Z for "Zoo Cookies"

Z for "Zoo Cookies"

Ingredients:

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla essence
• 2 cups flour (maida)
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahreheit (F).
2. Cream together butter and sugar.
3. Add egg and vanilla.
4. Stir in dry ingredients, add slowly to butter mixture.
5. Roll out half of dough to 1/8" thickness.
6. Cut animals shapes with cutter.
7. Do the same for the remaining dough.
8. Bake for 15 minutes.
9. Cool and enjoy your zoo cookies.

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Yoghurt Recipes

Yummy Yogosicles:
1/4 cup yoghurt (vanilla, banana or plain)
1 tsp. frozen orange juice concentrate
1 tsp. honey

Mix well and pour the mixture in a small plastic cup and freeze.
When the mixture is solid enough to hold up a popsicle stick, put one in and refreeze until firm.
(Have each child measure the following ingredients into a small bowl.)

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Snacks Time (esp Xciting)

X'Citing Snacks:

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup plain flour
• 1/3 tsp. soda bi-carbonate
• 1/3 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 cup condensed milk
• 1/3 cup crushed cornflakes
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup chocolate gems
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla essence and a pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Method of Preparation:

• Sieve the flour with the soda bi-carbonate and baking powder and keep aside.
• Cream the butter and brown sugar till light and fluffy.
• Add all the other ingredients and mix well.
• Press this mixture into a greased 150mm X 150 mm (6"X6") baking tray.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degree Celsius (or 360 degree Fahrenheit) for 30 to 40 minutes till the crust is golden brown.
• Cut into rectangles while hot and store when cool.

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Wheat as Main Ingredient

"Wheaty Wonders:"

Ingredients:

1 cup maida/all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup oil

4 tsp. baking powder

1 cup whole wheat flour

Preparation:

Have the children help measure and mix the ingredients.

Divide the mixture into 20 parts and have the children knead the dough for about a minute.

Have them press the dough flat to about 1/4 inch thick.

Place butter on a griddle. Place the dough patties on it and fry on each side for about 4 minutes, until brown.

Serve with butter, peanut butter or honey.

 ~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~

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Vegetable Cutlet

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups cooked instant noodles
• 1/2 cup sweet corn kernels, cooked and crushed
• 2 spring onions
• 3 tbsp. tomato ketchup
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
• some dried bread crumbs for coating and oil to fry
• salt and pepper

Method:

1. In a bowl, mix the noodles, sweet corn, spring onions, ketchup, cheese, bread crumbs, salt and pepper and mix well.
2. Divide the mixture into 12 equal parts and shape into cutlets.
3. Coat the cutlets with dried bread crumbs and fry in oil on both sides.
4. Serve hot.
   

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V for Vanilla Custard

Vanilla Custard:

Ingredients:

300 ml milk
1 tbsp custard powder
1/2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla essence


Method:
Mix custard powder with 1/4 cup of milk and form into a smooth paste
Boil remaining milk
Add paste to heated milk and stir until thick
Remove from heat
Add vanilla essence
Serve custard alone or pour over cake, fruit etc.

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Do you know this?

a. Ugli Fruit: Ugli fruit is a citrus fruit grown in Jamaica only. It can be eaten like tangerines (orange). Also called Unique fruit, it is a cross between an orange and grape fruit and it's delicious! It can also be added to fruit salad or yoghurt. Try it as a snack.

b. Plants grown above trees doesn't contain or contains less percentage of cholestrol, plants grown below tree has high percentage of cholestrol.

c. Put lime in hot water before squeezing the juice.

d. Drink atleast 2 litres of water early in the morning it reduces many diseases.


e. Put tamarind into hot water to squeeze, tamarind will become soft just in few minutes. But in cold water it takes atleast 15 minutes to become soft.

