toddler recipes -Ragi wholewheat banana muffins !!

Every kid loves cakes and muffins and  we all know that there are a lot of sinful ingredients which go into our regular cakes ...so here's healthy twist ..it will not taste the same though but your toddler will certainly be excited to have it!!With the goodness of ragi,wholewheat,banana and almonds this is great for  breakfast, evening snacking and lunch box !!

Try this and don't forget to share your feedback with me !!

Ingredients

1/2 cup Ragi flour

2/3 cup Whole wheat flour

1 Egg

1 Banana(mashed)

2 tbsp Almonds(powdered or chopped)

2 tbsp Oil

1/4 cup Milk

3 tbsp Brown Sugar

1 tbsp Chocolate chips (optional)

1 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Vanilla essence

A pinch of salt

Method

Preheat oven at 180 degrees and line the muffin cup with liners.In a bowl sieve ragi and wholewheat flour.Add baking soda,baking powder,salt and mix in.Add almond powder as well,You can even use chopped almonds.I didn't use coz my son doesn't like chopped nuts.

In another bowl beat egg,oil,vanilla essence and sugar well.Add mashed banana and milk.Mix it well.

Now mix the dry ingredients into wet gently.Stir in the chocolate chips and scoop out the mixture in muffin moulds.Bake it for 15-20 minutes depending on your oven.

I have used very little sugar..you can add more !!These muffins will not be as fluffy as the usual ones but will  be yumm and guilt free for sure !!

Enjoy these muffins with your little ones !!

The most healthy Soup ever with the goodness of Bottle Gourd,Carrot and Corn !!

Can you think of a healthy recipe which is delicious too...well the list is not very long for me...and so I always keep experimenting to get the best out of healthy and nutritious ingredients.

Bottle gourd is one of the most nutritious vegetable and most disliked too..But you just try this soup and  I bet you will not be able to guess that there is lauki in it ...seriously !!

Here is the recipe

Ingredients

2 cups chopped Bottle gourd
2 tbsp Moong Daal
Half Onion
2-3 cloves Garlic
1 Bay leaf
1/4 cup Corn
Half Carrot  finelychopped
1/4 cup finely cubed Paneer
1 tsp Cumin seeds
Black pepper
Salt
1 tbsp Butter

Method

In a pressure cooker add bottle gourd ,moong daal,onion,bay leaf and garlic.Add half cup of water and boil it until its done.Blend it till smooth and simmer it in a heavy bottomed pan.Add butter and let it cook for five minutes.Add pepper,salt and fresh cumin powder.(Dry roast cumin seeds and crush or grind)Please use fresh cumin only for a better flavour.Add corn and chopped carrot and cook for another five minutes.Just before serving add chopped paneer and a little pepper.

Serve hot.

Toddler Recipes-Spinach Corn Rice !!

Starting with a new series "Toddler Recipes" with an objective to share healthy and yummy dishes for your little ones.As a mom I am always looking for ways to introduce nutrition in my son's diet and I keep on experimenting in my kitchen.
The recipe which I m going to share today is Spinach Corn Rice.I learnt this from my friend Ruby In London ..This rice dish was always a part of our potluck dinners.I just loved it the first time I had and have made umpteen times as its healthy and delicious too.Thanks Ruby !!Trust me you will love it too..Its a great way to include greens in your kid's diet.I made it for my son and its his favourite now.


Ingredients

2 Cups of  Spinach
1/4 cup Boiled Corn
1 small onion
A small piece of Ginger
Salt to taste
Black pepper
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
1 Bay leaf
Paneer cubes for garnish (optional)
2 cups of cooked rice

Method

Blanch  Spinach and grind it with  ginger into a smooth paste.Take oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and bay leaf.Add chopped onion.Once the onion turns brown add the spinach puree.Cook it for 10 minutes and add corn.Add salt and pepper and cook.Add a little water if required.Add cooked rice and mix it lightly.Garnish with paneer cubes and a dollop of ghee.
A healthy meal is ready for your toddler!!

Pesto tomato & cheese Bruschetta!

When it comes to the popular cuisines I think Italian does score at the top.You go to any place in the world and you will definitely find a pizza(though it may vary a lot in terms of the taste)Every region adds its own flavour and colour to it.

Coming to today's recipe Bruschetta is an Italian starter where you can play with different toppings depending upon your taste and it turns out to be great party appetizer with drinks.

I have a love for Pesto so much so that I keep a bottle full of pesto always in my fridge.You can add it to your  pasta,sandwiches ..and its healthy too..with the goodness of almonds and basil.

