Ratalyacha kees Waffle-Sweet Potato Hash Waffle

 


Hello Sweeties!! I have been making Sweet Potato Hash/Ratalyacha Kees for so many years, I fast for 9 days in Navratri and making Vrat or Fasting food for one person gets on my bones, so I am always looking for faster cooking processes and using Gadgets to cut my cooking time without compromising on taste and health.

The recipe for the Hash/Kees Mixture can be found here.

You will need;

2 large sweet potatoes, grated using a box grater

(**wash and dry with a dish towel before grating. It is advisable to soak the potatoes in cold water for few minutes and then brush it lightly with the potato brush and remove all the dirt hidden in the skin.)

1/2 cup roasted peanut powder

1 tsp red chili powder

1 tsp cumin seeds

Oil to spray the waffle maker

Salt and Sugar to taste

 

In a bowl, Mix all of the above and keep aside. 

Heat the waffle maker and make waffles as you please. Make thick Waffles as the hash will break down after cooking.

Upasache Bhajani Thalipeeth

 Hello Dearies!!! Happy navratri festival to you all. Navratri days are specially fasting days, where you eat only fasting foods for 9 days and break the fast on the 10th day which is Dasserra. 

This year my health is not permitting me any fasts, but I am aiming to complete fasts on important days like the fifth day and the eight and nine day, so I made these bhajani thalipeeth today for the fifth day for my lunch. Although , I don't allow my kids to fast, they are allowed to indulge in the special foods.

You will need;
1 big boiled  and mashed potato 
Approx 1 cup  Upasachi Bhajani/ alternatively use shindaga atta/kuttu aata
2 tbspn roasted peanut powder
1 tbspn Cayenne powder 
1 tspn cumin powder
1 tspn Cumin seeds
1 tsp sugar
Chopped Cilantro
Salt to taste.
Water if needed to knead into  a pliable dough 
Oil for greasing the pan.

In a bowl combine all the ingredients and mix well. Use little water if needed to bind it into a ball. Heat the pan and spray it with a non stick spray or use oil whichever you prefer. Alternatively pat the dough ball on a ziplock bag and then cook on the heated pan. 

Press the dough ball into a flat roti and cover with a lid and cook it for about 2-3 minutes. Flip the thalipeeth and repeat the process of covering and cooking.  Enjoy as is or with any sauce/ketchup, yogurt, lime pickle or green chutney.

Sabudana Wada Waffle--Sago Shingada/Waterchestntu Wade/Nuggets Waffles

Hello sweeties!!!! If you have ever tasted Sabudana Wada, a Maharashtrian snack, you will know and agree with me how tempting this deep fried treat can be. But Sabudana or sago or Tapioca is Starch, I am not getting into any debates here how it is made or if it is really vegetarian, but one thing for sure is that it is so so yummy.

 Sabudana Wada is 100% diet buster and stay away from the aroma if you ever ever happen to be closer, as then it is a war to stay away. But if you like me who likes to hog, stare and stalk expert food makers and join all food groups on social networking, your family will be as happy as mine where eating good is considered. The next big thing in low fat eating is Waffle maker and Danish pan.

I am using my waffle maker to make this, but feel free to make it in a danish maker also. I have tried it many time,s but waffle maker wins this battle in my home.

You will need;
2 Cups Soaked Sago--Soak the sago in water for 10 mins and drain all water out and keep covered for good 5-6 hours.
Approx 1 cup Water-chestnut flour-Singada Atta
The proportion will depend on how soggy the sago is, if its less you will require less flour
2 small boiled potato
2 tbspn roasted peanut powder
1 tbspn Cayenne powder 
1 tspn cumin powder
1 tspn Cumin seeds
1 tbspn Chopped Cilantro
1 tsp sugar

1 tbspn Lime Juice
Salt to taste.
Water if needed to knead into  a pliable dough 

In a bowl combine all the ingredients and mix well. Use little water if needed to bind it into a ball. heat the waffle maker and spray it with a non stick spray or use oil whichever you prefer. Close and let it cook. I have a electric waffle maker like a sandwich maker which indicates when the waffle is ready.Enjoy as is or with yougurt/ketchup or traditional coconut chutney.

