Mini Frittatas in Appe pan

For munching or brunching.... A healthy snack!!

Mini "frittatas" a.k.a mini omlettes with vegetables and cheese, made in our very own 'Appe pan' !! 

Recipe: cracks eggs, whisk along with salt, red chili powder, chopped onion, broccoli, cilantro and

some shredded cheese. Pour into hot Appe pan greased with few drops of oil. Cover with lid to cook.

 Cook on both sides. Serve hot along with toast, butter and Maggie hot and sweet sauce!!

Red Quinoa Tikkis

It was the first time I had bought this 'Red' variety of Quinoa and wanted to try something with it...that the kids would enjoy too. Lately, they have been fans of  'Sabudana Tikkis' and I have to keep a frozen pack handy, as the demand strikes almost anytime:)
So...I thought...May be if I make Red quinoa tikkis with crushed peanuts, cumin etc ..similar to Sabudana tikkis...they would probably eat it...And THEY DID!!

Ingredients:
1 Cup Red Quinoa
2 Cups water
1/2 Cup Crushed roasted peanuts
1-2 green chilies finely chopped
1tbsp Chopped cilantro
1/2tsp Cumin
Salt
some sugar
Oil to shallow fry

Method:
1) Wash the Quinoa and pressure cook it with water and little salt.Let it cool down.

2) Add the Crushed peanuts, green chilies, chopped cilantro, salt,cumin, sugar and knead.
3) Form into tikkis.
4) Shallow fry on a nonstick pan with little oil.
5) Serve with Ketchup/ Chutney/Yogurt.

"Dalia" (Cracked Wheat) Patties/ Pattice

 The 'Dalia' kheer that I made last night...did not fare so well in front of the kids. They took a bite or two..that was all about it.
So,this morning... I was left with some leftover cooked dalia....two kids ready for breakfast...and free time due to the 'snow day' at work!

Remembering the delicious Dalia 'Khichadi' with ground peanuts and cumin that I had at a friends place, the cooked dalia got the same ingredients and transformed into patties.These pattice did much better with the kids...and made up a filling breakfast along with a yogurt dip!

Ingredients:
3/4 Cup pressure cooked 'fine cracked wheat'
1/4 cup mashed boiled potato
1/4 cup ground peanuts
1tbsp chopped cilantro
1tsp cumin
1/2tsp red chili powder/ chopped green chilies
salt
oil to fry

Method:
1) Mix together the cooked dalia, mashed potato, cumin, green chilies, salt, ground peanut etc.
2) Roll into pattice- circular/ oval or any other desired shape.
3) Shallow fry in  a non stick pan with little oil, till golden brown on each side
4) Serve hot along with yogurt or cilantro- mint chutney

Veggie Chickens!

Aren't they cute??? These 'Veggie Chickens' are cute, easy to make and tasty too!!
It was Easter Egg hunt party and these made up one of the many treats for the kids. The base is bread with veggie cream cheese, topped with streamed sweet corn, olives for eyes,tomato for nose, strawberry for the tuft and carrots for the feet!!!

Method:
1) Cut the bread into circles with cookie cutter.
2) Spread a spoonful of  veggie cream cheese on the bread slice
Veggie cream cheese Recipe:
(Adjust the quantity as per how many slices you want to make.(You will approximately need 1tsp cream cheese per slice)
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/06/appetizers-red-bell-pepper-and-broccoli.html

3) Spread steamed sweet corn kernels on top

4) Place the olive rings, strawberry cut into tufts and carrot slices cut like chicken feet on the slice.
Keep chilled till served.

Oh..what looks like a 'plant in the pot' next to the chicken is actually...a Basket full of  Eggs;) Kiwi slice makes the pot and carrot slices with cream cheese make the eggs!

"For Little Tummies"- Spinach-Walnut Chutney and Cheese Sandwiches

Do they remind you of anything?? Or any creature to be precise?? I am sure it won't. But these were really made for 'E' and 'A's Dinosaur themed birthday party!!! Like the 'Stegosaurus" type of Dinosaurs have plates on their backs...they sandwiches had 'Almond Chips' on the back to look like Dinosaur plates!!!
The kids and even the parents loved these little " Stegosaurus Bites" !!!

The best part....they are so nutritious...with the Spinach and Walnut Chutney....the cheese...the almond chips..you will love making them again and again!!

Ingredients:
Spinach-Walnut Chutney:

1 and 1/2 cup Chopped Baby Spinach
1/2 cup Walnuts
1/4 cup fresh coconut1/4 cup Chopped fresh cilantro
1-2 green chili(add more for spicier chutney)
1/2tsp cumin
1/2tsp ginger
1/2tsp garlic
salt
sugar
1tsp lemon juice
Some water for grinding (very little)
Mix all ingredients and Make into a smooth paste in a mixer. This chutney remains fresh green colored and freezes well too.


