Pineapple Juice

Have you tried making your own pineapple juice at home?Or do you always go in for store bought ones!!Here's how you make it at home!
Ingredients:

Pineapple extract:450 ml

Sugar:800 gms

Citric acid:1 tsp

Pineapple essence:2ml

Water:500 ml

Preparation:

Select 2 good pineapples and wash them well...

Pel the outer skin/layer...Chop them in to small pieces/chunks...

Now blend them in a blender or mixer and keep the extract aside..

Now in a pan take 500 ml of water and mix the 800 gms of sugar in it...

Keep on medium flame and keep on stirring..

Once the sugar has dissolved well,remove from heat..

Do not let it boil..

Filter the sugar solution...

Now once the solution cools down add the pineapple extract to this and mix well..

Add the citric acid also to this and mix well..

Pour this in to a bottle and refrigerate!!

Dilute with plain or chill water and serve!!

Pineapple juice is ready!!

Enjoy the pineapple juice!!

Go to juices for more juice recipes...

Related recipes:

Grape Juice

Tomato cocktail

Curry leaves juice

Gooseberry juice

Papaya juice

Ragi Poori

Ever tried making poori with ragi??The taste is almost the same...I loved it and my daughter didnot make out any difference in the taste too!!She infact enjoyed it...

Ingredients:

Ragi flour:1 cup

Wheat flour:1 cup

Water as required

Oil for frying

Salt to taste

Preparation:

In a bowl mix together the ragi flour and wheat flour...

Now add salt to taste and enough water to the mixture and knead well..

Knead in to a smooth dough...

Leave the dough for 30 min.....

Then roll them in to small balls....

Make them in to small patties and fry them in oil....

Ragi pooris are ready!!

Enjoy the pooris..

Serve with masala ,Green Peas curry ,Chick peas curry-Channa curry

Go to ragi for more ragi varieties...

Related recipes:

Poori with masala

Ragi puttu

Ragi porridge

Ragi idiappam

Iam Tagged

Hope everyone had a great and blessed X'mas...Have a fabulous new year!!

Hope you have sent entries to my event for this month Cakes and cookies for X'mas

I have been tagged by two fellow bloggers...They are Sujatha and Shoba

They have asked few questions and i have done my best to answer them!!


Here they go....

1.What is your take on organic food,is it a big deal for you?

Well in India we dont bother whether a food item is organic or not..I only check for expiry date!!

2.Do you time your breakfast,lunch or dinner or eat when you are hungry?

Yes iam very particular about timings...At around 7.45 am is our daughter's breakfast,1pm is lunch and night 7.30 pm is dinner time!!I stick to routine cos Priyanka loves routine!!

3.What inspired you to start a food blog?

Well as Sujatha mentioned in her blog...We were chatting and suddenly she told me about blogging...I suddenly got interested and we started in July 2010...So that's how my food blog came in to existence!!I have 2 more blogs...Home and family blog  in which i write about baby care,beauty tips,health tips,gardening and also a dental blog in which i discuss dental problems...
I love writing articles...Time is a major factor with a toddler and private practice!!:)

4.You try a new recipe and it doesnt turn good,what will you do?

Well i will do my best to rectify and fix the problem!!There's always a next time!!

5.Name three ingredients you consciously avoid or eliminate when the recipe calls for it?

Cream,Ghee,Lots of oil

All the above give additional flavour...

6.Name three ingredients you have to use in recipes?

well i case of sweets i use lots of sugar...Love Olive oil,so use that for cooking/shallow frying,Coconut is something we cannot avoid as south indians!!

7.How important is eating together as a family to you?

Well,we get to eat only breakfast as a family on week days as hubby is a busy business man..He has his own Indian oil petroleum outlet and textile and readymade shop,so cannot keep up to the right timings...Whenever he is free he will pop in and have lunch and dinners are usually late nights for him..Sundays we have food together..

8.You do not like a food at your favorite restaurant,what will you do?

Well,just tell the waiter that there is something wrong with that particular dish today and may be order somethingelse!!

Have done my best to answer the questions...

Iam going to tag five more bloggers...Please keep the ball rolling...

Kairali sisters

Sushma Mallya

Sarah Naveen

Dr.Reva

Priya Mitharwal

Onec again Happy new year wishes to one and all!!!God Bless!!

Butter milk - How to make butter milk at home - Moru

Butter milk is such a simple and refreshing drink...

Ingredients:

Curd:2 cups

Water:4 cups

Salt to taste

Curry leaves:few

Ginger:1 cm,chopped

Green chillies:2,chopped

Preparation:

Beat the curd in a mixer for a minute...

Now add the water to the beaten curd and mix well..

Add salt to taste to the above..

Finally add the chopped ginger,chopped green chillies and curry leaves...

Serve!!

Enjoy the butter milk...

Related recipes:

Coconut milkshake

Cucumber butter milkshake

How to make paneer at home

How to make Mayonnaise at home

Aloo Tikkis - Potato Cutlets

These  potato cutlets or aloo tikkis can be made very easily and make a lovely snack...

Ingredients:

Potatoes:4,medium,diced

Green chillies:3,small,chopped

Ginger:1 and 1/2 tsp,chopped

Turmeric powder:1/2 tsp

Corn flour:1 tbsp

Lime juice:2 tsp

Salt to taste

Oil:2 to 3 tbsp

Preparation:

Place the potatoes dripping wet in a pan and cook on low heat for 15 to 20 minutes till done...

