Modak

Happy Ganeshchaturthi to all!!!

 Modak ,a sweet rice steamed dumplings stuffed with fresh coconut and spices.

Very popular sweet and prasadam for Ganeshchaturthi festival. Many variations and flavours are added to this sweet dish. Vegan food which everyone can enjoy! 

 Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour

1 cup water

1 tsp Clarified butter or coconut oil

oil for greasing

a pinch of salt

For the filling:

1 cup grated jaggery

1 cup grated fresh coconut

1/4 cup mawa or fresh riccotta (optional)

1/2 tsp cardamom  powder

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg powder

pinch of saffron

1 1/2 tbsp Clarified butter or coconut oil

Procedure:

1. In a non-stick pan, add grated coconut and jaggery and cook over a slow flame till the jaggery melts and the mixture comes together.
2. Add mawa into mixtue and saute for 3 to 4 minutes until it mixes well.
3. Add the cardamom powder, nutmeg powder, saffron and mix well.
4. In another non-stick pan boil the water. Add 1 teaspoon clarified butter and a little salt in the boiling water and stir. Reduce the flame, add the rice flour while stirring continuously.
5. Whisk well.  No lumps should remain. Cover with a lid and keep aside for about 5 minutes.
6. Grease your palms with a little oil or butter and knead the dough while it is still warm.Make even size small app. 2 '' balls of the dough using oil.
7. Make 3'' size round flat cookie shape.
8. Make 7 to 8 folds in rolled dough with small distance in between.
9. Add a spoonful of the filling into the dough.
10. Bring all the ends together and press to seal. Youcan use modak mould for easy and creative shapes. Prepare a steamer by adding water, a teaspoon of oil and heat it till the water comes to a boil. While the water is simmering, place the modaks on a greased steamer plate and steam for 6 to7 minutes.
11. Once the modaks are cooked they will turn translucent.
12. Serve hot drizzled with pure ghee.clarified butter.

Enjoy!!!

Spinach onion rice

Rice is a very common grainthat you can play around with different condaminates and recipes to create an awesome meal.

Have you ever feel you should use leftover rice for a fresh new dish? Yes of course everyone thinks like me, right? 

I dont like to waste food.  You should have sense of portion and quantity. Thats why recipes have been designed  to serve portion food and that the way we cant waste food.

In my refridgerator , you can easily find spinach. Yes we are like popeye the sailor lol. We love spinach.

From smoothie to appetizers to lunch, dinner even dessert and salad. Name it . Its a powerful veggie with superb source of iron. This green leaf is my favorite.

All you need basically is 2 cups of basmati rice and spinach...dinner  is done!!!

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked basmati rice

2 cups Spinach chopped

1/2 medim onion

1/4 cup medium potato chopped in small pieces

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon green chili paste

Salt

Pinch of asafoetida (hing)

2 1/2 tablespoon oil

Procedure:

1. Heat oil in pan on medium heat.
2. Add cumin seeds and asafoetida
3. Add onion, potato and saute for 7 to 8 minutes until cooked
4. Add spinach and saute for 2 minutes.
5. Mix salt and green chili paste into the onion potato mixer. 
6. Once everything is properly mixed add cooked rice.
7. Cook rice for 2 to 3 minutes.
8. Serve hot.

Enjoy!!!!

Eggless Dates and carrot whole wheat bread

Its been so long and I haven't posted on my blog due to my India trip and so many other commitments.

Wish you all a Very Happy New Year! 

I gave a surprise visit to my parents and it was just out of this world ! The reaction I got from my parents was unbelievable , I had my best time of life in this trip. This was the first time I was travelling alone without kids and hubby. I was so thrilled, excited and same time nervous, lol

you should travel more often alone to get more travelling experience. 

I spent most of the time with my parents and family members. In this trip I learnt a lot and closely observed life in many aspects. 

I met my neice Disha , whom I really want to mentioned here. She and her friend Nidhi have started an Educational Institute for little kids and the way she is dedicated to her work is admirable. She inspired me to do more and more. Love you Disha!!!
Its running into my family to help others in any way we can. Non stop helping needy, taking care of patients without looking at time and still keeping a smile on your face is not an easy job . Yes my elder brother Dr. Jayesh who has marked his banchmark for me to serve others. Love you Bro:)

So, that is all about my trip, I have more to share but in the next seassion.

After my recent knee injury , i was totally out of my kitchen experiments. Finally , I made it!
I had one box of dates in pantry. So idea was pop up and made this dates and carrot whole wheat bread loaf. It was turned out so good. Hope you like it too.

lets get started.

Ingredients: (1 loaf)

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup carrot shredded 
1 cup seedless dates chopped into small pieces
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup yogurt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup butter room temp.

Procedure:

1. Pre heat oven at 350F 
2. In lage bowl, add whole wheat and all purpose flour and mix them together.
3. Add baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon powder, sugar,and whisk
4. Add butter into flour mix and rub it and mix well with flour.
5. In another bowl, add yogurt, oil and mix it.
6. Add dates and carrot into yogurt mix . Mix well.
7. Combine wet ingredients into dry and mix them together with hand well. dont over mix
8. Spray oil in 9" x 5" loaf pan.
9. Pour bread mixture into pan and place in oven in bottom rack
10. Bake it for 50 to 55 minutes. Insert toothpick into loaf and checkif it comes out clean.
11. Once done, cool it on wire rack .
12. Slice it.

Enjoy!