Vrat Ke chawal ka Halwa--Varyachya bahtacha sheera.

Hello Dearies!!! How is the Navratri festival celebration going at your end. Today is day 3 of this festival and I am still going strong with my fasts. I do carve for regular food specially when I made Sooji Halwa for my kids school lunch. Not to let my cravings get better of my will power,I made the same halwa substituting the sooji with Vrat ke cahwal or Varya as it is called in Marathi. Ideally a savory and spicy preparation is the traditional way to treat Varyacha bhat called bhagar and is enjoyed with peanut soup akka danyachi amti . You can find the recipe here as it is  staple in my home and Mr. Ash also loves it. But when sweet cravings call me, I kind of become a slave to the sugar and my mind gets obsessed with that particular flavor. If only I had started to experiment with different ingredients and dared such dishes, my 9 days of previous fasting years would have been bliss. Nonetheless, I loved the end result of this experiment and it did taste better.


You will need;
1 and 1/2 cup of vrat ka chawal
1 and 1/4 cup sugar
 1 very ripe banana mashed.
3 cups mixture of milk and water or use milk wholly. 
3 tbspns Ghee-Clarified butter1 tsp Elaichi or Cardamom Powder
1 tbspn Cashew nuts-Optional
1tbspn Raisins Optional
few Saffron strands-Optional

-In a pan/wok, heat the ghee over medium or low flame and then add the Vrat ka chawal, roast the chawal stirring continuously, till the it changes color and the aroma fills the house. add in the mashed banana and roast well. Simultaneously boil the milk+water mixture and once boiled, add the milk+water mixture and continue stirring...the chawal will be slightly wet, cover for 2-3 minutes, taking care that the rice is not getting burnt, if needed reduce the time to about 1.5 to 2 minutes. After this add in the sugar and stir well, the mixture will be wet now, cover and lower the flame to low and cook for 5-7 minutes. Then add the saffron, elaichi and the raisins. Serve hot or cold. It's yummy either way.

What do you eat on such fasting days, do you fast for religious reasons or a s a Detox for your system? However you do it, fasting should not be starving, just going easy on regular food and control over cravings. Well sometimes, giving in a little is allowed, y? coz I say so. Happy navratri festival to you and your loved ones.

Kachya Kelya che Thalipeeth- Plantain Flatbread

Hello Dearies!!! Happy navratri festival to you all. Navratri days are specially fasting days, where you eat only fasting foods for 9 days and break the fast on the 10th day which is Dasserra.  History and story of celebrating Navratri is also interesting. Most Hindu festivals come with a story. Since I am not 100% sure of the story told by my Granny, I seek help from the internet.

" Navratri is a very important Hindu festival celebrated in India, which is devoted to Goddess Durga. The festival is celebrated with great reverence and faith across the country. It stretches over a period of nine days, with each of the nine days being dedicated to one of the nine forms of the Goddess. Talking about the history of Navratri festival, it can be explained through the stories mentioned in the Hindu scriptures.

The legend in North India goes that Mahishasura, the mighty demon, worshipped Lord Shiva and obtained the power of eternity. Soon, he started killing and harassing innocent people and set out to win all the three lokas. The gods in swargaloka appealed to Lord Shiva, to find a way to get rid of the demon. To protect the world from the atrocities of Mahishasura, the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva united their powers and created a divine female warrior, known as Goddess Durga. Mahishasura, when he saw the divine beauty of Goddess Durga, got mesmerized. 