Remove from heat and mash...

Mix in salt,lime juice,turmeric powder,green chillies and ginger...

Divide the mixture in to 10 to 12 portions and shape each portion in to a flat round...

Lightly coat the rounds or tikkis with corn flour and keep aside...

Heat a pan on medium heat and add oil...

Shallow fry the tikkis or potato cutlets till golden brown or dark brown on both the sides...

Remove and drain on a grease absorbent paper...

Serve hot with coriander and mint chutney or any other dip...

The aloo tikkis or potato cutlets are ready!!

Enjoy making the aloo tikkis!!

Go evening snacks to for more snacks recipes...

Sending to Winter warmers

Related recipes:

Vegetable pizza

Cheese pasta with veggies

Bonda

Bajji

Mocha Truffles

Chocolate balls infused with coffee...Isnt this a tempting chocolate treat...
Merry X'mas wishes to all my foodie friends and readers...God Bless!!

Here goes the recipe..

Dark semi-sweet chocolate:250 gms,grated

Unsalted butter:4 tbsp

Powdered sugar:3 tbsp

Fresh cream:100 gms

Instant coffee:2 tbsp

Water:2 tbsp

For coating the truffles-

Dark semi-sweet chocolate:200 gms,grated

Powdered sugar:1 tbsp

Refined oil:4 tsp

Preparation:

For the truffles place butter,sugar and fresh cream in a pan  on low heat...

Once the mixture begins to simmer,pour in to another bowl with the grated chocolate...

Mix the instant coffee in the water and keep aside...

Now mix in the dissolved coffee to the bowl with the chocolate...

Use a wooden ladle ans stir well till the chocolate is well blended and smooth...

Chill for approximately 2 hours...

Then remove from the refrigerator and divide the mixture in to small balls or truffles...

Place the truffles in a wax lined tray and chill for an hour or more till they become firm...

If while shaping in to balls,the dough appears sticky,chill for a little longer before making them in to balls...

For the coating,place the chocolate in a small bowl and keep aside...

Now pour about 1 cup of water in a small pan and let it simmer for sometime...

Now place the bowl with chocolate over it....

Turn off the heat and melt the chocolate over it...

Stir the chocolate till it gets a smooth texture...

Take it off the hot water and mix in the sugar and refined oil...

Cook till lukewarm...

To coat the truffles:

Quickly smoothen each ball...

Hold between the thumb and forefinger and dip each one in to the coating...

Allow the excess coating to drip off and replace on wax paper...

Repeat the process till all the balls are coated...

Chill for an hour and serve!!

Store in an airtight container...

Mocha truffles are ready!!

Enjoy the mocha truffles!!

Go to chocolate for more chocolate recipes...

Sending to Kid's delight-chocolate feast and Choco-delites event

Related recipes:

Chocolate fudge

Chocolate milkshake

Chocolate fudge

Chocolate is everyone's favorite...Been wanting to make this for quite some time..Anyway made this yesterday as X'mas is just few days away...Chocolate fudge with pistas...Yummy...This is a great treat for kids!!Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:

Condensed milk:1 can

Cream:100 ml

Dark chocolate:2 cups,chopped

Pinch of salt

Powdered sugar:2 tbsp

Pistachios:50 gms,chopped

Preparation:

In a pan on low heat boil the condensed milk and add the chopped dark chocolate...

Keep on stirring...

Add the cream and keep on stirring...The chocolate would melt now and blend in...

When the mixture has blended well,add the powdered sugar and chopped pistachios and keep on stirring for few minutes...

Pour this mixture on to a greased tray...

Refrigerate for an hour or so...

Cut in to small squares..

Chocolate fudge is ready!!

Enjoy making the fudge!!

Go to dessert for more dessert recipes...

Sending to Kid's delight-chocolate feast and Choco-delites event



Related recipes:

Chocolate milk shake

Chocolate banana smoothie

Coconut burfi

Banana halwa

Vermicelli pudding

Bread Pudding Cake

Well,who wouldnot love a pudding cake..It is so moist and loaded with beautiful flavour..One of my daughter's favorites..Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:

Bread slices:10

Milk:1.5 cups

Cinnamon:2 tsp,ground

Brown sugar:4 tbsp

Cashews:few,broken

Self raising flour

Eggs:2

Butter:3 tbsp

Preparation:

In a bowl beat the eggs until light and fluffy...

Soak the bread slices in the milk and keep aside...

To the beaten eggs add the milk and sugar and beat well...

Now add the ground cinnamon and mix well...

Now add the self raising flour and mix gently...

Now add the soaked bread slices and carefully mix and blend in with the mixture...

Pour this on to a baking dish...

Gently press some cashews on to the top of the cake batter...

Preheat oven to about 350 degrees and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes...

Leave it to cool!!

Bread pudding cake is ready!!

Enjoy baking the cake!!

Go to cakes for more cake recipes...

