Lemon Idli

Idli and dosa is a staple breakfast at my house and it's actually everybody’s favorite dish along with chutney and sambar. In South India, in almost all the restaurants we will get the mini version of the idli in the form of podi idli (idli mixed with chutney powder). My kids always liked them and this time when I went to India, I decided to buy the mini idli maker, which is now very useful to make podi idlis, lemon idlis for lunch box.

My daughter, one day after coming back from school, told me that she liked the lemon idli, which she ate from one of her friend's box. She asked me to make the same and I tried making it and it came out perfect. This is the first time I tried to make it and successfully posting it in my blog for all my friends to try. I am sure that this will be liked by all.
This is a pretty good idea for making idlis more interesting. A different way of eating form the regular ones. If you don't have a mini idli maker then don't worry, you can cut the regular idlis into cubes and make them this way.

Ingredients:

1. Idli Batter- 3 Cups
2. Oil- 1 tbsp
3. Mustard Seeds- 1/2 tbsp
4. Curry Leaves- few
5. Desiccated Coconut - 3 tbsp 
6. Chana dal- 1 tbsp
7. Urad dal- 1 tbsp
8. Cashews- 2tbsp (chopped)
9. Lemon Juice- 1 tbsp
10. Green Chillies- 2 tbsp(chopped)
11. Asafoetida- 1tsp
12. Turmeric powder- 1 tsp

Method:

1. Make the idli batter like this. Just like dosa batter.
2. Make the idlis in a small idli pan. Make around 20- 30 small idlis. Keep this aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan, splutter mustard seeds. In this add the chana dal, curry leaves, green chilis, cashews along with desiccated coconut. Stir for a minute.
4. Add the asafoetida and turmeric and required amount of salt. Add the lemon juice and mix the prepared idlis in the mixture and stir till everything gets combined well.
5. Enjoy the hot steaming lemon idlis.

Coconut- Jaggery Bars- A Festive Delicacy...

Festive season, everyone is busy cleaning their houses, bringing new furniture, making sweets, gifts, meeting family and friends. Festivals serve to unite people in celebrations and understanding. In India, food is associated with many festivals and Diwali is Festival of lights, fun, frolics and feasts.

As I spent my childhood in Andhra Pradesh, I remember my neighbors and friends sending the homemade festive delicacies, which we all enjoyed. Popular sweets like laddoos, halwas, jilebi, mysore pak and so on. Most importantly gujjiyas.

Festival is the time which reminds me of wanting to make something sweet and here I am today with one of my favorite, which my mom makes in the form of laddoos. This recipe, I saw in a blog which sounded like exactly the bars which I get from Bangalore, Nilgiri's supermarket. They are so firm and delicious. I am so excited that the bars turned out to be exactly like them.

Mix all the ingredients listed below in a low flame and within seconds a mouthwatering delicacy will be ready to eat. Just make sure, you don't burn the coconut while cooking it along with jaggery. In my house, everybody likes this. You can make ahead and pack and gift them to your family or friends. This will be a perfect Diwali sweet to make as it won't take much time and can be made ahead and stored.

Today, I am posting this delicious recipe of coconut- jaggery bars, which I am sure that everybody will like it. It is so delicious and yummy that you won't stop eating once you start.

Ingredients:

1. Desiccated Coconut- 2 Cups
2. Jagger Powder- 2 Cups
3. Milk- 4 Cups
4. Ghee- 3 tbsp
5. Cardamom Powder- 1 tsp

Method:

1. Combine the coconut and jaggery in a non stick pan and mix them using a wooden spatula on a low flame till it gets combined. 
2. Pour the milk and stir well gradually add the ghee and cardamom powder. Mix well till everything gets mixed well.
3. When it starts to leave the sides, switch off the flame. Grease a steel pan with some butter and pour this mixture into that. let it cool and keep refrigerated for 4-5 hours or overnight.
4. Cut into desired shape and enjoy with your friends.

