Happy and Healthy Cooking !!: 2009

Beets Fry

For the First time, in my journey of cooking, I'm doing somethin' with Beets! This is certainly not my fav veggie. But, after reading the benefits of it, couldn't resist buying them from local market..

Benefits:

Lowers the blood pressure
Used in treating fever and Constipation
Good source of Vitamin C and Folic acid
Helps stimulate the function of liver cells and protects liver and bile ducts
It can prevent Varicose veins
It helps in treating Skin problem, headache, menstrual problem and etc.,

Ingredients:
Beets- Four
Oil - 1tbsp
Grated Coconut - 3tbsp
Cumin Seeds - 1tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1tsp
Red Chillies- 2

Preparation:
Pressure cook the beets with less amount of water to two whistles.
Remove them and chop to small chunks.
Heat a pan with 1 tbsp of oil and add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, red chillies.
Add the chopped Beets, fry for 10 mins in medium heat.
Add salt and 3tbsp grated coconut and fry for 2 mins.
Garnish with Cilantro leaves.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009 | Category: | 33 Foodies Review

Gulab Jamun

Gulab Jamuns are fried dough (mainly made of milk solids) balls soaked well in sugar syrup flavoured with cardamom, rosewater or saffron. .

Ingredients:
Gulab Jamun mix- 1 cup(contains 1cup milk powder, 1/4 cup all purpose flour, pinch of baking soda)
Milk - 1/4 cup

For Sugar Syrup:
cardamom - 2 crushed
saffron - 4 string (optional)
Sugar - 2 cups
Water - 4 cups
Oil for frying.

Preparation:
Combine 1/4 of milk with 1 cup of gulab jamun mix, set aside and let it stand for 20 mins.
Heat water in a medium size pan, add the sugar and cardamom for 20 mins. Set aside.
take the dough and knead softly, divide in to equal sized small balls, Make sure you it has a smooth surface.
Heat oil in a pan, let it heat in low flame between 3-4.
Once the oil is hot enough drop the shaped doughs in to the oil about 5-6 at a time. it will rise slowly from the bottom of the pan to the top layer. If the oil is too hot, the outer layer of the dough will turn dark soon.
Keep turning the jamuns once in a while and it will take about 5-6 mins to cook, cook till the jamun turns Golden brown.
Remove from oil and drop it in sugar syrup. It need to be soaked in the sugar syrup for at least 20 mins before serving.

Friday, October 30, 2009 | Category: | 39 Foodies Review

Classic Cake with Fudge Layer!

Dear All, sorry for my long off from blogging, been little busy.

I have been thinking about posting this recipe for quite a while, managed to get a picture only this time :) I love classic cake! and recently tried adding the fudge layer to it and it turned out so yum.

Ingredients:
1.5 cups flour
1 tbs baking powder
3 large eggs
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbs cocoa powder

Method:
Grease and line a 9" round cake tin.
Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar a couple of times.
Beat the eggs and add the milk, oil and vanilla till well combined.
Gradually beat in the flour on low speed just until combined.
Divide the mixture into two and mix cocoa powder in 1/2 cup.
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Pour the cake mix in the greased pan and add the cocoa on top of it a random order.
Gently swirl it with a knife.
Cook for 45 minutes or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

I want to thank Lata raja for sharing these two awesome awards with me, Im so honored.

I want to share this awards with everyone who reads this post!

Thursday, September 03, 2009 | Category: | 46 Foodies Review

Awards and a Tag!

Thanks to Aysha for these lovely Awards, I'm so honored.

Thanks Yummy-o-Yummy for sharing the awards with me :)

My special Thanks to kittymatti and Ramya for passing me three award and a tag! You ladies really made my day!!

First one: Kreative blogger Award

Rest of the two awards (I love your Blog and One lovely blog) has a tag attached.

Thanks Iraw

Thanks Lata Raja

Thanks Ayesha

Thanks Lata

Thanks Padma

Thanks Dharani

Thanks to Muneeba, Hari Chandana,Lata Raja,Ayesha, Chakhlere

Thanks Padma

Here are the answers to the Tag:

1. What is your current obsession?

Meditation, Yoga and Weight loss!

2. What are you wearing today?My Gym dress

3. What’s for dinner?Dosa with Tomato Chutney

4. What’s the last thing you bought?Coffee Cup

5. What are you listening to right now?Who's watching me song - Geico song

6. What do you think about the persons who tagged you?

Both are sweet, lovely and very talented in cooking.

