Category: Mumma’s Kitchen

bags · Carrots · crochet · Dessert · Mumma's Kitchen

Carrot Halwa and Squares:)

MysTri MumLeave a comment

Last week,DH got a great deal on Blu-ray DVDs and he picked up the Harry Potter Series. We introduced our little Diva to Harry Potter and since then,we have been watching HP,every night..and if she has it her way,even in the mornings.
So,anyway,on last Sunday,we went out for a late lunch-early dinner and after we came back,sat down for a marathon run of HP. While we were watching the movies,I got two things done-
1) Made Carrot Halwa
2) Completed the crochet squares for my bag.
Here’s my stack of Crochet Squares:

And as for the Halwa,here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:
8-10 Large carrots
1 1/4 cup whole milk
200 gms fresh Ricotta
3 tsp ghee
1/2 cup sugar(you can change this as per your taste)
Raisins and cashewnuts

Preparation:
Wash,peel and grate carrots.
In a thick bottomed pan,heat the ghee and add the grated carrots.Toast for a minute or two.
Add the milk and let it simmer on a medium flame,stirring occasionally.
When the milk is almost reduced,add the ricotta and mix well.
Also add the raisins and cashew nuts at this time. Let it cook on a low flame,till all the liquid dries up.
Finally,add sugar and mix well and again let it cook,till the water from the sugar evaporates.

Then,serve yourself a generous portion and dig in! 🙂
Note: This could take 2-3 hours,because you are cooking it on a low flame,but its worth waiting for.
This yields quite a bit- I got a my biggest pyrex bowl full..I am guessing nearly 1L.Just cool it to room temperature and keep it refrigerated.Reheat portions as you require.It should be good for a week to 10 days,if it lasts that long.Just remember to use a dry spoon everytime,you take the halwa out.

My oldest winter memories are of a big pot of carrot halwa,sitting in the fridge and portions of it re-heated for dessert after lunch/dinner or even occasional breakfast of halwa-paratha.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do:) If you do try it,please leave me a comment and let me know how you liked it:)

Baked from Scratch · Cakes · Carrots · Juice · Mumma's Kitchen · orange · Uncategorized

Orange-Carrot Cake

MysTri MumLeave a comment

Remember the pulp left over from this delicious juice?Take a look:

Isn’t it gorgeous??
I decided to turn it into a cake. And what a delicious cake it was. And it called for minimum sugar too.

To make this cake,I just twisted,my mom’s regular cake recipe,to accomodate the pulp.This recipe was a hand-me-down from one of my mom’s friends and it was the first cake I ever baked.It still is,my go-to recipe,for when I want to quickly whip up a cake for tea.
Here goes:

Ingredients :

3 eggs
3 cups Self Raising(whole wheat) flour
1 cup sugar
3/4th cup oil
1 and 1/2 cup orange carrot pulp
1/2 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp cinammon powder

Method:

Beat eggs and powdered sugar together.Add oil to the mix and slowly start adding the AP flour.Simulatenously,also add the fruit pulp.Finally add the ginger and cinammon and mix a final time. Pour into a pre-greased tin and bake at 180 deg C for 20-25 mins,or till the skewer,inserted in the center of the cake,comes out clean.

This would yield a 9″ square cake.
If you do try it,do leave a comment and let me know,if it was:)
Happy Baking !!

P.S. you can reduce the quantities of sugar.. I had to add this much for the resident sweet tooth!

Carrots · Juice · Mumma's Kitchen · orange · Uncategorized

Orange-Carrot Juice

MysTri Mum1 Comment

Aadya and I are fighting the flu.Our noses haven’t stopped leaking and the throat is hurting too..All we want to do is drink..And I think my body is specifically craving Vit.C.
I dragged myself off the couch and made this amazing fresh juice.It was so refreshing to just look at …drinking it was heavenly.

Here are the ingredients:
4 juicy oranges
4-5 medium sized carrots.
Here’s what I did:
First squeeze the oranges.
Next peel and chop carrots in bite-sized pieces or little bigger.Then blend the carrots with the orange juice. Then just strain the pulp.
OMG!The pulp is so gorgeous..I have never seen such lovely color..I didnt have the heart to throw it..So,I saved it.Now,to figure out,what to do with it..may be I’ll bake a cake??Lets see..
Anyway,how about you have some juice,while I think about it??

