakfast

u need :
6 spoons oats
2 tsp sugar,
Dry fruits ( your choice)
Fruits ( apple , mango , grapes , strawberry, banana) ( your choice)
1/2 cup milk.
Method :
Just add oats in a microwave safe bowl and add sugar and milk and microwave for 1min.
Add all the fruits , dry fruits, nuts and enjoy this 1 min breakfast on a lazy weekend morning. It is so energizing and healthy . 

4.Baby pongal

U need:
1 cup rice ,
1/2 cup split moong dal or  toor dal,
1 tsp jeera,
4 to 5 pepper corn ,
Pinch of pepper powder,
1/2 tsp salt,
Pinch of turmeric powder,
4 to 5 curry leaves,
3 tbsp ghee ,
1 tbsp oil.
Method :
I prepare this in a 2 liters cooker and just 15mins time u can prepare this. Place the cooker on the stove and add oil when oil is hot add jeera , pepper corn and curry leaves. Immediately add the dal of ur wish and fry it for 5 mins, add rice  , pepper powder, salt turmeric powder and mix it and add the water proportion is 1:4 here. When the water starts boiling close the lid of the cooker and switch it off after 2 whistles.  Serve it hot with ghee. Kids just love this.
 This baby pongal is loved by small children below 2 years and elders also can eat it when u don't feel like cooking something else for urself .

 

3.Pav bhaji

 

u need:
3 onions,
8 tomatoes,
4 potatoes,
1 small cup of green peas,( u can use the frozen green peas)
3 tbsp chili powder,
2 tbsp garam masala powder,
2 tbsp salt ,
100 gm butter,
1tsp jaggery ,
4 tbsp corn powder,
1 tsp jeeera,
3 tbsp oil ,
Fresh coriander to garnish.
Pav : beekays pav is good and 2 packs of pav.
Method:
Boil potatoes in the afternoon and mash it and keep it ready and make a paste of 2 onions and tomatoes separately , 1 onion cut it into small pieces and keep it aside so easily the chat can be prepared in the evening . Heat oil in the Kadai, add jeera  , onion paste and fry for 5 mins when the onion paste turns its color add the tomato paste and mix well and cover the lid of the kadai or else when this paste starts boiling it will spread every where, once the gravy changes its color u can add chili powder , gram masala powder, salt and jaggery.  Mix it well and now add the mashed potatoes and just see to it that all the potatoes get mashed well in the gravy. Now add water if the gravy is thick or else u can just sprinkle the corn powder on top and mix it and u will see that once the corn powder is added and mixed the bhaji does not stick to the kadai. Now serve it into serving bowl and add 50gms butter on it and garnish it with coriander.
Now heat a tava and add little butter and cut the pav into half and roast it both the sides and serve it the way I have done.
This blog is dedicated to Adithya and arya . Adithya is so fond of it if I tell I have prepared pav bhaji in the midnight also he will get up and eat and he wants to eat pav bhaji everyday, it is his dream and when will u prepare pavbhaji next time is the question asked every time I prepare , arya just says pav pav pav pav and roams everywhere. I just prepared it for today's snacks and just asked Adithya I need ur plate for 5 mins, he was so upset I requested again please , please............... k he told and he remembered I need to take photo for my blog and just I was taking photo and in the next photo u can see his hand ready to pull the plate.

Tips :
One more useful tip I have for all of u who read this blog is children love junk food and chats very much nowadays only because of the look and feel and plating . I don't like to eat outside and I don't want my kids also to get into the habit of eating outside. Once in a while is ok but not every weekend. So whatever I prepare the way I serve really matters because in our house all of them first eat through their eyes, then nose and later through the mouth.
Don't be shocked to read this because if plating is not good nobody will eat and if the aroma of the kitchen is not good they say I'm not hungry today, at last they just stuff it into their mouth forcibly and walk out. Some days I feel bad but every day is not a rosy day.
  I need not ask how is the food ? if it is good ! there will be no reply  bcos they just take an extra serving,  so automatically I come to know food is meeting the national standards of the house.

 

Day 2: Brinjal gravy with pulkha

 

 

u need:

1/2 kg brinjal ,

1/2 cup dry coconut,

3 tbsp chili powder,

3 tbsp dhania powder,

2 tbsp roasted groundnut,

2 tbsp jeera,

1tsp jaggery,

1 tbsp salt,

10 curry leaves,

3 tbsp oil,

1 cup water,

Coriander to garnish,

Method :

Wash the Brinjal and see to it they are fresh and just slit them  so that u can fill the masala powder.

Now grind together dry coconut, chili powder, Dhania powder, roasted groundout, 1tbsp jeeera, jaggery, salt together in a mixer. Now in the Kadai heat the oil  add jeera ,  curry leaves and just fill  the masala in the brinjals and add them one by one into the Kadai  and mix them well and add water and cover the Kadai. After 15mins when the gravy would have turned thick if u need u can add water if the brinjals are hard. Cook until the brinjals are well cooked and u get a fragrant aroma from the gravy . serve it into a serving bowl and garnish it with coriander.

u can eat this gravy with pulkha , roti or chappathi.

Reciepe a day for 1month 1. Banana muffin

Happy Mother's day
I would like to start my new blog a day on  this special day. Parenting is all about experience and experiments.
My passion for baking................

 u need:
3 eggs,
2  ripe bananas,
2cups Maida,
1.5 cups sugar,
1/2 cup dry coconut grated,
1 cup oil,
1tbsp vanilla essence,
1tsp baking soda,
1tsp baking powder,
1/2 TSP salt.
1/4 th cup milk( optional)
Method:
Mash the bananas and keep aside, sieve Maida, baking powder, baking soda twice. Grease the baking tray or use cup cake liners and keep it aside.
Take a mixing bowl break three eggs and immediately add essence and pinch of salt and beat well with a hand mixer until it become light and fluffy, now add sugar and beat  and keep the hand mixer on and slowly add oil and  add Maida and keep mixing it until the mixture gets the consistency of dosa batter. Now add mashed banana and dry grated coconut and mix . Now  preheat the convection oven for 5min at 200.  If u feel mixture is thick add milk and mix When the mixture is completely well mixed u can fill the cup cake liners. Bake for 20 mins at 200 or until the tooth pick inserted comes out clean. I made 24 muffins.
Tips : Baking is all about time , temperature and trust.
Baking needs lots of practice,  exact recipe and  good teacher. I'm trying to bake good cake from past 2 years many times even I could not make good cakes but I did not give up I kept on trying finally on my b'day I made a vgood cake.