Semiya Payasam | Festival recipes | Vermicelli Kheer recipe | Under 30mins recipe

Semiya Payasam or Vermicelli Kheer is a decadent Indian dessert which is prepared during festivals and special occasions. As it is very easy to prepare and has a fabulous taste and texture, it makes its appearance as often as possible in many Indian homes. Though this Semiya Kheer is DH's all-time favourite, Iam more inclined towards the gorgeous 'Paal Payasam / Rice Kheer'. As that is one of my best treasured recipes and also requires very little effort, I love to prepare for most occasions. However, this was DH's choice for our Wedding Anniversary which we celebrated few days back. It turned out lovely and we relished this Kheer chilled, the next morning too!

Blogging Marathon 86- Wk3 Day2

Preparation time - 5mins

Cooking time - 20mins

Serves - 4

Jeera Pulao | Jeera Rice Rice | Under 30mins Recipe

Jeera Rice or Jeera Pulao is a very easy one-pot dish which is a staple at my place. May it be for kids' lunch box or for a weekend meal with delectable side-dish, this Jeera Rice would fit perfectly. Once the rice is boiled, it just takes a couple of minutes to whit it up. Another good thing is that only minimal ingredients are required which would be readily available at any time. Let's get on to the recipe. 

Quick Tofu Masala | Easy Side-dish under 30mins

For the final day of this week, I would share one of my easy go-to recipe for a side-dish which is a low-fat version of Paneer Butter Masala and it works perfect with Tofu in place of Paneer. Tofu is a good source of Protein and contains all the 8 essential amino acids. It is low in carb and is helpful for weight loss.This recipe is very simple - no grinding of masala or tedious steps involved yet this Quick Tofu Masala is absolutely delicious and makes for a great side-dish for Roti or Pulao / Biryani. Adding just a little low-fat / skimmed milk will make the gravy rich and creamy. Also, I always have Everest Shahi Paneer Masala handy which had a unique flavour for any Paneer or Tofu based gravies. Try this Quick Tofu Masala for a heathy, yummy side-dish.

Cream Of Cabbage Soup | Low - Calorie Cabbage Soup With Broccoli

Soups are our comfort food which also happen to be a healthy alternative for most weeknight dinners at home. For a quick and healthy dinner,I always resort to one of the easy soup recipes such as this Bean and Mixed Veg Soup which works with pretty much any combination of veggies and/or beans. Another family favourite is this creamy Cabbage soup which I love to include in our everyday menu as often as possible. Cabbage is a Powerfood which is low in calorie and high in fiber and it works wonders in aiding weight-loss and helps with lowering Blood pressure and Cholesterol. In this soup, onion and cabbage are blended with low-fat skimmed milk into a smooth puree and you'd swear it included cream. Even those of you who don't like the strong smell of cabbage would enjoy this. Spare an extra 5-7mins to top it with Broccoli bits which you sure would love to munch on while relishing the soup.

Preparation time - 5mins

Cooking time - 20mins

Serves - 4

Corn Chaat | Masala Corn Recipe

Corn Chaat or Masala Corn is such an easy one and you just need mins to mix up the ingredients and there you are with a nutritious, crunchy Chaat which is loved by kids and adults as well. It is a famous street food in India and whenever we go shopping in Chennai, will never miss to have this Chaat along the T-nagar roadside which would be piping hot and it was so heavenly to munch on it and wander about. Corn makes for a filling snack as well. Even a cup of steamed, salted corn tastes fine as is and my kids love it so much. But, it tastes even more great if made into this Chaat which you would relish. As with any Chaats, the Chaat masala, Black salt and Roasted cumin powder are the ones which transforms the simple Corn into a delicious Chaat.

