Lemons & Rinds

I usually do not let out any opportunity to sneek in veggies in my toddlers meals. Here is another example. I

More than cooking for grown-ups I enjoy cooking for kids. As it is they are a challenge in them-self and their taste buds added to that. When my toddler was around 1 1/2 years old, it was a huge test to cook a meal for him. He was very picky (or I was amateur about infant food) that many times I wouldn't know what to cook and all the more what to do with the leftovers. I would try different combinations, different textures, sometimes a bit of salt and sugar, sometimes completely bland relying on the natural taste of the fruit or the vegetable. Anyways, today I can say that those days have swiftly passed by, with some bitter sweet moments. Here is one such breakfast item that I have gone from lots of misses to a final hit. I have tried different textures of oatmeal, checked out end number of You Tube videos, and finally,found a Sanjeev Kapoor video on baby food. I have taken some inspiration from there and created my own version to suit my son's taste ...

I have mentioned the Farmer's Market on Rt 9 end number of times. However, off late we hvnt been finding the best of apples there. They have brownish marks inside, hence not much appetizing, and throwing them is not justifiable. Hence cooking them is the best solution, maybe into Apple Muffins. Since I tried out this recipe, we are hooked on to it. I do make some variations every time I make them, either by topping with some walnuts or oats. Here's what I take (everything right out of the pantry) 1 cup apples 11/3 cup whole wheat four or you could take 1/3 APF and 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 cup canola oil 1 egg 2/3 cup light brown sugar 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder Make the muffins as usual. I preheat oven to 375 deg. Mix the liquid ingredients first, than mix the flour mixture. Than fold in the chopped apple. Scoop into the prepared muffin tin. Bake in preheated oven. In my oven it usually takes around 10-15 min. They...

Happy Holi!!! Puran Poli Honestly, I was in a 'blogging boredom', maybe it was the weather...or..maybe not, not very certain. But atleast till next boredom season strikes, I do have plenty to write about, a resolution I have made to myself. Holi Haiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!! Ok, so this year too as the tradition goes, I did make a few Puran Polis/Bobatloo..or whatever each one calls it in their region. However, just a day before I realised that we dnt have much Chana Dal (just a couple of table spoons). So I did some research on mixing it with Tuar Dal. I found out that people make it with either of the dals, no mix and match. This all the more gave me some motivation to trying mixing them both and see what happens (yeah, watch too many Curious George with my son). The Puran Poli results were the same like every year. I did not find much difference in taste, ultimately it tasted the same with a stuffing of cooked dal, jaggery, nutmeg powder and cardomom powder stuffed i...

These days whenever I make some special, my toddler is the first one to hunt for the camera. So this post is very special. We all love Ukadichey Modak very much. We finish them all in one meal (usually 7 or 11 in count), and We means (Big champ, lil champ and I). So this time on Anant Chaturthi when I made Ukadichey Modak (as it goes by the tradiiton), our son ran to grab the camera. My modaks also came too good., not exactly like my mum's, but still GOOD!

Anytime passing through Monginis in India, or any bakery that sells Puff Pattice, I had to grab a couple. Their crispy texture, just wakes up any dead taste buds. They are just too easy to make here in the US. Puff Pastries are available in any super market these days. I always have them stocked up in my freezer. Their stuffing can be anything. I usually use the same ones as for Samosas. Once I tried using homemade jam and some cheese. Use anything to stuff or just plain with some Cinnamon Sugar, they are superb. Within a jiffy, these delicious snacks are ready for afternoon tea snacks, or even an accompaniment for brunch. P.S. Once again, I did not really do much to make them picturesque for this blog. I click photos as is, no presentation skills at test here.

Date: Aug 22 2011. A boring Monday! 6:55am : Woke up to takeout my husband's lunch box from the refrigerator and hand him over;) 9am: Woke up once again. Our lil champ is up to. 9.30 am We are still in bed playing and chit chatting 9.45 am Brushing and cleaning finally 10 am Breakfast, for me just tea and cereals for my son, while watching some video clips of our past weekend outings (our son's favorite past time) 10:30 am received some phone calls for birthday wishes. 11 am Off to our local Farmer's Market with lil champ. 12:15 pm Lunch of cracked wheat khichdi with pickle and yogurt 12:30 pm some more India calls 2:00 pm Reading and of course 'Facebook' time 3:00 pm Back to the Grocery Store for a cake mix and some dairy products 4:00 pm Lil champ down for a late nap after I meltdown (my mercury levels were soaring and I dumped his leftover M&M pouch in the garbage. Long story cut short) . 4:10 pm started my bday cake baki...