Thursday, March 22, 2018

The whole meal in the Mornings - Super Healthy and Tasty!

If I have to mention two foods I love the most, I would say oatmeal and Khichdi.
They are easy on the stomach, super nutritious and are delicious. 

The recipe for my customized Khichdi is on the waiting list and I will post that soon. For now, lets start with the super comfort food, Oatmeal.

Before I jump into the recipe, I would like to share some quick facts about oats .
  • Oats are a whole-grain cereal and are among the healthiest grains on the earth
  • They are a good source of fiber, good quality protein and unsaturated fats
  • One variety of oats, Steel cut oats have less glycemic index than its other kinds.
  • Oatmeal is a well balanced breakfast 
For me, experimenting with Oats is a passion as they provide endless possibilities. It is like filling a blank white paper with myriad of colors. Today, I will share one variety that I make frequently as my family loves this including my three year old son!!




Ingredients
  • Oats 
  • Flax Seeds
  • Chia Seeds
  • Fruits of your choice
  • Nuts of your Choice
  • Honey/Maple Syrup
  • Coconut (Optional)
  • Raisins/Mejdool dates
  • Pumpkin Seeds/ Sunflower Seeds
Thats it!

Preparation

1.Cook the oats based on their type. If I use Steel cut oats, I soak them overnight. Else, it takes about 10 mins on stove top. 
2. Once cooked, add enough quantity to your bowl and start adding colorful fruits of your choice .
I usually add strawberries, blueberries and  banana
3.Then add nuts of your choice. I add walnuts, almonds and green raisins or Dates
4.Sprinkle soaked chia seeds , flax seed powder and dry coconut
5.Pour honey as needed

Don't forget to read the notes below to see the variations of what I do 

Notes:
  1. In the above picture, I added Activated Superfood that I got in Whole Foods which is high in Omega 3's and 6's
  2. We usually have an avocado , Flax milk or Greek Yogurt on the side with oatmeal
  3. I add less or no honey for my family most of the time because Raisins/Dates have enough sugar in them
  4. For a change, I sometimes cook strawberries(Mangoes in Summer) over low heat with coconut sugar and lemon and pour this mixture over oatmeal
  5. Adding Vanilla extract/ Orange Extract gives a different feel to the oatmeal
  6. Make sure you get everything Organic as much as possible
Nutrition Facts:
  • Oats contain Manganese, fiber, Iron, Vitamin B1 and B5,Folate and many antioxidants
  • Fruits are packed with many vitamins, minerals and photo nutrients and everyone should have three to four servings of fruit everyday. They help the human body to be fit, help it rejuvenate and disease-free.
  • Nuts and seeds are rich in energy, protein, packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and much discussed omega-3 fatty acids
  • They have good fats that are good for heart and do not increase the waist line
Do try this and let me know what you feel through your comments below.
Stay tuned to know the "skin benefits" of Oatmeal in my next post!


💙💚💛💜💙💚💛



Friday, November 24, 2017

Eggless Mango Cake

Thanksgiving ! 

It is usually silent on the roads on this day and quite unusually, it is silent at our home too. 
All the partners in crime (yes, my husband and kids) went out and left me this opportunity to write a blog after a long time.

I started making eggless cakes a while ago and experimented with various flavors.
Some of my eggless specialties are 

Orange pound Cake
Chocolate and Vanilla teatime cake
Coffee cake
and
Mango Mousse cake

It is one of the light cakes with a beautiful aroma of mango and is very delicious.

I will share the recipes of other cakes and different versions at a later time, but here is the recipe of Mango Mousse cake that I am excited about today.


 


Ingredients

All purpose flour /Maida - 1 Cup
Baking soda - 0.5 tsp
Baking Powder - 1 tsp
Corn Starch - 2 TbSp
Sweetened Condensed Milk - 1/2 cup
Mango puree  - 1/4 cup- 1/2 cup
Milk - as needed
White distilled vinegar - 1 TbSp
Unsalted butter(melted and cooled) - 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder/ Vanilla extract - 1 TbSp
Salt - 1/8 tsp

Icing

Whipping Cream - 1 cup
Mango puree - 3 TbSp
Mango Chunks - 1 cup

Notes

1. As this is the eggless version , baking soda, powder and Vinegar have to be added with exact proportions.
2. If you are adding mango pieces instead of puree, check for the sugar content .You may have to add or reduce the quantity of sugar based on how sweet the mangoes are.
3. I used Alphonso mango puree that is available in the Indian stores.
4. I added cardamom powder but feel free to skip if you do not like the smell of cardamom in the cake.