So fascinated was Mahishasura by Goddess Durga's beauty that he approached her with the intention of marriage. The goddess agreed to marry him, but put forth a condition - Mahishasura would have to win over her in a battle. Mahishasura, proud as he was, agreed immediately! The battle continued for 9 nights and at the end of the ninth night, Goddess Durga beheaded Mahishasura. The nine nights came to be known as Navratri, while the tenth day was called Vijayadashmi, the tenth day that brought the triumph of good over evil. 

Yet another legend of Navratri relates to the Hindu epic Ramayana. It goes that Lord Rama worshiped Goddess Durga in nine aspects, for nine days, in order to gather the strength and power to kill Ravana. He wanted to release Sita from the clutches of powerful demon king Ravana, who had abducted her. Those nine nights became to be known as Navratri and the tenth day, on which Lord Rama killed Ravana, came to be called Vijayadashmi or Dusshera, signifying Rama's (good) triumph over Ravana (evil)."

 

 It is  a practice at my moms home to fast for 9 days which I try and follow even in the US. This is something that we do on our own faith. There is no compulsion or rule for fasting. I do the fasts to build refrain from the cravings and as a Detox for the whole system before the big festival of Diwali. Diwali is all about food, snacks and bringing the good in our minds, souls and homes.

I will try and post a fast food recipe a day. Today being Day 1, my meal would be this Kachya kelya che thalipeeth or plantain flatbread. My mom makes this with boiled potatoes. Since it is about Detoxing the system, I opted for a better starch i. e plantain. This tastes amazing when hot, but can be still enjoyed as  a lunch box item.

You will need;
1 big boiled  and mashed Plantain/Raw Banana

Approx 1 cup Water-chestnut flour-Singada Atta
The proportion will depend on how soggy the mushed plantain is, if its less you will require less flour
1 small boiled potato-Optional
2 tbspn roasted peanut powder
1 tbspn Cayenne powder
1 tspn cumin powder
1 tspn Cumin seeds
1 tsp sugar
Salt to taste.
Water if needed to knead into  a pliable dough
Oil for greasing the pan.

In a bowl combine all the ingredients and mix well. Use little water if needed to bind it into a ball. heat the pan and spray it with a non stick spray or use oil whichever you prefer. Press the dough ball into a flat roti and cover with a lid and cook it for about 2-3 minutes. Flip the thalipeeth and repeat the process of covering and cooking.  Enjoy as is or with any sauce/ketchup or green chutney.

This is my Day 1 of the 9 days recipe. I will try and do one recipe each day if its not already here. Wish me luck and strength to complete the 9 days of fasting. I will keep all my friends and well wishers in my prayers.

Sabudana/Sago Shingada/Waterchestntu Wade/Nuggets-Low fat in an Appe/Danish pan.

Traditionally Sabudana wada is deep fried and irresistible Fast food. By Fast food, I mean that it is eaten when one is fasting. But people in Ashland demand it on any occasion and since Ms, Ash is on  a diet, (YES I am Die-eating. Have to.. or else will have to board an express exit from earth train, as my Dr says) I am going slow towards my weight loss and have one complete year to lose about 30 lbs. I lost 09 so far, still beter than nothing, I say to myself.

What  a girl to do!!! If you have ever tasted sabudana wade that are made the good old way, your diet days will be thrown in the GB and any resolutions that you have ever made will be forgotten, most promises to stay away from fried food will be 100% broken. I am not exaggerating, this is all truth and nothing but the truth.

So I found a mid way in all this sabudana wada drama. This is one way I get to eat them and yet not feel bad about myself. I replaced the proportions of boiled potato and peanut powder with water-chestnut flour, which is easily available in any Indian grocery store also known as Singada Atta. And Shallow fried it in my brand new Danish Pan which Mr. Ash ordered on Amazon for me for just $11. He is very cute that way, All I need to do is browse through few pictures of what I want and keep saying.oh I must get it I must get it, and the next time he orders stuff from Amazon, I get lucky. Guess you get the whole point of what I am saying, so now will give you the details without further boring you.

