Cheesecake Cookies with Almond Crust

Am a fan of cheesecake but i always hated the crust made of Graham Crackers. This one is different. This crust has nuts (of your choice) and it gives a real bite to the crust.
So now you have a superb Cheesecake plus a nice crust too.
I got this recipe from Food Network and gave a try this Christmas and its going to be my evertime favorite too.

Ingredients
Makes 25 cookies

Crust
All Purpose Flour - 1 cup
Light Brown Sugar packed - 1/4 cup
Chopped Almonds - 1 cup
Butter - 1 stick (8 tbsp) melted

Filling
Cream Cheese - 16oz  take them out of fridge atleast 30 mins before using
Sugar - 1 cup
Eggs - 3
Vanilla Extract - 1 tspn

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the ingredients under Crust and press the into a 13*9*2 inch baking pan.
It will look like its not enough but keep spreading and pressing till it covers all the pan.
Bake it for 15 mins or until lightly browned.

Now in a new bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar till smooth. Add eggs and the Vanilla Extract and beat well.

Now pour this into the crust and spread till it covers the crust completely.
Bake them for 30 mins
(The recipe asks for baking 20 mins but mine was done by 30 mins only. Keep checking after 20 mins)
It will look all puffed up, but dont worry it will retain to the original look once its cooled.

Once its cooled completely, cut them into squares. Garnish as you love.

This will be a sure hit, so go ahead and make them

Happy Cooking Guys!!!

Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

My Next Venture for this Christmas was this Cookie that i got from Food Network. Its made of Ricotta Cheese which gave it a Cake consistency. And the Lemon Glaze was just the kick it needed. They are just perfect against each other.

Ingredients
Makes 45 Cookies

All Purpose Flour - 2 1/2 cups
Baking Powder - 1 tspn
Salt - 1 tspn
Unsalted Butter - 1 stick (8 tbsp)
Sugar - 2 cups
Eggs - 2
Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese - 15 oz
Lemon Juice - 3 tbsp
Lemon Zest - 1 lemon

Glaze
Powdered Sugar - 1 1/2 cups
Lemon Juice - 3 tbsp
Lemon Zest - 1 lemon

Mix the All Purpose flour, Baking Powder and salt together and keep aside  (Dry Ingredients)

Take the butter and sugar in another bowl and combine them until fluffy using an electric mixer.
Now add the eggs one by one after mixing them well into the batter
Now add the Ricotta Cheese, Lemon Juice and the zest ad mix it well into the Batter (Wet Ingredients)

Now add 1/3rd of the Dry ingredients into the wet Ingredients and mix well. Do the same with the rest of the Dry Ingredients till its mixed well.
This is the Cookie Batter

Prehat Oven to 350 degrees F

Line the baking sheet with a Parchment paper and drop the cookie batter around 1 1/2 tbsp each.
Leave some space between each cookie as they will spread a bit.

Glaze
Take the powdered sugar in a bowl and add the zest and the lemon juice and mix well. This is our Glaze.

Rest the cookies for atleast 20 mins once they come out of the oven. Now spoon little zest onto them and let them rest for some time.

If you are planning to stack them for storing, its better to rest them atleast 2 hours after putting the glaze.

This cookie is really tasty, so please try atleast once.

Happy Baking Guys!!!

Healthy Oats and Nuts Granola Bar

 Today am making something that you have seen a lot in most of the stores under various names like Energy Bar, Protein Bar, Granola Bar, Oats bar and so it goes. So while you compare the nutritional value and price for them like me, nothing stops you from trying it at home.
I keep one pack in the car always so that whenever you are outside or coming from office and stuck in traffic and get hungry, it comes handy. I made them for Raj but I am the one eating it more.
First time when i made them i felt it might be costly but with the ingredients i bought, i was able to make 3 times. So price wise i think its with us.
Coming to the nutritional value, we know what goes in this so you can tweak them however you wish

I got this recipe from Food Network which is really catching upto me as i find myself trying their recipes a lot :-)
So if its good enough why not share them with you and persuade to try them.
I have made some changes in this recipe as the original recipe called for Coconut and i traded them with some more extra nuts

If you are someone who is concerned about the nutritional value of the food that you eat, let me assure you that this is way far better than the store brought ones. The only trade off will be the Sugar in them but it mostly comes from the Dried fruit and dates so i dont think you have to worry too much on that

Ingredients Makes 24 bars
Rolled Oats - 2 cups
Almonds - 1 cup
Cashew - 1/2 cup
Hazelnut - 1/2 cup

