Tag Archives: vegan recipes

Cooking

COLD COFFEE – UNIQUE RECIPE

Hey All You COFFEE LOVERS. For years now my friends have asked me for my coffee recipe and so here is how I make it and why you won’t find it elsewhere! Cold Coffee is called Iced Coffee in USA. It is my favorite, quick recipe to drink on hot summer days. Now this is an old post, I am re-sharing because over the years my coffee has remained true to it’s heroic talent.

So welcome Arizona, to yet another year of a heated mess. Although I love the heat any way, I love it even more with my Cold aka Iced Coffee. What I hate about iced coffee from Starbucks or elsewhere is that they pack with a load of ice with coffee and dairy that tastes very separated, non-blended and unappealing. Or, they pack it up with froth and cream that is heavy fat and sugar, unnecessary for making a tantalizing coffee shake.

Yesterday i.e. on May 6th, 2018, I made this cold coffee once again for my daughter’s teacher and that too without any sugar in it and with v. little dairy. She loved it and sipped every inch to the bottom.

Ingredients:

 – Cold milk of any kind: Dairy or Non-dairy: 250 ml

– Instant Coffee Powder: Nescafe normal or African coffee powder

-Sugar / Stevia / Agave: as needed

-Spices: Pinch of Cinnamon Powder or Cardamom Powder, pinch of Ginger Powder

-2-3 ice cubes, blender and a Coffee-ing Heart

HOW TO MAKE IT:

– Add milk, sugar, coffee and ice. Be sure not to overdo the ice beyond 2-3 cubes . Blend it. Taste it for sugar and modify the sugar as needed. 

  • LOVE: I make it with immense love. I love coffee and love making it for others!

 

  • CREATIVE: I have never looked up any coffee recipe, let alone other recipes. I am not the person who can be patient reading recipes, I rather create one of my own!

 

  • SPICES: Cinnamon powder and ginger powder. Appx. 2 pinches in each glass.

 

  • OTHER STUFF: 4 med. sized ice cubes per glass, blender, milk (any), sugar, coffee.

 

  • Other times I switch the cinnamon for cardamom. Cinnamon gives a spicy ‘kick’ and cardamom gives it sweetness, choose either.20160821_231951

 

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Cooking

OATMEAL – NUTTY & FRUITY

Prep. + cooking time is just 10 mins! Early morning nuisances is a Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. “Jaldi Khao!” Well, this recipe is for that naughty rebellion, the slow eater or the typical kid who eats with his eyes.

I enjoy oats thoroughly. I use them in several ways and here is a recipe inspired by my fruit cravings and allergy to milk. I love fruits, nuts and oats but never before have I thought of putting them together in such an amazing way. Since I am the mom who is always on the go, with a long list of things to do daily, I need something quick for ME in not my daughter ;) I am also a VEGAN, SOY and ALMOND allergic, so this recipe is perfect for my sweet tongue and early morning starve!

Makes for Kids 3 years +
Makes a great taste for the Adult Kid too ;)

The best part of this recipe is that it is very flexible. You can modify your choice of fruits, seeds and nuts or leave them out. You can cut them smaller for toddlers and add more sugar if needed. Also, since this recipe has Banana, serve it immediately or add all fruits just before serving. You can keep them chopped and stored separately for later use.

I took OLD FASHIONED QUARKER OATS here but you could take Instant Quarker Oats if needed.


Since this is for 2 to 3 kids, you can reduce or increase the quantity of each item as needed. Half an apple, half a big banana, 7 medium strawberries, 1.5 Tbsp. of sunflower + pumpkin seeds, 1.5 Tbsp. of Pistachios, 2 rolled wafers (optional) and 1/4 Tbsp of Sugar. Add RAISINS and CRANBERRIES if your kids like them :)

COOK AND PREP.

Oatmeal in the hot water for 8 – 10 minutes (as you usually cook oatmeal). Add the raisins and cranberries from the start (when the water is getting heated). While the oats are cooking, chop your fruits fine or medium sized. Once the oats are cooked, switch off stove, add the fruits you desire. You can add apricots for kids who need more iron or any (non-sour) fruits of their choice.

Add the nuts, seeds and sugar as per your choice. Almonds, walnuts, cashew halves, etc. . Add the rolled wafers if you are ok with it (once in a while) and you are good to go! This is a HEAVY MEAL. It is highly satiating, nutritious, filled with carbs, proteins, vitamins and minerals, perfect for breakfast and on the go moms.

Add milk if desired but I would not recommend it given the mix of fruits. This recipe requires very less sugar because banana, apple and raisins made it sweet. 1/4th Tbsp of sugar per child is a great breakfast. Cereals typically have a LOT more sugar than that.

Prep. + cooking time is just 10 mins! Early morning nuisances is a Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. “Jaldi Khao!” Well, this recipe is for that naughty rebellion, the slow eater or the typical kid who eats with his eyes.

I enjoy oats thoroughly. I use them in several ways and here is a recipe inspired by my fruit cravings and allergy to milk. I love fruits, nuts and oats but never before have I thought of putting them together in such an amazing way. Since I am the mom who is always on the go, with a long list of things to do daily, I need something quick for ME in not my daughter ;) I am also a VEGAN, SOY and ALMOND allergic, so this recipe is perfect for my sweet tongue and early morning starve!

