Cheera Parippu Thoran / Spinach Lentil stir fry Step by Step

Cheera parippu thoran

How to make Kerala Parippu cheera thoran? 

Preparation time 10 minutes, cook time 10 minutes, serves 5

Ingredients

1/2 box / 4 cups spinach, chopped

1/2 cup Channa daal / Toor Daal

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

2 cloves Garlic, chopped

1/2 of medium sized purple onion, chopped

1 tsp Crushed red chili flakes (tharimulaku) / 2 green chilies, chopped

1/2 Cup coconut, grated

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1/2 tbsp Coconut oil

1 Spring Curry leaves

Salt

Directions

1. Pressure cook the daal with turmeric powder, salt and just enough water to cover the daal. Wash and drain spinach. I usually wash and drain them by putting it in a salad spinner to remove the maximum water from spinach.

2. Heat coconut oil in a skillet and add mustard seeds. When it splutters, add chopped onion, curry leaves and garlic. Saute till onion is translucent. Now add the crushed red chili flakes and give it a quick stir fry. Add grated coconut and combine well. 

3. Add spinach and stir fry for 3-5 minutes in medium - high flame. Do not cover with a lid. 

4. Mix the cooked chana daal with and combine well. Adjust the salt

Baby spinach from costco. 

Cheera Parippu Toran from Lemon n spice

Pressure cook the Channa daal with turmeric powder and salt

Cheera Parippu Toran from Lemon n spice

Chop the spinach, onion and garlic

Cheera Parippu thoran from Lemon n spice

Add coconut oil and add mustard seeds. Now add onion, garlic and curry leaves. Add dried red chili flakes.

Cheera Parippu Toran from Lemon n spice

Add grated coconut and stir fry.

Cheera Parippu Toran from Lemon n spice

Add chopped spinach and combine well.

Cheera Parippu Toran from Lemon n spice

Add the pressure cooked Channa daal.

Cheera Parippu Toran from Lemon n spice

Similar Recipes 

• Spinach and mushroom cutlet 
• Parippu Cheera Curry / Daal Paalak
• Amarappayaru Thoran
• Padavalanga thoran
• Idichakka Thoran
• Sadya style cabbage thoran

Enjoy,
Lena

Rithika's 10th birthday Party / Under The sea Themed Birthday Party

Under the  sea birthday cake

Under the sea  themed 3 tier birthday Cake

It's a Vanilla Sponge cake with classic Butter cream filled with peaches. I used 8 cakes (two 10"cakes, two 9"cakes and four 6" cakes) for this party.This is how I did it,

Day 1 : Created fondant figures with white fondant and hand-painted them

Under the sea birthday cake

Day 2 : Baked 8 cakes

Day 3 : Created a big batch of butter cream in the morning and started crumb coating all my cakes. Transferred each cake to fridge to set the crumb coat. Then I created Under the sea themed colors Lavender, light green and light pink buttercream and started with the final coat of icing on each cake. Then I assembled the large cake (10inch) on the cake stand. I finished the decorations of 10 inch cake first and added the fondant details and sugar pearls. Then i finished the decorations on 9 inch cake and added it to the top of 10 inch cake. I used dowels and plastic straws in each cake for extra support. The last cake was frosted and decorated on the same day too. I transferred it to the fridge.

Under the sea themed homemade cake / mermaid cake

Day 4: Assemble all three cakes at the venue.

Under the sea themed Goodie bags / Mermaid bags / Mermaid goodie bags / DIY goodie bags

I got the 2 yard fleece fabric from Joann's and  Twill tape from Amazon. I didn't use  any pattern for this project. i cut the fabric to make 8 bags. Sewed the sides together and attached the twill tape on the bottom. This is the the link i followed for reference.

DIY Tote bag for mermaid themed goodie bag  

DIY Tote bag with Twill strap 

DIY Tote bag with fleece fabric from Joann's

Under the sea birthday party food

• Seaweed salad
• Coral reef (doritos)
• Sand dollars (butter cracker)
• Spider crab eggs (grapes)
• Fish biscuits (Gold fish crackers)
• Sea water (water)
• Starfish (cheddar cheese slices cut with star shaped cookie cutter)
• Egg Puffs
• Sprouts salad
• Dahi vada
• Chicken Dum biriyani
• Instant pot Paneer Biriyani

Indian food for party

Under the sea themed food for  birthday party

Under the sea themed birthday cake for my daughter's birthday party

It was hard work, but with proper planning I was able to make my daughter's dream come true.

Enjoy,

Lena

Pasta with Garlic and Olive Oil - Lemon n spice Kids Lunchbox Ideas

In her Planetbox today: Pasta with garlic and oil, grapes, Sharp Cheddar cheese, Aussie bites, veggie straws, and vitamin gummies

Pasta with Garlic and Olive oil

How to make Garlic and oil Pasta?

Cooking time : 15minutes, Serves : 1 kid

Ingredients:

1/4Cup : Pasta

1tsp : Unsalted butter

1tsp : Olive oil

1 grated Garlic

1 fresh basil leaf or a dash of Italian seasoning

Salt and Pepper

2 tbsp: Parmesan cheese

Pasta with Garlic and Olive oil

Directions : 

1. Bring 4 to 5 cups water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tsp salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Drain pasta and keep aside.

2. In a saute pan, heat butter, olive oil, and garlic over medium heat until fragrant. Add in the pasta, basil, salt, pepper and toss to coat with the oil. Top with Parmesan cheese for serving.

Pasta with Garlic and Olive oil

Happy Cooking,
Lena

Honey Baked chicken - Lemon n Spice Kids Lunchbox ideas

There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to become a good one !!!

I like to cook. Well, most days :) .  This is the 4th week  of Rithika's 3rd grade and I was able to send homemade lunch everyday morning with her at 8.00am. Last year I used to drop her hot lunch at the school lunch table around 11.45 and she will eat it during the lunch break from 12.00 pm to 12.30pm. Same sort of food, but lots of work for me like driving again, coming back, again pickup at 2.30 etc. This year we started bicycling to school and it feels absolutely wonderful. A little bit of exercise in the morning and we reach before the first bell with more planning.

Beetroot chips, apples, baked chicken, baby spinach and blueberries, Raisins

In her Planetbox today :

• Beetroot chips
• Apples
• Baked Chicken 
• Baby spinach and blueberries
• Raisins

Baked chicken Recipe for kids lunchbox :

Clean and cut one chicken thigh into small pieces. In a bowl, mix 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp Pepper powder, 1/2 tsp of ginger garlic paste, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp of honey. Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and combine well. Transfer to a sheet tray lined with foil and Bake in a 400F preheated oven for 25  minutes. Insert toothpicks on each piece to make it easy to eat. (I marinate the chicken pieces previous night and keep in the lower bottom of the refrigerator overnight to save time in the morning)

Similar recipes :

• How to bake a chicken breast
• Baked / Grilled Chicken (flavor combinations)

Happy cooking,

Lena