Wheat Germ  - 1/2 cup
Butter - 3 tbsp
Honey - 3/4 cup
Brown Sugar - 1/4 cup
Vanilla Extract- 1 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp

Dates - 1/2 cup
Mixed Dried Berries - 1/2 cup

Preheat the oven to 350 degree F
Chop the nuts to half or quarter size of them

Mix the Oats with Almonds, cashews and Hazelnut and spread on a baking sheet.
Bake it for 10 - 12 mins. Take care not to brown them :-)

Reduce the Temperature to 300 degree F

Butter or spray oil to a Baking dish (I used 9 * 12 inch dish ) and line with parchment paper.

Heat the butter in a saucepan and add the Honey, Brown sugar and salt
Once its mixed, take it off heat and add the Vanilla Extract.

Mix the toasted nuts with wheat germ in a big bowl.
Now add in the heated wet mixture and mix them well.

Add the chopped dates and dried berries into this and mix well.

Now spread them into the prepared dish
Wet your hands and gently press them to form an even layer.
Bake them in 300 Degree F Oven for 20-25 mins.

Let it cool off in the baking pan itself for 2-3 hours.
After that take them out and cut them into bars of your choice of size.

It makes 24 of them if you decide to cut them to the weight of the store brought ones.

Notes:

• Please dont forget to reduce the Oven temperature in between
• Oil the measuring cup before measuring Honey and the honey will slide off easily
• Wetting your hands will help you to spread the Granola Mixture easily
• You can add your choice of nuts and Dried Berries.
• I Made it without Vanilla at first and it did come out well too, so no worries if you dont have Vanilla Extract handy
• It remains fresh for more than a week in Room temperature
• Freezing them and thawing out in room temperature will last them longer
• I pack them in Ziplocs as shown above or plastic Cling Wraps

I have tried my max to make the pictures perfect but as you see its a bit tough for me now as i have a wagging tail behind me always :-)

Isnt he cute? He is our 6 month Labrador, our sweet puppy who loves to hang out in the kitchen. So he is my new "Little Chef"

So Happy Cooking and Trying new Recipes Guys!!

Masala Oats

Oats is all around today because of its nutrient level. I got bored of eating Oats with Milk pretty soon and thats when i thought why not add some spices and turn it into Indian flavors.
The whole thing takes 5-6 min of your time, not a bad deal for something so healthy and under 200-250 Calories

Ingredients Serves1
Oil - 1 tsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Mixed Vegetables - a handful or more
Salt
Spice Mix - 1 tsp or more
Oats - 1/2 cup
Water - 1 cup

Heat Oil in a skillet and splutter the mustard
Now add the Vegetables and saute them
Add salt, the Spice Mix and mix well.
Now add the Oats and mix it into the spice mix well
Now add the water and close the pan with a lid
Let the oats gets cooked and it gets your required consistency

I used a Spice Mix for Meat, you can use Garam Masala or any other Spice Mix which is your favorite
Try changing the Spice Mix and Vegetables for a difference
I used 1 minute Quaker Oats, so the time may vary for different type of Oats

Happy Eating Guys!!!

Marble Cake

Yup, its time for a cake and i made a marble Cake. This is the first cake that i am making. I really love the Marble look of this cake. Even though we have had this earlier, we never thought of making it.
So i got this recipe from another cooking Blog. Its called "Cooking With Alia". I have used the exact recipe while making this

Ingredients Serves 6
Eggs - 5
Sugar - 125 gms
Salt - a pinch
Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp
Baking pdr - 1 tsp
Unsalted Butter - 1 stick (8 tbsp)
Flour - 128 gms
Milk Chocolate - 125 gms
White chocolate - 125 gms (Optional)

Whisk in the eggs and sugar till you get a thick mixture which is pale in color, allmost white
It took me 30 mins for that with a speed of 3-4 in my electric mixer Uffff.
Now add the salt, Vanilla Extract and Baking pdr and whisk it well.
Now melt the butter and add it into this mixture. Mix in well
Now sift the flour into this mixture and mix it.
Now divide this into 2 portions and keep aside
Melt the chocolate in individual pans.
Mix in the milk chocolate into one portion of the batter and White chocolate into the other portion.

