RADHIKA  D SHYAM SHOWS YOU HOW TO FATTEN UP WITH SOME DELICIOUS, HEALTHY RECIPES! TRY THEM OUT TO TREAT YOUR mOM OR AUNT OR FRIEND TO A PEPPERY AND BUTTERED MEAL

QUICK FIX
All you kids who love to cook, here are some simple yet yummy dishes that you could prepare and surprise your family with. All these recipes can be cooked in a jiffy:

1. KAALU-AALU: (serves 2):
Ingredients: 2 big boiled potatoes, 2 teaspoons pepper,
1 tablespoon oil, Salt to taste
Method: Cut the potatoes into 1" cubes along with the peel. Heat the oil in a vessel. Add the pepper.
After 1 minute add the cut potatoes. Stir for a minute, add salt and add about ¾ cup water. Boil. Serve hot with roti, chapattis or poories.

2. M-CUBE (METHI-MALAI-MATAR) (serves 2):
Ingredients: 1 cup boiled peas *, ½ cup methi leaves (cut fine), 1 big onion cut fine, 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste, ½ cup fresh cream **, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder, 1 tablespoon oil, ½ cup milk, Salt to taste
Method: Saute` onion in the oil in a thick bottom vessel. When transparent, add ginger-garlic paste. Cook on low flame for 3-4 minutes and then add methi leaves and stir. After 2 minutes, add the cream. When cream begins to melt, add the peas, garam masala and salt. Cook for 2 more minutes. Add milk and bring to boil. Serve hot with roti or chapatti.

*boiled corn could be added to, or substitute peas.

** the calorie conscious could add hung or thick curd instead of cream.

3. VEGETABLE CLEAR SOUP: (serves 4)
Ingredients: 1 small carrot, 3-4 beans, 1 cup cabbage
(cut into 1 inch pieces), 1 cup cauliflower (cut into small flowerets), 5 cups water, ½ teaspoon pepper, salt to taste
Method: Wash vegetables. Blanch the cauliflower in boiling water for 2 minutes. Peel and cut carrot into thick slices. Cut beans into ½ inch pieces. Separate the layers of
cabbage. Bring vegetables to boil in 5 cups water – covered for 5 minutes and then uncovered for 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper and boil for 2 more minutes. Serve hot.

4. CRUNCHY SALAD: (serves 4)
Ingredients: ¼ cup sprouts, ¼ cup finely cut capsicum,
¼ cup finely cut cabbage, 1 small onion finely cut, ¼ cup finely cut cucumber, ¼ cup roasted peanuts, salt and
pepper to taste, 1 lime, some finely cut coriander
Method: Toss all the cut vegetables, salt, pepper and squeezed lime together.  Place in a salad bowl. Spread the peanuts and coriander over it while serving.

5. PEA POTS: (serves 4)
Ingredients: 2 big / 4 small capsicum, 1 cup peas, 2 boiled potatoes (medium sized), 1 small carrot grated, salt to taste, 1-2 teaspoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons garam masala powder, 1 teaspoon amchur powder / chaat masala
Method: Boil the peas for 5 minutes and strain off the
water. Peel and cut the boiled  potatoes into small pieces. Mix these with the peas. Add salt, chili powder, garam masala and amchur / chaat masala and mix. Cut off thin slices of the capsicum just below the stalks. With a spoon, scoop out the seeds. Dab your index finger in salt and rub the insides of the hollow capsicum. Fill them up with the potato and pea mixture. Keep these 'pots' in a steel
colander and place it over a vessel of boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle grated carrot over them while serving.
Your parents will definitely like the last three healthy
dishes, since they no oil in them.