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Dec 31, 2012

Spicy Treats - Recap & Best Of 2012 & Thank U Note!!!


As i said in my previous post i don't have any recipes in hand, so would like to present U the best & a small recap of 2012 recipes of my Lil' space :) My blog is going to complete its 2nd year in two weeks and in terms of Blogging 2012 was a great year to me. I posted about 135+ recipes, got more new friends and followers, did more interesting n innovative recipes and above all have improved myself lot in presenting a recipe with neat pictures, hope so :)

Dec 27, 2012

Ginger Pickle / Homemade Ginger Pickle

Kids are at home and they are sick too, really its very hard to manage two boys/kids...always fighting and complaining each other. Eagerly waiting for the school reopening day!!! Now coming to Today's recipe Ginger Pickle, I made this pickle 2 or 3 weeks back. This is one of the easiest version of making ginger pickle.

Dec 21, 2012

Carrot Cake With Chocolate Ganache / Eggless Carrot Cake With Chocolate Ganache


Wishing Everyone a very Happy Christmas!!! Most of u might be busy in preparing for Christmas Celebration - Baking, Decorating house and cooking for your guests this n that. Me too really loved this year's all festival/special occasion, Yup i cooked few recipes for Diwali & Bakes some cookies n cakes for Christmas and enjoyed eating it with my family :)

Dec 18, 2012

Dates Cake / Eggless Dates Cake / Dates Loaf Cake


I know that today there won't be enough sunlight and its not a suitable day to take food pictures, not only today this whole week is going to be too cold, cloudy n gloomy...so don't want to postpone my baking till next week. So proceeded to bake Dates Cake which i recently saw in Vimitha's Space. The cake doesn't contain any egg and butter, its a very simple and healthy dessert too. So without any further delay i tried and it turned out so good, moist, soft n delicious cake with crunchy nuts n chocolate chips bites. Try this Delicious Dates Cake, a healthy choice for this Christmas treat. Sure your friends and family will love this!!!

Dec 16, 2012

Chocolate Cookies / Chocolate Cut out Cookies / Christmas Cut out Cookies

After my successful attempt on baking a perfect batch of Snowball Cookies gave me a confident to try some more cookies. My bookmarked list on cookies is little huge and i wanted share those lovely recipes here on my space. In that row, first i tried out this crunchy, melt in mouth Chocolaty cookies with a hint of coffee. I slightly tweaked the original recipe and to my surprise it turned out awesome. A must try recipe for those who love chocolate n its flavor. These cookies are perfect for tea time snack, it tasted so good when dipped in hot coffee. Do give it a try...This is so simple recipe and u can seek help from ur kids in cutting and decorating. I really enjoyed making these cookies with my lil' one :)

Dec 13, 2012

Vengaya Sambar / Onion Sambar

Onion Sambar / Vengaya Sambar, very tasty, flavorful and quick sambar recipe. If u have cooked dal in  hand then it takes only 10 minutes to make this sambar. This is my version of Vengaya sambar with very simple ingredients. Here i used both small onions/pearl onions n onions but for more taste n flavor use only small onions. This tastes great with rice, dosa, paniyaram, Ven Pongal etc.

Dec 11, 2012

Coffee Cupcakes | Easy Coffee Cupcakes Recipe | Cupcakes Using Instant Coffee !

Its my long time wish to try Coffee flavored cakes/cookies. And finally Yesterday baked this Flavor rich, soft, light n delicious Coffee Cupcakes. This recipe is from a Book, Cupcakes by Susanna Tee. the original recipe is with Feather frosting, i tried it but couldn't make it perfectly :( Feather frosting is nothing but cupcakes coated icing sugar frosting no cream icing(the one we use for Christmas sugar cookies) then added liquid coffee in parallel pattern. Its little tricky job and i couldn't get it at first time.

Dec 9, 2012

Chocolate Snowballs / Eggless Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookies


Baking a perfect batch of cookies is really a challenging task for me. Most of the time i end up with burnt cookies or my experiments on cookies like egg substitute, making it vegan ended up in grand failure :( Yes so many times wasted flour, sugar, butter, coconut flakes, chocolate chips etc n my energy too in baking cookies and after that completely stopped trying it. But I wanted to share some Christmas related recipes here, Christmas cannot be completed without freshly baked goodies. So last week i tried baking the easiest cookie recipe - Snowball Cookies. Yup, really its very easy, simple recipe with basic baking ingredients and i bet any one can bake this beautiful looking snowballs :)

Dec 7, 2012

Khara Pori / Spiced Wheat Puffs with Garlic ~ Healthy Snack !