Take a pan and grease it with butter. layer the parchment paper and press it well.
Now add half of the White chocolate batter and spread it evenly.
Add all of the Chocolate batter and spread it evenly
Now add the remaining white chocolate batter and spread it evely

Take a butter knife and make swirls in the cake batter to get the marble effect

Now Bake it in 360 degree F for 45 mins
A toothpick or knife inserted should come out clean to ensure its done

Notes

• While mixing the flour to the batter, mix it slowly with a rubber spatula. That way the cake will remain moist and fluffy while baked. Do not overmix.
• White Chocolate is optional, if not added it will have a Vanilla Flavor
• Start checking from 35 mins onwards so that you dont burn it out
• This batter was enough for a 8 * 8 baking pan
• Let the melted butter and chocolates cool down a bit before mixing into the batter

Happy Baking Guys!!!

Cherupayar / Mung Bean Curry

This is the simplest curry you can make as a side dish for Puttu. It really very easy, all in one pot :- )
Needless to say, i got this recipe from my Mother In Law as usual

Ingredients Serves 2
Cherupayar /  Mung Bean - 3/4 cup

Water - 2 cup

Salt

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Green chilly - 3-4 nos slit lengthwise
Coconut Oil - 1 tbsp
Curry Leaves - few

Pressure cook the Mung Bean with Water, Salt, Turmeric and Green Chilly for 2-3 whistles
The Cherupayar should be cooked well but not mashed out
Now add the curry leaves and pour the oil on top of it.
Keep it closed for 5 - 10 mins.
Mix well and serve hot over Puttu :-)

Happy Eating!!!

Velarikka Moru Curry

Ingredients Serves 4
Velarikka - 150 gms
Red Chilly Pdr - 1 1/2 tsp
Water - 1 cup
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Salt
Coconut - 1/2 cup
Cumin - 1 tsp
Curd - 1/2 cup
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Red Chilly - 4-5 nos
Curry Leaves - few
Fenugreek - 1/2 tsp

Pressure cook Vellarika pieces with red chilly pdr, turmeric, salt and water for 2 whistles

Meanwhile grind coconut with Cumin into a fine paste by adding few tbsp of water and keep aside
Beat the curd well (add a tbsp of water if needed) and keep aside.

Once the vellarika is cooked, add the ground coconut paste into this and let it boil.
Now add the curd and mix well and take it off heat.
Do a taste test
Heat the oil in a pan and splutter mustard followed by Fenugreek, Red Chilly and Curry Leaves.
Add this to the curry and mix well.

Note:
If the heat is too much, the curd will curdle, so take care (mine did curdle little)
If you dont like to bite the Fenugreek, then sprinkle powdered Fenugreek after adding the curd
You can also make this without adding the coconut paste, just reduce the amount of spices used.

Happy Eating Guys!!!

Rice Kheer / Payasam

When we went for a Lunch Buffet, i got this payasam there and it became our favorite at that instant itself.
From that day onward i have been searching for its recipe and got it from Padhus Kitchen.
I have made this twice till now and am sure that the number is going to increase a lot.
I have not made any changes to the recipe but still will add how i made it.

Ingredients - Serves 4
Whole Milk - 4 cups
Basmati Rice - 2 tbsp (Yes that is enough)
Sugar - to your taste level
Ghee - 2 tsp
Cardamom - few pods (to your taste level)

Heat 1 tsp ghee in a skillet and roast the Basmati rice and fry for 1-2 mins
Now give a quick pulse to this rice in a grinder just enough to break them
Take care not to break it a lot
Smear the remaining ghee on the bottom and sides of a pressure cooker and add the rice, milk and cardamom seeds.
Drop a steel spoon into this to avoid the milk getting burned.
Heat this in very low heat (in a range of 1-10 heat level, i kept it in 2) for 35-40 mins.
If the rice is not cooked through or if you want it be more thick, heat it for some more time
Add the required amount of sugar and heat it for 5 mins more and take it off heat.
Serve it hot or Cold

You can substitute the rice to Rose Matta, but when i tried, it took me 1.5 hrs to get the rice cooked, so i felt its not worth it.

I love it when its cold

Happy Drinking Guys!!!