12 Slices of white/ multi grain bread
6 slices of good Cheese ( I used Velveeta cheese slices)
1/2 cup Almond chips
Some butter

Method:
1) Apply butter to a slice
2) Place 1 tsp chutney on it and spread evenly
3) Place one cheese slice and cover with 1 bread slice
4) Cut diagonally into 4 triangles
5) Place into serving platter and decorate with almond chips, by inserting in between the sandwich.

"Sweet Treats"- Butternut Squash Sheera

I love making 'traditional' foods with a new twist. I think, 'Changes' in the daily routine are welcomed by all. Similarly a traditional favorite with a new twist is surely loved by the crowd. Apart from that, if you can improve the nutrition value in dish ....by all means----- Do it!!! I used to take 'E' to a playgroup when he was little. It was pretty much a international playgroup with moms and kids from many countries. A Turkish friend had baked a cake as snack for the kids. You know what was in there?????? It was a Plain vanilla sponge cake with finely chopped Spinach!!!!! And believe me.....it was WOW!!!!
So, last week I made this Sheera for the 'Mantra Mugdha Assemblage" at our house. The 'pumpkiny' taste was not that apparent....and they didn't guess the Butternut Squash in it.But everyone said....it tasted different but Delicious!!! Also, the orange hue that the butternut squash imparted to the Sheera...... was gorgeous!

Ingredients:
1 Cup grated Butternut Squash
1 Cup Sooji/Rava
1/2 cup + 1 tsp butter/Ghee p
3/4 cup Sugar
1tsp Cardamom powder
1/2tsp nutmeg powder
1 Cup Milk
1 cup Water
Raisins for the garnish

Method:
1) In 1tsp Ghee, saute the grated butternut squash till tender and cooked. Keep aside
2) Warm the milk and water together
3) Roast the sooji in 1/2 cup butter/ milk till very light golden color.
4) Add the warm milk, water and sauteed butternut squash. Keep lid and cook till the Sooji cooks.
5) Add the sugar, cardamom powder, nutmeg powder and mix. Again keep lid and let it steam for 2-4 mins.
6) Form into molds and garnish with raisins and nuts if you like!

"Appetizers"- Vegetable Tikki

Can you guess what all vegetables are hiding in those cute boat shaped Tikkis??? When you become a mom you have to find ways to play 'Peek-a Boo" with your kids foods! Luckily mine are not tremendously picky eaters in terms of veggies (Touchwood!!!!) But it doesn't harm to sneak some veggies in whatever you can!!!

These Tikkis can serve as appetizers or even as main course.. ..if you serve them as 'veggie patties' for burgers!! So versatile and So yummy and So easy to make...it will be your 'Go-To' recipe for a quick fix!!!

Ingredients:
3 boiled potatoes
1/2 cup finely cut Cabbage
1/3 cup finely cut Carrots
1/3cup finely cut broccoli (even the stems are fine too.I used them here)
1 tsp Ginger Garlic paste
1/2tsp Chili powder (add more for spicier taste)
1tsp Cumin seeds
1/2tsp fennel seeds
1tbsp chopped Cilantro (use can add chopped mint too)
 1/2tsp Garam masala powder/ Kitchen King masala
salt
Oil to shallow fry

Method:
1) Mash the boiled potatoes without any lumps and keep aside
2) In 1tsp oil saute the cabbage, carrots and broccoli and ginger garlic paste till tender. Let it cool
3) Mix potatoes, sauteed veggies and all the above ingredients and knead.
4) Make into 'boat' shaped Tikkis
5) Shallow fry on a non stick pan with few drops of oil till golden brown.

6) Serve hot with Ketchup/ Chutney!

() If Serving as Veggie Burgers:
Make into round shaped patties and shallow fry.  Serve in a toasted bun with sliced cucumbers,tomatoes and onions.

"For Little Tummies"- Milky Way Teddy Cars and Strawberry Mice

Milky Way Teddy Cars:

Vroom Vrooommmm here they come!!!

 

It was 'E's friends birthday party and I wanted to take along some 'cute' foods for the little people there.

This was the cutest little thing I found on -http://planningwithkids.com/2009/05/27/milky-way-cars/
It was so easy and fun to make....I made a bunch of these in different colors!!
I need not say.......how excited were the little guests when they saw these!

This one is made with - 'Butterfinger egg' instead of the milky way bar.

Strawberry Mice

They ate all the Cheese!!!!

How cute is that????? Kids will love the fruit in this form for sure!!!

I got this idea here: http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/strawberry-mice-687541/

I made the Swiss Cheese 'look alike' Wedges with Apples cored with a straw to look like the holes in the cheese.

