"Nutritious and Delicious"- High Fiber Cereal bars with Oats, Wheat bran and Almonds

Instead of the 'Wheat germ' that I buy for the cereal bars, I accidentally picked a pack of 'Wheat Bran" the other day at the grocery store. And the next day... we had "High Fiber" homemade cereal bars!!
Wheat bran is one of those "super good for you foods". Here are few nutrition facts about wheat bran:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5497557_wheat-bran-nutrition.html
In short...a cup of wheat bran gives almost the daily needed fiber!!! In addition to that it has many more benefits...high in protein, low saturated fat etc etc
Along with wheat bran there are whole grain oats ,almonds, flax seed meal...all the 'Good for you' stuff that go in the bar! You have to try these!!

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cup Whole grain Quick Oats

1 cup Unprocessed wheat bran

1/4 cup Flax Seed meal

1/4 cup Almonds

1/8 cup White chocolate chips

3/4 to 1 cup Light Brown sugar (add more for sweeter bars)

1 tbsp Honey

1 Egg

1tsp Vanilla

1/4tsp Cinnamon

1tbsp Canola Oil

1 tbsp All purpose flour

1/4tsp salt 

 

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 350F. Spread the oats and almonds on a cookie sheet and warm in the oven for 8-10 mins...until slightly toasted. Don't let the almonds or oats burn.Take out sooner if needed!!!  OR Toast the oats in microwave oven for 3 mins and the almonds for 50-60 sec.

Now Reduce temperature to 325F. Coat a 8*11 inch pan or 9* 9 inch pan with aluminum foil.Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2) Beat the egg.Mix oil, sugar and all of the above ingredients, stir well.

3) Press the mixture in the coated pan.

4) Bake at 325F for 15- 20 mins ....till slightly golden brown. Do not let them burn.Take out sooner if needed!
5)Let them cool  a bit and then cut onto bars with a oiled sharp knife

6) Store in airtight container.Makes 12 bars.

 Delicious, High fiber healthy bars for your breakfast/ snack from your own oven!!!

"Everyday Cooking"- Pasta Salad with Italian dressing

I love 'colorful' food. It instantly pleases your eyes...and makes your mouth water.As they rightly say...'First, You feast with your eyes'. And more the color on your plate...more Nutritious it is going to be!! Remember your grandma telling....you should have 1 green+1 yellow vegetable + Protein+ Carbohydrate+ salad on your plate! This salad is almost like eating it all in one plate!

This pasta salad here has variety of colors from the vegetables and the various textures make it more interesting...the juicy tomatoes, the soft cubed cheese, the crunchy sweet red onion, fresh green broccoli all contribute to the yumminess of the salad!

Ingredients:
(I used 2 pastas here...you can use one which you like)
2 cups 'al dente' Cooked Penne Pasta
1 Cup 'al dente' cooked Farfalle pasta
3/4 to 1 cup 'Zesty Italian Dressing
1/3 cup Grated Parmesan
1/2 cup Broccoli florets
1/2 cup sliced Red onion
1/2 cup Cubed Cheese (I used Pepper Jack Cheese)
8-10 Cherry tomatoes cut into two pieces
10-12 Fresh Basil leaves
1/2tsp Black ground pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4tsp dried oregano
5tsp olive oil
salt


Method:
1) Cook the pasta as per packet directions in salted water. Drain well and let it cool. Drizzle 2 tsp olive oil and some black pepper.Keep aside
2) Saute broccoli in 1tsp olive oil till slightly cooked but still crunchy.
3) Mix the Pasta,broccoli, Italian dressing, onion, cheeses and everything from the ingredient list
4) Make ahead of time.Let it marinate at least for 2-4 hours before serving.Marinate in the refrigerator.
Before serving, microwave for 20-30 seconds, just to bring it to Room temperature
This salad is served at room temperature or cold.

