Fig & Carrot Halwa

Ingredients

Dried big figs-7

(soaked in water till soft)

Big carrot-1

Milk-1/2 cup

Sugar-3tsp

Ghee-2 tbsp

Cardamom powder-1tsp

Fried almonds in ghee-2tsp

Method

Grind figs,carrot & milk to a smooth puree.Heat ghee in a non stick pan & fry the puree till raw smell disappears.Add cardamom powder & sugar ,fry till it is thick & leaves the sides of the pan.Garnish it with nuts & serve warm.

Award

Once again Thanks sangeetha for the lovely award,Friends pl. accept this from me..........A great New Year gift to one & all.

Easy Cheese Cake

My friend's hubby made this tasty cheese cake when he had called us for lunch......Excellent wanted to share it ....

Ingredients
8 ounce cream cheese (room temperature)-2
8 ounce sour cream -1
Sugar-1/2 cup
Lime juice-1tsp
1 large or 2 small pie crusts (graham cracker)
Eggs-2
Method
Blend all above ingredients together with out any lumps.Pour it in the pie crust & bake it at 350deg.C for 30 minutes & then reduce it to 275 deg C for again 30 minutes or till its cooked(Oven temperature may vary).Cool & keep in fridge & serve it cold with any filling.
Courtesy:cooks.com with a slight change

Baked Lotus Stem Chips

Ingredients

Lotus stem-1

(skin scraped out well & cut into thin slices)

Salt & pepper to taste

Melted butter-2 tsp

Method

Arrange the lotus stem slices on a baking tray lined with a foil.Bake it at 375 deg.C till crisp & brown on both sides.Keep checking periodically otherwise will get burnt fast.Mix butter & seasoning in a bowl,put all the baked chips & toss it well.Serve it as a snack.

Groundnut Kuzhambu / Verkadalai Kuzhambu / Peanuts Gravy Recipe / Ver Kadalai Kulambu Recipe / Nilakadalai Kulambu Recipe

Ingredients ground to a smooth paste

Ginger & Garlic paste-1/2 tsp

Tomato-1

Grated coconut roasted till brown-3tsp

Tempering

Oil-3tsp

Mustard-1/2tsp,Cloves-1,Cinnamon-1/4'',Jeera/cumin-1/2tsp

Other ingredients

Raw Groundnuts/Peanuts/Verkadalai/Nilakadalai-1/2 cup

(soaked overnight)

Chopped onion-1/4

Curry leaves-little

Turmeric powder-1/4tsp

Chilly powder-1tsp

Coriander powder-1/2tsp

Tamarind paste-3tsp

(diluted in water)

Method

Heat oil in a pressure cooker temper it.Add onion & curry leaves fry till light brown.Add the dry masala powders & the ground paste.Fry till raw smell disappears& masala leaves the sides of the pan Pour the tamarind paste & soaked ground nuts,give a stir & pressure cook till done.Garnish with curry leaves & serve it with rice,idli or dosa.

Thanks for visiting !

Couscous Dum Biriyani

Ingredients
Couscous cooked with little salt-2 cups

Salt to taste

Lime-1/2

Cubed tofu-1/2 cup

Sliced mushroom-10

Tomato chopped-1

Onion sliced-1/4

Sliced green chillies-1

Chilly powder-1/4tsp

Turmeric powder-little

Curd-3tsp

Mint-1/4 cup

Coriander leaves-little

Ginger & garlic paste-1/4tsp

Garam or Biriyani masala-1/8tsp(optional)

Tempering

Oil-2tsp,Ghee-1tsp

Cloves-1,Cinnamon-a small bit,Cardamom-2,Jeera-1/4tsp,Shajeera-1/4tsp,Bay leaf-1

Garnishing

Fried onion,raisin,cashew nut,almonds-little & Chopped coriander leaves.

Method

Heat oil & ghee in a pan temper it.Fry the onions,mint,coriander leaves,ginger & garlic paste & green chillies till light brown. Add other ingredients one by one & fry till all the masalas are well cooked.Put the masala at the bottom of a heavy vessel & spread the cooked couscous on top of it.Add the fried onion,raisin,cashew nut,almonds,chopped coriander leaves & lime juice on top.Keep it in low flame covered with a tight lid for 10 minutes,till all the aroma gets into the couscous & gravy is a bit dry.You can also keep it in oven for 10 minutes at 200 deg.C.Before serving just mix it once or twice & serve it hot with raita.

