Almond Blueberry muffins

This is quite a simple recipe, low cal, snack option. I made some of these and eating them with hot cocoa was bliss while enjoying the last few cold days in the year 2010. The snow outside is stubborn and simply refuses to melt away. So I decided to light some vanilla scented candles and cherish the few but beautiful days of 2010...

And here is what you need:

All purpose flour: 1 cup
Sugar : 1/4 cup (more if you prefer the sweeter version)
Baking pwd : 1 tsp
Salt : 1 pinch
Blueberries (I used frozen ones): 1/2 cup
Milk : 1/2 cup
Vegetable oil: 1.5 tbsp
Almonds (sliced) : 1/4 cup
Vanilla extract : 1/2 tsp
Egg : 1
Lemon/Orange rind : 1 pinch

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350F and grease/line the muffin pan and keep it aside.
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl (flour, Baking powder, salt, sugar). Mix the wet ingredients in another bowl (Oil, milk, vanilla extract, egg). Stir in the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add lemon rind, Almonds and blueberries. Mix lightly as we don't want to crush the blue berries. Now spoon the batter into the muffin pan leaving some space for the muffin to rise. Bake for 20- 30 minutes. Keep an eye as baking time may differs. Muffins are done when they are slightly brown on the top and a skewer when inserted , comes out clean.

Pomegranate Bhel

Hi everyone... Yesterday I made some 'Bhel' for snacking and added some luscious pomegranate seeds. This is a nice and healthy snack option accompanied with hot tea while its snowing cats and dogs out there...
For this recipe, some 'murmura chiwda' is required.

So for 'murmura chiwda' recipe you will need:

Murmura (or Kurmura- which ever way its called in the stores)- 2 cups
Sunflower oil  - 1 tbsp
Salt  - to taste
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Coconut bits  -  2 tbsp (optional) I didn't use any cos I didn't have any :p
Turmeric pwd  - 1/2 tsp
Green Chillies  - 3 or 4 (to taste)
Cumin Seeds  -  1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds  - 1/2 tsp
Asaphoetida pwd  - 1/8 tsp
Peanuts  ( roasted)  - 4 tbsp
Almonds (roasted)  - 2tbsp (optional)
Curry leaves  -  1tbsp

Method:

Dry roast the 'murmura' for a couple of minutes and set aside. Heat some oil in a wide 'Kadhaai' and add mustard, cumin, and asaphoetida. when the seeds spluter, add green chillies and mix. Fry the chilies for 2 minutes and the add curry leaves, almonds and peanuts. Stir the mixture and then add turmeric pwd and coconut bits. Finally mix in the murmura and salt and sugar to taste. Mix well and remove from heat and allow it to cool completely before storing them in air- tight bottles. This 'chiwda' tastes great alone or can be mixed with a few more ingredients for a healthy snack in minutes!!

Now for the pomegranate Bhel you will need:

Murmura Chiwda  - 1 cup
Tomato (chopped) - 2 tbsp
Onion Chopped  - 1 tbsp
Pomegranate seeds - 2 tbsp
Coriander leaves  -  1 tsp
Nylon sev - (optional) available in Indian grocery stores

Method:

Mix everything together and your 'bhel' is ready.