"Nutritious and Delicious"- Oatmeal-Almond-Wheat Bran-Chocolate chip Cookies

 Would you like a cookie for Breakfast?? Not a question you would expect..right??? But a Cookie THIS Good and Wholesome...you won't feel guilty about having it for breakfast with a glass full of milk! If you don't mind the butter :)

For my little "E" , the milk won't go 'in', till he has some cookies with it. He is a BIG fan of Pepperidge farm 'Milano' cookies by the way!!
In order to make this meal of his..a bit more wholesome and nutritious...I am always looking for some good cookie recipes.

I found a Oatmeal Cookie Recipe on the box of Oatmeal that I buy. I made some modifications and here we have a "Oatmeal-Almond-Wheat Bran-Chocolate Chip" Cookie!!!

Ingredients- (makes about 18-20  large cookies)
1 stick unsalted butter
1 and 1/2 cup Quick cooking Oats
1/2 cup Wheat Bran
1/3 cup Finely Chopped Almonds/Almond meal
1/4 Cup Flax seed meal
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Egg
1tsp Vanilla
1/2tsp Salt
1/2tsp Baking soda
1/2 cup White Chocolate Chips/ Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

Method:
1) Preheat Oven to 375F. Grease Cookie Sheets.
2)  Cream Butter and sugar until smooth.Beat eggs and vanilla in.
3) Combine and blend flour,wheat bran,flax seed meal, chopped almonds,baking soda, salt into the creamed mixture.Stir in the oats.Divide the batter into two. Add white chocolate chips to half and the brown chocolate chips to the other half.Mix till combined.
4) Drop on the cookie sheet by rounded spoon/scoop. Or round them with hand.
5) Bake for 10-12 mins. Check the cookies after 8 mins and make sure they don't burn! Adjust time accordingly!

Take a bite of the Oatmealy-Almondy-Chocolaty Goodness!!

" The Sizzle from a Guest Kitchen"- (Guest- Ananya Joshi) Eggplant Pesto Burger)

Guest- Ananya Joshi
Recipe= Eggplant Pesto Burger

Ananya and I were neighbors since we moved to Columbus. Like they say "Like minds think alike"...many a times....we end up cooking similar meals. Co-incidently..we have cooked Sandwiches (of the same type....that too ...three colored!!!!), Misal Pav, Idlies etc on similar days!!! The other day..I made a  'Bean burger' for dinner and the very next day....Ananya sends me this picture and recipe of a Eggplant Pesto burger!!

Eggplant pesto burger!!! How good does that sound! I have never had a Eggplant burger before. I love Eggplant Curries, Bharit, Eggplant Parmesan...but hardly make it at home (Well, because....M is not a Eggplant lover). He hates the eggplant mushy texture when cooked in curries. I guess...He wouldn't mind a Eggplant burger....that too, so flavorful with the fresh Basil Walnut Pesto and the Maggie-Mayo(see the recipe below! )

I can't wait to try it myself!!!

Recipe-
Pesto:
1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup walnuts
2 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
1 green chili, minced
Combine the basil with the walnuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. Add chopped garlic, green chili, cheese and pulse it few more times while slowing adding olive oil. Add salt if needed.

Eggplant Patties:
1 whole eggplant, 1 inch diced
1 Tbs parsley (dried)
1 Tbs Oregano (dried)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp minced garlic
Handful of chopped coriander
Salt, red chili powder, cumin powder as per taste
Oil to shallow fry the patties
Saute eggplant on low heat till grey and very soft.Mix together eggplant and all the rest of the ingredients, except oil, let rest for ½ hour in refrigerator. Form Patties and cover them with corn meal/rava/bread crumbs. Shallow fry each side of patty for about 5 mins on medium heat.
Toast burger buns and assemble with cut onion, pattie, maggie-mayo (Maggie hot and sweet sauce and mayo mixed together) on one side and pesto on other side.

