Rose sharbath

Sharbath is one cool drink served in hot summer in India.Its easy to make & refreshing too.I made this sharbath when it was really hot for past 2 days.I bought rose syrup last week when i went to Indian store.This sharbath was very refreshing when i had it.

This is how i made it
Water 1tumbler
Rose syrup 2 tsps
Sugar 2 tsp

Mix all the ingredients together & serve chilled.



Iam sending this Anu Sriram's RD for summer.

Iced Green tea

Green tea is a gud source of anti oxidants.The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression.Drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent.Green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

Both my hubby & my self have green tea regularly.I made chilled green tea yesterday which tasted even better than the hot tea i always have.Items required
Green tea bags 2
Water 1 tumbler
Honey 1-2 tsps

Boil water and take off stove.Put green tea bags & take it out in a minute or 2.Chill this green tea & add honey.Chill & serve.Is n't it a refreshing healthy drink for this summer?!?

This goes to Anu sriram's RD for summer.

Vegetable pizza

Everybody loves pizza.Kids love to eat pizza whenever they possibly can.How gud it will be to have pizza thatz made of only vegetables.Yes i happened to c this in a TV show & made few changes according to the available items.

Here i go with only vegetable pizza recipe
Big egg plant 1
Pizza sauce 4-5 tsps
Bell pepper(red,green,yellow & orange) 1 cup
onion 1
Black pepper 1tsp
Rice flour 1tsp
Mild cheddar cheese(original recipe had mozzarella cheese)1-2tsps
White pepper 1 tsp
Olive oil 1 tsp
Olives few
Jalapenos few
mixed vegetables 2-3 tsps
salt to taste

Cut eggplant into thin round pieces.Sprinkle some crushed black pepper & rice flour on these pieces & toast them in dosai thava till they cook on both sides (like how v make dosai).I used little olive oil when tossing eggplant.Set aside.In a kadai add olive oil to this add chopped onions & saute till raw smell goes.Then add bell peppers & mix well.Now add mixed vegetables to this & saute till they cook.I used frozen vegetables.Add white pepper powder & salt.Take off stove.

Arrange cooked eggplant pieces in a microwave safe plate.Using these eggplant pieces as base top it with pizza sauce,sauteed vegetables,jalapenos,cheese,olives.Microwave in high for 30-50 secs or until cheese melts.

Healthy only vegetable pizza is ready.Isn't it healthy???

This is my entry to Mahi's 15 minutes cooking

Mambazha pachadi

Manga pachadi is prepared on tamil new year day to depict the different phases of life.I couldn't get hold of raw mangoes but could get less sweet ripe mangoes.So i made mambazha pachudi.This is also my dad's favorite & my mom prepares this with raw mango & sweetex.He still njoys eating this.

This is how i made it
Ripe mango 1cup(only pulp cut into pieces)
Jaggery 1/2cup(it depends upon the sweetness of the mangoes)
Elachi powder a generous pinch

Peel mango skin & cut the pulp into small pieces.In a kadai add the cut mangoes pieces and add little water.Mix well,cover & cook.When the mangoes are cooked add jaggery to this cooked mangoes.Mix well & cook till jaggery melts & mixes with the mangoes.Ur simple mambazha pachadi is ready.

Iam sending this to Methai mela hosted by cooking 4 all seasons.

Pal payasam-my 100th post & an award

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Iam so happie to make my 100th post.Blogging has been so much fun that i didnt realize i reached a milestone.I thank all my blogger friends for their support.A special thanx to Vidhas of Appetizing recipes who have been full of support right from the day i started blogging.

Here goes my 100TH Post pal payasam.This is a all time favorite of my family.My dad loves this payasam.Since he has diabetics i prepare it separately for him with sweetex.I love to c the joy in his face when he has these occasional sweets as he loves sweets.He is very strict about his diet,so we all take immense care to prepare his favorite items.Pal Payasam
Ingredients
Milk 1 litre
Sugar 1 tumbler
Rice 1 hand full

Wash rice & add to milk.Pressure cook this milk for 5 whistles & then turn the flame to as low as possible.Now leave this payasam to cook for 1 hour from the time u kept the stove in low flame.After an hour take off stove allow it to cool.Now add one tumbler sugar to this.This payasam tastes great when serve cold.So cool & chill this payasam before serving.

Iam sending this to Anu sriram's RD for summer event & mithai mela hosted by cooking 4 all seasons.

