Bhadang

I remembered seeing this recipe in Nupur's blog - One Hot Stove.It looked somewhat similar to the Masal Pori that I often make with a few changes. I prepared Nupur's version for Flavors of Maharasthtra hosted here.

I used :

Puffed rice - 4 cups
Roasted peanuts- a handful
Roasted gram - a handful [I added it by force of habit]
Raisins - a handful
Curry leaves- a few
Garlic- 4 cloves, lightly crushed
Mustard seeds -1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder- a pinch
Red chili powder - 1 teaspoon
Sugar - 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Oil- 1 teaspoon

1. In a large pan, heat oil
2. Add mustard, cumin seeds, curry leaves 
3. When the cumin and mustard crackle, add garlic and saute for a minute
4. Add the turmeric powder , red chili powder, sugar and salt and saute for a few seconds.
5. Put in the puffed rice,roasted groundnut, roasted gram dal and stir well to mix.Keep stirring till the puffed rice is well coated with the spices.
6. Remove from heat and cool
7.  Serve as a snack with tea / coffee

 Store in air tight container if not serving immediately.

Bon Appetit...

Changes In The Body During Pregnancy - 3

Apart from the changes we saw in the last couple of posts, here are the rest of them...

6. Backaches : This is a common complaint in most woman.The growing uterus puts a strain on your back muscles and changes the posture.Also the weight gained during pregnancy adds to the trouble...

• Ask your Doctor / health educator to teach you some exercises that strengthen the back.
• Improper sitting positions will worsen the situation.Use a small pillow for your back if you have to sit and work for long hours.Sit with your back straight and don't slouch.
• Do not cross legs while sitting on a chair.
• Bend your legs and touch the ground if you have to pick up something from the floor.Don't bend directly.
• While sleeping, lie to the side and place a pillow between your legs.
• Do not stand for too long
• Do not wear high heeled shoes.Switch too a flat soled one once you find out that you are pregnant.
• Do not lift heavy objects
• Go for small walk

7.Lower abdomen pain : As the baby grows in the womb, the uterus expands and ligaments around the uterus are stretched.This may be seen as lower abdominal pains , sharp pain in the abdomen, dull aches.This is usually felt in the second trimester or later

• Resting helps relive the pain.
• Shift positions slowly.
• If you feel the abdomen pain is due to something that you ate, plan your meal such that it is not heavy , oily , spicy.
• Drink plenty of fluids
• A warm bath may be helpful

If you have abdomen pain that persists consult your Doctor immediately as it is a sign of ectopic pregnancy where the pregnancy takes place outside the uterus and is a life threatening situation.Miscarriage / pre-term labor may be a cause. If the abdomen pain is accompanied with spotting / dizziness / fever rush to the hospital.

8.Hemorrhoids : this is a condition where the veins of the rectum swell and become painful.This occurs in women who are constipated.When straining during bowel evacuation, this condition may worsen.Hemorrhoids usually disappear after the baby is born.

• Eat a high fiber diet
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Do not strain during the bowel movement.
• Gently clean the affected area after  each bowel movement with a soft unscented soap.
• Try using wet wipes to clean the area. 
• Ice packs covered with a soft cloth helps.
• Do not take any medication without your Doctor's advise.

9. Indigestion : It is also referred to as Heartburn.This  has nothing to do with the heart though. It is a condition where there is a burning sensation in the stomach and it rises up till the throat.It occurs when the digested food from the stomach,which contain acid, is pushed upwards from the stomach.The reasons may be due to the hormonal changes in the body, slow digestion and the muscle that normally prevents the digested food from returning back relaxes.

• Eat small meals at frequent intervals instead of large heavy meals
• Avoid drinking too much water during meals
• Its better to avoid spicy and oily foods stuffs
• Caffeine , chocolate alcohol should be avoided.
• Try some simple home remedy like Jeeraga kashayam - a simple concoction made from cumin seeds.
• Ask your Physician if antacids can be taken

10. Nose bleeds : This occurs in very few women during the 2nd / 3rd trimester.The membranes in the nose dry out and bleed easily.This may be accompanied by a stuffy nose.

• Use a gentle lubricant around the nostrils.Ask the doctor first before you use one.
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Use a humidifier in your room , especially at night.
• Avoid blowing your nose too hard if you catch a cold
• Use a soft tissue / a wet tissue to wipe your nose
• If nose bleeds occur often and do not stop within 10 minutes of occurrence talk to your Doctor.