Related articles:

Plum cake

Simple homemade cake

Tea cake with tutti frutti

Cashew cookies

Munthiri Kothu - Sweet Green Gram Balls

My grandma used to make lovely munthiri kothu's...I love these tiny balls of green grams with the jaggery syrup...I remember helping my aunt rolling out these balls when i was a little gal..I used to eat the balls even before they were fried!!:)This is one of our X'mas special sweets...Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:

Green gram:2 cups

Jaggery;1.5 cups

Grated coconut: 1/2 cup

A pinch of salt

Turmeric:1/4 tsp

Rice:1.5 cups

Preparation:

Soak the rice in water for an hour or so...

In a pan fry the green gram for a few minutes and keep aside to cool...

Once cooled grind to a coarse powder in the mixer and keep aside...

Now fry the grated coconut for sometime and keep that aside...

Grind the soaked rice and to that add water,a pinch of salt and turmeric and make it in to a thick paste...

Now boil about 1.5 cups of water and dissolve the jaggery in it...

Filter it to remove any impurities present...

Now to the prepared syrup add the green gram powder and coconut  and keep on stirring...

The consistency should be such that balls can be made from this..It should be quite thick...

Now make balls out of this mixture and dip in the prepared rice paste and fry in oil...

Muthiri kothu is ready!!

Enjoy making the muthiri kothu!!

Go to  sweets for more sweets recipes...

Related recipes:

Athirasam

Oats ladoo

Oats floating balls

Basoondhi

Bhoondi ladoo

Rava ladoo

Aval ladoo

Chikki balls

Athirasam

Well made this last week...Last year Priyanka was only 10 months old and so i couldnot make anything at home..Didnot bother also as i had made a decision of staying with her till she's one as she was a preterm baby!!This year she is enjoying every X'mas party and get together!!Will be posting goodies one by one...Relatives and guests keep coming home,so not finding time...Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:

Raw rice:4 cups

Jaggery:500 gms

Cardamom powder:1/2 tsp

Ghee:1/2 cup

Water:1/2 cup

Preparation:

Soak the raw rice in water for a few hours...

The rice should be partially wet and not completely dry...

Grind this in a grinder or mixer...

Now mix the jaggery in half cup of the water in a small pan and place it on medium heat...

Once heated the jaggery will dissolve forming a syrup...

Filter the syrup to remove any impurities...

Now add the cardamom powder and mix well...

Now add the powder rice powder slowly to the syrup....

Keep on stirring...There shouldnot be any lumps...

Knead to a smooth dough...

Let the dough stay for some time...Some leave it overnight...

Now make small patties on the palm of your hand and make small holes in the centre like that of vada... Deep fry them in oil....

Fry till golden or dark brown...

Athirasams are ready!!

Enjoy the athirasam!!

Go sweets to for more sweets!!

Related recipes:

Achappam - Achirmurukku

Banana halwa

Jangiri

Rasgulla

Vegetable Pizza

Pizza is also known as italian flat bread... Made this yesterday...Was lazy to make the base on my own...Love this as a snack or as dinner...
Ingredients:

Pizza bases:2

Capsicum:1,medium,chopped

Pepper powder:1/4 tsp

Grated cheese:1/4 cup

Button mushrooms:100gms

Onion:1,medium,chopped

Butter:2 tsp

A pinch of salt

Preparation:

In a pan add the butter on medium heat...

Now saute the onion till they become pink...

Now add the pepper powder and salt and dry up all the moisture...

Remove from heat and cool....

Now spread the pizza topping evenly on the pizza base...

I used only capsicum and mushrooms...Grate some cheese also over this...

Place the prepared pizza in the oven...

Bake till the cheese topping melts...

Place on a plate and quater...

Serve immediately...

Vegetable pizza is ready!!

Enjoy the pizza!!

Related recipes:

Cheese pasta with veggies

Plum Cake

Christmas is just a week away and i have started making sweets and also have baked few goodies..Here goes the recipe of the famous Plum cake baked during the x'mas season..

Ingredients:

Refined flour:2 cups

Butter:1 cup

Sugar:1 cup

Eggs:4

Currants:50 gms

Raisins:25 gms

Refined flour:2 tbsp

Candied orange peel:2 tbsp,chopped

Cashewnuts:10,chopped

Mixed spice powder:2 tsp

Baking powder:1.5 tsp

Vanilla essence:1 tsp

Preparation:

In a pan caramelise the sugar till dark brown(almost black)..

Add 1/4 cup of water and let the syrup boil for a few minutes till it thickens...

Remove from heat and keep this aside to cool...

Mix all the dried fruits and nuts with 2 tbsp of refined flour and keep aside...

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy...

Sift the flour,baking powder and the mixed spice powder together...

Seperate the eggs and lightly beat the yolks...

Add to the creamed mixture along with vanilla essence ...

Fold in the flour...

Beat the egg whites till stiff and fold in...

Finally add the prepared caramel syrup and the dried fruits and nuts...

Grease a suitable baking dish and pour the batter in it...

Preheat oven to 375 degrees ....

Bake for 40 minutes....

The Plum cake is ready!!

Enjoy baking the Plum cake!!

Go to cakes for more cake recipes...

Related recipes:

Simple homemade cake

Tea cake with tutti frutti

Cashew cookies


P.S.:To enrich the flavour of the currants and raisins,soak them in rum overnight...

