! * Gourmet's Kitchenette * !

Spinach and Bean soup

2011-04-12T20:21:00.001-05:00

Last week I was shopping in A-1 groceries in Chicago getting some Indian groceries I always try to avoid that shop because their bill doesnt show the item names instead lists most of the items as item1 , item 2 etc., this way you cant track or know what is the price of the item. But my hubby insisted since it is on our way home.
Whenever I say try to avoid shops run by these people from this specific state in India he would reply that I was too judgemental. But he learnt his lesson that day, the bill was pretty high and before stepping out of the shop he insisted the shopowner to explain the bill and items and rate , wow! around 50$ in total 200$ bill ,that shop owner had cheated and after 30 mins of beating the bush, he pretended that it was some genuine mistake and returned the money. God! I am never going to that shop again.
Moral of story : If the bill reads item1 ,item 2 instead of item name never buy anything from that shop and always have extra pair of eyes when you shop in stores like these :(

Winter maybe over but there is always room for soup.

Ingredients :
White beans - 1 cup
garlic - 4 or 5 cloves
onion - 1 medium
stock - 3 cups
thyme -1/2 tsp
rosemary - 1/2 tsp
spinach - 8 oz
salt and pepper and oil
Method:
1. In a deep bottomed pan, heat oil and add garlic cloves and chopped onion and fry fine.
2.Add beans[already baked] and thyme and rosemary
3.Add stock and let it boil for sometime.
4.Add chopped spinach and let it boil for sometimes till spinach leaves turn tender.
5. Add salt and pepper.

Serve with breadslice. Yummm!

Happy cooking!

Chicken croquette

2011-03-29T20:56:00.000-05:00

My kids bday was this month and we went to Pittursburg to shave their head as per tradition and we had great time in Kalahari,Ohio. They were too excited to enjoy in waterpark. They even made up songs "climb the stairs, kick the monkey, come thro slide, float in tubes, play in the water" And after every single water slide, they sprung and all I heard was " I want to do it again"
I had leftover chicken and wanted to do my favorite

Chicken croquette:
Boneless cooked chicken - 2 cups
bread crumbs - 1 cup
onion - 1 big
egg - 1
parsley or cilantro fresh - 1 cup
salt and pepper
Method :
1. Shred the chicken into small pieces ,or run it dry in blender
2. Chop the onion to tiny pieces
3. Chop cilantro to small pieces
4. Mix everything together with half of breadcrumbs and salt and pepper
5. Roll the mix to small balls or any desired shape
6. Roll the croquette in beaten egg and roll it in layer or bread crumbs
7. Deep fry the croquette
8. Drain the excess oil with tissue paper.

Serve with catsup!

Happy cooking!

Shrimp biryani

2011-02-12T22:12:00.002-06:00

Egypt is finally free after 30 years of supression. I have a short story totally fiction:) check it out
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2011/02/short-story-last-despot-of-egypt.html

Every friday from one of blogs I adapt a recipe or experiment the recipe with thanks and credit to the original author. The dish would be either my friday lunch or friday dinner or friday dessert. This week's dish is a inspiration from the below blog.

http://freedelicacies.blogspot.com/2011/02/prawn-biryani.html

Ingredients:

Shrimp-1lb medium sized

onion - 1 medium chopped

tomato- 1 big chopped

mint leaves - 3 sprigs

ginger and garlic paste - 1 tsp

chilly powder - 1/2 tsp

coriander powder -1/2tsp

yogurt - 3tbsp

turmeric

cumin - 1 tsp

aniseed

cloves

cinnamon stick

Basmati rice - 2 cups

Method:

1. Marinate shrimp,spice powders with salt and yogurt for 1 hour

2. Wash and add 2 cups of water and half to not fully cook the rice and keep it separate.

3. In a deep bottomed pan, add oil and fry masala items

4. Add cumin and once it starts to splutter and onion and fry till it turns translucent

5. Add tomatoes and keep frying and it separates fine

6. add marinated shrimp mix and saute it

7. turn stove to medium and let it cook for a while

8. Add half cooked rice now and let it cook for another 5 to10mins

9. garnish with coriander leaves

serve with raita.

Happy cooking!

