60 seconds of sisterhood

At the busy BKC-CST Road signal, when I was sulking over how each day traffic multiplies
I caught gazing at me from the adjacent Auto, a pair of eyes.

This was no eveteaser, the gaze didn't have an uncomfortable feel,
This was a pair of beautiful Kohled eyes, gazing at me from behind a veil.

Perhaps my blue sleeveless blouse and green saree caught her attention,
The narrowing corners of her eyes hinted at a complimenting smile and I smiled in reciprocation.

A mixed bag of emotions behind those eyes could be seen.
Sadly, the sisterhood lasted 60 seconds and the signal went green.

Just then, her gaze signalled me to look down,
The sight would have surely made her mother frown!

She pulled up her Burqa for a moment & I spotted chic red pencil heels,
But the trendy pair of jeans covering her calfs was the real fashion steal!

My curious look turned into a look of awe at once.
I smiled at her, signalling "Ja Simran, Jee le Apni Zindagi" coz you only live once!

(Inspired by a true incident)

Easy Eggless Bournvita Cake

Mr. Hubby has a habit of picking up stuff on impulse which, if he doesn't like is left to my mercy to be either thrown out or remixed. Few months ago, while shopping at D Mart, he picked up two packets of Amul Pro (Amul's counterpart of Bournvita. I will refer to it as Bournvita still as people are more familiar with that brand). As expected, the Bournvita fever lasted for few days and one day he said "I realise this has too much sugar and calories. I would rather have plain milk." While a part of me was happy for his health consciousness, the other part went in the thinking mode. Now what to do with a packet and half of Bournvita left with me? I am not fond of it in my milk either. 

The baker in me then put on her thinking cap and came to the leftover Bournvita's rescue and prepared a cake!

Ironically, Mr. Hubby called the next afternoon from office, telling me that the cake was a hit with his friends and you had to see his face in the evening when I told him about the Bournvita secret! 

So, presenting my version of easy, eggless and healthy Bournvita cake!

Ingredients

Whole Wheat flour/atta - 1 1/2 Cup

Bournvita/Amul Pro - 7 heaped tablespoons

Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp

Baking Powder - 1/4 tsp

Melted Butter (i used salted) - 1/2 Cup

Condensed Milk - 1/2 Cup

Jaggery Powder - 3/4 Cup or to taste

Bananas - 3 no. overripe, mashed

Cinnamon Powder - 1/4 tsp

Vanilla Essence - 1 tsp

Lukewarm milk - 1/4 cup or as required

Chopped Walnuts - 1/2 Cup

Method - 

1. Blend together the bananas, Bournvita and Jaggery Powder into a smooth puree.

2. In a mixing bowl, take the melted butter. Add the condensed milk, vanilla essence and mix well.

3. Add the banana-Bournvita-Jaggery Powder mix and mix well to form a uniform mixture. Wet mixture is ready.

4. Grease and dust the cake tin. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celcius.

5. Sieve together the wheat flour, baking soda and baking powder.

6. Add in the cinnamon powder and mix well. Dry mixture are ready.

7. Add the dry mixture (step 6) to the wet mixture (step 3) and gently fold in using cut and fold method till the mixture achieves a batter consistency. You may add in lukewarm milk only if the batter feels very stiff. I didn't require.

8. Add the chopped walnuts and fold into the batter.

9. Transfer the batter to the greased cake tin. Level the batter and tap the tin slightly to evenly spread the batter across and remove any air. Bake at 180 degree Celcius for about 45 minutes.

10. Cool on a wire rack.

11. Once cool, cut and enjoy!

The cake lasts for 5-6 days if stored in refrigerator. But it turns out so yummy that I assure you it won't last beyond two days!

Instant Vegetable Rawa Idli

There are days when you want to eat something good and healthy, sitting in the comfort of your house, but feeling too lazy too prepare something elaborate. Then, what to do? Of course, you may say order food or prepare something ready to eat. But, as my awareness about food quality is increasing, I am increasingly getting skeptical about eating outside, unless it is a trusted outlet. So, I still prefer to cook rather than eating out.

Come change in season and viral fever comes knocking on the door, especially if you have children in the family. Few days back MIL & I wanted to eat something light and different, but as the children were not well, we couldn't go for anything elaborate. 

So, prepared this yummy, instant veggie rawa idli n enjoyed with freshly prepared coconut chutney. Surprisingly my elder one too relished this as he too wanted some change in taste.

There are other such quick fix recipes on my blog too which save my day. 

Easy and Healthy Sattu Sandwich

Healthy Methi Mathris

Pahadi style urad dal khichdi

Easy instant dhokla

Wholewheat flour eggless pancakes

5 minute papad in gravy

Easy eggless Carrot Omelette for kids

Veggie Vermicelli

The lazy chef's quick Misal Pao

Ingredients (Makes approx 15 Idlis)

Thick Rawa/Sooji/Semolina - 1 Cup

Curd - 3/4 cup

Oil - 1 tbsp + for greasing the Idli mould

Onion - 1 small, chopped

Garlic - 3-4 pods, chopped

Carrot - 1 small, chopped

Chana Dal - 2 tsp

Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp

Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp

Green chillies - 3 small chopped + 3-4 whole for garnishing

Curry Leaves - 5-6 no.