Mumma's Kitchen · snack · Uncategorized

Sabudana Khichdi

MysTri Mum4 Comments

Does that make you wanna reach out and take a bite?? No!?? then,I really need to take better pictures.Trust me when I say,that this is the most delicious treat ever!
Today is Mahashivratri-one of my favorite festivals.I think this time scales are tipped higher because of the yummy foods associated with this day.This was the day,when everyone in my family fasted-including little kids.Seriously there was so much food it was more of a feast.The normal menu comprised of- Sabudana khichdi,Potato Bhaji,Shikran(banana+ milk fruit salad)buttermilk,Sabudana thalipeeth(sabudana+potato pancakes),candied sweetpotato,rajgira vadi,bhagar,chips and milk/tea. Who would want boring regular food then? I miss some of the foods,and wish I can make them someday-specially the candied sweet potato-but I can’t replicate my grandma’s perfect flavour.Till then,we’ll make do with Sabudana khichdi and potato bhaji 🙂

Sabudana Khichdi :
Ingredients:
2 cups sabudana( tapioca pearls)
3/4 cup peanut powder( dry roast the peanuts,take off the skin and grind the peanuts coarsely)
1 potato(boiled)
3-4 green chilies
2 tsp cummin seeds
1 tsp sugar
salt to taste
1 tbsp oil
fresh corriander leaves for garnishing.

Preparation:

Soak the Sabudana in water.Drain and keep aside for 2-3 hours,till all the pearls are soft and fluffy.
Add peanut powder,salt and sugar to the fluffy sabudana and mix well.
Heat oil in a thick pot or kadai. Add cummin seeds,green chilies,potato pieces.Fry the potatoes for 2 minutes.
Add the Sabudana mix to the pot and mix well. Keep stirring till the sabudana pearls turn translucent and soft.
DO NOT COVER OR ADD WATER-otherwise,you will end up with a sticky,soggy mess. If you need to,add a little oil or ghee.
Garnish with chopped corriander,and serve hot with a lemon wedge and fresh yogurt.
I love it especially when the slight sweetness from the sugar,the tangy lemon flavor and fresh yogurt come together in my mouth…ummm…yummm!
I have shared this recipe with so many friends and they always complain that it doesn’t turn out like mine.. well,I’ll just say,keep mixing and stirring till your arm is about to fall off all the sabudana pearls turn translucent..really thats the trick..That and be generous with the peanut powder.
If the calories bother you,workout more the next day.. but for now-Enjoy!!!

Bread · breakfast · Mumma's Kitchen · snack · Uncategorized

Happy New Year and Bread Rolls

MysTri Mum4 Comments

Happy New Year,everyone!!
And a big Thank You to those of you,who still haven’t stopped visiting.And Only for you,I try once again to revive this blog!
One of my goals..yes goals and not resolutions,this year is to introduce back some real food to Ms.Aadya.That and to bring in some childhood favorites in our everyday menu.
Two trips home in less than a year,an over-indulgent father,my sister’s visit and my lack of energy has turned Ms.Aadya into a junk-slob!Well not really a junk-slob..but lets just say,good wholesome food and vegetables aren’t top on her list anymore..they have been replaced by Candy,chips,icecream.Give her some Nuggets and she will gobble them up..Give her fries-she will chomp’em up..Give her potato bhaaji(curry) and she will turn her little nose up. Meal-times have been very irritating,lately.The girl refuses to eat anything other than yogurt-rice or roti-butter.I am not kidding you!!The only good thing is she still loves her oats and salads!I am tired of sneaking in vegetables..and the tantrums that follow if they are discovered.
So,anyway,I have rolled up my sleeves and decided to kick the junk-slob out of my little Princess and get her to eat something sensible..occasional treats are fine…AFTER sensible food.
The first thing I did is got rid of the junk..chips,candy,icecream.No more of that in the house.When we go out,she does get to pick one!
Anyway,so far I have tried:
<strong>Daal-chakali</strong> mixed with stir-fried spinach(not sneaked in..added in front of her)-another comfort food from my childhood. -She quite liked it.
<strong>Cracked wheat Dalia</strong>-This one went down well too..but it was sweet!
<strong>Upma</strong>-She hated it.
And today,<strong>/Bread Rolls</strong> -She loved those.Though she removed half of the stuffing:)

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Does anyone remember this crispy favorite? Crunchy on the outside,filled with soft mashed potatoes ?And I pan fried them.I don’t remember the last time I deep-fried something..Seriously!
Anyway,here’s the recipe:
<strong>Ingredients:</strong>
5 slices of bread-white or whole wheat.
2 medium sized potatoes-boiled and mashed
1 tsp chopped corriander
1 green chilly ,finely chopped.
1/2 tsp red chili powder
pinch of turmeric powder
1/2 tsp cumin-corriander powder
salt to taste,
Bread crumbs to coat.
oil to fry.
A bowl of water.

