Wheat Flour Naan

Naan is a kind of Roti, and I have prepared this Naan with wheat flour and chiroti rava/Thin variety of semolina. 

Naan is a type of roti and most of the people love to have Naan. Normally Naan is prepared by using Maida/All Purpose flour.
This Naan recipe has no maida. I have used wheat flour and chiroti rava and to soften the naan I have used milk and a tablespoon of curd.
I have seen this this Naan preparing method in a T. V. Cookery show. Just changed maida to wheat and tried it and it turned as good and soft Naan. So prepared these Naan many times at my home
Now I can happily eat and enjoy these Naan because I am sure it is healthy.
I have used Wheat flour, chiroti rava/thin variety of semolina, milk, curd, oil and salt.
Naan turned as soft and yummy.
Let us see the recipe:

Ingredients : 

Wheat flour  : 2 Cups
Chiroti Rava/Thin variety of Semolina : 2 Tablespoons
Milk : 1/2 Cup
Curd : 1 Tablespoon
Oil : 2 Teaspoons.
Salt : A little
Cooking Soda : A pinch
Bowl of water

Method :

1. Mix wheat flour, chiroti rava/semolina, oil, salt, cooking soda and mix it well.
2. Add milk and curd to the mixed flour and prepare dough. Add required water while preparing the dough.
3. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes.

4. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat.
5. Divide the ready dough into small portions. Take a small ball size of dough and roll as chapati or reetangle shape.
6. Sprinkle a drop of water on chapati and put it on the tava and press a little. Cook on medium heat.

7. Sprinkling water helps the chapati to be moisture and helps to cook with out oil.
8. It starts to bubble up on chapati.

9. Remove this chapati and put it on a burning gas and cook fof 10 to 20 seconds.

10. It should be roasted well on the other side.
12. Put it on the plate and apply butter on the top.

13. Naan is ready to serve. Serve " Hot Naan" with the curries of your choice.

14. Repeat the same with remaining dough and prepare Naan.

Note:

Let the dough be soft so that Naan turns as soft. Adding milk and curd makes the dough soft. Adding butter instead of oil is optional. You can sprinkle sesame seeds on the top of Naan. ( Optional).
Moisture on the top helps the naan to cook well. (You can press the rolled naan to tava and then hold it on gas burner. It helps you to do the process bit easy. Naan sticks to tava and you can turn the tava upside down to cook upper layer of Naan. Hot Naans is better to have or it might turn bit hard.(Dry).
Time : 30 minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 ( 8 Naan can be made, according to the size ).

Mango Milk Shake & Watermelon Juice.

Who does not like mangoes? It is always best to have fruits and veggeis during their season. They are full of vitamins and minerals. Mangoes are of different varieties and you get mangoes in all corners of India. Here is a simple recipe of Mango Milk Shake which is prepared with " Alphansa " one of the best variety mango.
Watermelon helps you to keep your body cool when the temperature raises and the day turns as hot boiling water. The body needs to have the moisture because it gets dehydrated because of the hot temperature. Try to drink more water or fresh juice so that you can stay fit and healthy.

Mango is the fruits of kings. It is already pouring plenty in the market. Though it is said that this year mango yield is less still you see loads of mangoes every where. They have made a provision that each mango growing farmer can contact the public and supply mangoes to his needs. That way it is the best idea, where farmer or buyer will not be cheated unless the crook, greedy ones. Any ways all the best to both. The buyers and sellers.

These were the first mangoes entered our house. They were bought by our son Rishikanth in the Bangalore Market place where he had a photo sessions. He went early in the morning around 5 with his friend and shot some good pictures. They went around the market near by and took some pics also. In the mean while he has bought some mangoes( said to be Alphans- but I doubt 😈 ). It was  sweet and we had to be happy with those mangoes. Since they were soft and good for milk shake or rasayana. (Rasayana we add fresh coconut milk). So I turned these mangoes in to mango milk shake and its simple and quick and you can drink it without guilt. Not that harm since you add milk and I have added little jaggery (organic). Children are always ready to have mango milk shake and is really good for every one. If you are diabetic then drink 1/4 of the glass at time.
Lets see the recipe Now:

Things Needed :

Ripen soft Mangoes : 2
Milk : 1 Cup  (Boiled and cooled)
Jaggery/Honey/Sugar : 1 to 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and clean the mango and wipe it with a clean dry cloth.
2. Squeeze out the pulp. Put little water to a bowl and dip the outer layer and squeeze out the remaining juice part nicely.

