Tricolour Idli/ Trianga Idlis/ Healthy Idlis

        This Independence Day i have planned to prepare this colourful breakfast. Yummy and healthy by adding carrots and spinach in it. Easy to prepare too. Independence day brings us a patriotic feeling in us. So try this idlis too on your home for this Independence day.

       We liked the taste of those idlis a lot. Mild spicy and falvourful idlis. I have made this Idlis in a pattern to represent the Indian Flag. Using natural colours present in the veggies makes these Idlis more colourful and also healthy. Kids love this as it is so colourful.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 5-8 minutes
Cuisine: Tamil
Serves: 3-4

INGREDIENTS:

Idli batter- 9 small ladle

For Saffron Colour:

Carrot-1
Red Chilli powder/ Roasted dried red chillies- 1 teaspoon/2 nos
Ginger- 1/4 inch
Salt- to taste

For Green Layer:

Spinch leaves/ palak-1 small bunch
Green Chillies-2
Ginger- 1/4 inch
Salt- to taste

PROCEDURE:

• Grind the chopped/ grated carrots, red chilli powder, ginger and salt together in a blender as puree; set aside.

• Likewise grind spinach leaves, green chillies, ginger and salt together as a fine puree; set aside
• Fill the idli steamer with water and allow to boil.
• Take equal amount of idli batter in 3 bowls. Mix carrot mixture with one bowl of idli batter and another with spinach batter. Keep one plain add salt if needed on 3 bowls.

• Once the water starts to boil keep inside the idli stand and close tightly with the lid and cook for about 5-8 minutes till done.

• Check the idlis whether cooked or not by inserting edge of a knife of just piercing with a finger. Batter should not come out or idlis should not stick to your hand. If it sticks cook little more.
• Remove the idli stand from steamer and allow to cool.
• Using a spoon dipped in water remove the idlis from the stand and serve hot with sambar/chutneys.

I am linking this recipe to the Event Independent India conducted by Cooking with SJ.

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Doll Cake/ Barbie Cake/ Strawberry Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting (200th Post)

     Doll Cake is an easy to make pretty cake. Loved by all kids especially girls. Make this cake for your princess. It is sure to be a hit on her Birthday Party. Delight your princess with a magical princess doll cake for her birthday party that's easier to make than you think …

      I have followed a very simple method to make the cake as well as frosting/ Icing too. You can used Whipped cream frosting, Butter cream frosting or Fondant works to decorate the doll. Here i have used a single petal nozzle to decorate the whole cake. You can decorate with the colours and patterns of dress for the dress as you or your kids wish. I have used Pink colour and Strawberry flavour to match the colour. Also the flavour is the most liked by Kids.

INGREDIENTS:

FOR CAKE:

Butter/ Oil- 200gms (1 cup)

Sugar- 2 cups

Eggs-4

Milk- ½ to ¾ cup

*All purpose flour/ Self-rising flour- 2 ½ cup

Baking powder- pinch
*Baking Soda- ½ teaspoon 

Salt-pinch

Strawberry essence- 2 teaspoons

Red food color- 2 drops
*Do not add Baking Soda if you are using Self rising Flour

FOR ICING:

Whipping cream- 500 ml (2 cups)

Icing sugar- 3-4 teaspoons

Strawberry essence- 1 teaspoons

Red food color- 1 drop

PROCEDURE:

CAKE PREPARATION:

• Take three 18 or 20 cm pan and line with baking parchment or grease the pan with butter. Dust with flour to cover all over the pan by shaking the pan. Tap out the excess flour by inverting and tapping the pan.
• Preheat the oven 180^oC.
• Beat the oil/butter well (in a bowl) then add the sugar and eggs mix well using a electric mixer until creamily mixed together.

• Whisk well till frothy stage. Add the milk, salt, food colour, strawberry essence and beat well. Then add the flour half cup at a time and fold well till combined.

• Scrap the mixture into the prepared cake tins and smooth the surface with a spatula.

• Bake until a skewer inserted comes out clean.Cool the cake and cut the cake if your cakes top are not level, to get a leveled top.

CAKE DECORATION:

• Whip the whipping cream well in between adding the icing sugar. At last add food color and strawberry essence and keep inside fridge till you use.

• Take a hard board and draw 20 cm diameter line, cut the board and cover with aluminium foil and cut the foil to approximately to 22cm diameter. Fold the excess 2cm on the opposite side and stick with a tape. Keep a teaspoon of icing on the board and keep the first cake.
• Apply 2 -3 tablespoon full icing and spread evenly over the cake leaving 1cm border. Keep the second cake slightly press with hand to stick the cakes together. Apply icing on ton top of second cake and keep third cake on top of that.
• Using a serrated knife carve the cake to a dome shape. Remove the legs of the doll (if it is so long) and Insert the doll on top of the cake. Using a pastry brush remove the crumbs sticking to the cake.

