Quick Boondi Ladoo

It's the joyous and jolly Indian festive season and most households are busy making sweet and savoury special treats to enjoy with family and friends. Our house is no different - this year it's double the joy with my little girl who wants to "help" with everything making it not only messy fun, but also a little more time consuming! 

So with time in mind, here is a "shortcut" Boondi Laadoo which you can make in less than half the time taken to traditionally prepare from scratch. Not only did it save me time, my food tester Hubby even said they were simply delicious :)

Ingredients:  Fresh boondi bought from bakery or plain boondi packet from Indian stores (this is the time saving factor - no making your own boondi). For sugar syrup, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Broken cashewes, sultanas and 1 spoon cardamon powder.

Make: Make sugar syrup by boiling sugar and water till it forms a stringy syrup. Let it cool a little then drop in boondi, cardamon powder and dry fruits. Mix and let the boondi soak in the syrup before rolling the mixture into Laadoos. The syrup will ooze out as you roll into balls, allowing your to shape them nicely.

A hit with my little helper too, as she decided to gate-crash my Boondi Laadoo photo-shoot to grab one for herself!!

Boondi Chaat - Quick Spicy Snack

"Chaats" is the word used to describe very popular Indian street food, bursting with delicious flavours. Tangy, spicy, sweet and crunchy - it's a perfect combination to get your taste buds asking for more! 

We often miss these amazing taste tantilisers but the best thing about them is they are so easy to make and enjoy fresh at home! Add to that, the fun of actually creating your own chaat dish and this is a great activity to bring the family together.

Here is my version of Boondi Chaat (Boondi is small balls of fried chickpea flour readily available at all Indian stores). Made in 5 minutes and every spoonful enjoyed thoroughly!

Ingredients: 1 cup of Boondi, 1 carrot grated, 1 tomato chopped, half onion chopped, 1 spoon chaat masala, chopped corrainder and lemon juice.

Make: Combine all wet ingredients together in a bowl then mix in the spoon of chaat masala. Add the cup of boondi to this mix and slightly toss (still keeping the boondi crunchy not soggy). Sprinkle the corrainder and squeeze some lemon juice on top before serving. 

Fruit Trifle Pizza

Fruit trifles are possibly one of the easiest and most widely served desserts. They are great to cater for large numbers of guests too. 

My take on this sweet treat is a little different - I tried creating a pizza style individual servings of Fruit Trifle. It was fun making, can even get kids involved with delicious toppings and tastes just as yummy as the traditional dessert!

Best of all, it looks pretty and that's something I love about any food!

Ingredients for egg-less base cake: Self raising flour, caster sugar, butter, vanilla essence, olive oil.

Ingredients for topping: whipped cream or custard, chocolate sauce/topping, chopped fruits of your choice, dry fruits/crumbled wafer cones for decorating.

Make: First prepare your base cake by combining all cake ingredients in a bowl and mixing to a smooth paste. Smear a thin layer on baking paper and bake in oven at 160degrees for 15 minutes (only need thin cakes, I prefer this rather than cutting a big cake into thin slices).

Once cake is baked and cooled, cut into desired shape (as shown in photo) and place layers with chocolate sauce/topping between. Layer with cream or custard and fruit. Sprinkle dry fruits or as I have done, crumbled wafer cones on top to finish. Enjoy your Fruit Trifle Pizza!

Thoughts on a quiet afternoon

Life as we know it changes so rapidly that we sometimes need to stop, take a step back and see ourselves from outside ourselves to even realise what an amazingly beautiful gift we have been blessed with. This warm cup of tea as I write this, the pretty tunes I can hear playing in the background, the giggles and chatter of my beautiful little daughter as she joyously plays, all these sensations bring nothing but a smile from my heart.

Being a full time Mum and juggling a part time business on the side means my days are even busier than the recent past when my life was a full time management career. However it's through this new lifestyle that I've learnt to love everyday and appreciate every task no matter how mundane. A sense of gratitude towards the little things sometimes gives you so much inner peace that it's almost impossible to feel anything else but happiness.

Blessed we all are, whichever station we are at in the journey of life and really, just a few times it's beautiful to pause, observe and feel what is so wonderfully NOW. 

Sauteed Okra

Okra or 'ladies fingers' is as delicate as its name, bringing a true gourmet feel to any dish. We love the unique texture and taste of this seeded beauty and this quick and easy dish is a regular for us. 

Being a nutritious vegetable that is low in calories yet rich in folate and fiber, it is perfect for a light side dish! 

Ingredients: Fresh young okra, few curry leaves, chilli flakes or fresh chilli, dessicated coconut. For tempering, cumin seeds and mustard seeds.

