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.