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"T" Tiffins

Trial Mix:

• 3/4 cup cashews
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup raisins
• 3/4 cup peanuts
• 3/4 cup shredded coconut
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
Store in an airtight container and refrigerator
Treat yourself to the trail mix whenever you want to munch something!
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Tropical Ball of Cheese:

• 8 oz light cream cheese, softened
• 4 oz light tropical fruit cocktail (drained)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Cut the fruit into smaller pieces.
Mix softened cream cheese, fruit and 1/2 cup walnuts.
Chill well in refrigerator.
Mould into a ball and roll cheese ball in remaining 1/2 cup of nuts.
Serve with carrots or crackers.

************************************************************************

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Spinach and Carrot Rice

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 2 sliced onions
• 2 large cloves chopped garlic
• 2/3 cup grated carrots
• 2 cups chopped spinach
• 1 seasoning cube (vegetarian)
• 2 tbsp. buter
• salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Heat the butter and add the cumin seeds.
• When they crackle, add the onions and gralic and saute for 2 minutes.
• Add the carrots and spinach and saute for another minute.
• Add the rice, seasoning cube, salt, pepper and 1/4 cup of water and mix well.
• Cook on a low flame for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Serve hot.

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Cold Water causes Heart Attacks

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this??

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!)

Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack . Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive...

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

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Fruit keeps doctor away

EATING FRUIT...

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter.  If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher.. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

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Gollbhai

For the first time I am paired with Sara's corner and created a recipe from my partner's blog.

Saraswathi is my cousin and is a housewife. She comes up with one or the other recipe every two days once, i selected one of her dish hallbhai and tweaked a little and prepared it on this saturday, Oct 24th 2009.

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1 cup
• Jaggery - 2 cups
• Cinnamon Powder (Elaichi) - 1/2 tspn
• Clove - 1
• Poppy Seeds - 2 tspn
• Fresh Grated Coconut - 1 1/2 cups
• Ghee - 1 tsp for greasing & 3 tsps for mixing
• Milk - 2 tbsp
• Cashew and Badam - 5 to 6 - (cut into small pieces)

Method:

• Soak the rice for 4 hours.
• Add cinnamon powder, clove, poppy seeds with rice and grind for 3 rounds.
• Add grated coconut to the grinded mixture and finely grind them.
• Add jaggery to the grinded mixture and grind again.
• Heat 1 tsp of ghee
• Fry the cashews and badam till golden brown separately in hot ghee. (Kindly note badam will take more time to get fried than cashews). Keep it aside.
• Pour the grinded mixture and keep stirring it continuously by adding the milk and ghee without allowing them to form loops in low flamed heat
• Put the fried cashews and badam
• Grease a plate with ghee
• Pour the mixture onto the plate and leave it for half an hour or till it gets cooled
• Cut the mixture into the desired shape.

I have cut into square and then rolled them into small balls so that it will be more in quantity and I can distribute to many.

Just for a change, I named this as gollbhai (sister of hallbhai). It is also called as "Amruth Palam" in Telugu.

Greatest thing of this dish is it could make my husband remember his childhood days and his grandmother. Infact, my mother-in-law could remember this sweet after 15 to 20 years.

Thanks to Saraswathi and her hallbhai which brought back the sweet memories.

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Raisin Muffins

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 tsp. soda bi-carbonate
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 tbsp. orange squash
• 1/3 cup cream
• 1/3 cup castor sugar
• 1/2 cup condensed milk
• 1 tsp. orange rind, grated (optional)

Method:

1. Sieve the flour, with the soda and keep aside
2. Mix the butter, orange squash, orange rind and sugar till smooth
3. Add the condensed milk, raisins, cream and flour and mix well
4. Put the mixture into 10 greased and dusted muffin moulds.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degree Celsius (or 360 degree Fahrenheit) for 15 to 20 minutes or till muffin comes out clean.

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Rice Pancakes

Mix two cups cooked rice, some grated carrot, chopped spring onions, cabbage with half cup wheat flour and half cup bengal gram flour.
Add a pinch of asafoetida to this mixture.
Add two tablespoons curds and some coriander.
Add salt and press one portion onto a damp cloth to form a circle.
Turn onto a griddle and cook with some oil till golden brown.
Serve pancakes hot and crisp!