<strong>Preparation:</strong>
Add corriander,green chili,spices and salt to the mashed potatoes and mix well.Keep it aside.
Take a slice of bread,dip it lightly in water and gently squeeze out the water,by pressing the slice between your palms.If the bread is very soft,its a good idea to just let it touch the water from one side and then,squeezing the water(hope this makes sense)
Now,put some potato mix on the bread and make a roll,applying very little pressure.
Roll it in bread crumbs.Let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then, pan fry your rolls on medium heat,till they are a nice golden brown.Its important to keep the heat medium,because other wise you will end up with crunchy rolls on the outside but soft on the inside.
Cut into halves and serve hot with ketchup or chutney.

Mumma's Kitchen · Uncategorized

The Cake story

MysTri Mum14 Comments

Two lone apples were sitting,waiting for their fate.Would they be bitten into or would they be peeled and cored?Mommy decided they were going to be peeled and cored and then grated and made into a yummy cake.All was well,until,Ms.Aadya heard about mommy’s plans.Then started the bargaining.
"Mommy,can I wait till the cake is done?",she asked.
"No..its late and little ones must sleep.Besides,I’ll make the cake only after you go to sleep",said her Mommy.
So,the bed-time routine was done and mommy kissed her g’nite and Ms.Aadya asked,
"Mommy,you promise you will wake me up in the night,like on my happy birthday..and give me cake"..Mommy agreed.
Mommy came out and started making the cake.She peeled the apples and cored them and grated them and started adding the other ingredients,one by one.
"Mommy,I am thinking,IF I get some cake,then,I can sleep!"called out,Ms.Aadya.
"No,the cake is not doen yet."..
And Mommy mixed and mixed and put the cake in the oven.Soon,the cake was done.And mommy pulled the cake out of the oven.As soon as she shut the oven door,a tiny voice asked,"Can I come out now?I think the cake is DONE!!"..
Mommy took a deep breath..she realised,it would be long cakeyyy night..she thought long and hard,and before she could say anything,pleaded the tiny voice,"Please Mommy..can I pleaseeeeeeee come and eat my cake?"
"Oh well!" said mommy.."you might as well come out and eat your cake then.."
Ms.Aadya ate her cake,happily..and off she  went into a cakelicious dreamland!

While she is sleeping,would you like a bite??

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Dig in:)

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Mumma's Kitchen · Uncategorized

Recipe:Kuskura/Phodnichi Poli/Vaghari roti-Post 28

MysTri Mum2 Comments

Swati wanted the recipe for this Breakfast favorite..So here you go,Swati.

Ingredients:
4-5 Rotis
1 medium sized onion-fine chopped
1 green chili
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp corriander-cumin powder
salt to taste
1/2 tsp sugar
2 tsp oil
For Garnish:
1 tbsp lemon juice
chopped corriander

Preparation:
Break the rotis into bite size pieces and run through a chopper to cut into small bits.

DSC03918this is what it should look like,after running through the chopper. 

Sprinkle a fistful water on the crushed roti bits to make it slightly soft.Add salt and sugar to the this and mix well.
Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds.When the cumin seeds splatter,add the onions and green chili.Fry till the onion turns translucent.Add a little salt to the onions,to season it.And add the spices. Add the crushed roti and mix well.Cover and cook on low flame for 2-3 minutes.Garnish with fresh corriander and lemon juice and serve hot.

Hope you enjoy this,as much as we do!

Don’t forget to leave a comment on my giveaway post-only two more days left!

By the way,its time to vote on Artsy-Craftsy – Go here and vote for us..We are No.41 The Colorful Zoo.

