Dates Bar

What is the most exciting part of the trip for you ? You would call me crazy if I say getting ready for the trip, packing up food to eat while on the drive etc. is very exciting for me. And yes to make sure that we don't get bored of the same item, I pack up different things that we could munch on. This dates bar was experimented for one such trip and I must say, even before we started the trip , it got over :). These are super yum and filling too.

With the crunch of the walnuts and flax seeds and the sweetness from the dates, and the feel good factor that I am munching on something healthy, makes this snack option the perfect and the preferred one. You could add or delete the ingredients, except for dates, as per your creativity or liking to make it interesting for you are your family. They are perfect for kids snack box too. Here is how I made it.

Peanut Balls/ Chikki Balls/ Kadalai Urundai

One big addict to these yumm chikkis is at my home. Jacob just loves it. When we go shopping he always keeps saying that he just can't find out one thing among so many things in an isle. But somehow, when it comes to finding out chikki in an isle, he will hunt it down somehow. 

After our marriage it didn't take long for me to realize that he liked it. As every grocery shopping list would have it included. He gets overjoyed to see it and they vanish quickly too. So we tend to make it often at home these days.

Homemade Wholewheat Cracker

Summer Holidays are on. When kids stay at home during the hot summer mornings; demands for snacks is on high. They keep munching on snacks continuously to avoid being bored. Stocking up on snacks which are homemade, simple to make, healthy and yum is always looked up to. These crackers are something I tried a long ago. No matter how big a batch I make, I always run out of it pretty soon. But if they tend to last, they store well too. 

These crackers are great to eat as it is or when paired with a dip. Make it this summer season and enjoy it while at home or carry along, if you are hitting the road for a trip. Because homemade is always the best.

Malar Unda/ Pori Ladoo

I still remember the first time I ate Pori Ladoo. One of the peon uncles from my father's office has asked to come to their home and it being a chance for us as kids to see the farms and the crops they cultivate etc., my father took us one day. They served us with these pori ladoos. Those were huge in size. I was glad that they were huge, because we were taught to be decent and just pick one when offered and don't just hog over the entire plate of it when served. So the huge one was equivalent to eating three actually :). Ever since we returned, I used to nag my mother to make it at home. And then one day my mother made it.

The other day, me and Jordan stepped into an Indian store to grab some rusk and tea biscuits for Big J, being down with fever. I was in a hurry to get back home and my lil guy kept on checking out everything kept in the isle and asking me what it is. When he landed on the pack of pori ladoo he was like "Mama, can I get it?" Immediately, I had the flash back of my childhood when I asked my mother to make it. We didn't get the pori ladoo though but I promised I shall make it for him and we made it the same day. Seeing him relish, I was assured he has my genes too :D. Anyways, coming back to Pori Ladoo, if you love these ladoos and crave for them, try making it at home. They can be made in no time.

Lemon Poppyseed Cake

How many of you associate lemon with summer? For me, I have some wonderful memories associated with, being served with lemon juice during my summer vacations. Well, who can forget the chilled lemon juice served to the very thirsty and tired kids after having run and play in the sun. Somedays we were given the task to make it by ourselves. It was so funny to see the younger ones wait for the elder ones to make the lemon juice. We, the elder ones would be stirring it for some time to get the sugar dissolved and younger ones would get impatient while waiting for the juice with the empty glasses in hand :).

Well, this summer we wanted to bake something with lemon and we chose to bake this Lemon PoppySeed and I am so glad we chose it. And my kido did most part of it. He thoroughly enjoyed making and eating it as well. And when Big J got back from work, little J with great enthusiasm served it to him saying he made it :). We would be cooking together as one of the activities for this summer. And by the way, I must share it here. For moms of picky eater, engage them in the cooking process of the the food that they hate. In our case, it has really helped us in bringing about a liking towards food that he used to hate.

Chowari Payasam / Sabudana Kheer / Tapioca Pearl Pudding

It may be known by different names that may make it sound like too complicated or sophisticated, but it is just a very basic payasam or kheer that you can put together in a matter of time. With Vishu around the corner, I thought what best can be served to my blog baby than a yummy payasam. 