11.Insomnia : As the abdomen gets larger, it becomes difficult to fall asleep. Also the anxiety of labor and thoughts of coping up with the new born and other worries often give a sleepless night for expectant moms.

• A warm bath before going to bed helps.
• Drink warm milk / warm beverages before sleeping
• If you can't sleep on the bed, try a reclining chair
• Listen to soft music
• Read a book
• A small walk in the evening might help 
• Try to divert your mind from worries and think of something happy and pleasant.
• If none of these help, then better talk to your Doctor.

12.Shortness of breath : This usually occurs in the third trimester when the abdomen gets bigger.The uterus is growing in size and squeezes all the other organs in the abdominal activity.It pushes the digestive organs up till the lungs.This limits the capacity of the lungs to expand fully and causes shortness of breath.This stage passes once the baby is delivered.

• Move / work around slowly so that the heart and lungs don't have to work too hard
• Sit up straight so that there is more room for the lung
• Do some breathing exercises

13. Numb / tingling sensation : As the uterus grows, it rests on some nerves that lead to the legs.Pressure on these nerves may cause a numb/ tingling sensation.This condition reverses once the baby is born and is usually not considered serious.

• Do some light stretching exercise after consulting your health care provider.
• If the numbness spread to the face rush to the hospital.

Disclaimer :This is not a medical advise. Please consult your Physician if you have any doubts / persistent health problems.

That's all for today folks.See you really soon with another topic on pregnancy ...

Healthy living.....

No Bake Oats Cookies For Taste & Create

For this month's edition of Taste and Create, I was paired with
Shelby Mae who blogs at The Life and love of Grumpy's Honeybunch.She has a nice blog with a lot of baked goods and of course there are other recipes as well. I had book marked a couple of recipes but this one attracted me a lot and made it for Lil Angel.

Are you wondering what a fork is doing in a cookie photo???The recipe says we get cookies at the end but I got something like a chewy fudge.The taste was great though and we all loved it.Since it was fudgy, I placed a fork for the picture.I had a couple of pieces left and stored it in an air tight container.The next day the fudge had transformed into a cookie!!!! So this is kind of 2 in 1 recipe :)


Now to the recipe.....

The recipe used unsweetened coconut and all I had was coconut flakes [ sweetened].

So I reduced the quantity of sugar a little and used crushed coconut flakes.

I used:Original recipe is here

Quick cooking oats - 2 cups
Butter -75 grams
Cocoa powder - 1 tablespoon
Sugar-3/4 cup [ add more if you want it sweeter]
Milk- 1 cup + a little more if needed
Crunchy peanut butter - 2 tablespoons [You can also use smooth peanut butter]
Coconut flakes, crushed- 1/4 cup
Salt a pinch

1. Heat milk , cocoa powder, butter, sugar in a pan.Bring it to boil and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat or till you come to a soft ball stage.[Keep a small bowl with water near the stove and after 10 minutes drop a little of this mixture into the water.If the syrup forms a soft ball when dropped into water the mixture is ready.]
2. Simmer and quickly add peanut butter, oats and coconut.Mix well.
3. Cook for a couple of minutes and the mixture will come together.
4. If its too thick add a little more milk and stir to mix.
5. Spread on a greased plate and mark squares with a greased knife.
6. Let it cool before breaking the squares.

You can also drop spoonfuls on a wax paper and wait for it to set.

As I mentioned earlier, if you let it sit longer it gets a little harder so that it can be called a cookie.But I don't think it is possible to resist until then :)

Taste and Create is a food community where we are paired with another blogger and we get to taste and create the recipes from the partner's blog.Would you like to join us?Then check out how it works page and register yourself for the next month's edition.Hope to see you in the next months Taste and Create list :)

This also goes to Dr.Sameena's Oats recipe event.

This day That Year...

2010 - Thakkali / Tomato Rasam

2009 - Pheni

Bon Appetit...

Changes In The Body During Pregnancy - 2

In my previous post, I had written about 2 topics - fatigue and headache / dizziness.This post will see some of the other changes.

