Aloo Tikki with Coriander and Mint Chutney

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   
      * Happy Diwali To All My Viewers *
As it's Diwali, and everyone is busy making sweets, snacks and enjoying with near & dear ones, thought will share a quick and easy evening snack for family & friends with fresh hot spicy "Aloo Tikki". Diwali is a festival of lights, so while bursting crackers be careful, vigilant & have a happy sparkling festival.

Now let's come back to our recipe section. These potato patties blend with spices for a pure fare. Serve hot "Aloo Tikki" with chutney. It's a vital Indian appetizer recipe with mouth watery images. It's a most popular snack serve of North India. It's a super quick snack one can prepare at home with minimal ingredients in the kitchen. It's simply spicy and this recipe delights the Indian Street Food and is very appetizing. As a double bonanza, let's also look at how to prepare "Green Chutney". It's an accompaniment which goes very well with aloo tikki.



Aloo Tikki
Ingredients
~~~~~~~~~~~
Medium Potatoes          3
Oil                      3 tbsps.
Green Chillies           2
Salt                     to taste
Ginger                   2 tsps.
Lime Juice               2 tsps.
Turmeric Powder          1 tsp.
Corn Flour               1 tbsp.


Method
~~~~~~

• Wash and chop green chillies, ginger finely. Peel, wash and dice potatoes.
• Dripping wet, place the potatoes in a microwavable bowl and cook for 20 mins., till done. Once cooked well, remove and drain the water. Mash the potatoes and keep aside.
• To that potato mixture, mix in salt, chopped ginger, lime juice, chopped green chillies and turmeric powder. Mix all the ingredients well.
• Divide the mixture into 6 portions and shape each portion into a small flat round. Take corn flour in a small plate and keep these flat round mixture beside it. Lightly coat the rounds with corn flour on both sides and keep aside.
• Preheat skillet on medium heat and add oil. Once the oil is heated, place the flour coated rounds in the oil and shallow fry till golden brown on both sides. Remove and drain on an absorbent paper.
• Aloo Tikki's are ready to be served.

Coriander and Mint Chutney

Ingredients

~~~~~~~~~~~

Coriander Leaves           3/4 cup chopped

Salt                       to taste

Mint Leaves                10 

Sugar                      1 tsp.

Green Chillies             2

Lime Juice                 2 tsps.

Garlic Cloves              2

Red Chilli Powder          1/2 tsp.

Ginger                     1 tsp. finely chopped

Method

~~~~~~

•  Mix all the ingredients together.
• Grind all the ingredients into a smooth paste adding little water.
• Pour the sauce into a serving bowl and serve as a dip for short-eats.
• Coriander and Mint Chutney is ready to accompany Aloo Tikki.

Potato Cutlets served with a Tangy Green Sauce is outstanding. Enjoy Aloo Tikki with Coriander and Mint Chutney as an appetizing short-eat.

Plain Biscuits

The term biscuit refers to different forms and shapes to soft and hard ones. They can be either sweet or savory and mostly are eaten as a snack. Biscuits or cookies are used interchangeably and may or may not contain choice of fillings. These are delightful when they are golden crusty both top and bottom. 

Ingredients
~~~~~~~~~~~
Flour                     1 1/2 cups
Baking Powder             pinch
Sugar Powdered            1/2 cup
Milk Cold                 1/3 cup 
Butter Melted             3/4 cup        

Method
~~~~~~

• Sift flour and baking powder. Keep aside.
• Beat powdered sugar and melted butter till light and fluffy.
• Now slowly add in the sifted flour and baking powder and fold in the mixture with a spatula. ( Donot run the mixer or the beater. Just fold in with the help of a spatula.)
• Once all the ingredients are folded well, add cold milk and mix.
• Knead to a hard dough and keep covered with damp kitchen towel for about an hour. Keep aside covered.
• After an hour, knead once again and divide into equal small portions.
• These small portions can be shaped into ones choice or preference and place them on a cookie sheet.
• Preheat the oven at 250 degrees. Once preheated place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake till light brown. (check in between to avoid over browning)
• Once the biscuits are nicely golden, switch off , remove from oven and transfer them to wire rack to cool.
• When time to serve as an evening snack, as an accompaniment to tea or dunk in the milk, these biscuits taste so good and it would be hmmnnn hmmnnnn good.