Note:You can make this dish even with chicken,shrimp or mutton.
To learn more about couscous read here....

Oats & Lentils Kozhukattai

Ingredients ground coarse

Soaked American lentils-1 cup

Salt to taste

Red chillies-4

Other ingredients

Quick oats-1 & 3/4 cup

(dry roast it slightly)

Tempering

Oil-2tsp

Mustard-1/2tsp,Urad dhal-1/2tsp,Channa dhal-1tsp

Chopped onion-1tbsp

Chopped green chillies-1

Grated ginger-1/2 tsp

Curry leaves-little

Hing-1/4tsp

Method

Heat oil in a pan temper it.Fry the onion,green chillies,ginger & curry leaves till light brown.Switch off the gas ,now add the oats & ground paste.Sprinkle very little water & make balls.Grease idly plates & steam it till cooked.Serve it hot with any chutney.

Note:Instead of making balls you can also just crumble & steam it & serve it like uppuma.For extra taste you can also add grated coconut.You can use any other lentils of your choice.

Couscous Vegetable Uppuma

Ingredients
Couscous-1 cup

Mixed Vegetable-1 cup

Salt to taste

Chopped onion-1/2

Slit green chillies-3

Chopped tomato-1

Curry leaves-little

Grated ginger-1/2 tsp

Boiling water-2 & 1/2 cup

Tempering

Oil-3tsp

Mustard-1/2tsp,Urad dhal-1tsp,Channa dhal-1tsp,Jeera-1/4tsp

Method

Heat oil in a pan temper it.Add onion,green chillies ,curry leaves,tomato,ginger & vegetables.Fry it till light brown.Add couscous & salt fry for 2 minutes.Pour water cover & cook it in medium flame till done.Garnish it with curry & coriander leaves.

Learn more about couscous here.....

Award

Thanks Aruna for the lovely Award.......Nice way to start the year.Love to share this beautiful gift with all my friends.Please accept it.

Lentils & Quinoa Sambar Bath

Ingredients
American lentils soaked-1 & 1/2 cup

(soaked overnight)

Quinoa -1 & 1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Chilly powder-1 & 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Hing-1/2tsp
Chopped onion-1/2
Chopped tomato-2
Curry leaves-little
Tamarind paste-3tsp
Frozen vegetables-1 cup

Chopped capsicum-1/2
Drumstick-1/2 cup
Tempering
Oil-3tsp
Mustard-1tsp,Urad dhal-1/2tsp,Channa dhal-1/2tsp,Methi-1/4tsp
Garnishing
Ghee-3tsp,Cashew nut-8,Curry leaves-little,Red chilly-6
(fry above ingredients in ghee)
Method
Heat a pressure cooker temper it.Fry onion,tomato & curry leaves till light brown.Add the dry ingredients fry a bit,add the vegetables,lentils & tamarind paste.Pour some water & pressure cook it.Once cool open & add the quinoa pour 1:2 ratio of water & cook it till done.Garnish it with cashew nut,red chillies & curry leaves tempered in ghee.Serve it hot with papadam.
To learn more about quinoa see here

New Year Eve Feast

We had a lovely & memorable New Year Eve.All the husbands cooked & we ladies had a Day Out!!!!!!! They cooked a variety of dishes & the greatest gift was they even Baby Sitted our Kids.Hats off to our hubbys.....................

You all must be thinking what they prepared ?Here comes the menu....

1.Plain Rice

2.Rasam

3.Curd

4.Fish kuzhanbu

5.Fish fry

6.Shrimp fry

7.Tandoori chicken

8.Mutton chukka

9.Mango sambar

10.Egg curry

11.Chicken Biriyani

12.Ice cream & Chocolate cake

(store bought)

They even served it to us with great LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A great Thanks to one & all.Eagerly waiting for another occasion like this.

Christmas Fruit Cake

Wish you all a Happy New Year............