You will need;
1 Cup Soaked Sago--Soak the sago in water for 10 mins and drain all water out and keep covered for good 5-6 hours.
Approx 1 cup Water-chestnut flour-Singada Atta
The proportion will depend on how soggy the sago is, if its less you will require less flour
1 small boiled potato-Optional
2 tbspn roasted peanut powder
1 tbspn Cayenne powder
1 tspn cumin powder
1 tspn Cumin seeds
1 tbspn Chopped Cilantro
1 tsp sugar
Salt to taste.
Water if needed to knead into  a pliable dough

In a bowl combine all the ingredients and mix well. Use little water if needed to bind it into a ball. heat the appe/danish pan and spray it with a non stick spray or use oil whichever you prefer. Cover with a lid and cook it for about 2-3 minutes. Flip the nuggets and repeat the process of covering and cooking.  Enjoy as is or with any sauce/ketchup or traditional coconut chutney.

The same mixture can also be used to make thalipeeth/pancake. but My kids loved the idea of nuggets, so nuggets we made.This is a small change from my side to eat healthy and live life better without compromising much on the taste and food I grew up eating. Hope you all will also join me in my journey to eat well, enjoy taste and live better.

Ratalyacha kees-Sweet Potato Hash

Ratalyacha kees or Sweet Potato Hash Browns are very common in Maharashtrian houses specially during the months of fasts or a quick breakfast. It is very filling and sweet potatoes are now the new age potatoes.. as they are considered to be much more  healthy and a source of good starch.  I love potatoes be it sweet, yellow or Yukon...it is the most versatile and accommodating root and besides being yummy it adapts to any forms you try to use it in.. be it fried, boiled or baked.

I have made sweet potato baked fried chips and kheer before and now I made this hash on  a Saturday Morning for Brunch. I used only 2 big Sweet Potatoes and had enough hash for 3 adults, depending on the number of people you want to feed, you will need about one medium potato per person or 2 large per 3 count.

You will need;

2 large sweet potatoes, grated using a box grater

(**wash and dry with a dish towel before grating. It is advisable to soak the potatoes in cold water for few minutes and then brush it lightly with the potato brush and remove all the dirt hidden in the skin.)

1/2 cup roasted peanut powder

1/2 cup fresh grated coconut

1 tsp red chili powder

1 medium green chili chopped

1 tsp cumin seeds

2 tbspn Oil

Salt and Sugar to taste

Cilantro to garnish

In non-stick pan, heat the oil on low to medium, once oil is enough hot, add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle and turn one shade brown, then add the chopped green chili, and then add in the grated sweet potatoes hash, at this point add the red chili powder, salt and sugar and stir well to mix in the spices and cover and let cook for about 3-5 minutes. keep stirring in between at every 3 minutes. Then add in the fresh grated coconut and stir well to incorporate the  coconut in the hash. Cover and let it cook on low for another 3-5 minutes. Keep checking as this mixture as it tends to stick to the pan, if the mixture is sticking to the pan add in one tsp of oil more. Using a non stick should take care of it. Do all the cooking on low to medium heat. Alternatively, after you add in the coconut, take the mixture in a microwaveable bowl and cover with a microwave cooking lid and microwave it for 3 minutes in two intervals. Once it is cooked, garnish with cilantro and serve hot with some chilled yogurt.

Sweet Potatoes are very fleshy and its flesh is hard, but they cook relatively faster, so if you have never ever cooked with sweet potatoes or yams, don't be fooled with their appearance. They are very friendly and adapt to any forms very easily. After all not all first impressions can be the last.

Love Ash.

Sweet Potato Baked Chips-Ratalyache Kaap

Here is another Sweet Potato Recipe. I was fasting for the Navratri which in simple English means 9 Nights. The fasts were not for any specific religious agenda, but only to practice control and see if I can stop my habit of munching on useless calories, self control and de-tox before the diwali goodies invade my body again. I know makes zero sense to clean only to add more junk to the overflowing pile....still I successfully completed my fasts. I was eating only at lunch and usually only Fast food i.e. Vrat ka kahna. or upasache jevan like Sabudanyachi Khichadi, Bhagar Amti or at times Sweet Potato/Ratalyachi Kheer.