Sending this to my cookies and cakes for X'mas event

Also to It's time to jingle

Bread Pakoda

This is an easy to make snack..Too oily..That's the only drawback!!But once in a while is ok...Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:

Bread slices:10

Gram flour:1 cup

Salt to taste

Onion:1,chopped finely

Potato:2,boiled,chopped finely

Baking powder:1/4 tsp

Ginger paste:1/2 tsp

Garlic paste:1/2 tsp

Asafoetida:1/4 tsp

Garam masala powder:1/4 tsp

Red chilli powder;1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder:1/2 tsp

Mustard seeds:1/2 tsp

Oil;1 cup

Preparation:

In a bowl mix together the gram flour,salt to taste and baking powder...

Add water slowly to this...The batter must be smooth without any lumps...The batter must be thick as well...

Chop the onion finely and keep aside...

Chop the boiled  potatoes finely....

Now add little oil in a pan and heat it...Add the mustard seeds...

Once they splatter,add the chopped onion...

Stir fry till they become golden brown...

Then add the ginger and garlic pastes and fry...

Add the garam masala powder,turmeric powder and red chilli powder and fry for sometime...

Finally add the chopped potatoes and fry till done...

This will be the stuffing for the bread pakodas...

Now cut a bread slice to to 2 pieces,preferrably in to triangles...

Fill the bread slices with the stuffing and dip in the batter and fry in oil on both the sides...

While dipping in the batter,care must be taken as the stuffing should stay intact and not fall apart...Make sure the bread slices are completely dipped in the batter...

Fry in medium heat...

Bread pakodas are ready!!

Enjoy making the bread pakodas!!

Go to snacks for more evening snacks...

Related recipes:

Bread dips

Bread masala

Oats pakoda

Onion pakoda

One lovely blog awards!!!!

I have been given 2 lovely blog awards...I love the designs...They look gorgeous...

The lovely blog award has been given to me by Jaisy James.....

Do visit her for some great and yummy recipes...Thank you dear...

Iam passing on this award to some lovely bloggers...Please keep the chain going...

Gayathri

Savitha Ramesh

Sumi

Divya

Nandhini

Another one lovely blog award was given to me by Priya Sreeram...Thank you dear...Please visit her for some delicious recipes...

Iam passing on this award to some lovely foodie bloggers...Pass this on and keep this chain going...

Satya

Geetha achal

Umm Myoonah

Shoba

Akila

Happy blogging everyone!!

Matar Paneer - Paneer Matar - Peas and Cottage cheese

Ingredients:
Paneer:200gms(cottage cheese)

Shelled peas:3/4 cup

Onion:1,large

Tomato:1,chopped

Tomato:1/2,pureed

Garlic paste:1tsp

Ginger paste:1 tsp

Turmeric powder:1/2 tsp

Chilli powder:1 tsp

Cumin powder:1/2 tsp

Coriander powder:1 tsp

Garam masala powder:1 tsp

Fresh cream:1 tbsp

Oil:1 tsp

Water:1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Preparation:

Heat the oil in a pan and saute the onion till they turn pink...

Cook the onion and grind in to a fine paste..

For the gravy add the onion paste in a pan on medium heat followed by the ginger and garlic pastes...Add the chopped tomato...

Fry this for a few minutes until brown...

Mix in the the turmeric powder,chilli powder,cumin powder and coriander powder...Add the tomato puree as well..

Fry well for about 2 minutes on low heat...

Now add the paneer(cottage cheese),peas,water and salt to taste...

Cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes till the peas are tender...

Sprinkle the garam masala powder...

Stir in the cream and remove from heat...

Serve with naans or rotis...

Related recipes:

How to make paneer at home

Rasgulla



P.S.You can fry the cubed panner in oil before adding to the gravy also...

Custard Banana Pudding

Puddings are easy to make and they taste great...Here goes another pudding recipe...

Ingredients:

Bananas:5,ripe,sliced

Custard powder:1/2 cup(vanilla)

Milk:1.5 cups

Cardamom powder:2 tsp

Sugar:250 gms

Cashews:few

Raisins:few

Preparation:

Peel the bananas and slice them...

Roast some cashews and raisins in ghee or butter and keep aside...

Boil the milk and add the chopped or sliced bananas  to the milk...

While the bananas are getting cooked,add the custard powder to some milk and pour in to the milk with bananas.....

The milk should be quite thick in consistency now...

Now add the sugar and let it dissolve...

Finally add the fried cashews and raisins and remove from flame...

Refrigerate and serve cold!!

You can top with some icecream if you want to!!

Enjoy the Custard banana pudding!!

P.S.You can substitute the milk with coconut milk...

Sending to Aipi's Veggie/Fruit a month - banana started by Priya

Linking to Anyone can cook

Related recipes:

Caramel egg pudding

Vermicelli pudding

Bread pudding

Banana halwa

Banana Dosa

Banana milkshake

Beef Croquettes

This is a great finger food...Love it...You can eat it as as side dish also along with rice or even aapam,naan,etc


Ingredients:

Beef mince:1/4 kg

Onion;1,finely chopped

Egg:1

Green chillies:2,finely chopped

Garam masala:1 tsp

Ginger paste:1 tsp

Garlic paste:1 tsp

Vinegar/lemon juice:2 tsp

Semolina/bread crumbs:1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Oil;2 cups for deep fry

Preparation:

Wash and drain the minced beef...Apply salt to taste....

Heat 4 tsp of oil in a pan and fry the finely chopped onion...Cook until soft...

