in love with food

October 30, 2007

RAVA MASALA UTTAPAM

This is a lovely quick and easy snack, don't worry if you do not have sambhar and chutney-it's just as delicious with Tomato Ketchup!

There are times when you just want to have a limp, fluffy uttapam and not that crisp ,good-looking dosa!, right??, just tailor-made for those times,another comfort food from my kitchen to yours!

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Rava Masala Uttapam with Sambhar and Tomato Chutney

Ingredients-

Rava/Suji/Semolina- 1 cup
Flour- 2 tbsp
Curry leaves- 4-5, chopped
Curd/yogurt- 2 tbsp
Tomato- 1 chopped
Onion- 1 chopped
Green chillies- 2-3, chopped
Salt and red chilli pwdr to taste

Method-

Combine everything together in a large bowl, add enough water to make into a pancake like consistency.Spread ladlefuls onto a hot non-stick griddle, pour little oil along sides ,let sizzle , flip, then let turn golden brown.

Serve hot with sambhar and chutney.

diya

COUNTDOWN TO DIWALI- 9 DAYS TO GO !!!

Technorati Tags: rava masala uttapam , south indian

October 29, 2007

CELEBRATING KARVACHAUTH

karvachauth henna on feet

Application of Mehandi -a beautiful ritual on Karvachauth

Technorati Tags: karvachauth

COFFEE BITE MUFFINS

Calling all Coffee lovers- this one is a treat for you!, there's lotsa rich coffee flavor and to add that special touch I have added chopped bits of that famous toffee- Coffee bite -Toffee main coffee ya coffee main toffee???!!!(remember the ad???) , you can use any coffee flavored toffee for the purpose too, the result- a delicious chocolatey-coffee flavor with rich nuggets of Coffee taste in between!

25092007547-001 Coffee bite Muffins

The basic recipe that I have used is the same as in KOKONUT ~KISSED MUFFINS all that I have added extra is-

1/4 cup Cocoa powder
2 tbsp Coffee powder(Nescafe)
4-5 Coffee bite toffees- chopped

Just omit the coconut and jam on top.I have purposefully not omitted the bananas ,since you can't really taste them and they lend a lovely softness to the muffins.Enjoy with Tea OR COFFEE?!

Technorati Tags: muffins , coffe bite muffins , cakes

October 24, 2007

THUKPA ~ A SPICY TIBETAN SOUP

The first time I had this soup was in Darjeeling, out of sheer curiousity-the name itself got me interested as to what it might be,and I haven't forgotten the taste ever since....

All of you who have ever been to this part of India would totally agree-the place is breathtakingly beautiful, I had gone there on a school trip - my first ever experience of staying away from home for 10 days! Can you imagine the sense of freedom :) only any of you who have studied in a Convent will be able to understand what I am talking about!!!

Anyway's apart from eyeing all the guys around (haha the good ol' days) ,we learnt a lot too- mainly about Buddhists(the place is dotted with beautiful monastries)we also saw Sikkim, Gangtok and all the neighbouring areas.Darjeeling has loads of Tea-gardens as all of you know, we bought several tins of this prized tea back with us.

Sikkim has Tiger Hill close by ,which is supposedly the closest you can get to seeing the Sun rise anywhere on Earth,we had to get up at 4 in the morning and jeep's take you up a very steep hill, almost vertical -then all you got to do is wait with chattering teeth and bitter winds -for the Sun to rise,but it's totally worth it,the Sun as it rises seems HUGE right in front of you,if you can imagine in your head what I am talking about,the Sun is so close you will feel direct heat on your face-Memorable sight!

Last but not the least the huge variety of Orchids and the Cuisine you get there, makes you want to go there again and again and again...

Now let's make the Thukpa first !

Ingredients-

Tomatoes- 5 large and ripe
Ginger & Garlic paste-1 tsp
Carrots-1/2 cup sliced
French beans- 1/2 cup chopped
Cabbage- few leaves (tear into bite-sized pieces)
Cauliflower- separate into small florets
Aji-no-moto- a pinch
Green chillies- 2 sliced
Noodles/pasta- 1/2 cup raw
Lemon juice- 1 tbsp.
Chopped coriander/cilantro-a handful
Sugar- 1/2 tsp
Salt and pepper to taste

Method-

Chop tomatoes roughly add ginger and garlic and give several whistles in the pressure cooker, cool, blend and strain.

Put on heat again ,add the rest of the ingredients except for salt, lemon juice ,cabbage, coriander and ajinomoto and cook till veggies are done but still crunchy, add the seasonings and cabbage, cook for few seconds, garnish with cilantro and serve- SLURP! SLURP!

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Thukpa- a spicy Tibetan soup

Technorati Tags: soup , thukpa , spicy tibetan soup

October 23, 2007

EK TAZAA ACHAAR (A FRESH CHILLI,LEMON,GINGER PICKLE)

Delicious, digestive, fresh, and spicy- I guess that totally sums up this pickle andddd of course EAZEE!!

Ready in under 5 minutes, make it- it's yum!!

I always keep a huge stock of so many pickles since I love them so much - so I have mango, mixed, stuffed red chilli, cauliflower-carrot-turnip,green chilli, mushroom, garlic, hot tomato, chilli garlic- the list just goes on and on.....! LOL

BUT I TOTALLY LOVE THIS ONE :)

13102007734 Fresh chilli,lemon,ginger pickle

Ingredients-

Fresh lemons-6
Fresh ginger- 1 large piece
Green chillies- 15-20
Oil- 1 tbsp.
Deggi mirch(cayenne pepper)- 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds- 1 tsp.
Salt to taste

Method-

Chop everything into bite size pieces , reserve the juice of 1 lemon,mix everything together along with the lemon juice and add salt, transfer to a clean jar and refrigerate. THIS PICKLE CAN BE KEPT FOR UPTO A WEEK IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

Enjoy with everything and anything! at least that's what I do!!!!

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Ek tazaa achaar

Technorati Tags: tazaa achaar , fresh pickle , lemon chilli ginger pickle , instant pickle

October 18, 2007

MICROWAVE MAGIC SNACK~PAPAD ROLLS

etizersThis is a wonderful- quick, easy and Instant snack with unlimited variations, whip it up in a hurry ! ,when unexpected guests arrive or hunger pangs hit at mid-night !

It makes great use of leftovers too....and is ready in 2 minutes !

Papad Rolls

The recipe is so easy and versatile I don't even need to write down quantities, all you need is a- couple of ready-made papads and a filling of choice-

mix vegetable-mashed up
paneer bhurji
mashed potatoes like we use in paranthas or
leftover aloo subzi mashed
any other leftover/cooked vegetable you prefer

Method-

Wet the papad slightly, carefully put a couple of spoons of filling and roll-up, the papad will stick together nicely like so-

the rolls- ready to go into the microwave

Microwave on HIGH for 2-3 minutes, cut into pieces, let cool, the papad will become CRISP, serve with tomato ketchup/chutney.

These are rolling off to Srivalli ,thanks for hosting the event, and somehow I really wanted to participate inspite of the fact that I have recently picked up a new job which is very demanding BUT my love for blogging, will always be there so see you till next time and more quick,easy, instant recipes !.

http://cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com/2007/10/microwave-easy-cooking-with-basics.html

Microwave Easy Cooking Event!