Sometime I get fancy without trying...

.....or rather I get fancy when I make a mistake.

Now Mac N Cheese, at times is like the quick fix dinner on those days when you'd rather not do anything else. The Aunt Annies's and the veggie loaded Mc N. Cheese quiet a staple in our family for the simplicity of it.

Blob of the pasta!

The other evening, Sumit said, lets make the mac n cheese from scratch instead, and it had been a while, and I said why not. Long story short, my pasta/ mac n cheese looked like a 'blob' of too much sauce and over cooked pasta. I was quiet confident that the kids and me would not like to eat it. Sorry, we are vain that way, food needs to look good.

That evening, I was on the mend from a nasty flu and was in no mood to start over or even order in. So the brain sparks flew and 'Mac N Cheese Balls' were born!

Mac N Cheese Balls Recipe
1. 3 bowls of cooked Mc N Cheese (it being gooey and sticky is not required)
2. For crisping: 2 cups Panko, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
3. Oil for roasting/ crisping the Mac N Cheese balls

Note: I have this cup pan which makes quite a lot of things in my kitchen, and is non stick, so easy to clean and its an amazing alternative to frying. It gives amazing round shaped whatever you want with 1/10 of the oil needed for frying. I have made, Veg. Manchurian, Kofta Balls, Lauki Kofta, Appa, and now mac n cheese balls!

Process
1. Mix all ingredients of the crisping and lay it in a flat plate
2. Let you ready to eat Mc n cheese cool down and make balls of it. Roll it in the crisping flour (Panko, Cheese+ herbs)
3. Heat the pan, and place a little oil add the ready to cook balls and let it get crisp (Yes you can fry them as well, but then you will need more panko and more oil.... and more time in the gy ot burn it off!)
4. It takes about 2-3 minutes to get crisp on each end

Note: Since Mc N Cheese is soft, you have to be careful in turning the 'balls over'. One can even make a 'Mc N Cheese' patty/ burger on a regular pan, like this Falafel recipe of mine. and enjoy!!


The girls and us loved it. I think Miss V was excited to have 'appetizers for dinner' and Miss Chatterbox S loved dipping this in Ketchup and enjoying!

For me, I enjoyed the 'fanciness of cooking' and getting complimented 'Such fancy every day cooking mom'

Sometime you don't need to say 'I love you'

It was one of those days.... those tired long days where you are just exhausted and you still have a lot on your plate left...

It was one of those days and I am driving home around 6:30 pm with the two girls in the car listening in while I whine to my husband, "I am so tired tonight honey'. He acknowledges and says, 'I hear you, see you soon!'

I pull into the garage and climb up to the house and am left astounded.

The husband has done the following: moved his meetings around for an hour to complete dinner preparations and emptied the dishwasher and I am greeted with a quick peck on the cheek and he runs to get back on his work calls.

I was left speechless and misty eyed!

The Panini that night could not have tasted better!

This one evening was way more that any amount of "I Love you” s we have said to one another.

It's the empathy of " I understand”, it’s the acknowledgment of “It’s tough and I got your back” and it’s the true sense of feeling “We are in this together”

Miss V was quick to observe and say 'Thank you papa for dinner tonight'.

We all talk about gender equality, empowering our next generation of children but actions speak louder than words. I am hoping my girls realize that being in this world today: It’s the partnership and it’s the support of one another which makes a successful person, a successful spouse and a successful family.

Girl or Boy at this point really does not really matter.

Thank you Sumit for always being there for me and the girls and actually following the ideology you believe in so strongly!

They are only this little.... now

Kids say the darnest things....

This qualifies more as 'mis pronunciations' rather that funny anecdotes and as my final baby is growing up, I want to make sure I track this and embarrass her later as she grows older!

'Lipzoc'... Mummy can you please put strawberries in my lipzoc.

---It is funny as hell, we corrected her once saying its Ziploc and she thought we were making fun of her, so she said 'You don’t know, its 'lipzoc' and not 'Ziploc'

'Valina'... Little Lady says... my favorite flavor is Vallina

--- We know its Vanilla, but I just don’t want to correct her, Vallina ice-creams are just so good, what do I say!

'Ear is broken'...Little lady sadly gets ear aches pretty often and then she says the next mornings 'My ear is broken please be careful around it!'

--- Yes, I can tell her its ear ache, but where is the fun in that, Ear is broken is just so innocent.

Kids grow up way too quickly (cliche but true) and in a few years when I am reading these posts, it will me remind of 'Valina icecreams' and the giggles that surround my house!

Life is too short, enjoy the silliness!

A balanced meal... and Alloo Tikki Recipe: Yep, the healthier kind!

Being on any kind of fitness regime does not mean giving up food, its actually quiet the other way around. You need nicer and healthier food to ensure you can continue any workout you are signed up for. This way you dont pass out with less energy!!