Curry chicken wings

2011-02-09T21:01:00.003-06:00

Hope everyone had goodtime with superbowl sunday. And laughed hard at Christina Aguilera's blooper with the nation anthem.
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2011/02/national-anthem-of-india-and-america.html
This is a simple chicken without fancy ingredients and yet yummy delicious finger food :)

Ingredients :
Chicken wings - 6 nos
lemon juice
curry powder or mix of chillipowder,cumin powder and coriander power- 2 tbsp
salt and pepper
Method:
1. Cut the wings into 2 halves and discard the wing tip or use it for soup.
2. Add salt and pepper and lime juice and marinate for 1 hour
3. In a flat pan arrange the chicken and dress with oil
4. Preaheat oven to 375 and bake it for 20 mins
5. Now take it out and turn it and sprinkle curry powder on the chicken.
6. Turn the oven to broil mode and broil for another 10-15 mins
7. Take it out

Serve with ranch :)

Happy cooking!

Turkey spring rolls

2011-02-06T09:48:00.002-06:00

As I mentioned before I went to asian market and picked up some spring rolls, though I found many items I wanted to buy I wassnt sure what they are.Everything started with Z or Y. I was hoping to buy all-purpose flour springrolls but I had picked rice spring rolls - both.
So, instead of samosa I tried springrolls without frying :)

Ingredients:
Ground turkey - 1lb
garlic - 4 cloves sliced and chopped fine
ginger - 1/2 tsp
bell pepper - 1 sliced
shallot - 1 chopped fine
cabbage - 1 cup
carrot - matchsick 1 cup
cilantro - handful
egg- 2 nos [1 for egg wash]
bean sprouts - 1/2 cup [optional]
oystersauce - 2 tbsp
hoisin sauce - 2 tbsp

Method:
1. Heat the tawa with a tbsp of oil and add garlic and ginger.
2. Add the ground turkey and saute it well till it is cooked fine.
3. Take it out and keep it separate.
4. In same tawa add oil and saute shallots, bellpepper and carrots and cabbage
5. Now mix the sauted turkey as well.
6.push the mix to the corners making free space in the middle.
7. Pour the sauce mix and once it is boiled fine mix everything.
8.Now repeat 6 and 7 for beaten egg
9.Finally add cilantro
Spring rolls
1. Take a wide mouthed vessel preferrably a pan and pour warm water
2. Take a rice wrapper and then dip it in and take it out without breaking it
3. Place a spoon of turkey stuffing and roll it twice or thrice
4. Fold the sides and then roll again
5. Use egg wash and then complete rolling
Refer this link for rolling tips.

http://epicureansdelight.blogspot.com/2010/11/spring-rolls.html

Frying rice wrapper spring rolls doesnt help. So arrange the finished rolls and microwave itfor 2 to 3 mins.

Serve with ketchup.

Happy cooking!

Baby bok choy and Chicken

2011-02-02T17:46:00.004-06:00

The unrest in Egypt is bringing changes to other parts of world as well.
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2011/02/egypt-more-reason-for-presidential-term.html
Went to Super H-mart or grocery shopping. It was quite a different experience, now I can relate to all americans in indian stores:) Found all sea food alive ready to be cooked afresh and all type of my favorite veggies. Picked my lemongrass and another favorite bok choy. I love asian food :)

Ingredients:
boneless chicken - 1lb
Baby bok choy - 6or 8 nos
garlic - 4 or 6 chopped fine
shallot - 1 cup chopped
mushroom slices-1 cup
rice vinegar - 1 tbsp
soya sauce - 1 tbsp
salt and pepper
oil
Method:
1.Fry a tbsp of oil and fry garlic and shallots
2.Add small cubes of chicken and saute them
3.Add mushroom slices and stirfry them
4. Add bok choy and if it normal bok choy chop them
5. Add salt and pepper and keep sauting them
6. Mix vinegar and soy sauce and let it boil and then mix well

Turn the stove off and serve.

Happy cooking!

Pad Kee Mao

2011-01-18T18:35:00.002-06:00

Hooray, finally I watched "The social network". Wow,it always swept golden globe awards and I loved Natalie Portmanz dress. I wanted Inception to get more awards , though both are highbrow movies, social network is "rag to riches" is more popular and story which could connect well with audience than Inception which needs your concentration all through the movie. More like watching documentary for next day's semester exam :)

http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2011/01/social-network-movie-review.html

Ingredients:
Ground chicken - 1 lb
spinach - 8 oz
egg noodles or rice noodles - 1 cup
garlic cloves - 3or 4
onion - 1 no
fish sauce - 4 tbsp
oyster sauce - 4 tbsp
lime juice - 2 tbsp
egg -3 nos
bell pepper - 1 no
Method:
1. Boil water till it bubbles and add rice noodles and turn off stove and cover the pan and leave it for 15 mins. If egg noodles cook it al dente.
2. Mix fish sauce, oyster sauce and lime juice in a separate bowl.
3. In a small pan, add oil and fry chopped garlic followed by thinly sliced onion.
4. Add ground chicken and fry till it is cooked fine - turning white
5. Add thinly sliced bell peppers
6. Push mix aside making a circle in center and pour the beaten egg and mix it as it gets cooked like you do for singapore noodles
7. Repeat 6 and add sauce now, let it boil for sometime and then move the mix together and blend together.
8. Now add noodles and mix well
9. Add spinach leaves and toss well till it is cooked fine.