Makes for Kids 3 years +
Makes a great taste for the Adult Kid too ;)

The best part of this recipe is that it is very flexible. You can modify your choice of fruits, seeds and nuts or leave them out. You can cut them smaller for toddlers and add more sugar if needed. Also, since this recipe has Banana, serve it immediately or add all fruits just before serving. You can keep them chopped and stored separately for later use.

I took OLD FASHIONED QUARKER OATS here but you could take Instant Quarker Oats if needed.


Since this is for 2 to 3 kids, you can reduce or increase the quantity of each item as needed. Half an apple, half a big banana, 7 medium strawberries, 1.5 Tbsp. of sunflower + pumpkin seeds, 1.5 Tbsp. of Pistachios, 2 rolled wafers (optional) and 1/4 Tbsp of Sugar. Add RAISINS and CRANBERRIES if your kids like them :)

COOK AND PREP.

Oatmeal in the hot water for 8 – 10 minutes (as you usually cook oatmeal). Add the raisins and cranberries from the start (when the water is getting heated). While the oats are cooking, chop your fruits fine or medium sized. Once the oats are cooked, switch off stove, add the fruits you desire. You can add apricots for kids who need more iron or any (non-sour) fruits of their choice.

Add the nuts, seeds and sugar as per your choice. Almonds, walnuts, cashew halves, etc. . Add the rolled wafers if you are ok with it (once in a while) and you are good to go! This is a HEAVY MEAL. It is highly satiating, nutritious, filled with carbs, proteins, vitamins and minerals, perfect for breakfast and on the go moms.

Add milk if desired but I would not recommend it given the mix of fruits. This recipe requires very less sugar because banana, apple and raisins made it sweet. 1/4th Tbsp of sugar per child is a great breakfast. Cereals typically have a LOT more sugar than that.

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VEGETABLE KHICDI – West Indian High Protein Vegan Dish

Khicdi is a mix of rice and legumes. I add as many veggies I can to make it a wholesome dish. The spices and herbs you see in the dish have great health benefits. The dish by itself is Vegan. Tastes best with Yogurt on the side or mixed into it but I am a Vegan so I do not use Yogurt. I eat it with Soup, a curry, or just by itself.

This is a Gujurati Dish. I am a Gujurati, belonging to a West Indian state called Gujurat. Rice and Daal (Legumes, lentils, pulses) are our staple food and part of almost every or every other meal.

k start

k

k3

k4 Add Salt as needed

4-5 whistles in the pressure cooker.

k last

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This High Protein Dish is ready to eat. Tastes best with Yogurt or Indian Kadhi.

Alternatively, we can shallow fry the khicdi for an added taste. This procedure lifts the taste to a totally new level.

Oil – 1 Tbsp

Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp.

k1

k2

while the seeds burst, take the rice and add asafoetida (hing) 2 pinches and turmeric powder 1/2 tsp.

Asafoetida helps digestion and prevents gas or bloating from the legume

Turmeric is an antibiotic and has several health benefits.

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READY!!

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Top with Cilantro to add color, flavor  – I was out of Cilantro!

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VEGAN HIGH PROTEIN CREPE

Crepe is a French word for a thin pancake which can essentially be curled up. Crepes have been an integral part of North and West Indian cooking for several decades. They make for a nutritious and a filling meal, all curled up together.

Being an artistic leader is an essential part of my personality and that shows up pretty well in the kitchen too. Rarely do I read a recipe from start to end and follow it to the T!  I have always preferred to be the one creating a recipe than the one who follows it. Today was something like that. I brought out the ingredients and then asked myself – how to use these to make dinner? ‘Ting’ went my mind – OATMEAL CREPE

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Find the Ingredient Photographs below.

  1. Oatmeal – 3 cups and churn into dry powder
  2. Poha (Beaten Rice) – 2 cups and churn into dry powder
  3. Urad Daal (Split black gram: split and hulled so that only the white part is used) – 2 cups and churn into dry powder
  4. Kale – 4 cups
  5. Spring Onions – One bunch – appx. 5 thin.
  6. Salt to taste
  7. Pepper 3-4 Tbsps.
  8. Cinnamon powder – 1 Tbsp.
  9. Red Chili Powder – 1 tsp.
  10. Water to make a medium thick, flowy batter

HOW TO:

Churn all well in as many batches as needed. The batter looks a bit grainy and that is ok. Add water whenever needed. If the batter is not used immediately, it may soak up water and look thicker when removed for use. Use your discretion in adding water. Spread on warm non-stick skillet. Make crepes as usual!

PROBLEM AREAS?

If it lumps up on the warm skillet, then it surely needs water. If it is so thin or soft that the crepe breaks on the skillet, then you may churn up either of the above dry ingredient into a powder and add it. You may even directly add Bengal gram flour which helps in binding ingredients. Remember at least part of the batter a churn in the blender once you add any dry flour to it. This will help keep the batter smooth and easy to spread.

The batter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days however, best flavor when consumed within 3 days!

SUCCESS STORY!  :D

My family over-ate today! They said they loved it! It is a great recipe for kids too since they can roll it and eat by themselves by dipping in butter, sauce, or cilantro and tamarind dips. Use it while travelling!!!

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Poha - Beaten Rice

Poha – Beaten Rice

Urad Daal Or Split & Hulled Black Gram

Urad Daal Or
Split & Hulled Black Gram

The batter

The batter

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20150626_215621

 

crepe

 

Also read: INDIAN GINGER TEA (CHAI)
with a Video Tutorial!

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