Then add the green chillies,ginger and garlic pastes...

Saute for sometime and then add garam masala and vinegar or lemon juice and dtir fry...

Finally add the drained beef and cook on low flame...Stir constantly until the mince is cooked well..

Remove from the pan and cool...

Then add an egg to the mixture and m ix well...

Now run the egg and beef mixture in a blender just for a few seconds...

Shape this in to croquettes and coat with breadcrumbs r semolina...

Heat the remaining oil and deep fry the croquettes for 3 to 5 minutes or until brown..

Drain on absorbent paper...

The beef croquettes are ready!!

Enjoy making the beef croquettes!!

Serve hot with sauce!!

Go to beef for more beef recipes...

Linking to Hearth and soul blog hop

Related recipes:

Beef cutlets

Fish cutlets

Prawn stuffed balls

Cashew Cookies

One of my daughter's favorites...She is learning to speak..She calls cashew as 'kho'...So i try to add cashews to every sweet i make too!!Made this especially for her...They came out really crunchy...Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:

Broken cashews:150 gms

Plain flour:500 gms

Wheat flour:500 gms

Sugar:500 gms,powdered

Ghee:450 gms(You can use dalda and butter also)

Baking powder:1/4 tsp

Egg:1

Preparation:

Powder the sugar in a mixer and keep it aside...

Chop the cashews also and keep aside...

Powder 50 gms of the cashews and keep aside...

Now butter together the ghee and sugar until smooth...

Add the egg and beat until fluffy...

Now sieve the flours,add baking powder and add to the bowl with the egg mixture...

Mix slowly...Now add the cashew powder and fold gently...

Add the chopped cashew nuts and fold gently...

Now make small balls and flatten them on a cookie sheet and place in a preheated oven...

Oven should be preheated to 350 degrees...

Bake for about 7 to 8 minutes till the cookies attain a brown colour...

Cook on wire rack...

Cashew cookies are ready!!

Enjoy baking the cookies...

Go to cookies for more cookies...

Sending this to my Cookies and Cakes for X'mas event

Linking to twelve weeks of x'mas cookies

Sending to It's time to jingle

Sending to Champa's bake off

Related recipes:

Oatmeal cookies

Coconut cookies

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Carrrot Onion Raita - Carrot Onion salad

Salads are easy to make and they are nutitious..Nice way to eat vegetables...

Ingredients:

Carrot: 1

Yoghurt:1 cup

Onion:1,chopped

Pepper powder:1 tsp

Salt to taste

Vinegar:2 tsp

Preparation:

Clean the carrot and grate it...

Chop the onion...

Now in a bowl toss together all the ingredients and mix well..

Carrot onion raita is ready!!

Serve cold!!

Go to salads for more salad recipes...

Related recipes:

Tangy cucumber salad

Fresh tomato and cucumber salad

Creamy cumcumber salad

Coconut burfi

Coconut burfi can be done very easily..All you need is grated coconut..All the other ingredients are available at home..I usually store grated coconut in the freezer..

Ingredients:

Grated coconut:2 cups

Sugar:3/4 cup

Milk:2 tbsp

Water:1 and 1/4 cup

Ghee:1 tbsp

Cardamom powder:1/4 tsp

Food colour:optional

Preparation:

In a pan fry the grated coconut just for a minute or so till the moisture in the grated coconut is gone...

Keep the coconut aside...

Now in a pan boil water till it boils....

Now add the sugar and mix well and let it boil for some time...

Once the sugar syrup boils,add the milk and let this thicken over medium heat...

Once the syrup has thickened,add the coconut and stir well..

The syrup and the coconut must blend well together and the consistency must be sticky...

Now add the ghee and cardamom powder and mix well..

Keep on stirring till the mixture looks thick...

Keep a plate greased with oil or ghee ready...

Transfer the mixture on to the plate...

After the burfi has cooled down,you can cut in to your desired shape...

Coconut burfi is ready!!

Enjoy the coconut burfi!!

Go to sweets for more sweet recipes...

Sending to food palette series- white

Related recipes:

Almond burfi

Coconut milkshake

Paruppu rasam - Parippu rasam - Toor dhal rasam

This is a famous south indian rasam..The variation being the addition of toor dhal and tamarind pulp..It goes well with rice...
Ingredients:

Tamarind:Size of a lemon

Tomato:3

Toor dhal:4 tbsp

Turmeric powder:1/4 tsp

Asafoetida:1 tsp

Salt to taste

For seasoning:

Oil:1 tsp

Mustard seeds:1/4 tsp

Red chillies:2,dried

Cumin:1/4 tsp

Coriander powder:1/2 tsp

Pepper powder:1/4 tsp

Pinch of asafoetida

Preparation:

In a small bowl soak the tamarind for sometime and then squeeze out the tamarind paste and filter and keep aside...

Now to the tamrind paste/water add water,rasam powder and salt and let this boil on medium flame..

Add asafoetida and boil again..

Now chop the tomatoes and add to the boiling rasam on low flame...

Cook toor dhal with little water and trumeric powder in a cooker and keep it ready..

Now add the cooked toor dhal to the pan with rasam and mix well..

Now once the rasam has boiled well seasonign should be done..

In a small pan aheat the oil and add mustard seeds...

