Aloo gobi mutter is a very common dish prepared in North India. Specially during winters when we get these fresh yummy mutter and lovely gobi in the market.
So here is a very simple and yummy aloo gobi mutter recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup gobi (cauliflower) florets
1-2 medium potato
1/ cup fresh green peas
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Red chili powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tbsp oil
Salt as per taste

Method
1. In a pan heat the oil and add the cumin seeds.
2. Now add the potatoes, gobi and mutter in the pan and saute.
3. Close the lid and let the potatoes and gobi cook for 5-6 min.
4. Once they are done, add all the dry masala powders and salt and mix properly.
5. Now saute the vegetables 3-4 min till all the water is evaporated giving a fried texture.
6. Your jhatpat aloo gobi mutter is ready.

Ingredients
1 Tomato
1 Onion
1-2 pods of garlic
1 tbsp desicated/fresh coconut
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
250 gms Tendli/Kundru
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Red Chili powder
1/2 tsp Corainder powder
1/2 tsp Sabji Masala
1 tbsp Oil
Salt as per taste


Method
1. Wash the tendli and cut into two half.
2. In a grinder grind the tomato, onion, garlic and coconut to form a paste.
3. In a pan heat the oil and add the cumin seeds and let them crackle.
4. Now add the paste and saute it for 2-3 min.
5. Now add all the dry powders and let the gravy cook for 4-5 min till all the water evaporates.
6. Now add some water and add the chopped tendlis in the gravy. Add the salt also.
7. Let the gravy simmer for 6-7 min till the tendlis are cooked properly.
8. Garnish with fresh corainder leaves.

Ingredients

1 cup washed mint (pudina) leaves
1 Tomato
1 bowl diced vegetables (potato, french beans, carrot, cauliflower)
1 tej patta
1-2 badi elaichi
4-5 black pepper
2-3 cloves
1-2 pods of garlic
1 inch ginger
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 cup basmati rice
1 tbsp butter/ghee

Method

1. Wash the rice properly and soak it some water.
2. Now in a grinder, grind the mint leaves, tomatoes, garlic and ginger to form a smooth paste
3. In a pressure cooker heat the ghee/butter and add the whole dry masalas.
4. Roast for 1 min and then add the paste and mix properly. Now add the powder masalas.
5. Saute for 3-4 min and then add the diced vegetables and rice.

6. Add 2 cups of water in the cooker and salt as per taste.
7. If you want, you can also add few whole mint leaves at this point.
8. Close the lid and let the rice cook for 2 whistles. After 2 whistles close the flame.
9. Once all the steam drains out of the cooker open the lid. You yummy mint pulao is ready to serve.

This is a very simple and a yummy recipe for fasting. Pakoras are everyone's favourite and if get to eat during fasting then nothing like it.
Here i have used 1:1 proportion of kuttu and rajgira flour. But you can make the same thing with either only kuttu or rajgira flour.

Ingredients
1 cup Kuttu flour
1 cup Rajgira flour
1 bowl of potatoes and paneer cut in small pieces
1-2 green chilies
Oil for frying
Salt (Sendha namak) as per taste

Method
1. In a bowl mix the flours and add the salt and chopped green chilies.
2. Now slowly add the water and make a thick batter.
3. Add the potatoes and paneer into the batter. Adjust the consistency so that they are coated properly.
4. Now slowly add the small pieces of potatoes and paneer coated properly with batter into the oil for frying. Fry till golden brown.
5. Your jhatpat pakoras are ready. Serve with coriander and peanut chutney.

Ingredients
1 cup fresh corainder leaves
1/4 cup roasted peanuts
2 tbsp curd
Salt to taste (sendha namak)

Method
1. In a grinder put all the ingredients and grind it to form a thick paste.
2. You jhatpat chutney for vrat is ready.

Many times to take the milk out from the refrigerator and heat it, you find that the milk has began to curdle. This happens with me many times. So now what to do next. Well no need to worry. No need to waste this milk. Simply squeeze half a lemon into the milk and bring it to boil. The milk will curdle properly. Just strain the water out and your paneer is ready.
Now either you can keep this paneer to set properly or make a jhatpat paneer bhurji out of it.
So here is a simple panner bhurji recipe for you.

