Whole Wheat Pancakes- Without Eggs!

I wanted to make these whole wheat pancakes as soon as I saw the recipe in Arundati's blog..I made it immediately for my breakfast in a matter of minutes..These pancakes are made of whole wheat flour and contains no eggs.Yes, they tasted great without the eggs..So they are great when on a diet..They are low in calories and can be accompanied with any fresh fruit syrup or topped just with honey and fruits..

Ingredients
Whole wheat flour - 1 cup
Baking soda - 1/4 teaspoon
Brown sugar/Jaggery - 2 tablespoons
Cinnamon powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Buttermilk - 1 cup
Oil - 2 teaspoons

Directions
Mix the whole wheat flour, baking soda, jaggery, cainnamon powder together.. Add the buttermilk to the flour mixture and whisk together to form a batter without any lumps.. The batter should be in a thick consistency and it should be pourable..Leave the batter aside for about 10 minutes.
Heat a griddle, Pour a full ladle of batter onto the griddle.It spreads by itself..Drizzle oil on the sides..Allow it to cook for about a minute until air holes are formed on the surface..Flip the pancake to the other side and cook for about 15 seconds..

Stack the pancakes and have them with toppings of your choice.
Some topping options:
Butter and fruit syrup
Honey
Thinned out Fruit jam

Sending this to WBB: Grains in my breakfast and also to JFI:Whole grains
Also sending this to Madhuram's Your Recipe Rocks!

Sending this to AWED American hosted by Dhivya

and also to Eggless Cooking Event - Yoghurt/Buttermilk hosted by Madhuram

Broccoli Poriyal

I wanted to make an Indianized dish with broccoli.Broccoli is rich in vitamin C, iron, Carotene, phytochemicals, potassium and fiber..Broccoli reduces cholestrol and also reduces the risk of cancer.. And it perfect to have broccoli while on a diet..I was planning to make dhall and rice and wanted something to accompany it.I made this poriyal with broccoli and it was too good.I made in a way I make cauliflower poriyal.It also tastes great with chapathis and rotis.

Ingredients
Broccoli - 1 head
Split chickpeas / Kadalai paruppu - 1/4 cup
Onion - 1 small sized
Chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Urad dhall - 1 teaspoon
Oil - 2 teaspoon
Curry leaves - few
Directions
Chop the broccoli head into small florets.. Soak the split chickpeas in water for about half an hour.. Chop the onions finely..Add the florets into hot water for about two minutes.. In a saucepan, add the oil and do the seasoning with the mustard seeds,urad dhall and curry leaves.Once they start spluterring, add the chopped onions. Saute for about two minutes, until they turn translucent.. Add the broccoli florets and the soaked split chickpeas.. Add the chilli powder and half a cup of water.. Cover and cook for about five minutes or until the broccoli turns tender.. Serve with rice or rotis..

Sending this to Diet Event which I am hosting..

Also to FIC: Green hosted by Sunshinemom.

Spinach Cheese Swirls

I made these Spinach cheese swirls from Dhivya's blog..They came out pretty well.And they dont need much effort to make when you have the readymade puff pastry..I feel that the puff pastry is versatile and can be made into anything that suits your taste, be it sweet or savoury.These spinach cheese swirls are perfect for any party..And the pictures are not too good..

Ingredients

Puff pastry - 1 sheet

Spinach finely chopped - 1/2 cup

Mixed cheese - 1/3 cup 

Spring onions finely chopped - 2 tablespoons

Italian seasoning - 1 teaspoon (optional)

Salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degree F.

Thaw the puff pastry according to manufacturer's direction.Lay the puff pastry on a floured surface and roll it out a wee bit with the help of a rolling pin.

Spread the cheese, spinach, salt, pepper and seasonings one by one.If using frozen spinach, squeeze out the excess water..

From the shorter end, roll the puff pastry tightly like a jelly roll.Cut them perpendicularly into slices, And brush with egg wash or butter.

Transfer them to a baking sheet and bake them until they turn golden for about 20 to 25 minutes..

Serve warm!

Sending this off to Siri's MBP: Cheese event..

Also sending this to SAvoury Pie Event hosted by Ivy..

Cheese stuffed Jalapenos

Say Cheese!!

Yes I made these cheese stuffed Jalapenos for Siri's MBP:Say Cheese event.I had some Jalapenos in my fridge..I usually make milagai bhajji(deep fried jalapeno fritters) with them..But on a healthy note I wanted to bake them instead of frying them..I landed on this recipe from Food Workshop..I made a few changes to suit our taste and made these lovely baked goodies..

A Warning! They were to hot and spicy even after de-seeding the jalapenos..So choose Jalapenos depending on you spice level and de-seed them if you do not want them to be too spicy..Wash hands after chopping them..

Indulge in the hot cheesy jalapenos..And yes, you easily get addicted to these..We had no leftovers!

