Healthy Sprouts salad

   Diwali is over and many are finding way to de-tox.  So am I here posting an healthy salad that you can munch at noon, evening snack or along with dinner, as an accompaniment.  This salad is made with sprouts which additionally supports the motive.  I, have topped them with few walnuts too!  Best part is with least additional time, with very few spices they go great on taste too!

 

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

 

Ingredients required:

• 1 cup mixed sprouts, steam-cooked for five minutes
• 2 tbspn finely chopped onion
• 2 tbspn finely chopped tomatos (de-seeded)
• 1 tbspn finely chopped coriander leaves
• 2 whole shelled walnuts (which is later de-shelled and broken into tiny pieces)
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper powder

Method

Mix all and serve.  Make sure you don't add more walnuts, because adding more will cause an bitter taste to salad. If you prefer to do so, then deskin them and add.  Also walnuts are best preferred, because almonds gives an 'too much crunchy effect' to salad. 

 

 

Happy cooking!!!

 

Panda cupcake

   Diwali went awesome, made an quick Chennai trip, visited all and had an good time.  How was yours??  Guys, before I proceed, let me make an friendly reminder about event & giveaway happening, kindly click here for more details.   Now, getting back to my post,  let me introduce you a new panda family, which officially resides at our home!!!

 

They look beautiful and adorable also, don't they??  And methodology, unlike other designer cup-cakes is simple.  Bake an chocolate cupcake, top them with vanilla icing, spread over sugar granules and with an few touch of chocolate chips/buttons you are done!!!  :) :)   My daughter loved them very instant, and she wants to take them to school to show-off!!  :D  :D

Preparation time: 35 minutes

Baking time: 15 minutes
Yield: 10 cupcakes

Ingredients required

For the cake batter

• 1 tbspn oil
• 1 tbspn melted butter
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp Baking powder

Motichoor laddu - Diwali sweet

 Back at Chennai, my MIL  always prepares boondhi laddu and my baby used to gobble them up.  So, I asked myself why not try some?  But, apart from boondhi laddu, I liked motichoor laddu that hangs around every sweet shop.  Garnished with silver varq and opped with nuts, these are most delicious and one will definitely experience  melt in mouth moment. 

   Originally hailing from Central Bihar, Motichoor laddu (Moti means pearl) are nothing but deep-fried gramflour, mixed in sugar syrup, flavoured with saffron threads, rose water, nuts and shaped into laddu.  Though they look like boondhi laddu, the methodology differ because motichoor laddu are fried till they reach pale yellow/golden colour and is removed.  And after soaking in sugar syrup they are mixed with warm water and is blended once which is not the same with boondhi laddu.  Warm water, thus added aids in much softer texture to motichoor laddu comparing to later.

   Yes, my daughter loved it and better half was completely impressed.  Apart from the fact that they turned successful, they consume lesser time too!!  About one batch can be done within an hour, isn't it an boon? :D  Follow the entire post for tips

Kalaan rasam - Mushrooms curried in south-Indian rasam style

There are rarely a very few vegetables that become central to all  food.  On this very few, Mushroom tops all.  Be it an pizza topping, fried rice or our style gravy, this divine fruiting body (of an fungus) dominates all!  So, why not go an bit innovative and try on rasam style.  Rasam is an south-Indian soup, usually eaten at the end of lunch.  With an hybrid combo of tomato-tamarind this rasam is believed to aid in digestion.

 

My husband, who is an mushroom-aholic guy totally loved it :)  I have also mentioned below how to serve them on an three-meal course below.  Kindly leave an feedback about how you feel, and do try when had an chance.

 

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serves : 2  

 

Ingredients required

For temper

• 1 tsp rai/mustard seeds
• 2-3 broken red chilly
• Pinch of hing/asafetida

 

Anniversery & Healthy Snacking - Event & Giveaway

    It's still a miracle to realize that  she (my blog) has crossed an year!!  I am very happy for the support I have received from you guys and thanks a ton!!  My darling will continue to do her work again  :)  :)

   She has played an important role in my life!  Apart from providing an awesome company to an hopeless home-maker :) she has taught me many technical stuffs online, which otherwise would have been unknown to a lady from biology background :)  I like her and adore her a lot.  Infact, I consider her as my unborn daughter because I spend more time with her caring n fussing  with ultimate passion.  Day by day, I am seeing her grow up from an infant to today, an standing toddler.
   
   This growth of hers is remarkable, but, I had to admit that she had a lot of helping hand.  First three special mentions goes to Aarthi of yummy tummy fame, Swathi Iyer from Zestykitchen and Shama, my very husband.  Newly married, I used to browse through Aarthi's page, and she also became my friend.  I, even called her several times and she used to talk with me.  We shared an good bond.  She was an good initiative to me, even an role model, I presume.  Thanks Aarthi!  Swathi Iyer, helped me on technical part, though she didn't know who I am.  I can still rewind the moment, where I used to have late-night chat with her.  I love you, Swathi.  I know that somewhere in future, we will definitely meet or catch up!!  <3  <3  <3  And finally yes, credit goes to Shama too!!  His support and encouragement drew me more and more of blogging.  And to top that, he even gifted me HP  laptop, thanks a ton Shama!

   And such thanks goes on to lots and lots other viewers,  thank you to make her grow!!
Birthdays or anniverseries are always marked with celebrations, isn't it?  Here, I am to announce an event and three exciting give-aways...

  HEALTHY SNACKING

  Yes, and the name implies, healthy snacking is going to be our theme

•  Cooking methodology can include baking, grilling, steaming or tawa-frying/shallow-frying.  Deep-frying is not allowed. 
• Healthy snacking includes any evening snack or noon-snack taken in-between three-course meal. For instance, one may link in cutlet, momos, spiced pottukadalai, masala pori, grilled fruits, even salads.  This may include wide range of dish, provided they are healthy too.  Addition of fruits, vegetables or dal can be done in order to make it more nutritious.
• Sweet or savoury both are welcome.  But, savoury ones will do more good.
• Vegetarian or non-vegetarian  both types are welcome

Best three will be given following  give-aways:

Nita Mehta's FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Sanjeev kapoor's KHAZANA OF HEALTHY TASTY RECIPES

Nita Mehta's QUICK AND EASY PRESSURE COOKING

Now, for quintessential part , rules of giveaways are as follows:

• Participants must follow cookwitharthyshama through GFC and like us at Facebook page, which is  https://www.facebook.com/cookwitharthyshama
• Dish must get linked along with this announcement page and must have Healthy snacking logo pic.
• Must post about this event separately on their respective blog or atleast place them on side-bar.
• Must announce this event as your Facebook status and tweet too
• No archived posts please
• More than one linking per blog is allowed
• Event runs from this very day till November 30th.  Selection will be done both by short-listing  n finally through random number generator and final winners will be announced by December first week
• Non-bloggers are also welcome.  They can email me their recipe along with picture to arthyshama7@gmail .com with Healthy snacking as their subject.
• This event is open for all.  If the winner is staying in India, give away will be sent through courier.  Other winners can have scanned copy of book.