Whole Wheat Bread with Chocolate Cheerios

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

There are variety of wheat breads that are coated with whole wheat grains or cracked wheat grains. Adding whole grains to everyday diet makes it easier to be healthy and nutritious. A high fiber diet is recommended especially to those who are constipated and having fiber related veggies helps a lot and also 100% whole wheat bread as it contains more fiber than other breads in general.



Ingredients
(((((((((((
Whole Wheat Bread          4 slices
Kiwi                       1
Unsalted Butter            2 tsps.
Chocolate Cheerios         to sprinkle or can use any other cereal
Low Fat Cream Cheese       4 tbsps.

Method
((((((

• Tip of the edges of all the bread slices and cut them into triangles.
• Peel the Kiwi fruit, wash and cut into thin round slices and keep aside.
• Spread cream cheese onto all the bread triangles and tip the butter in center on top of the cream cheese.
• Sprinkle chocolate cheerios on one set of the triangles and let stick to the butter and cream cheese.
• Place the thinly sliced kiwi fruit on top of the cheerios and cover with other set of triangles.
• Press firmly and wrap them.
• Ready to take out for picnics or let the kids enjoy as a mid-morning snack or an evening snack.

Spiced Almonds

*************************************************

Almonds are one of the healthy nuts to eat. These crunchy almonds with spiced punch satisfies the snack bites. When the spices are infused into these nuts, a wonderful aroma is released. They are rich source of Vitamin E and improves health.



Ingredients
***************
Olive Oil                        2 tsps.
Salt                                to taste
Whole Almonds             3 tbsps.
Red Chilli Powder          1 1/2 tsps.
Cumin Powder               1/2 tsp.
Black Pepper Powder    1/4 tsp.

Method
**********

• Take a frying pan and heat oil over medium heat.
• Drop the almonds and roast them on low flame till light golden in color.
• When the almonds are golden add cumin powder, red chilli powder and sautee for a min.
• In the end, add pepper powder and salt as per taste and combine well.
• Once the almonds turn aromatic switch off and take out in a serving dish.

To watch the video please click on the following clip
*************************************************************

Succotash

**********************************************

Many of America's traditional dishes have their roots in Native American foods. Succotash is one of them. Traditionally this dish is made with lima beans, corn and peppers. Here I had to substitute lima beans with french beans. But lima beans tastes better. So try with lima beans and see the difference.



Ingredients
***************
Butter                                3 tbsps.
Red Peppers                      1/4 cup thinly sliced
Corn                                  3 cups
Lima Beans                        2 cups
Salt                                    to taste
Black Pepper Powder          2 tsps.        

Method
**********

• In a saucepan, heat 2 tbsps. butter. Once butter is heated, add red bell peppers and cook until tender for a min. Add corn and cook for a min. In the end add lima beans and stir for a min.
• Now add 1/4 cup water, stir, cover and lower the flame.Let it cook for 3 mins. Now cook uncovered for another 2 mins. on low flame till the water evaporates.
• Add 1 tbsp. butter and season the dish with salt and pepper. Stir and combine all the veggies with buttered seasoning.
• Traditional dish of Native America "Succotash" is ready. 

Pop Corn

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

A popular snack and a unique favorite short eat for many especially movie and sport lovers. Instead of buying popcorn at the theatres, where they come in bucket size or large cups, it's always recommended that you make your own popcorn at home and bring it to the theatre as you can portion control of how much you should eat. It's pretty easy to pop the corn seeds at home.



Ingredients
%%%%%%%%

Corn Seeds     2 cups
Salt                to taste

Method
%%%%%

• Preheat a deep pan on medium heat. Let it reach the heating point.
• Once the pan is heated, drop in the corn seeds and toast them by frequent stirring till small brown spots appear on them.
• Now cover with the lid and heat on a medium flame till the seeds begin to pop. After a min. reduce the heat.
• Once all the seeds pop, turn off the heat and take out in a bowl. Sprinkle just a pinch of salt and shake well.

Note:  

1. Another variation to it is, you can  toast the seeds in 2 tsps. butter and let them pop.
2. Make sure there is ample space for the corn seeds to pop.
3. Pack popcorn in ziplock covers and enjoy the fun time at the theatres.