If you are looking for a spicy, crunchy, tasty and healthy snack then this Spiced Wheat Puffs is the right choice. Perfect for evening snacks along with some hot tea or coffee. V's favorite snack next to Sundals. So I often make this khara Pori but never get a chance to click but this time made specially to post here.

Dec 5, 2012

Moongdal Aloo Paratha / Dal Potato Paratha / Mashed Potato Lentil Paratha

I love Dal Parathas more than the Masala Paratha / Stuffed Parathas. This Moondgal Aloo Paratha recipe is one of my experiment n i chosen this for October month's BM under the theme "Cooking using Moongdal". But becoz of our car accident n other related issues i couldn't able to post it that time. But i would like to share those recipes here, this is one of the easiest, soft, aromatic n delicious Paratha loved by both adults n kids. Very simple recipe u have to add cooked n mashed dal n potato to the regular chapathi dough, for extra flavor n taste i added little spices n finely chopped cilantro to it. It turned out so good and we had this Stuffed Brinjal Curry. 

Dec 2, 2012

Vazhakkai Podimas / Grated Plantain Fry


Finally am done with one of my old drafted recipe Vazhakkai podimas, its been sitting in my draft for more than 5 months, I made this long back along with my Keerai Masiyal but was not satisfied with the pictures, so didn't post it. After that have tried this two times unfortunately my bananas turned mushy after pressure cooking so this time didn't used pressure cooker n got to make it perfectly :)

Nov 29, 2012

Muttai Thokku / Egg Sabzi


Muttai Thokku / egg Sabzi is one of the simple and quick side dish which suits well with rice, variety rices, poori, chapathi, dosa etc. My Grandma n Mom makes muttai thokku this way with very simple n basic ingredients and also not much masalas. If u have boiled eggs ready in hand then it takes less than 10 minutes to make this yummy side dish.

Nov 27, 2012

Oats Appam / Oats Banana Fritters ~ Healthy Snack Recipe!


Karthigai Deepam Wishes to everyone, this festival of lights is also my favorite Indian festival. Love lighting diyas all over the house mainly in Kitchen, Pooja room, Main door entrance and other places wherever possible. And on street(in front of our house)I put big Rangoli or Poo Kolam and decorate it with lighted diyas. The whole street looks more beautiful and colorful with all those Rangoli n Divyas, love watching it. Really missing my hometown very much on these festival days :(

Nov 26, 2012

Broccoli Snack Rolls / Easy Broccoli Snack Recipe ~ Kids Friendly


The weather is getting colder n colder that too from the past two days its around 25F - 28F (Feels like 17F or 14F) ie its -8 to -10 degree Celsius. To me Living in WisconSIN is really a "SIN",  My kids often getting ear infection, cold n flu. Even this Long weekend also we all were sick and we couldn't enjoy our holidays in better way rather spend the whole day with aches n medicines round the clock :(
Last season itself we wanted to move from here but still we couldn't hope at least for next season we should not be here in WI.

Nov 20, 2012

Aloo Gobi Masala Rice / Baked Potato Cauliflower Masala Rice


Only one day to go for long weekend, but I got the Holiday mood early this Monday itself and not interested in cooking and blogging. Just spending hours by simply sitting with my Tab, playing games, browsing, FB this n that...Actually i planned to make some Thanks Giving Recipes - Appetizers, Main course,Desserts etc but i couldn't do anything :( At least will try to come up with some Christmas recipes. 
Now coming to today's recipe, Aloo Gobi Masala Rice - this is more Tasty and flavorful than Biryani but with very simple process and less calorie too.

Nov 16, 2012

Kothamalli Rasam / Cilantro Rasam / Cilantro Soup With Garlic


Rasam is one of the comfort, easy and simple recipe with lots of health benefits. And also its one of the main dish in South Indian Lunch Thali. I usually make Rasam twice in a week, My lil' one love rasam n rice more than other dishes i make. So i make it often for him. And also health wise its more good, the addition of cumin seeds/jeera, pepper & Garlic makes it good for digestion, soothes throat problems also. Now for this weather i really wanted to sip hot piping rasam. I had already posted few 11 rasam varieties and today's rasam is one the most flavorful and yummy Rasam, Kothamalli Rasam. The freshly crunshed cilantro along with garlic,jeera n pepper gives a nice aroma, that too while sauteing in oil it smells so refreshing n lovely. Very easy to make with all simple ingredients and the recipe as follows...