Blogging Marathon - Wk1, Day3

Theme - Chaat Special

Preparation time - 10mins

Serves - 2

Papdi Chaat with Baked Papdi | Indian Street Food Recipes

Papdi Chaat is a popular North-Indian street food and as the name goes, it has lot of Papdis tossed in a blend of chutneys, curd and spices. The same Chaat is known as Sev Puri in Mumbai and called as Papdi Chaat in Delhi. The quantity of Sev or Papdis added makes the difference, thats it. Chaats are our favourite and I would do these quite often at home. They are absolutely easy to prepare if we have Green chutney and Sweet chutney handy and the best part is that they are so..adaptable to taste with whatever veggies available. I tend to add lot of vegetables and cut down on the Sev and fried Papdis. But, this time, I tried Baked Papdis and believe me, it came out so crispy and good. Of course, it was little harder than the fried ones, but that does'nt matter at all, when added to Chaat items. After it blends with the spice powders, chutneys and veggies, it tasted awesome. Do try this healthy and guilt-free Chaat and enjoy.

Blogging Marathon - Wk1, Day1

Theme - Chaat Special

Preparation time - 15mins

Serves - 2

Pasi Paruppu Payasam | Indian Dessert Recipes | Festival Recipes

Pasi Paruppu or Payatham paruppu Payasam is one the traditional South-Indian dessert recipes which is prepared during festival or family gatherings and feasts. One of the easiest recipe which is nutritious too. Addition of coconut and cashew paste makes it taste heavenly and rich. The same Payasam is made in a very thin consistency without much richness during vrat days especially on Ekadasi day and it is called as 'Payatham Kanji'. Enjoy this guilt-free dessert anytime..

Blogging Marathon - Wk4, Day1

Theme - Indian Desserts

Walnut Basil Pesto Pasta

This Basil Pesto Pasta recipe is the adapted version of the authentic Italian Pesto, to make  it more healthy and kids-friendly. Since kids prefer a milder flavour, I had reduced the quantity of Basil, but added on a good amount of Walnuts and cheese. Hence, the colour turned out to be a lighter green as compared with bright conventional Pesto. Also, I completely omitted Olive oil while blending the Pesto. So, this recipe is absolutely healthy and kids-friendly.

Blogging Marathon - Wk2, Day3

Theme - Pizzas and Pastas

Fusilli with Spinach and Mushroom | Easy Pasta Recipe

This week is all about Pastas and Pizzas and today, Iam going to share a very healthy Pasta recipe which uses just a drizzle of oil and can be made in a jiffy. Perfect for busy weekdays. With just easily available ingredients at your pantry, you can make this healthy Pasta loaded with veggies which is loved by kids too. This Pasta is flavored with mild spice and herbs and even without the addition of cheese, it tastes great. Give it a try and you will know what I mean!

Blogging Marathon - Wk2, Day1

Theme - Pizzas and Pastas 

Ragi Lemon Sevai | Kelvaragu Sevai | Finger Millet Sevai

Cooking with millets has become a part of our healthy diet and for the third day of Blogging Marathon, I chose this very easy recipe using Ragi Sevai. This is readily available in stores and we just need to cook for a very few minutes and prepare according to taste. I chose to prepare Lemon Sevai with it and it turned out well. Off to today's recipe!

Blogging Marathon - Wk4, Day3

Theme - All about Millets

Preparation time - 15mins
Serves - 4

Kuthiraivali Pongal | Barnyard Millet Pongal | Healthy Tiffin Recipe

Millets have become the buzz in recent times. Millets are small-seeded hardy grasses that grow well in dry regions under marginal conditions of soil fertility and rains. Called as 'Siru Thaaniyangal' in Tamil, these little wonders were one of the oldest cereal grains known to humans and it formed an integral part of the diet in those days.These Superfood grains were forgotten for quite sometime until recently, we have started to realise their amazing health benefits and cooking with Millets are gaining popularity with each passing day. They are a host of vital nutrients, gluten-free, non-acidic and non-allergenic, easy to digest and suitable for health-specific diets like weight-loss or diabetes. Replacing rice with millets is sure to boost overall health in kids and adults alike.Though I knew the most commonly used millets like Ragi, Jowar, Bajra and Barley, I had not ventured into cooking with Millets earlier. I got inspired by my BM friends through discussions on Millets and their wonderful recipes featuring Millets. Hence, for this 4th week of Blogging Marathon, I chose this as my theme to get started with.

