Charmurya Upkari (Snack out of puffed rice)

Puffed rice or "Charmuro" as called in Konkani is a anytime munchy crunchy snack. With kids having summer hols & asking for snacks or "something to eat" as they often put it, this works out great. A healthy snack with less oil & easy to make too.

Ingredients:

Puffed rice - 6-7 cups

Dalia (Pottu Kadalai)- 1/2 cup

Peanuts - 1/2 cup

Oil - 2 tbsps

Mustard seeds - 1tsp

Jeera - 1 tsp

Red chillies - 10 no

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Curry leaves - few

Salt - to taste

Method:

1. In a pan add oil & fry the Dalia till it slightly changes colour. Drain & set aside. Then fry the Peanuts till golden brown & set aside.

2. Now in ramaining oil, add mustard seds & once it splutters add jeera, red chillies, curry leaves & turmeric powder. Mix all well.Turn off the gas.

3. Now add the puffed rice, dalia, peanuts & required salt & mix everything well.

If you want you can add sev too & all dry fruits too, but traditionally its made very simple & uses only everyday ingredients that you have in your kitchen.

Serve anytime, a delicious, healthy & jhatpat tasty snack to munch on is ready!!

Onion Pakodas

We folks in the Midwest were hit by a major strom system, that just dumped us with snow & more & before we realised it was a foot ( Yup 12 inches!!) of snow on the ground! What a nice thing to see, but a mess to clean! It was a back breaking thing of cleaning the driveway & side walks.. took us almost an hour! Kids had fun playing though & after all that tiring job all one wanted was a steaming hot cup of nice Masaledar Chai.

So i got set for some hot tea & instantly thought of making Onion Pakodas! It would be a feast some pakodas, Bhutta (corn) & Chai! So i made all these & we enjoyed our cold winter evening with these munchies.

Onion Pakodas

Ingredients:

Red Onion - 1

Yellow onion - 2

Gram Flour (Besan) - 1/2 cup.

Rice Flour - 1 tbspn

Chillie Powder - 2 tsps

Cilantro - little( finely chopped)

Salt - to taste.

Green chillies - Add if desired.

Oil - for frying.

Method:

1. Cut the onion length wise. Then to it add all flours, salt, chillie powder, cilantro & using little water mix it well. Dont add too much water, as pakodas will absorb oil then.

2. Put them in hot oil in small pieces & fry till golden brown.

Serve it as it is or with some mint chutney, either way it will vanish before you realise :-)

Enjoy your pakodas while it lasts!!