Quick Brinjal Curry

There are days when the last thing I feel like doing is cooking.Guess this isn't how you are supposed to feel when you are a food blogger. But cooking everyday can be a real challenge and at times boring.I guess deciding on what to cook is tougher than the cooking itself.There are days when I postpone cooking till the last  minute,everything else seems interesting, meaningless browsing on the internet, checking Facebook for the umpteenth time,searching for the next book to read (this is something I simply love) - though it's a miracle if I get to read a few pages of the one that  I am currently reading :) and the funniest thing is that I need to get all this and the cooking done within the 45 minutes that my little one naps .This recipe comes in handy on days like these.It's quick and yummy. Talking about boring things,I believe that if there's a competition for the most boring task,folding clothes would beat everything else.That is one task I'll gladly postpone everyday.I wonder why these people who invented "life saving" machines like washing machine and Dish washer, haven't yet discovered a machine that folds clothes :) ,to save lazy people like me :p

You'll Need:

Brinjals - 6 - 7 medium(cleaned and cut lengthwise)

oil - 2 tsp

Coriander and Mint leaves - from 1 sprig each( finely chopped)

salt as needed

To Roast and Grind in 2 tsp of oil:

Onion - 1 large (finely chopped)

Tomato - 1 large (Finely chopped)

Whole Red Chillies -  2 - 3

Coriander Seeds - 1 Tb

Channa Dal - 1 Tb

Peanuts(skinless) - 1/2 Tb

Hing - a pinch

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Coconut (Grated or chopped) - 1 - 2 Tb

Method:

-In a pan heat the 2 tsp of oil and when it heats add the Hing and Turmeric Powder and stir for a few seconds.Then add the Channa Dal,Whole Red Chilli,Peanuts and Coriander seeds .

-When they are slightly browned add the onions and coconut and saute until the onions turn translucent.Then add the tomato and saute until it turns soft.Remove from the stove,cool the contents and grind to a fine paste.

-In a pressure cooker heat 2 tsp of oil and saute the Brinjal with a little salt until they are slightly browned.Now add the ground paste and 1 - 1.5 cups of water and mix well.Check for salt and add the mint and coriander leaves.You can add more water if you prefer a thinner gravy.

-Cook for 1 whistle and simmer for a few minutes.Done !

Thanks for stopping by ! Have a nice day !

Baked Broccoli Patties

The other day I was out with my 5 year old in the park, when she asked me "Mummy, why aren't you wearing shorts like the other mothers,It's a warm day and it's sure to be more comfortable." I grabbed the opportunity to give her a nice pep talk about how conservative and beautiful Indian culture was when she promptly asked me why the Leading ladies in most Indian movies are dressed in shorts,but she's hardly seen anyone in India wearing shorts.Made me realise how Indian Culture seems to be forever at this point where we try to simultaneously cling to our conservativeness and embrace the western Independence.It's funny how most movies paint a picture that in no way depicts a country or it's culture.On a funny note,if we were to go just by movies, we'd probably think that :

Tamil Movies -  

   -The only thing that matters in our life is to find the love or our life and marry them again all opposition, with cars flying and bombs blasting.

   -Chennai is full of Dons and their Henchmen, and all of them carry a gun(In a all my days in Chennai I've never ever seen a real gun:( )

  -Most Tamil men are machos, who can fly,fight and do everything with no gadgets or scientific intervention.Not to mention the 50 year old hero who's a college student :)

Telugu movies - I haven't watched a lot but from the few popular ones that I've watched.

 -  Most of them live in joint families in big Doll houses.
 -  All men do is to fight over women.
Hindi movies -
  Honestly I don't know what to make of them any more.The last time I watched a movie I had a  doubt if I was watching a movie or a fashion show .
Hollywood Movies -
  -Most men are skilled,intelligent ex FBI or CIA agents
 - Aliens and space ships are for real
  -Let's not get into science fiction and movies like SAW :)
Malayalam movies -
 These seem to be as close to reality as possible,but some of the latest ones makes me feel that they are fighting the temptation to make movies like their counterparts in the Tamil and Telugu industry.