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?Detroit for now

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer? Hat, sunscreen lotion, Capri's and t-shirts.

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?Scotland

10. Which language do you want to learn?French and German

11. What’s your favourite quote?Be Blissful!

12. Who do you want to meet right now?Mom, Dad and Romy(Our Pet)

13. What is your favourite colour?Pink,Yellow

14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?Wedding Saree's, Skirt and tops.

15. What is your dream job?I always dreamed of being a Pilot but ended up in IT!

16. What’s your favourite magazine?Health Magazine

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on? I will save that $ :)

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?

See through dress and Unfit clothes!

19. Who are your style icons?No one

20. Describe your personal style.?I love to dress trendy and more colorful

21. What are you going to do after this?Chat with DH, watch TV

22. What are your favourite movies?Becoming Jane,Amilie.

23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?

My olay sun cream, Eye liner, Chap stick.

24. What inspires you?My Spiritual Master.

Give us three styling tips that always work for you: Good Hair do, Lipstick, and an appropriate dress.

26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?Buy new ones :)

27. Coffee or tea?Sometimes Coffee and Sometimes Tea

28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?Hear some healing music and meditate.

29. What is the meaning of your name?Graceful and Attractive

30. Which other blogs you love visiting?Every other blog I know

31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?Kaju Katli, Cinnabon, Tiramisu

32. Favorite Season ?Spring and Summer

33) If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me? Traditional Five course Indian Meal.

34)What is your most funniest cooking disaster?

I tried to make Murukku (Indian Snack) it was a huge flop! making that again is a Taboo in my kitchen :(

My question:

What would you do, If you crave something sweet in the late night?

The rules are:Respond and rework – answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own. Then tag eight or ten other new set of people.I would like to share this awards and tag with..

1. Pocky

2.Muneeba

3.Uma

4.Prathibha

5.chakhlere

6. Parita

7. sree

8. Sweta

9. iRaw

10.DEESHA

Wednesday, August 05, 2009 | Category: | 50 Foodies Review

Pizza Dosa and an Award

Pizza type Dosa is one of my fav from Mumbai fast foods, due to the addition of cheese I wont make this very often :( But, it tastes too good with Peanut Chutney!

Preparation:
Keep the dosa batter ready- recipe for the batter is here.
Heat the flat pan in medium heat. Pour 1/2 cup of batter in the hot pan, don't spread it.
Add the Fried veggies of your choice on top of it and add the desired amount of any cheese.
Close the pan with the covering lid. Let it cook in slow heat till the batter cooks.
Enjoy with chutney.. Yumm!

This one is my version of Peas and Mushroom Utappam:
Same preparation as Pizza Dosa with only peas and mushroom except Cheese.

I'm sending this recipes to Padmas Dosa Corner Event.

I want to Thank Padma for giving me this Award.

Rules are :
1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.About Me
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers. (Which is not fair, I want to give to all my friends!)
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated

I would like to share this with: Yasmeen Vrinda Anupama Aysha LataRaja Priyameena Ozge

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | Category: | 55 Foodies Review

Ratatouille

I bet, you all must 've watched the Animated movie Ratatouille or at least heard of this word just once! This story is about a Rat named Remy and his passion for cooking :) I love this movie and wanted to make the signature dish of Remy Rat's Ratatouille since then.
Finally today, I could get hold of all the main ingredients to make this colorful and healthy Ratatouille!! Aah.. I dedicate this to our Little Rat Chef :)

Ingredients:
Thinly Sliced Vegetables: Egg plant,Zucchini,Potato,Tomato,Yellow Squash .

For spread:
Pasta sauce - 1 cup
Mushroom Chopped - 1/2 cup
Green Onion chopped - 1 cup
Dry Basil - 1 tbsp
Dry Thyme - 1 tsp
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1tbsp
Paprika- 1 tsp
Green pepper chopped - 1/2cup
Olive Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt.

Preparation:
Mix all the Ingredients for 'Spread' and form a layer in a greased baking pan.
Cover it with Foil paper and

Form a layer with sliced veggies from outer to inner and overlapping each other.

Drizzle some olive oil and the remaining spread on top of the veggies and cover it with Foil paper.

Let it bake for an hour in 375F.

Serve as a main or side dish.

