PARTAYYY!! :)

Phew!! Last Saturday was hectic, lot of noise and screaming 6 Tweens and two teens loaded with too much sugar and cheese, just glad that's over for this year!!;D
Seriously, we did have a great time. Kids enjoyed the party very much. Daughter got a Laptop and son got a Electric Guitar from us. Well..back to business now!! :)

What's cooking this week?!
I baked yummy light Savory Dill muffins for Saturday breakfast to make the day special for kids and made some Chana dal-Dill Vadas/fritters, a Bhath/rice dish (will post next week) and a delicious Pineapple Phirni for Ugadi (Hindu New Year) on Monday.
My daughter's friend brought us a really delicious dessert made of milk, Jackfruit, Lychees and Jell-O pieces etc, to the party which she said is popular a Vietnamese dessert but didn't remember the name of that dessert in Vietnamese! :D

Light Cheese-Dill Muffins:


You Need:



2 cups plain flour, 1 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsps fresh chopped dill, 3 tsps baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 large egg whites (lightly beaten), 1 cup skim milk, 3 tbsp melted butter, 3/4 non-fat cottage cheese.





How To make them:


Preheat the oven to 400F.Lightly grease 12 regular sized muffin cups, or coat with no-stick spray.In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, dill, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.






In another bowl,mix the egg whites, milk, butter, and cottage cheese.Stir the liquid ingredients into dry ingredients just until blended.Do not over mix,it releases the gluten and make Muffins dense.



Spoon the batter into 12 regular sized muffin cups.Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the muffins are lightly browned.Cool for a minute, and remove the muffins on a cooling rack.To heat,place them in the 350F oven for 5 mins to get them fresh again.




A sneak peek inside:

They taste delicious as they are or with some savory Cream Cheese. You cannot keep these muffins for more than two days because of the Cottage cheese. Enjoy!:))
(Recipe adapted fro Beatrice Ojakangas's "Light Muffins" book)

Ugadi goodies:

Chana dal-Dill Vadas:

You Need:


1 cup dry Chana dal, soak it overnight in water and drain next morning to grind.
Chop Green chillies, few red chili flakes, 1" ginger grated, few Cilantro, few curry leaves, 1/2 onion minced, enough salt,(coarsely powdered 2 tsp coriander seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds,1/2 tsp Ajwain, 1/2 tsp Fennel seeds) 4-6 tbsp chopped fresh Dill leaves . Save 1 tbsp of whole Chana dal and keep it aside.


How to make Them:


Grind Chana dal to a coarse paste without water if you can to a thick paste and take it out into a bowl. Add all the other prepared chopped ingredients including saved whole chana dal and spices, mix all gently. Adjust the salt and make small balls or as big as you want and flatten slightly. Heat oil in a deep pan until medium hot or at 375F.



When the oil is hot, take a ball on your palm and flatten slightly or as thin as you want and gently slide in to hot oil carefully.You can oil sprayed foil to make these. Fry both sides until reddish and crisp, drain them on a paper towel.You can serve these crispy Vadas as they are with Coffee or Tea or with some coconut chutney or spicy dal as dip. That's it..enjoy..


One more look!


Pineapple Phirni:

How make Phirni:
1. Heat 2 cups 2% milk mixed with 2 tbsp Rice flour.
2. Add 2-3 drops of Yellow food color and 1/4 cup(or to your taste) sugar.
3. Add 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder or Pineapple Essence if you have it.
4. When the milk starts thickening,sugar has melted,take it out of the heat.
5. Add 1/2 cup drained Pineapple chunks(canned is better) and stir gently and simmer until you get the right consistency for Phirni.
6. Serve chilled or at room temp.It's delicious! Make sure Pineapple is drained well of all liquid to prevent milk from curdling.

Here is the mysterious but absolutely delicious Vietnamese dessert. My daughter's friend brought it for the party for us:


Some kids' birthday party photos from last Saturday! :)
Daughter's cake with 16 candles:

Son's 12th birthday cake:

Daughter's most wanted birthday gift:

Son's gift, which made him very happy!
Our dog relaxing on the bed!:)

In addition to the excitement of turning 16, my daughter got another surprise package in the mail on Monday which made her very happy. She has been chosen as one of the students for High school National honor society last month!:)







A Medal for Academic achievement and a membership for a "National Honors Society of High School Scholars"















A patch for the same.(She is in Early College program right now ie she graduates one year early from HS and sent by the county to college, with free tuition for the first year of college)










This cord (I didn't understand what or how is this used for when I saw it first since I went school in India) supposedly goes around your neck with your HS graduation gown when you graduate and supposed to be very honorable for a high school student to have. These are all a fitting reward for her hard work and dedication. We, as parents are very proud of her!:)




Have a great weekend and I will you see next week with lots of what else but Tomatoes!:))