Ironically I'm not a movie buff and I would've hardly watched a handful movies  before I married a movie buff who watches movies in every possible language :)nd I Would be unfair if I don't mention that there are a lot of good movies too in all these languages which really call for appreciation.

Coming to the recipe, this is a very quick and healthy dish.Makes a  great starter or side dish.It tastes yummier when shallow fried.I feel that ,Broccoli despite being very healthy doesn't gel well with Indian spices.I usually do a stir fry with lots of Garlic and pepper,Broccoli and garlic pair up real well.This is a yummier alternative and both my 1 year old and 5 year old loved it :)

Makes 12 - 14 patties
You'll Need:
Broccoli - Half a big one - 12 - 15 Florets
Egg - 1
Olive oil -  1 tsp
Bread slices - 3, or bread crumbs
Cheese grated ( Cheddar/ Paneer/ Parmesan) - 80 g
salt as needed

Method:
-In a big vessel boil water, add the broccoli florets,cover with a  lid and remove from the stop.Let it sit for 3 - 4 minutes.Remove the florets with a slotted ladle.Add it to a mixer jar and pulse for a few seconds.
-Toast the bread on stove top or in  an oven,pulse it in a mixer jar to get breadcrumbs.
-In  a bowl mix the broccoli,cheese and bread crumbs.Add salt as needed and the egg.Mix everything well with a fork.
-Make small patties and arrange them on a baking tray lined with a baking sheet.
-Bake in a pre-heated oven at 175°C,for 20 - 25 minutes.After the first 15 minutes flip them over for even cooking.
-They taste even yummier when shallow or deep fried :)

Have a nice day ! Thanks for stopping by !

Coconut Macaroons

 I've put my weighing scale way under the bed,I wouldn't dare step on it in a long time. About time someone came up with a 'Law of weight gain for mothers' like ' The amount of weight gained by a mother is directly proportional to the number of kids she's had and indirectly proportional to the time she has to do something about it'.This is how my crazy brain works these days :)I don't remember the last time I posted.In fact I don't remember anything,most days I go around like a sleepless zombie .The goal is to get through each day with my two little screamers, who seem to have perfectly inherited my big loud voice(I really pity my neighbours),without losing my cool:) I wonder why our kids seem to exactly inherit the things that we don't want them to.

  I baked these macaroons for Christmas last year. Christmas last year was pretty low key with the heart wrenching floods in Chennai. I'm a big fan of Coconut macaroons and I love these condensed milk ones as they are real easy to make.I also find that the home made ones taste better than the store bought ones ,which are usually a bit too sweet.I complain about weight gain and post about macaroons,Guess I can't think about losing weight until I learn to control my big sweet tooth :)

Makes 20 - 25

You'll Need:

Sweetened Condensed Milk - 1/2 a tin(200 g)

Dessicated Coconut - 200 g

Egg White - 1 (large)

Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp

Method:

-In a big bowl mix the dessicated coconut,vanilla essence and the condensed milk,until all the coconut flakes are moist and well mixed.

-In another bowl beat the egg white until stiff peaks form .

-With a ladle fold the egg whites slowly into the egg mixture.

-Line a baking tray with baking paper,and spoon about 1 Tb per cookie onto the tray.Keep them 3 - 4 cm apart.Bake for 18 - 20 minutes at 175°C.Let them cool and store in an airtight container.

Note:

-To make dessicated coconut at home,spread finely shredded fresh coconut on a baking tray(lined with baking sheet) and bake at 120°C for 5 - 10 minutes.

-The baking temperature can range from 150 - 175 °C, depending on the oven.

Thanks for stopping by ! Have a nice day !

