Millet - Wheat Coriander Chapati

Millet/Sorghum and Wheat flour chapati is good for dinner, breakfast and as evening snack.
I have used millet flour, wheat flour, coriander leaves and little spices

Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed :

Wheat flour : 1/2 Cup
Millet/Jola/Sorghum flour (Fresh) : 2 Cups
Rice flour : 1/4 Cup
Salt : As required
Hot water : 1/2 Cup
Garam Masala : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red chilly Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander leaves : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Curd :1 Tablespoon
Oil / Ghee : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Put millet flour, wheat flour, rice flour, salt, garam masala, chilly powder and curd in a big bowl.
2. Wash and cut coriander leaves and add it to the flour bowl.
3.Add a teaspoon of ghee and hot water. let it cool a little.
4. Mix it well and add required water. Prepare soft chapati dough.

5. Divide them in to small portion. Roll them as round balls.
6. Keep little dry wheat flour in a small bowl.

7. Now dip a small portion of the dough and roll them as chapati.
8. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put rolled chapati and cook on both sides. Add little oil/ghee while cooking.

9. Millet - Wheat Coriander Chapati is ready to serve.

10. Serve with a cup of curd, pickle or any curry of your choice.

11. Repeat the same and prepare the remaining chapatis.
12. Add little ghee on the top of hot Coriander chapati just before serving.

Note :

The flour should be fresh or it is difficult to roll. Add more wheat flour if you find difficult to roll the chapati. Adding any other spices is optional. Adding more/less ghee/oil is optional.
Time : 30 Min
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Cowpeas - Tomato Curry

This is an easy and yummy dish with Cow Pea and Tomatoes. It is simple, delicious and goes well with almost all the main dishes.

have used cow peas, tomatoes and simple spice powder.

Let us see some benefits of eating " cow pea/black eyed bean "  in our diet.

Cow peas are a very healthy legume. They help to improve our digestion. They are very good for sleep disorders. They are good source of antioxidants. They promote healthy skin and good for weight loss. They also help to improve blood circulation and manage diabetes. Cow peas have good amount of minerals and nutrients. They are packed with protein. They are good for strong bones. They support healthy metabolism and anemia. Cow peas are loaded with nutrients. They are rich in fiber, protein, potassium, low in fat and calories.
  As I said earlier Cowpeas - Tomato Curry is easy to prepare and definitely liked by all aged group.
Let us see the recipe now:
No Onion or No garlic is used in this curry.

Ingredients.:

To Cook :
Cow pea : 1 Cup
Toor dal : 1 Handful
Methi seeds/Fenugrik seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
To Add :
Tomatoes : 3 to 4
Ginger : 1 Inch
Spice Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Green chilly : 2
Garam Masala Powder : (MTR) : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : To Taste:
Lemon : 1/2 Lemon juice (Extract of 1/2 lemon)
Turmeric powder : A little
To Season :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 1
Ingh : A little
Curry Leaves : 8 to 10 Leaves

Method : 

1. Wash and cook toor dal and black eyed beans with methi seeds. (1/2 teaspoon). (Pressure cook for 6 to 8 minutes and let it cool.

2. Wash and cut tomatoes. Remove the seeds as much as possible.
3. Wash and cut coriander leaves and remove the outer layer of ginger, wash and grate it again.
4. Wash green chilly and slit and keep it aside.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a tablespoon of coconut oil. Add mustard seeds and jeera.
6. When mustard seeds starts to splutter add green chilly, ingh and curry leaves.

7. Let it mix well. Add  cut tomatoes and fry for 1 minute. Add cooked dal and black eyed bean and mix it well.

8. Add salt, a little water, turmeric powder and mix it again.
9. Let it cook on low flame. Add a tablespoon of spice powder, 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala and mix it well. Let it boil nicely.

10. Add grated ginger, slit green chilly. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Shift the curry to a serving dish.
11. Add lemon extract and cut coriander leaves.

12. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note : 

Soaking cow peas for over night is optional. I straight cooked black eyed bean. Adding more spices is optional. Use of any other cooking oil is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5.