And if you are just following portion control like me, it's even more important, since you want to ensure that every morsel counts for a filling feeling and a delicious taste!

So there are days, when my lunch looks like this: A delicious salad loaded with goat cheese, fruits and quinoa!

and then there are days when my dinner is this: Alloo Tikki

I could to the latter, any day you want! But to ensure we stick better to our goals, I modified for a healthier version.

So here a recipe of 'Allo-Chole Tikki' a North Indian Delicacy/ Chaat item which is high on taste and with this modified version, a healthier version as well. I agree this is elaborate, so definitely not an everyday item!

'Allo-Chole Tikki' = Potato Patty, smothered with garbanzo curry and garnished with beaten yogurt, chutney and spices

Makes 10

Potato Tikki(Cutlet)
Potato: Mashed 3 cups
Quinoa: Boiled 1.5 cup
Finely shredded carrot: 1 cup
Finey chopped Kale: 1/2 cup
Spices:
Salt, Pepper, paprika: Per taste
Cinamom: 1 tsp
Chaat Masala: 2 tsp
Bread: 1 slice torn in smaller pieces (Helps to bind better)
Panko: For coating: Optional
Oil: 2-3 tsp for cooking

Process:
Potato Cutlet:
1. Mix all the ingredients really well in a dough consistency and adjust seasoning
2. Make medium balls (~10-12) and flatten like a burger, coat in panko/ bread crumbs
3. On medium flame, on a pan with some oil, let the burger crispen 3-4 minutes each side.
4. When both sides are crisp, alloo tikki/ burger is ready!

Chole: IP Version
Onions: 1 medium finely chopped
Tomato: 1 medium finely chopped
Garlic: 3 cloves finely chopped
Ginger: 1/2 inch finely chopped
Carrots: 1 cup finely shredded/ chopped
Serrano Peppers: per taste
Spices:
Salt, Pepper, paprika, Garam Masala: Per taste
Cinnamon: 1 tsp
Chole Masala: 3 tsp
Optional: Moti Elaichi -1, Bay Leaves- 2/3, Cloves 3/4
Garbanzo: 1.5 cups soaked. If you use canned, adjust cook time- see below
Oil: 2-3 tsp for cooking

Process:
Chole in IP:
1. IP in Saute mode: Add 2 tsp of oil all spiced
2. After 1 minute, add ginger, garlic and onions
3. Saute for 2-3 minutes till fragrant
4. Add the tomatoes, carrots and saute for 4-5 minutes
5. Add the washed soaked garbanzo (or canned)
6. Close the lid. IP in Manual, High Pressure for 25 minutes. (If using canned time= 10 minutes)
7. It was a slow release of pressure, and I opened the IP after 1 hour or so.
8. Note: If making in regular pressure cooker, pre-soaked (overnight) is better, or use canned, timings for pressure cooker is the same.


Garnishing:
1 cup yogurt beaten and 1/2 cup water added to liquefy
Green Chutney
Tamarind Chutney
Chopped cilantro, onions
Fine Bhujia/ Sev & Peanuts: Optional

Serving:
In a plate, lay the cutlet, cover with the chole curry and garnish!

Enjoy when hot, tastes better with company, so call me over when you make it next!

Sorry, no pictures... this was gobbled up fairly quickly!

Note: This has a high content of protein thanks to quinoa and the chickpeas. So though this is higher on calorie count, it is well balanced with all the healthier vegetables. The other element for all my curries which is a big hit int he family is shredding carrots in any gravy I make. Be it gnocchi, or Chick Pea stew, or even simple potato curry! Carrots : well the kids enjoy it without knowing there was ever carrots in them!

Getting Fit, some good and some even better

By now you know, I am not the 'fittest person' and I am far faaaar from being the size I want to be, but, well I am doing something about it.

Last year was much better health wise for me and definitely spirits wise as well. This year, I want to continue the trend in the right direction. And I have a buddy system in place now with a lot of follow through and just checking in with each other to ensure we are 'doing something about it'

So what's going on in the 'Getting Fit' business?

1. My fitness pal: I have been logging religiously on this for 36 days now and I want to continue until spring break and then enjoy the beaches to come back to more of the same.

2. Balanced meal: I have been eating everything (which is what I love about this tool), and I have increased protein in our vegetarian meals, more tofu (this tofu steak has become a staple in our house), more quinoa and definitely more lentils (which I really don’t like and hubby loves) and continuing our regular vegetable infused dishes

3. Working out: So this has been a big game changer, I have signed up for a neighborhood gym and 3-4 days a week, I have been waking up at god awful 5:30 am to go for a 45 minute class. I have been crashing every single night at 9:30 pm. Some days I have even gone for a 5 am class, which for me is crazy good.

