Chocolate Peanut Butter

Rosemary Fig Jam

Tamarind Jam (sugarless)

Ginger Applesauce- Kids in the Kitchen

It is truly intriguing to understand the mind of a little child who is exploring the world of books and the joys of reading. There is so much wonder and awe to discover a world full of imagination and to realize that he can now understand it. Reading skills are truly empowering to a child. 

Egg Chutney-International Egg Incident

Egg wha?? I hear you say. Yes you read right.This is presenting egg chutney with crouton sticks.

Plum Chutney

Gotta say this was one gorgeous looking chutney with a very unique taste! I followed the same recipe I had used for Tomato Chutney. Tastes fantastic with parathas.

Tahini

Tahini  (Arabic tahina) or sesame paste is a paste of ground sesame seeds used in cooking. North African/West Asian tahini is made of hulled, lightly roasted seeds. East Asian sesame paste is made of unhulled seeds. So that explains the brown colour of my tahini.

Pineapple Jam

Pineapple jam- a great way to eat this lovely fruit. This is the first time I tried making jam out of pineapple and it is o so delicious! Just that I cant believe that a whole pineapple is reduced to just one bowl of jam. Maybe next time, I'll put 2 pineapples for that. Your kids would love this one! If they dont go ahead and wallop it guilt-free.

Choco-Dates Compound Butter

Compound butters (French: "Beurre composé") are mixtures of butter and supplementary ingredients. Primarily, they are used to enhance flavor in various dishes, in a fashion similar to a sauce.

Compound butters can be sweet or savoury. I ventured into compound butters thanks to a challenge by Natasha from 5Star Foodie. Its by far the simplest recipe I've blogged about till date. No cook, no bake, just mix, roll, chill, cut and use. I decided to make mine sweet and I did enjoy it. My kids think its chocolate.

Special thanks to Mary Ann who is always ready to answer my queries on nutrition.

No proportions for this one, just follow your taste-buds.

Choco-Dates Compound Butter

Ingredients-

Unsalted butter

Cocoa powder

Icing sugar

Chopped dates

Preparation-

• Bring the butter to room temperature.
• Combine all the ingredients well.

• Place the mixture into a cling film and roll into desired shape. I chose to use a triangular shape to get more of a chocolate effect.
• Chill.
• When its half set, press wedges with the side of a spoon. This will make it easier to slice into proportions when you want to use it.

• When its fully set remove the cling film, slice and serve over a toast.

Enjoy!

Tomato Chutney

A friend  is expecting! And she says she craves for sour and spicy. I've been wanting to prepare tomato chutney since a while, so this was the best excuse. Though I am not very fond of spicy food, this one I have to admit is really addictive! The aroma, flavour and colour all hit you. I guess thats what is "umami". I've been trying to understand "umami" this month and I think I've got it.

This recipe is adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor's 'Any Time Temptations'.

Panchporan is a five-spice mixture(panch meaning five) used for tempering.

Though I've added 2 kashmiri chillies its not too spicy, and can be easily used in a sandwhich for a kid. You can enjoy this with some hot parathas as well.

Tomato Chutney

Ingredients-
5 large ripe tomatoes
2 whole red Kashmiri chillies
1tbs oil
1sprig curry leaf
1/4 tsp asafoetida
1tbs grated jaggery
1tsp red chilli powder
salt to taste
For Panchphoran-
1/2tsp fennel seeds (saunf)
1/2 tsp nigella seeds (kalonji)
1/2tsp mustard seeds
1/4tsp fenugreek seeds(methi)
1/2tsp cumin seeds(jeera)

Preparation-

• Wash and chop tomatoes
• Remove stems and break red chillies with hand.
• Heat oil in saucepan. Add panchphoran, when it crackles add the broken red chillies, curry leaves and asafoetida.
• Add chopped tomatoes and stir the mixture for 10 minutes. Add grated jaggery, red chilli powder, and salt.
• Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes or till the tomatoes are cooked and completely mashed.