Serve hot.

Happy cooking!

Kothu parotta

2011-01-07T18:56:00.001-06:00

Ulunderpet in Tamilnadu in India is famous for this dish. Whenever I cross this place and happen to halt I never miss this dish. The thattukada or roadside shops make this dish so tasty you cant bet the taste in any fancy restaurant.

Ingredients:
Plain parathas - 3 nos [You can pick up frozen one from indian stores]
onion - 1 big
eggs - 3 nos
tomato - 1 big
green chillies - 3 nos
bell pepper - 1 [optional]
ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
salt and pepper
or chillipowder
Method:
1. Cut the parathas into small pieces . If frozen then thaw it and then cut into small pieces
2. Heat the griddle or tawa and add tbsp of oil , add ginger garlic paste
3. Add chopped chillies
4.Add onions and saute till it turns translucent and then add optional bell pepper and repeat
5. Add tomatoes and repeat.
6. Add salt and pepper. If you want badge color add chillipowder.
7.Add the parotta pieces now and mix it well
8.Add beaten egg to the mix and toss it well.
9. Season with garam masala if you want.

Serve hot!

Chicken cabbage soup

2011-01-05T20:05:00.000-06:00

Been quite tied up after new year. As part of my experiments, I wanted to try making stock at home. And this link really helped.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKXTwMHKVlc
The below soup is a simple one and sometimes you can just take with plain white rice hot and enjoy .

Ingredients:
Broth - 3 cup
cabbage - half medium head
boneless chicken - 1/4 lb
soya sauce - 2 tbsp
salt and pepper
oil
Method:
1. Cut chicken into thin pieces and slightly saute them in a deep bottomed pan.
2. Add broth and boil it
3. Add chopped cabbage and cook it for 5 min not long.
4. Add soya sauce, salt and pepper.
5. Add oil before turning the stove off.

Happy cooking!

Sending this to My Culiary creations soup event.

Crispy Eggplant

2010-12-31T09:36:00.002-06:00

Happy new year to everyone. All the best and wishes for a wonderful year ahead. 2010 was quite ok for me and I started my blog in July and so far I am quite ok . Here is my event list of 2010
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2010/12/llrc-lessons-learned-and-review.html

Ingredients:
eggplant - 1 big
salt and pepper
lime juice
bread crumbs
egg beaten - 1
Method:
1.Cut eggplant into slices of 1cm each.
2.Season it with salt and pepper and lime juice and marinate it for around 2 or 3 hours.
3.Now dip each slice in beaten egg
4. Coat it with breadcrumbs and fry it in oil
5.Drain oil with tissue paper.

Serve hot with ketchup!

Happy cooking!

Cheese grits

2010-12-28T17:58:00.002-06:00

Love this dish. When you have picky eaters at home, this one is always a savior.
Always wondered Indian movie makers demand law to protect illegal dvds with much more importance than kid's health and education and poverty in India and yet demand tax exemption for crap movies without slasshing actor's salary but never mind about plagiarism.
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2010/12/hollywood-vs-kollywood.html
Ingredients:
Grits - 1/2 cup
water - 1 cup
butter - 1/2 stick
milk - 1/2 cup
mixed cheese - with cheddar cheese - as desired
salt and pepper
Method:
1. Boil water and add grits and keep mixing till it is cooked fine.
2. Add milk and keep stirring it fine
3. Add salt and pepper and butter and keep mixing it.
4. Finally addd cheese and mix it fine till it melts together
5. Turn off and serve

You can serve it for breakfast or dinner.

Happy cooking!

Roasted whole chicken

2010-12-26T19:20:00.004-06:00

Hope everyone wonderful holidays. Hogging, hibernation - life is good. Apart from gifts - cookies and cakes, pies,chocolates makes holidays really wonderful and existing.
Ingredients:
Chicken - whole 2-3 lb
rosemary sprigs - 3 or 4
garlic - 6 cloves
lime juice
salt and pepper
butter
celery - 3 stalks
carrots - 1/2 cup
potato - 1/2 cup
bell pepper -1 cup
onions - 1 medium
broth - 1 cup
Method:
1. Grease the lasagna pan .
2.Cut onion into medium pieces and spread the bed.
3. Cut celery, carrots to same size and add to the same bed.
4. Add potato and bell pepper cut pieces to bed.
5.Add broth.
6. Wash the chicken and open the back side and season inside with salt and pepper and lime juice.
7. Cut garlic into small slices. Insert the garlic pieces under the skin till the leg end.
8. Repeat for whole of chicken.
9. Insert rosemary sprigs into skin as well.
10. Season with lime juice, salt and pepper.
11. Tie the back, legs together with twine.
12.Place it over bed of vegetables.
13.Preheat oven to 450 and cook chicken for 30-40 mins.