Saturday, July 18, 2009 | Category: | 58 Foodies Review

Black Eyes in Spicy Curry

This is my first time, I made the Black Eyes with lot of herbs and hot peppers. It turned out good and very aromatic.

Ingredients:
Black Eyes - 2cup (half-cooked)
Tomato Puree - 1/2 cup
Ginger Paste - 2tbsp
Garam masala - 1 tbsp
Red chilly paste - 1 tbsp
Turmeric Powder- 1/2 tsp
Pepper Powder- 1tsp
Tamarind Paste - 1tbsp

Herbs:
Thyme- 1/2 tsp
Mint- 5 leaves
Basil- 4 Leaves 0r 1/4 tsp dry leaves
Oregano- 1/4 tsp
Dry fenugreek Leaves- 1/4 tsp

Preparation:
Add the half cooked Beans, 2 cups water in a pan and cook in medium for 5 mins.
Take a handful of beans separately and grind to fine paste. Keep aside.
Mix the Tomato puree, Ginger paste, garam masala, chilly paste, and pepper powder, bean paste in to the boiling beans. Allow it to cook for 15 mins.
Add all the herbs in to the bean mixture and let it cook in low heat for 5 mins or till the Beans get cooked completely.
Add salt and tamarind paste.
Remove from heat.
Serve it with Roti or Rice.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009 | Category: | 67 Foodies Review

Satvic III - Lentil Dosa with Cabbage Curry

Dosa Means - South-Indian dish famous for breakfast or dinner, made with rice and lentils. It looks like Pancakes or very think and crispy.There are numerous varieties of Dosa's available!

This is a yumm and healthy Satvic version of Lentil Dosa! tastes great with Satvic Cabbage-Lima bean Curry. I'm sending this post to Padma's Dosa Corner event.

Ingredients:

Raw Rice - 2 cup

Urad Dal - 1/2 cup

Moong Dal - 1 cup

Toor Dal - 1 cup

Fenugreek Seeds - 1tsp

Channa Dal - 1cup

Red Lentil - 1 cup

Soak all the rice -lentils in water for 4 hours.

Ginger - 2 tbsp

Cumin - 1tsp

Mint leaves - 15

Red chillies - 4

Fennel Seeds - 1tsp

Salt

Grind soaked lentils to fine paste using water, add Red chillies, Ginger, cumin, pepper and salt while grinding.

Ferment it for 8-12 hours.

Add extra water, it its too thick. It has to be in the consistency of pancake batter.

Finally add the chopped mint leaves.

Heat the pan, and pour a spoon full of batter and flip to other side after a minute.

Serve with any chutney or curry

I adapted the cabbage-Lima bean curry from Vidya's kitchen. Thanks Vidya, the recipe turned out great.

Thursday, July 02, 2009 | Category: | 49 Foodies Review

Satvic II - Red kidney Bean and Garbanzo

Another healthy Satvic meal! Initially I wasn't convinced to make it without onion and garlic. But, to my surprise it turned out very tasty and more than I expected.

Ingredients:
Red Kidney Beans - 1cup (Soaked in water overnight)
Garbanzo Beans - 1/2 cup((Soaked in water overnight)
Tomato's - 3
Mint Leaves - 10
Dried basil leaves - 1 tsp
Cinnamon- 1/2 stick
Cardamom - 1
Cloves - 2
Ginger - 1tbsp
Bay Leaf - 1
Cumin - 1tsp
Garam masala - 2 tbsp
Chilly powder - 1tbsp
Salt
Cilantro
Oil

Preparation:
Cook the beans in a open pot with enough water.

Grind Tomatoes, Ginger,Fennel seeds,Cloves, Cinnamon and Mint to fine paste. Keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan, add the mustard,cardamom,bay leaf. Mix the fine paste and fry till the raw smell subsides.
Add the cooked beans in to this boiling gravy and add water it its too thick. Let it cook in slow heat for 10 mins. Add salt.
Garnish with basil and cilantro.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009 | Category: | 14 Foodies Review

Satvic Tuesday!

Satvic means : Vegetarian food that excludes Onion, Garlic and Jalapeno Peppers. Satvic food will give you good digestion, feels light, very energetic and helps in healing.

