Happy Diwali

Dear Friends,

May you be blessed with peace and happiness on this Diwali!

May the lights of this auspicious festival fill your life with eternal glow!

Cheers,

Priya

Bitter Gourd Podi

Again this week end was busy with cooking session and ended up making 7 dishes (< last weekend).  Weekdays are more relaxing without cooking.                      

Bell Pepper Sambhar  - I froze a bowl of Sambhar for future use.                   

Paruppu Rasam                       

White Gourd More Kuzhambhu                       

Clustered beans Poriyal                       

Potato Kara curry                    

Bitter Gourd Podi                     

Poori Kizhangu -I froze a samll bowl of hers too.                                             

Here I go with the recipe of Bitter Gourd Podi

I donno how to name this recipe, I learnt it from my friend Suneetha(from Andhra). My DH also likes it very much, and I make it once in 2 ,3 months because it calls for deep frying.                      

After tiresome cooking, we went to Vanaathi - Mohan's Place for dinner. She made spicy & yummy Veggie Cutlets for appetizers. Definitely I should get her recipe and try it soon as a surprise.                

It was fun playing cards, delicious dinner and me falling from the swing tops them all. Kids played nicely in the swing. Shame on me…L

 

Ingredients               

Bitter Gourd ---------------------> Slice into thin rounds

To Grind                     

* Dhalia -------------------------> ½ cup (Pottukadalai/Roasted Split Channa Dhal)

* Dry Coconut Powder ---------> ½ cup

Red Onion -----------------------> one half hopped into chunks

Chilli Powder --------------------> 2 tsp              

Salt ------------------------------> A2Y taste

First grind * marked items alone in the mixie and then add rest of the items to make a coarse paste.                    

Procedure                  

v  Marinate bitter gourd in salt, turmeric for 30 minutes; then squeeze excess water and keep it aside          

v  Deep fry the Karela rounds in oil; I just pan fried, but it takes longer time                

v  In a wide pan, add oil; pour the Channa Dhal mixture and fry for few minutes                       

v  Now add the fried Bitter gourd and mix well              

v  Keep it for few minutes and remove it from heat

v  Make small balls when it is warm enough                  

v  Mix each ball in the hot rice and serve it with Pulikuzhambhu

Gongura Leaves & Ridge Gourd Skin Thovaiyal

This time the Ridge Gourd skin looks very good and I don't feel like wasting it. At the same time I was already in the process of making Goungura Thovaiyal. Suddenly my idea is bulb is switched on. Yes I made the thovaiyal with Gongura leaves & Ridge gourd skin.                              

Gongura /Sorrel leaves are very sour in taste, so need to add Tamarind as you do for any other thovaiyal                           

Ingredients               

Gongura Leaves ---------------> Washed leaves alone

Ridge Gourd Skin --------------> Peel the skin along with the ridges

* Channa Dhal -----------------> 2 tsp

* Corriander Seeds ------------> 2 tsp

* Urad Dhal --------------------> 2 tsp

* Methi seeds ------------------> ½ tsp

* Sesame Seeds ---------------> 2 tsp

* Red Chillies ------------------> 3

Salt -----------------------------> A2Y                               

Procedure                 

v  Dry roast the * marked items one by one or add one item at a time in the same order with a minute of gap in between.                    

v  In a pan, add oil. When it is hot add Gongura leaves and fry for few minutes..                       

v  Do the same for Ridge Gourd Skin.                 

v  Grind the dry Ingredients with.without water.   

v  Now add the Gongura Leaves & Skin     

v  Serve it with Hot rice & Gingelly Oil/Sesame oil                       

Kids Special - Garlic Rasam

When my DD gets cold or Cough or Fever, I make Garlic Rasam &  Par boiled Rice(Puzhungal Arisi). That’s the only taste she likes when she is sick and don't want to eat anything.                 
Par boiled rice is easily digestible and has more nutrients than Raw Rice(Pachaai Arisi)              
I cook the par boiled rice as whole or crack it down coarsely in a blender before cooking. Add little extra water so that rice will be cooked softly.             

