Kids in the kitchen

Strawberry Ice Cream Soda

It is pasta that five-and-a-half-year-old Nayantara Singh loves best. She also helps mommy, supermodel and grooming expert Nayanika Chatterjee, bake chocolate cake. But her speciality is shaking up her favourite ice-cream soda in her favourite flavour, strawberry.


Ingredients:

• Strawberry syrup
• Soda
• Scoops of ice cream

Method:

Pour the syrup in a cup or a mug. Add about half a glass of soda. Add the ice cream scoops. Drink it fast!

Hummus

Chef Abdalla Hamdan of Hyatt Regency shares his recipe for Hummus, an easy yet delicious and popular Arab dip that’s great with crackers, pita and crudites.

Ingredients:

• Chickpea: 500 g
• Sesame seed paste: 350 g (this should be done by a senior)
• Lemon salt/ lemon juice: 1 tsp/ 100 ml
• Extra virgin olive oil: 100 ml
• Ice cubes: 10
• Salt to taste

Method:

Wash and soak the chickpeas overnight. Boil the chickpeas and ensure that it is cooked completely. Grind the chickpeas into a smooth paste (an adult should supervise if a blender is being used). Add tahini (the sesame paste), salt, lemon salt/ juice and ice cubes. Mix thoroughly. Combine the oil with chickpea paste and serve chilled with pita bread.

Bhelpuri

Yoga expert Meera Vaghani has two sons and bhelpuri is a quick and easy snack when the boys are hungry. 'It’s healthy, too', says Meera. (Note: If young kids are making this, you can chop everything and leave it for them to assemble.)

Ingredients:

• 2 bowls plain muri
• 4 tbsp sev
• 6 pieces papri (crushed into uneven pieces)
• 2 small boiled potatoes (diced small)
• 1 small onion (peeled and finely chopped)
• 4 tbsp imli khatta-meetha chutney
• Chilli garlic chutney and green chilli chutney (optional)
• Fresh coriander (finely chopped)
• Salt and jeera powder to taste

Method:

Take a deep bowl/dish. Throw in the diced potatoes and finely cut onions. Add salt and jeera powder, with the imli (tamarind) chutney. Throw in the papri, sev and muri in this order. Stir with a ladle and serve immediately in two bowls or plates. Top with chopped coriander. Serves two.

Stuffed Omelette

Actress June’s daughter Shivangini isn’t too interested in cooking. It is her son Shivendra, 14, who loves to experiment in the kitchen. And omelettes are what he makes best. June shares with t2 her son’s recipe that he simply loves.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• Diced tomato, capsicum, mushroom
• Shredded ham and chicken
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Beat the eggs with the seasoning. Put some butter or olive oil in a frying pan. Pour in the beaten eggs. Add veggies, chicken and ham. Fold over and remove gently from the pan.Serve topped with grated cheese.

Cheese Balls

Jewellery designer Nilanjana Chakraborty and actor Arjun Chakraborty’s 15-year-old daughter Suhasini Chakraborty loves treating her parents to her favourite evening snack — Cheese Balls and Masala Chips. Mom Nilanjana Chakraborty shares the 'easy to make' recipes.

Ingredients:

• Cheese (2 to 3 cubes)
• Four slices of bread

Method:

Grate the cheese. Soak the bread slices in water. Strain, and knead. Add some dhania patta and chaat masala (optional). Roll into small balls. Roll balls in either cornflour or biscuit crumbs. Deep-fry till golden. Serves two.

Masala Chips

Ingredients:

• 1 packet plain chips
• One finely-chopped onion
• Finely-chopped dhania

Method:

Lay the chips on a plate. Mix with onion and coriander. Sprinkle some red chilli powder and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serves two.


t2