Lunch (Brunch) Recipe 15 - Whole Wheat Buns, Pumpkin soup, Cucumber Raita and Broccoli -Channa Tikki 

It is been a long time since I posted a Lunch menu, so thought of posting one, however this is not a Lunch menu, but a Brunch menu.

Click on the links below for the recipes:

• Pumpkin Soup
• Broccoli - Channa Tikki 
• Whole Wheat Buns
• Cucumber Raita (I have used both Cucumber and Onion in this recipe)

Krishna Jayanthi Recipes - Janmashtami Recipe Collection 

Krishna Jayanthi/Janmashtami is celebrated this year on 17th or 18th August 2014 depending on you are a saivaiite or vaishnavite.

Immaterial of when you celebrate it, Krishna Jayanthi is so much fun. Drawing of those small Krishna feet, Bhajans, loads and loads of sweets and savory to eat, I just love it

I have given a collection of Krishna Jayatnhi Recipes. Happy Krishna Jayanthi.

Click on the Below links for the recipes:

• Thattai
• Seedai
• Boli/Poli
• Pal Kozhukattai/Paal Kozhukattai with Jaggery
• Kesari
• Pull Halwa
• Gulab Jamun
• Kaju Katli
• Semiya Payasam

Curry Leaves Gravy - Karruvepillai Kuzhambhu

I love curry Leaves, their wonderful aroma is something I love. I already have the recipe for Curry Leaves Powder/Karruveppillai Podi on my blog. I was craving for the Karruveppillai Kuzhambhu one day, so I made this and had with some Rice and Appalam. They tasted out of the world.

Ingredients

To Grind into a paste:
Gram Dal  - 1 Tablespoon
Urad Dal - 1/2 Tablespoon
Pepper - 2 Tablespoon
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Dry Red Chilles - 2 Nos
Asafoetida - a Generous Pinch
Curry Leaves - 1 Cup

For the Gravy:
Tamarind Extract - Gooseberry size soaked in 1 cup of warm water 
Onion Shallots - 15 - 20 shallots
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Garlic - 15-20 Pods
Oil - 2 Tablespoon (Preferably Gingelly Oil)

Method

• In a pan, add one teaspoon of oil and dry roast the ingredients in the following order, Gram dal, urad dal, pepper,red chillies and cumin.
• Roast them till you get a nice aroma. 
• Just a second before switching off the flame add the curry leaves and asafoetida and immediately switch off the flame.
• Cool it and grind into a smooth paste and add water if required.
• Now warm 1 tablespoon of Oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and allow it to splutter.
• Then add the Onion shallots and Garlic saute them.
• To this add the Tamarind extract, The paste that we prepared, salt and cook them.
• Based on the water you have added to make the paste, you may add some water. 
• Cook till the oil oozes out from the gravy.

Basic Whole Wheat Oats Pastry Shell / Whole Wheat Tart 

Pastry shell or Tart shell is a basic base to make any Tart or Quiche. It is usually cooked with loads of butter and Maida, so I did some searching and found this healthy version of Shell.

Believe you in me, this Tart also tastes just as amazing as the regular Tart shell. I plan to post the recipe of the Maida version too very soon. It is high time I need to work on my time management, these days with too many things my time management is going hay wire, need to fix it soon.

Ingredients

Whole Wheat Flour  - 1 Cup
Rolled Oats - 1/2 Cup (I have used Quaker)
Olive Oil - 1/3 Cup (Use Melted butter for a buttery tasting shell)
Dried herbs - 1 Teaspoon (Optional)
Garlic Powder - 1/2 Teaspoon (Optional)
Baking powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt -  1/2 Teaspoon
Milk - 1/2 Cup (Can use water too)

Method

• Dry roast the Oats for couple of minutes and then grind it into a powder.
• To this mix all the ingredients except milk and Oil
• To this mixture, add butter and oil and rub it in till it looks like bread crumbs.
• To this add milk little by little and knead it into a smooth dough
• Cover it with a cling film and rest it in refrigerator for 15 minutes. You can skip this step, if you are pressed for time.
• Now take a tart tin or Pie dish and slightly grease it with butter or oil
• Roll the prepared dough into  big circle and place it on the Tart tin and cut off the extra edges.
• Poke the Tart shell using a fork so the base is crispy.
• Bake it for 10-15 minutes at 200C or it is golden brown.
• Using this we can prepare Quiche, Tarts or Pie. 

Whole Wheat Garlic Scones 

Scones are a fantastic accompaniment with Tea/Coffee. I make them Crispy outside and slightly chewy inside so I get the feel of layers of texture. I have tried this recipe with garlic powder and fresh garlic and they both taste great. I used the recipe from here.

Ingredients
Whole Wheat Flour - 1 Cup
Quick Cooking Oats - 1/4 Cup (I used Quaker)
Fresh Garlic - 6 (Grated, adjust to taste, I like garlic so I have used it more)
Curd - 1/2 Cup
Oil or Cheese - 1/4 Cup (I used a combination of Rice Bran Oil and Cheddar Cheese)
Milk - 1/4 Cup  (You can use Water or combination of water and Milk)
Baking powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
Red Chilly powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt - 1/4 Teaspoon

Method

• In a big bowl add all the ingredients except milk and mix them well.
• Once everything is mixed, add milk little by little and knead till you get a dough consistency.
• Rest it for 10 minutes.
• Place the dough on a floured surface and roll it using a rolling pin.
• The thickness can be 1/2 inch.
• Now using a cookie cutter cut them into desired shapes.
• Place this on a baking tray lined with aluminium foil or Parchment paper.
• Prick the scones using a fork.
• Bake it in a pre heated oven for 10-15 minutes or till it is slightly golden brown at 180C.