Halloween Carrot Rice - Pumpkin Shaped Carrot Rice

Worried about all the junk kids are eating this Halloween Season? Make a super healthy treat this halloween!

This recipe is just enough to serve 1 child as a full meal, but it is easily scalable to your needs. Aslo, I have used cumin and turmeric as seasoning as my little one loves his carrot rice like that. Feel free to use any seasoning or spices that you like. Design idea borrowed from here

Ingredients (Makes 4 lemon sized Pumpkins)

Carrot 1 big finely grated
Rice 1/2 cup (before cooking)
Black olives 3-4
Cumin 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp

Oil and salt to taste

Method of Preparation

1. Cook the rice with 1 cup of water till well cooked.

2. Heat a pan, add some oil, cumin seeds and turmeric powder.

3. When it sizzles, add the grated carrots and saute for a minute. You do not want to over cook the carrots. Otherwise you will lose the colour and texture.

4. Add the rice, salt and mix well.

5. While it is still a little hot, separate into 4 portions.

6. Dip your hand in some water, gather a portion and roll into a ball. Place on a plate. Repeat for the rest of the portions.

7. Cut the olives into small pieces in shapes of eyes, nose, mouth etc and stick it to the ball gently.

Serve a happy kid!

Halloween Mini Pies - Pumpkin Pizza Pie and Ghost Pizza Pie

Halloween and Half term coinciding this year is turning out to be absolute fun week. My little one and I are having loads of fun doing some craft activities and then ofcourse making some fun food. Though these ideas are great for halloween and the autumn season, I am sure they are a great way to feed a picky eater. Idea for these is borrowed from this recipe for a sweet pop tart.

Ghost Pancakes - Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes - Halloween Special - Vegan

Halloween is round the corner.  Though Halloween is all about spooky and stuff, I think it can be about cute and fun too. It is half term holidays here for kids. So what better excuse that to make some kiddie treats. So this week we have been working on some wonderful Halloween treats at home. A welcome change after all the fun, hectic making of Diwali sweets. I have borrowed idea from the Internet.

Chocolate 7 Cup Cake - Chocolate Burfi - Diwali Sweet

Diwali is just a day away and I am totally enjoying making sweets to share with friends and family. Hope your Diwali preparations are coming along well. Wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous Diwali!

Its another celebration in my blog. It is nearly 3 years old (just 2 more weeks). And this is my 601st post (well, I missed celebrating the 600th post)! I made the 7 cup cake and posted for you a couple of years back. This time I am presenting an even yummier version with some chocolate!

Kara Boondi - Kaara Boondi - Diwali Special

Boondi is basically fried balls made from Chick pea flour. It is the main component of South Indian Mixture. The spicy version of the Boondi called Kara Boondi can be made as a snack on its own. You could just make the boondi part or add a few things like Cashews, Peanuts, Pottu Kadalai, Curry Leaves etc for enhanced taste.

People think Boondi is a very difficult thing to make. But trust me. Just figure out the right consistency of the batter and you will be done in no time at all.

Kaju Katli - Cashew Fudge - Vegan, Gluten Free, Indian Diwali Sweet

Diwali season is time to eat sweets to your hearts content. I love sweets and can never stop eating them. So to me, this season has been all about making loads of sweets. Though I wanted to try some new sweets this year, I ended up making Mysore pak and 7 cup cake a lot.



My son is the total opposite of me. He does not care much for anything sweet. But then there are a few things he eats as he fancies at that time. He used to like 7 cup cake last year. This year, he has chosen Kaju Katli. So I was all excited to fulfill his request. This sweet is usually a big hit among adults and children alike.

Boondi Ladoo - Diwali Sweet - Step by Step recipe - Vegan, Gluten Free

Diwali is just a week away. We are all busy planning what we are going to make for our loved ones. I am also working on what I am making for my family (collecting their wish list). How can I forget the blog? I need something new to celebrate Diwali with my wonderful readers. I will start off this year with an awesome sweet - Boondi Ladoo.

Chena Kadi - Yam Stew with Lentils and Roasted Coconut

Chena Kadi is a dish that invokes memories of my childhood. It is a dish my mom used to make often and we used to love it. The food prepared in my home was a wonderful mix of all the cultures we have been part of. Tamil food from our origins, Kerala food from the land we lived in, North Indian food cause my dad liked it and then many others that my mom learned from friends and family. This is probably a recipe she learned from a friend cause it is not a common dish among Malayalees nor is it a Tamil dish. This is a dish prepared by the Varma Community in Kerala. 

As I have told you before, I was not too much into cooking when I was younger. So I lost the recipe for this dish with my mom. I have been craving to make this for a long time and finally got a chance to see it being made in a TV show. I was really excited and noted the recipe. When I made it today and tasted the first spoonful, it literally brought tears to my eyes. It was exactly as I remember it. 

Mini Shape Idlis - Kids Lunch Box

Lunch - Mini Shape Idlis, Tomato Thokku (Pickle), Madeleine, Yogurt. Thokku recipe here. Madeleine recipe here.

Idlis can be prepared in regular idli molds. I got the idea of using silicone molds to make idlis from a friend. I took the idea a little further and made these mini idlis in small silicone chocolate molds. They are a treat to the eyes and my little one cannot get enough of it. These are the molds that I used.

Punjabi Rajma Masala - Red Kidney Bean Stew

Rajma Masala is basically a Kidney bean stew and is a staple in Punjabi Households. It is one of those recipes that has to be enjoyed in an authentic kitchen. I have had a few punjabi friends who have made the best Rajma for me and I totally love it (if made right). Yes, you read it. I am not a fan of it if the recipe is messed up.