Once the seeds splatter,add dried red chillies,pepper powder,cumin,coriander powder and a pinch of asafoetida...

Now transfer this to the pan with rasam and mix well..

Paruppu rasam is ready!!

Enjoy making the parippu rasam!!

Go to curries for more vegetarian curries...

Sending this to Jagruthi's complete my thali hosted by Priya Srinivasan

Related recipes:

Dhal curry

Sambar

Drumstick curry

Rasam

Chicken Stew

Did you say stew...A favorite again at home...The best side dish for bread and appam..i like to use coconut milk for the same..

Ingredients:

Chicken:500 gms

Potato:1,big,peeled and diced

Onion:1,chopped

Pepper corns:5

Cinnamon sticks:4 to 5

Coconut milk:1 cup

Salt to taste

Cloves:4 to 5

Green chillies:2,chopped

Curry leaves:few

Carrot:1/2,chopped

Oil for frying

Preparation:

In a pot or a pan fry some oil and saute the chopped onion...

Now add the cinnamon sticks,pepper corns,curry leaves and cloves just for a minute till it releases its aroma...

Now add the diced potatoes and chicken pieces and fry for sometime...

Mix half of the coconut milk to the pan and bring it to boil...

Add the green chillies,chopped carrot and salt and cook till the potato and chicken pieces are done...Usually takes about 10 minutes...

Once cooked add the remaining half of the coconut milk and remove the pan from heat...

The chicken stew is ready!!

Enjoy the chicken stew!!

Serve with bread or aapam

Go to chicken for more chicken recipes...

Sending to food palette series-white

Related recipes:

chicken drumsticks

Pepper cashew chicken

Chicken nihari

Chicken cheese balls

Mutton stew

Ragi Puttu

Puttu is a favorite breakfast at home...I have a cousin who eats it almost everyday..He likes it so much...A variation to the usual rice puttu...Made this puttu with ragi...Very healthy...Can have it every no wand then...Good for diabetics...


Ingredients:

Ragi powder:1 cup

Grated coconut:2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Water as required

Preparation:

In a pan fry the ragi powder till it becomes dark brown..

Now mix the roasted ragi powder with salt and water in to a proper consistency such that all the ragi particles are coated with water...But make sure it is not completely wet..

It shouldnot be sticky...

Now pour water in to the puttu kudam/base and keep it on low flame..

Then add the stopper at the bottom...

Add some grated coconut...

Now load the puttu maker/kulal with the prepared ragi mixture...

Alternatively add the roasted ragi mixture and grated coconut...

Now place this on the puttu kudam/base and cook till steam comes out from the top!!!

Once puttu is cooked you can smell the delicious fragrance of the puttu!!

Ragi puttu is ready!!

Enjoy making ragi puttu!!Serve with cooked green gram,bananas,pappads or even jaggary!!!


Go to breakfast for more breakfast recipes..

Related recipes:

Wheat puttu

Ragi idiappam

Ragi porridge

Rice puttu

Cheese Pasta With Veggies

Made this long back and finally posting...Love this combo of past with cheese and veggies...Not basically a veggie person...I dont eat all the vegetables...Pretty choosy!!:)So,i did not want my daughter to be the same...Guess what she loves vegetables..Made her have veggies rite from the beginning and she loves them all..Am amazed!!

Ingredients:

Pasta: 500 gms

Cheese:as required,cut in to chunks

Cauliflower:1/2 cup,cut in to small florets

Carrot:1/2,chopped

Tomato:1,small,chopped

Salt to taste

Oil:2 tbsp

Onion;1,chopped

Garlic:few cloves

Pepper powder:1/4 tsp

Preparation:

Put together in a large bowl the cauliflower,carrot,onion,garlic and tomato and mix well...

Now preheat an oven to 350 deg....

Now place the vegetables in a baking dish and bake till they are tender and done...

Now add the pasta to the baking dish after boiling it just for a few minutes in water containing salt..

Do not over cooking the pasta...

You can also add some oil while pasta is being cooked so that it doesnot stick to the cooking pot...

Now add the cheese chaunks also to the baking dish along with the cooked pasta and bake till the cheese melts...

Add the pepper powder also and mix well..

Serve hot!!

The cheese pasta with veggies is ready!!

Enjoy the pasta..

I usually make this for dinner...

Go to dinner for more dinner recipes...

Linking to Let's do brunch and breakfast

Sending to Kid's delight

Wheat Rava Halwa

Ingredients:

Wheat rava/Sooji:1 cup

Jaggery:3/4 cup

Milk:2 cups

Ghee:2 tbsp

Cashews:few

Cardamom powder:1/2 tsp

Preparation:

Roast the wheat rava or sooji in ghee and keep aside ....

Fry the cashew also in a little ghee and keep aside...

Now in a pan heat the milk and add the roasted wheat rava...

Cook the rava on medium heat...

Once the rava is cooked,add the powdered jaggery and mix well...

Add the ghee also and cook till the rava leaves the sides of the pan..

Now add the fried cashews and cardamom powder and mix well and remove from heat...

The wheat rava halwa is ready!!

Enjoy making the wheat rava halwa!!

P.S.: You can cut the halwa in to desired shapes once it is cooled...

Go to sweets for more sweets recipes...