3. Put the pulp and the watery pulp together. Blend it in a mixi jar. Add jaggery and give a churn.
4. Add milk and grind it for 1 to 2 minutes. Put it to a big bowl. Add a pinch of salt. Mix it well.

5. Pour it to the serving glass and serve.

Note :

Use the sweetest fruits for milk shake. Boil milk let it cool then use it for milk shake. Adding ice cube or cold water is optional. I have used jaggery. Use of sugar/honey is optional. Adding milk is not that good idea because it might not taste that good.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 3 Glasses.

 Watermelon Drink :
Method :

Remove the red fruit part and grind it nicely. (Strictly do not add any extra water, because watermelon is loaded with water).
Grind it in a mixi jar and sieve with a strainer so that broken seed skin can be removed easily.
Pour it to the serving glass. Adding sugar/jaggery/ honey is optional. I have not added any sweet to this " WaterMelon Juice".

Besan & Coconut Burfi

Besan & and Coconut Burfi is a sweet dish and we can enjoy having them any time of the day. This sweet is similar to "Seven Cups burfi ". The whole process takes about 30 to 40 minutes and ready burfi is yummy to eat. It just melts in the mouth.
Preparing some thing nice and tasty is real fun. You get to enjoy the product when you distribute it and get good words after they munch the sweet.

I have used besan, ghee, coconut, sugar and some almonds. Added almonds powder in the burfi and spread the almond flakes on the top of the burfi too
Lets see some benefits of having Channa flour in our diet;
Besan/chickpea flour/Kadale hittu is naturally higher in protein. Besan is healthy and it contain unsaturated fats and low in cholesterol. It contain fiber. It has vitamin c and vitamin B 6 Thaiamin converts food into energy. Besan contain iron, magnesium and phosphorus. It helps to regulates blood pressure and build bones. Besan flour does not contain gluten.
Besan & Coconut Burfi is easy to prepare, have little patience and stir on low flame till it turn thick.

Things Needed 

Besan/chickpea flour : 1 cup
Milk : 1 Cup
Ghee : 1 Cup
Coconut : Grated : 1 Cup
Almonds :1 Cup
Sugar : 2 1/2 to 3 Cups
Cardamom : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
2. Melt ghee into liquid form and keep it aside.
3. Powder cardamom into powder with little sugar and keep it aside.
4. Cut 1/2 cup almonds into rakes and powder the remaining almonds and keep it aside.

5. Now dry roast besan till the raw smell disappear.(3 to 4 minutes). Allow it to cool.
6. Take a big pan. Add milk, sugar, coconut, roasted besan, 1/2 cup of ghee and powdered almonds. Mix it well.

7. Mix it well nicely and keep that mixture on the fire. Let it be on low flame.

8. Keep stirring till it turns thick and starts leaving the pan. Stir for some more time. (may be another 5 minutes).

9. Add remaining ghee and keep on stirring. When the ghee mixes well and the burfi thickens. Add cardamom powder and stir.

10. Put the burfi mixture on a greased tray or greased plate.

11. Sprinkle almonds rakes on the burfi and press it with a spatula.
12. Let the almond pieces stick to the burfi. Leave it for 5 minutes and cut it according to your wish.

13. Remove the pieces slowly and serve them. 

 14. Put the remaining pieces in a airtight box and store it. It can stay for a week.

Note :

The whole process should be done on low flame. (or it might get burnt and will be waste). Adding more sugar helps the burfi to be thick fast. Adding more ghee is optional. It adds to the taste. (another 1/2 Cup of ghee). Adding almonds is optional. (It adds to the taste).
Time : 30 minutes
25 to 30 pieces can be made.

Deepavali Snacks

Deepavali is one of the National festival. This festival celebrated all over the world now a days. 
Even President Barak Obama also has declared  a holiday for Deepavali in United States of America .
We do celebrate the festivals in traditional way. Each festival has his own history and tradition behind it. It is also called as festival of lights. There are different ways and traditions in different part of India. We do celebrate Deepavali for 4 Days.