Happy cooking!

Brussel sprouts gratin

2010-12-24T15:36:00.002-06:00

I always considered brussel sprouts as dwarfs of cabbage family. They should have named it as lilliput cabbage or blesfuscu cabbage instead of Brussel sprouts. I love the taste but. My kids love gratin and wanted to try brussel sprouts gratin.
Ingredients:
Brussel sprouts - 1 lb
milk - 3 cups
butter - 1 log
cloves - 4 or 5
cinnamon stick - 1 no
all-purpose flour - 1/4 cup
cheddar cheese - 1 cup
cheese gruyere - 1 cup
parmesan cheese -
bread crumbs
Method:
1. Boil brussel sprouts with salt al dente. Dont cook completely.
2. In a pan, melt butter and add all purpose flour. Mix it well
3. Keep stirring it till it becomes completely cooked and raw aroma of flour escapes.
4. Add milk and add cloves and cinnamon
5. Keep stirring till thick sauce is formed. Remove the cloves and cinnamon stick
6. Add the cheddar cheese and gruyere and keep stirring. Once thick nice sauce is formed turn off the stove.
7. In a shallow pan, grease and add the brussel sprouts cut in half.
8. Pour the sauce over. Spread another layer and pour remaining sauce over.
9. Garnish with parmesan cheese
10. Spread a layer of bread crumbs on the top.
11. Preheat oven to 350 and bake it for 10-20 mins.

Serve it hot. Yummy!

Happy cooking!

Peas and Cheese - matar paneer

2010-12-20T18:11:00.002-06:00

I love holidays. Last weekend I had been busy. Had gr8 time with kids in Navypier Wonderfest. Had friends over, it was wonderful.
Ingredients:
Peas - 1 cup
cottage cheese cubes - 1 cup
onion - 1 medium
tomato - 1 medium
green chillies - 2 nos
ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
garam masala - 1 tsp
turmeric powder - 1 tsp
pepper - 1 tsp
cumin seeds - 1 tsp
sour cream - 2 tbsp
water - 1/2 cup
Method :
1. Grind chopped onion, chillies and tomato to fine paste.
2. Heat a pan, add 2 tbsp of oil and splutter cumin seeds and add garam masala.
3. Add ginger garlic paste, and onion mix.
4. Add turmeric powder and ground pepper
5. Add peas and water and let it boil for sometime.
6. Meanwhile in another pan, add 2 tbsp of oil and fry the cheese cubes.
7. Add sour cream to the boiling gravy and keep boiling.
8. Once it is cooked fine, add fried cubes.
9. Garnish with cilantro and serve with naan or roti or rice

Happy cooking!

Cauliflower fritters - Gobi manchurian

2010-12-15T19:57:00.002-06:00

E! has new reality show for to-be-brides. The prize is to get free plastic surgery from their wish-list. :)
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2010/12/bridalplasty-way-far-from-reality.html
This is one of my favorite appetizer.
Ingredients:
Cauliflower florets - 1 lb
green chillies - 3 or 4
ginger garlic paste - 2 tsp
all-purpose flour - 4 tbsp
corn flour - 2 tbsp
chilli power - 1/2 tsp
bell pepper - 1
onion -1 big chopped
tomato - 1 no [optional]
cilantro - 3 or 4 stalks.
ketchup
soya sauce
Method:
1. Prepare batter with all-purpose flour , corn flour and salt.
2. Mix 1tsp of ginger garlic paste and half of finely chopped green chillies to the batter.
3. Deep fry the florets after dipping it in batter. Drain excess oil and keep it separate.
4. In a flat bottomed pan, fry tbsp of oil and splutter green chillies and ginger garlic paste.
5. Add chopped onion and chopped bell pepper.
6. Saute till onion turn translucent and bell pepper is cooked fine.
7. Optional- Run boiled tomato in blender and add it to the mix.
8. Add the florets .
9. Add soyasauce and ketchup and mix well.

Serve hot.

Happy cooking!

I am tagged

2010-12-14T19:13:00.000-06:00

Suja sugathan of Kitchen Corner - Tryit has tagged me with a questionnaire ( set of eight questions) twice and I am posting my answers.
Thanks a lot for tagging and it was real fun.
I was also asked to tag eight blogger friends and keep the ball rolling :)The intention is to help us know each other better.