Mushroom Manchuria

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a heavy down-pouring rain and can't step out. So to make my family feel warm and cozy, I thought of making some snack, which all of us can savor and enjoy the family time. Upon opening the fridge, I found mushrooms and immediately grabbed them to make manchuria. It's quick and easy to prepare.
Mushroom is a best diet for heart patients and diabetics. It's believed that the word "Mushroom" to be derived from the old English "Muscheron" having relation to moss. For thousands of years they have been used as a food delicacy. It's shape, size and color is greatly diversified in the form of a cap with stalk or umbrella like structure.



Ingredients
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

! Fresh Button Mushrooms    200 gms.(wash & cut into bite size)
! Salt                                                                           to taste
! Egg White                                                               1
! Garam Masala Powder                                      1 tbsp.
! Maida                                                                       2 tbsps.
! Monosodium Glutamate/Ajinomoto         1/4 tsp.
! Corn Flour                                                             1 tbsp.
! Soya Sauce                                                            2 tsps.
! Oil                                                                              1 tbsp. + for deep frying
! Tomato Ketchup/Sauce                                   1 tbsp.
! Onions                                                           2 medium ( chopped finely )
! Vinegar                                                                   4 tsps.
! Green Chillies                                                       4 ( chopped finely)
! Ginger / Garlic Paste                                         4 tsps.

Method
!!!!!!!!!!!

• In a bowl, add maida, cornflour, salt, egg white, little amount of water and make the batter so as to dip the mushrooms. Dip mushrooms in the batter and coat them properly.
• Heat oil in a deep pan, and when oil is hot add batter coated mushrooms and fry them till golden brown and keep aside.
• In a frying pan, pour 1 tbsp. oil and when it's hot add chopped onions and sautee till translucent. Add ginger/garlic paste and fry for few secs. and then add chopped green chillies. 
• Now add crispy fried mushrooms followed by vinegar, soya sauce, garam masala powder, monosodium glutamate with frequent stirring. Add tomato ketchup and gently stir for another 5 mins. and sprinkle coriander leaves.
• Serve hot Mushroom Manchuria as an appetizing evening snack.

To watch the video please click on the following clip
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sprouted Mung Chat

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Home sprouted mung chat tastes really good if combined with tongue-tingling spice masala. It's a pleasure if taken as a plain sprouted mung beans. To make it a road-side snack, just toss in a pinch of masala's,chillies, lemon juice and you have a perfect evening snack. Sprouted mung beans are as healthy as they can be.

Ingredients
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

! Green Gram Dal ( mung beans)          1 cup
! Onion                                                            1
! Green Chillies                                            2
! Carrot                                                           1
! Tomato                                                        1
! Red Chilli Powder                                    1 tsp.
! Salt                                                                 to taste
! Cumin Powder                                           1 1/2 tsps.
! Black Pepper Powder                              1 tsp.
! Lime                                                               1
! Mint Leaves                                               4 tbsps.
! Coriander Leaves                                     2 tbsps.

Method
!!!!!!!!!!!

• Wash, clean and soak the mung beans overnight. The next day drain out the water and cover with the lid with little air letting in. For every 6 to 8 hours rinse the mung beans to make them moist. After 2 days mung beans sprout and are ready for the mung chat. 
• Rinse and keep the sprouts in a bowl, adding little water and let it steam for 4 mins. in microwave and keep it aside.
• Now chop finely green chillies, onion, tomato, mint leaves and coriander leaves. Squeeze lime juice and grate the carrot.
• Arrange all the prepared ingredients and serve accordingly.
• For kids, serve sprouted mung chat topped with grated carrots and tomatoes and their choice of spices.
• For grown ups, serve sprouted mung chat topped with chopped onions, green chillies and the rest of the ingredients.

To watch the video please click on the following clip
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Delicious cookies are easy to make and a great treat to anyone. Outer shell is crispy and inside it's soft and chewy. These chocolate chip cookies are made with a combination of white and brown sugars and butter, which is why they are so rich and chewy. Topping of semi-sweet choco chips are distinguished ingredient used in this recipe. It's one of all-time favorite to kids. What better way to treat kids other than chocolate ! ?  They are ready to go on snack which are baked to perfection.



Ingredients
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Egg                                                             1
! Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips           3/4 cup
! Butter (softened)                                  1 cup
! Vanilla Extract                                      1 tsp.
! Sugar                                                         1/4 cup
! Light Brown Sugar                               3/4 cup
! All-purpose Flour                                2 cups
! Baking Powder                                      1/4 tsp.