Vanilla Cupcakes

     Guess the picture pretty much explains my total absence from the blogging world for the past few months.Our home is again filled with the coos of a new born,We have a new little one who's entered our life to make us complete.My hubby is thrilled,despite being clearly outnumbered ;),the big sister is very proud and excited .I am content and happy ,nothing beats the feeling of cradling a new born in your arms.Sometimes I think the day you become a mother is when you transition from being a girl to a woman.Overnight you are expected to become responsible enough to nurture and raise a tender helpless soul.Everybody around tells you that it comes naturally and it's a beautiful feeling.But nobody mentions about the fear that constantly tugs at your heart,asking you if you are doing the right thing for them.With my first one I lived the first year in a state of shock,well I was naive enough to believe that raising a child would be just like taking care of a pet :).I always thought that it'll be a breeze ,like in our movies where the heroine happily goes through her pregnancy (no discomforts at all),birthing and raising a child in one happy melodious song filled with smiling energetic faces,with no trace of sleepless nights :)I believe babies fall into two categories the easy happy ones and the not so easy,sensitive ones.And the first time mothers of both the groups do not believe that the other group exists.My first one was born a Teenager,3 months going on fifteen.She never liked to sleep(never hit the bed before 1 in the morning and it was even more dangerous if she slept by 10,cause I knew that she'd be up and playing between 2- 5 in the morning ),eat (every meal lasted at least an  hour) and was constantly bored(screamed the moment I stopped playing with her or set her down).I used to be one of those rare mothers who complained about her child,while the others looked happy and content.On the rare occasion when I happened  to meet a mother who could relate to me,we would bond in no time. I still remember the  first time I travelled to India,I very bravely decided to travel alone with my just over a year baby.Well  I ended up spending the whole journey walking up and down the aisle on the plane with the baby,because a baby screaming on the plane can get you a few sympathetic and  unpleasant looks.The walking was the only thing that pacified my little one.Walking down the aisle in a plane is just like tight rope walking ,you wouldn't want to bump on the elbows of people who are already struggling with their food and get some more angry looks :).As I walked,I noticed these babies who were sleeping peacefully on their mother's laps.I was looking at them with this bewildered look which said 'Can they really sleep like that' and the mothers were looking at me with a look which said 'Has she lost it ' :)Well the only upside to walking around was I knew exactly where the emergency fire exits on the plane were ;) Time flies , now my little girl is this beautiful, mature,loving 5 year old who I wouldn't trade for anything in this world:))I guess the baby's first baby celebrations are so special not just because it marks a major milestone in their lives,but its also a silent pat on our backs.Not that it gets any easier after that,but you are a seasoned parent now :) 

Found this funny cartoon which pretty much sums up everything :)

       Coming to this recipe,I made a bunch of these cupcakes for my daughter's Kindergarten.They are pretty easy to make and taste real yum,especially if your making a lot of them.They keep well for 3 days when stored in an airtight container.I have a lot of catching up to do,hope I get to blog more frequently :)

Makes about 6

Ingredients:

Egg - 1 large(room temperature)

All Purpose Flour - 1 cup - 100 g

Butter(At room temperature) - 85g - 1/3 cup

Sugar - 1/2 cup - 100 g

Yoghurt(full fat) - 1/3 cup - 80 g

Baking Powder - 1/4 tsp

Baking Soda - 1/4 tsp

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Vanilla essence -1/2 tsp

For the Icing:

Whole Milk - 1 tbsp

Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

Powderer sugar or Icing sugar - 1 and 1/4 cups

Glitter sugar or any deco stuff

Method:

-Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan.

-Sift the flour with the baking powder,salt,sugar and baking soda.

-In a bowl slightly beat the egg,4 tsp of yoghurt and the vanilla essence lightly.

-Add the butter and the remaining yoghurt and beat on low speed until everything is just mixed.Beat on medium speed for another 2 minutes.

-Add the egg mixture in two batches to the batter ,beating for 30 seconds after each addition,

-Fill 3/4th of each mold of the muffin pan with the batter and bake for 25 - 30 minutes.