Vidhas of appetizing recipes have been showering with awards right from the beginning..She has passed n i love ur blog award.Thanx a lot Vidhas for all ur love & affection.Iam so honoured.

carrot rice

Carrots-favorite food of Bugs Bunny hardly needs a description for they are well known and loved by even the youngest children in many countries. Carrots benefits are legendary. Bet your mother told you that eating carrots would keep your eyesight bright.

My hubby always love to have lots of vegetables.So i always make vegetable rice for his lunch.One such rice i made was this carrot rice.Ingredients
Cooked rice 1 cup
carrots 1cup(cut into small cubes)
onion 1
chilli powder 1tsp
salt to taste
oil 2 tsps
mustard seeds 1/4tsp

pressure cook rice & set aside.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds.When they pop add onions & saute.Then add carrot pieces,Chilli powder & salt.Add little water mix,cover & cook till carrots cook fully.To this carrot mixture add cooked rice & mix well.Adjust for salt.

For added falvor i added 1 tsp dhal powder(paruppu podi) to this rice & mixed.

This goes to FIL-Carrots hosted by Sanghi.




My other entries to this event are

Carrot kheer


Carrot juice

Chocolate drink

Chocolates are hot favorites of every one no matter what is their age.I am a regular chocolate drinker.I always loved anything in chocolate.Although iam weight consious i never stop eating chocolates.That too chocolate milk served chill can drink no stop.Ingredients
Chilled milk 1 cup
chocolate powder 11/2 tsp
Sugar 1-2 tsp

Blend all ingredients in a blender & serve chilled.

This goes to Anusriram's RD for summer.

Pepper rice

I always liked to eat mixed rice-chitrannam.Since its only 2 of us its easy to prepare mixed rice for lunch.Pepper rice is one that used to be served as prasadham in Shiva temple.After the late evening harathi they distribute pepper rice as prasadham.From then on i used to prepare this rice often at home.Its easy to digest & the pepper in this rice gives a unique taste.
Ingredients
Cooked rice 1 cup
Pepper 2tsp(crushed)
Coconut 1/4cup
Oil 2 tsp
Ghee 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Cashew nuts few
Uradh dhal 1/2tsp
Salt to taste
curry leaves few

Pressure cook rice & spread it in a plate & set aside.In a kadai add ghee & fry cashew nuts to golden brown set aside.In the same kadai add oil mustard seeds.When they pop add uradh dhal & curry leaves.Then add grated coconut & saute till it becomes a bit dry.Now add pepper powder & mix well.Take off stove.Mix this coconut mixture,fried cashew nuts & salt to cooked rice.Adjust salt.

Rose milk

Rose milk is a famous drink in South India. Most south Indian restaurants or hotels in the pre-cola era (which is less than a decade ago) served this and some still do. In the summer months (which is always!), it is a cool treat. The dark pink hued drink is almost as popular as 'filter coffee'.

When ever we go to restaurant i always end up having rose milk.This is my all time favorite.When i went for weekly grocery purchase i happened to get rose syrup from there.This is how i made my rose milk
Ingredients
Chilled milk 1cup
Rose syrup 2 tsp
Sugar 1 tsp

Blend all the ingredients in a blender & serve chilled.

Kids love this milk all the time for its color itself.

This goes to AnuSriram's RD for summer.

Pathiya kozhambu/Herbal kozhambu

After all the heavy lunch & dinner we had last week both my husband & myself decided to have a light food for this weekend.So i made this pathiya kozhambu for lunch this Sunday.This does not have tamarind or tomatoes or onion.This kozhambu is suitable for people having homeopathy medicines where in they have to follow certain restrictions.This kozhambu is served for nursing mothers too.

This is how i made it
Ingredients
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Jeera 1 tsp
Garlic 4 pods
Gingely oil 2-3 tsp
Brinjal 1/2cup

Grind to a fine paste
Parboiled rice 1cup
Jeera 1tsp
turmeric powder 1/2tsp
Garlic 10 pods
Redchillies 3
Curry leaves 1cup
Pepper 1 tsp
salt to taste

Cut brinjal into small pieces & cook them separately.Grind all the items given under"to grind" to a fine paste adding some water.Then dilute it.In a kadai add gingely oil.Splutter mustard seeds & jeera.When they pop add garlic pods & saute.Now add the cooked brinjal & saute.Then add the ground paste & mix well.Allow it to cook & thicken.When it reaches almost chutney consistency take off stove & serve with rice.

This goes to comfort food for illness hosted by recipe centre for all.

Indian burrito

I had my first Mexican food last week.I loved the burrito served there.I wanted to make it at home.Then i decided to make the Indian version of burrito.It tasted so gud my hubby & myself ended up eating lots.Well we had to have a soda pop for digestion lol

Here is how I made it
Ingredients
Channa masala 1cup
Mixed vegetables 1cup
Cooked rice1cup
olive oil 2-3tsps
ghee 2 tsps
salt to taste
coriander leaves few
spring onions few

U can find channa masala recipe here.

