Wheat chips

Baked wheat chips is one interesting low calorie spicy snack using leftover chapati. Whole wheat chapathi is a staple food in any Indian / Asian household. Sometimes we may wonder what to do with some left over chapatis. Here is my recipe to turn them into a delicious crispy snack.  I made this whole wheat chips by baking the masala coated chapati bits and we enjoyed it as a healthy snack. I am sure, this recipe is a keeper and I am doing it again and again, and feel incredibly happy for finding out a less-oily spicy snacks for those spice lovers like us:) Here is my innovative recipe for you all!

Baked chapati chips, a healthy snack.

Simple recipe.... anyways it will turn successful!

Masala chapati turned into chips.

Ingredients:
whole wheat chapati - 4
olive oil / any oil - 1 tbsp
salt - to taste
red chilly powder - 1 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
garam masala powder - 1/8 tsp
a zip lock cover or wide mixing bowl


Method:
Stack the chapatis. Cut the chapatis into  8 wedges.
Mix everything other than chapati in a zip lock cover or bowl.
add the chapathi bits and mix well.
Coat a baking sheet slightly with oil.
Arrange the masala chips in single layer.
Bake at 350 deg F for 10 minutes (without getting brown), toss using a spoon (no need for single layer now). Bake again for 5 minutes.
Take out, let cool (now the chips will get more stiff in room temperature).
Store in airtight container.
Wheat chips is ready!

Serving suggestions:
Serve as snack with tomato sauce.
Tastes similar to tortilla chips.

Tips:
Likewise I prepared chapati using wheat flour +salt+ cilantro + green chilly slices and baked like the above. Tastes good.
These bits can be fried instead of baking too.

Apple orange pomegrante juice

Even though I know the importance of eating fresh fruits and homemade juices, I always like to buy orange juice from grocery store, as it is easy:) On the other day  I prepared a mixed fruit juice with whatever fruits I had on hand and it was incredibly good and we enjoyed it very much. I am sure it is a good way to start making fresh juices to make everyday a happy day:)

Fresh orange juice from 2 oranges.

Ingredients:
orange - 2
apple - 1
pomegranate - 1 (small)
brown sugar - 1 tbsp (as per need)
water - 1 cup

Method: 
Squeeze the oranges along with more pulp.
Core, peel and puree the apple.
Cut the pomegranate and take out the red arils (edible portion). Slightly pulse the pomegranate arils, filter and extract the juice using 1 cup water. (The seeds are of culinary value. Dry and keep them for further use).
Mix the orange juice, apple juice, pomegranate juice, brown sugar.
Serve immediately with or without ice cubes.

Serving suggestions:
Serve this juice as fresh as possible to get the full benefits.
Makes a good energy drink after workout.

Chinthamani chicken

While watching a comedy clip in a Tamil movie, I noticed this name sinthamani in a menu card behind the scene and immediately googled to know the details. I got this interesting recipe from Amrita and thanks to her I got a best chicken recipe with a beautiful name:)  This chicken recipe needs only a few ingredients and its a winner in our house always:)

Preparing spiciest foods is the specialty of South Indians. One among the most spiciest dishes is this chintamani chicken, which is made with very spicy dry red chillies. The chillies impart a dark red color to the oil while frying and makes the dish extremely flavorful. Generally this dish should be made with mutton (and we call it as varuval in our house), but I substituted with chicken thighs and it tasted equally delicious.

Ingredients:
Chicken (red meat) - 1 lb
red onion - 2 (medium size)
(or) shallot - 15 numbers
sesame oil / any cooking oil - 1/4 cup
fennel - 1 tsp
curry leaves - 2 sprig
dry red chillies - 15
salt - as per need
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Method:
Clean the chicken and cut it into small cubes.
Marinate the chicken with turmeric powder and salt. Keep aside.
In the meantime chop the onions roughly into medium size cubes.
Cut the dry red chillies into small bits.
Heat oil in a thick bottom wok (iron wok).
Add fennel and let it get red.
Then add the onion and fry till it turns golden brown.
Then add chopped dry red chillies, curry leaves and fry for few seconds.
Put the marinated chicken and stir well.
Cook covered without any water in low heat for nearly 30 minutes or till the chicken is cooked and gets a beautiful red color.
Switch off.
Chinthamani chicken is ready!

Serving suggestion:
Serve as side dish with rice (with ghee and curd).
I made it with parotta and salna.
This is a very spicy chicken fry, so pair it with curd always.

