Podalangai Poricha Kuzhambu (Snake Gourd Lentil Stew)
Poricha Kuzhambu is a traditional dish from Tamil Nadu which is prepared from lentils, spices and vegetables and served with cooked rice. There are different versions of this dish. This one is a simple and yummy recipe from my mom and one of my all time favorite dish. Different type of lentils such as toor dal, moong dal and channa dal can be used for this dish. Today I am going to make it with channa dal and moong dal (protein rich). The perfect combination for this dish would be paruppu usli or potato fry (urulai fry). My mouth waters when I imagine that… Ingredients: Snake Gourd – 500 gram (1.1 lb) Channa dal – 3/4 cup Moong dal – 1/4 cup Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Oil – 1 tsp Coriander seeds – 1 tbsp Dried red chilies...
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Hot Cross Buns
Happy Easter!! Hot Cross Buns are made on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday. These buns are sweet and spiced perfectly and filled with currants, raisins and sometimes with candied fruits. Wikipedia says: In many historically Christian countries, buns are traditionally eaten hot or toasted on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the Crucifixion. They are believed by some to pre-date Christianity, although the first recorded use of the term “hot cross bun” was not until 1733. It is believed that buns marked with a cross were eaten by Saxons in honour of the goddess Eostre (the cross is thought to have symbolised the four quarters of the moon); “Eostre” is probably the origin of the name “Easter”. Others claim that the Greeks marked cakes with a cross, much earlier. English folklore believed that buns...
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Mexican Gumbo (Vegetarian)
Mexican Vegetarian Gumbo is my all time favorite dish from Qdoba, a fast food restaurant serving Mexican cuisine. Other than rice, beans, soup and salsa, I usually load it up with all the vegetables they have such as corn, tomatoes, some lettuce and green peppers. I haven’t mentioned it in the recipe. But you can add your favorite grilled or fresh vegetables to your Gumbo and enjoy. Like the restaurant, I have prepared the required ingredients separately and mixed it together to make Gumbo. I am planning on making One Pot Gumbo. Will share the recipe soon. Though it is a bit time consuming to prepare everything separately, it is totally worth it. Try and let me know how you like it. Ingredients: Tortilla Soup – 4 cups Cilantro rice – 2 cups Black or pinto beans – 2...
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Pavakkai Pitlai (Bitter Gourd Sambar)
Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon (known as Pavakkai in Tamil and Karela in Hindi), as the name indicates is a bitter vegetable with lots of precious nutrients and less calories. It is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, and B3, C, magnesium, folic acid, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, and has high dietary fiber. It is rich in iron, beta-carotene, calcium and potassium. It is known for its medicinal values. My mom always force me to eat karela saying it purifies your blood and is good for your heart. I should thank her for making me eat this vegetable. Now it has grown on me and I don’t hate to eat it anymore. On the contrary, my husband loves it. So I try incorporate it in my cooking as much as possible. It is popular in Indian cuisine. In South...
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Tortilla Soup
I am a huge fan of Tortilla Soup. Tortilla soup topped with corn tortilla strips and a little bit of sour cream is soul satisfying. This is a tomato based soup of Mexican origin which usually has chicken stock cooked with tomatoes, onion, jalapenos, garlic, cilantro and lime juice. But I have made a vegetarian version and tweaked it a bit to satisfy the vegetarian taste buds. Okay! Now I will tell y’all what inspired me to prepare this soup. I love the Mexican Gumbo from Qdoba, which is a fast food restaurant in the United States serving Mexican style cuisine. The foundation of this dish is Tortilla Soup, Cilantro Rice and Beans. My friend usually gets the Tortilla Soup alone and that’s how I got to taste this soup once and I loved it. I used to make it now...
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Wilton Cake Decorating
I love baking. It makes me feel so happy. So I thought why not learn some cake decorating. So I joined the Wilton Cake Decorating Course at Michaels Store. There are four courses from basics to advanced level. I took Course-1 and it is Decorating Basics. It is one class every week for 4 weeks. Prior to joining the course, I tried a few different frosting and decorated my cakes with what I knew. But this course taught me details of decorating and a few important techniques. This is a perfect course for beginners. I am happy to share my experience and photos with you all. Week 1: We learned to make butter cream frosting and the right consistency to be used for different purposes. Our instructor was very enthusiastic and shared her experience and tips with us. She also helped me pick...
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Simple Brussels Sprouts Fry
Brussels Sprouts are leafy green vegetable and they look like a small cabbage bud. They are rich in protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are rich in vitamin A and C and said to contain sinigrin, which protect against colon cancer. Learn more about Brussels sprouts from Wikipedia or here. Today I have prepared a simple fry in Indian style which can be served with rice and sambar or rasam or even as a salad with chapathi. Do not over cook the vegetable since it will become too soft and releases an odour which some people may dislike. It is not ideal for people with thyroid dysfunction to eat this vegetable on a regular basis, although a reasonable intake once in a while wouldn’t hurt. Preparation time: 25 minutes No. of servings: 3 to 4 Spice level: 2.5 out of...