Sausage Kheema

I got this recipe from Food Network Channel, it was originally a Beef Recipe but i used Sausage to save time :-)

Ingredients Serves 2
Sausage - 1/2 lb
Oil - 3 tsp
Onion Minced - 70 gms
Garlic minced - 4 gms (almost 2 cloves)
Ginger minced - 4 gms
Coriander pdr - 1 tsp
Paprika - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/4 tsp
Ground Cumin -1/4 tsp
Tomatoes chopped - 100 gms
Salt & Pepper
Frozen Green Peas - 1/2 cup
Vinegar - 1 tsp
Cilantro - few chopped

Heat oil in a pan and saute the Onion
Next saute the ginger and garlic and once done, add in the Coriander, Paprika, Garam Masala and Cumin powder and cook til the raw smell is gone.
Now add the sausage and mix it into the Masala mixture.
Let the sausage get cooked. Keep stirring in between
Add the tomato and stir well. Sprinkle the salt and pepper.
Add the peas and cook it closed with a lid till the tomato and peas gets cooked.
Now add the Vinegar and Cilantro and mix well.
Do a taste test and take it off heat

Serve hot with Rotis or Dosa.

If using any meat other than Sausage, add in the required amount water to help the meat get cooked
If using fresh peas, add the required amount of water to get it cooked.

Happy Eating Guys!!!

Bittergourd / Kaypakka Upperi

I dont love Bitter gourd that much, but i really loved this upperi when my father made it. I had it with rice and curd alone and it was always tasty.
To make as my father made you will require lots of oil, but trust me you wont even know that its bitter gourd.
Still for our health sake, i have used only 4-5 tsp oil :-)

Ingredients- Serves 2
Bitter gourd / Kaypakka - 200 gms
Shallots sliced - 2-3 nos
Turmeric - a pinch
Salt
Red Chilly Pdr - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 4-5 tsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - few

Heat half the oil in a pan and splutter mustard followed by Curry Leaves
Add the shallots and saute them.
Add the bitter gourd , salt and turmeric and mix it well
Now cook it closed with a lid in medium heat (Stir in between)
Once its cooked, take off the lid, add the chilly powder and the remaining oil and let the bitter gourd pieces brown little.
Keep stirring in between
Do a taste test and take it off heat once it reaches your preferred level

It tastes more better with more oil which helps it to get fried better. But it depends on you :-)

Serve with Hot Rice and curd or Moru Kachiyathu

Happy Eating Guys 

Dal Tadka

A Curry that goes well with Rotis and Rice. Its really very versatile, goes well with anything .
I know that this doesnt need much of an introduction, so lets directly go to the recipe

Ingredients (Serves 4)
Toor Dal  - 1/2 cup
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Water - 1 1/2 cup
Salt
Onion chopped- 75 gms
Tomato chopped - 100 gms (Tangy ones)
Green Chillies - 3-4 nos
Garlic - 3 cloves big sliced
Oil - 3 tsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Cumin - 1 tsp
Dry Red Chilly - 2
Hing - a big pinch
Cilantro - few chopped

Pressure cook the dal with salt, water and turmeric for 2-3 whistles and keep aside

Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard followed by Cumin and Dry Red Chilly
Add garlic and fry them til a light brown color
Add the Onion, green chilly and saute them for 1-2 min followed by tomato
Now add the hing and then add the cooked dal
Let it boil for a minute.
Do a taste test and take it off heat
Add the chopped Cilantro and keep it closed for 5- 10 mins
Serve hot with Rice or Rotis

If you are having it with Rotis, you can adjust the gravy accordingly

Happy Eating Guys!!!

Beetroot Potato Upperi

A colourful yet interesting one.
In each bite you will feel softness through potato whereas the hardness comes from Beetroot.

Ingredients (Serves 2)
Beetroot - 350 gms chopped
Potato - 200 gms chopped
Green chilly - 3-4
Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - few

Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard.
Now add urad dal,curry leaves and green chilly. Let the urad dal brown a little
Now add beetroot and then potato on top of it.
Now reduce the heat and close with a lid and cook for sometime.
Keep stirring in between till the beetroot is cooked. Potato will be cooked by that time.
Do a taste test and take it off from heat

Serve with Rice.

Enjoy!!!

Drumstick / Muringayila Thoran

Earlier i posted a curry that you can make with these Leaves, but why stop there?
This is a very common dish in our place as Drumstick leaves grow in our backyards and its just very common to make them.
The only downside that i see is the time and manual work needed to take them off from the stem. If you are ready to see ahead of that then you will sure love this

Ingredients (Serves 2)
Leaves - 125 gms
Grated Coconut - 1/4 - 1/2 cup
Salt
Shallots - 2-3
Red Chilly Pdr - 3/4 tsp
Turmeric - a pinch
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard - 1 tsp

Grind the coconut, shallots, red chilly pdr and turmeric pdr and keep aside (Dont use water)

Heat oil in a pan and splutter Mustard seeds
Now add the ground mixture and fry it for 2-3 mins
Add the leaves, salt and mix it with the coconut mixture and cook with closed lid till the leaves wilt
Do a taste test and take it off heat

Serve with Rice

Happy Eating Guys!!!

