Masala Peanut Chat | Easy and Quick Snacks for Kids | Step by Step Recipe

This is another one of my favorite peanut based chats that we make for parties. We have always enjoyed this at our club and when we finally made it at home, we were surprised at how easily it can be done. This morning when I decided that I should make the best of my Saturday by making this, I told Konda that I wanted her help in making yet another dish.

She didn't show much interest in the beginning, but when she saw that I was willing to let her to most work, she was excited. Then she went ahead with clicking pictures. Most of the pictures for today's post are clicked by her. I see that she gets excited when I ask her to either help in the making of the dish or at least clicking pictures.

Boys agreed to eat it only because their sis was making it. But after one bite, they were asking for more. Infact what we make was not enough. So I promised to make it for them again.

Soak roasted peeled Peanuts/ Grounds in salted water for 5 mins.

Drain them

Take them in a bowl, add finely chopped onions.

Then goes the finely chopped tomatoes, finely chopped green chilies, coriander leaves

Sprinkle salt, chat masala, mix well.

Serve right away.

Of course I removed the green chilies when I served to the kids, but adults can have as such if desired. I was so happy that kids eat this along with onions, tomatoes which they normally never take.

This chat is also served at most places with puffed rice.

Sending this to Kamalika, who is hosting this month's edition of Kid's Delight, themed on No Fire Cooking for Kids.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#8

Chocolate Marie Biscuit Balls aka Tsunami Ka Cake | Easy and Quick Snacks for Kids | Step by Step Recipe

Just as I said yesterday, today's post is exclusively made by Konda herself. This was a dish that her teacher made and got for them. I am not sure on what basis this is called Tsunami Ka Cake, but that's what she was told and she insisted I keep it same.

I got completely drenched while way back home. So I quickly told her that she can make that dish she was telling me in the morning. She was so excited and went about checking if I have all the things she needed. She was telling me that she was going to tell me only once and not repeat so I better listen to her properly and not make mistakes in the recipe..:)

She was all set to make the dish, while her brothers were hovering around. She said her teacher made with a full pack and almost half of the condensed milk tin. I said we would hardly want that much. So she grudgingly accepted to make do with just six biscuits because her brothers will also love to have them.

And yes, before I could finish with clicking the pictures I was left with just four of these treats. Konda first made as coins. Later decided to roll as balls, with the boys helping her. Some they popped into their mouth, while some found its way back to the plate.

Seeing how well these turned out, I was dreaming of bake less cakes and tarts with marie biscuits. Well for another day.

Chocolate Marie Biscuit Balls aka Tsunami Ka Cake

Ingredients Needed:

Marie Biscuits - 6 -8
Condensed Milk - 3 tsp
Cocoa powder/ Drinking Chocolate - 3 tsp

How to make

Take the biscuits in a blender / mixer and pulse into fine powder.

Transfer to a bowl, add the condensed milk and milk well. Add the cocoa powder/drinking chocolate along with it and combine to a even mix.

Make it into any shape as you desire.

Serve right away.

If you notice one is missing, well Chinnu popped it in

Sending this to Kamalika, who is hosting this month's edition of Kid's Delight, themed on No Fire Cooking for Kids.


Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#8

How to make Homemade Instant Pizza For Kids Step By Step Recipe | Instant Paneer Cheese Pizza | Cooking with Kids

There are moments when you really got to think on your feet. It was one of those moments. Seriously there I was thinking that I should be the indulgent aunt and make whatever my nephew and niece were asking me to prepare for them. On top I had to manage few other things. 

So I had to resort to those instant kids with the ready made pizza base that we get. Last year when the same situation came up, I used the ready made base but made the pizza sauce myself. But it was even more hectic this time round. My young relatives visited us last week and I told my nephew upfront that he can ask me for whatever dish he wanted to eat. So apart from the regular Paneer Butter Masala, Parotta etc, these pizzas, burger feature constantly. 

When he asked me this time, I was really tied up and hence wanted to make use of those ready made base plus I remember seeing those pizza sauce and wanted to see if those taste as good as they look. When I reached home quite late, kids were still waiting eagerly for their dose of pizzas and I couldn't say no. Infact I decided I will let them do all the work. 

This proved a great fun time for them as they did all the work by themselves. Even my 4 year old twins did their share of spreading the cheese. Konda and my nephew grated the cheese, then Konda sauteed the Paneer pieces. Finally they spread the sauce, while each took turns to spread the grated cheese.

While this may not really be as tasty as I remember my homemade crust and sauce does, it surely tasted yummy. And yes when the kids get to do the work themselves, they end up enjoying it much better.

