28 April 2014

VEG QUICHE WITH WHOLE WHEAT CRUST

Such savory goodies enlightens my SH's mood wen he's upset.. Yup.. my FIL was hospitalized and is on dialysis which has put the whole family in down mood.. Now he's fine n hes better.. so is the reliever.. To change the scenario i baked tis partially vegan quiche with some leftover veggies.. 

I took reference of many recipes mainly from here and there.. This is my first attempt and i kind of succeeded and my quiche came perfectly clean out from the tart tin..but i was in a hurry so could not click pics outside off..

The next time i will def replace eggs n cheese .. n go for a complete vegan version.. Served it warm with ice cold cranberry tea.. (ice cold term reminds me of Mr.Nagesh for his comedy in panchathanthiram movie whr he loves the ice cold coffee n i love his acting) 

What you need for pastry:
Whole wheat flour - 1 cup + extra for dusting
Olive oil – 2 tbsp
Cold water - 1-2 tablespoons
Salt - a small pinch

What you need for the filling:
Mixed veggies – 1 cup, (Broccoli n 3 colored Bell peppers) sliced
Onion – ½ no, sliced
Egg - 1 no, whisked
Processed Cheese – 1 cup
Milk - 2/3 cups
Dried Italian herds - 2 tsp
Red chilli flakes – ½ tsp
Garlic powder – ½ tsp
Onion powder – ½ tsp
Salt - a pinch
Black Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp

How to make the Pastry:
In a bowl add flour, salt and mix well add olive oil mix it it will look like bread crumbs slowly add water and make into dough wrap it and refrigerator for 30 mins.

How to make the filling:
Preheat the oven to 220 C for 15 minutes. Add whisked egg in a bowl add milk, pepper, herbs, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and mix well. Roll the dough until 1/8 inch thick and place on tart tin and shape them.

Layer the tarts with grated cheese and pour the mixture. Bake it for 45 minutes or till the knife inserted into the center of the tart pan comes out clean.

25 April 2014

MAMBAZHA PULISSERY

It's officially mango season and so trying out seasonal recipes is a must.. one such recipe which i longed to try was this mango pulissery aka kalan.. A typical Kerala recipe from here..authentically prepared with mild spices..

SH hates Tanjavur morkuzhambu which is often prepared at home. Had loads of sour curd at home and he wanted me to try morkuzhambu with diff variation.. This recipe was apt and SH loved it and making it second time in a row in 2 days.. Yup i found his taste bud.. I never thot fruit wld go so well in a spicy gravy..
What you need:
Ripe Mango - 2 nos, skin peeled and chopped
Turmeric  powder - 1/4 tsp
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
Crushed black pepper - 1/4 tsp 
Fenugreek powder - 1/4 tsp
Coconut oil - 2 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Red chillies - 2 nos
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Salt as reqd

To grind to smooth paste:
Coconut - 1/2 cup
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Green chillies - 5 nos
Curd - 2 cups

How to make:
Heat oil in kadai mustard seeds once it cracks add curry leaves, red chillies saute it and add mangoes, turmeric, red chilli, pepper, fenugreek powder, salt mix well. Add half cup water and cook till it softens.

Now add the ground paste and cook in low heat until it comes to a gentle boil now switch it off and serve hot with steamed rice..

23 April 2014

SCHEZWAN VEG HAKKA NOODLES

This is my first attempt in preparing Hakka noodles at home...yaa sersly.. My neighbor gave me a pkt of hakka noodles and reqst me to prepare this for her grand kid who is really a pikky eater.. She had made these noodles many at times and he hasn't liked em and have thrown em off.. The 7 yr had asked his grand mom to req me to cook for him.. yaa he's smelled my cooking i guess(?@?@?@)

Made schezwan hakka veg noodles with store bought sauce (sauces cont from neighbor) and added veggies to make it a complete meal..

Yup the kid was happie n he gulpped it immd.. now m a happie kid too.. I ate the other half portion i cooked for him...heee heee
What you need:
1 packet - Hakka noodles
1 cup - Mixed Veggies (Purple cabbage, Bell peppers, Broccoli n Carrots) chopped
1/4 cup - White parts of spring onions, chopped
3 tbsp - Schezwan sauce
1 tsp - Soy sauce
Dash of green chilli sauce (optional)
2 tbsp - Olive oil
2 tbsp - Spring onions, green parts
Salt as reqd

How to make:
Boil water in a large pan, cook noodles and boil them for 2 mins or aldente and drain it add dash of oil and keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan add onions, veggies stir fry for 2 mins, add the sauces, salt and noodles, mix well and cook for 2 minutes switch off the heat and sprinkle spring onions and serve hot!!