Ingredients               
Tomato ------------------> 1, Sliced
Garlic --------------------> 15 Cloves, minced
Tamarind Water --------> ½ cup
Green Chilli --------------> ¼ inch
Pepper-Jeera Powder ---> 4 tsp
Methi Seeds Powder ----> ½ tsp
Turmeric -----------------> 1 tsp
Curry leaves Powder ----> 1 tsp
Salt -----------------------> A2Y

Procedure:                 

v  In a pan, add little oil; when it is hot add minced Garlic and fry for few minutes                    

v  Add Tomato, Green Chilli & turmeric; fry for a minutes                       

v  Now add all the powders(Pepper Jeera Powder, Methi Seed Powder, Curry leaves Powder)    

v  Pour Tamarind water & 1 cup of plain water                

v  Leave it in medium, when it starts boiling remove rasam for the stove.                    

v  Do the seasoning if needed. I didn't do it because she was sick.                   

v  Serve it with hot rice.              

Yesterday she was sick & didn't eat very well throughout the day. For dinner I made this Rasam & Vendaikkai Poriyal. Surprisingly she finished the dinner in 20 minutes, usually she takes nearly 45 minutes.                 

Ideas:            

ü  If the powders are not handy, just dry roast Pepper, Jeera, Methi & powder it freshly.          

ü  If you are making the powder freshly, include corriander seeds as well. It also has medicinal properties to relieve cold & cough.  

Kids Special -Corn Pasta

After so many experiments with pasta, finally my DD is happy with this healthier version of Pasta made without any other secondhand ingredients.                       

Ingredients               

Organic Pasta --------------------> 1 cup, Cooked & Drained (Any kind)
Organic Frozen Corn ------------> 1 cup
Organic Butter -------------------> 1 tsp
Milk -------------------------------> 4 tsp
Shredded Cheese ---------------> As desired
Salt -------------------------------> A2Y Taste

Procedure                  

v  I used the Alphabet Pasta from TJs.                

v  In a pan, melt the butter; add the corn and fry for few minutes                    

v  Now add the pasta, sprinkle salt                     

v  Finally add milk and stir it well             

v  While serving add cheese on top and microwave it.               

Ideas:            

ü  Mixed Vegetables can be added to. I haven't tried yet.                      

Kids Special – Potato Gravy

This is a little modified verison of poori kizhanghu we make it for Pooris in hotels.                
It goes well with Chappati kind of dishes, sometimes If I mix this gravy with rice too. A different taste.            

Ingredients               

Potato ---------------------> 2, Cooked & Peeled, cut into small cubes
Onions ---------------------> ½ cup
Tomato --------------------> ½ cup
Green Chilli ----------------> ¼ inch
Carrot ----------------------> 1 chopped fine
Zucchini --------------------> 1 chopped fine
Salt -------------------------> A2Y Taste

Seasoning                  

Mustard Seeds -------------> 1 tsp
Turmeric --------------------> ½ tsp
Curry leaves powder -------> ½ tsp
Methi Powder ---------------> ¼ tsp
Hing -------------------------> ¼ tsp

Procedure                   

v  In a pan, do the seasoning followed by onions, Chillies & Tomato.                 

v  Add 1.5 cups of water. Remove chilli piece to avoid extra spiciness for the kids; but optional           

v  Add tomatoes, Carrot & Zucchini + Salt.                     

v  Bring it to boil and close with the lid.              

v  Leave it in medium for few minutes and remove from heat               

v  Serve it with Chappati, Puri or Dosa.               

Kale - Mango Dhal

Really I too was confused to name this blend of dhal & I never made this combo in any dishes. Yetho thonichu, I started making it. I shared it with my friend Nithya and she liked it to my surprise.              

