Wheat Rawa Vadai

Wheat based recipes posted by Shripriya 

Ingredients:

1. Wheat rawa: 1 cup (roasted)

2. Rice flour : 1 cup

3. Green chillies - 2 chopped fine

4. Ginger - 1 inch piece chopped fine

5. Curry leaves and Coriander leaves - few strings chopped fine

6. Onion - 1 small chopped fine (optional)

7. Sour curd - about half cup (optional)

8. Salt - to taste

9. Oil - to fry

Method:

Mix all the ingredients from 1 through 8. If you like a little sour taste for the vadas then add sour curd else mix it only with water. The batter should be in medu vadai batter consistency. Leave it aside for about 15 minutes. Heat the oil in a kadai, and make vadas with the batter and deep fry them. Can be relished with any kind of chutney or sauce.

Variation: Can boil one potato and mash and add it with the batter, it can be called as "Urulaikizhangu Rawa Vadai"!!!!

Crunchy spicy broken wheat snack powder

Wheat based recipe post by Saloni Ramachandran

First I thought I’ll name it as “Anamika snack” as I didn’t have a name for it originally. Then realized it would become like “Anamika” is the owner of this recipe so to avoid such confusions I gave this slightly long and confusing name!

This will some become the favorite snack of your household pretty soon. Kids will love it because of its crunchy taste & powdered form, instead of the usually made solid/semi-solid snack items. It makes a wonderful instant evening time snack for your kids and family if you are bored and don't want to get into something heavy and elaborate for a change.

Preparation Time:-

 5-7 Minutes

Ingredients:-

1 Cup of Large  Sized Broken Wheat (Big Granules are preferred because they richer taste and flavor) - 100gms

3/4 Cup of Kobbari Powder (Dry shredded coconut) - 60-75gms

2-3 Green chillies

Tamarind - 1/2 a strip or less (depending on your taste bud for tanginess)

Curry Leaves one string (optional)

Asafoetida/Hing - 1 pinch

Salt to taste 

For Seasoning:-

Oil - 1 tablespoon

Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tablespoon

Urad Dhal - 1 tablespood

Cumin Seeds (optional) - 1/4 tablespoon

  

Preparation Method:-

1. Slightly Roast the broken wheat in a medium flame until about 2 mins so it loses any moisture (do not roast until color change).

2. Now, in a mixer, grind the roasted broken wheat, dry shredded coconut  powder, green chillies, tamarind, asafoetida, curry leaves and salt.

3. The ground mixture should be coarse in texture and should not be a very fine powder.

4. Now, in a pan heat 1 tablespoon of oil and add mustard seeds, urad dhal and cumin seeds, once the urad turns brown and mustard splutters, add the ground coarse powder into the pan and start stirring and sautéing continuously for 5 mins.

5. You will notice a slight change in the color and the powder will start getting crispy, you can turn off the gas and serve hot.

6. If you are a person who loves the crispy and crusty taste a lot then keep stirring the mix further more until you see more dark brown crusts.

  

Tip: You can try out the same thing with Aval/Poha, it will come out really good.

Special drinks for tired kids

There are some special drinks that can be given to kids after a tiring school or after a tiring class on any day. Here is a list of such drinks for you to serve your tired kids.

• Pistachio milk shake
• Vannila Lemonade
• Nutritious Juice
• Appy Magic
• Gingerly Tomato
• Badam Milk Mix
• Rich Rand Royal Milkshake
• Pomegranate Milkshake
• Chocolate Milk Shake
• Carrot Kheer
• Mango Milkshake
• Soya Bean Milkshake
• Nuts Thandai

For Kids

Though the title suggests that these are articles for kids, these are mainly for mothers, who have fussy kids. Some tips to make the kids eat healthy food and keep them healthy.

Obesity in Kids - How to control it? 

How to cultivate good eating habits in kids?

Drumstick Soup - Kerala style

Ingredients:
Drumstick - 6 nos
Green chillies - 2 nos
Ginger - 1 inch piece
Small Onions (shallots) - 6 nos
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
Curry leaves - a few
cocout oil - 1 tbsp (this will give the typical Kerala taste)

Method:
Cut drumsticks into small pieces. Pressure cook it along with green chillies, ginger, small onions and cook it for about 3 to 4 whistles. When cold, remove all the solid particles and drain the liquid using a strainer.

In a seasoning pan, heat coconut oil, add mustard seeds and when they splutter add curry leaves and grated coconut and add it to the soup.

This will taste yummy and is also rich in iron. Can be given for pregnant women.

How to make French Fries at home

Ingredients:
Potato - 6 big nos
Salt to taste
Oil for frying

Method:
Choose firm potatoes. Wash and clean the potatoes and cut them into thin finger like strips of about 1/2 inch length. Wash the potatoes more than twice to remove the excess starch in it. Soak the potato slices in ice cold water for about an hour. Drain well and rub with kitchen towels to remove the excess water.

