Tropical Breakfast Smoothie


Ingredients
1/2 cup Greek non fat yogurt
1/2 cup Orange Juice (Calcium fortified)
1 medium Banana
1 cup Pineapple chunks (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup crushed ice


How I Prepare
1. Put all the ingredients in a blender and  blend into a smooth paste.
2. Drink it chill and its a great way to start your morning with this healthy mix

Mixed Berry Breakfast Smoothie


Ingredients
4-5 fresh strawberries cut into half
1/2 cup rasberry
1/2 cup blackberry
1 cup low fat or non fat milk
1 teaspoon honey


How I Prepare

Add all the ingredients into the blender and blend it into a smooth paste. You can add crushed ice too for summer mornings.



Healthy Corn flakes Chivda/Cereal Chivda/

Yes you read it right, Chivda from cereals :).  A healthy and great substitute to our regular traditional poha or deep fried corn Chivda. This recipe is simple, quick and easy to make.  This was introduced to me by our babysitter (Asha Ben)


Ingredients
1 bag of Corn flakes
1/2 bag Rice Krispies
1/2 cup fine Potato Sticks
1/2 cup Peanuts
1/2 cup Roasted Chana Dal (Phutana)
4-5 tablespoons oil
Pinch of asafoetida (hing)
2-3 green chilli chopped into 1/4 inch pieces (increase it if u like Chivda to be more spicy)
About 10-15 curry leaves
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 spoon red chili powder
Salt as per taste
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1/4 teaspoon Citric Acid (nimboo sat)




How I Prepare
1. Heat the oil in a wide saucepan over medium high heat.  Once hot add hing, green chili, curry leaves and stir it for few seconds. Add peanuts and roasted chana dal and fry it on low flame until the peanuts are golden brown.
2. Now add chili powder, turmeric, and salt. Mix it well on low flame.
3. Add Rice Krispies cereal, corn flakes and potato sticks and  stir the mixture gently, mix it well. Turn off the heat once cereals are warm enough.
4. Allow the Chivda to cool at room temperature before serving.
5. Store the Chivda in airtight container for several days. It stays fresh and crispy. It is a good evening time snack with tea or coffee.

P.S I made it less spicier so that my 14 months old toddler also can eat it. Just make sure to remove the chilies before giving it to kids.



Mamra Upma / Murmura Upma/Puffed Rice Upma

Puffed rice also known as Mumra/Murmure in North India and in Kannada we call it Kalle Puri or just Puri. Most commonly used for making Bhelpuri chat and  spicy mumra/puri mix. Kalle puri upittu also known as upma is more popular in north Karnataka. I generally make it for my weekend breakfast its light and easy to make.

This dish was introduced to me by my hubby. 



Ingredients
4-5 cups of puffed rice
1 large onion chopped into small pieces
4-5 green chilies cut into halves
1 tsp urad dal
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
Few curry leaves
Coriander leaves finely chopped
1/2 lemon
3-4 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
Water for soaking puffed rice
Chutney powder (optional)



How I Prepare
1. In a large saute pan, add oil and heat it up. Add mustard seeds, urad dal and saute it until dal is golden brown in color.Add green chilies, curry leaves and onions. Cook it until onion is translucent.
2. While onion is cooking, put the puri in strainer/pasta strainer and run it under the water in your sink. Make sure all the puri are getting soaked in water. If required toss the puri's with your hand couple of times when running under water.
3. Drain the water completely.
4. Add turmeric powder, salt to the onion mix. Lower the flame and add the wet puri's now and mix it nicely.
5. Close the pan lid and allow it to cook for few more minutes.
6. Switch off the stove, squeeze the lemon juice to above mix and chopped coriander leaves and mix it
7. Serve it hot by sprinkling chutney powder. Yum Yum!!!!