Ingredients

Maida-1 cup

Butter-3/4 cup

Sugar-1 cup

Baking powder-1tsp

Vanilla essence-1tsp

Eggs-2

(separated)

Cream of tartar-less than 1/8tsp(optional)

Ingredients soaked in orange juice or rum for at least a day.

Fresh orange juice-1/3 cup

Fruit cake mix-1 cup

(its citrus peels & cherries cut into cubes soaked in dry sugar syrup)

or Tutti fruity

Raisins-1/4 cup

Cashew nut-1/4 cup

Chopped almonds-1/4 cup

Chopped walnuts-1/4 cup

(dust the above ingredients with 2 tsps of maida)

Spice powders

Cinnamon powder-1/4 tsp

Grated nutmeg-1/4tsp

Grated fresh ginger-1/4tsp

Clove powder-1/4tsp

Caramel

Sugar-1/3 cup

Water-5 tsp

(In a pan add sugar & 1tsp of water & keep stirring till it changes its colour to golden brown.Now slowly add remaining 4 tsp of water,mix it well.Be care full at this stage it may splutter & burn fast.Remove from fire,cool it before adding it to the cake batter)

Method

Sieve baking powder,spice powders & maida.Add tartar to egg whites & beat it till fluffy.Beat essence & egg yolks.Cream butter & sugar till creamy,slowly add egg yolk mixture & maida alternatively & beat it till mixed well.Now add the dry fruits mixture,caramel liquid & egg whites & fold it well.Grease a baking tray dusted with little maida.Pour this cake mixture in it,bake it for 40 minutes at 350 deg.C till done.Cool it completely & cut it the next day.

Courtesy:Sangeetha with some slight changes......

Double Beans Curry

Ingredients dry roast & make a powder
Coriander seeds-1/2tbsp
Jeera-1/2tsp
Whole pepper-1/2tsp
Red chillies-3
Garlic-1
Coconut-2tbsp
Ingredients
Boiled double beans-1 & 1/2 cup
(boil it with salt & little turmeric powder)
Onion chopped-1/2
Chopped tomato-1
Curry leaves-little
Tempering
Oil-3tsp
Mustard-1/2 tsp
Urad dhal-1/2tsp
Hing-1/8tsp
Method
Heat oil temper it.Fry onion,tomato & curry leaves till light brown.Add the ground masala & the boiled beans with the water.Cook it till all the water is evaporated & dry.Serve it with hot rice.

Courtesy:RaksKitchen with a slight change.......

Avocado & Cornmeal Muffin

Ingredients
Avocado-1

(mashed)

Fine cornmeal-1/2 cup

All purpose flour-1 cup

Sugar-1/4 cup

Baking powder-1 & 1/2 tsp

Egg-2

(beaten)

Milk-1/4 cup

Salt -1/4tsp

Method

Mix all above ingredients together.Pour in greased muffin tins.Bake at 350 deg.C for 10 minutes or till done.

X'Mas Tree

My daughter decorated this Christmas tree........Merry X'Mas to one & all.

5 Dhal Adai

Ingredients

Idly rice-1 cup

Pinto beans-1/3 cup

Whole green moongh dhal-1/3 cup

White channa/chole-1/3 cup

American lentils-1/3 cup

Moth beans-1/3 cup

Red chillies-5

Ginger-a small piece

Chopped curry leaves-little

Chopped onions-3tsp

Hing-a pinch

Salt to taste

Grated carrot-1/2 cup

Oil -to make adai

Method

Soak all the dhals together overnight & rice for 3 hrs separately.Grind both with ginger,onion,salt & hing to a semi coarse thick batter.Mix chopped curry leaves & carrot.Make adai as usual.Cook it till crisp & brown on both sides.Serve it hot with any chutney or Idly podi.

Note:You can dilute the batter & even make it like dosa.You can use any other dhal of your choice to replace the above.

Award

Thanks Shama for giving this valuable gift.......I would love to share with one & all.

Pineapple & Banana Smoothie

Ingredients
Banana-1

Pineapple juice-1 cup

(I used juice drained from the tin pineapples)

Grated nutmeg-2 pinch

Honey-1tsp

Table cream-3tsp

Method

Blend everything in a mixi until smooth & frothy.Serve it cold with some ice cubes.Garnish it with some grated nutmeg or cocoa powder.