Questions and my answers...

1. What is your take on organic food , is it a big deal for you ?
Definitetly not a big deal for me. I usually buy organic foods for kids which needs to be eaten raw like yogurt , juice and fruits. The items which can be washed and cooked , I have no problem in buying normal ones but my preference would be to buy organic one if they are in affordable range. :)
2. Do you time your breakfast,lunch & dinner or eat when you are hungry ?
When the family had only me and Arun , it was more like caveman life and I even remember having dinner at 10-11 pm. But once u have kids you have no other go, so I am willingly forced to time breakfast ,lunch and dinner and snacks and everything.
3. What inspired you to write a food blog ?
It was a long pending item. But my thanks to Sameena - of culinary creations. We were chatting after a break and were discussing about starting a blog and then we both put in action at sametime. So around July 2010 we both started blogging.
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/ - All junks from my head to blog
http://myviewmovie.blogspot.com/ - I am a movie, tv buff and love to criticise works of others.:)
http://epicureansdelight.blogspot.com/ -
4. You try a new recipe and it does not turn out good,what will you do ?
Try to find something to blame ...[Juz kidding]
1. Try to fix it like what we try with leftovers.
2. If doesnt work out, dump it.
5. Name three ingredients you consciously avoid or eliminate even when the recipe calls for it ?
- Fatty items like lard, bacon, skin, mayo, cream etc.,
- Bacon or Sausage
- garam masala but they are some dishes for which you cant avoid.
6. Name three things you have to use in most recipes ?
I am a sucker for cumin. It kinda overpowers almost in all of my dishes. You can consider it as my signature.
cilantro - Not just for garnishing this actually helps to give nice aroma.
pepper - I am a tamilian, you can never take away hot and spicy from any south indian :)
7. How important is eating meals together as a family to you?
As important as family. When both man and woman of the family work, mealtime is when you tend and feel relaxed together. It helps me to relax and enjoy though when I have two picky eaters complain about food and ingredients.
8. You do not like a particular dish at your favorite restaurant,what will you do ?
When they ask me for feedback I tell them good things and slip my least favorite as well.
And sometimes when it becomes intolerable , I try to contact health department and complain.
One time in "Priya restaurant" in Schumbarg, they served spoilt sambhar and chutney for kids meal and the meal arrived 60 late and kids went impatient. It is one horrible restaurant and never ever I would go there again.
Now to the second set of questions

1)Are you a vegetarian, or have you thought about being one?
I am not. Nope, with the scarcity for food we have, I dont think the world can handle if I turn vegetarian. :) I never considered it as a sin and it always a personal choice.
And who are we kidding? Organo-vegetarians, Vegans who dont eat items which are grown underground, Vegans who dont drink milk and on other hand, some part of world eat rat, snake, scorpions, monkeys, and dogs..
2)Who inspired you to cook or bake?
My mom is one of the worst cook in the world and eating from hands of a cook while growing up rather than mom has its disadvantages.
If I have good memories of my childhood it had always been my grandma and my aunt who used to cook specially for me when I go to their house as guest. The personal touch and attention makes all the difference. So there is my inspiration - even if I am totally helpless I would like to cook for my kids .
And one of my twin and hubby are pickyeaters. So, to satisfy their palate and the with the drive 'not-to-be-like-my-mom' I experiment all time in kitchen. As per Arun, his brickbat attitude had made me more creative and little more efficient in cooking comparing others in his family and my family. :)

3) How do you celebrate Christmas?...or a favorite holiday of your choice?
I try to celebrate all the festivals. It really differentiates today from any other day and gives you good memories and helps to count your blessings.
Christmas - I keep christmas tree and decorate house like communist China - almost red everywhere. And with gifts and cookies and cakes.
Diwali - I cook diwali dishes for a week and on that day wake up around 3 am , take oilbath, cook sweets, idli and chicken gravy and pray and wear new dress and set to office and have special lunch in an Indian restaurant with friends and then try to go to temple to celebrate in the evening or the weekend. My kids share sweets with other kids in their daycare .

4)Do you prefer to celebrate New Year's Eve with friends and/or family, or prefer to ring in the New Year quietly, and privately, at home?
Before marriage ,we used to have New year party in our[dadz] house every year for our dad's friends and colleagues around 6 am and we kids get to invite our friends as well after 10 am. So, till around 12 am on 31st December , we decorate house for the party and next day starts with strangers wishing and enjoying in house.
So, I prefer to enjoy my new year eve or any festival or birthdays privately with family alone. I invite or arrange party for the event later with friends.