3.Nausea and Vomiting : This condition is famously referred to as ' Morning Sickness'.Though it is called morning sickness it may occur at any part of the day.Morning sickness may be due to the hormonal changes in the body.The stomach empties slower than usual due to hormonal changes.Nausea and vomiting may be aggravated by emotional stress and fatigue.

Morning sickness is usually severe during the first trimester and later subsides.Some women have this throughout the pregnancy .A lucky few do not experience this at all!

In rare cases,this condition may be so severe that it affects the food intake of the woman and hence she becomes under nourished and dehydrated and is not able to gain weight.This condition is called hyperemesis gravidarum.

There is a misconception that if you experience morning sickness you are likely to miscarry!This is however not true and the presence of morning sickness shows that the pregnancy is proceeding in the right direction.The only time to be alarmed is when you have hyperemesis gravidarum and at that time don't hesitate to consult the Doctor.

How to combat morning sickness:

• When you get up, eat a small piece of toast or a cracker.Dry foods tend to lower the incidence/ frequency of morning sickness.
• Take adequate rest.
• Some women find certain smell displeasing even though those smells did not affect them earlier.Anyways, if those smells are intolerable avoid them if they aggravate nausea.
• Do not take any medication on your own.The Doctor may prescribe some tablets that are safe for you and the baby in case the condition gets worse.
• To avoid getting dehydrated keep a bottle of home made ginger- lemon juice.Sip a little once in a while.
• Avoid spicy , oily and heavy foods.These take a longer time to digest and hence may aggravate the condition.
• Similarly avoid being on an empty stomach for a long time.Keep nibbling on some food stuff often.It is wise to eat 5-6 small meals a day.
• Snack on high protein foods.
• Some women find smelling on a  piece of freshly shaved ginger / lemon reduces the nauseated feeling.
• Others find acupressure / acupuncture techniques helpful.But be sure to consult your Doctor before you start anything.

The main point to be remembered is that morning sickness will usually pass off after the first trimester.Even though it is an unpleasant experience, it is a happy reminder that you are pregnant...

4.Urinary frequency : The uterus increases in size and the kidney is processing more fluids so that's the reason for frequent urination.It may also be because the body begins producing a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Some women experience urine leeks when they cough , sneeze or laugh.This may be due to the fact that the uterus as it grows in size to accommodate the foetus,presses against the bladder.This situation usually changes after the first trimester when the uterus grows out of the pelvic cavity.

How to cope up :

• Urinate as often as needed.Don't skimp on drinking fluids and don't hesitate to go to the rest room as often as needed.
• If urine is with-held for longer duration, it will lead to urinary tract infection.So empty the bladder once you feel the urge.
• You a pantie liner in case there are urine leaks.

5.Breast tenderness : The increase in the production of hormones - estrogen and progesterone causes changes in the breasts.The breasts may feel heavy, sore or there may be a tingling feeling.The body is now gearing up to feed the baby once it is born.

 How to cope up :

• Use a supportive bra which is made of a soft breathable material.
• Some find that a hot bath relives them of the problem while others prefer to use an ice pack.
• Do not take any medication to relieve you of the heaviness without consulting the Doctor.
• Talk to your doctor / health educator if this problem persists and you find it hard to cope up with .

There is still more to read.Do come back again....

Disclaimer : This is not a medical advise.In case you have some doubts / persistent health issues please talk to your Doctor...

This day That year...

2010 - Hummus , Coconut fruit smoothie and Kolokythakia Tiganita - Batter fried Zucchini.

2009 - Wheat Rawa Idli

Healthy Living...

Cakes and Pastries - Book Review

What would you call yourself if you find yourself with a book filled with a step by step guide to cake decoration using ready made sponges?I call myself very lucky.I don't have an oven and am planning to buy one in the near future .I got this book years ago[2 to be exact].I have always admired and craved to make some cakes at home.That's when I found this book on the list of books to choose from while subscribing to be a member at Tarla's site.

This book made my dream come true.It offers a step by step guide to easy cake decoration using ready made sponges.This book makes it clear that we need to have a good hand on the basics of cake decoration so that the we can get more creative.So it explains all the techniques,ingredients and instruments needed.

Though one needs a lot of patience and experience in decorating cakes,this book has the ingredients,equipments all listed with a brief description and picture so that its all the more easy to follow and practice.

There are basic recipes for sponge cakes using condensed milk,oil,curds,microwave method,fat less sponge cakes,rich sponge cakes with eggs.There is also a section dealing with the cake defects.

