Olive oil

Hi all..bac after a real long time.

I wanna give an important information i got from my doctor & friends about olive oil.

Olive oil is said to have the greatest exponent of monounsaturated fat.It is a natural juice which preserves the taste,aroma,vitamins & properties of the olive fruit.Olive oil the only vegetable oil that is consumed as it is- fresh from the olive fruit.

Recently i can to know that using olive oil in Indian cooking needs more care,i.e, when u chose olive oil for cooking its better to see the label which says olive oil for frying.Olive oil which is meant for marinating should never be heated.When they are heated it releases toxins & becomes hazardous for health.So next time take care when u choose ur olive oil for cooking.

Milagu (pepper)thokku/Keti milagu kozhambu

We all know that pepper spice is gud for health than the hot taste we get from chillies.Pepper is being used widely by use in our day to day cooking.This milagu kozhambu/thokku is my mother's speciality.I always ask my mom to make it at least once in 2 weeks.

This can be stored in refrigerator for at least a week.This can be mixed with rice & had with vadam as side dish .This is also a gud side dish for curd rice.

This is how my mother makes it
Pepper 1 tsp
Jeera 1 tsp
Toordhal 1tsp
Coriander seeds 3tsp
Red chillies 6-7
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Few curry leaves
Tamarind soaked in water i small lemon size
Gingely oil 1/2cup
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Salt to taste
Take 2-3 tsp of oil in a kadai & fry all except tamarind & turmeric powder.Cool & grind along with tamarind into fine paste.In a kadai add gingely oil & splutter mustard seeds.When they pop add curry leaves & the ground paste.Add turmeric powder & salt.Allow it to cook & thicken.Always keep it covered as it spills all over.Take of stove when it thickness.

More curry leaves gives it more taste.Have it with hot rice

Ghee kozhukatai

Hi all....iam back after a very long time.Been busy with something or the other sometimes was too lazy to blog.

Thai and aadi(tamil months) are considered very auspicious for goddesses.All the fridays in these 2 months its a tradition followed in our family that we make some sweet or the other & offer to God. Mostly the first Friday of these months we make this ghee kozhukatai & start by praying lord Ganesha.This ghee kozhukatai is a hot favorite for all.So we make lot of this kozhukatai so that we ladies who make will get some haha.
This is how we make it..
Ingredients
Grated coconut 1 cup
Jaggery 1cup
Wheat flour 1/2cup
Turmeric powder a pinch
Oil & ghee to deep fry

Mix wheat flour & turmeric powder along with some water to make dough(like chappathi dough).Set aside.In a kadai add the grated coconut & jaggery & mix well until jaggery melts & mixes well with coconut to make the stuffing.Now make very small chappattis & stuff this coconut jaggery mixture in it & close it.

In a kadai heat oil.To this add 2tsp of ghee.When the oil is hot enough slide these kozukatais one by one & fry them until golden brown.

My gollu & awards

Gollu is a very beautiful festival celebrated in southern part of India.During this period we invite all our relatives home & give them thambulam with a small gift. I really miss gollu in Chennai now.Still i kept a small gollu here in US. A simple one.I loved it & so did my friends who came for my gollu.I have posted my gollu pics here.


I received these lovely awards from my beautiful friends.Thanks a lot..
Jyothi of Food seasons awarded me with the following awards.Thanx a lot jyothi.It means a lot to me.


Sanghi of tasty bites awarded me this award.Thank u Sanghi that is so sweet of u & u made my day.

Thanx again for such lovely awards.

Mattar paneer

People at all age love to have paneer.Especially when it tastes so authentic u cant stop eating it.I learnt to make this authentic mattar paneer from vahrevah.It came out so well...
This is how i made it
Ingredients
Paneer 1/2 cup
Green peas 1/2cup
Tomatoes 2
Onion 1
Cashew nuts 2tsps
Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp
Coriander powder 1tsp
Cumin powder 1/2tsp
Chilli powder 1 tsp
Green chilli 1
Cumin seeds 1/2 tsp
Coriander leaves few
Katoori methi 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Oil 2-3 tsp
Salt to taste
Cream 2tsps
Whole garam masala which includes-
Cinnamon stick 1,
Bay leaf 1,
Clove 2,

In a kadai add some oil & fry cashew nuts till light brown.Add onion ,ginger garlic paste,turmeric & tomatoes.Cook til tomatoes are soft.Then cool & blend them together.In the same kadai add some oil.Now add whole garam masala & then cumin seeds.Saute for few secs then add the ground tomato onion paste.Add little water to this sauce.To this add finely chopped green chillies,cumin powder,coriander powder & chilli powder.After adding all these ingredients allow it to cook till the raw smell goes & thickness.When it thickness add kastoori methi to this gravy.Allow it to cook for 5 more mins.Then add peas & paneer to this gravy.Simmer after u add all these & garnish with coriander leaves & cream.