"Everyday Cooking"- Malai Chicken

It was 'S and R's baby's naming ceremony yesterday. Every time I see a smaller baby than 'E' or 'A'..I instantly go back in time..and remember them as teeny tiny babies.Time really flies...and I hope I cherish every moment of their childhood to the fullest!
S and her mom had cooked an amazingly delicious dinner for about 25-30 guests. They had made...Chana masala, Paneer subzi, Rice kheer, Spinach cutlets, Jeera Rice,Pooris etc. The food was so delicious and the flavor combinations so 'right on spot'/ perfect..that I was left licking my fingers! Her mom had a 'Ekadashi' fast on that day and couldn't taste the food that she was cooking....in such large quantity...and yet the meal was so flavorful!!! It had me wonder...how can anyone cook so perfectly without tasting the food.I guess it's the years of experience that her mom had!!! Afterall...what a 'mom' cooks...it the BEST food of all!!!
 For me...I HAVE to taste the food to check the seasoning...otherwise I hardly feel confident about my cooking.Maybe I will learn with experience over the years...

Ingredients:
1 lb Boneless chicken/ 2 and1/2 cups cubed chicken
2 large onions
1 tomato chopped
1/2 Green bell pepper sliced thinly
1/2cup whole milk/cream (MALAI)
1tbsp Dry milk powder
1/4 cup Cashews
1/4 cup yogurt
2tsp Sesame seeds
1tsp ginger garlic paste
1tsp Chili powder(add more for spicier taste)
1/2tsp turmeric powder
1/2tsp Garam masala
1/2tsp Shah Jeera (cumin)
1 small cinnamon stick
1bay leaf
1tbsp oil
salt
Chopped Cilantro for garnish

Method:
1) Mix yogurt, chili powder,turmeric powder,garam masala,salt and the cubed chicken.Marinate for 1/2hr in the refrigerator.
2) Heat 1 tsp oil add 1 large chopped onion.Fry till golden.Add cashews,sesame seeds and fry till golden brown. Let it cool. Grind in to smooth paste in the blender along with ginger garlic paste.
3) Heat 3 tsp oil, add the bay leaf, cumin, cinnamon stick, 1 chopped onion.Fry couple of mins. Add the sliced green pepper, tomatoes and fry till cooked. Add the marinated chicken and fry for 4-5 mins.
4) Add the onion-cashew paste to the pan. Cover with lid and cook for 6-8 mins.Add salt to taste.
5) Add the milk/cream and milk powder and mix. Simmer on low flame till the chicken is tender and cooked.
6) Garnish with cilantro and serve hot along with Pulav/ Rotis/ Naan.

"Sweet Treats"- Prezel and Chocolate Butterflies

I wanted to try these...'Pretzel-chocolate butterflies' for so long....and last week was the perfect occasion ....it was "E's friends birthday.Best of all...this was where 'E' helped me decorate the butterflies. It was a great kids project. The only messy part was piping the melted chocolate as 'glue' in the butterflies. The kids can decorate with their favorite sprinkles and candies.Along with 'E'...I had fun too:)) He looks so tall in this picture...but he is standing on a chair;)

Recipe:

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/pretzel-butterflies/8f37d2ac-ddaa-4448-8ca0-e317db9c3436/

 Kids love eating what they created as a fun project!!!

"Sweet Treats"- Besan Nankatai/ Besan Cookies

 There was a BIG pack of 'besan'/ Gram flour lying around in the pantry...and a friend had reminded about 'Besan Nankatai's" just last week. My 'Teeny Tiny" A'...is on a High calorie diet..and I am always looking for foods..that are high calorie, rich in nutrients and relatively healthy for her. These 'Nankatai's....are sure a winner in this category!!! I had baked All purpose flour nankatai's before...and are still my most favorite..
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2010/04/sweet-treats-nankatai-indian-sugar.html

It is kind of hard to cater 3 different diets in the family. 'M' and I need low calorie diet.......because guess what......nobody is getting any thinner :(   Little 'E' needs to eat normal diet...as he needs all the fat,nutrients and calories for his growing body. And then there is little tiny 'A'..she has been low on the weigh scale and the doctor asked us to give her a 'High Calorie' diet!! So..here I am ..the Master Personal Chef of 'Thetes'....catering an array of diets at home!

