Bread Poha

Preparation time : 10 mins

Cooking time         :  20 mins

Serves                      : 3

Ingredients:

• Bread slices      - 3-4(Brown or white)
• Onion                 - 1 medium, finely chopped
• Tomato              - 1 medium, chopped
• Green Chilli      - 3-4, chopped
• Curry leaves     - 8-10
• Cilantro             - 1 Tbsp, chopped
• Black mustard  - 1 tsp
• Peanuts              - 2 Tbsp roasted(optional)
• Urad daal           - 2 tsp
• Chana daal        - 2 tsp
• Lemon juice      - 1 tsp
• Butter                 - 2 tsp
• Oil                       - 1 tsp
• Salt                      - as per taste

Method:

1. Shred the bread slices into small pieces(or cut them).

2. Heat oil in a pan. Add 1 tsp butter. When butter melts add mustard seeds. When mustard starts spluttering add curry leaves, chana daal and urad daal. Saute for a minute.

3. Add chopped onion and green chilli. Saute till onions turn translucent.

4. Add chopped tomato and cook another 2-3 minutes until tomato turns mushy and is cooked.

5. Add turmeric powder and mix well.

6. Add the bread pieces and roasted peanuts.

7. Add lemon juice, remaining butter. Sprinkle salt and a 2 tsp water. Mix well.

8. Add the chopped cilantro. Give a good stir. Cover and cook on low heat for few minutes until bread becomes soft and absorbs moisture.

9. Serve hot bread poha with hot tea.

Sabudana Khichdi

Back in past on my way to college there was this stall where we used to have breakfast. The seller lady(we used to call her ajji means grandma) used to sell poha, upma, sheera and khichdi and they used to taste so good. I can still smell the cilantro in the steaming hot soft poha and the ground nuts on tender sabudana. We used to take half and half that would give us a taste of any two we choose. My favorite used to be khichdi and poha. I became so fond of it over years that I remember an atheist like me used to do fasting on those auspicious religious days just because the fasting meals will have khichdi in it. 

Cooking time         :  20 mins

Serves                      : 4

Ingredients:

• Sabudana(Tapioca pearls) - 1 cup
• Potato                                     - 2 medium sized, boiled
• Green Chilli                           - 3/4, chopped
• Cilantro                                  - 2 Tbsp, chopped
• Cumin seeds                          - 1 tsp
• Peanuts                                  - 1/2 cup
• Oil                                           - 1 tsp
• Salt(Rock salt)                      - as per taste

Method:
1. Wash the sabudana and soak in water overnight. The water level should be just a few cms above the sabudana.
2. Cut the boiled potatoes into cubes and keep aside.
3. Dry roast the peanuts, make a coarse powder.

4. Heat oil in a pan. When hot add cumin seeds and allow it to splutter.
5. Add chopped chilli and saute for a minute.
6. Add the boiled potato and fry for few minutes.

7. Add sabudana and give a good stir.
8. Now add the peanut powder and mix well. 

9. Add salt. Sprinkle a little water and mix well. Cover with a lid and cook for 5-6 minutes. When sabudana turns translucent they are cooked.

10. Add chopped cilantro and cook for another few minutes.

11. Remove form stove and serve hot. Garnish with grated coconut. 

Oats Pulao

People think healthy dishes cannot be tasty. Trust me its not the case. This recipe of oats is a proof of that. Its one of my favorite and I can have this in any of my meals through out the day.
A very healthy low calorie recipe for those who watch their diet and even for those who watch their taste buds.

Preparation           : 10 mins

Cooking time         : 30 mins

Serves                      : 4

Ingredients:

• Oats                            - 1 cup
• Onion                         - 1 small sized, chopped
• Green Chilli              - 2, chopped
• Carrot                        - 1, peeled, cut in cubes
• Cauliflower florets  - 1 cup 
• Celery chopped        - 1/2 cup(optional)
• Bell pepper               - 1 medium sized, chopped
• Sweet corn                - 1/2 cup
• Cilantro                     - 2 Tbsp, chopped
• Mustard seeds          - 1 tsp
• Oil                               - 2 tsp
• Turmeric powder     - 1/2 tsp
• Salt                             - as per taste

Method:
1. Heat a pan. Dry roast the oat until it releases nutty aroma. Keep aside.
2. Heat oil the in the pan. Add the mustard seeds and allow it to splutter.
3. Add chopped chilli and onions and cook till onion turns translucent.
4. Add the vegetables. Add turmeric powder and saute for five minutes on medium flame.
5. Add the roasted oats. Add 2 and 1/2 cups of water. Add salt. Give a good stir. Cover with a lid and cook for around 15-20 mins until water absorbs and oat is completely cooked.
6. Garnish with cilantro.

French Toast

Preparation time :  10 mins

Cooking time         :  10 mins

Serves                      : 2

Ingredients:

• Bread slices         - 2
• Eggs                      - 2
• Milk                      - 1/4 cup
• Sugar                    - 1 tsp
• Vanilla extract    - 1/2 tsp
• Nutmeg powder - 1/2 tsp
• Salt                       - a small pinch
• Butter                   - 2 tsp

Method:

1. Cut each slice of bread diagonally into two.

2. In a bowl add milk, vanilla, sugar, nutmeg powder, salt and eggs. Beat well.

3. Heat pan/skillet on medium heat.

4. Add 1 tsp butter and allow it to melt.

5. Dip bread slice in egg mix to have a uniform coating on each side and then place on pan.

6. Cook for a minute and then flip and cook the other side. Fry both the sides till golden brown.

7. Remove from pan and serve with syrup of your choice and fresh fruits.