22 April 2014

KARAMANI KAIKARI VENDHAYA KUZHAMBU

Have been shopping deadly for the forth coming vacation n sersly not bothered abt the scorching sun or its after effects.. So grocery n veggies shopping went blank from my mind.. only realized it wen i opened the refrigerator nxt morning to cook.. had to prepare a side dish for the rice but not worthy quantity of veggies was avbl .. so gathered each one from left over covers also dunked some black eyed peas which was left over and made this spicy kuzhambu which was perfect for breakfast n dinner..
What you need:
Karamani - 1/2 cup
Mixed veggies - 1 cup (Plantain, carrot, Sweet potato, Broad beans)
Sesame Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard - 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
Onion - 1 no, chopped
Tomato - 1 no, chopped
Curry leaves - few
Tamarind paste - 1 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Rock salt as reqd

To roast and grind to paste:
Pearl Onion - 4 nos
Green Chillies - 2 nos
Coconut gratings - 1/2 cup
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

To dry roast and ground to powder:
Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp
Raw Rice - 1/2 tsp

How to make:
In a kadai heat oil, add mustard seeds once it splutters add curry leaves, fenugreek seeds roast it add tomatoes cook till it softens then add veggies n karamani, add red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, salt, one cup water and let it boil..

Now add tamarind paste half cup water once it starts boiling, add the paste mix well and add little water and again allow to boil. When the kuzhambu starts boiling well, reduce the heat ad sprinkle fenugreek powder mix well and remove from heat and serve hot with plain rice and curry..

19 April 2014

SWEET POTATO STICKS (Baked) n AVOCADO CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE

Saturday night movies are always my fav part of the week.. The new movie channel ROMEDY NOW has bowled me completely out.. I love to watch rom com's and so is this channel.. There's back to back 2 new movies which i have not watched yet so m all prepped up with some crispies, shake n so is my evening gonna be sooper fun..

Made some sweet potato baked sticks n Avocado chocolate low fat milkshake both these are guilt free except for the chocolate sauce.. that's jus a tbsp..
What you need:
3 nos - Medium sized sweet potatoes, cut as desired
2 tbsp - Olive oil
1 tbsp - Onion powder
1 tsp - Garlic powder
1 tsp - Italian seasonings mixed
1/2 tsp - Red chilli flakes
Red chilli powder - pinch
Pepper powder - pinch
Salt as reqd

How to make:
Preheat the oven at 200 C for 15 mins. In a huge bowl add all the ingredients mix well arrange on a baking tray and bake for 20 mins.

Pour dash of oil n flip it in 10 mins time and bake em until golden brown.

What you need for the milkshake:
1 no - Ripe Avacado, scooped flesh out
1 cup - Low fat milk / Soy milk
1 tbsp - Chocolate sauce
1 tbsp - Organic cane sugar (or ur choice)

How to make:
Blend all together until smooth ans serve chilled!!

17 April 2014

MANGO LEMONADE

Friday morning 9.20 am show .. yaa i don't mind watching my fav author's book made into movie.. 2 states.. enjoyed reading the book hope same with the movie.. I hv started going alone for movies which my SH does not prefer to watch on big screens.. so once the movies trailers are out i question him "are you gonna watch it" if he say's no.. glad i go watch em myself....

It's gonna be sooper hot while i return from the movie so made a pitcher full of my fav mango limeade and refrigerated it..

Mango season is back but the true flavorful n juicy mangoes hv still not reached the market.. Still i can't resist myself from buying em..
What you need:
1 no - Mango, skin peeled and chopped
1 no - Lime juice
2 tbsp - Sabja seeds (soaked over nite in half cup water)
Honey to taste
1 cup - Water
Ice cubes

How to make:
Blend mango piece until smooth in a jar add lime juice, honey, sabja seeds, ice cubes stir well and serve chilled!! 

16 April 2014

100% ORGANIC WHOLE WHEAT BREAD n VEG BREAD UPMA

Everyone's wish is to bake thr own bread n def mine too.. I usually buy wheat bread and recently the bread was stale before its expiry date and this puzzled me.. Went to the shopkeeper and he never accepted after loads of arguments he exchanged it.. This incident made me to finally try my hands on baking bread.. The amount of preservative, improver n regulator used in making one pkt of bread shocked me..

Pitched into the organic shop picked up whole wheat organic flour 5 kgs just Rs.20 higher than the usual branded ones who claim no refined flour is added but tats not wat it is.. n tried em n i succeeded not bad..ehh..

