Low Calorie baked or shallow fried/roasted whole wheat Kachoris (Protein balls)

Low Calorie Kachori, packed with vitamins and High Fiber. You can bake it or use an aebleskiver pan so minimum oil is used while shallow frying or baking. Or you can deep fry if you only like it that way.

Here are 4 stuffing options for your kachoris. Baked/shallow pan fry with little or no oil, or deep fried as per your liking.

Stuffing Option 1: Lightly boiled Whole Mung Daal kachori. Makes 20 or if you want smaller, perhaps a few more.
• 1 cup (207 g), Mung Beans, Whole, Dried, Uncooked
• 3 cups, Water for soaking over night
• 30 g, Besan (1.4 cup gram flour) lightly Roasted 


For pastry
• 226.80 g, Whole Wheat Flour for Roti (Chapati). 
• 2 tablespoon, Oil - Olive
• 0.50 cup, Water


For Vaghaar/Tadka (tempering) 
• 0.50 tbsp, Spices, cumin seed
• 0.50 tbsp, Spices, coriander seed
• 0.50 tbsp, Spices, fennel seed
• 1.00 gms, Compounded Hing (Asafoetida Powder Yellow)
• 1 g, Curry Leaves Green
• 2 tablespoon, Oil - Olive
• half a tea spoon Chat Masala (National) 

Soak the 1 cup dry whole mung (green lentils) overnight. It becomes nearly 3 cups. Add a little more water if you need to, for boiling it the next day for few minutes, until its tender, but not so tender and not so liquid-ish. Drain the liquid and let it cook before you coarsely pound it with a rolling pin. 


Meanwhile, roast the gram flour lightly, keep it aside.
 
For pastry covers, take 1 cup of whole wheat Atta and add about 1 tablespoon of oil and about half a cup of water slowly and knead the dough. Keep it aside covered. 

In a separate pan add the stuff for Vaghaar/Tadka (tempering) and let it heat up for just a minute or two then add roasted Gram flour lightly and eventually the coarsely ground Mung. Let it cook for a minute or two until everything mixes well. Turn off the heat and let it cool. (you may add salt, and/or green chilies as per your like, for this option of stuffing I did not)
 
Make 20 balls of the stuffing and make 20 balls of the flour. Roll each flour ball and cover each stuffing ball nice and neat by rolling in your palm evenly. 
I used the aebelskiver pan to cook healthy ones. You can roast it for 20 or 25 minutes or you can deep fry if you like! (of course deep frying will increase the calories) 
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2nd stuffing option: 
(If you have already prepared really thick/condensed whole mung (green) lentil, you can use that too, just not liquid-ish!) then add the gram flour and rest of the spices before covering with the pastry. Follow the same method as option 1. 


3rd stuffing option: 
Baked whole mung kachori! 
• 1/2 cup dry whole mung lentil soaked
• 1/2 cup dry powdered Mung lentil
• 1.50 tbsp(s), Besan (Gram Flour) (roasted)


For Vaghaar/Tadka/ tempering 
• 2 tbsp, 100% Corn Oil
• 1.00 gms, Compounded Hing (Asafoetida Powder Yellow)
• 0.30 tbsp, Spices, fennel seed
• 0.30 tbsp, Spices, coriander seed
• 0.30 tbsp, Spices, cumin seed
• 1 dash, Salt, table
• 1 or 2 Finger hot/Thai pepper (crushed green Chillies) These are hot!!!! 


Follow above method and bake it for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown color is desired. (Baked ones are crispy) NB: before baking just lightly grease the tray and roll the prepared kachoris in it as you put in the over at 350/375 F. 
4th stuffing option: (no Mung lentil but garden peas)
1 and half cup garden peas, lightly crushed. (Same above spices) Same method! 
Of course in all these curry leaves give that unique taste!

Please know that when you use whole Mung lentil with the skin it has more fiber so I like to use that rather than daal without skin. :)

If you can get this panyaram pan or its called aebleskiver it becomes healthier option to cook on stove yet no oil or just brush a little so it's healthy. This version of kachori comes softer also. The baked ones become crispy and healthy too. While deep fried, well you know what calories would that add so try this pan even for healthy vada or pakoda/bhajia with no or very little oil. :)

Blessings,
Kalpana aka KC Sharma (Mrs.)