• Crumb coat (applying a thin layer of icing to seals the crumbs) the cake using a palate knife or icing spatula and allow to set the icing on fridge for 15 minutes.
• Then spread a thick layer of icing over the cake. 
• Insert the rose making nozzle and fill the icing on the piping bag. Hold the piping bag 90⁰ angle and keep the icing on circular motion to form the frills on the dolls frock.
• Insert the doll on top and finish the dolls full dress by same nozzle or different nozzle of your choice. 
• Note: I have used single nozzle to decorate this doll.

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Chicken Patty Burger/ Breaded Chicken Burger

       Two weeks before i have shared Fried Chicken Burger Recipe with you and this is also an easy to make burger. Both the burgers tastes entirely different.  This burger could be made with minced chicken too by adding a teaspoon or two beaten egg as a binding agent.You can make these patties and freeze them by keeping a wax paper/ parchment paper in between patties. When you need them just you need to fry them and serve them instantly.

       You can prepare these patties spicy or less spicy according to your palette. Add green chillies/ Pepper powder for spiciness. You can use any dried or fresh herb of your choice. You can use garam masala powder for flavour if you donot have any herb. I have dipped the patties in egg and rolled in flour to get the crunchy outside. You can skip that step and fry the patties just after spreading into patties. You can shallow fry or deep fry these patties. If you are planning to shallow fry the patties skip the last step (dipping in egg and rolling in flour). The size of the patties also according to your convenience if you are planning to shallow fry them make thin patties rather than thicker ones for easy to cook inside.

INGREDIENTS:
Chicken Breast/ boneless pieces, chopped/ Minced Chicken- 1 (250 grams)
Onion, chopped-1
Green Chilli-1-2
Ginger, chopped- 1 teaspoon
Garlic, chopped- 1 teaspoon
Thyme or any dry herb- Big pinch(or) Garam masala- 1/4 teaspoon
Pepper- 1/4 teaspoon
Salt- to taste
Sugar- Big pinch
Bread crumbs- 2-3 tablespoon
Egg- 1
All purpose flour- 4 tablespoon
Corn flour- 2 teaspoon
Oil- to fry

PROCEDURE:

• In a blender jar add the onion, green chillies, ginger and garlic. Pulse or coarsely grind it. Now add the chopped chicken pieces and pulse for two to three times.

• Now season with thyme, pepper, salt and sugar.
• Pulse once more to combine.
• Tip in the chicken mixture into a bowl and add a tablespoon of breadcrumbs at a time and mix well with hand and uniformly combine with chicken.

• Repeat the process till the chicken mixture stops sticking to your hand and able to shape it form.
• Dust your hands with flour and Now divide the chicken into equal sized balls.

• Roll the balls into flour and shape them with hand as flat round patties by dusting hands in flour.
• With this quantity you can prepare 5 very big patties (or)8 medium sized patties. You can fry and serve them at this stage too. The following step is optional. If you like crunchy outside layer proceed to the next step.

• Beat the egg till frothy using spoon.
• Mix All purpose flour and corn flour with a pinch of salt.
• Dip the patties in the egg mixture then roll it in flour mixture and repaet the process once more.

• Like wise do twice for all the prepared patties.
• Heat oil in a pan till smoking hot and reduce the flame to low and fry the patties till golden brown on out side.
• Now the patty feels to touch little elsatic rubbry. Dont worry your patties are just perfect.
• Cut the burger bun ad keep the lettuce and tomato rings Kep the chicken patty on top and Keep Jalapenos on top and add Mayonnaise, Tomato Sauce, Chilli Sauce, Mustard sauce of your choice.
• Close the burger with the top of the bun and serve hot. 
• Note: If you are using minced chicken skip the first step. Add a teaspoon or two beaten egg for binding and follow the same procedure.

Serve with Coleslaw salad, French Fries or Potato wedges and cool drinks.

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Beansprouts Egg Sandwich

      Beansprouts are rich in enzymes, also a rich source of proteins, moisture, vitamins and minerals. Good for anemia, cardio vascular health, constipation, stress and tiredness..etc. Adding sprouts in our daily diet is a real challenge. The raw taste of the sprouts is not liked by much people. So combining it with something attractive is required to make it striking and really tasty.

       I found a way to eat these sprouts by adding eggs with it. At times i add potatoes to this sandwich to make it more interesting. Kids also love to eat the sandwich. Easy to prepare in minutes. If you wish to make this sandwich really spicy add green chillies after you saute the onions. Healthy Yummy sandwich within minutes.Try this...

INGREDIENTS:

Bread slices-8 slices
Beansprouts- 1 cup
Eggs-2
Onion, chopped- 1
Pepper- 1/4 teaspoon
Salt- to taste
Oil- 1 teaspoon
Lettuce leaves, mid rib removed-2 (optional)

PROCEDURE:

• Crack eggs; add little salt and beat well.
• Heat  oil in a pan ; add the onion and saute for thirty seconds. Now add the beansprouts and little salt to saute for fifteen seconds.