Nov 14, 2012

Cranberry Mango Thokku Pickle / Cranberry Pickle - Indian Way!!


Hope u all had a wonderful celebration and enjoyed the festival with your family & friends. Mine went as usual a weekday :) All sweets and savories made for Diwali had over and
today H asking me what's next in ur blog, Thanks Giving / Christmas special recipes?!
I replied, dunno am damn tired and i don't want to strain more for some days,
But he insisted me to do something so that they can enjoy for another 2-3 weeks,
After hearing such things from Him i am bit motivated, so will try something :)
Now Coming to today's recipe, Cranberry Mango Thokku Pickle, last week i made this tangy and spicy pickle, quick version and the combo, cranberry-mango worked out well. Pickle turned so good and i loved it with everything, rice,roti,stuffed paratha,idly,dosa etc. I had already shared an Instant Cranberry Pickle, this time tried along with Mango, in thokku style pickle. If u love mango-cranberry then this is for u, give it a try sure u will love it. Now to the recipe...

Nov 12, 2012

Boondi Laddu / Boondi Ladoo Recipe - Diwali Sweet Recipe!

Boondi Ladoo Recipe

Wishing all my friends, readers and everyone a Very Happy & Prosperous Diwali / Deepavali with one of my favorite sweet, Boondi Ladoo Recipe. This is 3rd time i am making this sweet and this time it turned out more good and near to perfect. Yesterday hubby dear helped me a lot and we really enjoyed making this boondi laddu. We had more fun making it.
Compared to other Indian Festivals, Diwali is more special and more joyful celebration to us. From my childhood days we celebrate this festival in more grand way, more shopping, new dresses, fire crackers, sweets & savories and lots n lots of happiness and smile. The most important and happiest part of this festival is "Sharing" - sharing greetings, happiness, sweets etc.

Nov 9, 2012

Thenkuzhal / Diwali Murukku

Another easy, yummy and crunchy murukku to try this Diwali, Thenkuzhal / Diwali Murukku. Yes, we call it as Diwali murukku since this murukku is must and it Mom and Grandma makes it mainly during this festival only. Both my Ma used to make this murukku with freshly ground rice and dal flour but here i used all store bought and its easy and quick to make all authentic recipes with store bought n handy powders. Though the freshness and flavor was not much like the homemade still it tasted crunchy and flavorful :)

Nov 7, 2012

Whole Wheat Puran Poli / Poli with Black eye Beans Puran ~ Healthy Choice!!


Today's recipe is Authentic Indian Sweet - Poli / Obattu but made it Healthy with Whole Wheat Flour and also with Interesting Filling, Black eye Bean-Jaggery Filling. My Kids love Poli and this time wanted to make it healthy so tried with whole wheat flour and black eye bean combo. The filling was so delicious and i liked it to the core, i ate the filling as such like inippu urundai :) It was too yummy!!!
I even tried kozhukattai with this filling and it also tasted so delicious so friends plz give it a try am sure u n ur family will love it. Obattu with whole wheat flour also turned so soft and its very easy to roll when compared with maida. Now to the healthy and yummy Whole Wheat Poli...

Nov 6, 2012

Ribbon Pakoda / Ola Pakoda / O'ttu Pakoda

Another Easy and quick Diwali snack, Ribbon Pakoda / O'ttu Pakoda. We call it as O'ttu Pakoda or Oattu Pakoda and this is must in our Diwali snack list. I love my Mom's pakoda more than the store bought ones. She makes it spicy and also with the hint of garlic. But this time i didn't tried with garlic and made it as plain mild spicy pakodas. This is my Mom's version of Ribbon Pakoda and made it  with her help, i turned on my skype video and made this as per her instructions :) It come out perfectly and got good appreciation too. Ok now to the recipe...

Nov 5, 2012

Rice Murukku / Mullu Murukku ~ Easy Diwali Snack!!

