Instant Unniyappam

My mom's version of instant unniyappams have been always a hit. It always helps to bring down our cravings for unniyappams and to finish off the overripe bananas. And the word instant is so apt. As it doesn't need any soaking of white rice and hence no delay in making it.

Whenever we have guest who pay a surprise visit and I have hardly anything to serve them to snack on, I choose to make it. It has been a hit. Make it and let me know if you loved it.

Khandvi

Ever since I started blogging, these pretty khandvi's had been in my to make list. Come on, there would be hardly anyone who wouldn't notice them. They are so pretty that you just can't resist to taste them and once tasted, you will fall for it. 

Usually when I give a try for the first time, I make it during snack time, so that if it doesn't come out well or if it is not liked by anyone, they would have an alternative in the pantry to go grab some quick bite. When I tried these the first time, Jacob thought I had really put in a lot of effort to make these. When he tasted it he liked it and then started asking how I made it and he too was amazed that these pretty looking khandvis are quite easy to make. They look so much more pretty for the least effort that goes into making it. So if you too want to try making it, here is the recipe.

Garlic and Herb Pull Apart Bread

It is very unlikely to get this freezing cold in our part of the world. It doesn't snow but it snowed...atleast on the mountains, that is visible from our nest. Even though we would love to stay all tucked in the blanket, we have places to go to and so it doesn't get any better. Should I mention the countless number of times that the kido has fallen sick in the past one month...uff..I just want it all to end and embrace the warmth of the sun which seems to be hiding somewhere. I know I am going to say something totally contradictory when it would get too hot in summer. But hey isn't that human :D.

Anyways, coming back to food, we have been trying to keep ourselves warm with some great food which is easy to make and provides warmth to the body in this dropping temperature. This bread is just the perfect one for the crazy weather conditions. They are great for the tea time with some hot cup of coffee or tea. It has a blend of a variety of flavours that will definitely wake your taste buds esp. if you have been under the weather lately given the crazy weather. 

Chengodilu

The weather has been so unpredictable recently. Last week, I thought that summer was almost here when it was too hot during the afternoons. And all of a sudden it is raining today and will be raining for the rest of the weekend too. So we are stuck at home. 

Its spring break here and with the kid also at home, we have been doing so many activities together; even cooking. And he loves it. One way to make someone eat something that they hate is to make them cook it, so that they appreciate the effort it takes to make it and the thought of having worked on it makes it interesting. So the same is the strategy that I have been doing with my kid too. Thankfully he will not get to know, untill he learns to read it here so I am safe... he he.

Quinoa Cutlets

If you are observing lent, then you would know the struggle to make your non-veg loving family finish the lunch/dinner without a fuss. In an effort to make them not crib about the food at the dining table, we have been cooking varieties. Just a way to mask the absence of meat/chicken.. he he.

My kido never tries quinoa when we make it. But this cutlet was gulped down in a matter of seconds. And if you know my kid personally, you know that is a big achievement. Because otherwise, he would be sitting with the food for hours which makes me feel if an egg might hatch out of him. 

Bread roll ~ with potato fillings

This snack always reminds me of Leela teacher, my school teacher as well as a family friend. I have never had this snack other than made by her. When ever she would host a treat for us, this would be one of the items in the menu and that would make me soooo happy :).

I have seen her make it then. Even though I was not a big fan of cooking, I had a vague memory of the process. Being a novice to cooking in the early days of married life, this used to be one of the tea time snacks that I used to make often and feel proud of myself :). 

Chocolate and Cashew Biscotti

Anything chocolate goes so well for the festive season. I have been packing up edible treats to give away to family and friends and apart from the fruit cake, these chocolate biscotti is making into every treat bag. I don't know when will I succeed cutting down all those extra pounds already added and to be added this month. By the time I would exercise and diet to bring it down, it will be Christmas again .. he he.. But I must say it is just the happiest time of the year for me and I would just put away the worry of shedding down the gained pounds.

These chocolate biscotti's are good for any time of the year. Just dunk it into you coffee and enjoy or have it as is. They are super yum. And that extra crunch from those cashews is just a bonus, so don't miss out on that part. You could try walnuts or pecans or pistachios for a change.

Pumpkin Pecan Loaf

When my brother visited , they brought some pumpkin loaf with them. So while we were site seeing and the lunch or dinner happened during odd timings, hogging on all those stocked snack items helped to keep up the tourist energy. That pumpkin loaf was a hit. So when I stocked up on pumpkin puree I knew I had to try it.

When I first came to the US, it was Thanksgiving season. Jacob had bought some pumpkin chocolate cookies and they were heavenly. I remember those being the days when I was novice in baking, I didn't think of baking it myself then. But as I got better with baking, I did bake them and ate it to my hearts content. These seasonal cookies/loaf are my weakness. If I try to control myself; I cannot and just end up eating it all. So I try to make pumpkin puree at home and freeze it in portions to bake it in intervals over an year untill pumpkins start appearing next. So I do not hog over all those goodies baked all at once but have it spread all throughout the year.

Rice Murukku ~ Spicy version

With Diwali approaching, you might be spending a lot more time in the kitchen preparing all the snacks and sweets for your family and friends. Sweets are one important thing on the menu and so are snacks. I still remember having Dahi Vadas, Chaats, Chakli etc along with the sweets, which our neighbor aunty used to serve us for diwali. Yum they were. Years have gone by but those days and memories are still so fresh. This spicy version of chakli is something that you should try to add a little variety to usual murukku/chakli that you make. If your family loves spicy food then I bet this would definitely be a hit.

This recipe just happened when I was trying out some other snack and it usually takes a lot of time, but I had to head to some place in an hour and just thought of giving it the murukku avatar instead. It wasn't a flop at all. My lil one loves spicy food and when I made it, he kept coming back to me asking "Eruvulla murukku Tharamo" meaning "Can you give me the spicy murukku". 

Naan Khatai

While living in the hostel, in Kerala, my grandmother, uncles and aunts used to visit me often. Every time, such a visit do bring along a packet of goodies from the bakery. It could be cakes, cookies, puffs, chocolates etc. These Naan Khatai would also make it in the goodie packs. Those packets would vanish in no time when we open it in the hostels. And that could be one reason why I never got bored of those goodies.

With a lil one around at home, baking always happens to make some cake or cookie. Last week when I thought about these naan khatai, I thought I should make it for my lil one at home. And guess who had fun time placing the chopped pistachios over the cookies. Yes, the lil one helped me in making it. Every time I start baking he would drag a chair get on top of it to help me in the kitchen. 

Bread Pakoda

When I was a kid, I remember my mom would ask me to wait at the gate having heard the ringing of a cycle bell. My job would be to call up the guy by the time mummy would fetch the money to be handed over. It would be bread wala bringing in fresh bread and buns from the bakery. The packets would still have some vapours trapped in them and still a little hot.

Mummy would then make hot bread pakodas out of the hot bread. Or it may take the shape of sandwiches or French toast etc to be packed for tiffin to the school.

Bialys

Have you had Bialys? Well, I would say it is more like bagels. I am not a fan of bagels, but I did like having bialys. They serve as a good option for tea time snacks or a grab and go breakfast.

I just made a couple of them, fearing that it might go wasted if they tasted like bagels, which I dislike having. But they turned out to be good. And with the garam masala in it, it tasted more indianized. I wonder if I would have given up the thought of trying it, I would have been missing out on something delicious.

Vegetable Cutlet

I sometimes wonder where the time went by when I see/hear Jordan. He is growing up fast and I wish I could just stop time from flying away. I hardly have any time for myself after having taken him to the park or library or other activities and the household chores. So I had been missing from the blogging world for a while now, untill last week and I loved the break. I hope to update it frequently everytime I return from a break, but I fail. Lazy me, I say. Anyways, this time I hope to update frequently.

