Easy Peasy Chickpeas Salad !!!

                          Whole lot of Vegan  Protein In just one bowl  !!!

Lately I have been asked many times that being a Vegetarian how you manage to get enough Protein ? I don't know if I have been asked the question more often or that now I am more aware of our protein intake But I am always looking for more dishes with more protein....... and even though my family enjoys a whole lot different cuisines. All of us still want something Indian (Hot and lot of flavors) and simple (easy to cook for me) as our everyday meals.So here is the salad I came up which is a answer to all of the problems mentioned above. Though it is a meal for us I make something side dish for kids since only salad can not satisfy them.

1 Cup cooked Chickpeas has 15 Grams of protein. If you are curious about more health facts here is a really helpful link.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=58 

                                                              Tips :

• Add any vegetable you like or have in your refrigerator.
• Feel free to use caned beans.
• If using dried beans, they should be socked for at least 5 hours and than boiled for 30 minutes.

Prep Time :   15 minutes (if using caned beans )

Cook Time :  10 Minutes (except boiling the beans there is no actual cooking )

Ingredients :

1 1/2 Cups   Chickpeas
1/4    Cup     Onion
1/2    Cup     Tomamtoes  
1/2     Cup    Red Pepper
1/2     Cup    Cucumber
1/4     Cup     Artichoke Hearts  (chopped)  
Water for Boiling the Chickpeas (if using raw)






For Marinade :

1 1/2   TBSP     Tahini
1/4      Spoon Red Pepper flakes (use according to your taste)
1         Clove Garlic
Juice from 1 Lemon
Salt


If using raw chickpeas , you need to soak them in the water for at least 4-5 hours. Than boil them in a large vessel , Preferably a Pressure cooker. It takes about 15-20 minutes for Chickpeas to become soft.

Chop all the vegetables and mix them in a large bowl.

Mix all the ingredients for Marinade in a small bowl.

Add boiled and cooled chickpeas (if using tin , open and drain the water) to the chopped vegetables.

Mix the marinade in the salad and ...... enjoy !!!

                     

Basil Ice Cube ....

 During the summer months your basil plant gives more leaves than you can consume .....and then comes the winter with no basil at all.

And If you think you can go to the market and buy Basil .... think again. It's expensive and Basil don't stay fresh for a long time.

So here is the solution to save all that beautiful leaves with the warm aroma for the winter.

1. Wash the leaves thoroughly.
2. Put them in the blender and add little water.
3. Put the puree in ice trays and freeze them.
4. Once the puree turn into cubes you can transfer the cube in zip lock bags for easy storage. 

Savory Semolina Pancakes (Utthapam) !!!

                                   Savory Semolina Pancakes (Utthapam) !!!

They are soft from inside and crispy from outside ..... and my go to recipe for Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner and everything in between.

I love to stay outside the house as much as possible. And my kids are always with me. Library, shopping (grocery,cloths,toys or just window shopping) , park .... I just need a reason to be outside. And with kids the most difficult part is to feed them healthy food which cooks fast.

So I started to make this pancakes when my son was around 1 year. They are so easy and quick and you don't have to worry about going steal with this. Aarav  didn't had his first tooth until he turned 13 months. So for me the struggle was to add veggies in his diet which he would like and will be able to eat. This recipe is perfect for kids of any age. At 5 and half he still loves them and not mention little one is a fan too.....

                                         


                                                                    Tips :

• If you feel that better is little watery at the last minute.. Add A spoon or 2 of rice flour.
• The better can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Take it out at least 20 minutes prior to preparation.
• You can use whatever veggies you have on hand. Good examples are Shredded Potatoes, Zucchini, Squash , Thinly sliced spinach or Kale.
• My kids are skinnier than a super model , so doctors tell me to add healthy fats in their diets. I sprinkle shredded cheese on the Pancakes.

Prep Time    :  10 Minutes ( 15-20 minutes for soaking)
Cook Time   :  3-4 Minutes per Pancake


Ingredients :

1     Cup    Semolina
1/4  Cup    Plain Yogurt
2     Cups   Water   (add a little at a time)
1/2  Cup     Shredded Carrot
1/2   Cup    Diced Tomatoes
Salt to taste
Oil or Ghee for greasing the pan.

For Grown Ups   :     Ginger-garlic Paste , Green chili paste and Ground Black Pepper


In a large bowl Mix Semolina, Yogurt and water.

Let it sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.

Add veggies and salt 5 minutes prior to making pancakes.

Heat a  large flat pan. Let it heat really good.

Put a few drops of oil on the pan and spread the batter with a ladle quickly .

Let it cook on on side for a minute or two.

Then turn it over and let cook for another 2 minutes. Give a little pressure with spatula to cook evenly.

And your Pancakes are ready !!!