Blogging Marathon - Wk4, Day1

Theme - All about Millets

Preparation time - 5mins
Cooking time - 20mins
Serves - 4

Oats Dosa | Instant Oats Dosai | Quick Tiffin Recipe

I was planning for Pasta for my second day of BM, but after trying this super-simple, delicious Oats Dosa, I could'nt contain my excitement and thought to share this first. This awesome recipe was shared by my colleague cum best friend Vasanthi, which was originally her newly wed daughter-in-law, Aishwarya's recipe. Ever since the engagement, my friend had told a lot about this sweet and bubbly girl Aishwarya and it was no surprise that her recipe was damn so yummy. Even my elder girl who fusses over Atta / Rava dosas loved this and asked me to pack the same for her next day mid-day brunch too. Though I have seen innumerable versions of Oats Dosa on the Net, Iam impressed with this soft and spongy instant Oats Dosa which tasted like South-Indian Adai. I would definitely urge you to try this Dosa for a quick and healthy tiffin.

Blogging Marathon - Wk3, Day2

Theme - Quick Tiffin

Preparation time - 10mins
Cooking time - 3mins per Dosa
Yields - 12 Dosas

Maharashtrian Kande Pohe | Poha Recipe | Batata Poha

Maharashtrian Kande Pohe / Poha is a very popular breakfast or tea-time snack in Maharashtra. 'Kande' means onion and 'Batata' is potato in Marathi. Made with flattened rice or Poha, this recipe combines onion and potato into a great-tasting breakfast which can be whipped up anytime. Though I used to do Vegetable Aval Upma often at home which is more South-Indian, I learnt this authentic Maharashtrian style Pohe from my friend Apexa last year and this has become a staple at our home now.She also shared that this Poha has various garnishes in different parts of Maharashtra. She hails from Nagpur where Poha is topped with Sev and in Mumbai, grated coconut and finely chopped onion forms a lovely garnish. Other than the chat items, this healthy traditional Maharashtrian Kande Pohe is our family's favourite,which Iam happy to share today.

Blogging Marathon - Wk3, Day1

Theme - Quick Tiffin

Preparation time - 5mins
Cooking time - 10-12mins
Serves - 3

Potato Podimas Recipe | Brahmin-Style Podimas | No-onion,No-garlic Recipe

This is a very easy side-dish prepared with mashed potato flavoured with a mild south-Indian seasoning. Despite its simplicity, it holds a special place in any traditional feast menu. Being a no-onion, no-garlic Satvik recipe, it is also suitable for everyday cooking, especially on auspicious vrat days. I always do Podimas with Plantain / Vazhaikkai as I had thought kids like potato in the form of spicy curry more than anything else. But, to my surprise, when I did this Podimas, they loved it equally. As it can be done in less than 5mins if we have boiled potato handy (which I usually pressure cook with rice), this is a fuss-free recipe for busy mornings as well.

Preparation time - 5mins

Cooking time - 25mins (including pressure cooking of Potato)

Blogging Marathon - Wk1, Day3

Theme - South Indian Meal Dishes

Bitter Gourd Fry | How to make Pavakkai chips| Karela Chips | Under 30mins recipe

Bitter Gourd is my DH's favourite and after marriage, I too started liking my MIL's simple preparation of Pavakkai curry. We include it regularly in our daily cooking in the form of stir-fry. On a weekend, DH came looking for some snack to munch on. I had ran out of most vegetables and onion, the much needed ones for Bhajji / Pakoras and was left with Bitter gourds only.So,why not try 'Adyar Ananda Bhavan' style Pavakkai chips? Even the kids, who otherwise don't even come near Pavakkai loved these crispy chips. I followed my friend Jeyashri's recipe and it was perfect and I was happy that it did'nt take up more oil also.