4. Weighing in: I have been weighing myself once a week, there has been no weight change, it has not gone up or down. My trainer says: Muscle formation. I will go with that story, makes me feel better, but weighing in day makes me feel like ‘examination day’ and so far, no pass and no fail. I am focusing on the no fail element! It gives me hope that I can Pass someday

5. Buddying Up: This has been the real motivator. I take a morning class; Sumit heads out for an evening class. We encourage each other and discuss the crazy workout our instructors think we can do. The kids have a hearty laugh when we enact the trainers! I message my partners in crime, it’s just nice to be able to say: ‘I am so sore, I can’t walk!’ or 'Why haven’t you logged in today'

I was debating whether I should post this or not especially considering it’s only been a month and my before and after pictures look exactly the same!

But wisdom says, if you do something good, brag, if you do something bad, complain!

So here it is

Yay, I have been going strong for a month    : the good

My gosh, waking up at 5:30 am really sucks: the bad

I can do this……. and sustain it                    : the best

What's your 'soul food'

This one is not about recipes, or healthy eating or my kids keeping us in splits of laughter, this one is more about 'soul food'

We all have that one thing in our minds and in our palates, that we think of that menu item and there is a sense of 'gush and warmth'. On a long tired day if that was on the menu at home, you will gobble it up. When you think of that food, you remember your growing up years sitting on your tall dining table with your mom serving you and coaxing you to eat. You really didn't need the coaxing since you were ready with your spoon and all to dig in and finish it off! Seconds please?

So what's your soul food, that one item that makes you think of being a child again. That one item that just makes your worries disappear!

For me its a very simple one: 'Chawal-Curry-Bhujia' aka 'White Rice - Yellow curry - chick pea crisps'.
You dig in with the Papad-um as a spoon and just eat it! Nothing else matters....
A very traditional and wholesome Indian meal.



I wonder with my kids what will it be 'soul food' for them? They are growing up in this melting pot of cultures where the influence's are what we eat at home, outside and with their own friends. Will it be a simple 'Rice-Curry' or a 'hot piping soup'. Will it be 'bowl of noodles' or a simple 'mc n cheese'. What will be the one thing that will make their taste buds tickle, eyes misty and they imagine the smell of food.
As they grow older, form their own minds and personalities and set on their paths of the future. I wonder, what will be their 'true soul food' !


Note: Picture above is from 'google'. thank you having the images of my childhood food that I could cherish

Homemade Granola Bars

Mornings are rushed and I should be the 'good parent' and say, my kids eat a healthy wholesome breakfast, but reality is very different. They are generally chugging milk down, or being coerced to finish the last few bites of the cereal/ oatmeal. every single weekday.

I have no issues if they eat in the car, and fruits and the kids cereal bars are our go to energy boosters in case we are really running late or in between school and classes. I have a bag now in the car just dedicated to collect the orange/banana peels and cereal bar wrappers. And it gets filled up really fast!

I used to feel guilty about this, now I dont. It is what it is! So yes, I am the best mom my kids can get!

Recently I was wondering, these granola bars whould not be that hard to make! And well after researching eggless versions, i combined a few recipes to 'try making' this.

Honestly, start to finish (except cooling time), it took my little lady and me only 20 minutes to make, which was really awesome!

Makes 8-10 cereal bars.
Ingredients
1 heaping cup packed dates, pitted (deglet noor or medjool)*
2 pouches of Instant Oatmeal (If you have steel cut/ rolled oats: crisping time is longer)
1/2 cup mixed nuts, chopped : We used almonds and cashews (Other recipes I reviewed had pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts etc.)
1 1/2 TB butter
1/3 cup honey
2 TB brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract (A dear friend had gifted me home made vanilla extract for Xmas, delicious!)
pinch of salt
1/2 cup craisins (or raisins)


* Note: If your dates have become hard for being in the fridge too long like mine, don't worry, just put the dates in hot water for 4-5 minutes and they will be 'hydrated'

Step by Step Process: 
1. Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a "dough" like consistency.
2. Toast your oats and the nuts in a 350 degree F (176 C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
Note: Toast them in different pans, its quicker!
3. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Bring to a boil over medium heat, while stirring. Cook and stir for a minute
4. Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl
5. Stir the warm butter and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
6.  Add craisins
7. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper so they lift out easily.
8. Press down firmly until uniformly flattened - really pack the bars
9. Bake for another 15-20 minutes. Now this is optional step, i did make mine for additional crispiness. If you choose not to re-bake, please put this is refreigerator to cool.
10 Remove bars from pan, let it cool overnight and chop in 'cereal bar' length

To store: I cut the parchment paper around each bar just to avoid them sticking to each other and also because I was feeling 'fancy' and kept in an airtight box.

These turned out delicious and in the morning, it was not the kids who devourved them but us. But yes, I am definitely planning to make more variations of these. I will always have the store baught ones in car, but for mornings, this may go really well with my 'luke warm' coffees