CARROT HALWA

Carrots are a real good source of beta carotene and should be included in the diet in any forms.Children love to eat it as  halwa.I have had plenty in my childhood days.

Ingredients

Carrots 6 grated
condensed milk 1/2cup
ghee 4tsp
sugar 5tsp
raisins and cashew 1cup
cardamom powder 1tsp

Method

Wash and grate the carrots.
Place it in a cooker and add 2 tsp of sugar and cook till 1 whistle.
Keep a nonstick pan and add ghee.
Roast the cashew and raisins and keep aside.
Add the cooked carrot to the remainng ghee.
Keep stirring till all water is evaporated.
Add the condensed milk and the left out sugar,dry it.
Garnish with the raisin ,cashew and cardamom powder.

• servings 4 adults

POTATO TURIA CURRY

Potatoes with any indian cuisine is a variety dish.Its one of my favourite dish.So did I try this out and it worked out to be a complement to my cooking.Everyone at home loved it with chapatis.

Ingredients

Potatoes 1cup cube sized
turia 1/2cup small cut
tomato 1small
onion 1 sliced
ginger garlic paste 1tsp
chilli powder 1tsp
coriander powder 1tsp
turmeric powder 1/2tsp
salt to taste
oil

Method

Add oil in a pan.
Add the sliced onion and saute till light brown.
Put the ginger garlic paste and mix well.
Add the chopped tomatoes,cook for a minute.
Add the chilli powder,coriander powder ,turmeric powder and salt.
Pour a cup of water and put the potatoes .
Cook for 7-9mts.
Now,add the turia and cook for another 5mts.
The curry thickens and is ready to serve.

• servings 3 adults

TIPS

You can cook the potatoes in microwave for 6mts and then add.

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

Chicken is a favourite among all non vegetarians in any forms.If u are left over with a small amount of boneless chicken in the freezer n u keep thinking wat can be made,then this is a real good healthy soup for all.

Ingredients

chicken 100gm

green onions chopped 1/2cup

noodle 1/2 cup

egg white 1

corn flour 2tsp

pepper powder 1tsp

salt to taste

Method

Wash the chicken under running water.

Cook the chicken in 2 cups of water for 15mts.

Add pepper powder and salt

Add the noodle and cook for 5mts.

Add the chopped green onions and cook for 3mts.

Mix the corn flour with a spoon of cold water and add to the boiling soup.

Remove from stove.

Add the egg white.

Garnish with pepper powder and serve.

• servings  3 adults

VANILLA CAKE

Ingredients

maida 1 cup
sugar 1 cup
butter 1 stick or 125gm
eggs 3
vanilla essence 1tsp
baking powder 1tsp
cake mixfruits 1 cup
nutmeg,cloves,cinnamon,cardamom -1tsp powdered
sugar 1 cup (for caramilization)
rum or wine 1cup

Method

Soak the cake mix fruits in the rum or wine 4 days before you prepare the cake.
Sift the flour and place it in a large bowl.
Beat the eggs with melted butter and sugar.
Add maida and blend again.
Add the baking powder,vanilla essence,spices powder ,cake mix fruits (half)and mix it well.
Place a pan on medium heat and add the sugar to caramilize.when a brown colour turns ,put off the stove and add 3tsp of milk or water.
Add this to the batter and mix well.
Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees and spray the cake tray with olive oil.
Pour the batter ,garnish with cake mix fruits(remaining) and bake it in the oven for 30-35minutes.
Check whether its done with a tooth pick in the centre.(should come out clean)
Place in the oven for 15mts after putting off the oven.
Cool the cake before cutting.

• servings 5 adults

SHRIMP/ PRAWN MASALA

All non vegetarians love prawns..so do I.My children too love it as there are no  bones in it.This is a real gud recipe for chapatis/naan.

Ingredients

prawns 1lb
onion 1chopped
green chilli 3-4 cut long
tomato 1chopped
chilli powder 1tsp
turmeric powder 1/2tsp
garam masala powder 1/2tsp
coriander leaves
salt to taste
oil

Wash the shrimp using salt n lime .
Boil it for 5-7mts.
Drain the water and keep aside.
Pour oil in a pan and add the chopped onion.Wait until it browns
Add the green chilli,tomato and make it a thick paste.
Add the chiili powder,turmeric powder,garam masala powder.
Put off the stove .cool it and grind the mixture to a thick paste.
Now add the paste to the cooked shrimp and cook again for 5 mts.
Open the lid and garnish with coriander leaves.

• servings: 4adults

TIPS

1. You can use cooked shrimp.

     2.   Use the large size prawns.

     3.   Chicken masala can be replaced for garam masala.

GREEN ONION THORAN (STIR FRY WITH COCONUT)

Green onions are real good for health..for that matter all green leafy vegetables too.Here is a very simple recipe.Children do love it as it is not much spicy and a little sweet .

Ingredients

green onion 2bunch
chilli powder 2tsp
turmeric powder 2tsp
coconut grated 1/4 cup
salt to taste
mustard  to saute
oil to saute

Method
Wash the green onions thoroughly and cut it into round small pieces,keep aside.
Heat oil in apan and splutter mustard .
Add the green onions,turmeric powder,chilli powder,coconut.
Cover with a lid and cook for 3-5mts.
Open the lid and then add salt.
Dry it in medium heat and is ready to serve.

• servings : 3 adults

TIPS

1. Add salt only once it is half cooked.

GROUNDNUTS CHAAT

Groundnuts are a good source of fats..This is a tasty recipe as an easy snack.Once I had brought a big packet n wondered how to finish it off..dn came out with this recipe.

Ingredients

groundnut 1 cup soaked in water for 1 hr

coconut grated 3tsp

chaat masala 1tsp

chilli powder 1tsp

lime juice 1tsp

salt to taste

Method

Cook the soaked groundnuts in a cooker for 3 whistles.

Drain the water.

Add grated coconut,chilli powder ,chaat masala and lime juice.

• servings : 4adults

STEAMED BANANA CAKE

Cake has been all time my family's favourite.This cake is steamed n was made as a snack.And it turned out to be real good and healthy recipe for kids.My kids are reluctant to eat the over ripe bananas and this was the easiest way to finish them off without even the children knowing it.

Ingredients

rice powder 1 cup
jaggery 1/2 cup
banana 2 mashed
baking soda 1tsp
raisins and cashew 1/4 cup
cumin powder 1tsp

Method

Soak the jaggery in half a cup of water and drain the impurities.
Mix the rice powder ,mashed bananas,baking soda.
Add the cumin powder and raisins,cashew.
Keep aside for 10 mts.
Pour it in a idli pan or a cake pan after oiling and steam in a pressure cooker.(without whistle)/idli cooker for 20mts.
Check if it is done with a tooth pick in the centre (should come out clean)
Remove from stove ,cool it completely and garnish with cashews.
Cut into pieces and ready to serve.

• servings 4 adults

TIPS
You can use cardamom powder instead of cumin.
You can also bake the same.