26 December 2014

QUICK CHETTINADU STYLE GREEN PEAS TOMATO KURMA

Weekend Breakfasts are always Special.. There's no such hurry to cook up 2 course meals!! So relaxed my mind and made Some spicy Chettinad Style Green Peas Tomato Kurma with Store bought Idiyappam for our Breakfast!!

Chettinad cuisine is always a hit there aroma and spiciness bowls me over.

Check out other Chettinadu recipes:
Chettinadu Mochai Kuzhambu
Chettinadu Chinna Vengaya Poondu Kuzhambu
Chettinadu Mushroom Masala
Chettinadu Masala Kuzhambu


What you need:
Tomato - 3 nos
Onion - 1 no, chopped
Frozen Green Peas -1 cup
Bay leaf - 1 no, small
Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
Olive Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt as reqd

To grind into smooth paste by adding 1/4 cup water:
Coconut gratings - 2 tbsp
Fennel / Saunf seeds - 1/2 tsp
Split roasted bengal gram / pottukadalai - 1 tbsp
Dry Red chillies - 4 nos 

How to make:
Heat oil in a pan add bay leaf, fennel, curry leaves and saute well.

Add onion fry em up until it turns pinkish, add tomatoes cook until they soften.

This stage add salt, green peas, 1/4 cup water and cook for 2 mins. Now add the paste and cook in low heat until it starts to bubble.

Sprinkle fresh coriander and serve hot!!

24 December 2014

DIY HOT CHOCOLATE MIX (EDIBLE GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS)

Edible gifts for Christmas for friends and neighbors is what i prefer!! Something chocolateyy works wonder .. and this Hot chocolate mix is definitely a perfect gift and espcly when its homemade it adds more value and love. 

I packed them with a mug, spoon to stir, a small basket, chocolate mix, and a hand written note on how to prepare the drink!!

What you need: Makes 1 jar
1/2 cup - Milk powder
1/4 cup - Cocoa powder
1/4 cup - Granulated sugar
1/4 tsp - Cardamom powder
1/4 tsp - Cinnamon powder
1/4 cup - Chocolate, chopped


How to make:
In a bowl mix all of the above and place in the jar and cover with parchment paper and close the jar.

Preperation:
For Kids .. Heat milk in a pan bring to boil, add 1/3 cup of the this mixture to 1 cup hot milk stir and serve hot!!

For grown ups .. just mix 1/3 cup of this mix with 1 cup hot water and enjoy!!


23 December 2014

MUSHROOM MASALA WHOLE WHEAT NAAN PIZZA (Step wise)

The Holiday Season has kick started and so everyone should be busy on "what to cook" and "what to gift" mode?? This Mushroom Masala Naan Pizza makes a perfect party snack easy to make and when this is made from scratch at home it brings much more pride when serving to guests!!
 For the naan: Recipe - The cupcake Confession
Wheat flour - 3 cups
Instant yeast - 2 tsp
Sugar - 2 tbsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Milk - 4 tbsp
Melted butter - 2 tbsp
Water as reqd

In a bowl mix all and form into smooth dough knead on a smooth surface roll them and set aside for an hour to proof.

For the Mushroom Masala:
Mushrooms - 1 pkt, sliced
Capsicum - 1 no, chopped
Onion - 1 no, chopped
Tomato paste - 1/2 cup
Garlic - 3 pods, chopped
Red chillies - 5 nos, soaked in water for 10 mins and made into paste
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Cumin powder and Garam masala 1/4 tsp each
Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt as reqd
 How to make:
Heat oil in pan saute onions, garlic until brown in color.  Add chilli paste cook for few mins or until raw smell leaves. 

Add coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala and cook for about 1 minute.

Add capsicum, mushrooms, half cup water and cook until the gravy thickens and allow to cool.

How to Assemble the naanizza:
Remove and knead the dough divide into equal parts roll into naans spread the mushroom masala, add onion rings, bell peppers, cheese slices and bake in the oven at 240 degrees C for about 12 minutes which is prehated.


Serve hot with generous spinkle of chilli flakes and fresh coriander. Black olives and cheese are optional.
 

18 December 2014

GREEK SALAD IN A JAR

Inspired with salad jars and dessert jars.. made these not much effort needed salad jar this stores pretty well and makes life easier.. Greek Salad in jar a super easy recipe with crunchy veggies and feta they make a grt one..

