Maida Dosa

                                                      This is different variety of dosa with maida or all purpose flour.Even though it is not very healthy it is a easy one with easily available ingredients at home,especially when you do not have the idli or dosa dough(batter).It is an instant dosa which you can prepare immediately.This dosa is not crispy in fact it is soft!!You can add some chopped onions to enhance the taste.Beginers please use a non stick pan for best results.

Sago Upma

Sago or javarisi upma.I learnt this recipe from my friend.As a child i have never eaten this upma.Only when I started  cooking I started exploring and looked for more variety.This is quiet a simple one except for the fact that you have to soak it for a little while.

Ingredients

Sago or javarisi	200gms
Water	To soak
Oil	2tbs
Mustard seeds	1tsp
Channa Dal	1tsp
Onion	2chopped
Turmeric powder	1/4tsp
Green chilli	2
Ginger(chopped)	Small piece
Curry leaves	few
Coriander leaves	11/2tbs
Lime juice	1lime

Method
1.Soak sago for two hours.Soak it in just enough water to immerse.

2.Put it in a strainer after two hours so that excess water runs off.Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and when it crackles add Channa Dal(kadalai paruppu),onions,green chilli,ginger, curry leaves and turmeric powder.

3.Fry till onions become slightly brown.

4.Add the sago and salt mix well and depending on the sago close it for a minute or two and cook.Finally add lime juice mix well and serve.Garnish with coriander leaves.
You can add some coarsly powdered peanuts to the upma at the end.It adds taste,flavour and protein to the upma.

Notes

• It is very popular in north India and Maharashtra.
• They usually make it during fasting period.
• You can avoid onions during fasting periods.

Ragi Kanji Sweet and salt version

                                                      
                                                                                  Ragi is a very nutricious cereal loaded with protein,calcium and iron.It is a powerhouse of nutrients,ragi helpsrelieve stress and anxiety and is a great remedy for gastro-intestinal problems.It is packed with fiber and is digested slowly.This keeps you full for longer,makes you less hungry and aids weight loss.Its fiber is also beneficial for diabetics as it helps lower blood sugar levels in the body.
Though Ragi is not a favourite food in our house because of its health benefits i have started making lots of ragi recipes.Ragi dosa,kanji etc.I used to add them in the atta that i make chapathis with.
Ragi kanji is a very easy recipe that you can make in two falvours one with milk,sugar,nuts and cardamom powder and the other with buttermilk and spices.

Rawa Pongal

                                                         Rawa Pongal is a easy version of the normal Ven Pongal made with rice and dal.In Rawa Pongal instead of Rice we use rawa which cooks easy and faster and little light on the stomac.It goes well with a simple Coconut chutney otherwise you can serve it with Tiffin Sambar which is a great combination and tastes heavely.

Thayir Aval/Curd Poha

                                                               Thayir Aval or curd Poha is a quick version of Thayir sadam.It is very easy to make and there is no cooking time required to make this.It comes in handy when you are in a hurry to make any breakfast.It is also a summer recipe!!!!!It is also made on Krishna Jayanthi as prasadam.
                             This is one of my husbands favourite breakfast dish and he has been asking me to make this for quite some time now.My mother used to make it often for him.I fondly remember her while making this!!!!!!

Fruit and Yogurt Parfait

                                                  This is the most simple but healthiest breakfast I have known.You can actually make it according to your taste and seasonal availability of Fruits.I was exposed to this in South Africa when we were travelling by car and stopped by in a restaurant.I saw this recipe picture on the menu and ordered it (so yummy!!! ) I love fruits generally and it was a treat for me!!!!Everyone around me was teasing me for eating this but I actually really enjoyed it.It looks like a fruit dessert, doesn't it ??  

Rawa Khichdi/Vegetable Rawa Upma

                                                                        Rawa vegetable upma or khichdi is one of my favourites.I love plain rawa upma and the rawa tomato bath.Sadly there are not many takers nowa days and in my house also,but i can eat it for breakfast,tiffin or dinner.I don'teven need chutney or sambar i will eat it with sugar sprinkled on the upma.My mother used to make the best upma with a lof of vegetables in it.The ghee in the rawa khichdi makes it very aromatic and tasty.