Home prepared Spice powder :

Ingredients : 

Dry roast 1 tablespoon of coriander seeds, 1/2 teaspoon of urid dal, 1/4 teaspoon of methi seeds, 1/2 teaspoon of jeera/curmin seeds and 5 to 6 byadagi chilly one by one. Dry grind and cool it. Always it is better to use fresh spice powder. 

Musk Melon & Nendra Bale Fruit Juice/Milkshake

The hot summer is here and we need to take care of our health from the heat. The weather is so hot that you feel like drinking more and more water. Though the water is the best way to quench our thirst, it is always better to have some thing which helps to keep you cool. Fruits and vegetables are the best friends in summer. They not only keeps you full, they do helps to keep your mind and body cool.

Fruits, fresh juices and salads, smoothies and many varieties of drinks can be prepared at home. Home prepared drinks are most healthiest and the best.

I have used Musk Melon, Nendra bale ( Nendra banana/A type of banana variety, jaggery and milk.
Eating Nendra Bale in our diet and its benefits. 

Nendra bale / a type of  banana is mostly used in Dakshina Kannada and Kerala. This banana can be eaten when it is fully ripe, prepare so many dishes like curry, fried fritters, dosas, jamoons, etc etc. 

Nendra Bananas are having good amount of fiber and anti oxidants. It helps to digest the food easily.
Banana is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, folate, Vitamin B 6 and Vitamin C. It is filled with carbohydrates. It is very good for people who are dieting, it keeps you full for a long time and filled with minerals and vitamins. It is very good for kids who wants to gain weight. It is good for pregnant women.

It is an easy and superb drink any time of the day. It provides not only energy it also helps to take care of your body because the fruits contain full of vitamins and minerals.

Things needed :

Nendra Bale/Nendra Banana : 2
Musk Melon : 1 Small size
Jaggery : 2 Teaspoons
Milk : Boiled and colled : 1 Glass
Water : 1 Glass

Method :

1. Wash and cut Musk Melon and remove the outer hard layer and the pulp. Cut the fruit into small pieces.

2. Remove the outer layer of Nendra bale and cut them into small circle shape.
3. Now Put Nendra bale, Musk Melon pieces, milk and jaggery to liquidizer.

4. Churn them in to fine juice. Add a glass of water and churn for a minute. Let all the ingredients mix it well.

5. Put this Musk Melon - Nendra Bale Fruit Juice to a bowl. Mix it well.
6. Pour it to serving glasses and serve.

7. You can chill it fridge and then serve.

8. Add ice cubes and then serve.

Note :

Adding more milk instead of water, is optional. It turns as smoothie and you can have them by eating.
It fills your stomach so that you can skip your meal. Adding honey instead of jaggery is optional.  Use of more /less jaggery is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes 
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Palak/Spinach - Jack Seeds Curry

Palak /spinach leaves are the healthiest leaves. They available plenty around the year. Here I have tried " Palak/spinach  - Jack Seeds Curry and it goes well with almost all the main dishes.

 I have used palak, jack seeds, toor dal, coconut and some simple spices which are available plenty in our kitchen store.
Let us see some benefits of using Methi seeds in our diet.
Fenugrik / Methi seeds are loaded with medicinal values. It is rich in fiber and helps to lower the blood sugar level. It helps to keep our body cool and good for digestion. Methi seeds are good for heart burn and diabetes. It is good for balancing cholesterol level in our body. It is good herbal remedy for menopause and the menstruation period. ( It helps to reduce the abdomen pain during periods). Methi seeds are good for loss of appetite. They are rich in antioxidant properties.
Normally the people in Dakshina Kannada, Malenadu and surrounding areas do not use much of onions in cooking. They prefer to use the particular vegetable ( choose any one vegetable) for a curry.
No Onion or No Garlic is added in this Palak/Spinach -Jack Seeds Curry.
Let us see the recipe now

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Palak/Spinach leaves : 1 Bundle ( Small )
Jack Seeds : 1 Handful
Toor dal : 1/2 Cup ( Two Handful )
Methi Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
To Grind :
Spice Powder : 2 to 3 Teaspoons
Tamarind : 1 Small marble size
Coconut : Fresh : 1/2 Cup
To Season :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry leaves : 5 to 6 leaves
To Add : 
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Jaggery : 1/2 Teaspoon ( Or very little ).