Method
!!!!!!!!!!!

• Beat butter, sugar and light brown sugar in a mixing bowl until smooth. Once beaten add vanilla extract, beaten egg, baking soda and beat well. Now stir in the flour and blend until all the ingredients are incorporated well.
• In the end stir in semi-sweet chocolate chips and mix well. Keep the dough aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• On an ungreased baking sheet, drop the dollops of the mixture 2 inches apart and bake for 10 mins.
• Once the edges of the cookies turn golden, remove the cookies on to the wire rack and let cool completely. ( Do not touch the cookies as soon as they are done or removed from oven. Give them a standing time to cool completely on the rack.)
• Once cooled completely serve the delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies to kids along with yummy chocolate milk. Lovely combo !!!!

To watch the video please click on the following clip
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Garlic Bread

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Garlic Bread is a perfect blend of butter, garlic and cheese. It's a real appetizing treat. It's typically topped with extra virgin olive oil and is baked in an oven. In this recipe I didn't use olive oil and didn't bake in an oven. Instead of olive oil, I used butter and toasted on the skillet. Homemade garlic bread is more flavorful and is a real treat. Usually it's made with Italian bread or French bread. For a healthier treat I used wheat bread.



Ingredients
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

! Bread Slices            8
! Butter                        1/2 cup
! Cheese                       2 tbsps.
! Garlic Cloves           4

Method
!!!!!!!!!!!

• Take a small mixie jar and drop in cheese. Add garlic cloves and butter. Blend until smooth. Once blended take out in a bowl and keep aside.
• Now spread the garlic spread on to the bread slices and keep aside.
• Heat a skillet and place the bread slices. Toast them open-faced until warm.
• Once toasted take out in a serving tray and cut the slices into half.
• Serve hot Garlic Bread as an appetizer or accompaniment to pasta, or pizza.

To watch the video please click on the following clip
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheese Toast

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snacking around appetizers is fun in parties.Savoring nutritious appetizers feels good.The recipe I'm going to show you is kid friendly with vegetables in it and the same you can make variation with added spice for grown ups.Instead of thinking and making kids appetizer and adult appetizer individually,cheese toast by itself satisfies everyone in the party.



Ingredients
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

! Bread Slices, halved                       6
! Carrot, grated                                 1
! Cucumber, grated                           1/2
! Coriander Leaves, finely chopped     2 tbsps.
! Salt                                               as per taste
! Pepper Powder                               as per taste
! Green Chillies, finely chopped          4
! Onion, finely chopped                      1 medium
! Cheese Slices, halved                     8

Method
!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First let's see the kids variation of cheese toast.

• Place the cheese slices over the bread slice.Spread grated carrot,grated cucumber on top as layers.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper powder as per your taste.Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.Keep aside.
• Now preheat a skillet on medium heat.
• When it's warm, place the bread slices and toast on low heat for a few minutes or till the cheese melts. ( donot let it burn, so keep checking the bottom of the bread slice.Donot turn upside down,it has to toast with the cheese layer on top)
• Once toasted take out in a serving plate.

Now let's see the grown up variation of cheese toast

•  Place the cheese slices over the bread slice.Sprinkle finely chopped onion,finely chopped green chillies on top as layers.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper powder as per your taste.Garnish with coriander leaves.Keep aside.
• Now preheat a skillet on medium heat.
• When it's warm, place the bread slices and toast on low heat for a few minutes or till the cheese melts. ( donot let it burn, so keep checking the bottom of the bread slice.Donot turn upside down,it has to toast with the cheese layer on top)
• Once toasted take out in a serving plate.

Cheese Toast is ready to be served

• Serve hot kids cheese toast with tomato sauce.
• Serve hot spicy cheese toast with tomato or chilli sauce.                 

To watch the video please click on the following clip
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pav Bhaji

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pav Bhaji is native to Maharashtra.It is a fast food dish which is now most popular in almost all parts of India.Pav means "Bread" and Bhaji means "Vegetable Curry".It's one of the favorite food which is available on any eat street or fast food restaurants or vendor hand carts.It's a light dish which is appetizing if taken as a snack.I usually make this dish for family dinner.