The first day is called as Neeru tumbuva habba (means filling water to the big vessel with full of water to take bath next morning). In those days, even now we have big Hande in the bathrooms in my doddamma's (my mother's sister) house and father in law's house. That big hande (big vessel to boil water for bath) is washed nicely and decorated with red soil lines (or some simple art work), and pooja is done to the filled Vessel at night and it is called as ganga pooja and the neivedyam (offering some eatables to God) is prepared using coconut, jaggery and rice. This is called yere appa. (a fried dish). After pooja to Ganga Mata will have our dinner. (normal simple food along with yere appa).
The next day is Naraka Chaturdashi. It is believed that Narakasura (one of the powerful demon) used to trouble people on the earth. So God Narayana came to people's rescue and killed Narakasura. God being kind to him, he asked Narakasura to visit the earth on this day. So the people believe that Narakasura comes to earth on that day to visit them. Being a human they too have kind heart and welcome Narakasura. They get up in the early morning and with oil massage for the whole body will have hot water bath.  Oil bath should be taken before the sun rise. (before 6 in the morning). We wear new clothes. Then Dosa and panchakajjaya (Flattened rice with jaggery and coconut) is prepared and offered to God and the whole family will enjoy Eating Hot dosa with chutney and Panchakajjaya and then burst the crackers. (just one or two ).This is the traditional way of starting the festival. The ladies will be busy preparing festival food for the family. The relatives, guest, newly weds in the family all get together to have lunch.
The next day is Amavasya or No moon day. This day Laxmi pooja is done in most of the houses. The following day is called Bali Padyami. There is also a story behind this day. Bali Chakravarthi who is very kind and generous Chakravarthy (King) and ruled his country so well. It is said that on this day he will come to see his prajas. I have seen people of my village sing some songs about this Bali Chakravarthi and in that song, Bali Chakravarthi is welcomed by his people. On that day they gather grass and put fire and lights will be lightened every corner of the house. And Tulisi Pooja starts from that day. It is continued till the day of Tulisi Festival. It is some thing which is very beautiful to watch. I am blessed to see those things in my childhood days.
The next day (fourth day) there will be poojas for cows and it is called govina pooja. They are washed nicely and put kumkum and brought in to the home and fed sweet flattened rice. (Panchakajjaya). They do pooja to the cows and then enjoy loads of home prepared food that day.
Now the time has changed and loads of eatables available every where and each and every one will be busy with their personal things. Visiting relatives has become very rare but still friends and relatives get together at lease for an evening and enjoy the festival.
We used to prepare many snack items and friends used to visit us and we too visit them one of the day in the whole week celebration. Each house will surely prepare some or the other yummy dishes
Lets see some easy dishes and enjoy this Deepavali. I am sure it is not that late to prepare these dishes. These dishes are good to have either for lunch or even it shines on High Tea ( Deepavali Party in the evening ).

The first one is Yere appa which is normally done on the previous day of Naraka Chaturdashi.  You can just try. It is done with raw rice, coconut and jaggery. You can use cashews while grinding. It adds to the taste and Yere Appa turns tasty.
 1. Here is a recipe of Yere Appa ...Prepare this and enjoy
 http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2009/10/yereappa.html

 2. Every one likes to have some sweet dish along with the elaborated lunch or High Tea.
 Lets go with Rasmali, which is very easy to prepare and yummy to have. Give it a try. Less work and yummy dish is ready in minutes.
All You need is ready to eat Rasgullas. I have used Mayyas Ready to eat Rasgullas. As they say it is made with love. They are really yummy to have.

   http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/09/easy-rasmalai.html

3. Deepavali is also called as festival of sweets. There should be some laddus to share with our friends and visitors.
Oats and corn flakes and almond laddu has no sugar and lots of nuts are used and we can say these are healthy laddus. As always it is simple, easy and quick. Give them a try and you will really love them.
Just check the recipe to note what all you need and the steps to prepare. Njoy eating them.

 http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/10/oats-corn-flakes-almond-laddu-deepavali.html