Some people add cinnamon,fennel seeds to the khichdi but i prefer it this way.

Oats Porridge (Sweet and Salt )/Healthy Breakfast Recipe

                                                             Oats porridge has become a universal breakfast cereal now.Right from people living in western countries to traditional people living in Indian villages, oats porridge is part of the breakfast diet.My uncles and aunts, everyone has oats porridge with buttermilk(savoury oats)since they are all diabetic.I like to eat oats porridge with milk,banana and few nuts.I think that is a very healthy breakfast with Banana in it and it is the best way to kick start your day and body!!!My kids prefer to have the savoury one with buttermilk and so does my husband.
                                                     Needless to say the enormous health benefits of oats.It is high in fiber and helps to keep your cholesterol under control. It helps in weight loss and it cooks in a jiffy!!!!!

Vendhaya Dosai

                                                      Vendhaya dosai is another variety of dosai which is very soft and aromatic.The dominant taste and aroma of vendhayam makes it tasty and soft.It is a very traditional recipe.My grandmom used to call it 'mendhaya arisi dosai'(don't know why though).It tastes good with any kara chutney and tastes best when eaten hot.

Semiya Kichadi/Vegetable Semiya Upma

                                                                    Semiya Kichadi or Vegetable Semiya Upma is a very healthy and easy to prepare South Indian tiffin.You can call it a one pot meal and have it for dinner also.Actually south Indian dishes are easy to prepare and easily digestible and that is what i like about them.Semiya Kichadi is a perfect Lunch box menu too but it is at its best when eaten hot with coconut chutney!!!!

Ven Pongal/Ghee Pongal

                                                                     When i say Ven Pongal I remember Marghazi Masam.Margazhi masam comes between dec 15-jan 14.You get Ven Pongal as prasadam in Vishnu temples daily throughout the month.
It is beleived that Andal observed the paavai Nombu to attain Vishnu as her husband.She used to recite the Thirupaavai(collection of 30 poems)every day througout the month.
Later  it used to  be believed that if young girls observed Paavai Nombu and sang Thiruppavai , they would get good husbands.Apart from this marriage beleif singing Thiruppavai brings more religious connections.
After reciting the poems they would be given hot Ven pongal in Dhonnais(disposable cups made out of palm leaves)as prasadam.It is really popular in vishnu temples.When people are not able to go to the temple they make ven pongal at home for neivedhyam on the first day of Marghazi masam.My mother used to make both sweet and ven pongal for neivedhayam.I am not a big fan of Ven pongal but my husband loves it and my daughter too.

Vermicelli Upma/Semiya Upma

                                                                         Semiya Upma is a simple and easy breakfast recipe.It  tastes so good that it does not require any accompaniment, so it really comes handy when you are short of time.I make this upma for breakfast,though my kids do not enjoy upmas very much they do eat it for my sake!They do enjoy the vermicelli biryani that i make for dinner sometimes.I have used only onions for this upma.You can add tomatoes,finely chopped vegetables like carrot,beans,peas and cauliflower to make it more healthy and colourful.You can chop these vegetables the previous day and store it in the fridge to use it in the morning(to make it easier).Now coming to the recipe.....

Rawa Tomato Bath

                                                             Rawa Tomato Bath is nothing but upma with a lot of tomatoes or rawa cooked in tomato puree.I remember my mother making this upma for my grandmother in the evenings whenever she used to fast or just eat once a day.She was a no onion and no garlic person so this was her main dish on her 'fasting' days.It is so tasty that when my grand mom starts to eat i would wait for her to offer me a bite and she would definitely give me one.
It is very easy and simple to make with very simple ingredients and it gets done in no time.My mother used to drizzle a tsp of ghee on top and it tastes heavenly with just a tsp sugar as an accompaniment.
Lot of Children are fussy about tomato pieces so my aunt used to cook it in tomato puree to avoid the mushy tomato pieces.You can try that too!

Oats Pongal

                                                                 Oats Pongal is a savoury version of oats porridge cooked to suit Indian taste buds especially south Indian.It is same like our rice pongal in which we use oats instead of rice to  make it more healthy.It is not only healthy it is very easy and fast to cook.Those who eat oats for breakfast regularly can try this one for a variety and a different taste.