5)If someone were to ask you to bring dessert to a party, what would you bring? Store bought, or homemade, and if you were to make homemade, what would you make?
I always prefer to bring or like to take homemade. Homemade always adds personal touch and I dont share my homemade with just like anyone , only with people I truly like.
It depends on person and the season. If the invitee likes Indian I prefer to take jamuns, and indian desserts and if they prefer other cuisine I like to take cake or pie.
6) How will you celebrate your next birthday?
I dont celebrate my birthday. And winter-born ones dont have much choice to celebrate birthdays. My hubby's falls in summer in July , so I am planning for camping or rafting this time.
My kid's birthday falls in March. First bday was celebrated in Disneyworld-Illumination cruise, and second in Wisconsin dells and third - not yet planned. But may go to PBS, or Mcqueen inspired birthday place. Most probably California this time.
7)Do you have a New Year's resolution-and will you be sticking to it?
Haven't made one yet. Last year I made resolution to wake up at 5.45 AM and I was following it till I lost my second pregnancy in 19 weeks in September.
-Planning to make one to spend 1 hour everyday to read with kids.

I am passing the first set of Suja's questions to some of my friends :) Please keep the ball rolling:)

Sameena - http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com/
Madhura - http://www.easycookingforamateurs.com/
Raina - http://thegardenofyum.blogspot.com/
Soumya - http://traditional-indian-cooking.blogspot.com/
Gayathri - http://gayathriscookspot.blogspot.com/
Shanavi - http://jellybelly-shanavi.blogspot.com/
Bhuvana - http://maragadham.blogspot.com/
Jayshree - http://chitchatcrossroads.blogspot.com/

Shrimp wrapped in turkey

2010-12-13T18:27:00.001-06:00

Weather was too cold and somehow managed. I usually wonder when I read "proud parent of a honor student" strips in the back of car. Today I saw one interesting strip "My pitbull is smarter than your honor student".
I bursted to laugh. Someone didnt like some to rain on their parade.:)

Ingredients:
Turkey slices - 4 nos
cooked shrimp - 1/2 lb
onion - 1 medium cut into thin slices
tomato - 1 medium
chilli powder - 1tsp
egg -1 no
breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
Method:
1.In a pan, add oil and splutter cumin seeds.
2. Add onion slices and saute them fine.
3. Add chopped tomatoes and saute them fine.
4.Add salt and chilli powder and add water.
5.Add shrimp (if big slice them to small pieces.)
6. Cook them fine and take it out.
7. In one corner of trukey slice, add a spoon of shrimp dish and fold it.
8. Close it with toothpick.
9. Beat the egg and dip the turkey wrap in egg
10.Coat it turkey wrap dipped in egg with breadcrumbs.
11. In a flat bottomed pan , add around 4 to 5 tbsp of oil to cover the wrap.
12. Fry it till it is cooked fine.
13.Repeat for all.

Serve with zucchini sauted in butter ,salt and pepper.

Happy cooking!

Butter cookies

2010-12-11T20:22:00.004-06:00

My oven had been kept on for naan , tandoori chicken , cake and cookies. Some eat chocolates , some drive for no reason and some make batches of jam. If I am baking or broiling and play spider solitaire whole day in my pajamas then it means I am mad. The weather and temperature is killing me. Thankfully the lights and happy songs, my cute twins and blog are helping me to pass the day.

Ingredients:
All purpose flour - 2 cups
egg - 2
sugar - 1 cup
baking powder - 1 tsp
vanilla essence - 1 tsp
butter - 1 log melted and cooled

Method :
1. Break two eggs beat them fine.
2. Add melted and softened butter.
3. Add vanilla essence.
4. Add sugar and mix well together.
5. Now add flour gradually and mix it without lumps. Use hands or whisker rather than electric blender.
6. Add baking powder and mix well
7. Sprinkle flour on flat surface and either use rolling pin or bottle to flatten the dough.
8. Use cookie cutter or glass tumbler mouth to cut small circles.
9. Preheat oven to 350 in bake mode.
10. Bake it for 15-20 min based on size o your cookie.

Happy cooking! Happy holidays every1!