I don't remember how many we made, since cooking the pizza takes just a minute in microwave. It was disappearing as quickly as it was made. I got many super! shouts from my young audience, which is what gets it all going.

There really is no recipe for this, just a pictorial for you to enjoy!

Get the grating of the cheese done, I used Mozzarella and Cheddar cheese.

These are the mini ready made pizza bases

Apply the pizza sauce as much as you want, well about a spoon should do.

 Here comes the fun part, spread as much cheese as you like!

Work begins

There is nothing like having an extra kick with toppings likes spiced paneer. I just sauteed with salt and pepper a bit. If you are making for yourself you can be more creative too.

Once you are done with topping the base with everything you want, pop it into microwave for a minute and you are done!

Cheesy instant Pizza comes to your salvation- Instant Nirvana! Pure bliss!

Custard with Fruits | Fruit Salad with Custard Step by Step Recipe

Fruit Salad or Custard with Fruits is yet another blast from the past! This is one of those dishes I remember Amma making often during our school days. I am not sure since how long we had these custard powder available in our market, but it was during my high school that I first tasted it.

We lived in a colony and Dad used to arrange frequent get together with the colony folks. We used to meet ahead of the dinner date and plan. Then the aunties used to meet again to discuss the menu. Somehow I was always part of such discussions not really sure why. Guess most knew that I was always interested to be part of their discussion as much as they wanted me to be part of their discussion as well. Maybe it had to do with the fact that even then I used to listen to what they say while my friends would never want to do anything with aunties talks. I was most interested to hear how they cooked something, wanting to know more details.

Anyway the entire discussion would be so much fun, planning what each family will bring for the party. For the eve, we used to have loads of activities and all of us had so much fun. We used to plan games, singing etc and imagine all those aunties and uncles taking part in them. These parties used played to break the ice, and we start looking at the aunties, uncles in a lighter view. Thinking back, I realize I miss those occasions. It played a great role in forming memories and things I can now think back and feel happy. I feel bad that my kids don't have that kind of good memories for them to later think back.
Though Amma always opted to make biryanis or curries, Custard with fruits was one of those dishes that she used to opt along with a difficult dish. I was always there to cut the fruits and never trusted another one to do the job as neat as myself..:)

When I was wondering what to make for the last day of the BM#5, I had an option to share a dish I had already done or make something new. I preferred to make this vanilla custard with fruits. Konda had learnt to make this along with her friend K during this summer. K's mom took a cooking class for both of them this summer and taught them some simple dishes. When Konda made this first time, she was so excited and got her share of the portion for us to taste. Hubby dear thinking there was more, finished off the entire cup. He said it was so good that he didn't realize. So she made again for her daddy and rest of us. Knowing that she will love to make it again, I had got the packet for her. So I called her to make it. Seeing how we did it, she said she knew better and we let her make it.

Step by Step Recipe

Custard powder and milk

Boil the milk in a pan

Mix the custard powder in a bowl with milk separately

Mix well to form a lump less liquid

When the milk starts to thicken, add suger

 Bring the pan down, add the custard.

 Cook again to get thick custard.

Have the fruits chopped and ready when you want to serve the custard.
Vanilla Custard with Fruits | Fruit Salad

Ingredients Needed:

Milk - 1/2 lt
Vanilla Custard powder - 30 gms
Sugar - 3/4 cup

Fruits

Apple, Banana, Grapes, Pomegranate, Papaya as required.

Method to prepare:

Bring the milk to boil. Simmer once it starts boiling. In a bowl take the custard powder and slowly mix with the milk to get a lump less liquid.

When the milk is still simmering, add the sugar and cook in high while you keep stirring.

After about 3 -4 minutes, the milk starts to thicken, remove from the stove, slowly add the mixed custard and combine everything well.

Again cook for 4 mins or till the liquid is thick enough.

Thickness of the custard is entirely on how we want to serve. Once done, allow it to cool and chill it.

When ready to serve, chop all the fruits and add to the custard and serve it chill.

Notes:
Though the fruits is added along with the custard and chilled normally, I prefer adding the fruits before serving. This ensures you can store the custard as such and not spoil the fruits.  When you add the fruits, it's advised to complete the dish and not store further.

Always chop the fruits just before serving as apples, bananas tend to colour.