Image of frying basket round

Heat oil and when hot place a frying basket preferably round in shape inside the pan and add a layer of the potato strips. Mix 4 tbsp of salt in 1/2 cup of water and mix well till all the salt dissolves. Add 1 tbsp of salt water to the basket and mix it well so that all the potato strips are evenly coated. Fry the potato strips in the basket until they are golden brown.

The same procedure is to be repeated to all the batches. Remove the excess oil by placing the fried strips in kitchen towels.

Serve with tomato ketchup or spicy cheese dip.

Chocolate Lollipop - A recipe for the kids

A sweet especially for kids and the kids in all adults.

Ingredients:

Milk - 2 1/2 cups

Drinking chocolate Powder - 4 tsp

Sugar - 1/4 cup

Cashew - 12 nos

Badaam - 12 nos

Method:

Soak and peel Badam. Grind it along with cashew nuts. Boil milk to 1/2 of the original quantity. Add the cashew and badam paste to it. Mix thoroughly. Add chocolate powder and sugar to and bring it to a dough consistency. Make small balls of it. 

Insert lolipop stick into it and freeze it to make chocolate lolipops. 

Wrap it into golden or silver foil and twist the ends of the wrapper to make it look like chocolate freeze it.

Spread it into small rectangular plates and cut small squares or diamonds to make it look like bar chocolates.

To give it as gift to kids, it can be pressed into animal, bird or other moulds, arrange it in a tray and freeze it.

Appy Magic - A healthy recipe for Pregnant Women and kids

An apple a day keeps doctor away. A pregnant woman needs lots of nourishment during her entire period of pregnancy. Some women due to their morning sickness will not eat a lot. For them, this drink is a great boon and this can be had immediatly after preparing.

Ingredients:
Apples - ripe and unsour - 4 medium sized
Sugar - 1/2 tbsp (better substitute with Honey)
Lime Juice - 1 tbsp
Ice cubes - 1 or 2 (optional)

How to make Appy Magic:
In a juicer blender, grind the apples (if the juicer have its own filter the better, if not the juice have to be strained using a muslin cloth). Blend it till it is smooth and a fine paste. Add the lemon juice, sugar or honey and mix well. Serve with the ice cubes.

This juice is to be made immediatly after cutting the apples so as the nutritional value in it is not lost. The dash of lime juice will help in getting releived from morning sickness. Honey will help in increased strength(as it have iron content in it). Ice cubes also help in reducing morning sickness.

Too good for kids and Pregnant women. It will help a lot during the first trimester, if the women sips the juice slowly.

Home Made Badam milk mix recipe

CBadam Milk is one of the favourite drinks in our household. To make any occassion special, either Badam Kheer or as a dessert Badam milk is served. This is one recipe that I learnt from one of my friend's mom which can be stored in fridge and use whenever needed.

Ingredients:
Almonds - 1 cup
Saffron - 1/2 gm(fresh)
Sugar - 2 cups
Water - 1 1/2 cups
Badam essence - 1 tsp (optional)

How to make Badam Syrup:
Soak almonds in hot water and peel them. Add 2 tbsp of warm water to saffron. Grind both almonds and saffron to a very fine paste. Better to avoid water but if needed, a little water can be added. In a heavy bottom pan add sugar and add 1/2 cup of water to make sugar syrup. Add the paste when the syrup starts boiling. Keep stirring so as to no lumps are formed. (Essence can be added when the mixture starts boiling again).

Let it cool and refrigerate it.

How to make Badam Milk using Badam Syrup:
Add 2 tsps of syrup to warm milk. (Though no sugar is needed, if you have a sweet tooth 1/2 spoon of sugar can be added).

How to make Badam milk shake:
In a blender add Badam syrup, ice cubes and milk and whip once or twice. Pour in a glass and add Vannila or Butter Scotch Ice cream. Serve chilled with Wafer Biscuits

Corn Paneer Pakora - A healthy recipe for evening time snack

It is definitely a difficult task to find out the snack that can be served for the kids in the evening but I got this recipe from a friend which I tried and it turned out too good too. Infact I am planning to make it as a starter dish too.

Ingredients:
Fresh or Frozen corn - 2 cups
Paneer - 100 gms
Onions - 2 medium
Ginger -  1 inch piece
Garlic - 6 flakes
Green chilly - 2 nos
Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup
Cumin/ Jeera Powder - 1/2 tsp
Red chilly Powder - 1/2 tsp
Bengal Gram Flour - 6 tbsp
Amchur Powder - 1/2 tsp
Milk - 1 cup
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying

Method:
Soak the frozen corn for a while to remove ice.  Grate the cottage cheese. Blend the corn in a blender to make it coarse. Grind ginger and garlic together. Cut the green chillies into fine pieces. In a pan heat oil, add ginger garlic paste and after a minute add the crushed corn and stir fry it. Add salt and mix well. Add 1/2 cup of milk and bring it to a creamy texture. When the corn gets cooked remove from flame and let it cool. Add the finely chopped onion, paneer, chillies, cumin powder, chilly powder, amchur powder and coriander leaves. Add in the besan flour to bind it. Add a bit more salt if needed. If the mixture is too thick, it can be thinned by adding a little more milk. Make small balls or cylindrical shaped pieces and fry it out in hot oil. Turn the pieces around till they become golden in colour. Remove from oil and drain excess oil.