Baked Butternut Squash Fingers

Baked Butternut squash fingers. 

Ok for healthy nuts like me: Try this. It looks like fries right? But SO healthy n minimum calories. I named it Baked Butternut squash fingers. 

Recipe: 3 ingredients only

Butternut squash
Any seasoning of your choice - I used Bihari kababs masala mix
Few sprays of oil

Wash and cut the butternut squash, keep the skin on. ( I like to keep the fiber n it tastes good. Remove the seeds and chop it like fries. 

Coat it with 1 tablespoon of Bihari kababs mix masala (national brand) and few sprays of oil. Keep it marinated for 2-3 hours. 

Bake it at 400F for 15 or so min. Add salt just when it's done. Enjoy! 
You get about 75 fries/fingers and it's hardly 3 calories per finger so you can hog as much as you like. 

Blessings,
Kalpana aka KC ;)

Blessings 

Ble

Simple homemade Plain Greek Yogurt/Strained/Drained Yogurt

Yogurt making is very easy and extremely economical if you follow the right steps. You can use nonfat/full fat/ 2% whatever milk type you prefer and it will still come out great yogurt depending upon how much fat content you wish to have. Some add half and half so go for it, whatever you wish to add or not add.

Needed things:
1. A gallon of milk which is 16 cups. This will yield 6-8 cups of Greek Yogurt and about the respective amount of whey liquid. (Depending on how much you choose to drain)
2. Yogurt starter one or two tablespoons (if you have plain yogurt at home, use it) or buy Greek Yogurt at any store. Meijer now has a small size for only .79 cent. (Yesterday for half a gallon of milk, I used only half a tablespoon.)
3. Cheese cloth/thin cotton cloth/or muslin cloth like a thin cotton curtain lining material. A clean pillow case would even do.
4. A good heavy bottomed pot to hold milk and heat up.

Here are 6 stages:
1. Heating the Milk to a boiling point on a low heat.
2. Cooling it to a lukewarm temperature.
3. Fermentation: Add a tablespoon or two of the yogurt starter to your lukewarm milk to ferment it for 6-8 hours or overnight. (after this stage yogurt is actually ready and many use it like this. For years we have done up to this point unless we were making a dessert then we would drain)
4. Cooling in the Refrigerator for 4-6 hours (This helps to thicken)
5. Straining/drain- (3-5 hours: this is an additional step to make the thick Greek yogurt)
6. Cooling back in the refrigerator. (This helps thicken a bit more) and final product

So here step by step method.

1. When you heat the milk on the stove top make sure that the pot is clean and rinsed in water before adding the milk so the milk does not burn at the bottom. Use a heavy base pot and please keep the flame low so that it heats up well. If you keep it high flame, it will burn your milk and smell not so good. As it progresses you may later on turn up the high flame but you will have to be present to keep stirring it constantly so it does not burn at the bottom. (If you multitask like me, you may want to keep it on low heat.)

2. Let it cool to a room temperature or like what you can drink. Not too cold and not too hot.
3. Now take your yogurt starter and add into the milk and mix well with a ladle or a hand mixer so it goes evenly in every part of the milk.

4. Cover and keep it in a warm place like in an oven that is turned off and is not hot. Do NOT turn the oven on. Leave it overnight. Please know that during summer's warm/hot days it gets done quickly due to hot temperature but during winter you may need to wrap a towel and keep it warm and perhaps overnight.

Next day morning your yogurt is practically ready and you can have it as is or keep it in the fridge for few hours and it will thicken a little more.

Now for Greek yogurt the process goes on two steps further.
5. Take a colander and line it with a clean muslin/cheese/cotton cloth big enough to hold the yogurt.

You may do 3-4 pouches as I have done here so it drains evenly all round well inside and outside too. Leave it to drain for 4-6 hours.