Each and every recipe has a step by step pictorial description that makes it very easy to understand.

Some interesting cakes featured in the book are Kitkat cake,Strawberry hide and seek,Exotic fruit cake,Death by chocolate pastry,Molten brownie.

A must buy for anyone who loves to bake and decorate cakes!!

At a glance

Book -Cakes & pastries [Click link to buy from amazon]

Author - Tarla Dalal

Publisher - Sanjay & Co.

No. of Pages -95


No. of Recipes -22 recipes + a lot on basics to cake decoration.

Price -Rs.250/-

Please note that I have not been paid to write this review.

Happy Browsing...




   

Changes In The Body During Pregnancy - 1

This category has been silent for longer than intended.Finally I had time to actually sit and write this post.Today we shall see the changes that take place in the body during pregnancy.

From the time of conception,even before you really realize that you are pregnant, the body undergoes several changes .When I say changes, I am going to talk about the changes in the mothers body and later in my next post will deal about the changes the lil one undergoes inside mommy's tummy from conception till birth.

Pregnancy typically lasts for 40 weeks counting from the first day of the woman's last menstrual cycle.This duration is divided into 3 parts which are called Trimesters.During each trimester the body undergoes certain changes.Changes are not only physical as the pregnant woman may experience some emotional changes too.

1.Fatigue : Most women feel tired than usual during the early days of pregnancy / first trimester.This may be due to the hormone levels that are raising in the body preparing you for the motherhood. The other reasons may be that your body is producing more blood to carry the nutrients to the fetus.The heart tries to cope with with the extra blood flow and quickens the pulse.The body also changes its way of using the nutrients like carbohydrates, water, protein , fat etc and all these together compound to the fatigue you may experience.

Apart from all these stuffs going on inside the body, emotions too play a role in causing fatigue.Certain feelings like how to accommodate the new born into the family / caring for it / looking for a care giver / do you need to continue the job now and later after the baby is born / anxiety of  labor / concern of the expenses that will be incurred / your health post delivery etc, may cause more worry even though you and your partner may be over joyed at the prospect of being pregnant.These feelings , worries and concerns are quite normal even though you have planned the pregnancy and it shall soon pass off.

How to combat fatigue

• Try to take rest as much as possible.If you are working take a few days off or work from home.
• Don't feel shy or ashamed to sleep for long hours or be in bed the whole day.Feeling sleepy in the first trimester is only natural as your body requires the rest.
• In case you can't take a few days off work be sure to get back home straight from work.Avoid shopping / partying after work hours as it will increase the fatigue and you will feel worn out before you reach home.

Exercise is one way getting the energy back.Exercise does not mean working out in the gym for a few hours. A small walk around your house will do.If you don't have the stamina to walk during the first few months of pregnancy,just take it easy.You can always go for a walk when you are feeling better.Please remember to consult your Physician before you start any exercise ,even if its walking.

Eat the right amount of food with the right nutrients.In other words, a well balanced diet is essential.Though you may not feel hungry try to eat as nutritious as possible.Fatigue will be accentuated if you are anemic.Discuss your diet with your Doctor or Dietitian.

Avoid drinking too much of fluids after dinner.This will disturb your much needed sleep as you will have to make frequent trips to the rest room at night.During the day it is wise to drink a variety of liquids to keep yourself hydrated especially if you are prone to the vomiting that occurs in the first trimester.

2.Headaches and Dizziness : For some women, dizziness may be the first symptom of pregnancy.The uterus swells and it compresses arteries in the legs. This drops the blood pressure and make you dizzy. Other reasons may include hunger, stress and fatigue.

The frequency and severity of the headache will vary from person to person.It may not be experienced by some!

Headaches and dizziness may be due to the circulatory or hormonal changes in the body.But if it is persistent it is always wise to consult the Doctor.So if there is a migraine like headache that does not reduce in intensity and there are frequent fainting spells don't hesitate to rush to the hospital.

Though headaches and dizziness is common during pregnancy, head ache / dizziness followed by vaginal bleeding / severe abdominal pain may be related to ectopic pregnancy.Ectopic pregnancy is a condition where the pregnancy takes place outside the uterus and it is a life threatening situation for the mom and medical attention has to be sought as soon as possible.