Sending this to Kid's Delight hosted this month PJ, themed on Cool Comforts


Check out the Blogging Marathoners doing BM#5 along with me

Curry in a hurry under 30 min: Aarthi, Divya, Jayashree, Kaveri, Pavani,  
Seven Days of Indian Sweets:Gayathri, Priya Suresh,  
Seven Days of Microwave Meals: Monika,  
Seven Days of Regional Specials:Harini, Vaishali, Suma, PJ  
Seven Days of Colorful Dishes Kid's Special: Kalyani  
Summer Coolers: Jayasree, Kamalika, Srivalli

Chocolate Pudding Recipe | How To Make Chocolate Pudding at home with Step by Step Recipe

I think chocolate in any form or name will sell in my house. My kids are really that fond of anything chocolate. When I planned to make Chocolate Pudding, you should see their excitement. They were clustering around me, trying to take a peak at the stove. And generally coming under foot. I had planned to make the pudding quite early in the morning, hoping I could take advantage of them still being asleep. But by the time I started they were up and running.

I always had a thing for chocolate desserts, now who wouldn't right! When we go for buffet, we skip the main course and plan for desserts. The sad part is, though they offer many varieties, most desserts will have eggs in them. So I will just admire the looks and settle down for a chocolate ice cream or vanilla. I have never tasted a chocolate pudding because I never came across an eggless version. Either people don't know how to make one or they simply didn't know if that dessert was eggless. I was vary to take chance and always skipped it.

When I planned the BM list for 7 days of Summer Coolers, Champa suggested I make Chocolate Pudding. She pointed the recipe she tried from Deb. Deb had adapted from Wednesday Chef , who in turn tried it from the original John Scharffenberger recipe. What a destiny that that this recipe has traveled such a long way to finally give me bliss!

My joy knew no bounds seeing that original recipe and landing in that site. Okay saying I was thrilled to bits doesn't really express much. Instead of starting with the recipe, I sat there transfixed at the many delicious recipes listed out. Ever since I came back from SFO with a big bag of John Scharffenberger chocolates, I have been meaning to visit the official site for recipes. I never did until now and I was so much in love with all those chocolate recipes. Though I am disappointed to see most had eggs in them, I am sure I will try making it eggless.

Coming back to the making of the dish, when the kids saw me walking up and down kitchen to the computer, with a pack of chocolates, they knew I was up to something. They came and parked themselves well in position and wanted to know what I was making. Each one came out with a word rhyming to how they heard me saying, which was funny. I tried telling them very sternly that they ought to simply sit and watch me cooking and not ask too many questions, which you know is quite impossible. Knowing that Konda will be interested to help me, I asked her to grate the chocolates and even click some pictures.

The recipe calls for a double boiler which I don't have. I resorted to using the method I have always followed when melting the chocolate for my Eggless Black Forest Cake. The whole process took very less time, much less than 20 mins as said. I immediately transferred to individual serving cups and covered with foil paper to prevent skin from forming over the top.

The Pudding set well within 15 mins or so. With the kids being so impatient to eat, I had no choice but to give up checking on the doneness. I got about 4 serving cups plus half. I asked Konda to take one cup for Amma. Peddu loved it so much that he said only one cup for Ammamma, rest all for him. I told him that the recipe is so ridiculously simple that I can make it again and many times too if he loves it so much.

Step by Step Recipe

Chocolate Pudding
Adapted from John Scharffenberger

Cornflour - 4 tbsp / 1/4 cup
Sugar - 3/4 (original says 2/3 cup)
Salt a pinch
Milk - 3 cups
SCHARFFEN BERGER 70% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate, shaved or chopped finely - 1/2 cup (4 oz.)
Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp (original says 1 tsp)

Method to prepare:

To get the double boiler effect, heat water in a big Classic Sauce Pan, place another smaller pan over it. Make sure the water is filled in as required, else when it starts boiling, it might spill into the inner pan.

whisk cornflour, sugar and salt in the small pan and then place it on the boiling water. Slowly stir in milk, keeping whisking to make sure lumps don't form. If required reduce the flame and continue stirring over low heat.

When you find that mixture begins to thicken, check with a spoon to see if the mixture coats the back of the spoon. This took me about 10 mins or less. At this stage add the grated chocolate. Whisk again well. Continue stirring for about 2 -3 mins. You can switch at this stage or check if the pudding is smooth and thick.

Remove from heat and add in the vanilla. I wanted the natural flavour more, so added only half a teaspoon.

You can strain the pudding if you think it has lumps. But since I was constantly overlooking it, there weren't any lumps formed. You can either transfer into a large bowl or into individual serving dishes. I did the latter and covered with foil to make sure no pudding skin formed.

Refrigerate until chilled. Mine took less than 20 mins to set and chill. I can't verify if this stays good for 3 days as all bowls disappeared within 30 mins of making this. So will have to make it again and hide it to check this fact, but then that will be such a murderous thing right!

Notes: You can use 6 ounces 62% semisweet chocolate instead of 70%
I am not sure if we get cornstarch as cornstarch. I confirmed that what we get as cornflour is actually cornstarch.

