Low Fat Baked Shakarpara [Sweet Dough Cookies]

I found this recipe at sanjeevkapoor.com. I followed pretty much what he did except replaced 1/2 cup of clarified butter[ghee] with 1 tbsp ghee and 1/4 cup of canola oil. Also used whole wheat bleached flour instead a mix of regular wheat flour and all purpose flour [maida].

My Shakarparas came out very good, almost melts in the mouth. Its really a guilt free snack, enjoy ....




Ingredients:

Bleached whole flour* - 1 cup
Canola oil - 1/4 cup
Clarified butter [ghee]- 1tbsp
Powdered Sugar** - 4 tbsp
Baking powder- 1/2 tsp
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Crushed fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp

Method:

• Mix all the ingredients and make a soft dough using cold water. Cover the dough and leave it to set for 30 minutes. Pinch the dough into five balls and roll each ball one at a time into 0.5 cm thick chapati like sheet [use flour dust to ease the rolling process]
• Using knife or pizza cutter cut the sheet into the form of diamond and place it over greased baking tray. Repeat the same process with other dough balls.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes at 350 Fahrenheit. These cookies cook very fast. Keep an eye on them else they turn brown. Cool them and store in air-tight container
• This dish makes a great cookie for toddlers [ around 3y]. Its low in fat and refined flour and above all its home baked!

My Notes:

* You can also use 1/2 cup regular whole flour + 1/2 cup All purpose flour
** If you like sweetness on the higher side add 5 tbsp of sugar. Mine came out just sweet, on the lighter side

In the past I have made it without adding any amount of ghee and my shakarparas didn't come out this great, I think adding just 1 tbsp of ghee makes lot of difference to the texture

Event Participation

Health Nut Challenge 2 - Guilt Free Snacks by Yasmeen

‘Food for 7 stages of Life – Infants and Toddlers (0-3 yrs)’ by Radhika of Sourashtra Kitchen and Sudeshna of Cook Like A Bong
Sunday Snack Event - Festive Snacks of Navratri and Diwali hosted by Indrani

Hearty Healthy Carrot -Tomato Soup

For the past few weeks my little one had been on hunger strike, refusing to eat anything offered. I really didn't know what to do, then my mum suggested to try soups and it worked like a wonder......my LO is back to eating business :)

This soup is very nutritionally rich. It provides lycopene from tomato and beta carotene from carrots, both necessary for proper eye-sight development and immunity. Garlic and onions help improve blood lipid profiles and broccoli offers folic acid , minerals and vitamins.


Recipe For Toddlers [12 months onwards]

Ingredients

Carrots - 2 medium size
Tomato - 1 medium
Onions - 1/2 medium
Garlic - 1 clove
Broccoli - handful[optional]
Bay leaf - 2
Salt - according to taste
Sugar - a pinch
Olive oil/ Clarified butter - 1.5 tsp
Water - enough to get desired consistency

Method:

• Make tomato purée by blanching in a microwave for 5-8 minutes [make sure to remove all the seeds by passing the tomato pulp through sieve]
  
• Heat oil/butter add bay leaves and chopped garlic. When garlic turns golden , add chopped onions. Saute till they turn translucent
• Now throw in chopped carrots and broccoli florets. Saute' till they are glazed with oil look tender
• Next add the tomato purée, add water and pressure cook for 1 whistle. Release the pressure, remove bay leaves and blend the mixture to get smooth consistency
• Add salt, sugar, adjust the consistency and its ready !
• Add few pieces of toasted bread and a small pat of butter before serving. Serve warm!!
  

Note:

Add more salt, some black pepper and its good for adults as well ...

Event Participation

‘Food for 7 stages of Life – Infants and Toddlers (0-3 yrs)’ by Radhika of Sourashtra Kitchen and Sudeshna of Cook Like A Bong

Badam-Sooji Ki Kheer [Almond-Semolina Milk Pudding]

Semolina or Cream of White [Sooji/Suji/ Rava] and Almond pudding is a good combination of carbohydrates and proteins. This can be a healthy snack/dessert for infants and toddlers, provided sugar is added to minimum. This kheer is equally liked by adults and is prepared the same way with little variation.


For Infants and Toddlers [12-36 months]

Ingredients:

Semolina [Rava or Sooji] - 3 tbsp
Whole Milk - 2 cups
Sugar - just enough to make it little sweet
Raw Almond - 8
Clarified Butter [Ghee] - 1tsp

Method:

• Soak almonds overnight or blanch them in boiling water. Remove the skin and make a smooth paste with milk in a regular mixer. Add more milk to finely grind the almond and keep the paste aside
  
• Heat ghee in thick bottomed pan and roast semolina till it starts releasing aroma
• Slowly add milk and almond paste and cook till semolina softens and reaches the desired consistency [keep stirring to to break lumps if any]
• Add sugar and its ready to serve warm or cold !
  

For Adults

Just increase the amount of sugar as per your taste and throw in some nuts and raisins with a dash of cardamom powder.

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My Entry

‘Food for 7 stages of Life – Infants and Toddlers (0-3 yrs)’ by Radhika of Sourashtra Kitchen and Sudeshna of Cook Like A Bong
Sweet- Series in Mom's recipes hosted by Sireesha

Diwali Dhamaka 09 going on in Purva's Daawat

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Homemade Diwali Diyas From Dough

HAPPY DIWALI !!!!

This year for Diwali I made diyas [Diwali lights] at home!! They came out pretty nice ! I prepared it very simple but you can get creative by painting, glue small mirrors , beads and other stuff.