Related recipes:

banana halwa

Rava kesari - sooji ka halwa

beetroot halwa

wheat kesari

carrot halwa - gajar ka halwa

Fish Cutlet

Fish Cutlet - Love the sound of this word..Iam going to write about making fish cutlet...You can choose any fish,but King fish is the best for making fish cutlet...Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:

Fish:500 gms

Garam masala powder:1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder:1/2 tsp

Egg:1

Potato:1,big,boiled

Green chillies:2,chopped

Red chilli powder:1/4 tsp

Salt to taste

Bread crumbs or powdered rusk:as required

Ginger-garlic paste:1 tsp

Preparation:

Clean the fish and marinate with salt and turmeric powder and wash off...

Steam the fish over hot water and remove bones if found...

You can also cook the fish in little water with some salt...

Let the fish cool and then mash it with your hands...

Now mix the mashed potato,mashed fish,ginger-garlic paste,chopped chillies,salt,garam masala powder,red chilli powder and make small balls out of this...

Flatten each ball and then dip in egg in a small bowl...

Now roll the cutlet on bread crumbs on all sides...You can use powdered rusk also for the same..

Now fry them in oil till they turn golden brown...

The fish cutlets are ready!!

Serve with rice...

Go to fish for more fish recipes...

Related recipes:

Beef cutlet

Banana Halwa

This is quite time consuming but it is worth the time...The halwa is yummy...

Ingredients:

Ripe bananas:5

Sugar:5 to 6 tbsp

Cardamom powder:1/4 tsp

Cashews:few

Raisins:few

Ghee:4 tbsp

Preparation:

Peel the bananas and chop them...Mash them in a blender...

Now in a pan melt the ghee and add the mashed bananas and cook on low heat for about 10 minutes till it becomes light brown or golden brown..

Make sure you keep on stirring...

Once the  mashed bananas change colour,add more ghee if need be..

Add the sugar and keep on stirring till the sugar dissolves...

Add the cardamom powder and mix well and keep on stirring till the halwa leaves the sides of the pan...

In another pan fry cashews and raisins in ghee and add to the halwa...

Remove from heat and serve hot...

Banana halwa is ready!!

Enjoy the halwa!!

Go to sweets for more sweets...

Sending this to Aipi's veggie/fruit a month - banana started by Priya

Related recipes:

Rava Kesari - Sooji ka halwa

Beetroot Halwa

Wheat kesari

Carrot halwa - Gajar ka halwa

Oatmeal Cookies

Cookies are loved by one and all..These cookies with oats are healthy and nutritious...They are easy to make too..Most of the ingredients will be readily available at home..And the month of december people will be busy baking and making sweets at home for X'mas...

Ingredients:

Oats:3 cups

All purpose flour:1 cup

Butter:3/4 cup

Sugar:1 cup(brown sugar)

Egg:1

Baking soda:1/2 tsp

Vanilla extract:1 tsp

Cinnamon;1/2 tsp,ground

Salt:1/2 tsp

Preparation:

In a bowl mix together the butter and sugar until creamy with an electric mixer...You can use your hand also...

Now add the egg and vanilla extract and beat again until smooth and fluffy...

Mix together the flour,salt and baking soda...

Mix in the ground cinnamon as well along with the flour...

Now transfer the flour to the egg and butter mixture and mix well..

Now add the oats to this mixture and mix well again...

Preheat an oven to 370 F....

Make small balls out of this dough and flatten them on the palm of your hand...

Place them on a baking sheet with atleast 2 inches from each other...

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes till they become light brown...

Let the cookies on the baking sheet for sometime...

Transfer them to an air tight container once cooled...

Oatmeal cookies are ready!!

Enjoy the cookies!!

Go to cookies for more cookies recipes...

Sending this to my Cookies and Cakes for X'mas event

Chicken Recipes - Event round up

This was my first event and i thank each and everyone for contributing...

Please do check out each and every recipe...I have included only roast and gravies in this event as mentioned before...

The recipes are lovely...

1.Roshan from Roshan's cucina sent Tangy tamarind chicken curry ,Ginger chicken ,Mughlai chicken ,Hot n chicken ,Chicken sandwich

2.Akeela from Torview sent fried chicken

3.Priya from Priya's Easy and Tasty Recipes sent pepper chicken gravy ,chicken kofta kurma ,Murgh musallam

4.Tahemeem from Tahemeem's blog sent pepper chicken ,ginger chicken

5.Shrinnalashmi  from shriannalakshmi sent me easy chicken curry ,chicken 65

6.Ganga Sreekanth from My favorite foods sent me microwave grilled chicken ,Butter chicken ,chicken kurma ,kerala chicken curry ,chicken nawabi

7.Biny Anoop from Biny's recipes sent me butter chicken

8.Asiya Omar  from Samaithu asathalaam sent butter chicken

9.Denise from Oh taste and see sent peanut chicken curry

10.Sujatha from Gourmet Kithenette sent cornish hen ,malaysian satay ,chicken croquette ,chicken wings

11.Swati Sapna from The weekend epicuren sent lemon chicken ,spicy andra chicken fry

12.Jaisy James from Ente Pachakasala sent

13.Christine Mack  from The cupcakes bandits sent Spicy buffalo chicken wing pizza