Serve hot with parathas or rice.

colorful tomato rasam

Rasam is my all time favorite item which can be had with rice.U can find a lot of rasam varieties in my blog.I always wondered why we eat our meal in a particular way.Especially the south Indian thali.First comes sambar then rasam & finally curd rice.I always believe whatever v do there is a logical reason behind it.The way we eat this thali also has a reason.

Sambar that we prepare is full of spices & dhal which is rich in proteins.It also has vegetables in it so its quite filling.We eat rasam next which is very light & helps in digestion.It neutralizes all the heavy dhal we eat from sambar.Finally we finish with curd rice which is a natural coolant.It cools down our body & reduces the acidity level in our body.

Usually the rasam we prepare will have very less content in it & simple.But i learnt this rasam which has so many ingredients in it & so grand yet so light.After all parties & outing we wanted to have only rasam for dinner last night.This colorful tomato rasam which i prepared was so gud we finished it fully.
This is how i made it

Tomatoes 2
Green chillies 2
Garlic 1
chilli powder 1tsp
coriander powder 1tsp
cumin powder 1/2tsp
Pinch of hing
Jeera 1tsp
Feenu greek seeds 4-5 pieces
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Pepper 1/2tsp
Red chillies 2
Tamarind paste 1/4cup
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Toor dhal water 1/2cup(u can even use boiled mashed toor dhal)
Uradh dhal 1tsp
Salt to taste
Sugar 1/2 tsp
Ghee 2 tsp
Few coriander & curry leaves

In a bowl add some water & heat it.To this add chopped tomatoes & finely chopped green chillies.Then add sliced garlic,chilli powder,coriander powder & cumin powder.Now add salt & sugar.Then add the dhal water & coriander leaves to it.Then add the tamarind juice.Allow it to boil then simmer it & allow it to cook for 30 mins.When the rasam reduces to 80% of the content.

Now make thadka which is very essential to bring out the flavor in rasam.

Befor making thadka crush some garlic,cumin seeds & pepper.Pepper depends upon the spice level u want.Now in a sauce pan add ghee,when hot add redchillies,mustard seeds,feenugreek seeds,then add uradh dhal then hing.Now add some curry leaves & crushed garlic pepper & cumin.Now add little bit of turmeric.Now add this thadka to ur rasam & allow it tocook for another 10 mins.
Hing is the main flavoring agent in it.
For more flavor add some onions when u add green chilli.U can even add more garlic when u add onions.

Vegetable pulav

I always wanted to learn to make authentic dishes.I keep learning new things every time i log into the different blogs & websites created by many.My latest favorite is Vahrevah.com. chef Sanjay thumma teaches u different ways to make authentic dishes in a easy way.He makes the most complicated dishes appear to be very simple.He truly inspires people to cook.Any one who sees his program will want to cook.

One such items i learnt from him is this vegetable pulav.I always wanted to know the difference between a pulav & biryani.Many will know it.For some of u like me who do not know the difference here it is. A pulav is one in which we cook all vegetables & rice together.When we prepare biryani we layer vegetables & rice one over the other & cook.Pulav is simple & easy than our rich biryani.

This is how i made it
Ingredients
Basmati rice 1 cup(i used raw rice since i didn't have basmati rice)
Onion 1
Potato 1
Mixed vegetables 1/2cup(i used carrots & peas)
Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp
Curd 1/2cup
Cinnamon stick 1
Cloves 2
Elaichi 1
Black cardamom 1
Kala jeera 1 tsp
Bay leaves 2
Mint & coriander leaves few
Chilli powder 1 tsp
Coriander powder 1 tsp
Cumin powder 1tsp
Pepper(crushed)1 tsp
Oil 3 tsp
Salt to taste

Wash & soak rice in enough water for 30 mins.I used 1:2 ratio for rice & water.In a kadai add oil & add the whole garam masala(Cinnamon stick, Cloves , Elaichi , Black cardamom , Bay leaves ) & kala jeera in it.Now add the chopped onions & saute.Add little salt to the onions which will help it to cook faster.Now add ginger garlic paste & mix well.Add potato & other vegetables to it.Mix well.Add all the powders one by one & saute well.To this add the coriander , mint leaves & pepper & mix them all together.Mix the masala & vegetables with rice along with required water.Add the necessary salt.Switch on the rice cooker & wait till the rice is done.The smell that comes out when the rice is cooking is enough for an appetizer.When the pulav is ready allow it to stand for 2-3 mins before serving it hot.