Preparation time - 15mins

Cooking time - 10mins

Serves - 4

Kovakkai Curry | Ivy gourd fry | No-onion,No-garlic Recipe

Here comes another simple everyday recipe made using Kovakkai/Ivy gourd. It is a basic preparation of a stir-fry which applies to several other veggies too. No grinding of masalas and hence can be prepared easily with readily available items in your pantry. I came across this recipe at Pavani's space as a part of 'Ayurvedic Meal Thali', which was mostly similar to our preparation without onion or garlic. Off to the recipe! 

Blogging Marathon #41, Week4, Day3

Theme : BM Pair (Pavani) 

Preparation time - 10mins

Cooking time - 15mins

Serves - 4

Sprout Bhel Puri | Moong Sprouts Chaat Recipe

My first taste of a Chaat item was 'Bhel Puri' at a restaurant along Pondi Bazaar in Chennai which specialised in Chaat varieties. Those were the days when I avoided any gravy-kind with strong Masala flavours. But, Chaats with raw veggies and Murmura (Pori) without heavy Masalas, soon became my addiction. Whenever DH and me visited Pondi Bazaar, we loved to dine out at that 'Chaat Corner'. I consider Chaats (without deep-frying involved) as the easiest and healthier snack options for kids too. So, I make sure to stock up on Homemade Sweet Chutney and Green Chutney all the time. Whenever hunger pang strikes,I would whip up a quick chaat with whatever I had on hand and relish. For today's Iron-rich recipe for kids for my Blogging Marathon, I chose this easy and uber-healthy Sprout Bhel Puri. Sprouts are one among the most-nutritious food and also rich in iron. You just need to spend a few minutes to get this done and binge on it.

Preparation time - 15mins
Serves - 4

Bean and Vegetable Soup | Iron-rich Soup for Kids | Under 30mins Recipe

Soups form an important part of our everyday diet. DH, being a calorie-conscious person, love to have wholesome soups for dinner and it became indispensable for me to try different combinations of legumes, pulses and veggies with varied flavorings so as to keep our taste buds alive. This easy soup made with green moong bean, horsegram and beetroot among other veggies is our favourite. Kids too love the deep colour from the beets and say that it is very appetizing. With all the above ingredients, it is definitely an iron-rich recipes for kids as well as adults. So, I present this for my Day 2 of this week for the theme 'Iron-rich recipes for kids' going on at the Blogging Marathon event.

Preparation and cooking time - 25mins
Serves - 4

Onion Vatha Kuzhambu | Everyday Cooking

Vatha Kuzhambu is a spicy tangy South-Indian speciality, ideally prepared used sun-dried veggies, also called as Vathals. Now, you know where its name came from. It is one comfort food, so simple to prepare, yet a favourite to many of us. Though I have already shared my mom's special 'Arachuvitta Vatha Kuzhambu', this is a very easy recipe which requires no roasting or grinding processes. Hence, it takes minimal time and effort to cook on busy mornings or a lazy weekend. We relish it with any Kootu variety, especially Keerai Kootu paired with Vatha Kuzhambu is heaven.Instead of Vathal, I have used Pearl Onion/ Shallot for this and it tasted too good too!

Preparation time - 10mins
Cooking time - 20mins
Serves - 4

Vazhaithandu Thayir Pachadi | Plantain Stem Raita | Quick Side-dish Recipe

Raitas are my all-time favourite. I love to consume most veggies raw, either in the form of Salads or raitas. Even a simple salad made with a hint of lemon juice can make my day. Curd-based Salads (raitas) are even more appealing to my taste buds. This Vazhaithandu Raita is no exception.If made with tender and fresh plantain stem, nothing can match this Raita's taste and it goes well with almost any tangy gravy (Kuzhambu). Not to forget its innumerable health benefits ranging from a good source of dietary fiber, natural cure for Kidney stones and ulcer to its role in aiding weight reduction. Do you need any more reason to try this cool and refreshing Salad with crunchy bits of Plantain stem?

Preparation time - 20mins

Serves - 4