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Keerai Masiyal
Keerai Masiyal also called Keerai Kadayal is another type of spinach curry and this time only the method of preparation vary. Personally, I am a huge fan of this dish and it is so comforting. It can be served with steamed or cooked rice and a spicy side such as potato fry or colocasia fry or plantain fry. It’s so simple and awesome. Try this dish and let me know how it turns out. Preparation time: 30 minutes No. of servings: 6 Spice level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Spinach – 1/2 lb or 225 gram Oil – 1 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Garlic pods – 4 Pearl onions or small onions – 7 to 8 (peeled and cut into halves) One big tomato Green chilies – 4 Toor dal – 1 cup (can substitute with moong...
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Tomato Chutney (Version 2)
This is a simple recipe for tomato chutney. It just takes a few minutes to make and you can serve it with idly or dosa. I have added coconut and roasted channa dal which makes it different from the regular tomato chutney. Try this version of chutney and let me know how you like it. Preparation time: 15 minutes No. of servings: 4 to 5 Spice level: 3.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Big Roma tomatoes – 2 Green chilies – 4 Shredded coconut – 1/4 cup Pottukadalai (roasted channa dal) – 1/4 cup Oil – 1 tsp Salt to taste For seasoning: 1 tsp oil, mustard seeds – 1 tsp, urad dal – 1 tsp, a few curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida Method of Preparation: Heat oil in a pan and add green chilies, chopped tomatoes and a...
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Potato wedges
Potato Wedges are easy to make and it is a wonderful appetizer for any parties. I made these for the Superbowl Party and it was a hit. I am a huge fan of Buffalo Wild Wings’ Potato Wedges with the buffalo sauce. That’s the inspiration for making this dish. All you need is potatoes and some regular ingredients from your pantry. Throw everything together and bake. It is as easy as you think. Wedges are ready. I have also given a recipe for a quick dip for the wedges. Check it out. Preparation time: 60 minutes No. of servings: 6 to 7 Spice level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Medium size potatoes – 8 Butter – 2 tbsp (melted) Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Regular Olive Oil – 1/4 cup Chili powder – 1/2 tsp Garlic powder- 1 tsp...
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Methi Malai Paneer
Methi Malai Paneer is a delicious Indian gravy cooked with paneer (Indian cottage cheese) and fenugreek leaves in a creamy sauce. It is served along with roti or anyIndian breads. This is a simple recipe and can be prepared quickly for a party or for everyday dinner or lunch. Whenever I go to the Indian store, I don’t forget to pick a bunch of methi or fenugreek leaves. I love to make some methi dal or a gravy for my roti and rice. It has a lot of medicinal values and is nutritious. Enjoy the curry with roti or phulkas. Preparation time: 40 minutes No. of servings: 5 to 6 Spice level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Chopped onions – 2 cups Puree from 2 big roma tomatoes Fresh methi leaves (Fresh fenugreek leaves) – 3 cups Fried paneer...
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Spicy Poondu Kuzhambu (Spicy Garlic Curry)
This is my mom’s signature dish and a favorite for everyone in my family. She makes it almost every other weekend for us and it gets over fast. If you are looking for a simple and spicy kuzhambu recipe, then you are at the right place. You can serve this dish with rice as well as dosa/idli. It stays good for upto a week in the refrigerator. Mix a couple of tablespoon of this kuzhambu with rice along with a tsp of sesame oil and serve it with papad. Preparation time: 60 minutes No. of servings: 8 to 10 Spice level: 4 out of 5 Ingredients: Garlic pods – 3/4 cup Medium size eggplants (Indian eggplant) – 4 Tamarind – one lemon size Coriander seeds – 2 tsp Dry red chilies – 5 to 6 Channa dal – 1...
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Eggless Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Happy Republic Day to all our Indian readers… Today India is celebrating its 63rd Republic day. 26th of January is one of the three national holidays in India. It reminds me of my school days. My friends and I will be waiting for the flag to be hoisted so that they distribute sweets and candies. And then the cultural programs and other activities… Wow! those are wonderful memories. Okay, coming back to the present…today I have baked an Indian flag themed eggless chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. This is simple and moist and a perfect eggless cake. I hope you all try this recipe at home and enjoy. Here yo go… Preparation time: 80 minutes No. of servings: 12 Ingredients: All purpose flour – 1 and 1/2 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder – 1/2 cup Sugar – 1 and...
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Fusilli with Spinach and Arugula Pesto
Fusilli is spiral shaped pasta and is widely used . I have made a Spinach Arugula Pesto inspired by Giada’s Spicy Pesto. I have tweaked it according to my taste and it was creamy and delicious. If you like it more spicy add more jalapenos. I blanched spinach and arugula since I thought I may not like the raw taste of it and I was right. You can also add some basil leaves if you have. You can avoid cheese and use brown rice pasta to make it healthy. I hope you all like this dish. Preparation time: 40 minutes No. of servings: 5 to 6 Spice level: 2 out of 5 Ingredients: Arugula – 1 and 1/2 cups Spinach – 2 cups Avocado – 1 One and half jalapeno pepper with seeds (adjust to taste) Sun dried tomatoes –...