Also see the Doctor if there is blurring of vision accompanied with headache.

How to combat headache / dizziness:

If the headache and dizziness is due to the normal changes that take place due to pregnancy here is what you can do...

• Try to reduce stress in your life.Though this may be hard, its one of the ways to reduce the frequency of headaches.
• Relax in a quite place with your eyes closed and think of something nice or someone you love.If you know 'yoga nidra' practice it.[I will write about this in a later stage]
• Eat well and get the required sleep and rest.
• If you cannot cope up with the stress in your work environment, talk to your senior or your colleagues and try to find a solution.During this period friends and subordinates will be more considerate than ever.
• Do not take pain killers or any other medications to relieve you of head ache.Even though it was safe for you to have taken them prior to pregnancy, it may not be safe now.Certain medicines causes damage to the lil one inside the tummy.Be sure to ask your Doctor for medication before you take them.
• If you feel dizzy while getting out of bed or when you stand up after sitting for a long time, try to do it slowly.That is, rise from bed slowly.Sit on the cot for a few minutes before standing up.
• Maintain your blood sugar.Low blood sugar also causes dizziness.Keep some snacks / dry fruits and healthy snacks  handy to overcome low blood sugar.If you feel dizziness is due to low blood sugar immediately pop in a candy / chocolate.

There are several more points to be discussed.Since this post is getting lengthy, I will continue the remaining in the forth coming posts so be sure to check back...

Disclaimer : This is not a  medical advise.In case you have some doubts / persistent health issues please talk to your Doctor...

Healthy Living...

Refreshing Minty Treats

Here is the roundup for my event 'Herbs and flowers in my platter' which started off with the theme - Mint.Thanks a bunch for your participation.We have 36 delicious ways to use mint in our dishes...

Whenever I see mint the first dish that comes to my mind is the chutney / thokku..So starting this roundup with the different types of chutnies that can be made with mint....

1.Vidya of The V Kitchen - Mint Chutney

2.Akila of Learning-to-cook - Pudhina Thogayal/Mint Chutney

3.Radhika of Tickling Palates - Pudhina / Mint Thokku

4.Kurinji of Kurinji Kathambam - Mint Chutney

5.Raji of My diary of good food - Green Mango and Mint Chutney

6.Shveta Hora of Shveta's Recipes - Mint-Cilantro chutney (Green Chutney)

7.Krithi of Krithi's Kitchen - Mint Onion Chutney

8.Meenakshi of Ponderings of a Working Mom - Mint Chutney

9.Coriander mint chutney for chaats from my kitchen

Next comes the spread of delicious mint flavored rice dishes...

10.Kurinji of Kurinji Kathambam - Mint Pulao

11.Richa of  Ambrosia - Pudina brown rice

12.Denny of Oh Taste n See- Edamame mint pulao
13.Akila of Learning-to-cook - Cauliflower Briyani

14.Sunitha.J of Sunitha's Kitchen - Mushroom Biriyani

15.Rekha of Plantainleaf [Andhra recipes]- Mint rice

16.Kamakshi Prasanna of Kamu's Kaivannam - Mint rice with Chickpeas

17.Nandini of Nandini's Food Page - Mint Rice

18.Kaveri of Palakkad Chamayal - Pudina Rice

19.Minty Peas Pulao from my kitchen

Then comes these minty parathas...

20.Denny of Oh Taste n See-Minty Cottage cheese paratha

21,22.Priya of Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes - Mint Barley Parathas and Flax seeds mixed green parathas

23.Nivedita of Nivedita's Kitchen -Minty Cheese Paratha

Who can say 'No' to vegetables cooked in a minty sauce!!

24.Krithi of Krithi's Kitchen - Minty Mushroom curry

25.Kankana from Sunshine & Smile - Pudina Aalu/ Minty Potatoes

Minty snacks are always welcome with tea / coffee....

26.Kalva of Curry In Kadai - Spicy vegetable hearts

27.Savitha Ramesh of Savitha's Kitchen - Paani Poori

28.Vidya of Vegetarian delicacies - Mint Ambode

29.Deeksha of Dee's Kitchen - Mint hot potato chaat

30.Mangocheeks of Allotment 2 kitchen - Beetroot - mint tea cakes

31.Gayathri of Gayathri's cookspot - Mini mint rolls

32.Denny of Oh Taste n See -Cucumber Sandwiches

33.Archana of The Mad Scientist's Kitchen - Pani Pooris or Gol Gappas

After indulging in all these goodies, its time to chill out...

