Spicy Cornflakes Mixture (No-deep fry Mixture)

Category: Snacks
Preparation Time: 5 mins  
Cooking Time: 10 mins 
Servings: About 4-5 servings

Spicy Cornflakes Mixture!

Let's Spice up the cornflakes!!!!

This is a very easy and quick mixture we can make using the breakfast cereal - corn flakes. We usually wont eat cereals for breakfast but at time we buy the unsweetened and unflavored corn flakes just to make this mixture :)

Mixture without Deep frying

There are no hard and fast rules for this recipe, we can alter the ingredients and flavors as per our taste. We can also add other nuts and seeds as per our liking.

Crispy Corn flakes Mixture!

When I make for kids, I prefer to add the ghee and cashews since it gives a good flavour to it.

Ingredients:

• Corn flakes - 4 cups (unsweetened & unflavored)
• Raw Peanuts - 1/2 cup
• Roasted gram/Dalia/Pottukadalai - 1/4 cup
• Cashews, broken - 2 Tbsp
• Raisins - 2 Tbsp
• Salt - to taste
• Red chilly powder - to taste
• Curry leaves - 2-3 sprigs

Dry Fruits & Nuts Burfi (Sugar-free Healthy Snack)

Category: Kids Special
Preparation Time: 10 mins  
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Servings: yields around 20-25 squares

Dry Fruits & Nuts Burfi

 Dry Fruits and Nuts Burfi is made from Dried fruits like Figs, Dates, raisins and chopped nuts. There is no sugar added into it and its a healthy treat for kids. We can add any of our favourite nuts into it and its sure a way to make kids eat these healthy foods. We can alter the ingredients according to our taste, but dates and figs are the must for getting the right consistency. We can use either roasted nuts or the unroasted ones. 

Its been told that giving figs to children will increase their appetite and its a great way to make them eat:)


Ingredients:

• Figs - 1 cup (Around 9-10 dried whole figs)
• Dates - 1 cup (Around 25 nos)
• Raisins - 2 tbsp
• Almonds, chopped - 1/4 cup
• Cashews, chopped - 1/4 cup
• Pistachios, chopped - 1/4 cup
• Cardamom seeds -1/2 tsp, powdered
• Ghee - Around 1/2- 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Here I used dried whole figs and I blanched them for 2-3 mins in hot water to soften them
   
2. Measure out the dates and then finely chop them and keep aside
   
3. Drain the figs after blanching and add to the blender jar along with raisins
   
4. Grind them into a fine paste
   
5. Coarsely grind the chopped dates
6. In a pan, add around 1/2 tbsp of ghee and then add the ground fig-raisin mixture and saute in low flame for 3-4 mins
   
7. Then add the coarsely ground dates and mix well; saute for another 3-4 mins until they get combined
   
8. Keeping the flame in low, add in the chopped nuts along with cardamom seeds powder
   
9. Mix well until all gets combined; allow to cook for a min and then switch it off
   
10. Meanwhile grease a pan/tray or line up with butter paper and grease it with few drops of ghee
11. Add the prepared mixture into the pan and spread it evenly using hands
    
12. If using a plate / tray, we can roll them using rolling pin to make it set well
13. Since I used a pan, I pressed it with the back of a stainless steel cup / tumbler to get a even smooth layer
14. Refrigerate it for atleast 30 mins to an hour
15. Then take it out and make slices / squares
    
    
    
    
    
    
16. We can store it in airtight container for 3-5 days depending on the outside temperature or we can refrigerate them to prolong the shelf life
    

Butter Murukku

Category: Indian Snacks  
Preparation Time: 10 mins       
Cooking Time: Around 3-5 mins per batch
Servings: 8-10 servings

Butter Murukku

 Ingredients:

• Rice flour - 2 cups (I used store bought flour)
• Besan / Kadalai Maavu - 1/4 cup
• Pottukadalai / Roasted Gram flour - 3 tbsp
• Butter - 2 1/2 tbsp, softened
• Asafoetida - 2 poinches
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Sesame seeds - 1 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Water - as required
• Oil - for deep frying

Method:

1. Grind the roasted gram into a nice powder, sieve it and measure 3 tbsp of powder and keep it ready
2. In a sieve, add the rice flour, besan and roasted gram flour and sieve it together into a mixing bowl
3. Add softened butter, salt, cumin seeds, sesame seeds and asafoetida, mix well using hands
4. By slowly adding water, knead to a smooth dough and keep covered with a moist cloth / lid to prevent drying. The dough should be smooth without any cracks and shouldn't be very tight which might cause difficulty in pressing
   
5. Heat Oil for frying
6. Grease the Murukku Kuzhal with few drops of oil and place the one star holed plate
7. Fill it with the dough and press to form small circular murukkus on a moist white cloth or butter paper
   
   
   
   
8. Once the oil becomes hot enough for frying (If we put a small piece of dough, it should raise), transfer the pressed murukku into the hot oil in batches and deep fry them in medium high flame; Stir occasionally  for even frying
   