Its just only a week for Diwali/Festival of Lights and this Blogosphere is raining with all Diwali Sweets & Snacks. I really enjoy visiting your space, very colorful and mouth watering dishes presented with festive mood. Great work by u all. This is the first Diwali savory/snack am posting here on my space. I planned to make few more snacks before Diwali to share it here on my space but dunno h far i can do it. Let me try my best and coming to today's recipe, Rice Murukku/Mullu Murukku is one of my favorite murukku but my Mom makes this very rarely and for Diwali Thenkuzhal, ribbon pakoda and omapodi was her constant Diwali snack.
As this is my favorite one i started with this crunchy mullu murukku. This is very easy to make and a non failure recipe. I don't have enough patience to make a perfect spirals, so for picture i made around 10 or 12 murukku and the remaining did like thool murukku. I don't bother about the shape or size, this crunchy murukku makes a perfect tea time snack and i even love to have it as a side dish for rasam and rice. The recipe as follows...

Nov 1, 2012

Corn Flour Halwa / Karachi Halwa ~ Easy Diwali Sweets

Hi Friends
I am Back after a short break and i am so excited too. The reason for my absence, i was so much shocked n depressed due to our Car accident. It was little major accident and our car was totaled :(
But by God's grace nothing was happened to us and we all were safe except me got little wounds here n there. We really miss our old car n now its salvaged :( After a week/10 days we somehow recovered from the shock and depression. And till this week i was not in a mood to Blog but after talking with my friend i was consoled and also after hearing a very similar issue from her side and she said everyone is having their own problem, so don't worry about the past n be cheerful with your family. Yes, life has to go on and we should be brave enough to face all ups n downs.

Oct 26, 2012

Jangri / Mini Jangri


         I am a big fan of these Jangris. particularly the mini jangris from Lakshmi sweets. If you are from Salem, then definitely you will be knowing the famous Sweet shop Lakshmi sweets. They use to prepare fresh mini Jangris daily during evening time. I will eat upto 7-8 mini jangris at a time but not now before 7 years. Now for blog sake n for my kids i tried this Mini Jangri. Yes, this is my first attempt and was really successful.

Oct 15, 2012

BREAK.....

Hi Friends & Readers

I never expect that i will be writing a "Break" post today :( Some personal issues made me to decide that i need some rest, both for my mind n body. So taking a break and i hope that all our issues solve soon so that i got same energy and enthu towards Blogging. Many times this Blogging makes me calm, relax and feel better from my problems but this time i lost my energy and totally blank...

Hope to be back soon...Thanks!!!



Oct 8, 2012

Drumstick Leaves Chutney Rice With Garlic / Murungai Keerai Sadham


Hope U guys had a wonderful weekend and back to routine now. Mine too went little busy with as usual cleaning, Saturday Pooja(for Purattasi Sanikizhamai) and Sunday kids wanted to go Monkey Joe's(Play & jumping zone) And They had lots of fun playing there and don't want to go home.
From today we got to routine, waking up early morning, getting ready to school and everything in time. Before going to the recipe, i just want to Thank You all for your lovely wishes and comments on my
Previous post, Eggless Marble Cake - for 5 Lakh Hits. Thanks U Friends!!!
Today's recipe is very quick and healthy lunch box rice recipe ~ Drumstick Leaves Chutney Rice.

Oct 5, 2012

Eggless Marble Cake / Eggless Marble Loaf Cake / Chocolate Vanilla Loaf Cake~ For 5 Lakh Hits!!!


Finally my long time wish to bake a Marble cake & Zebra cake was happened Yesterday. Yaay...I baked a Marble Cake!!!!... Long back I bookmarked Eggless Marble Cake from Sharmis Passions. And at last Yesterday baked it as a Celebration Post recipe for my Blog's 5 Lakh Hits.

Oct 3, 2012

Mashed Potato Fritters ~ Vegan N Gluten Free !!


Today's recipe is simple and easy tea time snack, Mashed Potato Fritters or Potato Pakoras. I just made these fritters, clicked in hurry and now started with this post and I am busy with munching these crispy and yummy fritters. Mmmmm, so yummy!!
Yesterday made Potato Spinach Stuffed Peppers for our evening snack and used the left over filling for dinner along with some bread. But still have some plain mashed potato and thought of making Masal Bonda. As I don't have any recipes in hand/drafts, today wanted to post something Here at the same time have to make one easy and quick recipe...Then blindly tried this deep fritters which is more or less similar to onion pakora but with mashed potato and i also added few shredded carrots. It was so yummy n we liked it a lot. Once in a while can have these deep fried snacks and also the chill weather makes me craving for some spicy crispy snack n this Potato fritters are perfect. Now to the recipe....