If this is a snack time enjoy them with Coriander Chutney and Catch up or for a meal serve it with Sambhar and Coconut chutney  (hopefully I will be able to give you recipe for all these).
  

Corn in Coconut Milk !!!

                                                            Corn In Coconut Milk !!!

Corn is in the season so they must be in your refrigerator too !!! But for my family corn is always in the season and Coconut Milk is one of the few things husband really desires ..... So when I came across this recipe in a cookbook I knew this is going to be a family favorite.

                                                         

                                                                    Tips :

• You can use frozen corn.
• You can use kernels of corn but you won't get chance to wipe all that yummy coconut milk of the plate with you cob and ......... Boy that is something not to miss !!!
• Use a good quality Coconut milk , check the label. There should be only coconut and water in the Ingredients.

Prep Time :   15 Minutes     (if using frozen corn 5 Minutes)
Cook Time :  10 Minutes

Ingredients :

4  Corn ( Husked and cut into cube)
1 Can Coconut Milk
Water (as per desired consistency Approx. 1/2 cup)

For Tempering :

2 TBSP  Oil
Pinch  Of   Mustard seeds  (optional)
Pinch  Of    Cumin Seeds
Green Chilies or red Chilies  (To taste)
Salt

1. In a medium size pot, put the 2 TBSP of oil and let it heat little bit.
2. Add Mustard seeds and Cumin seeds and let them platter (fancy word for let the seed make funny sounds and bounce in the oil).
3. Add Chilies and corn. Saute them for 2 minutes.
4. Add Coconut Milk and water.
5. Cover the pot and let them cook for about 5 minutes and turn of the heat.
6. Let it sit for few more minutes so corn cooks fully but the coconut milk won't boil over.
7. Sprinkle coriander leaves if desired (means if they are available )
8. Enjoy it with rice or just by itself. Hot or Cold..... Don't forget to wipe all the coconut milk with cob from the plate and suck the corn cob.

A Bedbug Story ......

OK so we are back .... finally settled down and ready to share our roller coaster life with you all. It took me a little longer than I expected to come back here but no matter how hard I tried to make this move easy .... It is just lots and lots of work.                                          

The moving itself wasn't bad at all. Maybe because we wanted to get away from New York so badly and this place is quite similar to our dreamland (South Florida) ..... And everything went smoothly (as smoothly as a moving can with 2 kids) . Kids actually enjoyed the whole thing so much. It was like a vacation for them since we eat out everyday and go out to find apartment. Even the little one was easy to settle in the new place.

 Unpacking wasn't bad either until we found a bedbug ...... I literally wanted to scream cause when I thought I am done with this moving I had to start packing everything for the treatment. In India we have a saying that "This should't even happen to my enemy " . That is exactly what I felt.

Now it has been more than 3 weeks but we are still waiting for the all clear sign from the pest control people.Sorry to bore all of you but that's the reason I didn't started posting soon. But there is a brighter side of the move too....   Luckily we found an old friend here and Houston has so many things to offer we are playing tourist from the week we moved here. We are out enjoying every weekend no matter the pile of chores we have at home.

P.S : The only problem in Houston so far is everything is far apart. But there are lots lots of family friendly things to do.

Life Without Roots !!!

                       We are seeds looking for the perfect soil to grow and thrive !!!

We are moving again. This time it also a cross country move from New York to Texas. I have got only 2 weeks to pack our life here. So we won't be seen here for next month or two.

It is just a pain to do all the packing and move and set our life every year. And we loose the friends we made. Now that Aarav has started school he will have to adjust to the new atmosphere ,teachers and friends. When you move you even have to find out perfect store for the things you need at the perfect prices.

Owww.... poor me. Now read this :











Since we are new in USA we wanted to explore the country before we settle down in one place. Our kids are still young so we don't need to worry about proper schooling yet.Best of all my husband is in software industry and can find new project (not easily) in different parts of the country. So we decided to explore all the new places,make new friends and find out what's best for us. Now we move almost every year.



Now most of you are jealous,thinking wow what a great way to travel !!! Well the only thing is we didn't decided to live this way (we are not the adventurous people) but this is something we have to except. So lately I have come out from the moving-is-a-big-pain from moving-is-awesome mood.



Last year I was really in the bad state of mind. But than I thought why ? I have a perfect healthy loving family. Some friends even from far away stick with me all the time and want to see me happy. And if not for moving we wouldn't have seen places or meet new friends or discover new things we as a family enjoy most(instead of mowing lawns or cleaning a big house). If only I can see the brighter side of this than my kids won't feel the negative effects.

So now I am one happy mommy, who is packing a whole house with two little monsters who are as happy as any kids to play with all the random stuffs (bags,tapes,hats,broken toys,pots and pans). All I am trying to teach them (and myself) is letting go of our favorite things (even the most favorite toys) shouldn't be sad or painful. Cause there are more stuff waiting for us at the new destination.