Sausage Gravy

This type of gravy is a common item for breakfast when people make Biscuits in America.
You can make gravy's of many kinds, this one is Sausage gravy which i made to accompany the Buttermilk Biscuits that i made this weekend.
When we used to have this from Restaurants i thought it was made of cream or cheese because they were really very creamy in look. So Raj always tried to limit me while having these. While Raj is a fan of Sausage Gravy, i tend to like the Mushroom Gravy.
Here goes the recipe of Sausage Gravy

Ingredients Serves 2
Ground Sausage - 1/3 pound (I used Jimmy Dean)
All Purpose flour -2 tbsp
Milk - 1 1/3 cup
Salt
Pepper - 2+ tbsp (according to your taste level)


First heat your Iron Skillet and break the sausage into small pieces like this and cook it in medium heat till it reached this color as shown in Picture 2

1

2

3

4

Now add the All purpose flour into this and keep stirring till the sausage dries out as shown in Picture 3
Then add the milk, salt and pepper (Picture 4) and keep stirring it till it thickens to your desired consistency (Picture 5)

5 - The Final Step

This should be the desired consistency of your gravy.

Do a taste test and take it off heat.

If your gravy thickens before you serve, then add 1-2 tbsp of milk and mix it.
It should help.





Happy Dunking Guys!!!

Drop Biscuits

Biscuits with Jam

Biscuits and Gravy is one of our favorite comfort food. There is a restaurant "Pine State Biscuits" here in Portland where we get super delicious Biscuits and gravy. They have numerous variations to do with Biscuit, but our favorite is the one with gravy.
We need cookie cutter to get round sha    ped biscuits, but you can make this drop Biscuits if you dont have a cookie cutter with you.

Ingredients Makes 12 Drop Biscuits
All Purpose flour - 1 cup
Baking Powder - 3/4 tsp
Salt - a small pinch
Cold Butter - 4 tbsp (1/2 stick)
ButterMilk - 1/2 cup

Mix in all purpose flour, salt and baking powder.
Now add the butter.
Break the butter into small pieces as seen here and mix it into the flour mixture using your hands slowly breaking the butter peices further.

Once its mixed well, it should look like crumbs as seen here.

Now add the butter milk and mix it into the mixture.

Preheat your oven to 400 degree F.

Meanwhile drop the biscuit mixture onto the baking sheet.
Now bake them for 16-17 mins till you get a light brown color on the top and your Biscuit is done.

 You can have the Biscuits along with Gravy, Jam or Butter and Honey.

Biscuits with Sausage Gravy

Happy Munching guys!!!

Potato / Aloo Bonda

A favorite tea time snack , doesnt need any introduction ryt? This was my favorite when i was in college. Everyday i used to have atleast one from our College canteen :-)

Ingredients - Makes 11 medium sized Bondas
For filling
Potato - 250 gms
Onion - 40 gms
Green Chilly - 3 nos
Ginger - a very small piece minced
Turmeric - a pinch
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard - 1/4 tsp
Urad dal - 1/4 tsp
Curry Leaves - few
Cilantro - few chopped

For Batter
Besan - 1/4 cup
Rice Powder - 1/8 cup
Hing - a small pinch
Turmeric - a small pinh
Cooking Soda - a small pinch
Salt
Red Chilly Pdr - 1/4 tsp
Water - 6 tbsp

Oil - for frying

Pressure cook the potato with little water for 2-3 whistles and keep aside.
Once cooled, peel and mash it

Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard, add urad dal and let it brown
Add Onion,salt, green chilly, curry leaves,ginger and saute it.
Now add turmeric and mix it well.
Add the mashed potato and mix it well and let it heat through.

Once this mixture cools off, make small balls out of them and keep aside.

Now mix all the ingredients under 'For Batter' and keep aside

Heat oil in a deep bottomed pan and once its hot enough for frying, dip each potato balls in the batter and fry till they get a golden brown color.

Serve hot with Coconut Chutney and tea :-)

Happy Snacking Guys!!!