Fresh Turmeric Pickle

Ingredients

Grated fresh turmeric-2 cups

(skin removed)

Lime-3

Salt -3tsp

Chilly powder-1tbsp

Sliced garlic-10

Tempering

Oil-10tsp

Hing-1/2tsp

Mustard-1 & 1/2 tsp

Jeera & methi powder-1/4tsp

Curry leaves-little

Method

In a jar mix lime juice,salt,garlic & grated turmeric,mix it well. keep it outside for 3 days mixing it well everyday.Heat oil add mustard when splutters switch off the gas.Add other ingredients.Put the turmeric mixture & mix it well.Cool & store it in a jar in fridge.

Note:This pickle tastes better after a week.Have it in small quantity as it has a strong flavour.This stays better outside for 3 days,then keep in fridge.

Easy Pineapple Shrikhand

Wishing my hubby a Happy Birthday with this tempting dessert.......


Ingredients
Sour cream-8 0z
Powdered sugar-1 & 1/2 tbsp
Cardamom powder- 1/4 tsp
Saffron strings-little(optional)
Chopped canned pineapples-3
(squeeze out the water completely)
Method
Mix sour cream,saffron,cardamom powder & sugar in a bowl.Fold in the chopped pineapples & serve it cold.
Note:You can use chopped fruits of your choice or puree instead of pineapples.

Mushroom Idiyappam

Ingredients
Homemade or Ready made cooked Idiyappam-2 cups
(I used homemade)
Salt to taste
Chilly powder-1/2tsp
Turmeric powder-little
Garam masala-1/8tsp

Chopped mushroom-1 cup

Peas-1/4 cup
Sliced onion-1/4
Chopped tomato-1

Sliced green chillies-2

Ginger & Garlic paste-1/2tsp

Curry & coriander leaves-little

Fried cashew nut-10
Tempering
Oil-2tsp

Cloves-2,cinnamon-a small bit,fennel seed powder-1/2tsp,cardamom-1,bay leaf-1

Method

Heat oil in a pan temper it.Fry onion,chillies,peas,mushroom,ginger & garlic paste till light brown.Add the dry masala powders & fry for a minute.Put the cooked Idiyappam & toss it well.Garnish it with cashew nut,curry & coriander leaves.Serve it hot.

Award

Thanks Asha for your lovely thought.Nice gift for the New Year. I like to share it with all my friends.

Lemon Pickle

Ingredients
Large lemons cubed-10
Salt-1/4 cup
Red chilly powder-2 & 1/2 tbsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Oil-3/4cup
Mustard-1tbsp
Hing-1tsp
Jeera & Methi powder-1/2tsp
Method
Mix lemon,salt & turmeric powder in a jar.Leave it covered outside for 3 days,mixing it well everyday.On the fourth day add chilly powder & mix it well.Heat oil in a pan temper it with mustard.Switch off the gas & add the hing,jeera & methi powder.Let it cool completely.Pour it in the lemon mixture & mix it well.Store it in the fridge.
Note:As I have added little salt & oil in this pickle it has to be stored only in the fridge.Do not keep it outside or make small quantity & finish it by 2 or 3 days.

Easy Chocolate Fudge

Ingredients
Sugar-1 & 1/2 cup
Carnation milk-2/3 cup
Butter-2tbsp
Salt-1/4tsp
Mini Marshmallows-2 cups
Chocolate Morsels -1 & 1/2 cup
(I used semi sweet chocolate chips,it was a bit sweet,reduce if you like)
Chopped pecan-1/2 cup
Vanilla essence-1tsp
Method
Mix sugar,carnation milk,salt & butter in a sauce pan.Boil it for 2 to 3 minutes.Reduce the flame & add the marshmallow,mix till it melts completely.Switch off the stove & mix essence,chocolate chips & nuts.Mix well till chocolate melt & pour it on a square dish lined with a foil.Sprinkle some pecan on top,cool & cut into desired shapes.
Courtesy:verybestbaking

Kollu Dosa Recipe / Horse Gram Dosa Recipe

Kollu Dosa

Ingredients
Kollu-1/2 cup
(soaked overnight)
Idly rice-1 cup
(soaked for 3 hrs)
Red chillies-3
Ginger-a small piece
Hing-little
Curry leaves-6
Salt to taste
Oil-to make dosa
Method
Grind every thing together to a semi smooth batter.Batter should be semi thin consistency
Fermentation is not required.
Heat a tawa pour a ladle of batter at the center,spread the batter.Drizzle oil around the dosa.
In medium heat cook both sides till done.
Serve them hot with any chutney you like.