Ingredients
1 cup crumbled paneer
1 onion
1 tomato
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 cup peas
1 tbsp Oil or Butter
Salt to taste
Pinch of sugar (optional)

Method
1. Finely chop the onions and tomatoes and keep aside
2. In a pan, heat the oil/butter and add the chopped onions.
3. Saute the onions till they become translucent. Now add the chopped tomatoes.
4. Cook the tomatoes for 2-3 min and then add all the masalas.
5. Saute the mix for 2-3 min so that the tomatoes and the masalas are cooked.
6. Now add the crumbled paneer, peas, salt and sugar(optional) and mix properly.
7. Cook for another 3-4 min with lid closed.
8. In the end sprinkle the garam masala and mix properly.
9. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with chapatis.

Ingredients
2-3 Boiled potatoes
1 tbsp Ghee
1/2 tsp Jeera (cumin seeds)
1-2 Green chilies
1/2 cup crushed groundnut
Salt (sendha namak) to taste

Method
1. Cut the boiled potatoes in cubes.
2. In a non stick pan, heat the ghee and add the cumin seeds
3. Now add the thinly sliced green chilies and saute for few seconds

4. Add the boiled potatoes, crushed groundnut and salt and saute it for 4-5 min.
5. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Rajgira (amernath) is one of the flour that eaten during fasting. Though there are many dishes that can be prepared with rajgira flour, my personal favorite is Puris prepared with this flour. It is a very simple recipe and quite filling also.

Ingredients
2 cups Rajgira (amernath) flour
1 large or 2 medium boiled potato
Salt (sendha namak) as per taste
Oil for frying

Method
1. Firstly in a bowl mash (or grate) the potatoes properly so that there are no lumps.
2. Now add the flour and salt and knead into a dough. Use some water to knead the dough and make sure that it is not very sticky. Keep aside for 10-15 min.
3. Now take a thick polythene bag and cut its edges to open on all the sides.
4. Place a small portion of the dough in between the polythene and roll it with a help of a roller. Make sure that to make the puri nor very thin or very thick.
5. Fry the puris in a hot oil and drain the excess oil with the help of tissue paper.
6. Serve with a potato sabzi or curd.

Ingredients
250 gm Tinda 
1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
1/2 tsp Turmeric (Haldi) Powder
1/2 tsp Red Chilly powder
1/2 tsp Corainder (Dhaniya) powder
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Amchur (Dry mango) powder
salt to taste
1 tbsp Oil 

Method
1. Wash and peel the tindas and cut into wedges.
2. In a pan heat some oil and add the cumin seeds and let them crackle.
3. Now add the tindas along with the turmeric, red chili, cumin and coriander powder and salt.
4. Saute it well. Sprinkle some water if it is sticking to the base.
5. Let it cook on low flame with lid closed for 7-8 min, till the tindas are done.
6. Now add the amchur powder and mix well.
7. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with hot rotis

If I think of my favourite paneer recipes, the first thing that comes to mind is paneer butter masala. Whenever we go to a new restaurant and look at the menu to order the food, 90% chance is that we go for paneer butter masala instead of taking a risk with any other dish.
The other day, i just thought of giving a try to make the restaurant style paneer butter masala at home. It came out almost how I wanted, so sharing this recipe of mine with you.

Ingredients
200 gms Paneer cut in cubes
3-4 large tomatoes
1 large onion
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1-2 bay leaf
3-4 black pepper
200 gm butter
1/2 cup cashew paste
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp red chilly powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
Salt and sugar to taste

Method
1. Grind the tomatoes and onions in a grinder to form a thick paste.
2. Now in a pan, put 1 tbsp butter and let it heat.
3. Now add the bay leaf and the black pepper and saute for a minute and then add the ginger and garlic pastes.
4. Saute till the ginger and garlic are golden brown and then add the tomato and onion paste in the pan and mix well.
5. Saute the paste for 2-3 min, and then put the red chilly powder, garam masala and the coriander powder.
6. Saute the paste properly till the butter starts leaving the sides of the pan. It will take around 10-15 min to saute.
7.  Now it is the time to add the cashew paste. Saute the mixture for 3-4 min to cook the cashew paste properly.
8. You can now add the salt and sugar as per taste. The use of sugar is optional and can be added if you like the sweet and tangy taste of the gravy.
9. Now it is the time to add the milk to give a gravy texture and stir it continuously on a low flame. You can adjust the quantity of the milk based on the gravy thickness you want.
10.  Now add the paneer cubes into the gravy and let the gravy simmer for 4-5 min on low flame.
11. As a last step add the remaining butter into the gravy. This will give the buttery texture and taste to the gravy.
12. Serve it hot with rotis or rice.

