Get-Together Menus

Plum Lassi - lovely, tangy taste!

This is the plum-season here& this lassi is ideal to quench the thirst when it is scorching hot! I used honey; you can use brown sugar as well.

 

Apple-Cinnamon Milkshake

Apple & cinnamon combine so well in this milkshake.
appple+cinnamon powder+brown sugar+frozen (or chilled) milk

 

Fruit-Lassi-Smoothy

I added 1 tbsp of Flaxseed oil, now available here. It can be added to any smoothy, lassi or milkshake,but the blending has to be thorough so that there will be no oil droplet.
I soaked dates & added with my usual frozen banana though I have shown fresh banaa in the photo.
No sugar is added & the fruits combined with fresh curds is deliciously tangy!
Apple (chopped)+frozen bananas+soaked dates+fresh curds+ 1 tbsp flaxseed oil.

 

Granola Bars or Nutrigrain Bars - 1

The combinations are endless for this. I have so far tried very simple ones, which I am posting here.
Mixing thoroughly to get the gooey texture uniform is very important.
Keep a tray lined withbutter paper ready & also a greased cup-boyttom to pressit hard, for it o set.
I now find th\\THAT ADDING 1/2 TSP LIQUID GLUCOSE HELPS IN THICKENING THE MIXTURE & PREVENTS THE CONTENTS FROM FALLING APART.
Wrapping each individually is suggested for easy handling.

1: Keep ready 1 cup oats+1/3 cup wheat germ+1/2 cup peanuts (all these roasted) + 1 cup of chopped nuts- walnut, almond etc, raisins as well, if you prefer

2: simmer in a saucepan 1/4 cup each butter+honey & 1/3 cup brown sugar till a homogenous mixture is formed.

Now mix 1 & 2 together in a large bowl thoroughly so that the entire mixture gets gooey.

Transfer to a greased butter paper in a baking tin, quickly pressing hard to prevent falling off.

Leave for 2-3 hrs minimum & cut, pressing down firmly. Wrap each individually for convenient use & store airtight.

 

Granola Bars or Nutrigrain Bars - 2

Butter - 2 Tbsp
Dark Cooking Chocolate - 100 grams
Oats - 50 grams
Mixture of Nuts ( Walnuts, Almonds,Peanuts) - 50 grams
Wheat Germ, Dessicated Coconut,Rice Crispies - 50 grams.

Melt chocolate and butter on double boiler.

When semi melted, stir in the nuts, wheat germ, dessicated coconut and rice crispies.

Once fully melted, take off the stove, and add in the oats. Stir rigorously. (At this stage, it is optional to add about half a teaspoon of Liquid glucose)

Pour on a layered baking tray and refrigerate for about 10 minutes.

Take them out, make pieces with a sharp knife and refrigerate for another 10 minutes.

Once set, wrap immediately.

 

Granola Bars or Nutrigrain Bars - 3

This uses peanut butter & is chewy.

Simmer to melt in a saucepan,

Peanut butter & brown sugar - each 1/2 cup

Water - 1/3 cup

till a homegeneous mixture is formed.

Remove & add

Oats - 2 1/2 cups

Chocolate chips - 1/2 cup

Proceed as given above in other granola recipes.

 

Frieds,
On an ILite's request, I plan to post here only
What do I cook today???
This ismore to give you all an idea about meal planning!! I may not post everyday, as well!
Breakfast was Kalyan Khichdi - an ILite had asked for the recipe. So, made it & took a photo as well as documented it!! That with Masala Chaas

Lunch is
Chenai eriseri
Tomato raitha ( it is kerala custom to pair eriseri with raitha)
No-dhal rasam ( not posted)
I just tried a new Saatdhan parathas, just 2, for me to taste & post, if good!!
I have already made Jain tomato chutney for dinner to go with idiyappam, which I will make before I go for walks!
Since I have been trying ice ceams, there are many varieties sitting in the fridge!!

 

The weather is very pleasant for the past 2 days. To celebrate it, I made bajjis this morning!! I love them, V will not touch them. So I shared it with my maid. I made kaju-mango lassi for V, besides home made bread.
Lunch was
Chitranna ( a recipe I discovered from one of my old books), tomato raitha, keerai kootu & rasam.
Night I just plan to MW refrigerated idlis & apply milakai podi+ennai. We love them!! Plus curd lapsi which is a regular!
You all know how it is raining ice creams at home!!
I always freeze gulab jamun. Yesterday some friends came over & I gave them hot (MWed) gulab jamun + vanilla ice cream!!

 

Today, breakfast was simple.
Oats porridge with chopped dates + fresh fruits. I always have a cucumber with my BF.
Lunch iis roti-sultani dhal, Banana podimas, no-dhal rasam.Banana because of amavasai!!No-dhal rasam (plan to post it) because I made sultani dhal.
Dinner is idlis & any chutney + curd lapsi ( I make it almost everyday!)
Ruby has a get-together tomorrow. So I am making (read trying out for posting !) paneer pedas (no cooking) & fruit tartlets with my newly bought ring tins. I made the pastry in FP & have left n the fridge. Chilled pastry baked, comes out best.
On Saturday, Laxmi came home & I made double decker idli & dryfruit tartlets.
She had no choice but to taste my ice cream spreads!!

 

Last evening, Ruby had a high tea for some of her friends.
The spread for your viewing pleasure: