Brinjal/Eggplant rice

Brinjal is a very common vegetable used in India and in many other countries, but in different names like eggplant. Also this  is the one disliked by many of  us, including me. But you will all love this recipe and it tastes very good. Also this is very easy to prepare. Even kids who hesitate to eat vegetables, especially brinjal, will love this rice. This would be entirely different and tasty recipe for taking in your lunch box. This does not need any side dish or sabzi, just have fryums (அப்பளம்) with it and for sure it tastes too good.

Ingredients:

Cooked Rice - 3 cups
Brinjal - 3 (cut to cubes)
Onion - 1 (chopped)
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Fennel seeds(பெருஞ்சீரகம்)  - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 spring
Chana dal (Bengal gram) - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 2 tsp
Coriander powder - 3 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil 3 tbsp
Cilantro/Coriander leaves - to garnish



Method:

1) First cook rice and keep it aside. See that all grains are separate.

2) In a bowl, take the cut brinjal.

3) Add all spices and salt to the brinjal.

4) Mix it well and keep it aside for about 15 to 20 minutes.

5) After 20 minutes, heat a pan, put some oil in a pan and add the brinjal and let it cook aside.

6) In another pan, take oil and add fennel seeds, curry leaves. Also add chana dal/bengal gram.

7) Add chopped onion and saute it for few minutes.

8) Then add the cooked brinjal from the other pan.

9) Saute it for 5 mins and then add the cooked rice and mix it well. Finally garnish it with cilantro.

Spinach Dal Curry

Spinach/Palak is one of the tastiest of most greens. It has very high nutritional values, rich in antioxidants and have high calcium content too. Even rich in iron, palak tastes delicious, when cooked with dal. This curry goes very well with white rice or even with chapatti.

Ingredients:

Chopped spinach/palak - 2 cups
Onion - 1 (chopped)
Tomoto - 2 (cut to cubes)
Garlic - 3 cloves (finely chopped)
Butter/Oil - 1 tbsp/2 tbsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Green chillies - 2
Cooked dal - 1 cup
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Corriander powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste


Note:
1. You can also use cooking oil instead of butter. But butter gives a rich taste on all spinach dishes.
2. Dal can be toor dal or moong dal or a combination of both.

Method:


1) First pressure cook the dal and keep it aside.

2) In a pan, take butter or oil.

3) Add mustard, urad dal and cumin seeds.

4) Once it starts to splutter, add finely chopped garlic.

5) Once you get the garlic aroma, add chopped onion and saute it very well.

6) Add tomatoes to it.

7) Add all spices along with green chillies and salt.

8) Saute it very well and add 2 glasses of water.

9) Cover it with a lid and let it boil for about 8 to 10 mins. Add chopped spinach and let it cook for about 5 mins. Do not cover it with lid, while cooking greens.

10) Finally add cooked dal to it and just cook it for about 3 to 5 mins.

Rich and creamy spinach/palak dal curry is now ready to taste.

Eggless Vanilla Cupcake

Spongy and fluffy cupcake can be made in a very easy way, without using egg.

Ingredients:

All purpose flour / Maida - 1 cup
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Milk  - 1/2 cup
Unsalted Butter - 1 stick (1/2  cup)
Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp


Note: Can use vegetable oil, instead of butter.


Method:

1) Preheat oven to 350 deg F/180 deg C.

2) In a bowl, take the butter. See, if the butter is in room temperature.

3) Add 1/2 cup sugar to the butter.

4) Blend it very well and add 1/2 cup milk to it.

5) Add 1 cup all purpose flour.

6) Then add 1 tsp baking powder.

7) Then add 1/2 tsp of baking soda to it.

8) Also add 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract.

9) Blend everything very well until you get a creamy texture. In a cupcake pan, arrange the cupcake mould. Pour the mixture in the mould. Do not fill the whole cup, so as to give space for the cake to rise.

10) Place it in the oven for about 18 to 20 minutes.

11) Now the fluffy and spongy cupcake is almost ready.

12) Remove it from the oven and let it cool for few minutes.

Now the cupcake is ready to eat.

Chocolate Banana Smoothie

This is a yummy and delicious drink for all ages. Especially kids love this. Kids who hesitate to take milk or banana, this is a good source to make them have it.

Ingredients:

Banana - 1
Unsweetened Coco powder - 2 tbsp
(can use chocolate syrup instead)
Milk - 1 cup (200 ml)
Sugar - 2 tbsp (reduce sugar amount if using chocolate syrup)


Method:

Step 1: In a blender, slice half riped banana.

Step 2: Liquify the coco powder with some milk. If you are using chocolate syrup skip this step. Add liquified coco-powder or chocolate syrup to the sliced banana.

Step 3:     Add sugar and milk (it is not necessry to pre-heat the milk. Unboiled milk works great for smoothies).

Step 4: Blend all together and here comes a really rich and delicious chocolate banana smoothie.
Pour in a glass and its ready to serve. Tastes even better if served chilled.