Chewy M&M Cookies ~ July 4th Recipes ~ Kids Corner

My son insisted me to make M&M cookies from long time, Hence I have experimented these M&M cookies for this July 4th recently. I have adapted this recipe from Pinch of Yum but I have used my creative idea to arrange the Red & Blue M&Ms as american flag to suit the July 4th Event. There is no Butter used in this recipe and also most of the Sugar used is Brown Sugar,  can be considered as little healthy variation for Kids. This is the first time I have made cookies with M&M's, the end result is Delicious, the cookies are little chewy and soft, not too sweet, but in every bite you will get one M&M that makes it special for your taste buds. These cookies made my son very happy and excited, he took in charge of serving these cookies to his little friends on July 4th gathering at my home and i remained one satisfied Mommy. Here is the recipe, Njoy!

American Flag with M&M for July 4th!

Ingredients:
Brown Sugar - 1 cup
White Sugar - 1/2 cup
Shortening or Vegetable Oil - 1 cup
Eggs - 2
Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp
All Purpose Flour - 2 1/2
Baking Soda - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
M&Ms - 1 1/2

*yields 2 Dozen medium size cookies

Method:

1. Preheat the Oven to 350 F. Spread the PAM oil on the Cookie Sheet. Take a medium bowl and mix All Purpose Flour, Baking Soda and Salt, keep it aside for the flour mix to aerate.
2. Take another wide bowl  add Brown Sugar, White Sugar, Shortening, Eggs and Vanilla Extract. Mix it well with mixer ( i have used cake mixer) on low speed. 
3. Now add dry flour mix to the wet ingredients and mix until combined and forms like dough. ( you can mix with hand). Now fold 1 cup M&Ms into the dough.  ( reserve 1/2 cup to top the cookies)
4. Roll the dough into balls in your palms and keep them on the cookie sheet, flatten them slightly. Arrange some more M&Ms on top. 
5. Bake the cookies for 8 -10 min. At this time cookies will be little flaky but don't worry they will be firm once they cool-off. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and let them cool-off for 5 min.  ( my kids finished half of the cookies when they are getting cooled, that's how much irresistant are these :-))

Tips:

• I have made these cookies for July 4th. So when i reserve the M&M i have saved Blue and Red M&Ms, to top the Cookies with American Flag Design.
• The cookies are very chewy and not too sweet as we used Brown Sugar. 
• My kids totally enjoyed these cookies and I am sure this recipe will be July4th favorite for coming years in my kitchen.

Take a Close Look, Very Soft and Chewy!

check out More Kid Friendly Recipes at Kids Corner...!

will be back with one more creative recipe
until then take care
-Mythreyi

Aloo Capsicum Stir-Fry

Potato is one starchy and rich in carbohydrate tuber that has some good health benefits too as long as we use in moderation.  When you say Potato the first thing that comes to our mind is either Potato Chips or Potato Fries. As these days people are becoming health conscious and  avoiding this vegetable in the meal, but you can put this to good use in the form of Boiled or Stir Fry. I think in every family there will be at least one Potato Lover. At my home my son Abhi takes that privilege. Who doesn't like this Cute, Rounded and Creamy Tuber anyways? So I always sneak in some wonder veggies along with Potato when i make Stir-Frys with it. Potato and Asparagus Stir fry or Potato Spring Onion Stir Fry are some of those...! Today I have added Green Bell Pepper along with Potato in this Stir-Fry! This goes well with Rice or with Wrap in a Roti and Serve as Roll for your Kids! Here is the Recipe, Njoy!



Ingredients:
Potato - 3
Bell Pepper - 1
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - 5
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Green Chili - 2
Onion - 1/2 medium
Oil - 1 Tbsp
salt - 1 tsp
Black Pepper - 1/4 tsp
Red Chili Powder  - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp

Preparatory Steps:

• Chop Onions finely into small pieces. Slit the Green Chilies into long slices. 
• Peel the Potato and Chop them into cubes and Microwave them for 5 min. 
• Trim the Edges from the Bell Peppers ( or capsicum) and remove the seeds from it. Chop the Bell Peppers into medium size to match the potatoes cubes size.

Method:

1. Heat Non Stick Pan and add oil to it. Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds followed by mustard seeds. As they start spluttering add curry leaves add turmeric powder.
2. Add chopped green chili and onion to the tempering. Let the onions saute for 2 min. Add half-boiled potato cubes to the pan. Saute for 2 to 3 min, until Potatoes becomes soft.
3. Add salt, Red Chili Powder, Coriander powder and simmer Potatoes with spices for 3 minutes.
4. Add chopped Bell Peppers and saute with Potatoes for 2 to 3 minutes. Bell Pepper shouldn't cook too much, you need to cook until it become little soft, but still crunchy retaining it's color and shape.
5. Taste and adjust all the seasonings, finally top with some freshly ground black pepper and some cilantro. 
6. Switch off the stove and transfer this to serving bowl and serve with rice or roti. 

Tips:

• Half-Boiling will  help the potato to cook faster and still retaining it's cube shape.
• Always add a pinch of Black Pepper to the stir-fry or subji when you add Bell Pepper ( or capsicum) that enhances the flavor of Green Bell Pepper.

will be back with another great recipe
until then take care
-Mythreyi

Potlakaya Nuvvula Podi Kura ~ Snake Gourd with Sesame Seeds Powder Stir Fry

Usually I make simple stir-fry with Snake Gourd, but never tried with any other seasonings. I have heard from my good friend about the Nuvvula Podi (sesame seeds powder) combination with Potlakaya (Snake Gourd) Stir-Fry several times. Nuvvual Podi is pretty famous and part of daily delicacies in the Andhra Kitchen. It adds lot of nice creamy flavor as sesame seeds are rich in nutrients and full of oil. So Today I have tried that combination and really liked it, it was a hit on the dinner table for my family. It is a nice addition to my Andra Recipes Collection. Here is the recipe, Njoy!

Potlakaya Kura with Nuvvula Podi

Ingredients:
Snake Gourd - 1 ( medium) or ( 1 Cup cut-up)
Onion - 1/2 cup ( chopped)
Green Chili - 2
Curry Leaves - 5
Chana Dal - 1 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric - 1 tsp
salt - 1 tsp
Oil - 1 Tbsp

Sesame Seeds Powder:
Sesame Seeds - 1 Tbsp
Rice - 1 Tbsp ( raw rice)
Red Chilies - 5 ( dry & whole)

Method to make Sesame Seeds Powder:
Roast the sesame seeds in the non stick pan at medium heat and set aside. In the same pan roast Red Chilies along with Rice. Now Grind all 3 ingredients in the small mixe jar or spice jar into fine powder.

Method:

1. Heat the non-stick pan and add oil to it. Once the oil is hot add Chana Dal, Urad Dal, Cumin Seeds, Mustard Seeds followed by curry leaves.
2. Add chopped green chili and onion to the tempering in the pan. Add turmeric powder and saute for few minutes until onions become soft. 
3. Add chopped snake gourd to the pan saute them well along with onions and tempering. Close the lid and let it simmer for 10 min. Now the snake gourd will become cooked and become soft, at this time add salt and saute for 5 more minutes. 
4. Now add Sesame Seeds powder to the pan and mix it well and stir-fry everything on high heat for the last 5 min.
5. Now switch-off the stove and transfer the fry to serving bowl. Sprinkle some cilantro on top and serve hot with Warm White Rice. Hmmm that sounds YummM!

Some more recipe collections to Check out:
Andhra Recipes Collection
Stir-Fry / Vepudu 

will be back with more seasonal and regional recipes!
until then take care
-Mythreyi