Method :

1. Remove the outer layer (hard cover) from jack seeds and cut them into small pieces.
2. Wash toor dal, jack seeds and pressure cook for 6 to 8 minutes and keep it aside. (Let it cool).
3. Wash and cut palak leaves. Pressure cook palak/spinach leaves with methi seeds till the leaves turn soft.

4. Grate coconut and grind it with spice powder and tamarind. Add required water to grind.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and put cooked palak leaves. Add toor dal and jack seeds.
6. Add required salt,jaggery and a pinch of turmeric powder. Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes.
7. Now add ground coconut and spice mixture. Mix it well and let it boil for 2 to 3 Minutes.

8. Shift the ready Palak /Spinach - Jack Seeds Curry to a serving dish.

9. Add mustard seeds, urid dal, ingh and curry leaves seasoning to the ready curry and serve.
10. This curry goes well with almost all the main dishes like plain rice, idli, dosa, chapati or any type of rotis.

Note :

Using methi seeds to cook helps to reduce the cholesterol level in the food. It adds to the taste. Adding jaggery is optional.I have used clean tamarind. You can use tamarind pulp instead of tamarind. Soak tamarind in warm water and squeeze out the pulp. It is always better to use tamarind pulp. Use of home prepared spice powder is optional. You can use any type of sambar /rasam powder.
Use of coconut oil is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes 
Serves : 4 to 5.

Home prepared Spice Powder 

Things Needed :
Coriander seeds : 2 Tablespoons
Methi seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Channa dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red chilly (Only byadagi) : 5 to 6
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch

Method :

Dry roast or fry  all the ingredients one by one with 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil and dry grind once it is cooled.
You can grind this spice powder with coconut or use it directly and prepare sambar. (with out coconut).
This proportion is good to use for 1 time..

Wild Mango Fruit Juice

You call as panaka/juice/drink whatever it is, the fruit drink is always good to haveto keep your mind and body.

In the hot summer you need to keep your body cool and quench your thirst. The amount of water we drink is not just enough to keep our selves healthy. The fresh fruit drink refresh our mind and body and helps to take care of our health.
I have prepared wild mango (more on sweet taste) juice and  used very little spices.
Wild Mango Fruit Juice is one of the best juice to quench your thirst in summer. It also helps in keeping you fit and provide the energy that is lost during the hot summer.
Wild mangoes are plenty during summer season and we do get many varieties of these mangoes. Use of sweet mangoes are always preferable for this type of juice or else you need to add more jaggery to the juice. Jaggery helps to bring back the energy you lost when you out during the summer. It helps to cool the body and boost our energy.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Wild Mango fruits : 3 to 4
Water : 2 to 3 Glasses
Jaggery : 1 to 2 Teaspoons (Optional).
Salt : Very little / A pinch

Method :

1 Wash and clean the mangoes and remove the outer skin. Squeeze out the pulp to a bowl.

2. Put the mango skin /outer layer to a bowl. Put 1 glass of water and squeeze out the pulp 

completely. Add this water mixed pulp to a main bowl. 

3 Add required water. Add jaggery. Mix it nicely. Sieve this mixture to a clean bowl.

4. Add a pinch of salt and put to the serving glasses.

5. Wild Mango Fruit Juice is ready to serve.

Note :

Use of sweet wild mangoes are preferable. Use of jaggery is optional. I have used Joni Bella.( Jaggery which is bit liquid type/Organic and healthy). If you are using normal jaggery, powder the jaggery and melt it with little water, sieve it and then used it. Use of salt helps to add the taste and the loss of water/sweat in our body. Use of more mangoes are optional.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.