6. Carefully remove from the cloth and transfer it in the containers and store it in the fridge. If you find the yogurt is too dry you can add some of the whey liquid back into it as per your taste/texture.

Eat as is or you may keep it in the fridge for few hours to cool and thicken.  So rich and creamy and full of protein. You may eat it plain as is, or you may want to add your own flavors like cardamom/vanilla/ and just before eating add nuts or fruits. 

Enjoy! ------------

Now regarding the left over liquid/whey:

1. instead of discarding off the whey (drained liquid) you can use it in smoothies, or what I do is put in the jars. (You can add sugar or sugar substitute if you like) or drink it on its own as my husband does before he goes for a work out. Its low calorie, low sodium, good protein. I like to add a little sweet taste and a teaspoon of cardamom, it tastes SO yummy!



2. You can also keep the yogurt whey liquids is in the refrigerator and whenever you want to make yogurt Kadhi(Curry) just add back the whey into the Greek yogurt and follow the kadhi recipe procedure.

3. Make Chhaas (lighter sort of buttermilk type drink that has less yogurt and more water/whey) People make Lassi drink from it too. You can make it salty or sweet.

I hope you enjoy making this and let me know how it goes. Please do not give up. Try with a smaller amount first like half or a quarter gallon of milk and see how it goes if you are in doubt.

Blessings!
Kalpana Christian Sharma (KC)

3 Crosses on that Hill. My thoughts on this Good Friday, 2016

There were three crosses on that 1st 'Good Friday' that we have been celebrating for many years. Yes the prophesy said, "HE was numbered among the transgressors" Isa53:12 and I see many other stuff that we can learn from the three crosses. 1. We will suffer and die physically as well spiritually for the sins we commit if we are not repentant. 2. Even when we have committed sins, when we recognize the Holy God and Lord Jesus and repent and ask forgiveness, we will suffer physically, and die physically too, but spiritually we will be alive forever, and we will be at peace, redeemed and forgiven. 3. The middle Cross is supposed to be for us but SOME HOLY ONE took our place so that you and I can be redeemed and be forgiven. But we must ask God to do that. And B. like that middle Cross, God may call us to suffer injustice even when we have not done anything wrong, when we are in a right relationship with God thru His son Jesus Christ, we will suffer physically as its given us to not only believe but to suffer for Christ, but we learn to obey God in every moments of our lives and even when called upon to die, to pray to be faithful till the end and we will live eternally. Mostly God calls many to be a living sacrifice, and not just die, but few are called to die as well. I pray that we learn to live to be a living sacrifice; yes, that means we dont have a right to live our lives to please our own flesh and desires but to please God. Jesus living in and thru us.

So lets go back to the 3 crosses.  

1. One cross had a thief, a criminal who wanted Jesus to help him get rid of his physical pain which was a result of his own sinful wrong doings. He just wanted an easy way out; he was not sorry for his sins. Doesn't this shock that he was SO CLOSE to Jesus even in the last moments of his life and yet FAILED to recognize the HOLY One? In fact, he mocked along with others: Luke 23:39"One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" 

And this criminal died, went away without forgiveness that was available right next to him.

We can easily say, Wow! suffering in your last moments and yet hurling abuse at the Holy One? but we could be the same way, even today, we may NOT be able to recognize the REAL Jesus because we are so used to the what we were introduced the only one sided character of his, meek and mild, easy going Jesus for a long time, or we have been introduced to a stern angry Jesus who has no mercy type Jesus, and so we are so angry at the disciplining Jesus that does not excuse our sins. Or we have a wrong concept of Jesus, either too easy going or too stern.