Ingredients (Makes 10 servings)

Jalapenos - 10
Cheese - 3/4 cup  any variety.I used a mixture of cream cheese,cheddar cheese and mozzarella.
Mayonnaise/Yoghurt - 2 tablespoons
Dried Oregano - 1 teaspoon (optional)
Salt and pepper

Directions 

Preheat oven to 375 degree F.

Wash the jalapenos and chop them into half and remove all the seeds..

Mix the cheese, mayonnaise/yoghurt, dried oregano, salt and pepper and spoon them equally into each chopped jalapeno.

Arrange them on a baking sheet and bake them for about 30 minutes until the cheese melts.

You can also coat the jalapenos with egg wash and bread crumbs and then bake them.

It is that simple.Serve hot!

Sending this to MBP:Cheese hosted by dear Siri brainchild of The Spice Cafe.

Also sending this to Food in Colors: Green hosted by Sunshinemom

Tomato Soup

This is a spicy tomato soup which can be had during any time of the day and perfect with breadsticks..We had this for dinner along with garlic bread and it served a meal in itself.It can be had when one is down with cold..Here is the recipe..

Ingredients

Tomatoes - 4 or 5
Onions - 1 small size
Red Bell pepper - 1 (optional)
Garlic - 2 cloves
Ginger - 1/2 inch
Chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
Bay leaf - 1
Cloves - 2
Salt and pepper to taste
Butter - spoon
Tomato ketchup - 1 tablespoon (optional)

Directions

Heat the butter in a large saucepan, add the bay leaf and cloves and saute for a minute.Then add the chopped ginger,garlic,onion and saute until they soften.

Then add the bell pepper,chopped tomatoes, chilli powder, salt and pepper and bring them to a boil..Simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes until it turns mushy..

Discard the bay leaf and cloves and transfer the ingredients to a blender.Blend it into a smooth paste..Strain again if needed..Stir in the tomato ketchup..

Serve hot with croutons or bread/soupsticks of your choice...

Sending this to WYF:Salads/Starters/Soups hosted by EC..

Also sending the following entries to the event..

Sweet corn Soup

Red and Yellow Bell Pepper Soup

Asparagus Soup

Cream of Mushroom soup

Microwave Brownies

I was tempted to make these cute little brownies after seeing an episode in Food Network..I agree that these brownies taste best and are n perfect texture when done using the oven..But who would say no to brownies made in about 10 to 15 minutes..They were soft and moist and I topped wach brownie with a dollop of cream cheese.I like to warm my brownies and have it with a scoop of vanilla icecream..

Here comes the simple recipe for microwave brownies with simple ingredients!

Ingredients
(Recipe Source-Food Network)

Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup
Unsweetened chocolate - 3 ounces
Large eggs - 2
Sugar - 1 cup
All-purpose flour/maida - 1/2 cup
Baking powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon
Chocolate chips - 1/4 cup (optional)
Nonstick cooking spray

Directions

In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate and butter and microwave high for 2 minutes until the chocolate melts..Set this aside.

Whisk together the sugar and eggs in a seperate bowl.

In a large bowl sift the flour with the baking powder and salt.Add the egg-sugar mixture and the melted chocolate along with the vanilla and stir well until combined.

Spray an 8 by 8 by-2-inch microwave safe glass pan with cooking spray. Pour the batter into the pan, spread it out evenly, and scatter the chocolate chunks on top. Cook on high for 5 minutes.You might need to do this for 1 or 2 minutes more depending on your microwave power. Remove from the oven and let rest for 3 minutes before cutting and eating.

Enjoy as a dessert!

Sending this to MEC: Chocolate hosted by Srivalli.

Sending this to AWED American hosted by Dhivya

Methi Theplas

Theplas are Gujrathi flat bread which tastes best with just yoghurt and pickle.The methi leaves add a zing and freshness to the theplas.I took this recipe from Sia's Monsoon spice.It takes very less time to prepare.Here goes the recipe.

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour/atta - 2 cups
Gram flour/Besan - 1/4 cup
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tablespoon
Methi leaves - 1/2 cup packed
Cumin/Jeear powder - 1 teaspoon
Chilli powder - 1 teaspon
Oil - 1 tablespoon
Salt to taste
Warm water for kneading

Directions

Remove the methi leaves from the stem and wash them thoroughly..Chop them finely.

Mix in all the ingredients along with the required amount of warm water and knead together to form a dough.Cover and keep it aside for about half an hour.Knead the dough again and make lime sized balls.Dust the surface with flour and roll each ball into a circle with the help of a rolling pin..

Heat a griddle and cook the thepla on both sides for about 2 minutes till brown spots start appearing..Top with a spoon of ghee if you like.

Serve hot with yoghurt and pickle..

Sending this off to Tried and Tasted featuring Monsoon Spice this month

To Herb Mania: Fenugreek hosted by Red Chillies

And to WBB Grains in my Breakfast hosted this month by Aparna brainchild of Nandita.

Announcing Diet Foods Event

I am sure everyone must have resorted to some diet or the other to lose weight..Diet does not mean starving oneself to lose weight..It means eating the right proportion at the right time with or without physical exercise..