Idly sambar

Hello all.....Blogging after a real long time.Right from the time i wanted to blog every day i could hardly sit with my laptop.Was very busy enjoying.Any ways back to blogging.I learnt quite a few items these which was very interesting.Will share all the items i learnt & made in future & all the tips i got.

Idly sambar is one favorite dish served in many south Indian restaurants.Saravana bhavan idly sambar is so famous i always wanted to make sambar like that for idly.Here it is sambar that has Saravana bhavan sambar taste.Simnce i dont have small idly mold with me i made regular idlies.


This is how i made the sambar

Ingredients
Toor dhal (cooked) 1cup
Pearl onions 1 cup
Tomato 1
onion 1
Tamarind juice 1 cup (diluted)
mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Channa dhal 2tsp
Coriander seeds(dhaniya) 4 tsp
Red chilli 10
Pottu kadalai 1 tsp
Oil 3tsp
curry leaves & coriander leaves few
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Salt to taste
Jaggery 1tsp

In a kadai add oil.Add channa dhal,coriander seeds & 8 red chillies.Roast them till little brown.Keep aside.Now add oil in the same kadai & add onions.saute a while & add half of a tomato & saute till tomato is soft.Allow it to cool & grind them all together to a fine paste along with pottu kadalai.Now in a kadai add oil.Splutter mustard seeds.When it pops add pearl onions & curry leaves.Now add red chillies and then the tamarind juice.Now add remaining tomato, turmeric powder & salt.Add the ground paste.Allow this mixture to boil till the raw smell of tamarind goes.Now add the cooked & mashed toor dhal to this & allow it to boil a little more.Now add jaggery & chopped coriander leaves & serve hot with idlies.

When serving with idlies first layer with idlies then pour some sambar on top.Add chopped onions & pour 1 tsp ghee on top.Garnish with coriander leaves.

Oats n fruity

Oats is generally considered a health food.It is said to help in lowering cholesterol levels.It has soluble fiber in it than any other grain, resulting in slower digestion and an extended sensation of fullness.I happened to see this oats & fruits drink in a TV show.Made few alterations according to the items i had to make this health drink.

This is how i made it
Oats 50 gms
Apple 1
Badam 8
Dates 4 or dry grapes 1 tsp
Sugar little
Milk 1 cup

In a heavy bottom pan add little water & milk.To this add oats,cook & cool it.Soak badam over night in water.Soak dates or dry grapes for 10 mins.Grind badam and dates/dry grapes to a fine paste.Use the water u used to soak badam to grind them as it has lot of nutrients.To this add the sliced apple & grind to a paste.To this paste add the cooked oats &sugar & grind to a thick shake.Serve chilled.

NOTE:You can avoid sugar if u don't want it sweet.
Can use any seasonal fruits like strawberry,papaya or pear.

Meethi keerai

I always loved spinach & all green leafy vegetables.Any form of keerai i would eat with out hesitation.I always wanted to make meethi keeri in South Indian style.So made this keerai kai this weekend.We just loved it.This meethi keerai is very gud for people with diabetics.

Here is the recipe

Meethi keerai 1cup(finely chopped)
Onion 1
Red chilli powder 1 tsp
Dhaniya powder 1/2tsp
Coconut 1/4cup (grated)
Sugar 1 tsp
salt to taste
oil 1 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Moong dhal 2 tsps

Soak moong dhal in water for 10 mins.Squeeze out water & set aside.Wash methi leaves completely & chop them finely.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds.Now add the cut onions & saute.Then add the cut meethi leaves,moong dhal,chilli powder, dhaniya powder & salt.Mix well cover & cook.When the leaves have cooked add sugar & grated coconut.Mix well.

Avoid sugar when you prepare for people with diabetics.

Dates cake

Month of May has been a month full of fun & enjoyment.I was going out almost all weekends and whole week busy with planing stuff.We bought a big box full of dates last week.I made this dates cake last Friday.It came out so well it was over the same day.

This is how i made it
Dates 1cup(seedless)
All purpose flour 1 cup
Milk 3/4cup
Sugar 3/4cup
Oil1/2cup
Baking soda 1 tsp
Chopped almonds 2 tspGrind dates with little milk to fine paste.To this ground paste add oil & beat well.Now add flour & baking soda.Add the remaining milk to this mixture & beat them together.Add the chopped almonds to this mixture.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Grease a baking tray with oil.Now pour this mixture in the tray & bake for 30-40 mins.Yummy dates cake is ready to be served.Cut it into desired shape when cooled.