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Prepare the cake pan by spreading the butter and dusting the pan with all purpose flour generously.
Parchment paper could be used, as well.

3. Sift all the dry ingredients to remove lumps and air bubbles.

4. Mix the wet ingredients in a different bowl in this order: melted butter, condensed milk and whisk well. Then add mango puree and vinegar.

5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture. If you feel the need to add more liquid, you can add milk or more mango puree. Mango puree is loaded with sugar already, so be careful with sugar quantity.

6. Add Cardamom powder.

7. The mixture should not be too watery or too thick. A yogurt like consistency is recommended.

8. Pour this batter in the cake pan and bake it for about 20-25 mins. Dig a fork into the cake at 20 mins and if the fork comes out clean, your cake is done.

9. Get the cake out of the oven and let it cool.

Icing preparation

1. Beat the whipping cream till soft peaks are formed.
2. Fold in the mango puree and let this cool in the refrigerator.

Gently remove the cake from the pan and cover all sides with the whipping cream.
Add chopped mangoes and/or nuts of your choice!!











Monday, November 28, 2016

No-Bake Swiss Roll!



The aroma of this Swiss roll brought back old memories. And as soon as I took the first bite, I started walking down the memory lane. I remembered that girl with olive eyes and a bright smile.

That day, teacher introduced a new girl to the class. It was in the middle of school academic year and the girl's family relocated from Dubai. In few days, it was her birthday. Those were the days when birthday kids shared chocolates with the entire class. But the new girl gave us something unique. She gave us a chocolate roll with something "white" inside. Everyone got a piece and it tasted divine!!!


Teachers wrote a letter to the girl's mom asking for the recipe. I fell in love with the roll that day but could not bring myself to ask for the recipe. 


 Ever since, I tried all kinds of rolls, but nothing tasted close.


Coming back, I have a habit of challenging myself in the kitchen by coming up with a new recipe with whatever is left. This experiment, however, is special and close to my heart, because I created the same roll that I ate as that little girl, by sheer coincidence!


You all readers are lucky. Do you know why? You have a chance to skip this entire blabber and go directly to the recipe. My husband and my kid had no choice but to hear this entire story :-D


Now, why wait? Lets dig into this super tasty chocolate no-bake Swiss Roll!!

This is an easy dessert with simple ingredients and could be transformed into an extravagant dish by adding more chocolate or more cream and nuts. I chose to keep it simple.

Ingredients:

1. Marie biscuits - about 10 (I had this kind, so I used them. But feel free to use any kind of cookies)
2. Cocoa Powder - 3-4 Tb Spoon
3. Coconut powder - 1 cup
4. Sugar - according to your taste
5. Butter - 1 block
6. Instant coffee powder - 1 teaspoon

Method of preparation:

1. Using a blender, blend the cookies into a fine powder
2. Sieve the powder to prevent lumps
3. Add cocoa powder, coffee powder, butter and sugar (sugar is optional depending on the sweetness of cookies)
4. Add butter and make a soft dough
5. Mix grated coconut, sugar and butter in a bowl.
6. Take a parchment paper and spread it with oil/butter
6. Using a rolling pin, spread the cookie dough into about a quarter inch rectangular shape
7. Carefully place the coconut mixture on top of the cookie mixture
8. Now, using the parchment paper, roll the entire contents in a circular motion.
9. Keep the roll in the refrigerator for about 3-4 hours.
10. Cut into 2 inch rolls and serve
11. Optionally decorate this delightful dessert with whipped cream













Wednesday, February 3, 2016

My Childhood in a small town...

