Vermicelli Rice

Basmati rice -1cup (soak  in water at least 30 minutes)
Ghee-3tbsp
Roasted Vermicelli -1/2cup
Cinnamon -2sticks
Cardamom -1
Cloves -4
Bay leaves -2
Onion(chopped)-1
Lemon juice -1tsp
Salt -to taste

For garnishing
Sliced  onions -1
Cashew nuts - a handful
Raisins - a handful

• Heat ghee in a pan and fry garnished portion of onions ,cashew nuts and raisins.Keep it aside .
• Fry all spices and chopped onions.
• When the onions become golden add drained rice and Vermicelli .Fry  for about 4 minutes.
• Add 3 cups of water, lemon juice and salt.Cook till the water is dried completely and rice is cooked. 
• Garnish with fried onions ,cashew nuts and raisins.

Happy Vishu

Fruit Platter for Kids

Oats,Walnut and Dates Cookies

Oats-1&1/2cups
Wheat flour-2tbsp
Vanilla essence -1/2tsp
Baking powder-1tsp
Egg-1
Butter-1/2cup
Firmly packed Brown sugar-1/2cup
Chopped Dates-1/2cup
Chopped Walnut-3/4cup

• Combine oats wheat flour and baking powder.
• Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.Add in eggs and vanilla essence .Beat well.Add oats and stir until just blended.Mix in walnut and chopped dates.
• Preheat oven to 175 degrees.
• Drop a tablespoonfuls of dough onto ungreased  cookie sheet.
• Bake 10-12 minutes or until light brown.

Mango Kulfi

Mango -400gms
Condensed milk-1/2tin
Milk powder-3tbsp
Sugar-2tbsp
Cream-100gms
Chopped Pistachio -2tbsp

• Peel and chop the mangoes .Then blend together mango,milk powder.condensed milk .cream and sugar to a smooth paste.
• Pour blended mixture into a freezer box and freeze for about 3 hours .After 3 hours blend it again for 4 -5 minutes .Add chopped pistachio and mix well.Pour into kulfi moulds and freeze it for another 3 -4 hours.
• Before serving, dip the moulds in warm water to make the frozen desserts easier to remove.

Creamy Cucumber Salad for Kids

Cucumber -4
Labneh (Greek Yoghurt )-1tbsp
Mint leaves  (chopped)-1tbsp
Pepper powder-1/2tsp
Salt
Olive oil-1tsp
Paprika -a pinch

Wash,peel and chop cucumber .
For the dressing whisk together labneh,mint,pepper powder and salt. 
Mix dressing with cucumbers.Garnish with olive oil and paprika.

Paneer Tikka

Paneer cubes/cottage cheese-250 gms
Red Capsicum -1
Yellow Capsicum-1
Green capsicum-1
Onion-2
Bamboo Skewers 

For the marinade:
Yoghurt -3/4 cup
Turmeric powder-1/2tsp
Kashmiri chili powder-2tsp
Garam masala powder
Coriander powder-1tsp
Chat masala-1tsp
Ginger garlic paste -1 tbsp 
Lemon juice-half lemon
Salt
Olive oil-2tbsp

• Mix marinade ingredients with paneer and vegetables .Marinate for atleast 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• Skewer the veggies and paneer alternately on skewers 
• Preheat the oven at 180 degree celsius,arrange the paneer skewers.Bake  for 20-25 minutes.
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