Cracked Wheat Masala Idli

Today I really wanted to eat something healthy. So I kept thinking about eating some vegeterian for my dinner which is simple, easy and tasty. Thats how I came up wtih this recipe with a healthy twist...
It was very delicious and didn't need any sides like chutney or sambar...

Ingredients:

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1cup Cracked Wheat/Wheat Rawa

1cup Yogurt/Buttermilk (Note: If using yogurt need to add 1/2cup Water)

Salt to taste

1/4tsp Baking Soda

1tbsp Cilantro & Curry leaves chopped finely

Seasoning:

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1tbsp Oil

1tsp Mustard seeds

1/4tsp Cumin seeds

1/4tsp Asafoetida

1/2 tsp Grated Ginger

3 Green Chillies chopped finely

1small Potato chopped into small pieces

1/2cup frozen veggies like Peas and Carrot

1/4tsp Garama masala powder

Variations: You can add oinions, Green chilli paste, cashews, raisins etc.,

Method:

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1. Mix wheat, buttermilk/yogurt, salt and keep it aside.

2. In small kadai add heat oil, add mustard seeds, when the splutter add rest of the seasiong ingredients and fry for about 2 mins, add garam masala powder then off the flame and add this mixture to the wheat batter mix well. Set if aside for about 1 or 2 hours for better resuts.

3. Now in Idli cooker grease the idli plates and pour the batter and steam the idlis for about 15 mins.

4. Now serve these Idlis with chutney powder or your choice of chutneys.

Microwave Dhoodh Peda (Milk Fudge)

I have been wanting to try dhoodh pedas from Veginspirations.com for a long time and finally did today.
They are quick, easy and delicious! Here is the recipe.

Makes 22 pedas

Ingredients:
Milk Powder- 1 3/4 cups
Condensed Milk - 1 tin (14 oz)
Room Temperature Butter - 4 tbsp (1/2 stick)
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Pistachios - to garnish
Saffron (optional) - a few strands

Method:
Mix milk powder, condensed milk, butter, cardamom powder, saffron in a deep microwave safe dish.
Microwave for 3 - 4 minutes depending on the power setting. Mine took 4 minutes.
Remove and stir the mixture every 1 minute.
Take a very small portion and cool it. If you are able to roll between your fingers, it means it is done.
Transfer the mixture to a greased plate and spread evenly. When it cools down,  cut into round shape using a cookie cutter or roll using your hands (grease your palms with ghee before shaping the pedas).
Garnish with pistachios.
Store in an air tight container and it should stay good for 2 days.

Vendaikaai Fry/Okra Fry

There is a Ritual called "Pongiduthal" in our Tradition. When there is a Marriage/Poonal Function in a family, the Paternal Aunt/Athai and Maternal Uncle/Mama Will do this Pongiduthal ritual to the bride/groom or to the Bramhachari/Bachelor from whom Poonal/Thread Wearing Ceremony is going to be done.

We have a family friend,whose son is getting married this month, he regards my mom as his elder sister.So My Mom as his Paternal Aunt invited the groom for the pongiduthal ceremony. 

The Story is we prepared a Traditional Lunch Last week. This Okra fry was part of that Menu!!!Very Easy to make tasty snack.A tricky treat to your toddlers too!!! :)

Ingredient

250gms Okra

4 tbsp Gram flour/Besan

3tbsp Corn flour

2tbsp Rice Flour

2-3 tsp Red Chili Powder

Hing,turmeric a pinch

Salt to taste

Oil for frying

Method

Wash and Pat dry the Okra's. Cut them into 1inch Pieces.Take them in a bowl, add all the flours and rest of the ingredients and mix well by sprinkling little water. Don't make it watery. The flours should just coat the okra. Let it sit for 30minutes.

Heat oil in a Kadai, when its hot,deep fry the okra's in batches. Dont turn them as soon as they are dropped!!! Wait for 2-3 minutes, Let it start frying then turn them. They might look clustered, but once they get fried they will separate. Avoid turning too often. Keep the heat to Medium.  Once they get browned,take them out of oil and drain on a Kitchen Towel. 

I didnt have time to do that, since i served them straight from the pan,Hot,Hot!!! Tasted Great!!!

A Glimpse of what we served that day

Badam Burfi, Raita, Potato Fry, Okra Fry, Appalam, Vadai, Yellow Rice,  Paruppu, VethaKozhambhu, Sambhar, Rasam and Sweet Semiya!!!:)