Apricot Energy Balls and Oats Energy Balls

These energy balls are so easy to make that it does not require any baking. Just process it, make it into round balls and enjoy these within no time. There are so many varieties in these energy balls. We can add many ingredients of our choice in these balls.

 I love apricots. Dried apricots from Costco are my favorite snack. And as we get them in a bulk, I made some delicious healthy energy balls which is a hit in my family. I was in a mood of making the energy balls, and as soon as I finished I finished making with apricots, I made some using oats. I ground the oats to powder, as I don't like to bite the oats in energy balls.

Energy balls or protein balls are so easy and packed with nutrients, that they are a very good to go snack. These soft, chewy balls are a perfectly awesome snack to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Ingredients:
For Apricot Energy balls:

1. Dried Apricots- 1 Cup
2. Almonds- 1/2 Cup
3. Chia Seeds- 1 tbsp
4. Dried Coconut- 2 tbsp

Method:

• In a food processor, blend all the ingredients till it forms a nice sticky mixture. Make round balls and store in an airtight container for almost 2 weeks.

For Oats Energy Balls:

1. Oats- 1 Cup
2. Cocoa Powder- 2 tbsp
3. Chis Seeds- 1 tbsp
4. Hemp Seeds-- 1 tbsp
5. Dates- 3/4 Cup

Method:

• Ground the oats to a fine powder.
• Add all the other ingredients along with the powdered oats to a food processor and process till everything combines well. At this stage the mixture will look like powder, but transfer to a plate and start rolling them into round balls. Store them in an airtight container in refrigerator and enjoy as needed.

German Chocolate Cake

The German Chocolate cake is a classic. For so long, I was thinking of baking this German Chocolate Cake and I made this for my Husband's birthday and it was a super hit. My husband is not a big fan of coconut. Surprisingly, he liked it because the coconut flavor was not too overpowering and the pecans added the crunch.

It is said that the name, "German" for the cake is not because of the country "Germany", it's because of the use of German chocolate, and the chocolate is named for the man "Samuel German" who specifically blended dark chocolate.

No German chocolate cake would be complete without the coconut- pecan filling!! Evaporated milk, egg yolks, butter, and sugar are cooked and the addition of coconut and chopped nutty pecans, in the end, gives a nice filling for the cake which tastes heavenly.

You don't need to frost the cake with chocolate. We can just fill the cakes with the coconut- pecan filling and leave it without frosting. That gives a naked look. As I made this cake for a special occasion, I made a light chocolate frosting.

Here for making this cake, I have separated the eggs and added the egg whites in the last, by folding the peaks little by little into the cake batter.

This is the best homemade German chocolate cake which is very addictive and will be liked by all. Hope you will try this cake and let me know.

Ingredients for the Cake:

1. All Purpose Flour- 1 1/2 Cups
2. Sugar- 2 Cups
3. Cocoa Powder- 3/4 Cup
4. Eggs- 2 no
5. Vanilla Essence- 1 tsp
6. Oil- 1/2 Cup
7. Boiling Water- 1 Cup
8. Buttermilk- 1 Cup
9. Baking Powder- 2 Tsp
10. Baking Soda- 2 Tsp
11. Salt- a pinch

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat the eggs along with vanilla essence, buttermilk using a blender. Add the sugar, beat well till all the sugar gets dissolved.
3. In a mixing bowl, sieve the all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa powder. At this, fold the above egg mixture till everything gets mixed well. Pour this in a greased cake pan and bake in an oven for 30- 40 minutes or a skewer inserted comes out clean. 
4. Cool the cake on a cake rack.

Ingredients for Coconut and Pecan Filling and topping:

1. Shredded Coconut- 1 Cup
2. Pecans (chopped)- 1 Cup
3. Evaporated Milk- 3/4 Cup
4. Egg Yolks- 3 nos
5. Butter- 1/2 Cup
6. Sugar- 1 Cup
7. Vanilla Extract- 1 tsp

Method:

• Pour all the ingredients in a saucepan and heat on a low flame till all the ingredients, mixes and reduces to become a slightly thick batter.
• Take it off the flame and let it cool.