For sauted vegetables i used frozen vegetables which contained carrots,beans,corn and peas.In a kadai i added these vegetables.To these vegetables i added few drops of olive oil & some salt & sauted till the vegetables are cooked & tender.

I pressure cooked rice separately.In a bowl i mixed cooked rice with ghee & little salt.

This is how i layered my burrito

First i spread a layer of ghee rice,topped with channa masala,sauted vegetables,another layer of rice,some more sauted vegetables & garnished with spring onions.

Channa masala

Channa masala is my all time favorite.This is one thing i can eat almost anytime.I made this for lunch & had it with bread for dinner.

This is how i made it
Ingredients
Channa 1cup(soaked over night & pressure cooked)
Onion 1 big
Garlic 3pods
Ginger small piece
tomatoes 4
Red chilli powder2 tsp
Garam masala powder 1 ts
coriander powder 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
jeera powder 1tsp
oil 2 -3tsps
salt to tasteSoak channa over night & pressure cook it & set aside.In a kadai add oil.Add cut onions & garlic pod & saute a while.Cool & grind onion,garlic & ginger & set aside.Puree tomatoes separately.In the same kadai add oil.To this add the ground onion paste.Saute till oil separates.Now add the tomato puree & mix well.To this puree add all the powders,required salt.Allow this gravy to cook & thicken.When it thickness a bit add the cooked channa.Allow it to cook well & becomes a thick gravy.Serve hot with chapati,rice or bread.

Brussel sprouts

Until recently i was of the opinion that brussel sprouts are hard to cook & doesn't taste gud.My hubby always wanted me to try this brussel sprout as it was rich in nutrients.So one day i bought frozen brussel sprouts & made a sabji.WOW it was gr8.I loved it.Ingredients
Brussel sprouts 1 cup
Tomato 1
onion 1
Red chilli powder 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Salt to taste
Oil 1 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4 tsp

Cut sprouts to 2 halves.Chop onions & tomato into long slices.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustared seeds.Add onions & saute.Then add cut tomatoes & mix well.Add red chilli powder,turmeric powder & required salt.Mix well.Now add sprouts.Sprinkle some water,cover & cook for few minutes.Yummy brussel sprout sabji is ready.

cabbage subji

Cabbage subji is one instant side dish u can make when u have less of everything at home.It was a super hit when i made it as side dish for chappathi.
Ingredients
Cabbage 1 cup
Mixed vegetables 1cup(i used frozen mixed vegetables which had carrots,beans,corn & peas in it)
Onion 1
Chilli powder 1 tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
ginger garlic paste 1 tsp
Oil 1 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Jeera 1/4tsp
salt to taste

Heat oil in a kadai & add mustard seeds & jeera.Now add chopped onions,then ginger garlic paste & saute.Then add cabbage & all other vegetables.Add chilli,turmeric powders & required salt to the vegetables. Add the required salt,mix well,add little water mix,cover & cook till all vegetables cook & water evaporates.

Red chutney

I love to have idly with this spicy look but not so spicy chutney.This can be prepared in no time but tastes heavenly.All ingredients in this chutney are easily available most of the times at home.
This is how i made itIngredients
Onion 1 big
Tomatoes 4
Grated coconut 3 tsp
Red chilli powder 1-2 tsp
salt to taste
oil 1-2 tsp

In a kadai add oil & saute chopped onions till it becomes a bit transparent. Then add the cut tomatoes,mix & add chilli powder & salt.Add little water & allow it to cook.When all the water evaporates add the grated coconut & mix well.Take off stove.cool & grind to coarse paste.Ur yummy chutney is ready.

Milagu jeera kozhambu

This is one tasty kozhambu i have ever prepared.It was a bit spicy still loved it.All ingredients are best for digestion.Pepper jeera kozhambu is an inspiration from Priya's easy n tasty recipes.U can find the original version here

Ingredients
Tamarind juice 1 cup
Tomato 1
Pearl onions 1 cup
Garlic 5 pods
Chilli powder 1 tsp
Pepper powder 1 tsp
Jeera powder 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
Pinch of hing
Gingely oil 1/4 cup
Mustard seeds,Uradh dhal & fenugreek seeds 1 tsp
currry leaves few
salt to taste