"Aroma From a Guest Kitchen"-(Guest-Aditi Kakde)- Sandwich Delight

Guest = Aditi Kakde
'The Taste of Columbus" Cooking Competition 1st prize winner in the "For Little Connoisseurs-Nutritious but Delicious snacks for Kids" category

The Tri colored 'Sandwich Delight' made by Aditi looked  so colorful and pretty and it all came together to taste great and sure to be your little ones favorite!!!

Aditi tells about her recipe:
I always think that preparing any item for kids is always challenging...since they are the best judges always....

and more over I feel that they usually get attracted to some sort of color combination ...

this inspired me to make a tri-color sandwich which is easy to prepare and also looks attractive ...yet its nutritious values are maintained...

 

Ingredients:

Whole Wheat bread

Butter

For Red Layer:

Shredded beet root

Shredded carrots

Vinaigrette made with olive oil,honey, vinegar and salt

For Green layer

Green Chutney( cilantro, mint,green chilies,lime,salt, sugar and ginger)

Potato boiled and shredded

Onion

Sprouted mung beans

salt

White layer

Cream cheese, paneer and yogurt(mix to make a 'spread' and add salt and sugar)

Cooked corn kernels

Pineapple slices

Method:

1) Cut the edges of 3 slices of wheat bread

2) On one slice apply red layer, on the 2nd apply the white layer and on the 3rd apply the green layer.

3) Toast the sandwich on a skillet with little butter till it is golden brown.

4) Cut into triangles and serve!

"Fusion Cuisine"- Oatli ( Oat Idlis)

Oatli.....such a cute name isn't it!!!! No.....unfortunately I did not coin that term...someone already did before me:(

I was talking to 'V' the other day and she mentioned about making these 'Oat Idlis' .Couldn't wait to try these.Got the 'Rava' from the Indian store last evening and we had 'Oatlis' for lunch today!!!
There are various recipes out there for the oat idlis..some people use Rice + Oats to make these and the other used Oats + Semolina or rava. I made them pretty similar to the 'Rava Idlis' but more of the rava was substituted by oats....

Ingredients:
2 cups whole grain quick cooking oats
1 and 1/2 cup Rava
3 and 1/2 cups yogurt
1tsp Baking soda
2 tbsp oil
2 tsp grated ginger
2tsp finely chopped  green chilies
1tsp Chana daal
1tsp Urad dal
1tbsp Cashew pieces
6-8 Curry leaves
1tsp mustard seeds
Salt
Water
Cooking spray

 Method: 
1) Dry roast the oats till slightly brownish.Let them cool.Powder coarsely in a blender.
2) Heat 2 tbsp oil , add the mustard seeds, chana dal, urad dal, grated ginger,green chilies, curry leaves torn into small pieces, cashew pieces and fry till everything is golden brown.
3) Add the rava and roast till it just starts to change color. Let it cool.Add salt and baking soda
4) Mix together the rava mixture with the coarsely ground oats.

 5) Mix the yogurt with little water to thin it out.
6) Spray the Idli pans with cooking spray. Boil water in large pan/steamer for steaming the idlis.
7) For 1 cup of the oats+ rava mixture add 1 cup of yogurt.Mix. The batter is thicker than the usual idli batter. Mix yogurt only to the mixture that will be used up immediately for steaming.Once yogurt is added you have to steam the idlis. If kept longer with yogurt, the soda will loose its action and the idlis will not be fluffy.

8) Steam for 10-15  mins.

9) Serve hot with Sambar and Coconut Chutney

Enjoy the nutritious but delicious fluffy Oatli and feel good about stuffing yourself  to full!

" For Little Tummies"- Oats and Peanut Butter laddos

 I had a jar of peanut butter sitting in the pantry.Now, I am not a big fan of having peanut butter with bread and was wondering how could I use this jar up??? I have used peanut butter to make the 'Thai' peanut sauce for dipping and for noodles before, but this was the first time I tried this recipe!

The combination of oats and peanut butter worked really well and the ladoo texture was pretty similar to the 'Besan' ladoos.Also, to make it even 'protein richer'...I sneaked in powdered Cashews-almonds and pistachios. Now that's a ladoo any kiddo will like!!!!

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cup powdered whole grain oats ( Quick cooking oats)
1/2 cup-1/3rd  powdered sugar (add more for sweeter ladoos)
1/4 cup peanut butter( with low sodium)
2tbsp Ghee/Clarified butter
1/4 cup powdered cashews-almonds-pistachios
1/2tsp cardamom powder
Almonds, raisins etc for decoration

Method:
1) Powder the 'whole grain quick cooking oats' in the mixer.
2) Roast the oats powder in 2 tbsp ghee till golden brown

3) Take off the heat.After it cools down completely, add the peanut butter, nuts powder, sugar, cardamom powder etc and knead into a dough

4) Roll into small balls/ladoos and decorate with almonds, raisins etc