Myself and Big J used to speak in english, when we wanted to talk something that we didn't want Lil J to hear. Now the stage has come that Lil J has started to pick up on english(overhearing our conversation and grasping it). So if you come visit us, you will see both of us spelling the words out so that Jordan can't get it. I don't see those days far when he will pick the spellings as well.

Sabudana Vada

Rains are here and last weekend it just didn't stop pouring. It was just wet everywhere because the rain is just drizzling throughout. So its cold and the only thing one would want to go is sit idle in a cozy place and read. But one can't. Because when its cold, you tend to get hungry everytime or would crave for something to munch on. We don't usually give in to fried stuff at home. But my lil one likes it and so we do make them sometimes.

Some sabudana had been sitting in my pantry for sometime and everytime I open the cabinet, I think of putting it into use. So finally today, I gave in my laziness and made these vadas for our tea. They were just perfect to pair with some ginger tea.

Vettu Cake / Fried Cakes

This is one not so often made snack at my home. But I have had it from my mom's friends place who makes it often. Infact, my mom learnt to make it from her. I used to love these then and now too. 

During my last visit to Kerala, I noticed that the tea shop near our house carried these. They looked pretty placed in the glass cupboards. I was double minded about getting it though. That tea shop doesn't have too many customers in a day and I just didn't want to get something made days back. So every other day when I would pass by that tea shop I used to crave for them looking at it. After a couple of days I realized, the stack remained the same - neither grew or reduce in size , nor did it change its pattern of arrangement. They indeed were never in demand at that shop. My craving then took a change.

Chicken Cutlet/ Chicken Croquettes

I have a little Chicken fan here. He loves it in any form...soups, appetizers, main dishes, curry etc. Since we had started cutting down on fried stuff, cutlets have made a rare appearance on our menu. But this lil guy's fantasy for having cutlets having seen it in TV, made me make some cutlets with his own favorite thing, chicken.

I have no clue how these disappeared in minutes time. They were super crisp on the outside and flavourful inside. They made a perfect snack time for us. You could also serve it as sides with meals or may be stuff it in burgers too.

Wholewheat Banana and Chocolate Chip Muffins

Muffins have always been welcomed at our home. May it be for a tea time snack or as breakfast, we are happy to have it. The Blueberrry Muffins has always been loved by us. When I see bananas going overripe I try to convert it to something that would be appealing to my crowd. So I try make Adai, Banana bread, Pancakes, Banana Muffins etc. So the over ripe bananas vanish in no time :).

Well, not always do I add chocolate chips in them. But there are those days when you just can't stop craving to have something chocolatey and putting these chocolate chips in the muffins restricts the amount of chocolate intake :).

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes

Most people don't like having bananas once they start spotting. At my home, it is no different. My lil one hates any fruits. And among fruits, banana is his worst enemy. So I have to literally hide it in some form to make him have it. Pancakes have been one of the best ways for hiding fruits. 

I usually go for whole wheat to make it more healthy. These make a good option for breakfast, snack or tiffin. If you always tend to waste the overripe bananas then I believe it is one recipe that you should keep handy to avoid any wastage but convert it into some yummy pancakes . So here is the recipe. Hope you like it.

Madakku San / Love Letters / Eylanchi

These used to be my favorite among the tea time snacks as a kid. At home, we used to call it as Muttayappam . Then when I went to hostel for college, we used to get it as tea time snack there. It was well known as love letter among the hostel mates. I am not sure if it is named the same anywhere else. Unlike other tea time snacks like Ullivada, Aval vilayichathu, Bonda etc.  this snack was liked by all.

I don't know why is it called love letter. May be because of the sweet filling rolled into those pancakes like a love letter with so much romantic and sweet words that goes into it :). I was surprised to hear it when I first heard it. Anyways, I love the name.

Potato Sandwich

The most filling, easy and made with regular ingredients is what I could associate potato sandwich with. Pack it for tiffin for school, serve it for breakfast or for tea time snack, include it in Party or picnic menu - they never loose their charm. It's always a hit. 

Served with some tomato chilly sauce they are perfect to tickle the taste bites. Here is how I make it.