Ginger - 1 small piece, chopped

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Salt - to taste

Green Coriander - 1/2 Cup, chopped

Water - 1 Cup, or as required

Eno - 1 sachet

Brown Raisins - 2-3 per idli

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan and add the asafoetida and mustard seeds.

2. When the mustard seeds begin to splutter, add the chana dal.

3. Add the curry leaves and let them splutter.

4. Add turmeric powder and mix well.

5. Add the chopped onion, garlic, ginger, carrot and green chillies. Mix well. Cover and cook for 3-4 minutes.

6. Next add the rawa and mix well. Reduce the flame to low and bhuno/saute well till nice aroma starts coming as the rawa gets cooked.

7. Turn off the flame and cool the mixture.

8. Add the curd, salt and chopped coriander and mix well. You may adjust the consistency with water in case the mixture appears thick. It should be like a batter consistency.

9. Cover and keep aside for 15-20 minutes.

10. Grease the idli moulds and add 2-3 raisins to each cavity. I also added whole green chillies to few cavities but it is completely optional.

11. Add the Eno sachet to the mix and fold gently. Immediately Transfer to the greased idli moulds and steam on high flame for about 15-20 minutes.

12. To check if the idlis are done, poke a knife in the idli. If the knife comes out clean, the idli is done.

13. Remove and serve hot with coconut chutney.

P.S. Since we had some extra batter which we couldn't keep for long as Eno was already added, my MIL used it to prepare yummy Dhokla by adding sweet water and tempering. You may refer to my Dhokla recipe for tempering details.

Healthy Methi Mathris

Who doesn't like Mathris during tea time? Crispy and salty mathris make up for a refreshing snack on the go. I remember as a kid, whenever we had a trip coming up, mom would prepare yummy mathris to be munched throughout the long train journey. Mathris are a favorite item in the wedding return gift sweet boxes (we call them Bhaaji in North). When I got married, we had a good quantity of mathris left from the Bhaaji. Every evening, after returning from office, the Mathris would give me and my MIL company with our evening chai. Often, we would prepare papdi chaat with the leftover mathris. 

There is magic in the hands of Delhi Halwais (special chefs for preparing sweet and savory items). Almost everyone in the North have their favorite Halwai shop from where they get their dose of Samosa, Kachoris and Mathris. 

After moving to Mumbai, I terribly missed the Delhi walla mathris. I did find good Mathris at some shops here however, my soaring waistline keeps me away from fried food.

Few days ago, as it was raining, my taste buds craved for Mathris. So, I decided to pamper them the healthy way and prepared these Baked Methi Mathris. Apart from being non fried, these Mathris are made with 100% wholewheat flour and yet, they taste so crispy and yum. Since Methi imparts a certain bitterness, you may keep the quantity of methi leaves less in your first attempt.

Over to the recipe now...

Ingredients

Whole Wheat Flour - 1 Cup

Chopped fenugreek (Methi) leaves - 1/2 Cup (You may adjust the quantity to your taste)

Salt - 1 1/2 tsp or to taste

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Coriander Powder - 1 tsp

Carrom Seeds/Ajwain/Ova - 1 tsp

Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp (I didn't add as I was preparing for my kid)

Oil/Desi Ghee - 1 tbsp + for brushing

Water - 1/2 Cup

Method

1. In a mixing bowl, take the wholewheat flour. Add the chopped fenugreek leaves, salt, coriander powder, turmeric powder, carrom seeds and red chilli powder.

2. Add the desi ghee/oil. Add water bit by bit and bind into a still dough.

3. Cover with a dry cloth and rest for 15-20 minutes.

4. Roll the dough and divide into 15 small balls.

5. Roll each ball into a thin disc.

6. Arrange the discs on a greased baking tray.

7. Slightly prick with a fork to ensure that the Mathris don't rise.

8. Brush some ghee on the discs.

9. Bake in a pre heated oven at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes or till the mathris turn golden brown.

Note - You can adjust the quantity of fenugreek leaves as per your preference. Start with small quantity and increase if you feel like. 

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Who doesn't like Mathris during tea time? Crispy and salty mathris make up for a refreshing snack on the go. I remember as a kid, whenever we had a trip coming up, mom would prepare yummy mathris to be munched throughout the long train journey. Mathris are a favorite item in the wedding return gift sweet boxes (we call them Bhaaji in North). When I got married, we had a good quantity of mathris left from the Bhaaji. Every evening, after returning from office, the Mathris would give me and my MIL company with our evening chai. Often, we would prepare papdi chaat with the leftover mathris. Few days ago, as it was raining, my taste buds craved for Mathris. So, I decided to pamper them the healthy way and prepared these Baked Methi Mathris. Apart from being non fried, these Mathris are made with 100% wholewheat flour and yet, they taste so crispy and yum. http://shaivikafunda.blogspot.com/2018/09/healthy-methi-mathris.html?m=1 #healthyrecipe #healthyfood #health #healthyeating #healthybaking #healthy #snacks #teatime #recipe #foodie #foodblog #foodblogger #food #snacks #delicious #tasty #tastebhihealthbhi #yummy #shaivikafunda #instagood #picoftheday #recipes #indianfood #india #indiansnacks

A post shared by Shaivi Sharma (@shaivisharma) on Sep 28, 2018 at 3:59am PDT