34.Hima of SnackORama - Ginger mint flavored lemon juice

35,36.Priya of Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes - Mango Buttermilk and Sugar free mint kiwi juice

That brings us to the end of the roundup.Incase I have missed any entry,please let me know so that I can include it here.

This month's edition is guest hosted by Krithi of Krithi's Kitchen with the theme - Coriander/ Cilantro.Do send in your entries...

In case you are interested to host a herb / flower in your blog, drop me a line and I will fill you with the details...

Happy Cooking...

Suruttai Poli For ICC

I am really late this month in posting the recipe for Indian Cooking Challenge.Though the recipe was given to us long back, I kept postponing the preparation and then I took a blogging break.Now that I am back, I made decided to make it today.

Suruttai Poli is the chosen recipe for this month's challenge which was Nitya's suggestion.It is one of the sweet dishes traditional to South India.The process looked very simple and the only hitch was to stuff and roll the fried poori as soon as it is taken off the oil.I was sure to burn my fingers and I did...

I have tasted this earlier without the stuffing and was eager to know how this one would turn out.My parents were the first to try it and it was appreciated.Next I tried it and it was really very tasty and better than the ones I had tasted years back without the stuffing.

Overall,this recipe takes around 1 hour from start to finish.The time consuming factor is when you have to leave the dough to rest for 30 minutes and then roll it out into flat discs and leave it aside for around 10 minutes before you fry them.Other than this, its an easy breezy recipe.

Here is the method...

I used:

Maida  / All Purpose Flour - 1/2 cup
Salt - a pinch
Oil  for frying

For stuffing:

Roasted gram / Pottukadalai - 1/4 cup

Sugar - less than 1/4 cup
Almond flakes - 20
Cardamom powder - 2 pods
Grated coconut - 1 tablespoon
Ghee - 1 tsp

1.In a bowl, take maida and salt.

2.Add water little by little and knead to a firm dough.Let it rest for half an hour.

3. Pinch out small balls and roll out into thin discs.Dust a little flour if needed.

4. Leave the rolled out discs to dry a little - for 10 minutes.

5.Meanwhile get the ingredients together for the stuffing.

6.Powder roasted gram and sugar

7.Heat ghee in a pan and put in almond flakes

8.Roast till brown.Set aside a few for garnishing.Put in the coconut and switch off the flame.Mix well.Remove from pan.Take care not to char the coconut and the nuts.

9.Mix this with the roasted gram-sugar powder,mix well and keep aside.

10. Heat oil for frying.

11. Once the oil is hot, drop a rolled out disc into the oil.

12. This poori/ appalam should not puff up like the regular pooris.There can be small bubbles though.Immediately remove from oil.Also the poori must not turn brown.

13.Spread a little of the filling as soon as the poori is out of the oil.

14.Roll it immediately.Once it cools, the poli will turn crisp.

Arrange the rolled poli in a serving dish and garnish with the reserved almond flakes.

Tasty and crispy Suruttai Poli / Surul Poli is ready to be savored.Take a closer look...

My notes:

• The original recipe calls for cahews.I used almond flakes.
• The almonds in the stuffing gave an extra crunch .
• Small poori's are a little difficult to roll with the stuffing.Hence roll out larger pooris for deep frying.

Thanks a bunch Srivalli for selecting this delicious dish and letting me post it too :)

This day That Year...

2009 - Coriander Paratha

2008 - Bhel Puri

Bon Appetit...

Beetroot Chapathi

I am back after a week long blogging break.If you are trying to guess what I did during this one week,here is the gist.I watched world cup cricket for some time, was glued on to NDTV and CNN catching up with the news of Japan's devastation, took Lil Angel around and most important of all I did not enter the kitchen!

So after this break, here I am with a colorful recipe.After the success with pretty pink pooris, I tried beetroot chapathis.I made a few changes to the pretty pink poori dough.The result was good.Paired with greens stir fry,it was a part of our lunch menu.