Restaurants are so stingy with the feta on salads.. u could hardly see them..  its the other way when made at home. Generous feta and black olives makes a yummy meal!!
What you need:
1/4 of Bell peppers 3 colors, chopped
1/2 of Onions, sliced
1/2 of cucumber, chopped 
1/2 of Tomato, chopped
Lettuce leaves
1/2 cup feta
Few black olives, chopped
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp - Olive oil
1 tbsp - Apple cider vinegar (usually it uses white wine vinegar)

How to make:
Start with layering onion, followed by oil, vinegar some salt n pepper. Layer the other ingredients step wise fill feta in between and add torn lettuce leaves.

Top with generous feta on top close the lid, refrigerate and when ready to eat shake the jar so that oil n vinegar coats the entire salad n enjoy!!

10 December 2014

KASHMIRI DUM ALOO (Pan fried version)

A Kashmiri delicacy which has no onion, garlic or tomatoes but still a rich and spicy dish. Traditionally this is a slow cook method and potatoes are deep fried. I chose to pan fry them and they did turn out sooper delicious. Made whole wheat parottas to go along with this dish for dinner.

What you need:
250 gms - Baby potatoes 
2 nos - Cardamom
1 tsp - Black peppercorns 
1 tsp - Black jeera
1" - Cinnamon stick 
1 cup - Yogurt, wisked
1 tsp - Fennel seeds, powdered
1/2 tsp - Ginger powder
1 tsp - Red chilli powder 
1 tsp - Kashmiri red chilli powder
3 tbsp - Oil 
Salt as reqd

How to make:
In a bowl add red chilli powder, kashmiri chilli powder 2 tbsp water make into paste and set aside.

Boil the potatoes and pierce them with toothpick and pan fry the potatoes until golden brown with tbsp oil and keep aside.

Heat 2 tbsp oil add, dry spices and saute well. Add chilli powder mixture and cook in slow fire till the raw smell leaves.

Remove from heat add yogurt, fennel powder, ginger powder, salt and bring to heat and cook in low fire.

Once the mixture starts to thicken add the potatoes and bring the mixture to semi gravy consistency.

Remove from heat sprinkle coriander and serve hot with parathas or rice.

09 December 2014

RAJMA PANNER PATTIES (Pan fried) IN A MULTIGRAIN BURGER

Rajma Paneer Burger makes a great evening snack or a dinner too.. They make a great party snack as well. Since no potatoes are used and its a no fry recipe the calories are much lesser than the store bought ones and more so over i used mutli grain buns which makes this burger a wholesome complete meal. 
 What you need for the cutlets:
1 cup - Rajma, soaked overnite, cooked until soft and mashed
1/2 cup - Paneer, grated
1/4 cup - Onion, finely chopped
1 tsp - Green chillies, finely chopped
2 tbsp - Coriander, finely chopped
1 tsp - Garam masala
2 tbsp - Cornflour
4 tbsp - APF, dissolved in water and made into thick paste
4 tbsp - Bread crumbs 
2 tbsp - Oil 
Salt as reqd

How to make cutlets:
In a bowl add rajma, paneer, onion, chillies, coriander, garam masala, salt, cornflour and mix well.

Divide it into equal portions, shape them dip each cutlet in the flour mixture then roll in bread crumbs and set aside.

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a tawa and cook till golden in color and drain on kitchen towel.

Other Ingredients
Burger Buns, Lettuce leaves, Tomato slices, Onion slices, Cucumber slices, Capsicum slices, Cheese slices
Rajma Patties
Spring onion almond pesto
Sauce as desd
 How to assemble the Burger:
Cut each burger into half apply butter and toast on a tawa. 

Spread the pesto, place lettuce leaf on the bun, onion, tomato, cucumber, cucumber, patti, cheese and place the other half bun and microwave for 1 min or until cheese melts.

Serve hot with sauce as you wish!!

SWEET POTATO FRIES (Oven Method)

Sweet Potato Fries are easy and quick to make at home and makes a great and healthier option for munching.  Sweet potatoes are rich source of anti - oxidants and Vitamin A. Indulging in these yummiess for a evening snack with some spicy sauce!!

What you need:
Sweet Potatoes - 1/4 kg, cut into strips
Corn Flour - 2 tbsp
Olive oil - 1 tbsp
Salt as reqd
Black Pepper powder - as reqd

How to make:
Preheat oven to 220 C. In a bowl toss sweet potatoes, corn flour, oil, salt n pepper.

Arrange on a baking tray and bake for 10 - 15 mins. 

Turn the potatoes and bake again for 10 minx or until golden in colour.

Serve hot with sauce!!