I usually buy bread only to make bread upma and very rarely toast em if my hunger strikes not more than 2 slices.. Got a perfect bread recipe form Dassana she's got amazing recipes..
What you need:
3 cups - Organic whole wheat flour
1 to 1.25 cups - Water
1 tsp instant yeast or ½ tbsp dry active yeast
1 tsp - Salt
1 tbsp - Unrefined cane sugar or regular sugar
2 tbsp - Olive oil
2 tbsp - Yogurt or 1.5 tbsp vinegar
Some milk for brushing the top of the bread
How to make:
In a deep dish add salt, instant yeast, sugar, oil, curd and mix well. Add flour and slowly keep adding water and make into soft dough this will be slightly sticky. Brush some water cover it with kitchen towel and rest for 30 mins.

Now lightly punch n knead the dough make a log of the dough, seam the edges and place it in a greased loaf pan covered for 40 mins and this will give 2nd rise.

Preheat the oven at 220 degrees C for 20 minutes. Bake for 25 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

Remove from the loaf pan and keep it on a wired tray to cool.

How to make Bread upma:
2 cups - Wheat bread
1 cup - Mixed veggies (Carrot, beans, green pepper n broccoli) chopped
1 no - Onion, chopped
2 nos - Tomatoes, chopped
1 no - Green chilli, slit
1/2 tsp - Red chilli powder
Turmeric podwer - gen pinch
Hing - gen pinch
Salt as reqd
2 tbsp - Coriander, chopped
1 tsp - Olive oil

Heat oil saute onions, green chilly well add tomatoes cook till it softens add veggies, red chilli, turmeric, hing, salt and 1/4 cup water and cook till they are nearly done.

Add chopped bread slices mix well switch the stove add coriander and serve hot!!



KOLLU KAIKARI SEVAI (Horsegram mix veg sevai)

The Organic store near my place acquires new ingredients every month.. Sourcing them from the villages are a difficult task and tracking these farmers down south is a bit tedious job coz stocks are limited.. the shop owner did tell me that he travels 20 – 25 days in a month on sourcing such unique grains n millets..n he's glad that organic food awareness has increased and people have become diet conscious.. 

My recent pick was Horsegram sevai.. we love to use horsegram in curries, subzis, rasam n podis.. this sevai was tasty n easy to cook..Made a simply stir fry veggies and added cooked sevai which made a delicious meal by itself.. and made raitha to pair with it.. 
What you need:
1/2 pkt - Instant Horsegram Sevai
1 cup - Vegetables (Bean, carrot, bell peppers n green peas)
1 no - Onion
2 nos – Red chillies
1/2 tsp - Mustard seeds
2 tbsp - Coriander leaves
1 tsp – Olive Oil
Salt as reqd

How to make:
Cook sevai as per instructions and spread it on a plate and allow to cool.

Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds once it splutters add onion, chillies, veggies, salt and stir fry them.

Add chopped coriander and sevai mix it slowly and serve hot!!

15 April 2014

BATANI AMBAT.. Konkani curry

The green peas in the freezer was awaiting my use for couple of weeks.. i can never use green peas when SH is in town.. he hates the fact that i use em in anything n everything except sambar, rasam n kuzhambu..

The moment SH left for his early morning flight around 4 am just rushed up picked the green peas pkt n started to make this simple n yummy curry (mixie running around 4 am and my neighbor did ask me did u sleep last nite?? )which i had for breakfast for dosa and for lunch with rice n for dinner planning to make some phulkas..

A simple Konkani curry in heavenly coconut milk and red chilli paste makes a perfect side for indian bread as well as for rice. Loved this recipe and i enjoyed it thoroughly... 

What you need:
Green Peas - 1 cup
Potato - 1 no, cubed and boiled
Coconut - 1 cup, grated
Red chillies - 8 nos
Onion - 1 no, sliced
Tamarind - 1/2 tsp
Olive oil - 1 tsp
Salt as reqd

How to make:
Heat 1/4 tsp oil fry red chillies and remove it. In a mixer add red chillies, tamarind paste, coconut add 1/4 cup water and grind to smooth paste.

Heat oil in a pan add onions, saute till they turn brown reserve half and add coconut mixture, salt and cook for 3 mins now add boiled potatoes cook in simmer until the gravy comes to boil. 

Now add green peas and cook for another 2 mins switch it off and add fried onions and chopped coriander and serve hot with plain rice..