Ingredients
  1. Mashed Potato     1 and 1/2 cup (4 or 5 medium potatoes boiled n mashed)
  2. Onion     1 medium(finely chopped)
  3. Carrot    1 small(shredded)
  4. Cilantro      5-6 sprigs(finely chopped)
  5. Ginger     2 tsp(finely chopped)
  6. Besan Flour/Gram Flour/Kadalai Maavu       1 cup
  7. Rice Flour      2 tbsp
  8. Chili Powder      1/2 tsp or to taste
  9. Hing     a pinch
  10. Fennel seeds      1/2 tsp
  11. Salt       to taste
  12. Water       1 tbsp

Method
  • Boil potatoes, then peel the skin and mash it well using potato masher or spoon n keep aside.
  • In a bowl, add mashed potato, finely chopped onions, cilantro, ginger, n shredded carrots and mix everything well.
  • And in another bowl add all dry ingredients, gram flour, rice flour,salt,chili powder and hing mix well then add the dry ingredients to the potato mixture and combine well.
  • Sprinkle water and mix well to a tight dough(will be bit sticky, thats ok but not too much of moisture).
  • Now heat oil in a wok/kadai, when its get really hot, pinch a small amount of dough slightly flatten it using finger tips and drop it hot oil.
  • Fry in medium high heat, after 1 or 2 minutes turn other side and fry till it turns light golden brown and crisp.
  • Once done remove from the oil using slotted ladle and drain the excess oil in paper towel.
  • Do repeat the same for all remaining dough.
  • That's it...yummy n crispy Potato Fritters ready. Serve With any desired sauce or simply enjoy with ketchup and a cup of Masala Chai or Espresso Coffee.

Notes:
Instead of chili powder, u can use finely chopped green chilies.
U can also add any desired chopped or grated vegetable to this fritters, like broccoli,cabbage,cauliflower,spinach,beets,etc.
After frying a batch of fritter, wait for a minute to get oil hot again n then start dropping the second batch and fry in medium high heat.
Do not add water than the mentioned amount to the dough mixture, moisture from the potato, onion n carrots itself enough to bind.
If u add more, your fritters won't turn crisp n also it absorbs more oil n turn soggy.
I tried baking these fritters but it doesn't come out well...besan inside the fritters didn't get cooked well, wasted 6 patties :(
Didn't tried toasting it in tawa/griddle as i don't want to waste the stuff again.

Oct 1, 2012

Spinach Paniyaram / Palak Paniyaram

I am happy to share that Spicy Treats had crossed 5 Lakh Hits this weekend and My Tons and Tons of Thanks to all my readers, fellow bloggers, daily visitors, Subscribers and Facebook Fans. This is very important milestone for my little space since its 1 year and 9 months old only. Without your support and encouragement this would not be possible, thanks again to each n every one who visit my little space and hope u will continue your support and encourage me to do more n more in the future also. I wanted to treat to U with a special post, something sweet n special but my lil' one is sick n today he is feeling much better so keep watching for the Celebration post this week :)

Sep 26, 2012

Orange Blueberry Muffins ~ Eggless N Butterless / Eggless Orange Blueberry Muffins


Today's recipe is a healthy n equally delicious muffins with Orange n Blueberry combo. This is completely a vegan recipe, no egg, no butter not even yogurt and above all its made of Whole Wheat flour. So good right? The recipe source is unknown to me, When I was cleaning my wallet, saw a stick note with this ingredient list and also it was scribbled like anything n it took more than 5 minutes to recognize my own handwriting :) May be I wrote it while shopping or while waiting in hospital from the magazines. Anyway I tried it daringly, the original recipe(which I wrote) had All Purpose Flour but I wanted to try it with whole wheat flour and it turned out so good.

Sep 25, 2012

Aloo Methi Mutter Curry / Potato Peas Methi Curry

Today's recipe is rich and creamy curry made with Potato/Aloo-Peas-Methi leaves combo. This is one of my experiment which turned out super doper Hit with my family. A month back H bought one Instant curry mix(dry powder) like spice powder of Paneer Butter Masala, Methi Malai Mutter n one more pack. That spice mix powder gives really a restaurant style taste n it was more liked by my kids especially the Paneer Butter Masala. Its my long time wish to recreate that spice mix at home and wanted to try a curry in that style.