Make: Slice okra into half vertically after washing and completely drying them. In a hot pan, temper the chilli flakes, cumin seeds and mustard seeds until they start to pop. Add in sliced okra, curry leaves, salt to taste and lightly saute until insides look golden brown. This will mean the slimy consistency will have evaporated leaving a nice crunchy texture. Sprinkle dessicated coconut on top. Remove from heat and serve hot with your favourite bread or rice! Enjoy :)

Eggless & Gelatin free Panna Cotta

Panna Cotta is a traditional Italian dessert famous for its creamy, jelly like deliciousness. Traditionally gelatin is used to allow the creamy mixture to set into desired shape. I wanted to try a vegetarian version of Panna Cotta, so tried my own recipe with corn flour as a replacement.

Well, not only did it set beautifully but it tasted delicious with its smooth texture too! Bonus being the quicker time to prepare and set.

Ingredients (for two): 1 cup full cream milk, 4 tablespoons caster sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla essence, 1 tablespoon cornflour, cooking chocolate and fruit of your choice of decoration.

Make: Heat milk and caster sugar  with vanilla essence. Once hot, add corn flour stirring continuously. Keep stirring until the mixture starts to thicken to a custard kind of texture - it should take around 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into cups or moulds. Place in fridge immediately and allow to set for half an hour. Once set and jelly like, take out and flip upside down on serving plate. Decorate with melted chocolate or fruits as desired. 

Enjoy your smooth, delicious, egg and gelatin free Panna Cotta!

Here is another version - Pink Panna Cotta Shots! (just add food colour)

 

And another version of eggless & gelatin free Vanilla Panna Cotta - it's about the decoration :)

 

Pastry Sev Puri Chaat

It's always when it's cold that you want to snack on something to make you warm and give your taste buds a savoury kick it really needs! Technically an Indian street food dish, "Sev Puri" is a popular quick snack with its combination of spicy, tangy and sweet flavours.

We tried a little twist on this yummy snack, as we wanted something hot to warm up our cold afternoon - Puff Pastry Sev Puri Chaat.

So simple to put together and tastes as delicious as it looks!

Ingredients: 
Sheet of puff pastry, tomato, onion, corrainder, Indian "chaat" paste of your choice, Sev (available in Indian stores).

Make:
Cut pastry into bite size portions and lightly spray with oil. Smear chaat paste on each piece as the base. Sprinkle chopped onions, tomoato and corriander and give it another light spray of oil. Place in oven at 160 degrees until you can see the pastry has risen and looks golden (should take 15 minutes). Remove and finish off with a sprinkle of Sev. Enjoy nice and hot!

Fruit Salad - All Dressed Up!

Who thinks fruit salad is a boring dessert? Not any more, when your fruits can look as great as this! With your favourite fruits of the season and just a few fancy party skewers you can create a magical looking fruit salad even kids will love to grab.

Here is one created with crimson grapes, watermelon and pomegranate. Delicious and healthy.

Ingredients: 
Two or three different fruits of your choice, also can colour coordinate to look prettier!

Make: 
Simply chop your fruits in desired size and load on to small skewers. Present as shown and enjoy.

There's something about good looking food that tastes better than normal :)

Paneer Tikka - Cottage Cheese Skewers

When you hear the word skewers, you automatically think tasty, hot and mouth watering...and in this case, spicy and tangy too! Paneer Tikka is a famous Indian dish with chunks of cottage cheese marinated in spices and traditionally grilled in a 'tandoor'. But let's face it, who has the time to spend hours marinating and grilling all in the name of tasty food.

This quick version of Paneer Tikka will have you make and scrumptiously enjoy your skewers all in less than an hour! We certainly did, especially enjoyable on a cold evening.

Ingredients: a fresh block of paneer (cottage cheese), tomato, onion, capsicum if you wish. For marinade, few tablespoons yogurt, chilli powder, salt, minced garlic, minced ginger, garam masala powder, 1 tbsp besan flour.

Make: Prepare the marinade by mixing all spices with yogurt and besan flour. Chop paneer and vegetables into bite size blocks and marinate for 15 - 20 minutes (traditionally done for two hours). After this time, place each piece gently onto bamboo skewers, as in photo. Bake in oven for 15 minutes at 170 degrees. Take out and sprinkle lemon juice before serving.

Enjoy your hot, spicy skewers!

Fruit Fancy - Mini Dessert

We are all about quick, easy and delicious treats that look like they could be ordered off a menu! This yummy little dessert is so simple yet great looking. Essentially a fruit salad, dressed up with some pretty extras :)

Created in five minutes, enjoyed with family and friends after dinner over a lovely chat and laughter. Kids are sure love this colourful dessert, what a great way to serve fruit :)

Ingredients (for four shot glasses): handful of grapes, few mandarins or an orange, few strawberries, fresh cream, few biscuits of your choice.

Make: First scoop in a spoon of cream at bottom of shotglass. Grind biscuits to powder and scoop in a few spoons on top of cream. Top with chopped fruits then another spoon of cream. Decorate as in photo, you may even choose finely chopped nuts as a decoration.

Enjoy your Mini Fruit Fancy!