I used:


Whole wheat flour - 3 cups
Beetroot- 1,small, peeled
Cumin seeds- 1 teaspoon
Ginger garlic paste- 1 teaspoon
Chilli powder- 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste

1. Roughly chop the beetroot and pressure cook it till soft.Cool and puree without adding water.
2. In a bowl put in all the dry ingredients and mix well.
3. Add the beetroot puree little by little and knead into a firm dough.[Use the quantity that is just sufficient to make the dough.If you have extra puree use it in soups/ gravies.]
4. Pinch out small balls and roll into chapathis.Dust a little wheat flour if it is sticky
5. Cook on a heated griddle till brown spots appear on both sides.Drizzle a little oil if needed.
6. Serve with a side dish of your choice.

This chapathi is ideal to pack for lunch box too...

This day that year...

2010 - Microwave Peppered Capsicum rice

Bon Appetit...

Sprouted Green Gram Fritters | Mulaikattiya Pachaipayaru Vadai

Crunchy munchy snacks are everyones favorite.Lil one enjoys vadai a lot.I had some Sprouted moong dhal at home and was wondering what to do with it.Then came this idea of preparing vadai with it.I followed the same method as the Masal vadai.

I used:

Sprouted moong dhal - 1 cup
Onion- 1 ,finely chopped
Fennel seeds- 1 teaspoon
Ginger garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
Red chilli powder -1/2 a teaspoon
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying

1. Grind the sprouted green gram with very little water.There should still be a few whole green gram even after grinding it so just it in a blender for couple of minutes.
2. Transfer this onto a bowl and add onion, red chilli powder, fennel seeds, ginger garlic paste and salt to taste.
3. Mix well.
4. Heat oil in a pan for deep frying.
5. Roll out small balls and flatten them lightly.
6. Drop them gently into the hot oil and deep fry till golden brown on both side.
7. Drain on absorbant paper.

Serve as a snack with coriander chutney / tomato ketup

I can still remember how much Lil Angel enjoyed these vadas.After each bite she kept saying  'Crunchy Munchy',crunchy munchy.....!

Other vadai / lentil fritter recipes

Paruppu vadai - Lentil Fritters
Kollu - Paruppu masal vadai - Horse gram - Lentil fritters
Paruppu vadai with herbs
Ulundhu vadai - Urad dal fritters
Rasavadai - Urad dal fritters soaked in spicy rasam
Thayir vadai - Urad dal fritters soaked in yogurt

Check out the wonderful recipes that are being prepared for the blogging marathon...

30 Minutes Meals: Gayathri Anand
Baked Goods: Monika
For On Going Events: Gayathri Kumar, Usha
Kids Friendly: PJ, Savitha, Smitha, Srivalli, Veena Aravind
Rice Varieties: Champa, Divya, Padma

This day That year...

2010 - Posted the roundup for the No Cook Event which received 100 entries!

2009 - Beetroot Raita

Bon Appetit...

Microwave Khaman Dokhla

When I prepared the Microwave Green peas Dhokla, I was not sure how Lil Angel would 'react' to it.She liked it, mainly for the color, I think.Anyways, it was favored by all at home.So my next venture was to prepare the regular dhokla in the microwave.It was met with the same enthusiasm and has become a favorite in our place.

Soft and fluffy dhokla dipped into tangy Tamarind chutney and Coriander mint chutney is such a delight. Since it is prepared in the microwave, it takes just a few minutes to get these soft and fluffy delicacies ready.

Recipe Source - Chef in you
I used :

Besan - 1 cup
Curd / yogurt -a little less than half a cup
Water -a little less than half a cup
Baking soda- 1/4 teaspoon
Green chilli paste -1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder- a pinch
Eno fruit salt [Lime flavor] - 1 sachet
Salt to taste
Oil- 1 tablespoon

For sesoning

Oil-1 teaspoon
Sesame seeds- 1 teaspoon
Mustard seeds-1 teaspoon
Green chillies- 1, chopped
Curry leaves a few
Grated coconut
Coriander leaves to garnish

A little oil and water to be mixed and topped on the dhokla

1. In a blender jar put in besan, turmeric powder, curd and water and run for a couple of minutes to get a lump less batter of dropping consistency.
2. Transfer the batter onto a large bowl.
3. Add oil, baking soda, salt and green chilli paste.Mix well.
4. Dust a little Eno on the greased dish that you are going to use to microwave the dhokla.
5. Add the remainder to the batter in the centre.
6. Add a teaspoon of water over the eno salt and you will see a lot of bubbles.
7. Mix gently and immediately pour into the greased dish sprinkled with Eno salt.
8. Microwave on high for 5 minutes or till a tooth prick comes out clean.
9. Let it stand for 1 minutes and remove form the microwave.
10. Top up the dhokla with the oil-water mixture.
11. Heat a small pan with oil for tempering and add the sesame seeds, mustard, green chillies, curry leaves.
12. Pour this evenly over the dhokla.
13. Garnish with grated coconut, coriander leaves.
14. When it cools a little, cut into squares and serve with Tamarind chutney and Coriander mint chutney.