-For the icing:Whisk the milk and the essence slightly.Add the sugar and whisk until it's smooth and has no lumps.

-Dip the top of the cupcake in the icing and sprinkle the decoration,wait till it dries.

Thanks for stopping by ! Have a lovely day !

Baked Sweet Diamond Cuts

 As a kid this was one of my favourite snacks.It always reminds me of summer holidays during my school days.My mom used to take a week or two off from work during holidays,the other days were  usually spent at the day care or I was packed off to my Grandmas place down south.My mom used to make lots of these and fill big ever-silver boxes with these.She would roll the dough while I would cut it into shapes.Back then we always fried them and they definitely taste better when deep fried.I wanted to try a healthier version so ended up baking them.Most fried snacks don't taste well when baked but these turned out real yum !

    Cutting them into diamonds is the easiest way of making them,but my daughter wanted to cut flowers with her cookie cutter.We are so different me and my daughter,I was so tom boyish as a kid while she's into all kind of girlish flowery stuff :)

  What you'll need:

   Wheat flour/Atta - 1.5 - 2 cups

   Sugar - 4 tbsp

   Ghee or Butter - 3 tbsp (melted) or oil and ghee each 1.5 tbsp

   Baking powder - 3/4 tsp

   Cardamom or nutmeg powder - 1/2 tsp

   Method :

•  Sieve the Flour with baking powder.Then add the sugar and cardamom powder and mix well. 
•  Add the ghee or oil and mix with your fingers so that it comes to the consistency of bread crumbs.
•  Add cold water little by little to the mixture and knead to make a soft dough.Cover and let the dough sit for at least 30 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 5 or 6 balls.Dust the work surface with flour and roll the dough balls into thin sheets. Then cut into diamond shapes.Arrange them on a baking tray lined with baking sheets.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F/150° C and bake for 15 minutes.Rotate the baking tray in the middle of  the baking time to ensure even baking.It tends to burn easily so it's better to keep an eye.My first batch was almost blackish brown :)
• Remove from the tray and let it cool.Then store in airtight containers. Done !

Note:
-You could also replace half of the whole wheat flour with All purpose flour.
-To make  a spicy version of it replace the sugar with 1 tsp Chilli powder and 1/2 tsp crushed cumin and carom seeds.
-If your want to indulge,just fry them instead of baking them :P

Thanks for stopping by ! Have a nice day !

Pepper Chicken Gravy - Dry

   The winter this year's been a little harsh when compared to last year.We usually escape the winter by running away to warm India for a month's vacation .I really miss the sun and its warmth this year and the winter here is '50 shades of Gray'.I was checking the best sellers (fiction)of all time list and was surprised to see 50 Shades of Grey on it for such a long time,not to mention that it's been made into a movie too.That book clearly belongs to the list of 'over-rated' things along with 'why this kolaveri di ?" song.I found Alchemist on the list and I really did feel that the book belongs on the list. I'm yet to meet a person who wasn't moved by the book,you wouldn't believe that such a tiny book would change your perspective of life(at least for  a few days :)).The next book I found was' Gone Girl' by 'Gillian Flynn' .I looked for it in the library and couldn't find it,so ended up borrowing another book by the same author 'Dark Places',the cover claimed that the book was even better than her previous ones. I'm only 20 pages through the book and it's too early to pass a judgement on the book.But the book doesn't really give me a good feeling.Why are books and movies that leave you with a bad or sad feeling critically acclaimed.Don't we read books and watch movies to escape from the harsh reality of life.I do respect and appreciate the effort behind these books and movies,but I rarely find them enjoyable.I recently watched a malayalam movie 'Artist',the movie had some wonderful acting skills and it's share of tragedies,but in the end it left me with a feeling of depression.Some times I feel movies with not so good a plot, but full of comedy like 'Happy New Year' are way better :)
  I hardly post regularly and when I do ,I end up rambling :) Coming to today's recipe,with the winter comes our regular share of cold and cough.And this peppery dish is real comfort food,I prepare this on weekends when it's real cold outside. It pairs up well with anything.So off to the recipe !

