Mama's View | Parenting, Education, Money & Mindful Living

Poha Namkeen: This is yet another special Diwali recipe that can be enjoyed with a hot cuppa tea or coffee on a cold evening. I have not fried the poha/chivda here. If you wish, you can fry the poha.I have made the sweet and tangy version here by adding powdered sugar and citric acid powder but it is completely optional. Ingredients: Thin Poha-1.5 cups Groundnuts-4 teaspoons Cashewnuts-2 teaspoons Almonds-1 teaspoon Curry leaves-10 or12 leaves Red chilli-2(optional) Cumin seeds/jeera-1 teaspoon Sesame seeds/til-2 teaspoons Asafoetida/Hing-1/4 teaspoons Oi/Ghee-to fry the nuts and curry leaves(3tablespoonsapprox.) Salt-To taste Sugar powder-2 teaspoons(optional) Citric acid powder-1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder-1/2 teaspoon Dried coconut-cut into thin strips-7-8 Method: -Take a heavy bottomed iron pan and heat it on medium flame. -Add the poha and dry roast it on low-medium flame for 4-5 minutes and take it out of the pan. -Now, add oil/ghee to the same pan and fry the nuts, sesame seeds,...

Wheat Shakarpare: This diwali try making this traditional snacks. It's quick and easy to make. I have made the shakarpara with wheat, you can substitute wheat and corn flour in 50:50 proportion. ingredients: -whole wheat flour-1.5 cups -water/milk-1 cup -sugar-3 tablespoons -oil for frying and to make the dough -Knife to cut the shakarpara Method: -Heat the water or milk in a pan and add sugar. -Stir the mixture to dissolve the sugar and let the mixture cool. -Take a big bowl and add the wheat flour. -Add 2 teaspoons of oil and mix it with the flour. -Now ,pour the sugar and water mixture little by little with the help of a spoon to make a semi -soft dough. -Allow this dough to rest for 15-20 minutes by covering the vessel with a lid. -Knead the dough again and cut it into 2 equal portions. -With the help of a board and rolling pin roll the portion of the dough to make a chapatti. -The  chapatti rolled should be little thick. -Take a knife and cut the chapatti into strips and verti...

My next holi special recipe is the boondi and sev bhel.This is also a quick to make recipe and tastes great. I have used pudina sev but you can also use plain sev.This is a sweet and tangy bhel and is a good holi snack recipe.You can also add sprouts or boiled chickpeas to make is more healthy. Ingredients: Boondi-100 grams Pudina sev-100 grams Tomato-1 small,deseeded and finely chopped Onion-1 small,finely chopped Green chilles-1 finely chopped Green mango/Keiri-small piece,peeled and finely chopped Pudina and coriander leaves-3 teaspoons,finely chopped Green chutney- 3 teaspoons,See RECIPE here http://mamasview.blogspot.in/2012/04/healthy-green-dhania-chutneycoriander.html Tamarind Chutney-2 teaspoons Curd-1 tablespoon Chaat masala-2 teaspoons Fresh lime juice-2 teaspoons Method: -Take a mixing bowl and add all the above ingredients one by one and gently mix with a spoon and serve immediately.

Now that the festivals are around the corner most of us observe vrats and prefer eating food cooked without using garlic or onions or satvik ahaar as we call it.I usually make this chutney during festivals when there is a vrat and we prepare food without garlic and onions. This sweet and sour chutney is rich in iron that comes from the dates and antioxidants from tomatoes.This is a quick to make chutney and tastes great with plain steamed rice or with chapati and parathas. Ingredients Tomatoes-3 medium sized,ripe Dates-4-5,seedless Roasted Cumin powder-2 teaspoon Refined vegetable oil/ghee-2 teaspoons Dry red chilli-2  Panchphoran (Saunf, jeera, methi,kalonji seeds) -1teaspoon Salt -a generous pinch Sugar or Jaggery powder -2.5 tablespoons Water-2 tablespoons  Method -Wash the tomatoes and dice them into small pieces -Soak the dates in water for 10-15 minutes.Wash well and cut them into small pieces. - Take a pan and dry roast the cumin seeds for 3-4 minutes...