Note:

• After Eno salt has been added the batter should not rest even for a short time.
• I used a very large shallow dish so the dhoklas are thin.Use a narrow one to get thicker dhoklas
• You can see a layer of red on the surface of the dhoklas.It is the side that was cooked on the surface sprinkled with Eno salt.But there was no change in taste.
• These dhoklas can be savored as such in case there is no time to make the chutneys.
• The original recipes calls for the use of sugar. I skipped it but in case you prefer add 1 teaspoon sugar or adjust to suit your taste.

Check out the wonderful recipes that are being prepared for the blogging marathon...

30 Minutes Meals: Gayathri Anand
Baked Goods: Monika,
For On Going Events: Gayathri Kumar, Usha
Kids Friendly: PJ, Savitha, Smitha, Srivalli, Veena Aravind
Rice Varieties: Champa, Divya, Padma

Bon Appetit...

Minty Peas Pulao

I have mentioned in this Peas Pulao post that Lil Angel is fond of peas.So here is another variation to peas pulao that I prepared for lunch today.The idea came from Madhuri's version

I used:

Rice - 1/2 a cup
Frozen peas - 1/2 a cup
Onion- 1, sliced
Whole spices - Cinnamon- a few bits, cloves- 2, bay leaf- 1,cardamom - 1
Cumin seeds- 1 teaspoon
Ghee- 2 tablespoons
Salt to taste

Grind to a smooth paste[See note below]


Mint leaves - a handful
Onion- 1, roughly chopped
Green chillies- 1
Garlic-2 pods
Ginger- 1/2 " piece

1. Leave the peas on the kitchen counter to thaw.
2. Wash rice a couple of times and soak it for half an hour.Drain.
3. Heat 1 teaspoon ghee in a pan and saute rice till the water evaporates and turns fragrant.Remove from pan and keep aside.
4. Heat the remaining ghee in a pressure cooker.
5. Put in cumin seeds, whole spices and when the cumin crackles, saute onion till translucent.
6. Add the mint paste and cook it till oil leave the sides and the mixture is almost dry.
7. Add 1 1/2 cup water [I use 1:3 - rice: water ratio, adjust accordingly] and salt.Bring to a boil.
8. When it comes to a rolling boil, add the sauteed rice and cover and pressure cook for two whistles or till almost done.
9. When the pressure releases, put in the peas and stir to mix gently.
10. Close the pressure cooker and simmer for a couple of minutes till the rice is done.Remove the pulao onto a serving vessel.

Serve with a raita or crispies of your choice.

It was a pleasure to watch Lil one enjoy the minty peas pulao....

Note:

• I used very little spices since Lil one does not prefer spicy stuffs.You can increase the quantity of green chillies to suit your taste.Likewise for the whole spices.
• While grinding the mint leaves and onions, I did not add water, but if the blender blades ask for it, add just a few teaspoons and not more
• You can also add a handful of coriander leaves along with the mint leaves
• Use Basmati rice for a better flavor
• Any cooking oil can be used instead of ghee
• To the same pulao add a choice of veggies while pressure cooking to get a yummy and healthier Vegetable pulao

This pulao goes to my event - Herbs and flowers in my platter with Mint as the theme for this month...

I never realized until now that this is the 51st Rice recipe @ Seduce Your Tastebuds!!!

Check out the wonderful recipes that are being prepared for the marathon...

30 Minutes Meals: Gayathri Anand
Baked Goods: Monika,
For On Going Events: Gayathri Kumar, Usha
Kids Friendly: PJ, Savitha, Smitha, Srivalli, Veena Aravind
Rice Varieties: Champa, Divya, Padma

This Day That Year...

Looks like I have not written a post on this day right from 2008!!!!

Bon Appetit...