Yogurt Oatmeal Smoothie

Oats are these days is increasingly a part of morning cereal breakfast, which fights against high cholesterol and heart diseases. It is great smoothies to kick start the day. It’s not only rich in nutrition and also very filling.

Ingredients :

Quick cooking oats - 2 tbsp
Banana - 1
Yogurt / curd -1/2 cup (homemade yogurt)
Honey - for taste
Ice cubes - few
Vanilla ice cream - 1 scoop
Nuts - few(chopped finely)

Method :

Chop the banana roughly.
Blend banana, oats, yogurt, honey and ice cubes and blend until smooth texture.
Serve chill with scoop of vanilla ice cream and chopped nuts on top.
Enjoy the soothing smoothie... : )

Tips:

• Replace the yogurt with milk also to make smoothie.
• You can also add almond or vanilla essence few drops instead of vanilla ice cream.
• Yogurt should be fresh.
• You could try with other fruits like strawberry, apple.

Granola Bar

Imagine a health snack that fills stomach and can stand the hungry for long hours, introducing Granola Bars. Easy to prepare and yummy in taste. The best part is Granola Bars will also fit in your breakfast menu list. Basically the ingredients are very healthy and less in cholesterol i.e., oats, nuts, seeds and cornflakes etc.

It’s a combo of fibre, fruits and nuts which have a rich in vitamins and oats contain antioxidants which promotes for a good health. So it is a good choice for your daily intake.

Ingredients :

Oats - 1 cup
Corn flakes - ½ cup
Almonds - 5 finely chopped
cashew - 5 finely chopped
Peanuts - 2 tbsp
Seasme seed - 1 tbsp
Pumpkin seed - 2tbsp
Sunflower seeds - 2 tbsp
Black Raisins - 1 tbsp
Dates - 4 nos
Honey - ½ cup
Butter - 2 tbsp
Brown sugar - 2 tbsp
Salt a pinch

Method :

• Dry roast oats, corn flakes, chopped nuts, dry fruits and seeds in a pan for 10 minutes till they turns slightly browning and keep aside.
  
• Allow them to cool for some time.


• In a sauce pan add butter heat it and add honey, sugar and mix it on a medium flame until sugar starts melts and bubble up. Switch off the stove.


• Now immediately add the roasted oats and other ingredients to the prepared syrup and a pinch of salt and mix well until the mixture is coated with syrup.


• That’s it, transfer the mix to a butter sheet and spread it evenly using a wooden ladle to ½ inch thickness and cover the top with another butter sheet and press them to smooth.





• Allow them to cool for 10 minutes then cut them into desired shape.


• Once the granola bars comes to room temperature store them in airtight container and enjoy it.

Crunchy Granola bars are ready to eat. Have a break with granola bars.... :)

Tips:

1. Even can use white sugar instead of brown sugar.
2. You can use dry fruits and nuts of your choice like walnuts, cranberries, muesli etc., to make tastier.
3. Don't over roast the ingredients and it will spoil the taste.

Mangalore Bonda / Thayir Bonda

Bonda are a common South Indian snack that has various forms / varieties. Usually Hot Bondas are ideal for winter evening snack, having said that it can be taken in any season. The name Thayir / Yogurt Bonda is because, Yogurt is the main ingredient. More over this is ideal way to consume the excess curd. This delicious tea time snack doesn't consume much of oil and can be prepared quickly & easily with simple ingredients.

Ingredients :

Maida - 1 cup
Rice Flour - 1/4 cup
Sour Curd - 1 cup
Onions - 2 small ( finely chopped )
Coconut Pieces - 1 tbsp (cut into small pieces )
Green chillies - 8 (make it as paste)
Curry leaves - few
Coriander leaves - few finely chopped
Channa dal - 2 tsp
Moong dal - 2 tsp
Cooking Soda - a pinch
Salt - to taste
Cooking Oil

Method :

• Soak the channa dal & moong dal in water for 30 minutes & keep it aside.


• Now mix maida, rice flour, chopped onions, green chilli paste, coriander leaves, curry leaves, coconut pieces with soaked channa dal & moong dal, salt and add curd little by little and mix it to make soft dough. Do not knead the dough too much, like a thick batter without any lumps.


• At finally add cooking soda a pinch and mix it well.


• Keep it aside for 10 minutes. Now the dough is ready.


• In a Non-stick pan heat oil and drop small balls of this dough into the oil and deep fry until it turns golden brown

Yummy Mangalore bonda is ready to eat. :) Serve hot with ketchup or chutney as per your taste.

This is one of my favourite, the reason is its really crispy on the outer layer but with soft & spicy inner, the coconut chunks add more taste. This bonda also can be tired after being soaked in sambar and rasam.

Pasta Payasam

Hi all today let me introduce Indo Italian Payasam. Yep its Pasta Payasam, a delicious one which I guess everybody will like especially kids. It is on of my favourite dessert. As pasta comes in variety of shapes, it will always be a new variety every time when tried with various shapes.

Ingredients :

Pasta - 1cup ( I used here Elbow shape Macaroni )
Milk - 2 cups
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Cardamom powder - a pinch
Coconut - 2 tbsp
Poppy seed - 2 tsp
Ghee - few

Method :

Grind the coconut & poppy seed together into smooth paste and keep it aside. In a pan add milk with adequate water when it starts boiling add pasta with tsp of ghee,it will keep the pasta elbow separate and non sticky. stir continuously until it get cooked in milk till soft and add sugar to it. Now add the ground paste and leave to boil for 2 minutes . Switch off the stove and finally add cardamom powder. Rich and Yummy pasta payasam is ready. Serve hot or cold. Even you can garnish with dry fruits / Nuts before serving.

And finally the Pasta Payasam is ready to serve. To make it more interesting and attractive try with different shapes of pasta.