Cauliflower / Gobi Manchurian Dry

Gobi Manchurian is one of my Favorite Indo-Chinese dish. Here I tried in many restaurants but never got one that resembled the ones that we used to have from India. So i thought its better that i make it myself :-)
I would like to dedicate this post to my Office cafeteria moments with my dear friend Anu. We have had lots of Gobi Manchurian and Fried Rice during those late night work hours in our Office.
I really do miss that life. It was really awesome.
So here i go to the recipe
Mine was a bit tangy as the spice level was low. Do use Chili Sauce if you like a bit spicy Manchurian

Ingredients(Serves 3)
Cauliflower florets - 200 gms

For Batter
Maida - 5tbsp
Corn Starch - 3 tbsp
Salt
Red Chilly pdr - 1/2 tsp
Water - 3/4 cup

Oil - for frying

For the Sauce
Oil - 2 tbsp
Onion minced - 125 gms
Green Bell Pepper minced - 100 gms
Green  Chilly chopped - 4 nos
Green Onion - 5 stalks
Garlic - 4 large cloves minced (around 15 gms)
Soy Sauce - 4 tsp
White Vinegar - 2 tsp
Ketchup - 4 tbsp (I used Heinz Red Chili Sauce, Its not spicy)
Salt - Optional (I didn't use salt for sauce as it was not needed)
Water - 4 tbsp
Corn Starch - 2 tsp

Mix in all the Ingredients in For Batter and mix the cauliflower florets in it and coat with the batter well.
The batter consistency should be not too thick nor too watery.
Heat the oil for frying and fry all the batter coated Cauliflower florets and keep aside.

Sauce
Meanwhile heat oil in a pan and add the chopped onion and saute it well.
Add Bell Pepper, Green chilly, Green Onion and Garlic and saute them well.
Now add the Soy Sauce, white Vinegar and ketchup and cook for a minute.
Now add the water and once its heated, add the corn starch and mix well with the water and let it cook
Do a taste test and add salt if required.
Once the gravy reached your expected consistency, add the fried cauliflower and mix it so that it gets coated with the sauce.
Now garnish with the Green Onion.

Serve it as it is or you can have it with Fried Rice too

Happy Munching Guys!!!

Easy Veg Fried Rice

I love to call this Easy Fried rice. Usually its very simple and easy to make Fried Rice.
This simplicity and my love to Indo-Chinese, forces me to make this more often. You can cook fresh rice or use the left over rice while making this. Both goes very well.
I use Rice cooker to cook the rice while making Fried Rice as it gives me the correct texture

Ingredients(Serves 2)
Basmati Rice - 1 cup (uncooked)
Water  - 1.5 cups (to cook Rice)
Mixed Vegetables chopped - 240 gms (its best to chop it in very small pieces)
I used Green Beans, Green and Red Bell Pepper and Carrot
Soy Sauce - 1 tbsp
Salt
Green Onion - 4-5 stalks
Oil - 2 tbsp

Cook the Rice along with the water and salt and once its cooked, remove it and spread it into a big flat plate (I use my Baking sheet) and keep it in your fridge till its ready to be added  into your vegetables (Min 20-25 mins).

Heat oil in a pan and add the vegetables and the White part of the Green Onion and saute it for 2-3 mins in High Heat.
Now add the soy sauce and saute it for 1 min. Reduce the heat to medium- low
Now add the Rice and mix it slowly into the veg mixture. Take care not to break the Rice.
Heat it till the rice gets heated through. Garnish with Green Onion and serve

It tastes good with various types of Manchurian

Happy Eating Guys!!!

Banana Bread

My Second Baking Venture - Banana Bread
Even though i have had this many time, never thought of making it till recently when i had it from one of our friend's house.
I was not happy with the color of this bread, so i tried to make it better the next time, but it was not a super success even though the color came out good enough.
You should use overripe bananas for this.This is how mine looked.

Serves 4
Ingredients - Everything should be in room temperature
Wet Ingredients
Butter - 4 tbsp
Sugar - 1/2 cup (I used white but brown sugar gives a rich color)
Egg - 1 large
Vanilla Extract - 1/2 tsp

Banana Over Ripe - 1 1/2 (around 375 gms)

Dry Ingredients
Wheat flour - 1/4 cup
All Purpose flour - 3/4 cup
Baking Pdr - 3/4 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp

Optional Items
Nuts - 1/4 cup
Shredded Coconut - 1/4 cup
Chocolate Chips - 1/4 cup

Butter - for smearing the baking pan

 You can either use a spatula or whisker or hand mixer for mixing the ingredients

Mash the banana with a fork and keep aside.
Break the egg and keep it in a bowl.
Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl very well and keep aside

Take a bowl and whisk the butter and sugar till its creamy.
Now add in the egg and whisk it well.
Add the vanilla extract and mix in
Add in the mashed banana and mix it.
Add the dry ingredients half at a time and mix it into the wet ingredients mixture.

