CHANA/GARBANZO PULAO

Once in a while, I love to cook up a one pot meal that  does not need any elaborate side dishes yet was filling.

This Chana/Garbanzo Pulao is one of my favorite rice using garbanzo beans.  I had used  dried chickpeas  but if you are pressed for time just pick a can of garbanzo beans from your supermarket shelf.

Adding those spices make this dish  extra delicious with exotic flavor. Although one can find the recipe under the same name over the net but it varies from one household with another, so choose one that suits your palate.

EGGLESS POTATO CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

It's my routine to serve my family an easy snack or dessert that doesn't take up much time to make and importantly low in fat and healthy.

I came up with these moist  easy brownies using mashed potato.  I had my son samples the brownies before I told him the magical ingredient. He had no clue!

It was really good and a great alternative to the traditional brownies!  If you're craving for chocolaty dessert, you should try this...

EGGLESS POTATO CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
Yield     :     16 servings

3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup mashed potato
1/2-3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk
3 tablespoon oil/melted butter
1/4 cup semi sweet choc chip
silvered almonds for topping (optional)

METHOD

Preheat oven @ 180 C and grease 8 in square pan ( I used round pan).

In a large bowl, combine sugar, oil,  milk, mashed potato and  vanilla.

Sift together  flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa  and salt into a mixing bowl.

Add sugar mixture to the dry ingredient, stir until well incorporated.

Mix  in chocolate chip, spread into a greased pan. Sprinkle top with silvered almonds if desired.

Bake @ 350 F for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes, transfer onto rack to cool.

Slice to serve. Enjoy!

GREEN GRAM/CHERUPAYAR CURRY

When fresh peas are not available or when you want to try a nutritious legume, green gram (mung bean) is the perfect choice. They are available any time of the year.

Not only these are an excellent source of cholesterol lowering fiber, protein and important minerals, they can be served as dessert, pancake, porridge or beverage.

This Green Gram/Cherupayar  Curry  is prepared using dried whole green gram, soaked in water for 2-6 hours before boiling them until soft. The longer you soaked, the shorter time is needed to cook them.

This spicy curry goes well with  puttu, dosa, rice or roti.

CHOCOLATE SPRINKLE COOKIES

I had these chocolate rice (sprinkles) and they have been sitting in the cabinet waiting to be used.  The perfect use for them was  included these in baking.  So these cookies were created and they  looked like such an interesting variation of them.

As usual, I had used only a quarter cup of sugar but this is entirely up to you,  add more if you want them sweeter.

These  cookies are chewy, just the way I like them, sweet but not overly so and have the slight hint of chocolate  from the sprinkles. They never last long around our house!

LACHA PARATHA

A layered flat bread made with wheat flour. Made as per normal paratha dough, this bread requires an additional step to obtain its layering effect.

After it has been rolled out flat and thin, a small amount of oil to be applied on the surface before pleating it as you did for a fan.

This is my first attempt making them, its seems so easy and it involves a right technique and practice to get it right.

This recipe was great, my family enjoyed it very much, this will be a regular menu in our home!