Puree tomato & keep aside.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds,fenugreek seeds & uradhdhal.When it pops add curry leaves, pearl onions & garlic pods & saute till onions become translucent.Now add the tamarind juice.To this add tomato puree,chilli powder,pepper powder,jeera powder,coriander powder,salt,turmeric powder & hing.Mix well & allow it to cook.When the gravy thickness & oil separates & floats on top take off stove.Serve hot with rice.

spring onion soup

Spring onion soup are best suited for those who don't eat spicy food.It tastes so creamy & delicious kids will love this soup.It gave a beautiful color to the soup.It tasted great with vegetable chips.Easy to make soup.Ingredients
Spring onions 1cup(chopped)
butter 1 tsp
milk 1 cup
salt & pepper to taste

Chop spring onions into small pieces.I used both white & green portion of the onion.In a kadai add butter.When it melts toss in the cut onion & saute.Cool & grin it to paste.In the same kadai add one cup milk.When it is about to boil turn the stove to low heat & add the ground onions.Mix well & keep steering until it boils.Take of stove add salt & pepper according to taste & serve hot with vegetable chips.

carrot juice

Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A carotenes. Carrots' antioxidant compounds help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A. In addition, they are a very good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber and potassium.

We got lots of carrots yesterday.Both my hubby & myself love carrot juice.I made carrot juice for today's breakfast.

Ingredients
carrots 3
sugar 2-3 tsp
lime juice 1tsp

Wash & peel skin of carrots & cut them into small pieces or grate them.Now blend this cut or grated carrots with sugar & 2 tumblers of water.Strain this & mix lime juice to this juice.

This goes to Anu Sriram's refreshing drink for summer event.

Mango lassi

Lassi is a famous Punjabi dessert.A glass full of Punjabi lassi is so filling u will end up having only lassi.It will be very thick & tasty.I got some mangoes last week when i went to buy some vegetables.They were not as sweet as i expected.So made mango lassi with those mangoes as, i also had fresh home made yogurt at home.

Ingredients
Mango 1
Thick yogurt 2cups
condensed milk 2-3 tsps(depending upon the sweetness of mangoes)Peel the skin of mangoes , remove the pulp & puree it in a blender.Now add the mango pulp & condensed milk to the thick yogurt & beat it together with egg beater.Using egg beater helps to retain the thickness of the lassi.Taste & adjust the pulp & condensed milk in lassi.It was so yummy v finished it as soon as i made it.

This goes to Anu Sriram's refreshing drink for summer event.

Full meals

Weekend i always make full meals.It will mostly be a grand lunch most of the weekends.This week end i made 2 side dishes,sambar & rasam.

Here is the menu
Vengaya sambar
Vegetable rasam
Pavakai(Bitter gourd) sweet kai
Beans Usuli
Rice apalam
Curd
Rice



In India majority of the family have this for breakfast.Elders at home mostly will have only this for their meals.

Now to the recipe
Vengaya sambar
Ingredients
Pearl onions 1 cup
tamarind juice 1big cup
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
sambar powder 2-3 tsp
pinch of hing
salt to taste
oil 2-3 tsp
jeera 1/4 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Red chilli 1
coconut shredded 1/4cup
cooked toor dhal 1cup

In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds & jeera.When they start to pop add red chilli &onions & saute.Add the tamarind juice.Now add turmeric powder,sambar powder,salt & hing.Allow it to cook untill the raw smell of the tamarind juice goes.When done add the cooked toor dhal.Grind coconut & add to the sambar.Boil & take off stove.


vegetable rasam
Ingredients
cooked toor dhal 1 cup
tamarind juice 1cup (diluted)
turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
salt to taste
pinch of hing
garlic 5 pods
red chillies 3
jeera 1 tsp
oil 3 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
vegetables 1cup(i used carrots,beans,peas & cauliflower)
Tomato 1 chopped

Grind garlic,jeera & red chillies.In a bowl mix cooked dhal,tamarind juice,turmeric powder,hing & salt.Cut vegetables into small cubes & cook separately. In a kadai add oil & pop mustard seeds.Then add the ground garlic paste & saute.Now add the tamarind mix,tomato & vegetables.Allow them to cook till the raw smell of the tamarind goes.Vegetable rasam is ready.

Pavakai sweet kai
Pavakai 1cup(chopped)
Onion 1
red chilli powder 1 tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
jaggery 2 tsp
tamarind juice 1/2cup
salt to taste
oil 2 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp

In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds.Now add chopped onions & saute. Add cut pavakai & mix well.Now add tamarind juice,chilli powder,turmeric powder & salt.Mix well,cover & cook.When pavakai cooks add jaggery & mix well.Sweet,sour & tangy pavakai is ready.

