Play dough ganesha - kids craft

Hope you had a nice ganesh festivals friends. .for those who celebrate it. Today was the last day of this ten day festival called anant chaturdashi.

Sharing this cute little ganesha made with play dough by little miss and her big didi :)
It also has a accordian fold fan behind ganpati.
Do let me know how you liked this simple and kid friendly craft.

Ukadiche modak for Ganesh chaturthi | Maharashtrian modak

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the favorite festivals in maharashtra. Usually it is celebrated for 10 days. But now it also has flavors like 1 and half day, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days. This I came to know only after coming to Mumbai, coz earlier it always was 10 days at my native. There would be a Ganesha idol brought to home and the house decorated beautifully. My father loved making handmade lantern and decorating the place where Ganapati would be worshiped for those ten days. We kids enjoyed helping him J

The Ganesha idol is worshiped every morning and evening. The worship involves various offerings to the idol including flowers and durva. Ganesha is offered an offerings of 21 modaks, modak being his favorite! Aarti song is sung by all praising the lord and asking for his blessings. On the last day, the idol is taken in a procession to a large body of water such as a lake, river or the sea for immersion.

There is usually a common big celebration in most societies. A big pandal or shamiana  is erected and a huge Ganesha idol is brought. Various activities, like fun fare (aanand mela), competition for kids and adults, common feasts etc are organized in the society to celebrate Ganesh fest. This gives the society a common purpose and fosters unity.

Usually we make the fried Modaks for Ganesh chaturthi. You can check it here. http://lav-art-craft-food.blogspot.in/2012/10/modak-for-anant-chaturdashi.html?m=1 However MIL made different modaks this time. They are called ukadiche modak, meaning steamed modak.  We loved the variation! And it’s healthy too..since it has the goodness of jaggery (rich in iron), coconut and there is zero oil in it ! Forgot to mention..no maida or plain flour. These are made using rice flour.

Sharing the recipe for the same. Hope you too like it.

Ingredients:
For Stuffing:
1 cup Grated Coconut
1/2 cup Powdered Jaggery
1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder
For Outer Layer:
1 cup Rice Flour
1 cup Water or as needed
1 tsp Ghee
A pinch of salt

Method:
Combine the coconut and jaggery in a pan.Mix well and let the jaggery dissolves completely. Cook on a medium flame.
Stir continuously until you get a thick mixture. When it thickens add the cardamom powder and mix well. Remove from the flame and let it cool. Shape the mixture into round shape balls and set aside.

Add water, salt and a teaspoon of ghee in a saucepan . Bring the water to a rolling boil and turn off the flame.
Take the rice flour in a mixing bowl. Add the boiling water little by little to the flour and mix it well with a spatula.
Let it cool for 2 - 3 minutes. When it is still warm knead it well to make a soft dough. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky.
Grease your hands with some oil / ghee and divide the dough into round shape balls. Shape the dough ball into cup.
Place the coconut stuffing in the center and carefully pleat the edges.
Then gather all the pleats together in the center very carefully.
Pinch the together to seal it properly. Repeat the same procedure until all the dough finishes.
Arrange them on a steaming plates or idli plates and steam cook for 10 - 12 minutes. Your modaks are ready!

Kids Healthy breakfast Event roundup

Thank you dear friends for your lovely entries for the Srivalli's Kid's Delight event - guest hosted by me for the theme healthy breakfast for kids. Here is a round up of the same. Enjoy and happy cooking for your kids!

An InLinkz Link-up

Ganesha rangoli

Hi friends Sharing a lovely ganpati rangoli made by my neighbor smita for ganesh chaturthi..isn't it gorgeous! 

Origami ice cream | Easy kids craft

A quick craft to brighten up your little one! Now who would not get excited with the name of ice cream!!

These origami ice creams are really quick and simple to make. This can be used for a pretend play with kids or maybe as a prop for a ice cream theme party! What say ?

Hope you liked them J

Oats idli - recipe from a friend

1 cup of uncooked oats
1/2 cup of rava or semolina
1 cup of thick, plain yogurt
1/2 cup of water (adjusat as needed)
1 tsp of oil
1/4 tsp of black mustard seeds
1/2 tsp of chana dal
2 tbsp of fresh coriander leaves, chopped
3/4 tsp of plain eno salt (or baking soda)
2 tbsp of roasted cashew nuts (optional)
Salt to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Roast the oats in a dry skillet until the colour begins to change and the ends of the oat flakes begin to curl. Make sure not to burn them, do this on a low flame. grind the oats.now mix oats ,rava ,curd ,salt ,(u can add veggies in that like chilly, fine cut carrot ) .maintain the constistancy of batter by adding water in it.let the batter for few minute .now apply  the oil to idli pot.now add eno in the batter,mix it well and add batter it pot.cook it for 20 to 30 min. serve with the chutney.its healthy and delicious recipe .all kid will love it.

Applesauce cinnamon oats muffins | Healthy breakfast recipe

Hi Friends

 Sharing yet another yummy breakfast recipe which is loved by kids and adults! Since it is healthy combination of Apple, cinnamon, oats, eggs and wholegrain, it can be had without guilt any time of the day J

Don't forget to share your yummy breakfast recipes for kids with us. For details check here : http://lav-art-craft-food.blogspot.in/2015/08/kids-healthy-breakfast-announcing-kids.html?m=0

Ingredients:

Half cup unsalted butter

1.5 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1tsp vanilla essence

1 cup plain flour

1.5 cup wheat flour

Half cup dry roasted oats

Pinch of salt

1 tsp cinnamon powder

2 cups applesauce (I cooked the apple with little water and mashed it after it got cooked for the puree)

Nuts and raisins optional (u can use walnut, cashew, almond)

Method:

Cream the butter in a mixer. Add brown sugar and continue mixing. Add the eggs one at a time. Then add the vanilla. Mix till well blended and fluffy.

In a separate bowl, sift the dry ingredients. Add to the creamed mixture. Add the applesauce. Fold in the nuts and raisins. Pour batter in the muffin tin lined with liners. Bake until firm. Insert a tooth pick or knife (around half an hour. The time will increase if the batter is poured in a cake tin instead of muffin). It should come out clean. Serve the individual muffins warm or cold. Love them J

Sending this to Srivalli's Kids delight event hosted by me this month.

Also sending this to vallis event
http://cooking4allseasons.blogspot.in/2015/08/come-join-us-for-breakfast-august-event.html?m=1

Microwave Rawa Idli | Steamed semolina and curd dumplings | Breakfast recipe

Hi friends

Sharing a traditional, yummy, all time favorite breakfast recipe! We love this cooked on gas steamer or microwave. Sharing the microwave preparation steps with you. This is my entry for Valli's Kids delight event, which I am guest hosting this month for the theme healthy breakfast recipes for kids.

Ingredients

For The Batter

1 cup semolina (rava)

1/4 cup curds (dahi)

1 cup water

salt to taste

3/4 tsp unflavoured fruit salt

oil for greasing

Method 

For the batter

Combine all ingredients together, other than the fruit salt and leave aside for 10 minutes.

Pour 1 cup of water in the base of a microwave safe idli steamer and microwave on high for 1 minute. Grease the idli moulds using little oil.

Add the fruit salt to the batter and mix well.

Pour 2 tablespoons of batter into each greased cavity of the idli moulds and microwave, covered, on high for 7 minutes.

Repeat with the remaining batter to make more idlis.

Serve hot with coconut chutney and sambhar.

Sending this to Srivalli's Kids delight event hosted by me this month.