YUMMY AMERICAN PANCAKES

Absolutely my daughter's favorite.I have been looking for the perfect recipe for soft and fluffy pancakes for a long time.I'm very happy to have finally found the right mix of ingredients. It is tested and proved to be exactly like my family likes it.
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup plain flour
2. 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
3. 1/4th tsp salt
4. 2 tbsp granulated white sugar
5. 1 large egg or two regular size eggs.
6. 1 cup toned milk
7. 2 tbsp vegetable oil/ melted butter

IMPORTANT: All the ingredients should be at room temperature. If you are using melted butter which is salted then reduce the salt in the recipe, i.e use just a pinch of salt or the pancake would be too salty.
Method:
1.Take two glass bowl. In one bowl mix thoroughly all dry ingredients i.e flour,salt,sugar,baking powder.
2. In the other bowl lightly beat the egg. Add melted butter and milk.
3. Make a well in the bowl with dry ingredients and pour the wet mixture slowly. Lightly fold the flour mixture with the wet mixture( a wooden spoon is useful for this ) and mix it in such a way that no lump is formed. It is alright if there are small lumps but make sure not to overmix the ingredients because then the pancakes would become hard.
4. Lightly butter a flat bottomed non stick pan . Pour one ladleful of batter on the pan. Let it cook on one side. When air bubbles start forming or the bottom side is golden brown( you can lift it with a wooden spatula and see) ,flip the pancake over and let it cook on the other side. The other side would not be as golden as the first side but should be well cooked.
5. Take it out of the pan and serve hot with sprinkled sugar or jam as you prefer and serve warm.Similarly make the other pancakes.
Tip: Do'nt stack the pancakes one on top of the other,the bottom ones will turn soggy.Try to serve immediately or keep them separately on a large plate.

SAUTEED CABBAGE WITH ONION

KANCHA AAM DIYE TAK DAAL

This is a cooling recipe for hot summer months. My daughter loved it instantly when she tasted it first. It's a very simple recipe. All you need is raw mango when they are in season.

INGREDIENTS:

1. 1/2 cup Masoor Daal


2. 1 small raw mango


3. 1 tbsp of oil( my preference is for mustard oil but you can use any vegetable oil but no ghee.)


4. 1 tsp mustard seeds


5. 1/4tsp of turmeric powder


6. 1 dried red chilli ,deseeded( optional)


7. salt to taste


8. 1/2 tsp of sugar, just to balance the sourness of mango.

METHOD: 1. Boil the daal with 2 cups of water alongwith 1 tsp salt and the turmeric powder in a saucepan.I do not prefer to pressure cook the daal as more often than not it gets overcooked.

2.Dice the mango lengthwise in finger size pieces with the skin on. You can keep the seed or throw it away. Why I prefer to use the mango with the skin because then the daal will not become too sour.Also the pulp of the mango when mashed with the daal makes it thick. This particular recipe calls for a light runny kind of daal which is eaten with rice at lunch during hot summer months.That is why no spice or chilli is added except dried red chilli for flavor.

3.Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds and dried deseeded red chilli . As they stop spluttering break a few seeds to bring out the flavor.Add the mango pieces.Add a little salt. Cover and cook till the mango pieces get softened.

4.Add the boiled daal.Let it simmer for 5 mins alongwith the mango pieces.Taste the seasoning. Add the sugar.

5. Cool it and serve with rice.