Ingredients for Chocolate Frosting:

1. Butter- 1/4 Cup
2. Cocoa Powder-1/4 Cup
3. Sugar- 1 Cup
4. Vanilla Essence- 1 tsp
5. Milk- 2 tsp

Method:

• Beat the butter along with other ingredients till they become soft and smooth. If you feel the frosting is thick, add little milk and beat well.

Assembling the cake:

• Cut the cooled cake in two layers, using a serrated knife. Spread half of the coconut- pecan frosting on one cake layer, top it with the other cake layer and cover the cake with the chocolate frosting and spread the remaining coconut- pecan frosting on top and enjoy.

Oats Idli with Coconut chutney

Idli with coconut chutney is a staple breakfast at my place. Idlis and dosas were a part of my childhood. My mom used to grind the soaked urad dal and rice and let it ferment overnight for amazingly delicious steaming hot idlis and dosa for the next day breakfast. We loved this along with my mom's special coconut chutney or sambhar.
 Nowadays lots and lots of different varieties of idlis and dosas are made worldwide. One of them is made by using oats. This does not require fermentation and can be made instantly. Even on a busy day, just temper the ingredients and steam this to perfection. A deliciously protein-rich, nutritious breakfast is ready within half an hour.

In India, we used to buy the idli- dosa batter often as it was readily available in the market.After coming to the US, I started making regularly the idli batter at home. When I do not have a stock of the homemade idli batter, this instant oats idli is a standby. I have paired oats idli with my mom's special coconut chutney. Though many varieties of chutney recipes are available online, I prefer this coconut chutney.
This month's MFB challenge is to prepare any breakfast item and here is the new healthy recipe which is very nutritious and will be like by all.

I have been preparing oats idli for so long and this recipe is a fail-proof. If you are trying to include oats in your daily diet, then this is a perfect option to try. low in carbs and a healthy breakfast is made using oats and grated carrots. Oats are rich in minerals, proteins and vitamins do not compromise on taste. Try this highly nutritive dish and let me know.

Ingredients:

1. Oats- 1 Cup
2. Semolina- 1/2 Cup
3. Grated Carrot- 1/2 Cup
4. Grated Ginger- 2 tbsp
5. Oil- 1 tbsp
6. Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
7. Urad Dal- 1 tbsp
8. Chana Dal- 1 tbsp
9. Coriander Leaves- few (optional)
10. Curd- 1 Cup
11. water- 1/4 Cup
12. Salt- as required
13. Baking Soda- 1 Tsp

Method:

1. Grind the oats to powder and keep this aside.
2. Heat oil, splutter mustard seeds. Drop the urad dal, chana dal, grated carrots, grated ginger and coriander leaves.
3. Roast for about 2 minutes on a low flame. Add the semolina and powdered oats. Fry for some time till it turns lightly golden in color. Switch off the flame.
4. Drop these in a mixing bowl and when it cools down, add the curd, required amount of water and mix well till it resembles a batter consistency.
5. Before pouring in the idli molds add the baking soda, mix and pour a spoonful of batter into each mold and steam for about 15- 20 minutes or till done. Enjoy the steaming hot idli breakfast.

Coconut Chutney

Ingredients:

1. Grated Coconut- 1 Cup
2. Ginger- 1 small piece
3. Green Chillis- 2 nos
4. Tamarind- 1/2 tsp/ a small piece
5. Salt- as required
6. Oil- 1 tbsp
7. Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
8. Urad Dal- 1 tbsp
9. Curry Leaves- few

Method:

1. Grind the coconut, ginger, green chilies, tamarind and salt to a fine paste by adding little water.
2. For tempering, heat oil, splutter mustard seeds. Add the urad dal and curry leaves. Switch off the flame and enjoy with the above-made idlis.

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