Ingredients:
Recipe Guidance from:
http://www.cinnamonnchillies.com/2011/03/besan-cookieschickpea-flour-cookies.html
1 stick unsalted room temperature butter
1 Cup Besan/ Gram flour
1 Cup powdered sugar
1/2tsp Baking powder
1tsp Vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
Chopped nuts for garnish

Method:
1) Preheat oven to 300 F/ 150C.
2) Lightly butter a cookie sheet
3) Cream together the butter, vanilla and sugar till light and fluffy with a hand mixer.
4) Sieve the Besan, baking powder,salt.Add to the cream butter sugar mixture.
5) Knead into soft dough.Make little 'Pedha' like balls.Press them a little.
6) Place on cookie sheet and press chopped nuts on top.Or make 'Tic tac toe like pattern"

7) Bake at 300 F for 12-15 mins ..until slight brown on bottom.Cool the cookies.

**My First attempt at Besan Nankatai ---Verdict
The cookies looked excellent....they tasted good too....they had the 'hole' in them too....But..they were a little bit 'chewy'...not the texture of the typical nankatai...

" Nutritious and Delicious"- Watermelon and Strawberry Pops

Feeling Hot in Summer??? Want to cool off with a healthy treat???? I promise...you will love this one!!! I had invited 'G' and 'A' yesterday for dinner. I was thinking about dessert.Since 'G' loves 'healthier' foods...I thought about this Sweet...Juicy..Watermenoly....Berrilicious treat!! The sweet watermelon juice with the tart strawberries..is a wonderful combination and you will definitely go for one more without feeling guilty!!!

It is so simple to make...and you can make these with any Juicy fruits...like Peaches puree, Orange juice, Apple Juice, Kiwi Puree and add berries or other fruit pieces to it.....Freeze into Pops...DONE!!!
Kids love anything that is cold and on a stick!!! You won't feel guilty if they eat two of these at once!!

Ingredients:
2 cups watermelon pieces
1/2 cup sliced strawberries(you can add any berries)
1 tsp sugar(skip if the watermelon is sweet enough)
1/2tsp salt

Method:
1) Puree the watermelon in the blender along with salt and sugar.
2) In the Popsicle molds add the sliced strawberries.Try to press them on the sides of the mold...so that they look pretty.
3) Pour the watermelon juice in the mold
4) Insert Ice cream sticks/ mold inserts in the molds.
5) Freeze in the freezer for 4 hrs..ENJOY!1

"Everyday Cooking"- 'Three Pepper' Spicy Shrimp

"M' has been away for this whole week. I am bored... tired ...handling both 'E' and 'A' on my own... and.... can't wait for this week to get over!!
To give myself some 'enthusiasm'...I cooked this for lunch today. 'M' is not a big fan of Shrimps (He thinks they look  like worms!!! LOL!!) So Shrimp is my 'lonely' food...i.e food that I cook ..when he is out on work tour ...
I like my Shrimp spicy....and today I made it with three types of peppers- Green Chili Pepper(green chilies), Green Bell Pepper and Black Pepper...
And that gorgeous...delicate Cilantro...is from my very own vegetable garden!!!

Ingredients:
1 Cup cleaned deveined Shrimp
1/2 large onion sliced thinly
1 large tomato sliced thinly
1/4 cup Green Bell pepper sliced thinly
1-2 Green Chili sliced thinly
8-12 whole Black Peppers
1 Clove Garlic finely chopped
1/2tsp Chicken Curry Masala
1/4tsp Cumin
3tsp oil
Salt
Chopped Cilantro for Garnish

Method:
1) Heat oil in a pan, when hot add the cumin and black pepper.add the sliced onions.Fry till golden brown.
2) Add the Chilies, Green peppers,garlic and tomatoes and salt and fry till nicely cooked and brown.Add the masala powder and fry 1-2 mins.
3) Add the cleaned washed Shrimp to the pan. Cook for 2-3 mins till the Shrimp is tender and cooked through.
4) Garnish with chopped cilantro.Serve HOT with Rotis/ Naan/ Rice.