Peanut gravy with brussel sprouts

2010-12-10T18:44:00.003-06:00

http://superyummyrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/10/brussel-sprouts-in-peanut-gravy.html

Ingredients:
Brussel sprouts - 1 lb
peanuts - 1/4 cup
sesame seeds - 1 tbsp
onion-1 medium chopped fine
tomato - 1 medium chopped fine
chillipowder - 1 tsp
corianderpowder -1 tsp
ginger & garlic - 1 tsp
cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
dry red chillies - 3 or 4
cilantro - some sprigs for garnishing

Method:
1. Cut each brussel sprouts into 4 pieces
2. In a pan , add 1 tsp of oil and saute the sprouts and take it out.
3.In same pan , fry peanuts followed by sesame seeds and red chillies. take it out.
4.In same pan, add tsp of oil , splutter cumin seeds and add ginger garlic paste
5. Add chopped onions followed by tomato. Let it saute fine and onion turn translucent.
6. Run peanut,sesame mix to nice powder.
7. Add to pan this powder , followed by chilli and coriander powder.
8. Once raw aroma escapes run the mix in blender after it is cooled a little.
9. Return to pan and add brussel sprouts and add water.
10. Cover it and cook it for 10-15 minutes in medium heat.

Garnish with cilantro sprigs and naan, roti or rice.

Happy cooking!

Thanks to Satya for sharing this wonderful recipe.

Chicken & Mushroom pasta

2010-12-09T21:48:00.002-06:00

The confucius prize winner didnt show up to pick up the award. How many Razzie award winners turn up to pick up the same? And Amazon is standing tall inspite of hacktivits attack which shook Visa and Mastercard.
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2010/12/chinas-own-peace-prize.html
Lotz of things happening around.
Ingredients:
Linguini pasta - 1/4 pack
mushroom - 1 lb , cut into thin slices
garlic cloves - 3 or 4
boneless chicken - 1/2 lb
corn flour - 1 tbsp
cumin seeds - 1tbsp[optional]
garam masala - 1 tsp
lime juice - 1 tsp
cilantro - some sprigs to garnish
salt and pepper
Method:
1. Cut chicken into small pieces. Add salt and pepper and limejuice and with little corn flour.
2.Let it sit for around 20 mins.
3.Cook pasta al dente with salt and drain the water.
4.In a small pan, heat 2 tbsp of oil.
5.Toss the chicken cubes and saute them in medium heat till it is cooked fine.Take it out and keep it separate.
6. To same pan , add oil and add cumin seeds and finely chopped garlic cloves.
7. Add slices of mushroom and saute them.
8. Add the sauted chicken pieces.
9. Add garam masala powder and salt and pepper.
10. Keep tossing till everything blends together well.
11. Turn the heat off and add chopped cilantro .

Serve it hot.

Happy cooking!

Sameena is hosting cookie event. Yummy!Yumm Yumm.
http://myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/12/cookies-and-cakes-for-xmas.html

Spicy hot chicken wings

2010-12-07T16:59:00.001-06:00

I got this recipe from betty's kitchen. Last time when I did , overburnt them. This time it came out perfect and wasnt that spicy like indian cuisine.
Ingredients:
Chicken wings - 6 pieces
hot sauce - 4 tbsp
paprika - 1 tbsp
salt - 1/2 tsp
butter - 3 tbsp
pepper - 1 tsp

Method:
1. Mix all the ingredients together with the melted and cooled butter.
2. Reserve 2 tbsp of the sauce for basting.
3. Cut chicken wings into 2 and discard the wing tip.
4. Mix chicken and sauce mix together.
5. Marinate for 30 mins.
6. Spread in a non-stick pan.
7.Preheat oven to 350 and bake chicken for 20 mins.
8. Take it out and brush the reserved sauce over the chicken pieces.
9.Then turn to broil mode and broil for another 10-15 mins
10. Then take it out.

Serve with ranch or bluecheese dip

Happy cooking!

Eggplant gravy

2010-12-06T20:07:00.001-06:00

I watched movie - the movie which i wanted to watch theatre ,in dvd after longtime. Better late than never.
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2010/12/sex-and-city-2-movie-review.html
As much Arun hates eggplant, I love it.
Ingredients:
Egg plants - medium sized 5 nos [ preferrably Aubergine size, not too big]
onion - 1 medium
tomato - 1 medium
cumin seeds - 1 tsp
coconut grated - 3 tbsp
garam masala- 1 tsp
chilli powder- 1 tsp
cumin powder - 1 tsp
coriander powder - 1 tsp
milk - 1/2 cup
salt and water and oil
Method:
1.In a flat bottomed pan, add 1 tbsp of oil and add the brinjals cut into two and sliced half till middle and saute it.
2.Let it turn slight brown and because golden brown and soft.
3.Take it out and keep it separate.
4. Add 1 tsp of oil in same pan and splutter cumin seeds.
5. Add chopped onions and tomatoes and saute till onion turns translucent.
6. Add grated coconut and mix well.
7. Add the spice powders and keep stirring it till raw aroma of powders escape.
8. Take it out and after letting it kool for a while, run it smooth in blender.
9. Return to the pan and add everything and add milk and water.
10. Add salt and eggplants.
11.Let it cook for sometime.