Not just for sadyas, it can make a super yummy tea time/after school snack for kids as well as adults too. With just minimal ingredients and most importantly with least efforts...when you can make such a yummy payasam, then why think twice. Just go ahead and make it.

Mangalore Buns

I was introduced to Mangalore buns by one of my colleagues. It seemed like she just had one breakfast option and that being Mangalore buns. She would always and always order Mangalore buns for breakfast. Back then I had no idea what made it so special because I had never tasted them. The day when I had these, I understood why my colleague had been so hooked to these fried bread. They are yumm. Best part, you don't necessarily need a side to go with them.

To use up the over ripe bananas, this is one great option. My husband loves Mangalore and has lived there for couple of years. But for some reason he never got to hear about them or have it. So the first time while making them, he showed least interest in it. But when he got to taste it, he says he has yet another reason to love Mangalore :). Ohh and my lil one, who is otherwise a picky eater, loves it.

Ghugni Chaat / Curried Green Peas (Vegetarian's Chilli)

Childhood friendship is always beautiful to remember at any point of our life time. I had friends who were my classmates as well as neighbours too - Shammi and Zammi. We were always spotted together. I remember their mom making this Ghugni quite often. Their birthday parties were incomplete without it. And everytime I had it, it tasted yummier. My family is not a big fan of dried yellow peas, so it was never or very sparingly seen at our home. So that could have made it more special. 

The other day when I was prepping to make some dry peas curry, I thought of making this ghugni chaat for tea time. Both son and father scrapped off their bowls :). The father had heard about it multiple times from me when I would be repeating stories from my childhood and had never shown any interest in it. But when finally it was served to him, he was like "You should make it often. Its like the vegetarian's chilli". Oh yes, might sound funny, but I don't know if it is the chopped red onions on top and the cumin and pulses that make it taste so much similar to beef chilli. So we have this recipe saved for the lent to have vegetarian chilly if craving for beef chilli...he he..

Grilled or Roasted Corn / Indian Style Corn on the Cob / Bhutta

Those rainy days, when you step out of the shuttle just right infront of the lady who would be roasting corn and its hard to resist and not give up on having those warm corns...and then bitting into the corn kernels while you walk back to the apartment...

That was the scene some 10 years back when I was working and not married...These days the scenes have changed. Its like buying the corn and getting it grilled at home and enjoying it at the comfort of home while you watch rain pouring down, from the window. Life changes but the tastes or the preference to certain foods hardly changes.

Homemade Doughnuts or Donuts

There was a time when every other week of grocery shopping would include a donut purchase too. I used to love it. My favorite was the sugar glazed donut. It never made sense to me to make it at home because, Jacob was not a big doughnut fan.

It had been a while that we had bought any doughnuts and lil one was watching something on the tv and came up to me requesting to make doughnuts. Well, I thought why not make it for teatime snack. And soon we were kneading the dough for donuts. Lil one loves to help me while I am making something that includes kneading. So we did it together in the first half of the day. I waited for him to nap before I fry them, because I would need some piece of mind while I am doing some frying and to avoid any accidents I wanted him to be away from the kitchen. After he woke up, he came running, still a little dizzy from the sleep and said, "Mama, I am done napping, Can I get doughnuts? " It was so funny. But seriously, this guy never forgot about the doughnuts, though he was included only in the first stage of kneading.

Paniyaram / Kuzhi Paniyaram

I never had an appe pan before having Jordan . With the thought of making miniature food for him, I bought this pan and ever since I have never archived it. Every now and then I keep making something or the other in it. The shapes come out in small ball shapes that Jordan loves having it and I love seeing him have with a smile with every bite. I know that excitement is not gonna last long and there would come a stage when I might have to be innovative everyday. 

Paniyarams are one big hit at our home. Everytime I have some left over idli batter, I have to make it. And there are no leftovers of  this paniyaram ever. Everyone loves it.