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How to make Yogurt or Curd?
Yogurt is produced by fermentation of milk using curd culture. Making curd or yogurt at home is really simple. You can also get fresh yogurt without any additives and can save some bucks. Yogurt is nutritious and try to add a small portion of yogurt in your meal everyday. Step by step procedure for making yogurt at home. Before that, the main ingredient is curd culture. Try to use home made curd for fermenting milk. Once I tried to make curd from store bought yogurt and it turned out sticky and not upto the mark. So I would always prefer home made yogurt as culture. To prepare around 32 oz of yogurt, you need 48 oz or 1.4 liter of milk. Boil milk in a thick bottomed sauce pan over medium heat. Remove from heat and let it become warm. Transfer...
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Hummus Recipe (Simple Chickpeas Dip)
Hummus is a popular Middle Eastern dip generally served along with Pita Bread. It is a simple and delicious appetizer made with cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans), Tahini paste (sesame paste), garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and salt. It can also be served with Falafel, flat bread, tortilla chips, fresh or partially steamed veggies, etc. You can always alter the recipe according to your taste. Say you can add more lemon juice or garlic if you like it tangy or garlicky. You can also make it more exciting by adding Jalapenos or olives or sun dried tomatoes, etc. I have added pickled jalapenos to my hummus since I like it spicy. Try this recipe at home and let me know your comments. Preparation time: 20 minutes Yield: 2 1/2 to 3 cups Ingredients: Boiled chickpeas – 2 cups (or one...
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Tomato Dal – Lentil and Tomato Soup
Tomato dal is a simple and tasty lentil dish popular in South India. It is a healthy, gluten free and protein rich dish and complements roti and rice. Also, Wish you all a Happy Thiruvathirai and Arudhra Darshan… You can check the recipe for Thiruvathirai Kali, which is the traditional dish for today. Ingredients: Toor dal – 1 cup Asafoetida – a pinch Oil – 1 tbsp Mustard seeds – 1 tsp Urad dal – 1 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Curry leaves – 5 to 6 Dry red chilies – 2 Garlic cloves – 5 Chopped ginger – 1 tsp Green chilies – 4 Finely chopped onions – 1/2 cup Large tomatoes – 2 Method of preparation: Pressure cook dal with a tsp of oil, a pinch of asafoetida and salt until cooked and slightly mashed. Heat oil in...
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Carrot Methi Thogayal – Carrot and Green Chutney
Carrot Methi Thogayal – Carrot Fenugreek leaves Chutney is a simple and tasty dish which I made recently. You can serve this as a side with white rice and curry or sambar/rasam. You can also mix it with white rice and eat it with papad or chips. I wanted to prepare something quick and tasty for lunch and my friend told me about this recipe which she tried from Sailusfood. Now this has become one of our favorite. Here you go… Preparation time: 25 minutes No. of servings: 5 Spice level: 2.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Oil – 2 tsp Mustard seeds – 1 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Channa dal – 1 tbsp Urad dal – 1 tbsp Dry red chili – 4 Garlic cloves – 4 Green chilies – 2 Shredded carrot – 2 cups Fresh...
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Cake Pops
We wish all our readers a Happy and Wonderful New Year 2012…May this year bring you joy and prosperity… Cake pops are the cutest and delicious baked food I have eaten. Today I have made a white cake batter and baked it into cake pops and then I dipped them in white and milk chocolate and decorated using simple techniques. This recipe is about making cake pops using the Cake Pop Maker that I bought recently during the Thanksgiving. It’s a Bella Cake Pop Maker for $8.99 after a $10 rebate from Macy’s and I would say it was a great buy. Like everyone, I was not sure how the cake pops are going to turn up but after seeing the results, I was amazed. The pops were moist and soft and it was very easy and quick to...
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Karamani Poriyal – Yard Long Bean Stir Fry
This is a simple stir fry and can be served with rice and also as a dry subzi with roti. Yard long beans are good source of protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, phosphorus, and potassium, and a very good source for vitamin C, folate, magnesium and manganese. This is a tasty and nutritious vegetable but most of us seldom cooks it. I am going to be a regular user of this vegetable from now on. You can simply blanch this vegetable and add it to your curries or stir fry. Ingredients: Karamani or long beans – 1 lb (1/2 kg) Oil – 2 tsp Mustard seeds – 1 tsp Urad dal – 1 tsp Few curry leaves Shredded coconut – 3 tbsp Ginger – 1/2 inch piece Garlic cloves – 3 Fennel seeds – 1 tsp Dry red chilies...
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