Note: You can also add the kasturi methi at the end to give a different flavor.

I always have a stock of fresh cream (malai) generated from the milk. I generally do not make ghee at home, so always wonder how to consume this malai. Also my family is not very fond of butter so that option is out. Then i thought why not make a jhatpat creamy curry out of it with the common vegetables found at home.
I have previously shared the capsicum tomato sabzi. To the same recipe i have given a twist of creamy texture. This curry was loved by family and specially my 4 years old kid. 
So here goes my jhatpat capsicum tomato creamy curry.

Ingredients

1 Capsicum 
1 Tomato 1 Onion
2-3 garlic pods 1 tbsp oil (I used olive oil)
1/4 tsp Chili powder
1/2 tsp  Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder  salt to taste 1/4 tsp Sugar
1 cup fresh cream

Method
  1. Cut the capsicums, tomatoes and onions in small cubes. 2. Take a kadhai and heat the oil in it 3. Add the crushed garlic and let it fry. Then add the onions and cook till they are soft 4. Now add the capsicums and tomatoes and mix well 5. Add salt, sugar and all dry masalas to it and mix well. 6. Cover with lid and let it cook or 3-4 min. 7. Once the Capsicum is cooked add the fresh cream and mix well. 8. Cook for another 1-2 min stirring it at regular intervals.
9. If you want a semi liquid curry you can add some water to it and give a little boil. I prefer it to be thick so didn't add any water to it. 9. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. You can also add some kasturi methi to give its flavor. 10. Your jhatpat creamy curry is ready to serve.

Ingredients

6-7 Baby corn
1 Onion
1 Carrot
1 Capsicum
2-3 tbsp Schezwan Sauce
1tsp Seseme seeds
1 tbsp Honey
1 tbsp Oil
Salt to taste
Pepper or chilly powder as per taste

Method
1. Cut all the vegetables in dice
2. In a pan heat some oil. Now add the diced onions and saute for a minute.
3. Add the seseme seeds and saute with onion for a minute.
4. Now add the rest of the diced vegetables and and sprinkle some salt on them.
5. Cook the vegetables on low flame for 2-3 min. Stir occasionally.
6. Now add the schezwan sauce and chilly or pepper powder. Stir well on high flame.
7. Once the vegetables are fully coated with the sauce add the honey and stir well.
8. Stir fry for another minute and your quick baby corn starter is ready.

This is one of my favourite recipe made with zucchini. Very simple and jhatpat to make. I didn't had capsicum, so haven't added it, but you can also add the red and yellow capsicum to this recipe. So if you are bored with the general Indian curries so try this one with a spicy, sweet and tangy taste.
If you like it spicy just add 2-3 slit green chilies to it.

Ingredients
1 Zucchini (yellow or green any)
1 Carrot
10-12 french beans

1 Onion
7-8 Cherry Tomatoes
1 Capsicum (red, yellow, green any of these) (Optional)
2-3 pods of garlic
2 tbsp Schezwan sauce
1 tbsp Honey
1 tsp Sesame seeds (Optional)
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
Salt to taste
1 tbsp Oil (I used olive oil)

Method
1. Cut the zucchini in half and then slice it in medium width.
2. Similarly cut the carrots and onions. Cut the french beans in 1 inch length.
3. Cut the cherry tomatoes in just two halves.
4. In a non stick pan heat the oil and add the crushed garlic and fry this golden brown
5. Now add the sliced onions and fry them on medium flame till translucent. Add the sesame seeds and fry them a little.
6. Now add all the veggies except cherry tomatoes and mix them properly.
7. Close the lid and let it cook for 3-4 minutes till the veggies are cooked.
8. Now add the salt and chili powder and mix them properly.
9. Once the veggies are almost cooked, change and flame to high and stir fry them to remove the moisture.
10. Now add the schezwan sauce and toss the veggies with it.
11. Once the veggies are coated with the sauce, now add the cherry tomatoes and toss them with the veggies.
12.  Now add the honey and close the flame after mixing it with the veggies.
13. Serve it hot with fried rice or rotis. Or it can just be eaten as a salad.

Here is a jhatpat oats recipe ideal for a breakfast...!!