If you are making it for a party, it can be make in different shapes like square or heart shaped too.

The corn can be cooked and then blended too. 

Recipe for Chappati Rolls

Phulkas or Chappatis - 3
Chopped vegetables - 1cup mixed (carrot, potatoes, cauliflower, beans) each. (Boil them and mix them together)
Boiled chopped spinach - 1 cup
Ginger and garlic chopped - 1/4 tbsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 cup
Salt - To taste
Pepper - 1 pinch
Corn Flour - 1/2 cup
Butter - 1 tsp


Method :
In a shallow kadai heat butter and when it melts add ginger and garlic and stir for a while. Add vegetables and spinach. Sprinkle the corn flour on it and mix well and let it cool. Spread the veg mix in a chappati and roll it tight, cover it with aluminium foil.

A great dish for afternoon lunch or for picnic.

Nuts Ice Cream Recipe

Ingredients:
Milk - 1 cup (Boil it and have it hot)
Milk Powder - 1 Cup
Corn Flour - 1 Tsp
Elaichi Powder - 1/2 tspn
Cashew Nuts, Baadam - Each 12
Butter - 1 tspn

Method: 
   In a wide vessel add the milk powder and elaichi powder. Add the boiling milk to it and mix it thoroughly without forming lumps. Add butter and corn flour to it and mix well. Keep the vessel in freezer for 30 to 45 mins. After that using a hand beater beat it well. (You can use mixie also to do it). Soak cashew and Baadam in half water for half an hour and peel the skin of baadam and grind it well. Mix this paste with the beaten cream and keep it again in freezer. Let it set for 2 hours.

Tasty and healthy nuts ice cream is ready. You can pour choclate syrup on top of it before serving.

Choclate Balls - A recipe that kids will love

My daughter's friends had come home for holidays and they wanted to do something on their own, ofcourse with slight help from me. And we just ended up making this and kids loved it so much.

Ingredients: 
Butter - 1/2 cup

Powdered Sugar - 1/2 cup

Powdered Marie Biscuit - 1 cup

Cashew Nut (Powdered) - 1/4 cup

Badam (Powdered) - 1/4 cup

Cocoa Powder - 1 Tbsp

Chocolate Powder - 1 Tbsp

Salt - 1/4 Tsp

Vannila Essence - 1 Tsp

Ground Dry coconut (Kopparai) - 1/2 cup


For Chocolate Icing: 
Icing Sugar - 1 Cup

Cocoa Powder - 1 Tbsp

Hot water - 3 to 4 Tbsp

How to make Chocolate balls:
In a shallow vessel add butter, sugar powder and mix it well to a fine paste, add the powdered cashew, badam, biscuit powder, cocoa powder, chocolate powder and vanilla essence. Make them a fine dough and make them into small balls.

Mix the cocoa powder and icing sugar in the hot water to make chocolate icing.

Spread the grind coconut in a plate. Dip the ball in the chocolate icing and then dip them in the grind coconut.

Chocolate balls are ready. To set them keep them refrigerated.

Masala Idly Upma - A recipe with left over Idlies

Always we all have Idly with Chutney, Sambar or Milagaipodi. But this Idly upma is something really yummy.

Ingredients:

Idly 12 normal size

Onion -2
Green chilly - 4 or 5 medium sized

Salt to taste

Oil - 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds - ½ sp.

Urad dal - 1 sp (full Urad Dal will give more taste and flavour)

Channa dal - 1 sp (Kadalai Paruppu)


Method to make Masala Idly Upma:

Cut all the idlies into small pieces.

Pour oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, make seasoning. Add chopped green chilies and cut onions. Fry well. Add cut idlies and salt. Mix well and remove from the fire. A nice tiffin is ready.

Though this is normally made with left over idlies I do make this with fresh idlies and kids like this when it is given in their lunch box.

Recipe for Home made Rose Syrup

 Rose Milk my mom's favourite now it have become my daughter's too.  This recipe comes very handy when guests arrive and they want to drink something chilled but not lemonade or other juices.

Ingredients:
Rose Petals (Paneer Rose Vareity) - 1 cup
Cashew Nuts - 1 cup
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Rose Water - 1/4 cup (mainly to use for grinding)
Rose Colour - a pinch
Citric Acid - 1/4 tsp

Method to make Rose Syrup:
Grind Rose petals, cashew nuts and rose water to a thick paste. To the 2 cups of water add sugar and citric acid and bring it to boil. Add the ground paste and bring it to one string consistency. Remove from flame and when warm add colour. When cold store it in an air tight container.

This syrup could be added with milk in the proportion if 1 part syrup to 3 parts milk. Can be garnished with cashew nuts and rose petals.