Spring Onion - Tomato Curry

Spring Onion curry is a side dish and you can prepare this curry in a few minutes. There is no dal or coconut used and it is bit spicy, bit sweet and yummy to have it.
I just bought these leaves to prepare sambar (curry with dals) as usual. But was bored with sambar and gave a twist to this curry and enjoyed eating with plain rice and chapatis.

I have used Spring Onions, tomato and capsicum and some spices.
Lets see some benefits of using Turmeric powder/Haladi/Arashina in our cooking.
Turmeric powder is made from its mature turmeric stems. Turmeric powder add colour and flavour to our food. It is also used for medicinal properties from the ancient time. It has no cholesterol and rich in dietary fiber. It is loaded with iron, potassium, magnesium and Vitamin B6. Turmeric is used in various drugs and pharmaceurtics (preparing new medicine) since it contain immununity boosting and anti oxidant properties. The anti oxidant in turmeric might help to boost immunity and maintain normal cholesterol levels and helps as an anti aging gaurd. It is also good for allergy, astama, heart diseases, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes. Turmeric contain anti inflammatory properties. Turmeric helps to cure common cold and cough. Good for sprains and swellings.
Now lets see the recipe:

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Spring Onions : 1 Medium size bunch
Capsicum : 1
Tomato : 3 to 4
To Add :
Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon
Turmeric Powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Methi seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Jeera Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Crushed pepper : 5 to 6
Green chilly : 2
Rasam/Sambar Powder : 2 to 3 Teaspoons
Salt : As required
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon (optional).
For Seasoning : 
Mustard seeds: 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh : a little
Oil : 1 Teaspoon

Method :

1. Wash and cut spring onion leaves into small pieces

2. Wash and cut capsicum into small pieces. Crush pepper and keep it aside.
3. Wash and remove the seeds from tomatoes and cut into small pieces.

4. Now keep a big pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
5. Add jeera/cumin seeds and curry leaves. fry for a second.
6. Add cut capsicum and fry nicely and then add cut tomatoes.

7. Stir for a while and then add cut spring onions. Mix it well.
8. Add rasam powder, jeera powder, crushed pepper, turmeric powder, jaggery and salt.
9. Add methi seeds, crushed peppers and jeera powder. Mix it well.

10. Cook for 5 to 6 in a pressure cooker.

11. If you are cooking in a pan cover the lid and cook on low flame till it cooks soft.
12. Spring onion -Tomato curry is ready to serve.

Note :

Adding more spiece is optional. You can add little garam masala powder/chat masala powder etc.
Adding milk to this curry helps to adds taste to the curry. (I have not done). Adding onions and garlic is optional. Using pressure cooker to cook this curry is optional. ( I have used the small pressure cooker). I also have used some Spinach /palak stems along with spring onions.
Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 3 to 4   

Oats & Dates Laddu

Oats and dates Laddu is a sweet dish and you can surely munch at any time of the day. It is always good to have some thing healthy, when you crave for food. Oats and Dates Laddu not only satisfy your sweet teeth, it helps to fill your stomach with some nutrients.
I have used Oats, dates, jaggery and little Kallu Sakkare (Rock Candy) and dry coconut. (Copra).

Lets see some benefits of having Oats in our diet.
Oats are loaded with dietary fiber. It helps to lower the bad cholesterol in our body. It is full of soluble fiber and good for digestion and obesity. Eating Oats helps to lower the blood pressure and it balances our blood pressure. Oats contain Vitamin E and minerals like manganese, phosphorus, fiber, magnesium and zinc.
These Oats & Dates Laddu is good for kids party, picnic, travelling and as some evening snack.
 Lets see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Oats : 500 Grams
Ghee : 100 Grams
Dry coconut : 1 (Medium size)
Jaggery : 250 to 300 Grams
Rock Candy : 100 Grams
Raisins : 2 Tablespoons
Dates : 100 Grams
Cardamom : 5 To 6 Pods.
Dry Fruits : 1 Handful (I used Walnut, cashew nuts and almonds- Altoger One fist).

Method :

1. Dry roast oats nicely till the raw smell disappear. Drygrind it into powdered consistency.

2. Cut walnuts, almonds and cashews into pieces. Remove the seeds from dates and dry grind it.
3.Dry grind rock candy (Kallu Sakkare) and cardamom seeds till powder and keep it aside.
4.. Fry raisins in 1 tablespoon of ghee and keep it aside.

5..Cut Dry coconut into small pieces and dry grind, keep it aside.
6. Keep a big pan on the fire and put jaggery. Add 1/4 Cup of water. Let jaggery melt nicely.
7. Let it boil nicely till it starts bubbling. Mix it well and leave it for 1 to 2 minutes.
8. Add powdered Oats, rock candy powder, dry ground coconut. Mix it nicely.

9. Add fried raisins and mix it well. Add cut dry fruits and dry ground dates.
10. Mix it well and put off the fire. Add ghee and mix the mixture nicely.

11. Take a handful of the mixture and prepare laddu.
12. Repeat the same with remaining mixture.

Note :

If you feel the mixture is too dry and you are not able to prepare laddu (it does not hold), keep the mixture on the low flame for 1 minute, sprikle One to two tablespoons of milk. Mix it well and put off the fire. Now you should be able to prepare laddu easily.
Use of more ghee is optional. Use of more/less coconut is optional. Use of rock candy is optional. Use of more/less dry fruits is also optional. Use of sugar instead of jaggery is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
25 to 30 Laddus can be prepared. (According to the size).