10 April 2014

FRUIT SARBATH (Pazha sarbath)

Chennai's famous road side pazha sarbath (fruit sarbath) these are sold for max Rs.10 which is kept in huge steel drums and sold by street vendors. Majorly banana is used with some vibrant food color is added but i made use of all the seasonal fruits avbl with no colors. 
What you need for sarbath: 
Mango, Chikku, Ripe Banana - 1 no
Watermelon - 1/2 cup
Pomegranate Kernels - 1/4 cup
Cantaloupe - 1/2 cup
Nannari Syrup - 1/4 cup
Cold Water as reqd

What you need for nannari syrup:
Nannari Roots - 25 gms
Water - 175 ml
Sugar - 125 gms
Lemon - 1 big size

How to make:
Remove the white part in the centre and bring water to boil let it reduce to half and leave it over night and sieve it thru a muslin cloth. 

Add sugar and nannari syrup and allow to boil once it reaches one string add lemon juice boil again and remove from heat, cool and refrigerate for later use.

Mash all the fruits well and bring them together. Add nannari syrup , water mix well and serve cold!

09 April 2014

BEIGNETS - Doughnuts

Beignets are the official state doughnut of Louisiana as per WIKI.. These fried sweet doughnuts with loads of sugar and cinnamon on top makes yummy n delicious snack for a evening with a cup of hot coffee... I usually do not make fried ones but this recipe made me to try em n kutties at my apartment enjoyed these..
 What you need: Recipe from here
1 cup - All purpose flour
1/2 cup - Yogurt
1/4 cup - Butter (melted)
1/4 cup - Water
1/2 tsp - Baking soda
2 tbsp - Castor sugar
1/4 tsp - Salt
Oil for deep frying
Icing sugar

How to make:
In a bowl, mix salt, baking soda, castor sugar and all purpose flour, add butter and mix it to the flour.

Add yogurt and make it to soft dough. Now add water the dough will be sticky, knead until they form a good shape.

Rest it covered for about 2 hours. Roll it out and cut shapes that you desire. Fry them in the hot oil  (on a medium high heat) until they get an even color.

Take them out on a paper towel. Serve with a generous amount of dusting of icing sugar n cinnamon on top.

07 April 2014

KATRALAI NEER MOR (Aloe vera butter milk)

Aloe Vera / Katralai extract is a wonder medicine for both external n internal body. Internal consumption helps in controlling diabetes and blood lipids. It's very rich in antioxidants which cures cardiac diseases. 

Buttermilk with aloe vera makes a perfect body coolant and helps in uterus dis orders and also helps women in aiding supportive functions during there menstrual cycle. 

Tempering is optional but it adds up more flavor. 

What you need:
Aloe vera extract - 1/4 cup
Thick curd - 1 cup
Green chilly - 1 no
Ginger - 1 tsp
Coriander - 2 tsp, Curry leaves - 1 sprig, Mint leaves - 1 tsp
Oil - 1/2 tsp
Mustard - 1/4 tsp
Salt as reqd
Asafoetida gen pinch 

How to make:
Beat the curd with 2 cups water and aloe vera extract until smooth. In a blender add ginger, green chilly, curry leaves, mint, coriander add water and blend till smooth strain it and add it to buttermilk mixture.

Add salt and asafoetida and mix well. Temper with oil, mustard and curry leaves and add to the butter milk. 

Refrigerate and serve chilled!!

Sending this to Tamizhar Samayal Tuesday event.

06 April 2014

SAMAI ADAI KUNUKKU

Leftover adai batter always goes into making paniyaram. Yesterday evening was quizzing wat do i prepare coz i need to sit down to watch the T20 match tis samai rice adai batter popped from the fridge n immd with no second thought made these quickies.. Thoug v lost the match i had nice time munching these..they made perfect crunchy munch with my cup of tea. 
What you need:
Samai Adai Batter - 1 cup
Rice Flour n Gram Flour – 1 tbsp
Onion - 1 no (sliced)
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Asafoetida gen pinch
Salt as reqd 
Oil - to fry

How to make:
Mix all the ingredients except oil and set aside. Heat oil in a pan and drop the batter in reqd shapes and fry until golden brown.

Remove from heat and serve hot with chutney n sauce!!

04 April 2014

RAGI MOR KALI

This is a typical TAMBRAHM dish  a very healthy, comfort meal usually it is prepared with rice flour i preferred it to ragi. They make a perfect afternoon meal lite on tummy..

