Mixed Vegetable Chutney

Prep Time:15 m      Cook Time:15 m

Serves:3

Ingredients

Mixed Vegetables - 1 & 1/2 cup(carrot,peas,cauliflower)

Onion                    - 1(medium sized)

Capsicum              - 1(any colour)

Coconut                - 1/4 cup

Salt                       - to taste

Oil                        - 1 tsp

To Temper

Oil                  - 1 tsp

Mustard Seed - to splutter

Curry Leaves  - 1 sprig

Method

• Heat oil in a pan,add onions and saute for a while.Then add finely chopped carrots,cauliflower and peas.Add salt,cover with a lid and cook on medium flame tossing in between for five to ten minutes.
                                   
     
• When the vegetables are almost done add the chopped capsicums and saute for two minutes.Switch off the flame and add grated coconut.Let it cool slightly and grind.
                                        
     
• Lastly temper with curry leaves and mustard seeds.Serve with hot spongy idlis.
                                
  

Little Words

• A great way of incorporating veggies for fussy little ones.
• Tastes great with idli,dosa...can also be used as spread for sandwiches,as a dip for snacks...
• I haven't used chillies as the spiciness of capsicum was enough.You can use red or green chilli as well.
• Sprinkle little water if needed to cook veggies.
• Finely chopping the veggies helps in easy cooking for the chutney.Adjust the consistency of the chutney as desired.

Biscuit Fudge Rolls

Prep Time:20 m+chilling time  Cook Time:Nil

Makes:16 - 18

Ingredients

Biscuits           - 10

Milk                - 2 tblsp

Sugar Powder  - 1 tblsp

For Chocolate Butter Cream 

Cocoa Powder - 2 tblsp

Butter              - 2 tsp

Sugar Powder  - 1 tblsp

Method

• Crush the biscuits with hands and then powder in a mixer grinder.Add sugar powder and milk and knead into a smooth dough.
                               
     
• Mix butter,sugar and cocoa powder into a cream.Place the biscuit dough on a large plastic sheet and gently roll into a chappathi.Spread the chocolate butter cream over this rolled biscuit dough with the help of a bread knife or spoon.
       
     
• Roll gently starting from one end to the other.
     
• Smoothen the cracks with fingers and cover with cling wrap and referigerate for an hour.After an hour cut them into slices and store in an airtight container.
                           
  

Little Words

• Add little more milk if needed to make a soft smooth dough.
• Roll it carefully and if it breaks use a spatula to lift it up from the plastic sheet and then continue rolling.
• I have used digestive biscuits.Tea biscuits can also be used.
• A fudgy chewy biscuit rolls which would be a crowd pleaser.

Chocolate Sandesh

Prep Time:10 m + 20 m  Cook Time:15 m

Yields:6

Ingredients

Milk                - 5 cups

Lemon Juice   - 2 tblsp

Sugar               - 2 tblsp

Cocoa Powder - 1 tblsp

Cashew            - to garnish

Method

• Bring milk to boil and add the lemon juice.The milk will start to curdle.When the milk has curdled completely place a cheese cloth or muslin cloth over a colander /strainer and keep a vessel under it to collect the whey.Wash this under cold tap water to remove sourness from lemon.Hang this on the tap for about twenty minutes so that any excess liquid drains in the sink.
                      
     
• Knead this well.Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder to this and knead again to make a soft dough.Make small balls,flatten gently and in the middle make an impression with your thumb and place the cashew or any other nuts of choice.
                                    
     

Little Words

• Ready made paneer can also be used but it would require vigorous kneading.
• Washing in cold tap water several times removes the sourness from lemon or curd.
• If using curd to curdle milk 1/4 th of cup would be enough.
• Fresh paneer would be moist and kneading into dough would be eaasy.
• Adding powdered sugar helps in easy mixing.

Instant Paneer Vadai

Prep Time:15 m      Cook Time:15 m

Yields:10 - 12

Ingredients

Paneer          - 1 cup(grated)

Wheat Flour - 1/4 cup

Gram Flour  - 1/4 cup

Corn Flour   - 1 tsp

Green Chilli - 2

Mint Leaves - 2 tbl sp

Salt               - to taste

Oil                - to deep fry

Method

• Mix all the ingredients together except oil in a bowl.After mixing sprinkle water little by little and make it into a dough like.
                   
     
• Meanwhile heat oil in a kadai.Make small balls and flatten them between palms or place them on a flat surface and flatten with palms.Make a hole in the middle and when the oil is hot fry them in medium heat till the bubble sound ceases.Serve with any chutney or with tomato ketch up.
                     
     

Little Words

• This can be made quickly as it doesnot require any pre preparation.
• Instant paneer vadas are crispy on the outside and spongy inside.
• Green chillies can be replaced with chilli powder if making for kids.

Veggie Nest

Ingredients

Carrot,Peas,Beans,Potato - 1 cup(each 1/4 cup)

Onion                               - 1/4 cup

Mint & Coriander Leaves  - 2 tblsp

Green Chilli                      - 1

Ginger Garlic Paste          - 1 tsp

Garam Masala                  - 1/2 tsp

Corn Flour                       - 1 tblsp

Bread Crumbs                 - 2 tblsp

Vermicelli                        - 1/4 cup

Salt                                 - to taste

Oil                                  - to deep fry

Method

• Cook the chopped vegetables with salt.Add all other ingredients excluding oil and mix well.Divide into small portions.
             
     
  
  
• Make it oblong and roll it in vermicelli and deep fry till golden brown turning gently.
              
     

Little Words

• An appealing snack for kids.Serve with sauce or just plain.
• Tastes best when hot.
• Let the flame be medium.