U can find beans paruppu usuli here.
Our meals is complete with rice applam finishing with curd rice.Our dessert was store bought ice cream.

Iam sending this to Deesha for her to try if she wishes as a part of her "South Indies" , a fun concept to try south Indian dishes and post.

GAP mocktail

I made this a mock tail this morning for breakfast.I made it with grapes,apples & pomegranate.It was yummy & i loved it.Little bit about the nutritive value of the ingredients in this mock tail.

Grapes contain beneficial compounds called flavonoids, which are phytonutrients that give the vibrant purple color to grapes, grape juice and red wine; the stronger the color, the higher the concentration of flavonoids.

These flavonoid compounds include quercitin, as well as a second flavonoid-type compound (falling into the chemical category of stilbenes)called resveratrol. Both compounds appear to decrease the risk of heart diseasephenolic compounds in grape skins inhibit protein tyrosine kinases, a group of enzymes that play a key role in cell regulation.

Pomegranates contain a variety of medicinally active components. One of these components is polyphenol, which has antioxidant activity. In fact, pomegranate juice contains more polyphenols than red wine.In ancient times, the pomegranate was used as a contraceptive

The proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," addressing the health effects of the fruit, dates from 19th century Wales. Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. Compared to many other fruits and vegetables, apples contain relatively low amounts of Vitamin C as well as several other antioxidant compounds. The fiber content, while less than in most other fruits, helps regulate bowel movements and may thus reduce the risk of colon cancer. They may also help with heart disease, weight loss, and controlling cholesterol, as they do not have any cholesterol, have fiber, which reduces cholesterol by preventing reabsorption, and are bulky for their caloric content like most fruits and vegetables.

With these informations on the ingredients lets got to the recipe

Ingredients
Apple juice 1 cup
Grape juice 1/2cup
Pomegranate juice 1/2cupMix all the juices & make this refreshing healthy mock tail.

This goes to Anu sriram's refreshing drink for summer event.

Tomato dosai

Dosai is a all time favorite for many people.Iam one among those dosai lovers.My friend gave me this recipe last week.I made this & it was so yummy.

This is how i made it.
Ingredients
Rice 1cup
Toor dhal 1hand full
Ginger 1 small piece
Green chilli 2-3
Tomatoes 4
salt to taste
Oil to make dosaiSoak rice & toor dhal together for 3 hrs.Grind all ingredients except oil.In a tawa Sprinkle some oil & pour one full cup of this batter & make dosas.This dosai is a tangy with tomato in it.Kids will love this dosai.U can add grated coconut,carrots,chopped coriander to the batter & make colorful dosais.Serve hot with coconut chutney.

Tomato kurma

Any thing made out of tomato makes an excellent combination .I love tomato kurma with idlies.It can be made in no time. So made it for breakfast.

Here we go for the recipe

Ingredients
Tomatoes 4
Onion 1
Jeera 1/4 tsp
ginger garlic paste 1tsp
chilli powder 1-2 tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
salt to taste
coriander leaves few
oil 2-3 tsp

To grind
Coconut shredded 1/2cup
cashew nuts 10-15
poppy seeds 1/4tspGrind coconut,poppy seeds & cashewnuts to a fine paste & set aside.In a kadai add oil & splutter jeera.Add chopped onions & saute a while.Then add ginger garlic paste & mix well.Now add the chopped tomatoes,red chilli powder,turmeric powder & salt.Add enough water & mix well & allow the tomatoes to cook.When it is done add the ground coconut paste & allow the kurma to boil.Take off stove.Serve them with hot idlies.

This is my entry to WYF-side dishes hosted by EC of simple Indian food.

Watermelon cooler

No other fruit says summer like the subtly crunchy, thirst quenching watermelon. Although watermelons can now be found in the markets throughout the year, the season for watermelon is in the summer when they are sweet and of the best quality. Watermelon is not only great on a hot summer day, this delectable thirst-quencher may also help quench the inflammation that contributes to conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis. watermelon is a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1, magnesium, and potassium.

I love water melon & eat it when ever i can....I got 2 mini melons last week.They taste so sweet that i added very little sugar to the juice i prepared.

Here is how i made it
Ingredients
Water melon cut 1 cup
sugar 1-2 tsp
water melon balls fewCut water melon & scoop out the flesh.Using round tsp(I used 1/4tsp measuring spoon)scoop out melon balls from the flesh.Now beat the remaining water melon with required sugar in a blender.Strain & add watermelon balls in the juice.Chill & serve.Kids loved it when i served them with these small balls.

This goes to Anu sriram's refreshing drink for summer event.