14.Tes from Tes at home sent stir fried chicken with capsicum

15.Tamanna Fatema from Joyful reverie sent palak ghost

16.Soumya from Soumya's kitchen sent Chicken roast

17.Shanavi from Kitchen Secrets sent Indian styled chicken fillet roast

18.Nandhini from  ushanandini sent mint chicken

19.Sweta biswal from Authentic oriya food sent Mustard garlic chicken

20.Shoba from Food mazaa sent Peanut chicken curry ,green masala chicken ,Dum ka murg

21.Kavitha from Kavitha's kitchen sent butter chicken

22.Prajusha from icookipost sent Chilly chicken

23.Shama Nagarajan from Easy2cookrecipes sent chicken gravy ,chicken 65 ,capsicum flavoured chicken liver gravy ,kadai chicken gravy

24.Suborupdas Gupta from Sita ki rasoi sent easy home style chicken kebab reshmi

25.Mehnaz Kapadia from Chef Naaz-The mistress of Spices sent kharaash chicken

26.Love to cook from Love 2 cook sent Simple turmeric fried chicken

27.Kavita Srivastava from Seasoned and dressed sent Chicken tikka masala

28.Akila from Learning to cook sent Chicken franks ,chicken 65 ,chicken manchurian ,chicken tikka

29.Cool Lassie from Pan gravy kadai curry sent Maharashtrian styled chicken ,baked crispy masala chicken ,Quick bake masala chicken ,chettinad chicken chukka ,baked orange marmalade n teriyaki-glazed chicken

30.Jay from Tasty appetite sent Spicy hot chicken curry

31.Neeraja Vella from Neeru's sent Spicy chicken curry

32.Pavani from Food Lovers sent Achar gosht curry ,Chicken fry with roasted spices ,kadai chicken ,chicken methi ,chicken chettinad

33.Smitha Joga from Smitha's spicy flavours sent Tandoori whole chicken roast

34.Sangeetha Jagan from Sangi's food world sent Kung pao chicken ,Simple spicy chicken kulambu ,Simple spicy chilli chicken ,chicken puttu

35.Deepa from Hamaree Rasoi sent Tandoori Chicken

36.Food lovers from It's all about food lovers sent Double coated chicken ,Dhadia Chicken ,Chicken yoga

37.Lissie Alfred from Salt and Spice sent Thai cashew chicken

38.And finally my own entries that i posted this month...Chicken drumsticks ,Pepper cashew chicken

Thank you one and all for these delicious chicken recipes...Please see that every entry sent towards this event is linked to the chicken recipes event...When i visited a few,i found that they were not linked...In case you have forgotten to link up,please do so now...

Rava Kesari - Sooji Ka Halwa

This is a very easy sweet that can be made at home as all the ingrdients are available at home..I just love this...Ofcourse i love sweets!!:)

Ingredients:

Rava/Sooji:2 cups

Sugar:1.5 cups

Ghee:2 tbsp

Milk:2.5 cups

Cashews:few

Cardamoms:few

Raisins:few

Cardamom powder:a pinch

Kesari powder:a pinch(food colour)

Preparation:

Heat a pan and melt the ghee and fry the cashews and raisins in this ghee and keep aside..

In the pan roast the rava or sooji till light pink and keep aside...

Now in the same pan heat the milk and to this add the kesari powder and when it has boiled,add the rava slowly stirring all the time...

Stirring is to avoid the formation of lumps..

Once the rava or sooji is cooked on medium heat,add the sugar and mix well..

Keep on stirring until the rava leaves the sides of the pan..

Now add the fried cashews,cardamoms,cardamom powder and raisins..

The rava kesari is ready!!

Enjoy the rava kesari...

Go to sweets for more sweets recipes...

P.S:You can use water instead of milk but i prefer milk!!:)

You are the best blogger award

I have been given another award...'You are the best blogger award',a very special award...Like the sound of it...Very encouraging award...

Soumya gave me this award...Thank you Soumya dear...Visit her for some lovely recipes...

Iam passing this award to 15 blogger friends...

They are

Sayantani

Priya Sreeram

Priya Mitharwal

Cool Lassie

Sangi

Jisha

Spoonfuls of love

Deepa

Kavitha

Aipi

Shanavi

Saritha

Pavithra

Sujatha

Jaisy James


Please collect this award from me and pass it on to 15 more bloggers and keep this chain going...Happy Blogging!!

Green Peas Curry

Ingredients:

Green peas:250 gms

Tomato:1,chopped

Onion:1,chopped

Grated coconut:2 tbsp,roasted and ground

Garam masala powder:1/2 tsp

chilli powder:1/2 tsp

Coriander powder:1 tbsp

Salt to taste

Few curry leaves

Mustard seeds:1/4 tsp

Oil:1 tsp

Preparation:

Soak the green peas for 2 hours...

Cook the green peas in a cooker along with salt for 15 to 20 minutes...

In a pan heat the oil and season with mustard seeds and curry leaves...

Add the chopped onion and saute well..

Add the chopped toamto and saute fro sometime..

Then add the coriander powder,chilli powder and garam masala powder and cook for a few minutes...

Finally add the ground roasted coconut and simmer for few minutes..

Lastly add the cooked green peas and cook for 5 minutes on low flame...

Green peas curry is ready!

Enjoy the green peas curry!!

Serve with rice,roti

Go to vegetarian Curries for more vegetarian curries recipes...