Now using a spoon you can add the nuts, shredded coconut and chocolate chips into this mixture.

Preheat the oven to 350 degree

Now smear your baking pan with butter on all sides and pour the mixture into this.
Slightly shake so that the mixture settles well.

Now bake the same for 45-50 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Let it cool for 15 minutes and move to the serving dish.

You can bake for some more time if its not done by 50 mins. Mine was done perfectly by this time
The time required may vary based on your oven
The banana bread mixture should fill only till 2/3 rd of your baking pan.

Serve the Banana Bread slices with Butter or you can even make French Toast with it

Happy Baking Guys!!!

Poori masala

Well it was a Poori day, what to say, lots of kneading and rolling, finally we had Poori after some time
Its not too tough to make this so if you feel like having it, you can make it fast.

Ingredients
For the Dough - Made 13 pooris
Atta - 2 cups
Water - 15 tbsps (1 tbsp less for 1 cup)
Salt - 1/2 tsp

Atta - few tbsps  for dusting while rolling them out
Oil - for frying


Take the atta in a bowl and mis in the salt well.
Now add the water slowly and knead the dough. Take care not to add too much water.
This is how the dough looked like after kneading.

Now take them and roll them into balls.
Now take one dough ball, flat them a little with your hands .
Sprinkle with atta and slowly roll them out.

This is how they look after rolling out
Mine are not perfect rounds :-)

After you roll out all of them
Heat oil in a deep bottomed pan and fry them one by one
While frying, gently press the top of the poori with your spatula which will help them to puff.
Now flip it over and let it cook the other side.
Once its done, drain the excess oil in a kitchen towel.

Fry all of them and enjoy.

Pooris usually goes well with Potato Masala

Enjoy Guys!!!

Kadachakka / Breadfruit Upperi

Something that is available at our place so easily but very rare over here. Finally got hold of one, so here's the recipe.
Its not too spicy, but a bit sweet

Ingredients (Serves 2)
Kadachakka - 300 gms cubed
Green chilly - 2
Shallots - 3- 4
Coconut - 1/3 cup
Cury leaves - few
Oil - 2 tbsp
Turmeric - a big pinch
Mustard - 1 tsp
Dry Red Chilly - 3-4
Water - 1/4 cup
Salt

The whole cooking can be done in Medium - low heat
Heat oil in a pan and splutter the mustard seeds
Now add the shallots, dry red chilly, green chilly, curry leaves, salt and saute them.
Now add the kadachakka pieces and sprinkle the water and close the pan with a lid
You can add more water later if you feel that the Kadachakka is not cooked.
Keep stirring in between till its almost cooked.
Now add the turmeric and mix it well.
Now add the grated coconut and let it sit for some time
Do a taste test and take it off heat

Serve with Rice and some Spicy Curry

Enjoy Guys!!!

Mushroom Roast

When i was a kid, i remember my grandmother collecting Mushrooms to make a masala curry. It was really tasty and as we got them very rarely, it was a special for me always. Today mushrooms are available in stores but i dont know why i have never tried the masala curry.
Nowadays i make this more often, as they go very well with Chapatis

So here is the recipe

Ingredients (Serves 2)
Mushroom - 150 gms
Onion - 200 gms
Tomato - 200 gms
Curry Leaves - few
Coriander pdr - 1 1/2 tsp
Chilly Pdr - 1 tsp
Salt
Oil - 1 tbsp

Dice the onion lengthwise and tomato as cubes.
Dice the mushroom into quarters of each
You need only medium heat throughout this dish

Heat oil in a pan and add the curry leaves.
Now add the onion and salt and saute them well.
Now add the tomato pieces and saute them till they get mashed
Now add the coriander and chilly pdr and let it cook till the raw smell vanishes.
Now add the mushroom pieces and let it sit for 2-3 minutes.
Do not close the pan with a lid as mushroom oozes out water.
Once the mushroom shrinks a bit, fold them well into the masala and let it cook for some more time.
When the mushroom is done completely, do a taste test and take it off heat.

Serve hot with Chapatis

Enjoy!!!