Thanks for visiting !

Mutton Cashew nut Varuval

Ingredients boiled with mutton

Mutton-1 & 1/2 pound

Coriander powder-1tsp

Chilly powder-1tsp

Salt to taste

Turmeric powder-1/2tsp

Cinnamon-a small piece

Cloves-2

Cardamom-2

Ginger & Garlic paste-1/2tsp

Tempering

Fennel seeds-1tsp

Red chillies-6

Curry leaves-little

Crushed pepper-1/2tsp

Onion chopped-1/2

Ginger & Garlic paste-1/2tsp

Oil-4tsp

Fried cashew nuts-12

Method

Heat oil in a pan fry fennel seeds,red chillies,pepper & curry leaves.Now add onion ,ginger & garlic paste & fry till brown.add the mutton with the water & fry it till dry.Add the fried cashew nuts & mix well.Garnish it with curry leaves.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe / Upside-Down Pineapple Cake Recipe

Celebrating my 500 th post today with a lovely cake..........Enjoy!!!!!!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Ingredients for topping

Butter-1/4 cup

Light brown sugar-3/4 cup
(If using dark brown sugar use 1/2 cup)

Tin pineapple slices-7

(pat it dry)

Maraschino cherry-7

Ingredients for the batter

All purpose flour-1 & 1/2 cup

Baking powder-2tsp

Salt-1/4 tsp

Butter-1/2 cup

Sugar-1 cup

Vanilla essence-1tsp

Egg-2 separated

Milk-1/2 cup

Tartar-1/4tsp

Method

Pre. heat oven at 350 deg.F.Grease a round pan with butter & dust it with flour.
Sift flour,salt & baking powder,keep it aside.
Cook 1/4 cup of butter & 3/4 cup of brown sugar in a pan till they melt.
Pour this mixture into the greased pan cool a bit.
Arrange the pineapple slices & cherry on top.
Cream butter & sugar till it doubles,add the yolks & beat well.
Now slowly start adding the milk & flour mixture alternatively till everything is well combined.
Beat the egg white & tartar till it forms peaks.Gently fold into the cake batter.
Pour this mixture on top of the pineapple & cherry.
Level it well & bake it for 45 minutes or till done.
Cool completely & then invert the cake.enjoy them warm.

Courtesy:Joyofbaking..

Thanks for visiting !

Masala Wheat Flakes

Ingredients dry roasted & pound coarse
Jeera-1/2tsp

Fennel seeds(Somph)-3/4tsp

Coriander seeds-3/4tsp

Cinnamon powder-more than a pinch

Pepper powder -little

Other ingredients

Whole grain wheat flakes-1 cup

Cashew nut made half-8

Almond made half-10

Salt & Chilly powder-to taste

Curry leaves-little

Butter-2tsp

Method

Heat butter in a pan fry the nuts till light brown.Add the curry leaves,salt,chilly powder & pound powder.Fry for a minute,now add the wheat flakes & toss it well.Let all the masala get evenly mixed.Switch off the gas.Cool & store it in air tight container.

Saw this recipe in a TV show ,made it in my version with a slight change.......

Apple Bread Pudding

Ingredients
Bread cut into cubes-4 slices
(I used whole wheat bread)
Apple chopped-1
Milk-1 & 1/4 cup
Egg-1
Grated nutmeg & cinnamon powder- each a pinch
Brown sugar-2 & 1/2 tbsp
Butter-2tsp
Raisins-2tsp
Method
Grease a baking dish.Beat,egg,milk,brown sugar,cinnamon & nutmeg.Arrange a layer of bread in the dish next some apples & raisins.Pour the milk mixture on top.Repeat the process,dot with butter on top & bake at 375 deg.C for 15 minutes or till top is slightly brown .Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream.