Ingredients
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Cauliflower florets         1 medium
! Tomatoes  chopped       2
! Potatoes  diced               4 medium
! Mixed Vegetables           2 cups(beans,carrots,green peas)
! Onion chopped               1
! Onion finely chopped    to garnish
! Coriander Leaves            to garnish
! Lemon thinly sliced       1 to garnish
! Pav Bread                          6 whole slices
! Butter                                1 tbsp. + to spread on slices
! Red Chilli Powder            4 tsps.
! Turmeric Powder             2 tsps.
! Salt                                      to taste
! Pav Bhaji Masala              2 tbsps.
! Garam Masala                   1 tsp.
! Coriander Powder            1 tsp.
! sev                                       to sprinkle on top of bhaji


Method
!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Wash and rinse cauliflower florets,potatoes,mixed vegetables,1 chopped tomato and  place them in the pressure cooker.Add ample amount of water. Add turmeric powder and red chilli powder.Pressure cook till 4 whistles.
• Once cooled open the lid and mash well till all the vegetables become soft.Once mashed, keep it aside.
• Now heat a non-stick pot,add 1 tbsp. butter and when the butter melts add chopped onions.
• Once onions turn transparent, toss in the chopped tomatoes and give a good mix.When the tomatoes are tender add the boiled mashed vegetables.Stir once and cook on low to medium flame.
• When the bubbles start to rise add salt as per your taste,turmeric powder,red chilli powder and mix well.Now add coriander powder,garam masala powder and stir.
• At this point add pav bhaji masala and let all the spices get blended well with the vegetables.In the end garnish with coriander leaves and turn off the heat.
• Take out the bhaji in a serving bowl and keep aside.
• Now let's toast the pav.... Cut the pav into halves and spread butter on all the pav slices.
• Now heat a skillet and place the pav slices and let toast on both sides.Once done take out in a serving plate and keep aside.
• Pav and Bhaji are ready to be served along with finely chopped onions,lemon slices and sev.
• Serve hot Pav Bhaji topped with sev,finely chopped onions and squeeze lemon extract.
• Very nice combo.Enjoy the platter full of mouth-watering dish.

To listen in English please click on the following video
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

South Indian Style Vegetable Upma

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vegetables are eaten in a variety of ways.They can be taken as a main course,snacking as salad or boiled veggies.They can be consumed raw and can be cooked in many different ways.In South India,upma is prepared for breafast with different ravva's.Indian's are known to enjoy a snack at different times of the day.Every region has it's unique & favorite "short eat".Today let's see the savoury,nutritious and easy to prepare South Indian style semolina with vegetables combined.

Ingredients

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

! Ghee                          1 tbsp.

! Semolina                   2 cups

! Red Chillies               2

! Salt                             to taste

! Peanuts                     4 tsps.

! Split Black Gram      1tsp.

! Mustard Seeds         1 tsp.

! Potatoes(small)        2

! Carrot(large)            1                    

! Shelled Peas             1/2 cup

! Curry Leaves           8

! Green Chillies           4

! Coriander Leaves     2 tbsps.

! French Beans(long)  4

! Onion(medium)        1             

! Ginger                        1 tbsp.

Method

!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 
  
  Dry roast semolina in a skillet for 5 mins. till light golden and keep aside.
• 
  
  Wash and dice potatoes,carrots into small pieces.Wash beans,onion,corainder leaves separately and chop.Chop ginger and keep aside.Slit green chillies length wise.Wash and drain shelled peas.Set everything aside.
• Preheat the pan on medium heat.When the pan heats reduce the flame to low, drop the onions.Saute onions till transparent and drop chopped ginger and slit green chillies.Stir for a few minutes.
• Add all the chopped and diced vegetables.Cover and cook till all the vegetables are well sauteed.Pour in the water and add salt. ( Water should be double the quantity of semolina,here I used 4 cups of water.) Simmer and stir till the water begins to gently bubble.
• It's time for semolina to mix in.Add semolina slowly so as not to form any lumps.Give a constant stirring.Stir and cook for a few minutes.Remove from heat.
• In another small pan,add ghee and when the ghee is heated add peanuts and split black gram.Once they start turning golden in color,add mustard seeds,red chillies,curry leaves.Once the mustard seeds splatter,remove from flame.
• Pour the above seasoning over the semolina mixture and garnish with coriander leaves.Stir well once.
• Serve hot Vegetable Upma with chutney of your choice.