Its a quiet warm evening. We had plans to go shopping after dinner. As we stepped out of our home, the warm breeze, setting sun and serene ambience changed our plans. We decided to forego spending the rest of the evening in a mall and instead chose to walk in the neighborhood.

I am not a big fan of holding hands with kids and I get uncomfortable at that "pulled" feeling. However, this evening was different. As my kid Sriya took my palm in hers and started walking, I remembered couple years spent in a small town of Andhra Pradhesh when I was around the same age as my kid is now.

As I was lost in my thoughts, I heard Sriya asking questions which made no sense. Well, for couple seconds I was irritated. Long walks in silence are not possible with a talkative six-year old around.
My husband, who instantly recognizes my facial expressions started entertaining her in a hush-hush manner.
After coming back to present from those sweet memories, I suddenly asked Sriya "Do you want to hear about your mommy's childhood stories?" leaving my husband surprised .As they both paid attention , I started...

It was the year 1986. My dad got transferred to a small town near Vijayawada.As I stepped out of the bus after a grueling seven hour bumpy bus travel at night,I was welcomed by  River Krishna's gushing waters from the dam ,small grass stalls starting their businesses, fresh idli smell from a small cafe and the aroma of fresh milk from the milk cans.

Having known the busy life of a city with honking,rushing and smell of petrol, this scene awed me . As I took some silent steps with my dad and mom, I entered the neighborhood where the Government allocated "quarters" for the employees. I remember passing through a park and then it suddenly hit me that I had none of my friends here. Seeing my hand tightly wrapped to his wrist, my dad paused for a second, looked at me and lifted me to carry.He seemed to assure that everything will be alright.

I was led to the second-floor and my dad opened the door. I wondered how on earth would I remember our new home as every other quarter looked alike. Very soon,I started liking my new home.
A small drawing room with a guest bedroom beside it, a kitchen, a master bedroom with a balcony made me feel cozy.Having lived in a joint family,I was not used to a cozy setting like this .

Balcony had amazing view of a far-off mountain and some structure built on it.I later learnt that that was a hospital. With the temple-bells ringing in my ears, I felt a mix of excitement and some worry.
I missed my pals, my grand-father and mostly the noise .This silence was entirely new to me and I wondered if I can ever get used to this. But now I realize that kids are adept at adapting to new environment than adults.

I started with my new school, DAV Public school. Set in a place with beautiful views, and the construction with clean white walls, a library, a prayer ground, fully grown trees and with strict discipline, this was the best school I attended till date. City schools and class rooms are always cramped. I now teach my daughter the sloka that the students were made to sing before having their lunch in that school.

As days passed, I made new friends. We played on the common terrace that joined two consecutive buildings. Our favorite game was to get drenched in the water that overflowed from the over-head water tanks. I remember walking with the dripping skirt ,oil and water mixed hair back to our quarters. Though I do not recollect my mom's exact expressions, I loved the horlicks( a sweetened malt mix)  and roasted peanuts she gave me after she changed my clothes and dried my hair.

My parents enrolled me in the music classes and I used to walk with my friends every evening to learn Carnatic Music. I enjoyed that one hour of learning. My teacher was then in her 20's,playful and strict sometimes. Their family loved  me and my singing and I became my teacher's favorite in no time. My music teacher's elder sister visited the family often and she would ask me to sing a kriti or two. The Geetham  Paduma Nabha param purusha that she taught me still rings in my ears and makes me feel nostalgic. My teacher taught me a light song with great enthusiasm when I got an opportunity to sing in the "All India Radio".  Now, looking back, I feel that she had a profound influence on me though I haven't realized it then. She was gentle, loving with all of us and disciplined us at the same time. I wish I can meet her sometime again!

Sunday was a holiday to the class and we had a typical schedule. As we did not have television, my mom took me to my friends' quarters and while our moms got busy preparing and massaging
 herbal paste for our hair, we watched "Ramayana" ( A classic epic of Lord Rama).
After couple hours we would wash our hair , and then come home for lunch.
 How informal and close the relationships were at that time!

