cookbypassion

Festivals are incomplete without  medhu vada, tamarind rice and sweet pongal, specially in  Andhra Pradesh, India. I might have made Medhu Vada  at least 5 times in last 3 weeks for Vara lakshmi Vratam, Ganesh Chaturthi any few family events. Kids were bored of eating the same vada again and again. So for a change I have added some chopped spinach to the batter  instead of chopped cilantro. The quantity of spinach you add is totally up to you. As I was trying it for first time, I added very little to the batter. This is a good way to feed kids who do not like spinach and a great snack to pack for kids lunch box or evening snack once they are back from school. For the final day of Week 4 of Blogging Marathon 79, my dish for the week is Medhu Vada with spinach under the theme Kids Delight- Hide and Seek with Veggies". Here goes the recipe......... Ingredients: Udad dal 1 cup Rice flour 2 spoons Fenugreek seeds 10 Chopped spinach 1/2 cup Chopped ginger 1/2 spoons Chopped onions 3 spo

Upma is one of the popular  and regular breakfast made all over India specially in South India. Upma is made with Semolina, Cracked wheat, cracked rice , Vermicelli, Pressed rice or puffed rice.  Its up to you if you want to add any vegetable of your choice or skip them totally. I like to add some veggies as my kids are very fussy in eating veggies.  I picked this  colored Vermicelli in the Indian store thinking of making Payasam. My kids do not like payasam too which I make with regular vermicelli. Seeing this colorful vermicelli they at least tried to have few spoons. Today I have tried making Upma with it, adding cabbage which my kids do not like at all. Believe me adding cabbage to the colored vermicelli, kids were not able to find it.  For week 4 and day 2 of Blogging Marathon 79, under the theme Kids Delight- Hide and Seek Veggies am here with a healthy and yummy breakfast Colored Vermicelli Upma. Here goes the recipe....... Ingredients: Colored Vermicelli 1 1/2 cup Chopped onion

Thepla is a Indian flat bread and most popular in Gujarat, India.  Thepla tastes great if the dough is made perfect. We add little milk and yogurt to make the dough which makes the thepla soft. You can add any vegetable of your choice to the flour along with spices. I have tried Methi / Fenugreek leaves and cabbage earlier. They tasted awesome.  Today we are starting with 4th week of Blogging Marathon 79, my theme for the week is Kids Delight- Hide and Seek with Veggies. My first post the theme is " Mint Thepla". Here goes the recipe....... Ingredients: Wheat flour / Atta  2 cups Gram flour / Besan 2 spoons Mint leaves 1 cup Salt to taste Coriander powder 1/2 spoon Cumin seeds 1/2 spoon Chili powder / red chili flakes  1/2 spoon Asofoetida 1/4 spoon  Yogurt 2-3 table spoons spoons Milk / water if needed Oil 5 spoons Preparation: Wash and chop milk leaves. Heat pan and add 1 spoon oil, add mint leaves and cook for 30-90 seconds. Remove and set aside. In a mixing bowl add wheat

Thai Cuisine has been my favorite for quite some time. Love the flavors of peanut, lemon grass, galangal, curry powder , coconut and many more flavors which are often used in Thai Cuisine. Kids love to have pizza once a week at least, usually its Friday.  We have been to this awesome pizza place  called CPK ( California Pizza Kitchen). Love this place for the variety of pizza flavors they have. My favorites have been Thai Chicken Pizza and Chipotle Chicken Pizza. Thai Chicken Pizza, with peanut flavored sauce, topped with  carrots, chicken, crushed peanuts, chopped cilantro, bean sprouts and lots of cheese.  You can also add some basil leaves, tomatoes or any of your favorite veggies or meat. So weekly pizza night is getting a new twist today with Thai Flavors.  This recipe is adapted from Spicy Southern Kitchen.   Here goes the recipe.......... Ingredients: For Pizza base: All purpose flour 2 cups Active dry yeast 2 packets ( 1/4 ounce each) Salt 1 teaspoon Sugar 2 tablespoons Olive

Do you like chocolates as much as Pizza? How about having both together, surprised? Yeah, Pizzaaaa but with a chocolate flavor. Create your own pizza, base can be like the regular pizza base made with all purpose flour or any Indian breads like Naan, Malabar paratha or whole wheat paratha. Top it up with melted  white or dark chocolate and garnish with some nuts or candies or grated chocolate. Slice them up and serve, that's it. Yummy and mouth watering Chocolate pizza is ready. If you are using store bought pizza base which is already baked, just back for another 10-15 minutes on 350 degrees F before adding the chocolate toppings. If using frozen pizza dough, spread the dough, bake and then use the toppings. Do not heat or bake the pizza after adding the chocolate toppings. Today for week 3 and  day 2 of Blogging Marathon 79,  under the theme " A Pizza of your own" am here with this simple yet delicious Chocolate Pizza. Here goes the recipe........... Ingredients: Dark C

Quick and easy waffle pizza is great snack for kids and grownups too. Add any topping which you want, with some pizza sauce and lot of grated mozerella cheese.  Crunchy  and delicious pizza is ready within few minutes.  Today we are starting with 3rd week of Blogging Marathon 79, my theme for the week is "A Pizza of your own". For day 1 am here with a quick and delicious, my kids favorite Waffle Pizza. Here goes the recipe.......... Ingredients: Pancake mix 1 cup Egg 1 Milk 1/2 cup Sliced onions 1/2 cup Sliced bell pepper 1/2 cup Black olives 4 Crushed red chili flakes Grated mozerella cheese 1 cup Preparation: In a mixing bowl add pancake mix, egg and milk. Mix well. Grease and heat waffle maker. Pour a ladle full of mix on the waffle maker. Cover and cook till done. Pre heat oven, spread some pizza sauce on the waffles and top them with sliced onions, olives and bell pepper. Sprinkle grated cheese and bake for 4-5 minutes. Add crushed chili flakes on top before serving. Che