You can check my pesto sandwich  recipe

Ingredients 

1 Baguette/Submarine Loaf

1 tomato

1/2 cup of crumbled paneer

2-3 tbsp of pesto (I used homemade)

2-3 tsp of extra virgin olive oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

Oregano to sprinkle

For pesto 

1 cup basil leaves

1/4 cup roasted almonds

3-4 cloves of garlic

1/4 cup of olive oil

Salt and  to taste

Method 

For pesto take all the ingredients and grind it .The top layer should be covered with olive oil to be stored in  fridge.

Slice baguettes and toast it.Chop the tomatoes finely and add salt and pepper.Drizzle some olive oil and oregano.

Mix salt and pepper to the crumbled paneer. You can even use mozerella cheese ..I have used paneer for a healthier option.

Take the toasted slices.Apply pesto sauce.Top it with tomatoes and crumbled paneer.Serve it immediately.

Add it in your party menu and your friends will just love it !!

Till we meet next happy cooking !!

NO ONION NO GARLIC CHHOLE READY IN 15 MINUTES!

Who would not want to try a chhole recipe ready in 15 minutes...the usual process of making chhole involves so much of time and effort that you have to think twice before cooking it..I tried this recipe for the first time for a potluck dinner with friends and it was loved by all.

I usually make it everytime there is a pooja or a festival as it goes well with puris and there is no onion and garlic in the recipe.

This is the famous chef Harpal Singh 's recipe of Kadhai Chhole.

Give it a try this festive season and I bet you will just love it !!

Ingredients

1 cup boiled Kabuli Chana/Chickpeas
2 slit Green chillies
1 chopped Tomato
1 tbsp of grated ginger
1 tbsp Chhole masala
1/2 tsp Dhaniya Powder
1/2 tsp Garma masala powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp amchur powder
2 tbsp ghee
1 tsp ajwain
2 tbsp refined oil
Coriander for garnish
Salt to taste

Method 


Take the boiled chickpeas in a bowl and add in all dry spices.Mix it well.Now add the chhole in a heavy bottomed wok.Add ginger,green chillies and chopped tomatoes.Let it cook for 5-7 minutes.Take ghee and oil in  another pan and let it heat.Add ajwain and let it splutter.Now take this ghee mixture and pour it on the chhole and cook it for another 5-6 minutes.
Garnish with coriander and serve hot with puris.

Weekend Baking ~Dates & Chocolate Loaf Cake

I'm a foodie !!

Cooking and food does wonders at least to me.A good meal in a restaurant does make me happy and a happy me likes to celebrate with good food !! An angry me eats more and more and a sad me eats even more...!

Coming to the recipe today its just that I had dates lying in my fridge and what better way than making a cake for my little one.He loves chocolate so decided to bake a dates and chocolate cake.Just to make it a bit healthier I have used a combination of wholewheat and maida.Enjoy it with a cuppa and you are good to go..!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup Whole wheat

1/2 cup Maida

150 gms Dates

3 tbsp Cocoa powder

1/3 cup Brown sugar

1/3 cup Oil

1 tsp Vanilla essence

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

2 Eggs

1/2  tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp Baking soda

a pinch of salt

1/2 cup boiling water 

Method

Boil water in a pan and add dates to cook for around 2 minutes.Switch off the flame and add baking soda to it.Blend it in a mixer and keep it aside.Sift all the dry ingredients (maida,whole wheat flour,cocoa powder,salt,baking powder),Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl.Add vanilla,oil and mix,Add the sifted dry ingredients.Fold in the dates puree.Add the chopped nuts.Pour the batter in a loaf tin and bake it for 30-35 minutes at 180 degrees till the skewer comes out clean.

Enjoy !!

Till we meet next happy cooking !!

Weekend special : Middle eastern dip-Hummus!

Most of us are always in search of healthy alternatives to our meals thesedays..and its very rare that a healthy dish is delicious too.One such dish is Hummus which is a guilt free snacking option..you can slather your toasts with thick layer of this dip without any guilty feeling.
I love hummus and other middle eastern dips..earlier I had shared a cannelini beans hummus recipe on my blog.
This time its the classic chickpea hummus and I cooked up an entire middle eastern platter this time with falafels and salad to go with the pita.

Ingredients

1 cup Chickpeas
1/4 cup Sesame seeds
1/3 cup Olive oil
2-3 cloves Garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salt

Method

Boil the soaked chickpeas with salt.For tahini ,first toast the sesame seeds and then mix it with  olive oil in a blender.Now take the boiled chickpeas,tahini,olive oil,garlic and blend it till is smooth  and nice.Add lemon juice and serve it with warm pita or bread.