There were two playgrounds in the area. One was for kids which had swings, monkey bars and slides with benches for parents. The other located just opposite to the kids park had a huge auditorium.
All kids walked to the park and played till dusk until one of our parents would come searching and walked us back. My favorite was swinging competition .My friend would sit while I stood behind her. Then we would compete with the other friends about who would swing high.  I usually came home full of dirt and sometimes with wounds on my knees and elbows. The cut-iron corners of the slide or the rusted monkey bars did not stop us from having fun.

Really, all that physical activity, playing in a group helped me in more than one way.

During festivals ,there would be competitions like fancy dress, music ,drama and dance held in park with auditorium. That reminds me of joining  a dance class I had  joined few days before the competitions began. My dance teacher was preparing all her students for the upcoming competition and I was thrilled that I will get to wear that glittering clothes and jewelry. But my teacher had other thoughts for me.She decided that I should take part in  a "non-classical dance" as I was not proficient with classical dance yet. I thought it was still ok.

The next day, I went to the class all excited only to learn that I would participate in  a "dance-drama" and will be a "fisherman's wife". Fisherman's wife? yuck, I gasped, I was shocked and I thought of turning back and running away. But I had no choice. She made me wear a simple cotton saree tied in a Maharastrian style(the saree would come in between the legs) and some black dots on my chin.Then she tied my hair up in a bun with a plastic flower. On top of that she asked me to enact a scene where the wife would be crying that her husband beat her up and to sneeze into my hand.
That was it !!
I ran home after the class and made sure that I never come face-to-face with the teacher again.
I convinced my mom that that I would be a Cinderella or a princess and never act as a fisherman's wife.

One of the simple pleasures were our evening walks in the neighborhood. After dinner, we walked for an hour holding hands passing through the wonderful smells of jasmine and lily, hearing the temple bells, pausing for a minute when my dad or mom met their friends and my dad trying to teach me grammar or simple math playfully .I remember they laughing when I spelled something funny . They laughed when I asked them why is "l" silent in word like walking and talking.

Temperatures would rise upto 45 degrees in summer and the weather is very humid. I waited for my summer holidays like every child would. Dad would soak heavy blankets in cold water and hang on all windows to keep the temperature sane inside. Mom would buy new earthen pots to store water and  cover them with them wet towels all the time. She used to spread the vegetables on a cloth and sprinkle water on them to keep them fresh.Those were the days where the refrigerators, air coolers and air conditioners were not among the "mandatory" items. People could still live without them.

My favorite pass time in summer was reading books. I was and am a big fan of books and I enjoyed the long uninterrupted reading time sitting beside a window that overlooked  the wide road and covered by trees on either side. I read all epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata and even remember reading "KumaraSambhava" by Kalidasa written in the form of slokas.The comics like Tinkle, Chandamama,Amar Chitra Katha were my favorites.

Reading books had its own advantages and disadvantages. While they gave me immense knowledge and helped me build strong language skills, I felt I have changed. I became more and more silent with no Grandfather around to bear my tantrums.I felt that I am pampered less and less and mom and dad took control of me. My dad once said that I became more focussed and suddenly grown up and left my continuous talking and mischief.Yes, my extended family knows that side of me very well.On one occasion,when I complained about my kid's continuous chatter to my Uncle, he lovingly said "You know my dear, world is round. Its your turn now" .

My dad worked in shift systems as an Assistant Engineer. He worked in night shifts twice a week and I would wait for him to come back. He would bring us the delicious breakfast that is a local delicacy. He used to wake me up at six in the morning, brush my teeth and make me eat the breakfast.

The afternoons comprised of light lunch with vegetables that had more water content. The area was more prone to Chicken pox and we had to be careful. The mangoes  in that region are my all-time favorite as they had a different flavor unlike the mangoes I had in Hyderabad. My dad would wash them up, cut in small pieces and placed them beside the salad he used to prepare everyday.

Stay tuned to hear my bantering about the  personalized, open-waters swimming lessons every evening.

More to come....

See you soon!
























Monday, October 14, 2013

Mixed Vegetable Soup

Its been a long time that I posted my new soup recipe. My parents are here and my mom took over the kitchen. So,with some spare time, I resumed my juicing experiments. Believe me, they turned out to be really good. I do not know if the juices made me "look" younger but surely they did make me "feel" younger. I will talk more about the juices in my further posts. 

