Savory Snack....Namak Para

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups All Purpose flour (plain flour or maida)
• 1/2  cup sooji (semolina )
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ajwain(carom seeds)
• 4 tablespoons oil
• 3/4 cup lukewarm water (use as needed)
• Oil to fry

Mix all the ingredients except the water.

Add the water little at a time, kneading into a firm dough.

Divide the dough into about 2 equal parts.

 Take each part of the dough and make a flat ball shape. Roll them into 28-30 inch circles.

Cut diagonally into strips.. .
the strips can be thinner or smaller in shape...

1. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat.
2. The frying pan should have atleast 1 1/2 inch of oil.To check if the oil is ready, put a small piece of dough in the oil. The dough should make the oil sizzle and come up slowly.
3. Fry a few namak paras at a time. Make sure to place just enough to cover the frying oil.

 Fry the namak parass until both sides are a light golden-brown.

 Take it out on a kitchen towel.

cool and serve


Namak para can be stored for a couple of months in airtight containers.

Baked Deviled Chicken....

8 chicken drumsticks or other parts

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup worcestershire sauce 

1 tb  mustard (preferably dijon)

2 tbs brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbs water

2 tbs oil

In a bowl combine ketchup,w.sauce, brown sugar, mustard, and water ...stir well.

In a pan heat oil and brown the chicken after sprinkling salt and pepper on it for 15 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the pan and place it in a baking dish.....

 In the same pan add the sauce mixture...and loosen the particles in pan.when it boils remove and pour this sauce on the chicken .

Cover with a foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 

Remove foil and bake furthur for 10- 15 minutes more.

Serve with Rice.....Super Delicious...!!

Quick Smoothie....

1/4 cup frozen Berries...(mixed or Strawberry/Rasberry/blueberry)

1 banana chopped 

2 cups milk

2 tbs thick yogurt(plain)

2 tbs ice cream(vanilla or strawberry)

2 tsp sugar

Blend everything together in a blender and pour into glasses....enjoy !

Collard Greens Stir Fry....

Ingredients
4 bunches of Collard Greens (washed and chopped roughly)
2 tsp oil
1 whole dry red chilli
3  garlic cloves ..chopped
1tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1 pinch asefotida(Hing).....optional

Heat oil and add whole chilli and chopped garlic ....
after1 minute add hing,cayenne and salt ..stir ...and immediately add the Collard Greens and cook uncovered till done ....about 10 minutes.

Fruit Chaat....recipe

Cut fruits and veg of your choice or that are in season.....

I used apples, bananas, kiwi, strawberry,grapes,carrots,cherry tomatoes, cucumber, shallow fried boiled potatoes...

Sprinkle some lemon juice and chat masala(available in Indian stores) and mix.

Fruit Chaat is ready....!

Potatoes and Green Beans in Coconut Sauce.....

 250 gm (8 oz)natural yogurt
50 gm (2 oz) creamed coconut 
1.5 tsp garam masala
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp each of ginger and garlic paste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp black cumin seeds
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp salt
50 gm (2 oz)  butter
2 tbs oil
2 onions finely chopped
Steamed veg(2 Potatoes cubed ...3 oz Beans...1/2Cauliflower.)...They should not be too soft
1 red and 1 green capsicum deseeded and diced
1 tbs chopped coriander leaves
3tbs single cream


Whisk the yogurt together with creamed coconut,garam masala, chilli powder, turmeric,ginger garlic paste, cumin seeds, cardamom powder, and salt.
Heat butter and oil in a pan and add onions and fry till browned .
 Pour in the yogurt mix and fry for 3-4 mins
Lower the heat and add the diced capsicums and the steamed veggies.
Cover the pan and cook for about 6-8 mins.

Poached Omlette.....!!

Fry some Chopped Garlic...Spring onion ...Parsley...and halved Cherry Tomatoes...in 1tbs oil.

Add 4-5 eggs on top and cover the pan and let it cook on a slow heat till the yellow part becomes runny...Sprinkle some salt and black pepper....Cut into wedges and enjoy...!!

Using the Leftover Tortilla/ Roti/ Chapatti

Make an Omlette with egg and some veggies of your choice....

 

Put the leftover Tortilla on top of the Omlette....

Flip it over when the underside is done....

Check to see that the tortilla is also a little brown...

Roll it ...and gobble it up...!! :)

Coconut Carrot Apple Walnut Cake....!!

cake

Whisk 3 eggs.... 1 1/4 Cup Sugar...3/4 Cup Oil...and 1.5tsp Vanilla essence.

To the liquid batter mix in the dry ingredients...ie
2 Cups All purpose flour...2 cups dry Coconut powder...1/2tsp salt...1/2tsp cinnamon powder...3/4tsp baking soda...1 1/2tsp baking powder.

After the above mixture is homogeneous ...mix in 2 cups shredded Carrots....1 grated apple....1/4 cup toasted walnuts

 Pour in a greased baking tin and bake for 45-50 mins at 180/350 degrees

Cool it on the cooling rack ....
Mine got a little cracked as I took it out too soon... :(

Cut into pieces and
enjoy !!
A very healthy and delicious Cake....!  :)

Crunchy Potatoes

Mix 4 tbs Besan (chickpea flour),2 tbs Poppy Seeds, 1tsp turmeric, 2 tsp Cayenne pepper, salt and coat 4 Cubed and Parboiled potatoes with it .Heat 2 tbs oil and put the potatoes in a single layer in the pan and cook on medium heat.

Turn them when they are brown and cook till done. Sprinkle black pepper and garnish with coriander leaves or  Parsley.