As I have talked about my evening hunger pangs and my love for chips before, it was only natural for me to open a bag of potato chips and wash my efforts away. So to get a better deal than the Potato chips, I tried the baked Chips, by that I meant Lays Baked chips.
Somewhere the blogger in me realized what I was doing and eating. I instantly turned to my BFF Google. She is my shoulder to cry on, crib about my waist/vast troubles in life and even gossip about everyone at times.

What you don't ever Gossip???  IF your answer is "yes", then you are a Saint..coz normal people need to gossip to stay fit and mentally healthy.

Gossiping or Formal chatting with BFF's calls for some Chai, and some thing to munch on. So make these Chips today my friends and heaven will sing with you and you will be a "Dancing Queen.. yeah,.. you can dance ..you can dance...having the time of your life.. see that girl..see that dream .. you are the dancing queen...".. name the group that sung the song??

The picture is before they went in the oven for baking

To make these chips, You will need;
Sweet Potato washed and dried. cut into thin slices peel and all -I used one big Potato
2 tbspn Oil to coat the slices or use spray
Salt as per need
Red Chili powder- I used 1 tbspn for one Big Sweet Potato
1 tbspn-Cumin and Coriander powder

In a bowl add the red chili powder, salt, sugar and the cumin and coriander powder and then the oil, then rub the potato slices with this rub and keep aside for some time to know each other better, in between pre-heat the oven to a 400 degree and then arrange them on the baking tray or cookie sheets and spray them again with some cooking oil. Bake for 10 mins on one side and then turn them over and bake till they look done. Some will be burnt or darker than others.. it will taste yumm once you are done with the baking.

** The seasonings and the quantity of potato slices can be adjusted as per ones judgment and as per his/her likes. if you feel the potatoes slices need more seasoning, feel free to add more ..it is wise to add seasoning less at a time and then  go on adding in smaller quantities.

So what are you waiting for, I have my chai and share of stories ready, so go make these chips and we can start talking!!!!

Sedning this to HCC Healthy cooking event.

Love Ash.

Sweet Potato Kheer--Ratalyachi Kheer

Diwali, the festival of lights is next week and I have to start the faral preparations . As always, I will start the special week by something sweet....its always something sweet and then the whole savouries follow. I am planning on making baked chakli, that would be my first attempt, I try to prepare one new item every year and this year it is baked chakli. I am planning to make the regular marathi favourite bhajani chakli as well, so Mr. Ash if you are reading this, be assured that your favourite will not be left out.

I am kickstarting the week long preparation by making this simple yet divine kheer, this is usually consumed on fast days, but who said that fast food cannot be eaten on other days. So keeping this in mind I made this kheer. You do not need any ghee or added cream to make it a thick and rich kheer as the starch from the sweet potatoes/ratalya will thicken this kheer

You will need

2 Sweet potatoes/Ratalyi boiled and peeled and mashed.
4 cups Milk-2% + evaporated milk(Using evaporated milk gives it a nice taste, but you can certainly leave that out)
3/4th cup Sugar
Cashews Roasted in ghee-1 Tbspn-Optional, I did not use any.
Saffron Strands
1 tspns Elaichi Powder

Take the milk and evaporated milk in a pot and boil it with sugar.. when it come to a small boil add the nuts and the pulp of the boiled sweet potatoes to it and let cook for abt 10 mins on medium heat. keep stirring as it will not stick to the bottom of the pan..when it all looks cooked and reduced, turn off the heat, Add the saffron and the elaichi powder.... Enjoii with hot pooris or phulkas... or enjoii Chilled on its own.....either ways.. it takes you in a happy place.......