Lets get back to the soup. Yesterday, the soup that my mom made brought back all the fond memories of my childhood. I remembered how she experimented with food for our health. I do not know if I am exaggerating, but bitter gourd was one of my favorites and all credit goes to my mom.  Very simple, very tasty - this soup surpasses all the other soups I make. I love the green color of this soup for its healthy appeal. Moreover, greens are full of vitamins and minerals and disease-fighting phyto-chemicals. My mom changed the recipe a little  this time, and added rosemary powder and oregano.
























Ingredients

Vegetable stock

  • Spinach
  • Cabbage
  • Green Beans
  • Sweet Corn
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Capsicum (Green Bell Pepper)

Vegetable pieces

  • Spinach
  • Cabbage
  • Green Beans
  • Sweet Corn
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Capsicum (Green Bell Pepper)
  • Green Peas

Garnish

  • Spring onion
  • Coriander/parsley

Spices


  • Bayleaf
  • Dry rosemary leaf powder: Rosemary is full of anti-oxidants. Using Rosemary in combination with thyme increases health benefits.
  • White pepper
  • Soy sauce - 1/4th tea spoon
  • Chilli sauce - 1/4th tea spoon
  • Black salt -pinch
  • Sugar - 1/2 teaspoon
  • Corn flour mixed with water - 1 teaspoon




Procedure


1. Take equal quantity of all vegetables(I took  cup each) except green peas. Wash them thoroughly and pressure-cook them . Switch off the stove and let cool .
2.Once the steam is off, blend the cooked vegetables to make the puree. Do not throw the water. It contains all the nutrients.
3.Microwave the vegetable pieces for one minute.
4.Heat a pan and melt two teaspoons of butter/olive oil
4.Add one bay leaf , powdered rosemary leaves,pinch of oregano powder and add the vegetable pieces.Stir for two minutes.
5.Add the puree and the water to the pan.Let it boil.
6.Add salt, pinch black salt, white pepper, soy and chilli sauces and sugar.
7.Stir for  a minute and add corn flour (with water).
8.Add fresh cream.My mom adds milk powder if we do not have cream.
9.Garnish with coriander and spring onions.


Variations


We could add:
-  garlic and/or ginger pieces.
-  green chillies/cayenne pepper - I personally prefer cayenne pepper for its cardiovascular benefits. This effectively opens and drains congested nasal passages.
-  fresh thyme for a different flavor. Thyme is famous for its antimicrobial properties. It serves as a digestive aid.
-  pomegranate seeds or apple pieces for garnish

My kid loves the basic version though and its a feast to my eyes to see her gulp down all the vegetables without making faces!





Thursday, November 1, 2012

Sweet Potato Oats Soup

These days, I changed my shopping style.Thanks to the local market that is less than a mile from our place, I bring home groceries in less amounts. I also stopped the philosophy of filling the refrigerator with veggies. Well, this not only helps in reducing the load that I carry over the stairs but also helps me be creative with the limited supplies.

Sweet Potato Oats Soup is very simple to make and can be a healthy starter for the cold winter evenings.

Sweet potatoes contain very high levels of Vitamin A and beta-carotene which makes them skin superfood.They are also high in calcium, folate and potassium.
Oats are a great source of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, selenium, manganese and phosphorus.They are also a good source of fiber protein.

The spices ! 
I usually try different combinations of spices in my soups to make each one taste different (and good).
In this one, I wanted the sweet flavor  of Sweet potato, milk and whipped cream  to be intact .So, was careful to add only two herbs.
Oregano is one of the healthiest and tastiest herbs one can try.It is high in iron, manganese and a natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids. 

My kid is a big fan of soups as long as they are mild and creamy. She tasted it and said "Amma,very tasty !