Upma/Rawa Upma

                                                           Upma is the most simple and popular south Indian breakfast.It can be made in a jiffy and in so many different ways.I have posted just the basic recipe for beginners.I have also posted an elaborate version previously with step wise pictures.
Not many are fond of upma when they are young.But as a child, I used to love upma - especially with all the veggies in it. My mother used to make the best upma.She used to make it with only Tomatoes on fasting days for my grandmom and I used to wait for my grand mom to offer me a bite. It used to taste heavenly ! She would fry some cashews in ghee and garnish it sometimes.However my sister was not very fond of Upma when she was in school.My grand father used to tease her saying her evening snack was upma and she would freak out ! Once you grow up and start cooking, you want to try all recipes - especially the easy ones like upma which comes in handy and as a saviour a lot of times.

Aloo Poha

                       Aloo poha is a Maharashtrian dish.I think this was the first dish i learnt from my Maharashtra friend as soon as  i got married.I have been making it regularly from then.It is nothing but flavoured rice flakes with potatoes,onions and indian spices.

Ingredients

Aval or poha	2 cups
onion	1
Potato	1
Green chili	1
Ginger	Small piece
Oil	2tbs
Mustard seeds	1tsp
Cumin seeds	1tsp
Turmeric powder	1/2tsp
Salt	11/2tsp
Curry leaves	few
Coriander leaves	few
Lime juice from	½-1lime
sugar	1/2tsp

Method


1.Depending on the Aval either wash it  if it is soft or soak it for ten minutes if it is thick.
2.Chop the onions,potato,green chili and ginger.
3.Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds when it crackles add cumin,onions,green chillies and ginger.
4.Fry for a minute add potatoes,turmeric powder,salt and cook covered till the potatoes are done.
5.Add the washed or soaked Aval or Poha and stir well.if required sprinkle little water and cook for few minutes covered depending on the poha.Add chopped curry and coriander leaves.
6.When the poha is soft add lime juice,sugar and some more salt.mix well and serve with curd.

           Adjust the salt,lime juice and sugar according to your taste.sugar is of course is optional.It is really quick and easy to make.You can even add frozen green peas if you add more veggies.

Bread upma

One way of making plain bread spicy and tasty
Ingredients

• Six slices of Bread 
• One big Onion                              
• One Tomato                            
• One small Capsicum                         
• One Green chillie                     
• A small Piece of Ginger                            
• Few Curry leaves
• Few Coriander leaves

Seasoning

• Few(1-2) Tbs of Oil
• One tsp of Mustard seeds
• One tsp of Channa dal

Method

1. Slice onions,tomatoes and capsicum and cut the bread into blocks.
2. Heat oil in a Thick bottomed Pan,crackle mustard seeds,add channa dhal and add onions.
3. Add green chillie,ginger slices,tomato,turmeric powder and salt.
4. Add the caspsicum and fry.add chillie powder if required.
5. Add the bread cubes and fry for few more minutes.
6. Serve hot at breakfast or after school snack.

Idli(rice cakes)

Ingredients

• Boiled rice                              3 cups
• Raw rice                                1 cup
• Urad dhal                               1 cup
• Fenugreek seeds                    1/2tsp
• Salt                                        3spoons

Method

1. Soak rice and fenugreek seeds together and urad dhal seperately for 4 hours.
2. Grind urad dhal first in a wet grinder then grind the rice.
3. When the rice is ground add the urad dhal flour also into the grinder.
4. Add salt and grind for few more minutes so that it mixes well and allow it to ferment.
5. Once the flour rises and ferments pour it into idli plates and steam it for 20 minutes.
6. Serve with cocnut chutney,sambhar,kothsu,onion chutney,pudina chutney or tomato chutney.
7. It is a very easyily digestible and popular breakfast or tiffin in south indian homes.

                                                   once it has fermented it doubles in size.

                                            Grease the plate with oil and then pour the dough.

                                                                 Steam it for 20 minutes

                                                 Serve with cocnut chutney and sambhar.