Sweet mornings

I love jams and jellies and preserves. The time honored breakfast staples don't me feel so guilty about indulging in sugary treats when I should be filling up on oatmeal (shudder!) and such.

A slice of milk toast, drizzled with some salty melted butter and a smear of jam is a perfect beginning to my day.

So imagine my delight when I found a preserves mini sampler at a Harry and David outlet. I haven't heard much about Harry and David's except that they have good fruit, and didn't get a chance to try their products earlier. Well, good fruits make good preserves and I was completely sold on the mini bottles that promise me a different jam every week! And then they are sugar free too.

So far I've only cracked open the Oregold Peach, which was a generic Peach jam, nothing special. I'm more excited about the Dark Cherry and Red Raspberry. There is also a Marionberry preserve which I'm planning to use with crepes. I do hope they will be better than the Peach.

Its been a long time since I updated the blog or taken part in any blog events and Divya's breakfast event seems like the perfect opportunity to jump back in.
So off this goes to D's

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect healthy eating habits, exhibit A: a post on chips, B: breakfast ideas more suitable for 5 yr olds etc.

Classics...

Sometimes you just don't mess with the classics. So when a traditional chutney is called for, there cannot be any substitute for creamy coconut, fresh sprigs of coriander, sharp green chillies, nutty dal ground together and topped with a simple mustard, curry leaves tempering.

Maybe one odd dried red chili as well and some hing. That's it.

And then simply serve with hot idlis. Another classic.

Filmy Breakfast

Every time I hear 'Mooli ke parathe', I simply cannot resist saying it again and again in a Nirupa Roy voice. I simply have to go 'Beta, maine tumhare liye, tumhari pasand ke mooli ke parathe/gajar ka halwa banaya hai'...with a couple of wheezes and some dry, hacking cough for effect. This goes on for some time to much annoyance on Debu's part :). My funny bone was seriously tickled when I realized that I had some Gajar Halwa in the fridge to go with my Parathas! Yeah, it doesn't take a lot to amuse me. Between doing those voices and actually eating this filmy breakfast, I don't know what was more fun!

Mooli ke parathe

For the filling

1/2 grated radish/daikon

1/2 teaspoon ajwain(carom seeds)

1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

2-3 green chillies, chopped

a pinch of turmeric

a pinch of hing (asafoetida)

salt to taste


For the dough

2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon oil
radish water


Add some salt to the grated radish and keep aside for some time. Squeeze the radish and collect the water in a cup. Use it for kneading the dough. Use more water in needed and cover with a soft, damp cloth. Heat some oil in a pan, add the turmeric, hing and grated radish. Saute quickly till the mixture is dry. Cool it, add the chillies, ginger and follow the usual procedure to make a paratha.
White radish is quite an acquired taste. If you want a milder paratha, leave out the radish juice and make your dough with plain water. If you get hold of the leaves then chop them up and use them in the paratha too.

For the Gajar Halwa, check out Vishakha's recipe here.