Maavadu thanni makes a perfect side dish.. but i made karamani (black eyed peas) tomato kurma with tis..
What you need: Recipe inspired from Padhus kitchen
Thick buttermilk - 1 cup (whisked)
Ragi flour - 1/2 cup
Sesame seed Oil - 1 tsp 
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Urad dhal - 3/4 tsp
Red chilli - 2 nos
Green chilli -1 slit
Hing gen pinch
Curry leaves 

How to make:
Heat 1 cup water with salt and allow to boil, reduce to low flame and slowly add ragi flour mix well without any lumps until it turns soft and sticky. Then slowly add buttermilk and mix well again and cook till soft and switch off.

Now heat another kadai, add mustard seeds, urad dal, hing, red chillies and curry leaves.

Add 1/4 cup water to the seasoning. When the water starts boiling, keep to low flame and add the ragi kali again and cook once it starts leaving the sides of the pan transfer it and serve warm with some spicy kuzhambu or maavadi thanni. 

03 April 2014

NANNARI PAAL (Milk)

The perfect body coolant and a blood purifier much reqd during this summer. This drink is famous in down south villages. Sarsaparilla / Nannari a fragrant herb which naturally cools the body and also helps in stomach heat related issues. 

Usually sharbat is made with naannari, try this milk for a change and you can find the refreshment in your body during extreme heat!!
 What you need:
Nannari syrup - 1/4 cup (prepared fresh at home)
Milk - 1 cup (Boiled and cooled)
Brown Sugar / Naatu Sakkarai - 1 tsp 
Dry Ginger powder / Sukku podi - 1/2 tsp
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp

How to make:
Prepare nannari syrup by soaking 25 grams nannari root in water wash it off  and boil in 1 cup water and let it reduce to half cup and then sieve in a muslin cloth and the syrup is ready.

To serve add 1/4 cup nannari syrup, 1 cup warm milk, dry ginger powder, brown sugar, cardamom powder mix well and enjoy the refreshing drink!

FOXTAIL MILLET / THINAI ARISI PODI UTHAPPAM

In recent times the number of shops only selling dosa / idli batter have multiplied so much...I buy them very rarely if i am really not well and i dont want to eat out.. 

If its going to be idli / dosa / adai / paniyaram it will only be millet related and no rice.. Millets are high in fiber and nutritious and i love em n by no chioce my SH too.. The ORGANIC rack at the super market is where i finish most of my grocery shopping..So i try diff options for breakfast wit the same batter..This is one such variation ..Foxtail millet with horsegram chilli powder drizzled onion uthappam!! 
What you need:
Thinai / Foxtail Millet - 3 cups
Urad dhal - 1 cup
Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp

How to make:
Wash and soak millet with fenugreek and urad dal seperately for 5 hrs. Grind both separately to smooth batter add salt and mix them and let it ferment for 4 hrs.

What you need for Kollu podi: Recipe from Uma's Kitchen experiments
Kollu / Horse gram - 1 cup
Urad dhal - 1/4 cup
Black pepper - 2 tbsp
Dry red chillies - 10 nos 
Asafoetida - 1/4 teaspoon
Salt - to taste

How to make:
In a pan, dry roast dry red chilli and black pepper, urad dhal, horse gram seperately until they turn golden brown. Allow to cool and powder them, add salt, asafoetida and pulse it again.

Allow to cool and store in an air tight container.

How to prepare uthappam:
Heat a tawa, pour the batter and spread it drizzle chopped onions, chillies, coriander n kollu podi and cook on medium heat. Once the uthappam gets cooked, remove.

Serve hot with onion chutney, glass of buttermilk and make your morning breakfast healthy!!

02 April 2014

CAKE POPS

It was my neighbor's daughters birthday and so wanted to surprise her with these mini cute cake pops.. The whole bunch of kutties in my apartment were surprised that it was not a chocolate on a stick n it was a cake.. Those bright smiles made my work accomplished!!

For this month's Home Baker's Challenge, a monthly baking event, the host of this month is Pallavi Purani from Thou Shalt Cook gave wonderful baking options n i chose the quick one to bake, crumble, coat n sprinkle n jus gulp it..CAKE POPS..
What you need:
2 cups - Cake (crumbled - Eggless Vanilla Sponge Cake)
Milk as reqd
1 cup - Semi Sweet chocolate 
Sprinkles of your choice
Lolly pop sticks / Ice cream Sticks

How to make:
In a bowl add crumbled cake and mix with very little milk and form into a tight dough and make them into balls.

On a double boiler melt the chocolate until it is of a pouring consistency; insert in the cake ball in the stick.

Tip the bowl of chocolate slightly and roll the cake ball carefully. Keep moving the stick in circular motion so as to remove the excess chocolate. Decorate as you like and refrigerate until set and enjoi!!!