• Now make a space between the sprouts mixture and add the beaten eggs.
• Scramble them till it starts to become separate into ball stage. But it should not become too dry.
• Now stir in the beansprouts with eggs and cook for further fifteen seconds and turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool.

• Take a bread slice; keep the lettuce and add two tablespoon of sprouts egg filling. Cover with another slice of bread and press slightly to stick both slices together and serve.
• If you feel this beansprout filling is not moist to hold the bread slices together add a teaspoon of Mayonnaise and mix well before filling.

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Egg Salad Sandwich

       Egg salad sandwich is a yummy easy to make sandwich in minutes. Tastes really nice and taste the same as the 'store bought' egg sandwich. Kids love this sandwich. Can be made in minutes. You can keep the stuffing and slightly press and cut into triangle shaped sandwiches.

       This sandwich suits best for kids and messy eaters.  You can add chopped jalapenos if you want this really spicy. You can hard boil eggs prior, if you are really busy and make this sandwich instantly with in seconds. The stuffing properly sticks the bread together and will not fall down. Perfectly suits for travel or picnic food.

INGREDIENTS:
Bread slices- 4-6
Eggs, hard boiled-2
Mayonnaise (Full fat/ low fat)- 1 tablespoon
Mustard sauce- 1 teaspoon (or)(Mustard powder- 1/2 teaspoon, vinegar- 1/2 teaspoon)
Lettuce- 2 leaves
Pepper- big pinch

PROCEDURE:

• Add the eggs in water and hard boil the eggs for about 5 minutes.Cool and peel them.
• In a bowl add the Eggs, Mayonnaise & Mustard sauce. 

• Mash the eggs slightly with the backside of the fork and mix with sauce.
• Do not mash eggs as fine paste. Chunky egg bits gives texture to the sandwich.
• Season the egg mixture with pepper.(Do not add salt as the mayonnaise and mustard contains vinegar in it.)
• Take a bread slice and keep lettuce and add  two tablespoons egg mixture and close with another slice. Serve.

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Easy Scrambled Egg Sandwich (with Veggies)

       This is a healthy egg sandwich that can be consumed by elders and kids would absolutely love this sandwich. Initially I was making this sandwich only with eggs with sauteed onion and ginger. Then after my son started on solid food that I started to add veggies in this sandwich for him. So here i have planned to share my version of egg sandwich with you.

       About the taste of this sandwich, you wouldn't even feel that veggies are stuffed at any bite. Kids also like it because they won't see the veggies available inside the sandwich. Finely chop the veggies and make this sandwich.

       Add more veggies, by doing this you add nutition in your diet and also increases volume for your sandwich. You will get around 4 scrambled eggs volume in 2 scrambled egg without changing the taste. Can make 12 big triangle shaped (6 whole) sandwiches with 2 eggs. Normally i do not add cheese in this sandwich but since today i made this specially for my kid I've added cheese. If you are preparing for the elderly you can skip the cheese.

INGREDIENTS:

Sandwich bread slices- 12
Eggs-2 big
Onion, chopped- 1(1/2 cup)
Ginger, chopped- 1/2 teaspoon
Carrot, grated- 1 small (1/4 cup)
Beans, finely chopped- 4-5(1/4 cup)
Cabbage, chopped- small piece (1/4 cup)
Mozzarella cheese, grated- 2 teaspoons (optional)
Pepper- 1/2 teaspoon
Salt- to taste
Oil- 1 teaspoon
Lettuce leaves- 6 leaves (optional)

PROCEDURE:

• Heat oil in a pan and add the onion and ginger saute for thirty seconds till the raw smell of ginger leaves and the freshness of the onion disapperars.
• You can remove this from pan and keep aside if you like mild crunchiness of the onion with eggs or continue cooking veggies with this onion mixture.

• Heat a teaspoon of oil and add the carrots, beans and cabbage (chop everything finely) and salt. 
• Cook till the veggies are done about a minute or two in low to medium flame. If you feel the veggies are too dry sprinkle a tablespoon of water. 
• Try to avoid adding water while cooking veggies.(Cook the veggies at the correct stage so that the vibrant colour of the veggies does not leave)
• Crack the eggs and beat well in a bowl.

• Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan and scramble the eggs. Add salt and pepper. Cook till the egg started to become small balls. But should not become too dry. Switch off the gas and allow the mixture to cool. 
• Add this scrambled egg inside the blender and pulse three four times till you get the moist crumbly texture.

• To assemble the sandwich, combine egg and onion and cooked veggies together and mix well with spoon. Give a quick taste test, If you need salt or pepper add and mix well.(Do not cook Just combine everything together)
• Add grated cheese if you wish to add and mix well.

• Take bread slices keep a tablespoon and a half of this egg mixture and keep a lettuce leaf on top and trim the edges if you like and cut diagonally to get triangle sandwiches.
• Make 4 Mini Sandwiches from 1 big sandwich by cutting diagonally from both sides.

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