Khara Biscuits/Spiced Cookies..

I guess this goodie would be familiar for those hailing from Karnataka (a state in Southern India), especially from Bangalore, and i'm sure you would be missing it !!
What a bliss it was to the taste these freshly baked masala biscuits from the Iyengar Bakeries in Bangalore!!
Ok, now coming to the recipe, it is a very easy one and very less time consuming.
I have baked these a couple of times and it was a hit every time!! Here is the recipe: 

Ingredients:

All purpose flour/Maida-1.5 Cup

Margarine/Vegetable spread/Softenend butter-1/2 Cup

Green chillies-5 or can be adjusted according to your taste ( deseeded and finely chopped)

Baking Powder-3/4 Tsp

Ginger-paste-1 Tsp

Omam/Ajwain-1/2 Tsp (optnl)

Dry mint leaves-1 Tsp

Curry leaves and cilantro-1 Tsp (finely chopped)

Plain thick Yogurt-2 Tbsp

Curry Powder- a pinch (optnl)

Salt to taste

Procedure:

1.Sieve the flour, baking soda and salt and cream the butter or margarine into it adding it little by little to form crumbles.

2.Now add the spices and salt and knead well using your hands and finally add the yogurt making sure the dough is stiff and not too soft.

3.Cover the dough and let it sit for 10 to 15 mins.

4.Preheat the oven to 400F and grease a baking tray.

5.If you have a cookie cutter,cut the dough into required shapes or u can drop it on the tray using a cookie dropper if you like it to be a lilttle thick.I did so because we love the biscuits that way.

6.Prick the top of the cookie with a fork to let the air escape which will help the cookies not to puff up.

7.Bake for twenty minutes or so till the top begins to brown slightly and an inserted tooth prick comes out clean.

8.Remove and cool on wire rack for sometime and store it in an air tight container.

9.Anything better than a cup of hot chai and some khara biscuits to enjoy your evenings??

Baked Idli Wedges..

When left over bread can turn into Bread 65 and leftover dosa batter into Paniyarams, why not left over Idli into Baked Wedges??
Am I sounding wierd??Not really people,cos this evening I wanted to make a snack to go with tea and wondered what to do! Did not have much stock of things in hand except some leftover Idlis which i had made for breakfast this  morning. Was not too interested in making idli upma or podi idli that i usually do, and thus was born the idea of baking it!! And guess what, the result was truly amazing!!
Have come across many masala idli and fried idli recipes, but not this one exactly.
Wanted to share the recipe as its simple yet sooper!!
Here it goes:

Ingredients:

Leftover Idlis(any count)-cut to long pieces of medium thickness

Oil  or oil spray

Seasoning of your choice like red chilly powder, salt and a pinch of hing or peringayam.
(I coated the idlis with milagaipodi and oil)

Procedure:

1.Cut the Idlis into long strips like wedges.

2.Prepare seasoning of your choice,spray some oil on the Idli pieces and toss them in the seasoning till they are evenly coated.

3.Meanwhile preheat oven to 400 deg F and line a baking tray with aluminium foil.

4.Arrange the Idlis in the tray leaving some space between the pieces.

5.Bake for 20-25 minutes untill golden brown and crisp turning them over once in between.

4.Garnish with some Italian seasonings on top and enjoy it hot with sauce or any dip!!

5.A great low calorie snack with minimum effort and maxi'mummm" effect!!! Sorry Fries!

Baked Kuzhipaniyarams/Desi Muffins/Seasoned Pancake Puffs..

This is a very famous Chettiand cuisine and its a common practice in many south indian households to make these kuzhi paniyarams out of left over idly or dosa batter.
Its a yummy snack to eat especially during the monsoons and winter..
Its traditionally made using a aappa chatti or an aebleskiwer pan but baking it in a muffin tray
also does full justice to the dish and of course making it low calorie too!!
Here goes the recipe:

Ingredients:

Leftover Idly or Dosa Batter

To season with:

Mustard-1 tsp

Ulutham paruppu/urad dhall-1 tsp

Kadala paruppu/channa dhall-1 tsp

Peringayam?hing - a pinch

Chopped green chillies-according to spice levels

Dry red chilly-1 no.

Curry leaves -1 sprig

Onions-2 small finely chopped

Oil-2 tbsp

Note:the dosa batter already has salt in it,so add extra salt only if needed..

Procedure:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees and meanwhile heat oil in a small pan and when hot add all the ingredients mentioned for seasoning..saute for 2 mins.

2.Remove it from the heat and add it to the dosa batter along with the chopped onions.

3.Now grease a muffin tray and fill it to its 3/4th level with the seasoned dosa batter.

4.Bake for about 20-30 mins till golden brown.

5.Remove the tray,let cool and enjoy it with coconut chutney or ketchup..

Note:as this is a baked snack,it may turn hard and rubbery if left for long due to the property of rice flour..so bake and eat it rite away!!