VEGETABLE IDLY

Idly is one of the healthiest breakfasts, very simple to make. This is also the breakfast which many don’t like. Making idlys tasty and interesting with a simple variation with veggies of your choice can be a healthy breakfast for kids. These Tempting soft fluffy and colorful idlys can make every one want more. Try out this best tasting recipe and I am sure every one in you family will enjoy.      
INGREDIENTS

• Idly batter                           2 cups
• Vegetables of you choice    1 cup
• Oil/ghee                               to grease the idly plates

PROCEDURE
Cut the vegetables of your choice into bite size pieces. Here I used potatoes, carrots, capsicum. You can also used peas, cabbage, beans, cauliflower, coriander etc.
 Now grease the idly plates with some oil or ghee. Pour a spoonful of batter in each plate and top the batter with a layer of veggies.

Now steam the idlys in a cooker for about 7-8 minutes.  Let the idlys cool for a couple of minutes and then remove them into a plate. Serve with ghee, chutney or sambar. 
TIPS

• All the veggies cook well if they are finely cut. If you feel that they cannot be cooked mix the veggies in the batter and use the batter.
• Alternatively add some batter in the plates, top it with veggies and then cover it with some more batter. This way you can have the veggies in the middle of the idlys.
• Add some masala powder or curry powder to enhance the taste. 

Vegetable Idly

BREAD HALWA

   This Bread Halwa falls into the category of luxury sweets.  This rich, delicious tasty sweet preparation is famous in India. Until the 90’s this preparation is not known to many. But now every party or function or marriage or get together has bread halwa in its menu. I use the fresh bread in preparing this dish. The ghee fried bread pieces are cooked with whole milk and khoya , ghee is generously added along with a large amount of dry fruits to give the dish number one rank. Try out this recipe and surprise your loved ones.
INGREDIENTS

• White Bread slices                          6
• Sugar                                              1 cup
• Milk                                                1+1/2 cup
• Ghee                                              1/4 cup
• Dry fruits                                        3 Tsp
• Cardamom powder                         1/2 tsp
• Khoya                                             1/4 cup(optional)

PROCEDURE
Remove the brown edges from the white bread. Cut them into small pieces. Heat a thick bottomed pan and add a 2 table spoons of ghee. When ghee is heated add the dry fruits and fry them. Remove them and keep aside. In the same ghee add the bread pieces.  Fry the bread pieces on a very slow flame till the raw flavor is removed and the bread turns golden brown. Now add the milk. Cook the bread in milk on a medium flame by stirring continuously.
When the bread completely absorbs the milk and turns into a thick lump add the sugar. Keep on stirring till every thing becomes thick. Add the khoya and the remaining ghee. Keeping the flame on the medium keep stirring until the halwa leaves the edges of the pan and ghee oozes out of the halwa. Now add the ghee fried nuts and the cardamom powder. Stir the halve on a high flame for about 1/2 minute and remove it into a serving dish. Serve hot.

Bread Halwa

TIPS

• Add more of the whole milk and you can skip the khoya.
• Khoya can also be replaced with cashew nut powder.
• If milk is used in large quantity, ghee can be reduced as the milk reduces to khoya  and that itself enhances the taste.
• Generally I use fresh bread. A couple of days old bread can also be used.

COFFEE MOCHA

Coffee mocha is one of the best versions of coffee I like. This is also a favorite of many. When you are new to coffee then this is the best coffee to start with. Coffee latte with a part of chocolate or cocoa makes the coffee mocha. Latte in Italian means milk. Coffee latte is one part of brewed coffee in 3 parts of milk. This is what most of the Indians take every day. On the other hand one part of coffee to four parts of milk is called “coffee Macchiato”. Coffee mocha can either be hot or cold. I like the cold coffee mocha and I present the same recipe here.   
INGREDIENTS

• Instant coffee powder                  1tsp
• Cold whole milk                             1 cup
• Sugar                                              1 Tsp
• Whipping cream                             1 Tsp+1 Tsp
• Chocolate syrup                             3 Tsp
• Chocolate Shavings                        1 tsp

PROCEDURE
In a tall glass pour some chocolate syrup along the inside edges and chill this glass in a refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. The chocolate syrup cools and become hard and this way you can design a glass without the design melting away into the coffee mocha.  
In a blender add the Very cold milk, coffee powder, sugar, 1 table spoons of whipping cream, chocolate syrup. Blend all the ingredients till all are well incorporated and the mixture turns frothy. Now pour the coffee mocha into the chilled glass. Top it with a spoonful of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
TIPS

• If you do not have the  instant chocolate syrup make the chocolate syrup using the plain chocolate bars and a spoonful of whole milk. In a double boiler add the chocolate pieces and the milk and heat for 3 minutes. Your syrup is ready. Alternatively microwave the chocolate and milk for one minute and the syrup is ready.
• Chocolate shavings can be made by grating the frozen chocolate.
• If excess whipping cream is used frothy coffee mocha is not attained, so use less amount.
• Dark chocolate or white chocolate can also be used to suite your taste.