 4. How about preparing some savoury dishes ...Have a quick look at it and you can prepare them easily. Not that many things are needed here .
Lets check the recipe of Ribbon Pakoda which is every one's favourite. This snack is made of rice flour ( 3 portions) and one portion of chickpea flour. Glance at the recipe :

 http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/07/ribbon-pakoda.html

5. Now lets see one more savoury recipe, Karam Kuram the kids favourite to munch them most of the time and it can be good snack which goes well with cup of coffee or tea or even fresh fruit juice.
Sev is a perfect snack for Deepavali. It is prepared using chickpea flour and rice flour. It is very easy to prepare these sev. I am sure you
will surely love these sev.

http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/10/sev-deepavali-special.html

6. This Crispy Cuts (Diamond Cuts or Shankar Poli) are well known and it is one of the favourite eatable for  all age group. It is prepared using Maida (All purpose flour) and I have used millet with maida. It has turned crispy and it just melts in the mouth. You can feel the taste by giving a try.  It does not take much of your time even to fry. But remember to fry them on low and medium flame.

 http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/11/crispy-cuts-diamond-cuts-shankar-pole.html

Dates - Banana Rasayana

Rasayana is a sweet dish, which is normally prepared using Banana or Mango or both together. It is one of the traditional quick dish, and can be eaten with dosas , neer dosas, idli, poori and chapatis. Some people call this as Shikarane also. There are many ways to prepare this Rasayana.

Normally Dakshina Kannada people (Udupi , Mangalore or Malenaadu ), We take a fresh coconut, grate it and grind it with little water to get its fresh coconut milk, then add jaggery and cardamom, mix it well and serve with holige (Pooran Poli), Kadubu, Neer Dosa, Shavige (Home made Rice Vermicelly) and even it goes well with Uddina Dosa. During the mango season we add ripe mango pulp to fresh coconut milk and prepare Mango Rasayana. We can use ripe banans also instead of mangoes or use both the fruits and make it more delicious. Believe me this is the way how the Traditional Rasayana prepared in our homes.

Now a days  it should be quick, easy and bit of on the healthy side dishes are more famous and good for office goers and the house wives too.This dish can be prepared easily if you have ripe banana and the normal fresh boiled and cooled milk. Eating sugar one has to think twice.

Adding jaggery that is what I prefer but this time used Dates and Honey instead of jaggery. It is still easy, you do not have to think whether the jaggery melted and combined with the Rasayana well. Think of preparing when you have lot of  well ripened bananas. Children and even all age group will love to have this " Dates -Banana Rasayana ", and 100 % healthy and do not have to worry about the sweetness.
Lets see a few benefits of eating Dates in our diet.
Dates are one of the most popular fruits packed with essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are required for normal growth, development and overall well being. Fresh dates are soft, easy, digestible and simple sugar. When eaten they replenish energy and revitalize the body instantly. The fruit is rich in dietary fiber, which prevents LDL, cholesterol absorption in the gut. They contain anti oxidants, anti infective, anti inflammatory. They are moderate sources of vitamin A. Dates are excellent source of iron and potassium. Date fruits are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper and magnesium.

Here is a recipe of Simple, Easy, Quick and Tasty  "Dates Banana Rasayana"  recipe which will fit into all age group taste and health.

Things Needed :

Bananas : 4 to 6
Dates : 6 to 8
Honey : 2 Table spoons
Cardamom : 3 to 4 pods.
Milk : 1 to 2 Glass  (Boiled and Cooled).

Method 

 1.Remove the skin of cardamom and powder it. Keep it aside
2. Cut dates in to small pieces and keep it aside.
3. Remove the banana skin and cut the fruits into small. Put them in a big bowl.7.

4. Pour 1 table spoon of honey on the top of banana. Put cut dates and add milk.

5. Mix all the ingredients nicely with the help of a big spoon or use hand. Squeeze bananas and dated in hand and let all the mixture mix it nicely.
6. Add cardamom and mix once again and shift  Dates - Banana Rasayana to a serving bowl.

7. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

 

8. We had " Dates - Banana Rasayana " with Neer Dosa.

 Note : 

You can use more bananas. Use of jaggery or sugar instead of honey and dates also an optional. You can add dry nuts to Rasayana.You can add grated coconut to the  Rasayana mixture. ( It adds to the taste). You can prepare Banana Dates Milk Shake with this mixture. Use boiled and cooled fresh milk.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 1 to 2.