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.