Ingredients

1 packet Safola Masala Oats (any flavor that you like)
1 cup Suji
2 tbsp Besan
1 cup Curd
Salt to taste

Method

1. Mix the masala oats, suji and besan in a bowl.
2. Now slowly add the curd and mix properly to avoid any lumps. Keep it aside for 2-3 min so that the suji can absorb the water.
3. Make a batter of a pancake consistency. Add little water if required.
4. Now add the salt and seasonings as per your liking.
5. In non stick pan spread the batter to make a pancake.
6. Cook on both the sides to till golden brown. You can apply some oil on the top while cooking.
7. Serve with ketchup or a chutney.


P.S: The same batter can used to make bread toasts. Apply the batter on both sides of the bread and cook it on a pan. Just remember to make the batter a litte thick while making it with the bread. You can also add onions, tomatoes and  capsicums to make it more interesting.

There is an old saying “early to bed and early to rise makes a person healthy wealthy and wise”. But how of us are able to follow this in actual life.

In today’s life, our lifestyle has become such that we are not able to sleep early and hence get up early. Some of us work in different shifts. People work late in office, children have to wake up late to study and complete their assignments, ladies have never ending work to do. Due to all these constraints people are not able to sleep early.

Though we are not able to follow this schedule, but at least we should know the positive impacts that this ideal schedule brings in our life. So that we will know what we are missing in life.

1.       Getting up early helps us to follow an exercise schedule. One can go on a morning walk, enjoy the fresh air in the morning, and greet the sun as it rises.

2.       If you sleep early and get up early, you get ample time in the morning to start your day. As the mind is fresh during the morning after a good night sleep, you can do your ciritical work during this time.

3.       Getting up early also gives great amount of time to get ready for office or school. One does not have to hurry in brushing, taking bath and having breakfast. You can give enough time to each morning activity if you get up early.

4.       If you are able to get ready early, you can start you commute early. This will help you to beat the rush hour traffic.

5.       Your body is made to work on this ideal schedule. So if you follow this, you are giving your body to perform all its function well and be healthy.

6.       If you are sleeping early, you tend to finish your work early. Till reaching the late hours our brain and body are totally exhausted. So it is very important that you give them rest on correct time. Over stretching the body may be harmful to it.

7.       If parent sleep early, kids also develop the habit of sleeping early. This is help them follow a healthy schedule. They will be able to complete a proper night sleep as they have to get up again in the morning to go to school.

8.       If you are sleeping late, you tend to feel hungry till that time and tend to drink coffee or eat some junk food. This is very bad to the digestion system and can impact your body.

9.       If you are able to have a proper night sleep by going to bed on time and getting up on time, your mood will obviously remain good throughout the day.

So these are some of the positive impacts that we are derived of as we are not able to follow this idealistic schedule.Give some efforts and try to go to bed early and wake up early to enjoy these wonderful things in life.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Nuclear family has now become like a fashion. Especially in the cities we will fine most of the people living in a nuclear family. Actually the apartments are also constructed in such a way that not more then 3-4 people including kids can stay in one apartment. Joint families can only be found in small town and villages where they have ample place to stay together.

Have you thought what the impacts of staying in a nuclear family are? I am sure there may be some negative and some positive impact of staying in a nuclear family.

So let us look at some of the positive impacts of staying in a nuclear family first

1.       Nuclear family develops a stronger relationship between the husband and wife. As they are the only persons who share all the tough and good times together, their relationship grows to a much mature level.

2.       Staying in nuclear family has a benefit of economic stability. As the number of people staying in the family are less, the expenditures are less and savings are more. So the family can live in more luxury as compared to joint families.

3.       Nuclear families also are able to maintain a daily stable schedule. There is a mutual understanding between the members and adjust well each other and are able to have a schedule suitable to all.

4.       In joint families you will find people of different nature and mannerism. This impacts the up bringing of the kids. They are not able to find a consistent behavior and mannerism in the family members. Thus they are not able to pick up anything.

Now some of the negative impact

1.       The major impact is on the children. As they are raised in a very isolated environment they develop a habit of staying in such environment forever.

2.       The children are not able adjust themselves in the environment with more number of family members.

3.       Over burden of work is also one of the negative impact of staying in a nuclear family. In joint families, the household work gets distributed between the family members, so one member is not overburdened. But in nuclear family the entire responsibility in on the shoulder of one person.

4.       Staying aloof from your extended family, one is not able to build a strong bond between each other.

5.       In case of emergency there will be no one to help. While in joint families, one always feel secure that he has so many people to help in emergencies.

But even with these positive and negative impacts, in order to survive in the changing times, people have to stay in the nuclear family format. The only thing is that they should know the negative impacts and especially on children and take necessary steps that they are not impacted by these negatives.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.