Ingredients:
Dried peas - (soak overnight in water)
Tomatoes- 1
Ginger - 1 tsp
Mustard - 1tsp
Cumin- 1tsp
Channa dal - 1tbsp
Urad dal - 1tsp
Cinnamon - 1/2 stick
Red chillies -2
Basil - 1tsp
Mint - 1tsp
Shredded Coconut - 1/2 cup
Garam masala - 1tbsp
Sambar Powder- 1tbsp
Salt
Oil

Preparation:
Cook the peas in enough water in a pan.
Mean while, add oil in a pan and fry channa dal, cumin, cinnamon,urad dal,coconut, red chillies. Let it cool. Grind it to fine paste using little water.
In the same pan, add 1 tsp oil, add Mustard,tomatoes,masala powders, mint, basil and salt. Let it cook for 3 mins.
Mix the fine paste and tomato masala in to the cooking peas and let it cook till the peas are soft. Adjust the gravy consistency by adding water.
Goes well with roti or rice.

Sending this Recipe to My legume love affair twelfth helping event hosted by Annarasa

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 | Category: | 49 Foodies Review

Upside down Apple Cinnamon Cake

Weather in Detroit @ 4pm is unbelievably dull, dark and raining like it's not going to stop for decades! and it makes me drowsy too. So thought of making this lovely, cute up-side apple cinnamon cake to brighten up the evening :)

Ingredients:
Apple sliced - 1 cup
Cinnamon powder - 1/2 cup
Brown Sugar/regular - 1/2 cup
Cake mix flour - 2cup
Vegetable oil - 2 tbsp
Water - 3 tbsp
Egg - 1
Melted butter - 3 tbsp

Preparation:
Mix the cinnamon, sugar, butter. Add the apple slices and gently mix well to get nice coating of cinnamon-sugar. Place this as a layer in a greased baking pan.
In a separate bow, beat egg,water,oil and slowly add the flour while beating the mixture.

Pour this mixture in the baking pan, Forming a second layer above the apple layer.
Pre-heat the oven to 350F and bake for 35 to 40 mins.

Let it rest for 10 mins before serving.

Thursday, June 25, 2009 | Category: Apple Cinnamon Cake | 51 Foodies Review

Vegan Tuesday!

This simple and delicious Vegan friendly curry is made of moong dal and some spices in coconut milk, tastes great with Indian bread or Rice.

Ingredients:

Moong dal- 1 cup

Onion sliced- 1/2 cup

Tomato- 1/2 cup

Fennel seeds - 1 tsp

Cumin- 1tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1tsp

Green chilly- 1

Coconut milk - 1 cup

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp

Garam Masala - 1tbsp

Curry powder or Paprika - 1tbsp

Turmeric - 1tsp

Salt.

Preparation:

Heat 4cups of water in a heavy pan, bring it to boil and add the moong dal. Let the moong cooks completely.

Add oil in a pan, temper the mustard, cumin, fennel, chillies, ginger garlic paste and onions.

Add the Tomato and salt.

Mix all the spices and cook till the raw smell subsides.

Add the cooked moong in to the gravy and mix well with the spices. Add the coconut milk and cook in low heat for 15 mins to get the thick consistency. If it's too thick, add some more water.

Enjoy with Rice or Bread.

I dedicate this recipe to all my vegan friends! Thank you so much iRaw for giving me this award, I'm very happy to receive it from you.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | Category: Green lentil, Moong Dal, Vegan, Vegeterian | 43 Foodies Review

Kreative Award from a Sweet Blogger!

I'm honored to receive this award from Ayesha. Thank you very much dear, you made my day.

All my blogger friends are so creative in many ways. I would Love to pass this to all of them. Please accept this Award.

Monday, June 22, 2009 | Category: Blog Award | 17 Foodies Review

Home made Clarified Butter

Clarified Butter or also known as ghee is prepared by melting unsalted butter in low heat, filtering and discarding the milk solids. It is primarily used in Indian Cuisine as a substitute for Oil, It has high smoking point and stays for months without refrigeration, if stored in an air tight container.

Ghee is so flavourful and I love the way it fills every corner of the house with its divine aroma while making it or using it in cooking:)
It also has excellent health benefits and it's widely used in Indian traditional medicines, along with herbs.

Benefits are:

Can help relieve ulcers

Easy digestion

Can be used as a topical treatment for blisters, burns and cuts

Reduces inflammation, internally and externally

Helps improve the texture of the hair

Ingredients: Unsalted Butter - 1 pack (at room temperature)