No doubt, I'll also like whatever I make. This time when I went to india I got freshly made Red Chilli Powder & Corriander Powder. There is a drastic difference in taste, smell & color with this homemade powder. We have many plants back in India for curry leaves. So we made powder out of it by drying it and I am using it directly in all the curries. Voooooow very tasty & healthy. My DD is also consuming curry leaves happily.                    

Methi powder I just grind it in Mixie and have it ready all the times.               

                       

Ingredients:              

Moong Dhal -------------> 1.5 cups                   

Kale ---------------------> 1 bunch, chopped

Raw Mango -------------> Chopped into big chunks

Zucchini -----------------> 1, cubed

Onion --------------------> 1 cup Chopped fine

Tomato ------------------> 1 cup chopped fine

Green Chillies -----------> 2

Methi Powder -----------> 1 tsp

Chilli powder ------------> 2 tsp

Turmeric ----------------> 1 tsp

Tamarind Water --------> 1 cup

Salt ----------------------> A2Y taste

Seasoning                  

Mustard seeds -----------> 1 tsp

Jeera ---------------------> 1 tsp

                       

Procedure                  

v  In a wide sauce pan, pre wash moon dhal and cook it.                       

v  When it is half cooked, add Kale, Mango & Zuchinni, Salt; close with the lid               

v  In another saute pan, do the seasoning with 5 tsp oil; add methi powder, curry leaves powder, Turmeric Powder            

v  Add Onions, Tomatoes, Green Chilies, Chilli Powder until the onions are translucent.                        

v  Meantime, make sure dhaal mixture& the vegetables are cooked                 

v  Now add the onion mixture over the Dhal.                 

v  Pour the Tamraind water also.            

v  Bring it to boil then leave it in medium; close with the lid.                 

v  Garnish with Cilantro               

It goes well will any spicy curry like, Cauliflower curry or Potato kara curry                 

                       

Ideas:            

ü  I use both Moong Dhal & Red Lentils together or mostly Red lentils alone for making dhaal. I like the taste & smell of this lentil.                  

Palak Paneer

I am catching up again with my cooking marathon after my India visit. Last weekend I made 6 dishes for us and 2 for DD. I have to share this, my DH is now home and taking a break b4 starting on a new project. He is taking care of DD & Dishwasher loading J. When I go home I don't have much work apart from feeding her & packing lunch. I feel soooooo relaxed now. Piravi palanai adaintha mathiri irukku, athai naan konjam maathi, Kalyana panna palanai adiatha mathiru irukku yenakku.. avlo santhoshama irukku...             

Here I go with my list of dishes I made this weekend  

Sweet Potato Vatha Kuzhambhu                     

Mango, Kale & Zucchini Dhal               

Purple Cabbage Curry              

Cauliflower Poriyal                   

Tomato Subzi              

Palak Paneer                

DD's Veggie curry                   

DD's Poori Kizhangu                

                       

So this whole week I din't cook, happily I enjoyed watching my missed out serialsJ.                       

I'll share the Palak Paneer Recipe                    

                       

Ingredients:                

Paneer -------------------> 500 gms, diced into small cubes

Onion ---------------------> 1 cup Chopped fine

Tomato -------------------> 1 cup chopped fine

Chilli powder -------------> 2 tsp

Corriander Powder ------> 3 tsp

Turmeric -----------------> 1 tsp

Salt -----------------------> A2Y taste                       

                       

To Grind                      

Spinach * ----------------> 1 box, I used Earth bound Organic from Costco

Green Chillies ------------> 2

Ginger --------------------> ½ inch

Garlic- --------------------> 4 cloves

* Wash & Cook the Spinach in a pan with Garlic & Salt            

Seasoning                   

Mustard seeds -----------> 1 tsp

Jeera ---------------------> 2 tsp

Procedure                   

v  Shallow fry the Paneer cubes until lightly browned stirring occasionally, add them to the Water with Salt, Chilli Powder. Marinate them for at least 1/2 hour but it is optional            

v  In a Sauce Pan, do the seasoning with 5 tsp oil                      

v  Add Ginger Garlic Paste, Onions, Tomato, Green Chillies and fry until the oil comes out.