This a great activity to involve kids if you they are old enough to help you grate the chocolates and mix the pudding. Such cooking activity helps to keep the kids occupied.

Sending this to Kid's Delight hosted this month PJ, themed on Cool Comforts

Check out the Blogging Marathoners doing BM#5 along with me   

Curry in a hurry under 30 min: Aarthi, Divya, Jayashree, Kaveri, Pavani,
Seven Days of Indian Sweets:Gayathri, Priya Suresh,  
Seven Days of Microwave Meals: Monika,
Seven Days of Regional Specials:Harini, Vaishali, Suma, PJ  
Seven Days of Colorful Dishes Kid's Special: Kalyani  
Summer Coolers: Jayasree, Kamalika, Srivalli

Quick Cheese Paratha | Easy Kid's Breakfast Recipe | Kid Friendly Recipe

This was a quick dish that I had to prepare for Konda not knowing what else to make. I had even sent for her lunch which she loved and then asked again for her Breakfast. I had planned to send along fruits or jam along with this. So it becomes a wholesome meal for kids.

What happens most times is that I plan for something very complicated but then so many things happen and I end up making something very simple. Most times simple dishes seem to work out so well with Kids. Konda loves cheese in any forms and this type of paratha works out best.

I know there is not much of a recipe here. But then I have experienced that most times we don't remember these simple recipes when we are in need of a quick recipe.

Not only that you end up delighting your child with these delicious dish.

What you need to make these.

Wheatflour - 1 cup
Cheese, grated - 1 whole cube
Salt to taste
Red Chili powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1 tsp
Ghee - 1 tsp

Method to prepare:

In a bowl, take the flour, salt and ghee. Grate the cheese directly into the flour, mix well along with chili powder.

Slowly add the water as required to get a soft dough. Knead well to a soft consistency.


Pinch out into small balls. Dust the balls and roll them into small circles. Konda likes it when I send small parathas.

Heat a tawa, grease with oil. Cook the rolled out paraths on both sides with oil.

Since the paratha has chili powder and salt, I mostly don't send anything along with this. But you can always send Jam, Chutney as per the kid's wish.


Check out my Blogging Marathon buddies in action! Priya Suresh, Jay, Monika, PJ, Priya Vaasu, Azeema and Reva.

Activities for Kids ~ Mehendi Designs

With houseful of kids what should one plan ahead to keep them occupied and interested. My daughter and nephew are in that age group where they are so eager to declare being bored. It is left to the elders to find enough ways to get them interested. It is at such moment I remember my own childhood and wonder how well we kept ourselves so busy and occupied. Infact end of the day, I used to feel the day was not enough for us to do as we planned. Well plan is nothing, just get the maximum enjoyment of being on vacation.

But with kids these days, the most they can get themselves do is to watch movies. Especially at our home now, we got to listen to the commands of our twins. The current craze is the telugu movie Mahadeera. Like I said recently we have already watched the movie for some 30 -40 times, our guests were meted with the same fate, all three shows were screened this movie. So much so that they were even teasing each other saying they want to get ready soon so as not to miss out the matinee show.

I thought I was the lucky person to get all the movie dialogue memorized, well I now have my sister-in-laws for company! They are so much taken in with their little nephews that they didn't have heart (read courage) to say no to their wish to watch the same movie! The last 4 days has been only this movie that was running on since dawn till midnight.

So in the process, knowing we got to distract the kids with some activity, I planned for another session of making Bhel Puri at home, without the chutney. My first niece who is very much interested in cooking, already made a kind of bhel with poha and sev. She was much too interested with this type too. I got my daughter and her into the kitchen to make this. Since last time I served chocolate Milkshake with Bhel, my boys assumed that it will be served again.

They kept running around saying they wanted the Milk, Milk. I finally had to resort to making it with the Vanilla ice cream that I had, well it goes without saying that everybody got dunk! Then we went to have the mehendi done. My niece who is really very good at these mehendi designs got all ready. I bought two cones, hoping we will get to do this.

 Peddu getting his hand done!, while Chinnu was pulling!

Everybody along with the boys sat down to get their hands adored with Mehendi. 

First ones to have were Peddu and Chinnu. Peddu had the patience to keep on the mehendi for a while.

whereas Chinnu was most impatient and got it washed within minutes, even then it turned a beautiful orange on his sweet little hands. 

Both of them were so excited being tattooed with Mehendi.

 

My niece did a beautiful work on Konda's.

This was all also done in anticipation of the birthday party celebrations!

The night ended with Chinnu spoiling his new shirt with mehendi, what else did I expect!

This is another entry for Activities & Cooking with the Kids.

Do share if you have engaged your kids in interesting ways!