Drumstick Leaves/ Muringayila Curry

Needless to say that we have to try to include leafy vegetables in our diet due to the high nutrient content in them, but did anyone say the truth? I include them in my diet to their high taste content :-)
This one is made with Drumstick Leaves/ Muringayila.
It was almost a daily item back in Kerala, but here we try to include them alteast once in a  week

Ingredients (Serves 4)
Drumstick Leaves - 75 gms
Toor dal - 1/2 cup
Water for cooking dal- 2 1/2 cups
Salt
Turmeric - a pinch
Coconut - 1/2 cup
Cumin - 1 tsp
Red Chilly Pdr - 1 tsp
Water for grinding - 1/2 cup
Oil - 1 tbsp
Small Onion - 2 nos minced
Dry Red Chilly - 3 nos

Pressure cook the Dal with salt and water for 2 whistles.
Meanwhile grind the coconut with cumin and red chilly pdr and keep aside.
Once the pressure releases, add the ground coconut mixture and let it boil.
Once it boils, add the leaves and let it boil for 5 minutes or so.
Do a test taste and take it off heat
Heat oil in a pan and add the small onion pieces and fry them till they turn into light brown color.
Now add the red chilly and add the whole mixture to the curry and mix well.

Enjoy over Hot Rice!!!

Pina Colada Popsicle

 Its really hot and this is the only thing i can think of now. I had some pineapple with me, didnt want to go with just pineapple, so came up with Pina Colada.
Pina Colada is a famous drink here. It has Pineapple and coconut in it as main ingredients.
You can serve it as it is or make some fun by turning it into a popsicle
This is very healthy as you know what is going in it and also very easy to make.

Ingredients Made 4 Popsicles
Pineapple - 350 gms
Coconut Milk - 1/3 cups
Sugar - 2 tspn (optional)
Shredded Coconut - 1 tbsp (optional)

Blend all these ingredients and filter if necessary.
Add the shredded coconut and mix well.
Now add this into the molds and let it freeze overnight.

Happy Summer guys :-)

Bittergourd / Kaypakka Fry

Bittergourd fry is an easy way to add this into our meals. Even though its bitter, you can adjust the bitterness on the the time you use to fry it. More you fry the less bitter it will be.
Mine was little bitter as i fried it only for a less amount of time

Ingredients (Serves 3)
BitterGourd - 2 medium ones sliced in thin rounds
Shallots - 4-5 nos
Salt
Chilly Pdr - 2-3 tspns
Oil - for frying

Grind and make a paste of Shallots with salt and Chilly Pdr
Marinate the Bittergourd with this paste and let it sit aside for 30 mins
Now heat the oil in a pan and add the slices one at a time in a single layer.
Flip over when one side is done.

Serve hot with Rice, It goes well with Moru Kachiyathu

Happy Eating Guys!!!

Moru Kachiyathu

Well, i know that most of you might have had this atleast once in your life. Its so easy that you can make them whenever you need something to go along as a curry or as a special item for your lunch/dinner.

Ingredients (Serves 4)
Yogurt - 1 cup
If using light yogurt, use 1 1/2 cups and add just little water
Water - 1/2 cup
Salt
Turmeric - a big pinch
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - few
Green chilly - 2 nos
Red chilly - 2 nos
Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp
Small Onion - 2 nos minced finely
GInger - a smal piece minced finely
Garlic - a pod minced finely

Mix the yogurt with water and salt (blend if necessary)
Heat oil in a pan, splutter the mustard, add fenugreek, curry leaves, small onion, ginger, garlic, dry red chillies and green chillies.
Once the fenugreek browns, lower the heat and add the yogurt mixture and let it heat through.
Dont let it boil or curdle
The lowest heat and the lowest time on heat is the best

Serve it over hot rice and enjoy!!!

Muthira / Horsegram Upperi

Muthira/ Horse Gram is a lentil which i love to use for 2 ways. One is for this dish and the other one is to make Puzhukku. It is wonderful in both the ways. Here is the recipe to make this Upperi / Thoran which will make your lunch/ dinner a nutritious one :-)

Ingredients (Serves 2) 

Horsegram - 3/4 cup
Water - 1 cup
Salt
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Small Onion - 3 nos (chopped)
Green Chilly -2 nos
Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
Dry red chilly - 4-5
Curry leaves - few

Pressure cook Muthira with water and salt for 2-3 whistles
Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard, add the green chilly, chopped small onion, dry red chilly and curry leaves and saute.
Now add the cooked Muthira (dont take the water) into this.
Do a taste test and add the grated Coconut and let it heat through for 4-5 mins.

Serve hot with Rice or Kanji.

Happy Eating Guys!!!