Dieting is the practice of ingesting food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. In most cases the goal is weight loss in those who are overweight or obese, but some athletes aspire to gain weight and diets can also be used to maintain a stable body weight.[Courtesy: Wikipedia]

So I thought why not host an event featuring diet recipes exclusively so that it serves people looking for diet recipes..A diet may include low-fat foods, low-carb foods, low calorie foods, protein rich foods etc.

You can send in any recipe which is nutritious and diet-friendly.You can also send in your diet plan including your weekly meal plan, your exercise plan and your own experiences related to dieting..

All you have to do is

1. Create a post related to dieting.

2. Link back to this announcement and feel free to use the logo.

3. Email me the following details to divyablogs[at]gmail[dot]com with subject line Diet Foods

Name and Location
Name of blog
URL of your entry
Photo of entry(any size)

Non-bloggers can also mail me your entries along with the picture of your entry.I will include them in the roundup.

4. Send in your entries before October 26th.You can send in previous entries by just linking them in new posts.

Looking forward to your entries.
Thanks to my dear sister Sugirtha for designing the logo for the event..

Roundup II

Roundup II

Roundup III

Egg Curry

I make this whenever I am out of vegetables..It can be made in a jiffy and it tastes great with rice and rotis..Here comes the simple recipe..

Ingredients (Serves 4)
Egg - 4
Onion - 1 medium sized
Tomato - 1
Green chillies - 2
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tablespoon
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspon
Coconut powder - 2 tablespoons
Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
Cumin powder - 1 teaspoon
Chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
Garam masala - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Curry leaves - few
Oil - 2 spoons
Salt to taste

Directions
Boil the eggs and remove the shells.Chop the onions,tomato and green chillies..Add oil in a vessel and add the cumin seeds and curry leaves.Once they start spluttering, add the onions,ginger-garlic paste, tomatoes and green chillies one by one and saute for two minutes until the onions and tomato gets cooked..Add the chilli powder, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder..Add the coconut powder,salt and one cup water and bring to a boil..Simmer for 5 minutes..Slice the boiled eggs into half and add it to the cooked gravy..
Simmer for 2 minutes..

Serve hot with rice or rotis..

Falafel and Hummus

Falafel is very popular in the Middle East as a fast food. Vendors sell it on the street corners in Cairo. As a main dish, it is served as a sandwich, stuffed in pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, and tahini. As an appetizer, it is served on a salad, or with hummus and tahini. Falafel is a favorite among vegetarians.

I made these falafels and we had it as an appetizer with homemade hummus and also with lavash as wraps.This middle eastern snack,though fried are nutritious and rich in protein.

Ingredients

Dried chickpeas - 1 cup / 16 oz. can of chickpeas
Onion - 1 medium sized
Garlic cloves - 2
Fresh parsley - 2 tablespoons chopped
Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
Cumin powder - 1 teaspoon
Gram flour - 2 tablespoons or as required
Salt to taste
Oil for frying

Directions

Soak the chickpeas overnight if using the dried ones..Drain the water and set aside.Reserve some of the soaked water..Pressure cook the chickpeas until one whistle and allow it to cool..Transfer the chickpeas to a blender and blend it alnog with the other ingredients to get a thick paste.Add the flour in case it is not thick.If needed add a little of the reserved water while blending..The mixture should be in a consistency such that it hold together to form balls.Allow it to rest for about half an hour and form small balls..

Heat oil for frying in a heavy bottomed vessel.And once hot, fry the balls in batches for about three minutes on each side unitl it gets cooked through and turns golden brown..Drain in paper towels..

Serve with hummus..

Sending this to My Legume Love Affair Third Helping hosted this month by Lucy and the brainchild of Susan

Also sending this to Dips hosted by Archana

Homemade Plum Jam and Happy 25th Anniversary Mom n Dad!!

Making jam was not a difficult process as I had been thinking..It need very few ingredients and you get fresh homemade jam without the preservatives and high sugar content as present in the store bought ones..They are cost effective too..I prepared this plum jam when plums were in season and found in bounty in the grocery store..Here comes the recipe for basic plum jam.This recipe can be used making berries and almost any fruit jam.

Ingredients
Plums - 1kg
Sugar - 2 cups
Lemon juice - 3 tablespoons
Water - 2 cups
Directions
Wash the plums thoroughly and chop them roughly..
In a heavy bottomed pan, add the water and plums and bring to a boil.Use a wooden spoon so that it is easy to handle even if it gets hot..Allow them to cook until tender. Mash well and add the sugar. The sugar quantity can be increased or decreased depending on the tartness of the fruit. Also add the lemon juice..

Simmer for around or half an hour or until the water evaporates and the jam thickens and set well.Allow it to cool and refrigerate in glass containers.Can be stored for almost a year..
Great with bread or toast..

Sending this to Long Live the Shelf  and also to Eating with the Seasons

Sending this to In the Bag: Fruits and Nuts hosted by Scott..
And also to Dips hosted by Archana

My parents celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary today! Wishing amma and appa a joyous life ahead!

                                             Happy Anniversary Amma and Appa!!