Semolina Carrot Quick Bread Revisited | Healthy Snacks

Semolina Quick Breads are a tasty and healthy alternative to heavy, oily snacks. They are nutritious, filling, and if you are particular about your baked goodies - eggless! Earlier this year I posted my favorite recipe for Semolina Loaf. The recipe was loaded with vegetables and made for a delicious and dense bread. Since then I have tried many permutations of the recipe, and off late we have settled on a somewhat lighter version of the same.

Namkeen Kulkul | Karam Ghavalu | Spicy Crisp Shells

Namkeen Kulkul or Karam Ghavalu is a delicious snack that comes from Western India. My first introduction to Kulkul was in its sweet form. The spicy one I came to know of many years later. I love both forms of Kulkul and this Diwali I made the spicy one for family and friends. I love to add sesame seeds in Namkeens and I chose to add a good handful in this version of Kulkul. The result was really good - the Kulkul was crunchy with the seeds adding some extra flavor and texture to this snack.

Almond, Dates, and Oats Laddoo | Healthy Festival Sweets

Navratri is here and its time to get cooking!! I have a long list of delicious treats that I want to make and this list only gets longer each year:) Hey, what's a festival without delicious sweets and savories to tickle the taste buds. If you are looking for Fasting Recipes | Vrat ka Khana, you are at the right spot too as I have a great archive of some delicious Fasting Foods.

Til ke Laddu | Sesame Seeds Laddoo

Its Ganesh Chaturthi and I have been cooking up some yummy celebratory dishes. This year I made Til ke Laddu | Sesame Seeds Laddoo for the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Followed it up with Mumra Chikki, Amimi Kozukottai, and today I have made Dal Pitha. However, I have been slow to post all the yummy dishes that I have been cooking up for this festival season. In fact its been many days since I wrote a post at all. Last month was quite busy and while I made some great dishes and took the photos, I just could not find the time time to sit and get the writing done.

Savoury Semolina Loaf with Carrot and Sunflower Seeds | Healthy Snacks

Semolina | Sooji | Rava is great for preparing all kinds of snacks in the Indian Kitchen. I use it for Upma, Rava Idlis, Cheelas (North Indian Style Pancakes), and Dosas (South India Style Pancakes). I also add it to savoury muffins, scones, and biscuits, which I make for breakfast on weekends. This semolina loaf is just a leap away from a savoury muffin. Its a great alternative entree at breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack. In fact, its quite like a quick bread only a lot tastier as it incorporates tonnes of flavour with spices and vegetables. Its wonderfully grainy texture which comes from the semolina allows it to take on a lot more flavour than any flour!!

Gajar ki Puri | Carrot Poori | Deep Fried Carrot Flatbread

Today's recipe is a well loved one - carrot puris. A simple fried bread made with multiple flours, grated carrots, and spices. These are good snacking puris and perfect for the lunch box. Kids love them for their chewiness and their taste. I like to make a big batch once in a while and save them in the refrigerator. They will last for at least a week - if you can keep your hands off them. Just warm them in the microwave using a damp tea towel and you are good to go.

Seeded Zucchini Quick Bread | Farm Fresh Produce

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This morning I baked a Zucchini Quick Bread with some of the zucchini I had picked at the farm. I used my regular recipe - one that I developed after the Daring Bakers once got together to make quick breads! Its a tried and tested recipe and so simple that you can't possibly go wrong with. I used a blend of whole flours that added to both the taste and texture of the bread and threw in some sesame seeds and flax seeds for good measure!

Til Chatni | Sesame Seeds Powder | Chutney Powder

Dry Chutney Powders are a perfect accompaniment to a simple dinner of dal, rice, and vegetable. I learnt about these powders when we moved to Mumbai and I began school there. The variety of dry powders and their delicious hot and spicy taste were a treat to my tongue. I loved to eat them with everything - yes pretty much everything! I included them in sandwiches, inhaled them with batata vadas and sago kichidi, and sprinkled them on dal and yogurt.

Parsi Style Aloo Curry | Potatoes in a Rich Creamy Gravy

Many years ago, my Mum purchased the Parsi food classic Jamva Chaloji by Katy Dalal. She absolutely loved the book and recommended it to me many times. I never really got the opportunity to buy it and when I wanted to, I found it unavailable. Last year however, I was lucky enough to find a copy of it at a Landmark store in Mumbai.

Daring Bakers July 2012: Crunchy Crackers

I was delighted that the July 2012 Daring Bakers Challenge featured four recipes for home made crackers!! Yes, that wonderfully salty treat that goes so well with cheese, a wide array of vegetables, and even fruit. Loved the recipes even more as most did not feature butter! I chose two types of crackers: the first Health Crackers. I made just one third of the recipe, replaced the egg with some milk, and topped the crackers with sesame seeds, red chili flakes, and roasted cumin.

Masala Tamatar Bhaat | Spicy Tomato Rice

Whenever I want to make tomato rice, I hunt around for the tangy yet sweet pink tomato!! Piled high at green grocers in the big vegetable markets of New Delhi, these tomatoes were firm yet wonderfully juicy. No winter salad would be complete without them. Tomato purees and tomato paste was not widely available in those days and my Mum and Grandma made do with the fresh version for all those wonderful winter recipes.

Dal aur Til Tarka Wali Patta Gobhi | Lentil and Sesame Tempered Cabbage

Things have been so hectic in the last few months we have not had time to catch a breath. With packed schedules, it is easy to be tempted with take-out or making do with some snacking. Both being seriously unhealthy as meal substitutes, I try to do some quick cooking everyday. Usually a vegetable and a lentils is a must with chappati and or rice. We love yogurt/curd and I always keep some handy in the refrigerator. Off late I have begun making the simplest of recipes, which are packed with flavour, but not time consuming in the effort to keep meals healthy.