orema

Poha | rice flakes with  pepper flavour

Milagu aval is a simple and easy recipe to make breakfast and the most interesting part is no need to chop any veggies or even Onions too. Usually i make Poha Upma or Puli Aval out of aval (rice flakes)  but after i had this Milagu Aval in my friend’s place i hooked up with this recipe and asked the recipe from her and tried it twice at home. We loved it very much and it tasted more like VenPongal. This Milagu aval recipe is made in a jiffy and can be had as an evening snack too.

INGREDIENTS: (SERVES :2)

I used the thin aval, but the original recipe my friend mentioned is to use Thick Aval.  As i don’t have the thick aval i used the thin one. 

METHOD:

• Wash the poha (aval) and drain the water.

• Coarsely grind the black pepper and  cumin seeds and i added the curry leaves to this as the kids will eat, even me too

• In a pan, add the oil and the mustard seeds and when it crackles add the cashew nuts and when it turns brown add the ground  pepper cumin powder.
• Saute for a minute in low flame , without getting it burnt.

• Add salt and and mix it nicely and keep in low flame for minutes.

• If you feel little dry sprinkle 1-2 tblsp of water and mix well.
• always serve hot.

Note:

1. Instead of cashew nuts you can add peanuts too.
2. You can add few drops of ghee in the last to enhance the flavour.

As mentioned in my previous post Tortilla recipe , i am sharing the recipe of Paneer Wraps . This is a very easy and kids friendly lunch box recipe. The masala i stuffed inside inside the tortilla depends on your own choice and according to the taste of kids too. Since both my kids are a fan of paneer recipes i made the wraps with paneer stuffing. I included cabbage too in this, as both the kiddos hate eating cabbage. In this recipe, they didn’t even feel that i have added cabbage in this

INGREDIENTS:

METHOD:

• Heat a pan and add oil. Add the chopped onions and when it becomes nice brown color add the chopped tomatoes. Saute for a while till the tomato turns mushy.
• Now add the paneer cubes, shredded cabbage, and the red chilli powder,coriander powder, garam masala and salt.

• Saute well till the raw smell of the powders goes off.
• Switch off the flame and allow this to cool. Spread the tomato ketchup on the tortilla.

• Place 2 tblsp of the paneer mixture on the center of the tortilla as shown in the picture below. Roll it into a wrap and insert a toothpick on the center. The paneer wrap is ready to eat.

• You can give this to your kids after they come back from school or pack it for their lunch box too.

Notes:

1. You can add any veggie of your choice. Addition of capsicum will enhance the flavour a lot.
2. You can add finely chopped carrots or frozen corn or peas too.
3. Once i tried with dry chole  masala  for filling inside.

KIDS FRIENDLY SNACK

Cup corn is an easy snack and this involves no cooking too, if you have a Microwave Oven at home. Even the kids above 10years can make this as per their own taste . During our visit to Chennai last December , we had this in one the leading shopping malls. Though it is a usual one where we get in all parts of the city, this particular Cup corn have the flavor of Tandoori Masala and we all loved this. And after coming back here i tried this few times at home and kids loved this. Since i don’t have a MW at home, i cooked on stove top.

INGREDIENTS:

METHOD:

• Using less water cook the frozen corn kernels. If using MW just cook it for 3-5  minutes.

• Drain the excess water .

• Transfer it to a wide vessel. when it is hot add the tandoori masala, chaat masala, butter and salt.

• Mix well and add a dash of lemon juice.

• Mix again. The cup corn chaat is ready to serve.

Note:

1. As the chaat masala, tandoori masala and butter has salt in it, add little salt.
2. If using corn cobs , pressure cook that for 4-5 whistles and take out the corn kernels.
3. You can add many variations to this recipe as per your choice. Will post the recipe with lot of variations soon.

Pasta is a most welcoming dish at my home and i generally make it with Home made Sauce and usually pack it for kids lunch box or sometimes for weeknight Dinner too. Usually i make pasta in  this way but my kiddos love the pasta in white sauce too. Most of the times i make it either for lunch box or dinner and i couldn’t click the pictures, but two days back i made Penne pasta in White sauce and gave them for evening tiffin after they are back from school. Normally i try to include little bit of veggies in this as they will not fuss eating veggies if i put them in pasta.

For Recipe of white sauce pasta click Here.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 3 )

METHOD:

• Chop the veggies finely (i used carrot,green peas, corn and broccoli)
• Boil the veggies in little water by adding little salt to this.
• Do not over cook, let the veggies be crunchy.

• Cook the pasta as per the instructions by adding salt and few drops of olive oil.
• Drain the water and run the pasta thro cold water.

• In a sauce pan, add oil and add the capsicum and saute for a minute.

• Add the veggies to this and saute for few seconds and add the oregano and pepper powder.

• Add the white sauce to this and mix well.
• Let this boil for a minute.

• Add the cooked pasta to this and give it a nice stir gently.
• After 2 minutes switch off the flame.

• Serve it hot by sprinkling little parmesan cheese on the top .( i didn’t have cheese in hand , so i didn’t add)

Note:

1. You can soak the pasta in water for 10 minutes before cooking which will ensure easy and fast cooking.
2. You can veggies of your own choice.
3. You can add red chilli flakes to this while serving if you want this little spicy.