 

Pumpkin, Potato & Capsicum Fry

Hearty, healthy and delicious - in my view, these words should describe almost all foods that we consume. Not to mention that we do not want to be spending long periods of time in the kitchen to whip up a perfect meal. If you're like me, time is precious so quick, easy meals that can be described with the above three words are always a winner!

This simple yet very tasty dish can be had with rice, various breads or wraps and not only does it look colourful and healthy, it actually only takes ten minutes to create!
My Pumpkin, Potato and Capsicum Fry :)

Ingredients (for two):
Half pumpkin, few potatoes, 1 large capsicum, 1 onion, few chillies, cumin seeds & mustard seeds, desicated coconut, corrainder, a tablespoon oil of your choice.



Make:
In a flat pan, lightly fry in oil, chopped chillies, cumin seeds, mustard seeds and chopped onions. Add all of the chopped vegetables, salt to taste and fry on high flame. When cooked but still crisp, generously sprinkle desicated coconut and corrainder. Enjoy hot with your favourite bread or rice :)

Quick Fancy Dessert!

Having guests over and you don't have much time to whip up a fancy dessert? Or maybe you just want to enjoy something sweet at home without having to put in much effort. My 'Quick Fancy Dessert' is so easy that you'll be treating yourself to a great looking sweet treat more often than not! 

Here is one of the versions we enjoy after a nice dinner at home, feeling like we just ordered off the dessert menu :)

Ingredients:
Ice cream of your choice, chocolate mousse, fresh fruit pieces of your choice, wafer biscuit of your choice.

Make:
Use a martini glass or wine glass to give the 'fancy' dessert feel, scoop in some ice cream followed by chocolate mousse. 
Add your fruit pieces on the side then place your favourite wafer biscuit to complete the look. 
If desired, you can sprinkle some cake decorations on top (as seen here).

Takes 2 minutes and enjoyed thoroughly shared together your favourite people!

A little girl's favourite accessory!

Being a Mum of a little fashionista toddler who loves to dress and act like a Princess each and everyday, I am finding myself forever finding her new accessories to keep her smiling! Not to mention, accessories that do not cost a heap, as chances are she will get bored and be looking for something different within a week.

One thing I've learnt is that a simple HEADBAND is what keeps her happy, as I have also seen with other toddler girls. Nothing is as easy a cute little headband to match with the outfit for the day! 

Here's our headband look of the day :)

Spicy Vegetable Stack with Chilli Chickpeas

Roasted vegetables & crisp pastry stacked with tomato and onion relish, with a generous serving of pan fried chilli infused chickpeas....now this is what I call a party in your mouth! So many unique flavours coming togethter to make one delicious, healthy and hearty meal.

My Spicy Vegetable Stack was thoroughly enjoyed and here's how easy it is to create this wonderful dish!

 

Ingredients for two stacks: 
1 potato, 1 zucchini, 1 capsicum, 1/4 pumpkin, 2 tomatoes, 1 onion, 200 grams cooked chickpeas, chilli flakes, salt, few spoons oil for pan frying, 1 sheet puff pastry sheet cut into small portions.
   
Make:
Lightly pan fry with chilli flakes, all vegetables cut into large pieces until cooked but still crispy. Add salt as required.

To make tomato relish, simply cook chopped onion and tomatoes together and add salt (and chilli powder if required) for flavour.

On an oven bake tray, lay down first piece of puff pastry, then stack various vegetables on top followed by tomato relish then another piece of puff pastry etc. Use a bamboo skewer to hold the stack in place. Place completed stacks in oven at 160deg, until you can see the puff pastry is crisp and well baked (should take about 20 minutes).

To make chilli chickpeas, pan fry chopped onions, chilli flakes and cooked chickpeas until you achieve the char-grilled look.

Prepare your plate with your Spicy Vegetable Stack, chilli chickpeas and salad, as seen in our photo above. Enjoy!!

Pav Bhaji - Crispy bread with spicy topping

A very popular Indian street food and sure to please even the fussiest of eaters with its beautiful blend of spice, vegetables and bread. Pav Bhaji is so quick and easy to prepare and can be enjoyed as a snack or main meal. With a squeeze of fresh lemon, its sure to make mouths water!

Ingredients: 
Bread rolls of your choice, peas, carrots and potatoes cut into small cubes, lots of fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped onions, chilli, cumin seeds, salt, pav bhaji masala, few tablespoons oil, fresh lemon and butter for topping.


Make: 
In a pan heat oil and add cumin seeds, chilli, onion and lightly fry.
Add all of the chopped vegetables and cook for 10 minutes, adding as much tomato paste as needed to make a nice gravy. Also add during this process, the pav bhaji masala, salt and some butter.
'Bhaji' is ready!

Spread butter generously on bread rolls and roast on a pan until mildly crisp. 
'Pav' is ready! 

Serve as in photo, enjoy hot with a dash of lemon.