You'll Need:
Chicken - 400 - 500 g(with bone,cleaned and cut into small pieces)
Onion - 1 real big(finely chopped)
Tomato - 1 big(finely chopped)
Garlic - 4 - 6 medium sized cloves
Ginger - the equal amount as garlic - one 1 -2 " piece,scraped and chopped
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 3/4 tsp
Curry Leaves Powder - 1 tsp(optional)
Turmeric Powder -1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - leaves from a sprig
Oil - 2 -3 tbsp
Salt - as needed

To Dry Roast and Powder :
Whole Pepper Corns - 1 - 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon - 1 1" piece
Cloves,Cardamom - 1 each
Fennel - 3/4 tsp

Method:
-In a pan of slow heat,dry roast the ingredients to be dry roasted and ground to a semi coarse powder.
-Grind the Ginger and garlic to a fine paste - about 2 tsps.
-In a pan add the oil and when it heats up splutter the curry leaves.Add the onion and a pinch of salt and sauté until they turn sightly brown.
-Add the Ginger Garlic paste and sauté for 3 -4 minutes, until well browned.
-Add the Tomatoes and mix well.Add the Turmeric powder,Red Chilli powder,Curry leaves powder and Coriander powder.And mix well.Cover and simmer on low heat for 3 -4 minute or until the mixture starts to ooze out oil.
-Add the chicken pieces and mix well.Add very little water if needed.Cover and simmer on low heat until it its 3/4 done.Keep removing the lid and stirring it as it tends to burn.Sprinkle water when needed.When it is 3/4 done add the dry roasted powder and mix well .Let it cook until the chicken is fully cooked.
-This is a thick gravy,to make it more thinner add required water before adding the dry roasted powder  and mix well. Done !

Thanks for stopping by ! Have a nice day !

Mango Bhapa Doi - Mango Curd Dessert

  Long long ago I made a few mango desserts out of a big tin of mango pulp.I posted the other ones ,but this one's been lying in my drafts for quite some time.If you asked me why I made this dessert there are two reason,firstly it's extremely easy to make and secondly,I fell for it's name.I have this weakness for dishes with fancy names :) This is a simple Bengali dessert that can be prepared in no time.I love all kinds of Bengali milk sweets and this one's no exception.So off to the recipe !

You'll Need:

Condensed milk - 350 g( I used unsweetened condensed milk)

Quark -Hung Yoghurt - Greek Yoghurt - 250 g

Whole Milk - 100 ml

Mango Pulp - 1 1 /2 cups

Nuts (mixed) - 2 -3 tbsp

Sugar - 1 tbsp or as needed (Depends upon the sweetness of the mango)

Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp

or 

Quicker Version:

Condensed Milk - 400g (sweetened) - one tin

Quark - 250 g

Milk- 125 ml

Mango Puree- 125 ml

Any chopped nuts - 2 -4 tbsp

Almond powder - 1 tbsp(optional)

Method:

-In a blender,blend the condensed milk,the yoghur,milk,mango pulp,sugar and cardamon powder.

-.Add the nuts and mix well.Check for sugar.

-This can be steamed in pressure cooker(without the whistle) or baked in an oven:

   -In a steamer or pressure cooker:

     Fill the vessel with a little water .Add the contents of the blender to another vessel and cover a lid        or aluminium foil.Place the vessel in the steamer and cover  and steam for 30 - 40 minutes or until      it's set.

 -In an oven:

     -Preheat the oven to 350°F/162.5°C

      -Fill small ramekins with the mixture until they are almost full.Place them in an oven tray half        filled with water.
    -Bake in the oven for 25 to 35 minutes.Check after the 25th minute to see if it is set,a knife inserted comes out almost clean,the mixture would be harder and not wobbly.Done !

Thanks for stopping by !Have a nice day !