07 December 2014

PINDI CHANNA - Green tea Infused

Pindi Chana is a spicy chickpea curry which is completely different from channa masala. Traditionally plain tea bag is added while chickpeas is cooked since i had no stock i added green tea bag and it taste grt..This has unique flavor and makes a great accompaniment for Indian Breads.!!


What you need for boiling the Channa: Inspd from Sinfully spicy
1 cup - Any Channa, soaked overnite 
1 no - Green Tea bag
1/2 tsp - Salt
1/2 tsp oil

What you need for the sauce:
2 tbsp - Vegetable Oil
1 cup - Tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp - Ginger, grated and 1 clove - Garlic, chopped
2 nos - Green chilies, slit
Salt as reqd
Fresh Coriander
Lemon juice

What you need to be ground into powder: 
1/2 tsp - Black pepper
1 tsp - Cumin seeds
1 tsp - Coriander seeds
5 nos - Dry red chillies
1 nos - Cardamom
1/2 tsp - Kasuri methi (Dried fenugreek leaves)


How to make:
In a pressure pan add channa, tea bag, salt, oil, 2 cups water and cook for 6 - 8 hisses.

Reserve the cooked channa water and mix half of the spice powder to the cooked chickpeas and set aside.

Heat oil in a pan, add tomatoes, ginger and garlic, green chillies,  and cook till tomatoes soften, 

Add the reserved stock, salt, remaining spice powder and cook in medium heat for 15 mins approx.

Once the gravy thickens remove from heat drizzle 1 tsp lemon juice sprinkle coriander leaves and serve hot!!

05 December 2014

WHEAT FLOUR SWEET BANANA APPAM

These appams are made for Karthigai Deepam and tradionally these are deep fried. Keeping in mind the calories these are made in paniyaram pans but it still gives perfect taste and texture. This can be made without much preparations and its instantaneous. 
 What you need:
Wheat flour - 1 cup 
Organic Jaggery - 1/2 cup, grated, soaked in half cup water and sieved thru a mesh
Banana - 1 no, mashed
Cardamom powder - gen pinch
Salt - small pinch
Ghee to grease

How to make:
In a bowl add wheat flour, jaggery water, mashed banana, cardamom powder and mix well.

Heat paniyaram pan grease with little ghee spoon the batter in cover and cook in medium heat for a min then turn it over and cook till golden in color and serve hot!!

02 December 2014

HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER n BANANA STRAWBERRY PB SMOOTHIE

Peanut butter the new catch for the kids after Nutella. Gone are those days where i use to go crazy over different variety jams. Idli / Dosa / Chappthai any thing goes with jam for me.

The buzz is all around these expensive spreads but when made at home they are so inexpensive and quick and easy to make. These are safer then the store bought ones for kids and of course for adults too. The nutty and slightly salty PB has become my new friend in fridge i have been licking around with a spoon...

PB makes a fantastic addition to the usual smoothie and makes it creamier, healthy and filling Breakfast!!
What you need:
Skinless Unsalted Roasted Peanuts - 2 cups
Sugar - 2 tbsp
Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - 1/8 tsp

How to make:
Add peanuts, sugar, oil and salt into the mixie jar or food processor and grind until the mixture is smooth and store in a jar and refrigerate.

What you need for smoothie:
Banana - 1 no
Milk - 1 cup, chilled
3 tbsp - Peanut butter
10 nos - Strawberries + 1 tbsp - Sugar - pulsed in a blender

How to make:
Blend milk, banana and peanut butter until smooth. First add the strawberry mixture and then add the banana mixture and serve!! 


01 December 2014

BEETROOT GINGER RICE

Beetroot rice is a sooper easy and simple to prepare dish. Beetroot is low in calories and highly nutritious vegetable but its is always an under estimated and ignored veggie.. Ginger gives a new taste and enhances the whole flavor of the rice...

What you need:
Beetroot - 1 no, skin peeled and boiled until soft and grated
Frozen Green peas - 1/4 cup (optional)
Onion - Half, finely chopped
Ginger - 2 tsp, grated
Cooked Basmati Rice - 1 cup
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Olive oil - 1 tbsp
Fresh Mint - 1 tbsp, chopped
Fresh coriander - 2 tbsp, chopped

How to make:
Heat oil in a pan add cumin seeds, ginger, onion and saute well. Add grated beetroot, spice powder, masala and give a nice mix and cook until the raw smell leaves (approx 2 mins)

Add cooked and cooled rice give a nice stir, sprinkle fresh coriander and mint mix well and serve hot with mixed vegtable raitha!!