9. We can also directly press the dough into the hot oil; while pressing it will break and fall and so we will get pieces
   
10. It may take around 3-5 mins per batch and once the sizzling sound subsides and they all turned golden brown, take it out and drain the excess oil. Repeat the same for the remaining dough
    
11. Store it in a container and munch on it:)
    
    
    

Paneer-Capsicum Stuffed Bread Rolls (Baked)

Category: Snacks  
Preparation Time: 5 mins       
Cooking Time: 20 mins      
Servings: yields 10-11 rolls

 

Baked Bread Rolls with Paneer-Capsicum Stuffing

 Ingredients:

• Bread slices - 10-11 nos (Sandwich Bread Slices)
• Ghee / Butter - For Toasting

For Stuffing: 

• Paneer, crumbled - 1 cup
• Small Onion, finely chopped - 4-5 nos
• Capsicum, finely chopped - 1/3 cup
• Tomato, finely chopped - 1 no
• Ginger, grated - 1/2 tbsp
• Garlic, finely chopped - 2-3 cloves
• Green chilly, finely chopped - 1 no (Can be avoided if making for kids)
• Butter / Oil - 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Coriander powder - 1/4 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Pavbhaji Masala Powder (Home made) - 1/4 tsp (can be replaced with Garam Masala)
• Coriander leaves, finely chopped - 2-3 stalks
• Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Heat Butter / Oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and allow to splutter
2. Add finely chopped onions and saute for 1 min
   
3. Add finely chopped garlic and grated ginger, saute for 2 mins. If adding green chilly, we can add now
   
4.  Add capsicum and saute for 1-2 mins
   
5. Now add finely chopped tomato and saute for few mins till it turns soft and oil starts separating
   
6. Add Turmeric, Coriander, Pav Bhaji Masala powders and required salt; mix well
   
7. Now add the crumbled paneer and saute well for a min till it gets blended with masala and switch it off
   
   
   
   
8. Add chopped coriander leaves and allow it to cool down a bit
   
9. For this, its good to use atleast 3-4 days old bread so that they are easy to roll than the fresh breads
10. Take the breads, trim off the brown edges and keep it ready
11. With the help of chapathi roller, gently roll each bread slice
    
12. Add around 1-2 tbsp of stuffing in one end
    
13. Then roll it up so that it gets covered
    
14. Just add a drop of water to the edges and seal it completely on all the sides
    
15. Follow the same for the rest of the bread slices and keep it ready
16. If making in stove top, heat a pan and drizzle few drops of ghee / butter / oil and toast the rolls on both sides until they turn golden brown; Transfer to serving plate and serve hot
17. If we are baking the rolls as I did, Preheat the Oven to 400F for atleast 10 mins
18. Brush few drops of Ghee / melted butter over the prepared rolls
    
    
    
    
     
19. Place them all in an ungreased baking tray
    
20. Bake it in preheated oven for around 10-12 mins until they turn golden brown. Flip them over halfway through for even baking
    
21. Once it done, transfer to serving tray and serve hot
22. Kids will have as such since it will be very crispy outside, if needed we can serve with any chutneys or tomato sauce
    

Potato Smileys

Category: Snacks
Preparation Time: 10 mins + 1 hr resting time
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Servings: 3-4 servings

Potato Smileys:)

These home made potato smileys will surely bring a huge smiles on our little ones' faces. The flavorings can be adjusted as per our taste. For Indian flavor, we can use any Spice Masala and Ginger Garlic paste instead of Italian seasoning. I add cheese since  kids like it, I guess we can omit it if making with spices.

Ingredients:

• Potato - 4-5 small sized ones / 2 big ones
• Cheese - 1 slice
• Corn starch / Corn flour - 3-4 tbsp (as needed)
• Bread crumbs - 1-2 tbsp
• Italian Seasoning - to taste
• Pepper powder - to taste
• Salt - as required
• Oil - for deep frying

Method:

1. In a pan, boil the potato with skin till it gets cooked (I didn't pressure cook since that will make them so soft)
2. Peel off the skin from the cooked potatoes and mash / grate them in a mixing bowl
   
   
   
   
3. To the mashed potato, add the cheese, Italian seasoning, pepper powder and salt; mix well until they all gets combined
4. Now add the bread crumbs to it and mix well
5. Then add the Corn flour, 1 tbsp at a time and knead well to form a soft dough
   
6. Refrigerate the dough for atleast 30 mins to 1 hour (We can also keep it overnight)
7. After refrigeration, make equal sized balls out of it 
8. Flatten the balls to a little thick circular discs
9. Using straw / back of a clean pencil, make two holes for the eyes
   
10. Using the spoon, make a smile on them :)
    
11. Heat oil in a wok (enough for deep frying) and once it becomes hot, add the prepared smileys in batches and deep fry them in medium high flame; by flipping it half way through for even frying
    
    
    
    
12. It may take around 3-5 mins per batch and once the sizzling sound subsides and they all turned golden brown, take it out and drain the excess oil
    
13. Serve hot:)