"Sweet Treats"- Cranberry-Almond-Pistachio Biscottis

Back from a great vacation to 'Put-in-Bay ,South Bass Island' in Ohio. It is a tiny little island on Lake Erie and was a great spot to spend the day with the kids. Little 'E' and 'A' had fun riding in the Golf cart on the petite roads of the island.
Now that we are back, and having being missed by my kitchen for 4 days (just kidding!)...I made these Lovely Crunchy Colorful- Cranberry-Almond-Pistachio Biscottis ( my all time favorite!!!) to warm up the oven!

I have come to love the combination of Red Cranberries and Green Pistachios...and have been using it a lot in desserts lately.I think it looks colorful and festive and makes the food 'pretty looking'!

Ingredients:
3 and 1/2 cups All purpose flour
5 Tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
3 large eggs
1/4cup oil
1and 1/4th cup granulated sugar
3tsp Baking Powder
1/4tsp salt
1/2 cup Chopped Almonds and Pistachios
1/3rd cup chopped dried Cranberries
1tsp Vanilla essence

Method:
1) Cream together butter,oil,salt and sugar.Add the eggs and beat again till well blended and smooth
2)Preheat oven to 350F and grease a cookie sheet evenly.
3) Add rest of the ingredients to the creamed butter.Make into a soft dough.
4) Roll into logs and flatten them.

5) Bake at 350F for 25 min. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 mins.Turn the oven  down to 325F
6) Slice the baked log horizontally or at an angle with a sharp knife.
7) Place the cut-up Biscottis flat on the cookie sheet and 're bake' at 325 F for 10-12 mins until slight golden.Do not let them brown!! Remove from oven promptly.
8) Let them cool on the cookie sheet it self. Store in airtight container.

 Dunk and enjoy this sweet- crunchy- nutty -colorful Biscottis with your favorite cup of Coffee or tea....

"Sweet Treats"- Peach Panha (Refreshing Peach Drink)

And then there were those 5 peaches left in the box after the Peach Picking-Peach Recipes" week!! They had me wonder..what could I make???? 'M' had promised me..he will bake "Peach Cookies"....but with his crazy work schedule..I knew that wasn't going to happen soon.  I didn't want those gorgeous peaches to go bad....and then tadah!!!!! Memories take me back ....In Pune....in Summer months....what did we drink to cool off....."Green Mango Panha"!!!!
Panha is this Sweet-Tangy  Refreshing Mango drink made with cooking Green mangoes. 
I thought why not..Peach Panha??? And it came out to be Delicioussssss....with gorgeous Peach color ( the saffron was only for garnish....all the beautiful color is from the peaches) and an amazing taste...

Ingredients:
5 Ripe Peaches
1/4 to 1/3 cup Sugar (add according to the sweetness of the peaches)
1/2tsp Cumin powder
1/2tsp Cardamon powder
1tsp Salt
Saffron(optional)
Cold water 2-3 cups

Method:
1) Peel the peaches.Cook them in pressure cooker(2 whistles)
2) Remove the pulp.
3) Mix the pulp,sugar,cumin powder, cardamon powder,salt and the cold water in a blender , till nice and smooth.Add more water if the Panha is too thick.
4) Drink Cold...with extra ice...and cool off in the summer months ...in a Delicious..Peachy way!!!

 

"Pat a Cake"- Peach Cake with Toasted Almonds and Glaze

You Go 'Peach Picking'...you get all excited...all the peaches look so pretty and juicy...you can't stop picking more and more.You know, you won't be able to eat all of those..but you still can't resist picking more ..just a few more. That's what happened and we have lots of peaches at home:))
After the 'Peach-Cranberry Chunda Hot and Sweet pickle"(http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/06/blog-post.html)....that I made the other day..here is one more 'Peachy Recipe'..that you will love.

The cake came out PERFECT!!! So Peachy...so  Delicious.....so Moist .....So Spongy....with that Simple Glaze drizzle on top and the Nutty Crunchy Almonds!!

Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 Cup All purpose flour
1 cup + 2 tbsp Sugar
1 cup Finely chopped ripe peaches with the juice
2 Eggs
1/3 Cup oil
1/2tsp  Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking powder
1tsp Vanilla
1/2tsp Cinammon powder
1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 cup toasted Almond Chips ( Toast the chips in microwave for 1min)

For the Glaze:
1/2 stick unsalted butter
3/4th cup powdered sugar
1/2tsp Vanilla extract
1.5 tbsp milk
Melt butter and mix powdered sugar, milk, vanilla. Mix till smooth and shiny.Fill in Zip lock bag for drizzling on cooled cake later.




Method:
1) Pre heat the oven to 350F.
2) Coat a Bundt pan/ 8 inch round pan with vegetable shortening.
3) To the chopped peaches add 2tbsp sugar.Keep aside for 20-30 mins for maceration.
 4) Sieve all the dry ingredients twice.Mix all the dry ingredients.

5) Beat the eggs with hand whisk/ hand beater for 4 mins till nice and foamy. Very imp step!!
3) Add oil,vanilla to the eggs.
4) Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients. Gently fold.
5) Add the macerated peaches.Gently mix
6) Pour into the coated pan.
7) Bake at 350 F for 25-30 mins till light brown and baked through.Check --Inserted toothpick should come out clean.

Glaze:
1) Remove cooled cake in the serving platter.
2) Cut off very small tip of the glaze filled zip lock bag.
3) Drizzle over the cake.
4) Sprinkle toasted almond chips.

Enjoy the delectable peachy peach cake!!!!

"Everyday cooking"- Peach-Cranberry Chunda/ Hot and Sweet Pickle

Peaches....Peaches....Lottsss of them!!! We went Peach picking yesterday...and came home with a box full of peaches!! I froze some...kept some fresh for eating....and turned few into this tongue teaser.....Hot and Sweet 'Peach-Cranberry Chunda'!!!
Chunda......is a Sweet-Tangy-Hot...Mango Pickle. I love love love it!!!
I am a BIG fan of "Hot-Sweet-Sour' kind of taste.... Tamarind-Jaggery Chutney.....Maggie Hot and Sweet Chili Sauce......Hot and Sour soup.....Chunda Pickle....are my favorites!!!
So the gorgeous ..juicy sour peaches ....were paired with sugar..chili powder and other spices....and turned into a mouthwatering Chunda.

Ingredients:
4 Firm Peaches (Not fully Ripe)
1/4 Cup dried Cranberries
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Tbsp Salt
1tsp Turmeric
1-2 tsp Chili powder
1 tsp Roasted Cumin
1/2tsp Methi Seeds
1/2tsp Mustard seeds
1tsp oil
2 pinch Hing
1tbsp Lemon juice

Method:
1) Peel the peaches. Cut into small pieces. In a mixing bowl,add the salt,1/2 tsp turmeric and mix. Let it sit for 30 mins.The salt will draw out all the moisture from the peaches.
2) dry roast the cumin seeds. When cool, grind into coarse powder.
3) After 30 mins have passed, drain the juice from peaches.Hand in muslin cloth/ strainer till all the juice runs out.
4) Mix the sugar with the peaches.Add lemon juice.
5) In a heavy bottom pan, heat the oil.Add the mustard seeds, hing and methi seeds.Let them splutter.Add the turmeric.Add the sugar-peach mixture and the dried cranberries.
6) Low on medium flame till the sugar is syrupy..(about 10 mins).Test the sugar syrup ....to get 'one string' consistency.(Take out small amount of syrup.Blow on it to cool it. Now place  drop between thumb and forefinger and stretch apart.If it's one string....it's the correct consistency)
Mine went a bit far....so the Chunda is bit darker in color and bit thicker than it should be.
So keep an eye on it and stir constantly!!!!
7) TAKE OFF the heat. Add the chili powder, ground cumin .Mix.
8) Let it cool before keeping it in a sterile bottle.