Sep 24, 2012

Oats Spiced Buttermilk / Oats Buttermilk Porridge/Congee

Oats Spiced buttermilk / Oats Buttermilk Porridge, first Oats recipe in My space. Before My marriage because of some health issue i gained my weight little more. So Dr. advised to reduce weight and to follow strict diet, no junk foods, no deep fried snacks, no chocolate, ice creams, sweets n the list was too big n its all my fav :( But at the same time my health is also more important to me, so i sacrificed everything and about for a year n half i was in strict diet, medications n regular exercises. Only That time i was introduced to Oats n Oats recipes by dietitian. And this Oats Moor Congee was also taught by her. I used to take this for my breakfast, very simple healthy n filling recipe. A glass of this congee n a desired choice of fruit is enough to start your day in a healthy way.
As i was taking this for long time in daily basis, almost a year so i got strong aversion towards Oats n stopped adding oats to my diet in any form. More than 2-3 yrs i stopped it n recently felt that my aversion towards oats was reduced n started including it Weekly once or twice in idly, adai n paniyaram form(posting it soon). After a very very long time Friday made this Mooru congee for my breakfast n really loved it. And also wanted to share this healthy recipe with u. Now to the recipe...

Sep 19, 2012

Onion Masala Buns / Onion Khara Buns

Happy Vinayagar Chaturthi Wishes to all my friends n readers. May The Lord Ganesha Bless u with all Health & Prosperity. Hope some of you had a wonderful festival n some still enjoying the special occasion with friends n family sharing all delicious Prasad :) I am still getting ready for the pooja, planned everything for evening. So today bit busy with other things, not in a mood to blog but have to post for the final day of blogging Marathon. As I prepared the recipe in advance its now easy for me to simply write the recipe and post. Onion Masala Buns is more or less similar to Khara Buns/Savory Buns in taste, with the addition of more onions but this is really more soft like my Garlic Buns since I followed the same recipe.

Sep 18, 2012

Onion Peas Kurma


For Day 2 of Blogging Marathon under the theme Cooking With Onions, i have chosen my Mom's favorite recipe, Onion Peas Kurma. My mom makes this kurma mainly for Puri. It doesn't require more ingredients n big preparation, just simple kurma with usual coconut grinding and veg sauteing.

I just tweaked my mom's recipe and made it with frozen peas. If u r out of veggies but at the same time u want to make some rich n delicious side dish for your rotis, this kurma is the best option. Since this kurma tastes excellent even without vegetables but for a whoelsome n healthy meal u can also add a cup of finely chopped mixed vegetables of your choice. But try this version without veggies, u will love this kurma for its unique flavor n taste. I like the onions to be bit crunchy, sure that adds a good taste to this kurma. Hope u will also like this yummy n aromatic kumra. Now to the recipe...

Sep 17, 2012

South Indian Cooking Event Series # 2


Hello Friends,
    I am happy to announce that i am guest hosting the event, "South Indian Cooking" started by Anu. I am so excited and happy to be guest hosting this event, from September 15 - November 15, 2012. Thank you Anu for giving me this opportunity. I love all kinds of South Indian Cooking, Tamil Nadu is my most favorite for more regional special recipes. Not only TN, the irresistible Andhra's hot & spicy recipes, Karnataka's delicious delicacies and Kerala's mild & aromatic recipes. Our Indian cooking is mainly with spices which are very healthy n must for our daily needs.  So friends You can cook any South Indian recipes and it can be of any region / district specialties and link it to this event and make this a very successful one. Nothing is possible without your love and support, so please show your love and support by sending all your South Indian entries to this event and enjoy the festival season with your family.


Bhindi Do Pyaaz / Okra Onion Masala

Cooking With Onion is my theme For the 3rd week of BM n for day 1 am going to share Bhendi Do Pyaaz . When Valli announced this theme, very first recipe came to my mind was "do Pyaaz " which means cooking with double the addition of onions or more onions. Generally I love adding more onions to my cooking that too for dry curry, poriyals n stir fry too. This time tried Do Pyaaz with Bhendi/Okra. And it turned out so flavorful n delicious. Remember the tip given by my sister, adding yogurt/curd to any okra dry sauté gives nice taste n sliminess free okra fry/curry. So tried that too, over all Bhendi Do Pyaaz came out so well n tasted delicious. Sure a great combo with Rotis or even with Rice n Dal Tadka. Now to the recipe...