Here is how I prepared:

Ingredients:

Whole wheat flour
Water-just enough to prepare the dough
Food color - yellow [optional]

Method:

• Pre-heat oven at 200 degree Fahrenheit. Line the baking tray/dish with un-greased foil
• Combine flour, water and color in a bowl to prepare little stiff dough
• Pinch out small balls from the dough and shape it into diyas
• Bake it in the oven for 20 minutes [during the process I gradually increased the baking temperature to 300]
• Cool diyas at room temperature
• The diyas should feel little hard, if not just leave it in the sun
• Roll out some cotton wool to make wick, add some oil and light your Diya !!!

Tips:

• While preparing the dough you can add some fresh petals to add beautiful pattern
• During baking, one of my diya's base puffed like chapati, it can happen to you too... just ignore it

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Event Participation

Diwali Dhamaka 09 going on in Purva's Daawat

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Check out Homemade Diwali Diya From Cornstarch, another great way to make diyas with your kids at home

Broccoli Pakora/ Bajji [Broccoli Fritters] and Award

It is a tasty snack goes well with hot tea on a rainy day. I also like to eat it with plain rice and simple tadka daal




Ingredients

Broccoli - 1 c of florets
Besan [Gram flour] -1.5 cup
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Salt - according to tatse
Asfotedia - 2 dashes
Red chilie powder - 1/4 tsp
Corriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin [Zeera ]seeds - 1/2 tsp
Water - as needed
Canola Oil 2 cups

Method:

Wash the broccoli florets and slightly trim the stem

Mix gram flour and spices together and little by little add water until you get pancake- batter like consistency [maybe little thicker than that]

Heat enough oil in a wok [kadai] on a medium flame

Dip each broccoli floret in the batter making sure it is coated from all sides and drop in hot oil. Fry them in small batches till they turn golden in color.

Drain on paper towels and they are ready to serve !!

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My Entry for High Tea Treats hosted by Aparna and started by Meeta

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AWARD

I revived Kreative Blogger award for the second time :))) Thank you Radhika

Here are some of the rules of this award.

* You must thank the person who has given you the award.
* Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
* Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.
* Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
* Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
* Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
* Leave a comment in the nominated blogs to let them know they have been nominated.

Seven Things About Me:))

• I enjoy cooking
• I like rains
• Love surfing
  
• Yoga is my new passion
• Like to play with my ds
• I am tea-o-holic
  
• I dislike nosy people

I am passing this award to the following 7 fellow bloggers

• Srikar of Srikars Kitchen
• Priya of Priya's Easy N Tasty recipies
• Pratibha of Chef and her kitchen
• Preethi of of Preethi's Online Cookbook
• Sharmeli of Sharmis Passion
• Vrinda of Sankeerthanam
• Sanghi of Sanghi's Food Delight
  

Classic Oat - Wheat - Date Bars

This is a very healthy quick home-made energy bar. I pack these in my bag when I know I will be out of the house for long time. I made this for the first time, and quite happy with the results. My DH thinks it tastes like a pumpkin pie :) however, there is no pumpkin in the ingredient ....

Ingredients:

All purpose flour [Maida]- 1/2 cup
Wheat flour - 1/2 cup
Steel cut quick oats - 1 cup
Brown sugar - 1/2 cup
Honey - 1/2 cup
Vegetable oil - between 1/2 cup and 3/4 cup
Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
*Dates - 1 cup
Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp

Method:

First prepare date syrup:

1. Boil around 1.5 cups of water and add chopped dates and cook for 10 minutes
2. Cool to room temperature and add vanilla essence and keep it aside
   

Pre-heat oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit and line the 8 inch x 8 inch baking pan with greased foil

Combine all the ingredient except the date syrup with fingers

Press half of the oat mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Spread date mixture over and next sprinkle the remaining half of the oat mixture and press it gently with hands to adhere

Bake for 30-40 minutes or till the edges turn brown and sets at center

Cool on the rack and slice it with serrated knife

Store in a air-tight container [I store it in fridge]

You can also individually wrap the pieces in sandwich bags and just grab one when you are on the go!

Recipe Source:
Notes:

* Dates can be substituted with any kind of ripe berries like blueberry, raspberry or blackberry. Proceed the same same as you would make date syrup. Do adjust for the tartness of berries by adding some sugar

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This is my entry for the following events:

Whole Grain [Eggless] Baking Event - Oats hosted by Madhuram

Kids delite event hosted by Srivalli

Cooking for Kids Event - Wheat hosted by Sireesha started by Sharmi

Health Nut Challenge 2 - Guilt Free Snacks by Yasmeen

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Urad Dal Laddu / Sunnundalu [White Lentil Sweet Balls]

Urad Daal Laddu is a very popular sweet dish of Andhra Pradesh . I made this for the first time, came out quite good. It has a very different flavor which makes it unique. It also has high nutritional value, therefore good for kids! I am going to make this again for Diwali. This is my ds's second Diwali and am sure this time he would like to try this one !

Read more about Urad daal [White Lentil] here



Ingredients

Dhuli Urad Daal [black skin removed]- 1 cup
Jaggery - 1 cup or less [powdered]
Ghee [Clarified butter oil] - 3-4 tbsp or more
Nuts and Raisins - handful

Method:

Dry roast urad daal in a heavy bottomed skillet till its golden brown and starts emitting pleasant aroma. Cool and grind it into fine powder [sand like consistency]

Fry nuts and raisins in 1tsp of ghee and keep it aside

Combine urad daal powder, jaggery, nuts and rub in warm ghee. Mix the mixture well with hands or spoon and start making golf sized balls. Add more ghee if necessary. Store them in a air tight container

Note:
You can replace Jaggery with Table Sugar

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This is my entry to the following events:

Dusshera event hosted by Shanthi

Kids delite event hosted by Srivalli

FIL- GHEE Sweets event hosted by Sanghi


Diwali 2009 contest at Priya's Feast

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