Kara pori - Kids friendly

Ingredients:

1. Pori(Puffed rice) - 4 cups
2. Peanuts - 2 fistful
3. Pottu Kadala (fried gram) - 3 tbsp
4. Oil - 4 tsp
5. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
6. Chilly powder - 1/4 tsp
7. Dried Red Chilly  - 2
8. Hing - a pinch
9. Salt and chilly to taste
10. Curry leaves- a string

Method:

1. Heat 2 tsp oil in a pan and fry peanuts and gram separately. Keep aside.
2. Heat 2 more tsp of oil in the same pan , add red chilly, hing and curry leaves and fry for 2 seconds.
3. Add Pori, turmeric powder, salt and chilly powder and fry for 2-3 minutes until the pori is crisp.
4. Mix in the fried peanuts and gram and enjoy the snack!

Note: I didnt add chilly powder as my baby girl doesnt like spicy snacks. :)

Ghee Rice

Ingredients

 Basmati rice - 2 cups
 Onion - 1 big , finely sliced
 Ghee - 4 tbsp
 Cardamom - 2
 Cloves - 5
 Cinnamon stick - 2 pieces( 1 inch each)
 Star anise - 1
 Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
 Bay leaf - 2
 Cashew nuts - 10
 Raisins - 15
 Fried onion  - 1/4 cup
 Salt to taste
 Thin Coconut milk - 2 cups
 Water -  2 cups

Method:

1. Wash and soak rice for 15-20 minutes. Drain the rice and keep aside.
2. Heat 2 tbsp of ghee in a heavy bottomed vessel . Add cashews and saute till golden brown. Add raisins and saute for few seconds. Keep both cashews and raisins aside.
3. Heat 2 tsp of ghee in the same vessel. Once hot add cinnamon, cardamon, cloves,star anise, bay leaf and fennel seeds. When they splutter, add onion and saute till it turns golden.
4. Add the drained rice and saute it for for another 4-5 minutes. Then add water, coconut milk and salt.Cover and bring to boil.
5. Reduce the flame to low and cook till all the water gets absorbed completely and rice is soft.
6. Garnish with cashews, raisins and fried onion.