Godhumai adai

Hello all....iam blogging after almost 3 weeks.I have been quite busy going out & having fun.We went to NY & celebrated our wedding anniversary in Atlantic city with friends & cousins.Happie shopping too.Only today i got bac the energy to sit in front of my laptop.

After all the food we had out side i decided to make something healthy.So i made these godumai adai this week.It was easy to make & quite filling too.

Suitable for diabetic people.Here is the recipe...
Ingredients
Wheat flour 1cup
Rice flour 1/2cup
chilli powder 1/2tsp
Green chilli paste 1/2tsp
vegetables 1cup(beans,cabbage,peas)
onion 1cup
coriander leaves few
salt to taste
oil few tsps

Mix all ingredients & make batter.Batter should not be too watery nor too thick.It should be in in thick pouring consistency.Make small adais.It will take a little long to cook.If u add oil to the batter u don't have to use oil when cooking adai.

Try it u will love it.U can have it with raita or pickle.

Vegetable rasam

I had this rasam full of vegetables in a restaurant here.It tasted so gud that i wanted to try it at home.It came out so well.We loved it

This is how i made it

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.

Event entry

Its been quite some time since i sent something for an event .So these are my entries to Mahi's 15 minutes cooking....

Channa chat..a must have healthy food..
Bell pepper baji..an easy yummy fried tiffin item
Pidi kozhakatai..steamed rice balls
Ravai idly...ready in 10mins
Cup of corn...favorite healthy snack for people of all ages.

Avakai pickle

Avakai pickle is the hot favorite of all pickle lovers.Who will not love this pickle!!!
Especially home made ones yummy.I was so lucky to get these tangy mangoes when i went to the Indian stores here.I made this pickle last week.Now they are ready to be finished.This is how i made it
Ingredients
Raw mangoes(cut)1 cup
Red chilli powder
Mustard powder
Fenugreek seeds
salt
Gingely oil

Measurement
This is the proposition i used to make the full bottle.For every hand full of cut mangoes i added 2 full spoons of red chilli powder,1spoon full of mustard seeds powder,2 & 1/2 tsp full of salt 1/4th spoon of fenugreek seeds.

First wash mangoes & cut them into big pieces(in India they cut it with seeds).Dry these cut pieces on paper so that moisture is absorbed from all pieces.All pieces should be dry.Now using the above mentioned measurement add all the ingredients.Then add gingely oil so that entire pickle is soaked in oil.Oil should float above.Mix well.Let it marinate nicely for 4-5 days.Daily mix the ingredients atleast 2 times.Mangoes will get tender & raw smell of chilli powder will go.This is when ur pickle is ready to use.

Ur yummy avakai pickle is ready.

Sandwich

Sandwiches are one way to give vegetables to kids.Not only kids any one will love to have these sandwiches any time.I made this sandwich for breakfast and we loved it a lot.

This is how i made it
Bread slices 2
Cucumber1
Tomato 1
Capsicum 1
onion 1
Mild cheddar cheese 1cup(shredded)
Butter 2-3 tsps

To grind
coriander leaves 1 bunch
green chillies 2
Salt to taste

Grind coriander & green chillies to a fine paste & add salt to it.In one bread slice spread this green chutney.In another bread slice spread butter.Place thinly sliced 4 cucumber pieces,then thinly sliced 4 tomato pieces.Now spread some onion rings and capsicum pieces on top of this.Now spread shredded cheddar cheese.If u have lettuce can spread that too.Now place the slice in which green chutney is spread & spread more butter on top & bottom of this sandwich.Grill it & serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Cup of corn

Sweet corn is one of my favorite snack.When toasted in fire & lightly salted it tastes yummy.Corn is very gud for health as it contains dietary fibres.It has low sodium content in it.

A cup of corn is a perfect evening snack in chill weather.

Ingredients
Corn kernels 1 cup
Butter 1/2 tsp
Salt & pepper to taste

Microwave corn kernels in a bowl for 2 mins or until they are soft.Now mix butter,salt & pepper.Adjust according to taste & serve hot.

Vanilla sponge cake

I always njoyed baking.I bought vanilla cake mix last week.I made vanilla sponge cake & with the remaining mix i made few muffins.

Ingredients
Vanilla cake mix 1 pack
Vegetable oil 1/2 cup
Milk 3/4cupIn a mixing bowl mix all the ingredients Until required consistency is reached.Preheat oven at 400 degree.Pour mix in greased cake tray.Bake for 40-50 mins.Muffins take only 20-25 mins to bake.It turned out very soft & fluffy.

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.