Ingredients:

Sweet Potato - 1 medium sized
Oats - Handful
Onion - 1/2 cup
chillies - 2 finely chopped
Milk - 1 cup
Whipped Cream 

Garlic - 1 clove finely chopped
Black pepper - 1 teaspoon
Bay leaf powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Ground Oregano - 3/4 teaspoon
Sugar - 1-2 spoons 
Salt

Notes :  

1.Garlic, in this soup can be optional if it is served chilled.
2.Oats if added along with Sweet potato turn mushy and I liked the texture when they are added at a later stage.
3.To gain the maximum health benefits from eating sweet potatoes, avoid discarding the skin.
4.I added black pepper to olive oil and felt it had better taste.
5.Finally, 
Feel free to experiment with measurements .

Procedure :

Heat  a medium sized pan on stove and one spoon of olive oil. 
Add garlic pieces, Bay leaf powder, Oregano powder, black pepper and saute for 30 seconds.
Add Sweet potato pieces and let everything blend properly.

Add 2 cups of water and close the lid of the pan, reduce the heat and boil it for 2-3 minutes till the Sweet potato is tender. 
Reduce the heat and carefully remove the Sweet potato pieces,put aside and let cool.
Blend the Sweet potato to a smooth paste and add it to the pan.

Melt butter/ghee in a different pan and saute onions till the raw smell is gone
Add the onions to the soup. Add oats.
Add  milk and sugar and let it simmer for five minutes. 
Add salt and turn off the stove.

Add green chillies and whipped cream before serving.




Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Pumpkin Avocado Noodle Soup

For a long time, I am experimenting on cooking dinners without "white" rice.
White rice is a good source of Vitamin B and iron. Unfortunately, this important food source is usually eaten  in its least nourishing form - that is, milled and polished to remove the bran and germ,which contain valuable nutrients.
This blog and my upcoming blogs will contain the results of my experiments.

The pumpkin avocado soup is a powerhouse of antioxidants and vitamins.
Pumpkin fruit is a good source of Vitamin A, B-6,Vitamin C and Vitamin E.It provides the necessary minerals like copper,calcium and phosphorus.
Avocado is a best fruit source of Vitamin -E .It reduces cholesterol, aids in eye- health and better nutrient absorption.
The spices I have used - Rosemary ,Black pepper ,cinnamon and Thyme - are among the seven super spices that everyone should have in their spice rack.
Rosemary is full of antioxidants . Using Rosemary in combination of thyme increases the health benefits.
Thyme is famous for its antimicrobial properties. It serves as a digestive aid.
Cinnamon keeps cells safe from oxidative stress and dangerous free radicals.

I made baked chick peas and cracked wheat pilaf along side as we use soups as starters.

But I was surprised and excited that the soup alone was filling and served as a easy and healthy dinner.
I make no compromises when it comes to taste and yes, It was yummy as I expected.
My kiddo loved it and hope you will too!

Note: Feel free to experiment with measurements.




Ingredients :


Pumpkin pieces - 1.5 cup
Avocado - 1 small
Lemon - 2 tea Spoons
Noodles  - Handful (optional)
Chopped Coriander
Baby corn - 1 cup
Tomato puree - 1 cup
Red bell pepper - 1/2 cup
Green chillies - 2 finely chopped

Garlic - 1-2 cloves finely chopped
dried Thyme - 2 pinches
dried Rosemary leaves - 1 pinch
Black pepper - 1 teaspoon
cinnamon - 1 pinch - optional
Bay leaf - 1
paprika powder - 1 teaspoon
salt - I used Himalayan pink salt for a smokey flavor

Procedure :


Cut pumpkin pieces , and microwave for two minutes
Heat a medium sized pan on stove and add one spoon of olive oil .
Add garlic pieces, Thyme, Rosemary leaves,Bay leaf and saute for 30seconds.

Add baby corn pieces,red bell pepper and the pumpkin pieces and cook them  for 3 minutes.
Add the tomato puree .
Let it mix well with the vegetables .
Now, remove the pumpkin pieces from the pan, put aside and let cool.
Puree the avocado,  pumpkin pieces with lime juice.
Pour the mixture in to the pan, add some water depending on the consistency.
Now add the noodles  and paprika powder.
Let everything simmer for five minutes.
Garnish with coriander  and sprinkle salt.
Top it with green chillies.
Serve.