Sep 13, 2012

Orange Loaf Cake / Low Calorie Orange Loaf Cake With Olive Oil

Orange Loaf Cake / Orange Cake With Olive Oil Recipe. From this September my elder one started going Kindergarten, he liked his new school, friends and above all the School Bus ride. He takes School Bus one way, morning V drops him at school and evening he comes by School Bus. He loves going to new school because of School Bus ride. 

Sep 12, 2012

Modhagam / Thengai Ellu Poorna Kozhukattai / Sweet Kozhukattai

Today's recipe is Lord Ganesha's favorite sweet, Modhagam / Sweet Kozhukattai for final of Blogging Marathon under the theme, Vinayagar Chaturthi Special. My Grand pa used to say more stories about God(purana kathaigal), I remember the one about Lord Ganesha. In that story, He told about the birth n power of Lord Ganesha. Of that entire story, Ganesha's childhood part is my favorite, hope its favorite of many of us too rt?! I loved the recent movie about the childhood part, Bal Ganesh. In that movie also they have shown like Lord Ganesha love lots of Modhagam n he eats more n more and thus he got such fat body :) And that’s why we offer this Modhagam to Ganesha on Vinayagar Chaturthi, so that Lord will be more happy by our offering and Bless us with all our needs. These are all small beliefs n it does not necessary to offer something to God to get his blessings. Simply a whole hearted Prayer n strong belief makes our life peace & happy. May Lord Ganesha gives us all the happiness n peace.

Sep 11, 2012

Kondakadalai Sundal / Black Chickpea Sundal / Kala Channa

For the second of Blogging Marathon under the theme, Vinayagar Chaturthi Specials, I am going to share a simple n healthy neivedyam ~ Kondakadalai sundal. Sundal is one of the easy neivedyam and is made on all special occasions like, vinayagar Chaturthi, Krishna Jayanthi, Saraswathi Pooja, Navarathri n many more special days. Not only on special days u can make this sundal daily for your tea time snack, as its a very healthy n filling snack. I usually make twice or thrice in a week with different legumes. I have already share 4 types of sundal recipes and u can see them Here. Each recipes is simple n different from other. This kala channa sundal is with out adding onions, just tempering is needed. Good amount of freshly shredded coconut is added for more flavor n taste. Now to the recipe...

Sep 10, 2012

Ulundu Kozhukattai / Kozhukattai With Savory Filling


From today n for the next two days i will be sharing Vinayagar Chaturathi Special recipes as its one of the theme of Blogging Marathon # 20. Vinayagar Chaturathi / Ganesh Chathurthi falls September 19 this year. Kozhuakattai is one of the main neivedyam and it can be made it many ways, sweet n savory filling, ammini kozhukattai, pidi kozhukattai, uppu kozhukattai, neer kozhukattai etc. Today going to see kozhukattai with savory filling - Ulundu Kozhukattai.
My mom never made this ulundu kozhukattai, she makes Poornam kozhukattai with chana dal jaggery n savory kozhukattai with Yellow Moong dal. But i tasted this urad dal filling kozhukattai in my neighbor maami's house. She used to share all neivedyams with us n i like this one very much. So i made this n except my lil' one we 3 enjoyed it :) The recipe as follows.

Sep 6, 2012

Garlic Breadsticks / Bread sticks


I wanted to bake this breadsticks for long time and so happy that today i baked them n also it came out really good n tasted so soft n delicious. The smell from the oven made me so hungry. It was too fresh, soft n yummy than the restaurants. This is the first dish we tasted after coming here to US @ Olive Garden. And we both loved it a lot n often buy it from grocery store. But hereafter no need to pick bread sticks from freezer section :) These Homemade Garlic Bread sticks are the best n perfect ones!
I was cooking for lunch n baking the bread sticks (with step wise pics) simultaneously. And as soon as the breadsticks done, H n the lil' one came for. I wanted to take pics before serving them, so clicked in hurry n didn't concentrate on presentation. But sure the breadsticks tasted so delicious n going to make some tangy n spicy sauce to go with this garlic bread sticks for our evening snack :) I added 1/4 tsp dried parsley n finely chopped chili for extra flavor n taste n it is purely optional. Now to the recipe...