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Quick Quesidillas

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 2 tsp oil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup baked beans (canned)
• 1/4 cup cooking cheese or mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1 tbsp. chilli sauce
• 1 tbsp. chopped coriander
• butter or oil for cooking

Method:

1. To make the tortillas, mix all the ingredients to make a soft dough by adding enough water.
2. Knead and divide into 6 portions.
3. Roll out into thin rounds.
4. Cook lightly on a griddle and keep aside.
5. Now, divide the filling into 3 equal portions.
6. Spread one portion of the filling on a tortilla.
7. Cover with another tortilla.
8. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling to make 2 more quesidillas.
9. Heat griddle and using a little butter, cook the prepared quesidillas on both sides until golden brown in colour.
10. Serve hot with salsa or tomato ketchup.

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Pretzels

Pretzels:

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tbsp. salt

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 325degree Fahrenheit (or 165 degree Celsius)
2. Put the yeast in a small bowl with water and honey.
3. Stir a little and leave for 5 minutes.
4. Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl.
5. After the 5 minutes is up, check on the yeast mixture. It should be bigger than before and a little bubbly.
6. Add this mixture to the flour.
7. Stir everything together. Use a spoon to start.
8. Finish with your hands. The dough is ready when it is still a little crumbly and flaky.
9. Put the dough on the cutting board and knead it into one big bal.
10. Break off a piece of dough about the size of a big gumball.
11. Use your hands to roll it into a skinny snake.
12. Twist the snake into a medium-size-pretzel shape and put it on a baking sheet.
13. Do this with all the dough, making 12 pretzels.
14. Bake your pretzels for 10 minutes.
15. Let them cool and become ready to serve.

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Orange Chill

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cold orange drink
• 1/2 cup orange sherbet
• 3/4 cup cold ginger ale

Method:

1. Pour 1/4 cup of orange drink into each glass.
2. Add 1/4 cup of the sherbet into each glass.
3. Add half of the giner ale to each glass.

A drink is ready to enjoy over and over again.

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Nut Cake

Ingredients:

• 350 gms. flour
• 200 gms. sugar
• 200 gms. butter
• 350 gms. chopped dates ad nuts (walnuts)
• 300 mL apple puree
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp. soda bi-carbonate
• 200 tbsp milk
• 1 tbsp. chopped dates, nuts
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon powder to top

Method:

1. Put flour into a bowl and rub in butter till it reaches the consistency of breadcrumbs.
2. Add sugar, dates, nuts and cinnamon
3. Make a well in the centre and add apple puree
4. Dissolve soda in milk and add to the mixture mix well.
5. Pour into a prepared cake tin.
6. Mix the topping ingredients and sprinkle.
7. Bake at 375 degree Fahrenheit till done (takes more than 1 hour)

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Nachos - Snacks

Nachos:

Ingredients:

• corn tortilla chips
• 1 can refried beans
• small jar mild salsa or taco sauce
• few olives 6 oz., cheese

Method:

1. Arange the chips in a single layer on a baking sheet.
2. Top each chip with 1/2 tsp. of refried beans and then 1/2 tsp. of salsa
3. Add a small amount of cheese (grated or cut into small chunks) to top of each.
4. Put the baking sheet in an oven watching carefully, until cheese melts and bubbles.
5. Serve hot.

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Papa's Porridge

This post is written for Cooking for Kids Event.

Ingredients:

2 cups oats

4 cups warm milk

2 tbsp sugar

2 bananas, sliced

8 small pieces of papaya

8 small pieces of watermelon

few pomegrante seeds

Method:

a. Put the oats, 2 cups of milk and sugar in a bowl and mix it well

b. Keep it in oven for 2 mins (alternatively u can also boil for 2 mins on a medium flame)

c. Add remaining milk

d. Put all the fruits and mix it well

e. Serve it to the children

Benefits:

i. Oats reduces cholestrol

ii. Fruits are rich in vitamins (as we all are aware of)

iii. Will be ready in maximum of 10 minutes

Top-Ups:

a. Instead of sugar use jaggery, as jaggery is highly nutritions

b. Add butter (which has a little salt) before serving.

c. Use raisins, almond flakes for more taste.

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