Wishing everyone a Happy Diwali and a Very Prosperous New Year!!!

Sending this to Festive Food Event

Love Ash.

Bhagar Amti

Bhagar And Danyachi amti( peanut powder Soup) is a traditional yet very delicious and fast meal which was had as a Fast food...Fast=upas or Fasting fast....and not Fast Food=Junk Food....well most of our fasting foods are Junk. so my home calls it feasting foods...all empty cals and no nutrition as such...But this can be done in less than 30 mins. We did not Have RR( Rachael Ray's) in our kitchen back when we were little, yet many meals in our everyday cooking sum up top less than 30 mins meals.....this is one such meal....

Bhagar is a special Rice.. called as Vrat ke chawal/ or SAMO

1 cup Samo rice Washed and drained

1 tsp Cumin seeds

1 Green chili--Medium hot

Salt and sugar to taste

Oil-arnd 1tbspn

and water 2 cups boiling hot

Heat Oil in a wok, when hot add the chili and the cumin, once that splutters, add the drained rice and roast well, then add the boiling water and salt and sugar. Cover and let cook on slow heat for 10-15 mins or till rice gets fluffy.. Your Bhagar is done. Remove from stove and keep covered.

Peanut Soup or Danyachi Amti;

1 cup roasted Peanut powder or 2 tbspns peanut butter

1 tbspn Tamarind juice

1 stone jaggery to adjust the tartness of tamarind

1 tspn cumin seeds

1tspn red chili powder

Salt and Sugar to taste

Water to make the soup.

1tbspn Oil

In a pan take the water and mix the peanut butter or the powder, add the tamarind juice, jaggery, sugar salt and red chili powder. Let the soup boil over medium heat and mix well. In a smaller pan heat the oil, add the cumin seeds and once it splutters, add this to the soup pan...

once everything boils well and the mix looks cooked...its ready. Garnish with cilantro and Njoii with Bhagar.

You can even Njoii this with Sabudana Khichadi with some aloo chivda!!!!!! Bingo You have made yourself Farali Misal

Sabudana Khichadi is at

http://indulge-ashscorner.blogspot.com/2009/08/sabudanyachi-khichadi.html

Happy Fasting or Feasting!!!!!

Love Ash.

Sabudanyachi Khichadi

Dear Chaitanya, This goes out to you... and all my Bachelor Friends who always relate Sabudnaychi Khichadi to Moms Fasting days...
IT is Typical for mom to keep Fasts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Chautrthi, and many Special Occasions in a typical Marathi house.. U may Ask when Does she EAT!!!!!!!!!

Well MY Idea of Fasting is Eating all the Awesome FAST foods. I call These Fast Food because, it is easy, fast and not so healthy options........one such to qualify is Sabudana or Sago Khichadi.
U will need some prep and planning for this; Wash the Sabudana and soak in water for 10 mins and Then Remove All water and keep aside covered for abt 6-8 hrs
Take two cups of sabudana( U will need to soak it overnight or at least 6 hrs....
One Medium Boiled Potato-diced
Two Green chillies, Slit
Three Tbspns Peanut Powder.. Roast Peanuts and Run in a Food Processor.. U will have Roasted Peanut Powder
One big Spoon Oil/Ghee
One Tsp Jeera/Cumin Seeds
One inch Grated Ginger
Salt and Little Sugar To taste
Grated coconut and some Cilantro to garnish

IN a Bowl, Mix the sabudanan, Peanut Powder, ginger, salt and sugar
IN a pan Heat oil over medium Heat, add jeera, add the chillies and diced potatoes.. Cook for few minutes, then add the sabudana mixture
, cover and cook for abt 5-7 mins...stir in between, The sabudana will stick to the bottom of the pan...keep scrapping.. if needed add more oil.. u will see the sabudana change texture and become transparent....this indicate it is fully cooked. Remove form heat, garnish with coconut and cilantro.. serve hot with cold curd...NJoiiiiiiiii