Sep 4, 2012

Chicken 65 / Indian Style Fried Chicken ~ Spicy n Juicy!

After a very long time I am posting a non-vegetarian recipe, and this is V's favorite chicken recipe. I started cooking/eating non-veg recipes only after my marriage and mostly I make Chicken Biryani or Chicken Curry and sometimes this chicken 65 for him. Initially I was not good at making chicken 65 & later learned myself to make a perfect crispy, spicy n juicy fried chicken from my faults.

Sep 3, 2012

Prune Pachadi / Sweet & Spicy Prune Chutney

Today's recipe is something sweet & spicy with Fresh Prune, Prune Pachadi. Last week H bought a big box of fresh prunes, it tasted similar to plum but few were raw n half ripe. So I wanted to experiment with those prunes, but not jam or juice something sweet n spicy which suits well with rice n rotis/dosa as a side dish. Then tried this pachadi, similar to my Raw Mango pachadi. Fresh Prunes are thoroughly washed, deseeded, chopped n boiled till mushy and then cooked with jaggery n chili powder. I did not do seasoning like the regular pachadi. The result was awesome n it tasted so delicious with mild spicy, i just love eating it as such :) But my kids were not attracted by the color n texture of it :( they liked only the fresh prunes. We both liked it n he said that the sweet n spicy reminds him of  Elantha Vadai(Indian jujube, pounded with red chili,jaggery,tamarind n salt). Ok Now to the recipe...

Aug 29, 2012

Sprouted Peas Paratha / Peas Paratha / Stuffed Peas Paratha

Stuffed Parathas are always hit with my kids, so once in 10 days i make stuffed parathas n this time made with sprouted peas. I had already posted Paneer Peas Paratha with fresh peas n paneer. This time with dried peas. Actually i soaked to make it for Saturday Lunch n thought to click on the same day but this weekend was rainy, cloudy and i couldn't get sufficient light to take pics, so kept soaking for 2 days  i just washed n replaced the water for every 8 -10 hours. At the end of 2nd day the peas started sprouting beautifully and also it was a shiny day. Then without any second thought i proceeded and parathas tasted so yumm n overall its very nutritious n delicious with Carrot Raitha. U can't eat not more than 2 parathas, it was filling so its good choice for dieting and as its made with whole wheat flour its a fiber n protein rich, complex carb meal. Now to the recipe...

Aug 28, 2012

Celebrate ~ Month Of Shravan Round up


I am happy to post the round up of Celebrate ~ Month of Shravan Event. First i would like to thank Jagruti for this wonderful opportunity and also my blogger friends who send in some authentic and delicious recipes of both Fasting & Feast. Thanks each n everyone for your wonderful entries and through this event i came to know more  lovely recipes which are taken on Fasting days. I have bookmarked few to try. Hope u too like these delicious recipes n try it at home n enjoy. Thanks for your support.
Now to the Round up!!

Aug 26, 2012

Fresh Tomato Salsa / Chunky Salsa / Salsa

Hope u had a wonderful weekend n mine also went smoothly and wishing my readers n friends a very pleasant n successful week ahead. After a hot hot sunny days today it drizzled and the weather was too good n everyone at home is sleeping after a wonderful n filling lunch with some spicy chicken curry n mild pulao, rasam n rice. So i got some time now for my blog, i couldn't be active like before due to some personal issues but i really inspired by friends' support n lovely comments. Thank you friends, so i don't want to leave my blog n blog buddies n decided to post some simple recipes. And this Salsa made with fresh tomato n other stuff is one such simple n easy to make recipe. I think this is loved by all group of people n can make it to their individual choice particularly the spice level. This recipe is also from the Natural Health Magazine, under the heading "Five Foods Which Gives u Instant Energy". I had already shared the first recipe under that heading, "Mixed Bean Corn Salad" and this Salsa is second n other three are Chinese Ginger Chicken Soup, Honey Salmon n Creamy Berry Salad. Will try to make it soon n share with u. I made very little changes to the original recipe, i did not add garlic Jalapeno, and also added cumin powder extra. My kids love Salsa n tortilla chips, particularly the one from Chipotle. So i often made this simple version for them. Now to the recipe...