Mumma's Kitchen · Soup · Uncategorized

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

MysTri Mum2 Comments

The name itself is enough to make me salivate. I first tasted this soup in Dallas at our local Quizno’s  and it immediately moved up in my list of soups.I tasted it again at Subway and also in some cafes.I attempted making this from soup mixes and i t tasted fine.Today,when I am sick at home,I felt like having this ..I wanted the same taste!! Yes,I am crazy like that..
Anyway,I found this recipe but,didn’t have everything at home..So,I innovated..(umm whats new? )

DSC03898

 

DSC03900 

You like?? Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 tsp butter
1 small onion diced
1/2 clove garlic,fine chopped,
3/4 cup broccoli,chopped fine
1&1/4 cup milk
2 cups water
3 tbsp whole wheat flour
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Melt butter in a pot,add onion and fry till softened.Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.Stir in the broccoli and add salt,as per taste.Add the water and bring it to boil,till the broccoli,turns tender.
In a bowl,whisk the flour into the milk.Stir into the soup,stirring intermittently.When the soup starts to bubble,lower the flame and stir in the cheese.At this point,check the salt and add some,if required.Add the pepper.

This is a very good meal,even for little ones,though you might want to run it through the blender to mash the vegetable bits..for early solid eaters:D

Ms.Aadya used to love this soup,when she was a baby..I was worried,if she will eat it now.And it turns out,she loved it! Yayyy I am soo happy.

Baked from Scratch · Cakes · From my oven · Mumma's Kitchen · Uncategorized

No frills cake

MysTri Mum2 Comments


It was DH’s birthday on the 10th of June and he wanted a simple no frill cake.I tried to tempt him,”Black Forest??” He didn’t budge..So,I just did what he asked..:P
The Cake was Vanilla sponge ,made from this recipe.The filling was sweet light thickened cream and chocolate shavings.The frosting was buttercream..and the cake was garnished with chocolate shavings.
Last month,I baked about 35 cupcakes for a friend’s daughter’s 5th birthday celebrationg in school.She wanted chocolate cupcakes with white icing..I was looking for a buttercream recipe that worked..thats when I hopped across several blogs and a basic recipe for buttercream,stayed in my mind.I didn’t try it that time..but this time,I decided to give it a go..
Here’s the recipe for buttercream frosting-
Ingredients:
1 part salted butter(softened)
1 part unsalted butter (softened)
2 parts of icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence.
3-4 tsps milk.

Make sure the butter is soft and at room temperature.Cream the salted and unsalted butter..,add the vanilla essence.add the icing sugar slowly,adding milk ,one tsp at a time..And that’s it..you have the softest,fluffiest butter frosting ready!
I can’t find the link,that I am talking about,if anyone,has the link,for it..would you,please share it with me?

Baked from Scratch · breakfast · Mumma's Kitchen · Recipe · snack

Whole wheat herb&cheese muffins

MysTri Mum7 Comments


Weekend Brunches are back in our household-only difference,now its good home-cooked food,and not cafe/restaurant fare!
The deal is -hubby makes the tea and I dish out the goodies..fair enough?You think?? I have to grovel every other weekend..for that cuppa chai! but on those other weekends,when he makes it without the grovelling,its a bliss!So anyway,coming back to the weekend Brunch..on Saturday,I made this Spinach casserole,following Monu’s recipe,as it is..it turned out great..only I should have used more spinach.We had it with Papad and Boondi Raita.
On Sunday,I made these whole wheat herb and cheese muffins. I had been wanting to try savory muffins for a long time..but didn’t find any recipe,that I wanted to try.So,today,I decided to experiment..and it was a success.
Here you go:

Savory Whole Wheat Herb and Cheese Muffins

Ingredients
1.5 cups whole wheat flour(atta)
1/2 cup self raising flour
1/2 cup grated cheese(any cheese you like)
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup olive oil spread
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
2-3 tsp chopped mint
2-3 tsp chopped corriander
1 medium sized onion-fine chopped
2 green chilies chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Oil for greasing

Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 200degF or 180 deg fan forced.
Sift the flours and baking powder in a bowl.
Add the cheese,herbs and salt and pepper to the flour mix.
Melt the olive oil spread in a pan and pour it into the flour bowl,reserving about 2 tsp melted butter for frying onions.Fry the onions till translucent.Let it cool.
Beat the egg and milk together.Slowly add this to the flour mixture,stirring simultaneously.Mix well to incorporate all the flour.Add more milk if required.
The batter will be lumpy.
Put the batter in a greased muffin tray,filling each cup about two-thirds full.
Bake it at 180deg fan forced for 15-20 minutes,till the tester comes out clean.
Serve hot with ketchup or dips of your choice.
We had ours with ketchup,hummus,garlic sauce and Chai!
I think it will go well with a mint chutney too.Next time,may be I’ll replace the chai with freshly squeezed orange juice!yummm..
If you happen to bake this,do let me know,how it was 🙂
Enjoy!