Vella Aval Payasam (Kerala)

I am sure many are familiar with the Tamilnadu style quick aval payasam (kheer). I am narrating a different version of aval payasam prepared in some parts of Kerala and villages near Kerala border (where we get more coconut and palm sugar.). We add coconut in almost everything in our food. This aval payasam should be prepared with coconut milk and jaggery (White sugar and milk for TN aval payasam).  Here I have added Indian brown sugar (vellam), but we can add palm sugar (karuppatti) instead, if we can get it.I made this for Xav, when he reminded me how much he enjoyed the different kinds of payasams that were served in his brither&SIL's wedding.On seeing his expression on the first sip, I understood that I made this dish perfectly :)

Vella aval payasam

Ingredients:
thick Poha / red Aval - 1 cup
jaggery (or)palm sugar- 1 cup
ghee - 2 tbsp
coconut milk - using 3 tbsp powder
sliced coconut - 2 tbsp
cashew - 10
raisin - 10
cardamom - 2
dry ginger powder (sukku) -  1/2 tsp

Method:
Fry the aval in 1 tsp ghee. Take it out.
In 1 tsp ghee fry coconut pieces, cashew, raisin . Keep aside.
In a vessel add the crushed jaggery and 1/2 cup water. Boil and let it dissolve. Remove any impurities (at bottom).
Prepare thick coconut milk using powder (1/4 cup water) or extract fresh coconut milk using 1/2 coconut.
In another vessel bring to boil 1 cup water and cook aval for  minute.

Add jaggery syrup, coconut milk, dry ginger powder, crushed cardamom. Bring it to a boil.
Add fried coconut, cashew, raisin and switch off.
Aval payasam is ready!

Serving suggestion:
Serve warm or at room temperature as dessert.

Happy Valentine's day,

Happy St.Valentine's day !

Happy St.Valentine's day! May Peace and Love be showered by God on all !

Strawberries and red roses from hubby for Valentine's day

I made this greetings for my hubby dear.

Hi friends,
Here are some quotes I like very much. Sharing them with you all on this Valentine's day.

* John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

* John 3:16  “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 * Do for other people everything you want them to do for you.

* John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Flowers, corelle dinnerware, ice cream scoop and carrot shredder...appreciating my Xav's thoughtful gifts:)

Gifts from my Xav:)

Ladoo..my homemade gift for hubby.

May everyday be Valentine's day in our life,
Happy St.Valentine's day !
Love,
Viki

Thengai thuvaiyal

A thick coconut chutney without tempering. Every Indian house may have one version for this coconut chutney. This one is my mom's version and I do exactly like her.  I serve with idly, dosai as an alternative for my usual coconut chutney. Though a rare combo, I like it with chapati also.

Ingredients:
Fresh shredded coconut - 1/2 cup
Puffed channa dhal (pori kadalai / pottu kadalai)- 2 tbsp.
green chillies - 4.
garlic - 1 clove
cumin - 1/4 tsp
curry leaf - 1 sprig
tamarind - 1 inch bit.
sea salt- 1/2 tsp.


Method:
Put all the items given for grind in a small jar of the mixer. Grind without adding water. Then after a few pulses,  add few tsp water and grind the chutney in to a thick paste.
That's it. Flavorful coconut chutney is ready.

Serving suggestions:
This chutney tastes fresh. So make it in small batches.
It can be served as a side dish  for Dosa, Idly, kichidi, chapati etc.
A dollop of sesame oil over this chutney will make a perfect combo for idly.
Tastes very good with rasam rice and curd rice.
Instead of pori kadalai, we can use roasted groundnut too.

Blueberry pancake

I absolutely love pancake and always crave for a fluffy pancake drenched in maple syrup:) Sometimes I make myself one or two small pancakes whenever I need a little pampering:)  This one is a 'blueberry pancake with buttermilk and wheat flour' . Try with and without wheat and enjoy both versions.

The Tuesday before Lent days is called 'National pancake day'. Honoring the tradition, here is my most favorite blueberry pancake from my kitchen to you all!

Blueberry wheat pancake

Ingredients:
All purpose flour - 3/4 cup
whole wheat flour - 3/4 cup
egg - 2
salt - 1/2 tsp
baking soda - 3/4 tsp
baking powder - 1 1/2 tsp
sugar - 3 tsp
buttermilk - 2 cup
butter - 2 tbsp + 2 tsp
blueberry - 1/2 cup

Method:
Mix wheat flour, AP flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, salt by sifting and put in a mixing bowl.
Pour buttermilk, eggs, 2 tbsp molten butter and blueberries.
Mix slightly (don't mix too much). If needed add some milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Heat a dosa tawa / griddle or frying pan.
Slightly rub butter.
Using a 1/4 cup measure pour small pancakes, let it get golden color, flip once and take out.
Likewise do for the remaining batter.
Blueberry wheat pancake is ready!

Serving suggestion:
Serve with  maple syrup or any pancake syrup.
Makes a breakfast / lunch / dinner. I love it any time:)

Note:
1 cup Buttermilk = 1 cup milk + 1/2 lemon juice
1 cup Buttermilk = 1/2 cup plain yogurt + 1/2 cup water
Makes 10 - 12 pancakes.
I have tried this without AP flour, but it comes out denser. So adding AP flour is better.
Pure AP flour pancakes tastes very delicious.
Prepare all the pancakes immediately to get the best results.
Pancakes can be kept frozen till use.
If trying to use leftover batter later, then keep refrigerated, add 1/2 tsp baking soda before pouring on pan.
Instead of the dry ingredients I have mentioned, we can just use self rising flour - 1 1/2 cup.