Kerala Pumpkin Erissery (Kerala Style Pumpkin Curry/Sadya Recipe)

Ingredients ground to a smooth paste
Coconut-3tsp
Jeera/cumin seeds-1/2tsp
Garlic-1
Green chillies-1
Ingredients fried till brown
Onion-3tsp
Coconut grated-1tsp
Grated ginger-1/4tsp
Other ingredients
White pumpkin cubed-2 cups
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder-little
Tempering
Coconut oil-2tsp
Mustard-1tsp
Curry leaves-little
Red chillies-2
Method
Cook the pumpkin with salt & turmeric powder, mash it.Add the ground paste & give a nice boil,switch off the stove.Heat oil in a pan & temper it.Mix the roasted ingredients,tempering into the cooked pumpkin,mix well & serve it with rice.
Courtesy: Sarah with a slight change....

Nei Appam Recipe /Unniappam Recipe/ Neyyappam Recipe/Banana Appam Recipe/Unniyappam Recipe

A Karthigai Deepam Recipe..

Ingredients

Rice flour-1/2 cup

Jaggery-1/2 cup

Mashed banana-3/4

Salt a pinch

Cooking soda-a pinch

Cardamom powder-1/2tsp

Bits of coconut-3tsp

Ghee to fry

Method

Mix all above ingredients together.Pour water & make a semi thick batter.Heat a paniyaram pan pour a teaspoon of ghee in each hole.Pour a ladle of the batter & in medium heat cook it both sides are crisp & light brown in colour.

Thanks for visiting !

Roasted Roma Tomatoes

Ingredients

Roma tomatoes-2

(cut into half)

Olive oil-1tsp

Grated garlic-1

Chilly flakes-less than 1/8tsp

Basil-1/8tsp

Salt & Pepper to taste

Parmesan cheese-little(optional)

(to sprinkle on top before serving)

Method

In a bowl mix all above ingredients except cheese.Brush it on top of each tomatoes.Bake or broil till top is slightly brown.Sprinkle cheese on top & serve it hot.

Courtesy:A book from Costco with a slight change....

Coleslaw & Almond Kheer

Ingredients

Coleslaw-1/2 cup

(red cabbage,green cabbage & carrot)

Carnation milk -1 cup

Milk-1 cup

Sugar-3tsp

Almonds powdered -10

Cardamom powder-1/2tsp

Ghee-1tsp

Saffron-little

Chironji/Charoli -little

(saraparupu)

Method

Heat ghee in a pan add the coleslaw & fry till raw smell disappears.Add both the milks,almond powder,cardamom powder & sugar.Boil it well till its slightly thick.Switch off the stove ,serve it hot with chironji & saffron garnished on top.

Broiled Orange

Ingredients

Orange-1

(cut into half)

Butter-little

(to dot on top)

Cinnamon sugar-little

(to sprinkle on top)

Brown sugar-little

(to sprinkle on top)

Method

Cut the orange into half.With a knife loosen up all the segments & make a slit around the fruit.This is done for all the flavours to get inside the fruit while broiling.Sprinkle some brown sugar & cinnamon sugar on top.Dot it with butter & broil it till the top portion is light brown & sugar starts to bubble.Serve it warm.

Award

Got this precious gift from Malar on Karthigai Deepam.Thanks a lot & would love to share it with all my friends.Please accept this .

Spinach Dip

Ingredients
Spinach-4
(only the leaves)
Green chillies-1
Garlic-1
Salt to taste
Lemon juice-1tsp
Curd-1/3 cup
Chopped parsley-1tsp
Method
Make a smooth puree with all above ingredients except curd.Mix the puree with the curd & serve it cold.This dip can be served with fresh vegetables or tortilla chips.

Cream Cheese Grapes

Ingredients
Cream cheese-3tsp
Grated ginger -1/2tsp
(slightly toss it in pan till dry)
Honey-1/2tsp
Pecan-12
(dry roast slightly & chopped finely)
Globe grapes-6
(seedless is better)
Method
In a bowl cream together cream cheese,ginger & honey.Put the grapes in the bowl & with a spoon evenly coat the grapes.Roll the cheese coated grapes in the pecan.Keep it in fridge until the coating is firm.Cut into halves & serve.
I saw this recipe from a book given by Costco............with a slight change.