This thief represents many, even within the church, so many people thinking Jesus will excuse all of their sins, get them out of their physical or immediate results of sin but they are not repentant to turn away, because they have false confidence that once they said the 'saved' prayer, they can continue to live to please themselves and their life does not reflect the forgiveness at all but they mistakenly think they will make it to heaven, that is WHY they do not want to change their lifestyle. They don't want to be caught and when caught they want to be free to go and sin more! We live and worship among many like this too. And this thief also represents many in the world who see nothing wrong in sinning, they think God is there to serve them, they think they are gods to themselves. They want God to 'save' them from the unpleasant consequences of sins but they do not want to live by God's holy standards. They are actually trying to mock God. But the Bible says, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8 

2. The other side on the cross also had a thief, a criminal again. And other gospel account says that both had mocked him,"Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him." Mark15:32. But, it appears, from Luke's account, that in those last few moments when this criminal saw Jesus' love and forgiveness and his response to the mockers, something within him changed. And he recognized the HOLY One. Luke 23:40. "But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" 43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

This criminal also did sinful things, and knew that they both were receiving the just punishment. Under grace was able to recognize who Jesus is, and he was repentant. He went away with a promise. We pray that we will recognize Jesus as soon as we hear of Him, and repent and NOT wait till the deathbed to say sorry to Jesus. This thief had no chance to be baptized, or take physical Holy Supper, but he did, the change of heart and receiving Jesus spiritually was what God is after. I believe even if he was given a chance to live, he would have lived for God and not go back to his sinful lifestyle.

3. Now comes the middle one, 'JESUS of Nazareth, the King of the Jews' the 'crime' listed on top of the Cross. He had committed no crime. A sinless, Holy One yet he died a brutal death and bled every ounce of his blood. "Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,  and he will bear their iniquities." Isaiah 53: 10-11
"Surely he took up our pain  and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God,  stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray,  each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:4-5-6

Jesus suffered for us, willingly for you, dear reader!! He took the blow and covered you so you will not be condemned IF you believe Him to be Your Savior and live a holy life with His help. And When we obey God, we may be called to suffer like Him. True Christianity is not an easy matter. But there is eternal peace and blessing and its worth every thing you have. So, what would your response be to Jesus knowing He died for you personally??? What would you do with this Jesus called Christ? God does not overlook sin, He does not excuse sin, He is a righteous God, and yet God is loving and merciful. Sin had to be punished, so Jesus took the punishment upon Himself and bore God's wrath so you and I can go free IF we repent of our sins and turn 180 degrees towards holiness. 

Remember as someone has said, "One thief was saved so none may despair, but ONLY ONE so none may presume." 

My prayer is that you will bow your head in humility and repent of your sins and be accepted in HIS righteous, holy and loving Kingdom. You can start by saying, "Dear God, I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness, forgive me my sins and help me to live a new life that only Jesus gives. I realize that I cannot earn it by doing good works, but receive it by faith as a gift from you. Thank you, for sending Jesus to die for my sins and take my place. I receive the gift of forgiveness and decide to live for you every day of my life. Help me to live a holy life like that of Jesus until I see you face to face and then live with you eternally. In Jesus saving same, Amen."

If you pray this prayer, please write to me. I will be praying for you and connect you to how you can grow in your new found faith in Christ.

Working in His Harvest field,
In Christ,
Kalpana Christian Sharma. (Mrs.) 
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Thandi Raatein- (Hindi) Christmas Dandiya song by Kalpana Christian Sharma

This song is written and sung by me as well, in Hindi language, its about the birth of Christ and the music is Gujarati Dandiya folk music done by Darsheet Shah in Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa in 2001. The song is a part of the my first ever audio CD "Reach Out" with 12 Christmas songs (3 in Hindi and rest in English). Hope you enjoy the music and the song!

"Anand Karo" (Rejoice) by Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.)

Dear friends, 

Hope you are doing well. I was invited yesterday at the Gujarati Christian meeting in Naperville, IL to sing the gospel song I wrote in Hindi in 2001. The original is recorded in 2001 in Nairobi, Kenya. This is yesterday's live singing. If you understand Hindi, this song is talking about the joy that comes from knowing Jesus came, died, rose again, sustains us and is coming back for us, so "Anand Karo" Rejoice! Be blessed as you hear my heart. If you are interested to get a copy of my original CD with 12 songs, please let me know if you want one! I live by faith! meanwhile Enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC9fWabKWZk

in Christ and for HIS glory, 

Kalpana

The book of Jude recited by Kalpana Christian Sharma