v  Make a fine paste with the items in "To Grind" Section. Add water if needed             

v  In a pan do the seasoning; add Onions, Tomatoes and fry for few minutes               

v  Add Chilli powder, Corriander Powder              

v  Add the Spinach paste and water necessary.             

v  Once it starts boiling then add fried cheese cubes                 

v  Close it with the lid; leave it in medium                      

v  Ready to serve with Chappati.             

                    

Multigrain Upma

Yesterday I went home and immediately I started cooking Brown Rice for DD.  I was expecting her to come late so that rice wil be done by then… soooo bad isn’t it? She came but she didn’t want to come home L, she wanted to stay in Arya Anika’s place. So we all stayed in Anika’s place and had food. Only then I came to know Arya Anika’s Grandma is leaving the next day to Seattle and from there she will go back to India. We were planning to invite her for dinner before she leaves, but then she is already leaving. I have no option left out other than inviting the same night.

It is a weekday, totally out of all the vegetables & curd, hardly 3 hours of time for cleaning & cooking. I called DH to get vegetables. It was challenging for me to get things done in such a short period of time. Ok I left Akshaya in Anika’s place and came back home.  Ohhhhh nooooo toys here and there, paper cuttings everywhere, clothes, jackets, what not… I started organizing, parallely thinking of what to do for dinner. For sure no rice for diabetic person. Ok now this is the rough plan

By 7:15 PM finish organizing

By 9 finish cooking the following Menu

MultiGrain(Rolled Oats, Rye, Wheat, Barley) Upma

Walnut Chutney

Aviyal

Rasam

Tofu Poriyal

Brown Rice

Adai when everybody arrives. Glad that I had Adai Batter in the freezer.

Mean time DH came. He helped cutting the onions and Chow Chow(Chayote).

                       

Usually I make just Oats Upma, but this time I tried with Rolled Multigrain Cereal for dinner. DH & our friends enjoyed it soo much. Over and above they appreciated nicely for making healthy dishes. Voowww I felt good about myself. சரி  சரி  போதும் என்னோட சமையல் புராணம்.. ப்ளீஸ் முறைக்காதிங்க ... நிறுத்திட்டேன் .. I'll share the recipe right now.

Ingredients               

Multigrain Cereal ------------> 3 cups

Onions ---------------------> 1 cup

Tomato --------------------> 1 chopped into cubes

Green Chillies --------------> 2 chopped fine

Carrot -----------------------> 1 cup, chopped fine

Cauliflower ------------------> 1 cup small florets

Potato -----------------------> 1/2 cup chopped fine

Cabbage -------------------> 1 cup thinly cut

Turmeric ---------------------> 1 tsp

Chilli Powder -----------------> 1/2 tsp

Salt ---------------------------> A2Y Taste

                       

Seasoning                  

Mustard Seeds --------------->   1 tsp

Curry leaves ----------------->    1 spring

                       

Procedure                   

v  Mix the grain with less water, but make sure it is enough for soaking. At the same time don't add any extra water and drain it later. After 15 minutes the grain will be soft to touch.                   

v  In a sauté pan, do the seasoning followed by Onions, Green Chillies, Tomatoes, Turmeric, Chilli Powder                  

v  After couple of minutes, add Carrot, Potato, Cauliflower                     

v  When it is half cooked add cabbage                

v  Now add the multigrain + Salt and mix well                

v  Close it with the lid and leave it for few minutes.             

  v  Garnish with Cilantro               

v  Serve it with any chutney. I made Walnut chutney     
                       

Ideas:                    

v    Cook the cereal in the microwave if it is not soft enough for you even after soaking.  Close with the lid while cooking; add very little water if needed.