Mango-Strawberry Smoothie

Smoothies are packed with vitamins and are a good source of energy.This smoothie is great during the hot summers when you get lots of sweet and juicy mangoes.I have used strawberry crush but it would be even better if you use fresh strawberries.

Ingredients:
Mango pulp-1.5 cups
Strawberry crush-3 tablespoons
Thick yogurt-2 tablespoons
Milk(Low fat)-2 cups
Honey-2 tablespoons
Ice cubes-4-5

Method:
-Put all the ingredients in a mixer jar and blend to make a nice smooth paste.
-Pour in a tall glass and serve immediately.

Jeera Rice-Rice with cumin seeds

Jeera Rice (Photo credit: easycooking)

Jeera rice is a quick to make recipe recipe which can be made even with left-over rice.

Ingredients:
Rice-2 cups,cooked
Cumin seeds/jeera-2 teaspoons
Curry leaves-5-6
Onion-1/2,finely sliced
Green chilli-2,slit
Cashew nuts-4-5,broken
Salt to taste
Oil-2 teaspoons

Method:
-Heat a pan and add 2 teaspoons of oil.
-Add the cumin seeds and let it splutter.Next,add the curry leaves,slit green chillies and cashew nuts.
-Stir for 1 minute and add finely sliced onions ans cook till the onions turn golden in colour.
-Now add the rice and salt and mix well.
-Serve hot with roasted papad and dal fry.

Sprouts Salad-A healthy salad for summer

Green moong dal sprouts with some tomatoes,carrots and cucumber along with some boiled chanas make this salad very healthy,nutritious and equally appetizing.

Ingredients:
Green moong dal sprouts-1 cup
Bengal gram-3 tablespoons,soaked and boiled
Tomatoes-1,finely chopped
Cucumber-1/2,finely chopped
Carrot-1,peeled and grated
Onion-1/4,finely chopped
Green chilli-1,finely chopped
Lime juice-2 teaspoons
Fresh coriander leaves-3 teaspoons,finely chopped
Chaat masala- 1 teaspoon,
Rock salt-a pinch
Salt-1/4 teaspoon

Method:
-Take a large bowl and mix all the ingredients and toss well.

Spring Onion Chutney

I got this delicious recipe from a friend.She used the spring onion greens and not the bulbs.The spring onion gives the chutney a nice taste and smell too.You can use this chutney as sandwich spread or simple have it wit rice,puri or parathas.
So here goes the spring onion recipe.

Ingredients:
Spring Onion greens -2 bunches
Green mango-a small piece,peeled and finely chopped
Fresh scraped coconut-2 teaspoons
Green chilli-1 small
Salt to taste
Oil-1 teaspoon

Method:
-Finely chop the spring onion greens.

-Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a pan and add the chopped spring onions and fry it till they are slightly cooked.
-Take a mixer jar and add the fried spring onions and all the above ingredients and blend to make a nice smooth paste.

Bajra-Lauki Paratha-Indian flat bread with millets

I've already mentioned about the goodness of bajra and how important it is to include this millet in our diet.Lauki,doodhi or bottle-gourd is yet another vegetable that has many health benefits.This paratha recipe is healthy and a great way to sneek lauki in your child's paratha.

Ingredients:
Bajra flour-2 cups
Whole wheat flour- 1/2 cup
Lauki-1/2,peeled and grated
Salt-1/2 teaspoon
Ghee-1 teaspoon
Red chilli powder-1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder-a pinch
Hing-a generous pinch
Garam masala-1/4 teaspoon
Oil- 1 teaspoon each,for making the parathas

Method:
-Wash and peel the lauki and grate it and keep aside.
-Take a bowl and mix all the ingredients expect oil and mash well and make a soft dough and let the dough rest for 10-15 minutes.
-Take some wheat flour in a bowl and take small portions of the dough and roll them into parathas with a rolling pin.Dust some wheat flour as the paratha may become little sticky.
-Heat a flat pan and put the paratha and cook it till one side is properly done.Flip it and cook the other side.
-Smear a little oil on both sides of  the paratha.
-Repeat the above steps with the rest of the dough.
-Serve hot with raita,salad and pickle.

Jelly and Peanut butter Biscuit Sandwich-2 minutes yummy snack

Kids love jelly and if your child is not allergic to peanuts,the peanut butter is a much healthier option than the regular margarine or butter.This recipe is a combination of a tasty jelly and peanut butter sandwiched between two marie-light biscuits or any biscuits of your choice.It's a quick and filling snack for kids.

Ingredients:
Marie biscuits-1 small pack
Jelly(any flavor)
Peanut butter

Method:
-Take two biscuits and spread jelly on one and peanut butter on the other.
-Sandwich the two biscuits and enjoy!

Fried Potatoes and Okra(Alu-Bhindi)

Kids love okra or bhindi and this simple and tasty recipe of alu-bhindi is just a perfect for their lunchbox.Pack this with some salads,fruits and plain chapati smeared with ghee or butter.

Ingredients:
Okra/Bhindi-10-12
Potatoes-1-2 medium size
Kalonji/Onion seeds-1/4 teaspoon
Mustard seeds-1/4 teaspoon
Dry red chilli-1
Turmeric powder-1/4 teaspoon
salt to taste
Oil-2 teaspoons

Method:
-Wash the bhindi and wipe it with a kitchen towel before cutting.Cut the bhindi into small pieces.
-Wash the potatoes and chop it into small pieces.Do not peel the potato skin.
-Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and kalonji.Let it splutter.
-Add the dry red chilli and the potatoes first.
-Cook for 2-3 minutes and the add the chopped bhindi and mix well.
-Add salt and turmeric and stir well and cook till the potatoes and bhindi are done.
-Serve hot with puris ,parathas or plain chapatis.