Enjoy!
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Mint Chutney

Beetroot Jam

Beetroot Jam is another great way to get the family to eat their beets! For the health benefits of beetroots, read here. The addition of nuts powder of course enriches the jam. The flavour of ginger and lemon gives it a unique taste.

Ingredients-

4 beetroots peeled and grated

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 inches long fresh ginger piece peeled and grated

1 lemon juice

11/2 tbs cashew and almond powder.

Preparation-

• Wash clean, peel and grate the beetroots fine.
• Peel ginger and grate fine.
• In a pan add the grated beetroots, sugar half of the lime juice, water, grated ginger and cook till most of the water evaporates.
• After it cools to room temperature, grind the mixture in a blender to a smooth paste.
• Return to the pan add the rest of the lemon juice and continue to cook. The jam shouldnt be too dry, it should be moist.
• Take it off the fire and add the cashew nut and almonds powder.
• When completely cool store in bottles.

You can also try-
Beetroot Cutlets
Beetroot Flatbread/Parathas

Mint Chutney

For the health benefits of this herb, please read Health Benefits of Mint.

Ingredients-

a handful of mint leaves
3flakes of garlic
1 1/2 tbs grated coconut
lime size ball of tamarind
1 green chilli
salt to taste

Preparation-

• Clean the tamarind well and soak in water, later remove the pulp by squeezing it. Alternatively you can microwave the tamarind with a little water for 1 minute on full power and squeeze out the pulp. Keep aside.
• Grind the garlic and chilli.
• Add the mint leaves and tamarind pulp and grind well.
• Add the grated coconut and grind to a smooth paste, adding water if required.
• Add salt to taste and mix well.
• To preserve refrigerate in a dry container.
• Mint chutney can be used for sandwhich spreads, and can be eaten with parathas, dosas, and idlis.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter

Just a small handful of peanuts (also known as groundnuts) provides all of the following health benefits:

-Cardiovascular Health-
Studies have shown that eating peanuts lower a person's risk of weight gain and promotes heart health. Peanuts prevent certain cardiovascular diseases since magnesium, along with sodium and zinc are beneficial minerals that are useful in preventing heart disease. Additionally, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce a person's risk of coronary disease. Peanuts also contain omega 6 fatty acids, which is one of the "good" fats commonly known as "essential fatty acids." These aid in lowering the amount of "bad" cholesterol in the bloodstream.

-Gastrointestinal-
Peanuts provide enough fiber and water to help keep a person regular. Eating peanuts just a few times each week can prevent the formation of gallstones, and lowers the risk of colon cancer.
-Neurological/Developmental-
Niacin, folate and other B vitamin complexes may decrease the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's and other degenerative brain disease. They are also important in preventing birth defects, which makes them a good snack for pregnant women.

-Bone Health-
Peanuts contain small amount of calcium and vitamin D. Together these two promote good bone health, including healthy teeth. Studies have shown that people who maintain healthy levels of calcium and vitamin D before age thirty, are less likely to develop osteopenia or osteoporosis later in life.

Peanuts for kids:
Peanuts play an important role in strengthening their health, teeth and overcoming exhaustion, loss of stamina and weakness. It helps to recover strength among weak and underweight children. It also helps in boosting the iron content in the body, thus can be taken in cases of anemia.

PEANUT BUTTER

Peanut butter spread can be used with bread and included for breakfast. It is widely popular among kids and adults both. It is easy to make, effort free and is an easy way to recover energy and stamina.

Ingredients:
1 cup peanuts
1 tsp salted butter
1 tsps heaped sugar
1 1/2 tsp peanut oil

Preparation:

• Place the peanuts in a microwave bowl, microwave on high power for 2 minutes. (Alternatively you can roast the peanuts in a pan).
• Cool and shell peanuts
• Add butter and microwave for another minute.
• Powder the sugar in the blender.
• Add the peanuts, drop in the oil and blend till it becomes a paste. If the mixture gets stuck while blending open and stir.
• Store in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator. Oil may rise to the top. If this occurs, stir before using.