Serve with bread, roti or rice. Eggplant really melts in ur mouth.

Happy cooking!

Ravioli

2010-12-04T18:03:00.002-06:00

This is one of my favorite food. And from the inspiration below , I wanted to try it out today itself.
http://yesimstylekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/12/potato-ravioli-hingal.html
After my twins delivery I didnt know that I had to wait for my doctor to give me a go to start eating after C-section. I felt normal and while ordering food for my guests I ordered ravioli for myself and ate :)
See my twin's snow adventure of the year..
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/

Ingredients:
Pasta
All-purpose flour - 1 cup
egg - 1
salt,oil and water.
Stuffing
Zucchini - 2nos cut into thin slices
butter - 2 tbsp
ricotta cheese - 2 tbsp
cheddar cheese - 2 tbsp
cottage cheese - 2 tbsp
egg - 1 no
salt and pepper
Method :
Dough
1. Mix egg,salt and oil and 2 tbsp of water.
2. In a flat vessel transfer 1 cup of flour and pour the mix in the middle
3. Start mixing it well till smooth dough is formed.
4. Wrap it with plastic cover and refrigerate .
Stuffing
5. In a medium pan , melt butter and add zucchini slices and saute well.
6. Add salt and pepper and keep sauting the zucchini.
7. Add the cheese and mix it well.
Ravioli
8. Now, roll the dough using rolling pin into rectangular shape or any shape you want.
9. Cut two thin rectangles from the dough.
10. Place one dough sheet in a surface - sprinkled with flour.
11.Place a tsp of the zucchini-cheese mix in the leftmost part and leave enough space around it and place another tsp of the mix.
12. repeat till the end of sheet.
13. Beat the egg and use it for egg wash.
14.Apply egg wash around the mix in the sheet. Place another sheet on top.
15. Press it along the sides well ,so that it sticks completely.
16. If you have fancy decorative cutter it is better to use tht , else u can use pizza cutter or plain knife to cut pasta with the mix- equal squares.
17. Boil water with salt added and let it boil well. Now transfer the ravioli squares into the water and take it out when it floats dont let it boil for longtime.
18. Transfer to plate and pour sauce all over it. If immediate then ravioli gets sauce flavor well.

Sprinkle parmesan cheese and pour sauce all over it.

Happy cooking!

Okra stir-fry

2010-12-04T09:13:00.001-06:00

http://kichencorner.blogspot.com/2010/12/okra-stir-fry.htm l

This is a simple dish. Either u can use it as side dish or even eat it appetiser.
Ingredients:
Okra- 1 lb
onion - 1 medium
red chillies - 3 nos
urad dhal and mustard - 1 tbsp
channa dhal - 1 tbsp
cumin seeds - 1 tsp
garlic - 3 or 4 cloves
chillipowder,cuminpowder,corianderpowder - 1 tsp [optional]
salt
Method:
1.Wash and cut okra into small pieces.
2. In a shallow bottomed pan , heat 1 tbsp of oil
3. Splutter cumin,followed by uradhal,mustard seeds,channa dhal
4. Add slices of garlic and red chillies.
5. Once the mustard is done, add the chopped onion and fry a little more.
6.Once onion turns translucent add okra pieces and salt.
7. Mix it well and add water if you want but should be fine without water.
8.Add optional powders before adding water and mix well.
9. Turn off the stove.

Serve with rice. Sprinkle cheese if your taking it as an appetiser.

Happy cooking!

Plaintain fritters

2010-12-02T18:02:00.002-06:00

Check this funny news. End of it I can bet ur first q tht would pop in ur mind is
"Is this for real??"
http://meandmythinkingcap.blogspot.com/2010/12/sun-is-bought.html

Had some leftover chutney and plaintain as well. I like these fritters also known as bajji. This is usually taken as evening snacks. You can substitute plaintain for onion, bell peppers as well.
Ingredients:
Plantain or unripe banana - 1 no medium
Besan flour - 5 tbsp
corn flour - 2 tbsp
riceflour - 1 tbsp
chilli powder -1 tsp
salt and water
Oil to fry.
Method:
1. Cut plaintain to thin slices.
2. In a deep bottomed pan add oil and heat it.
3.Mix all other ingredients together and add water to form slightly thin batter .
4. Dip each slice of banana in the batter and deep fry in the oil.
5. Take it out and drain excess oil with tissue.

Serve with chutney or catsup.

Happy cooking!

! *** Gourmet's Kitchenette *** !