Viji's online diary

Spinanch Poriyal / Spinach Thoran/ Spinach Stir fry

2015-05-29T17:28:00.001-04:00

Go Green Go!!!!. Lets go green today.. Before my college days, my mom used to make the red spinach very often. I like the color of it, specially when you mix it with the curd rice.

So after coming here, i don't feel like buying this green spinach, because i love the red spinach very much. One day one of my friend was on the phone and she told me that she is making spinach poriyal. That day i was thinking Ohhhh even in America our Tamilians are eating green vegetables. Ohh let me buy some this week when i go for shopping. That's how i got this green spinach before 7 years back. That day i got the Spinach bunch and cleaned it 5 times i think. Then i cooked it and ate it. Hmmm what to say even after all this wash, i was munching on sand while i had my lunch. But ow i always buy the washed spinach in the pack or the frozen spinach.

Now that's the easiest poriyal which i love to make. Because the one that i buy from the nearby Farmers market is "triple washed". So i don't have to wash it and look for sand. Ooooh i don't like munching on sand in my spinach. I make spinach with paruppu and this poriyal at home. Sometimes i even add spinach to the chicken gravy to make healthy chicken gravy.

Here comes the recipe to make it typical Nagercoil style with some coconut.

You will need:

1 pack of spinach (rough chopped)
1 big onion finely chopped
1 tsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
salt to taste

To Grind:

1/2 cup grated coconut
1 tsp cumin powder
1 gloves of garlic
2 pinch of LG powder-- Asofoetida powder
pinch of turmeic powder
1 green chilli (Can add 1 more if you like spicy dish)

Procedure:

Step 1:

Heat a pan and add oil to the pan. When the oil becomes hot add the mustard seeds and wait for it to splutter. When you hear the spluttering sound just add the chopped onions.

Step 2:

When the onions are getting fried in the oil, you can go ahead and give a rough chop to the spinach. Saute the onions just for 3 mins and add the chopped spinach to it and continue to saute it, untill it looks like this.

Step 3:

Now add the ingredients under "To Grind" in your small mixie jar and dry grind it coarsely. You can even use the Pulse option. DO NOT ADD WATER TO IT.

The ground mixture look like this.

Step 4:

Add the ground mixture to the sauteed spinach and stir it for 3 more minutes, untill you get rid off the raw smell of garlic.

Step 5:

Add salt to taste and switch off the stove and enjoy with rice. . The final item looks like this..

You can serve this yummy stir fry with mor kulambhu, Paruppu curry (Dal curry), . Simple healthy easy to make dish at home in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.

Gods ways are higher than our ways!!!

2015-05-19T13:20:00.001-04:00

My God watches over me!!!!!

God's eyes are beautiful. Let me start with a song about God's eyes written by my relative, who is a very good song writer and a worship leader.

All Glory to God. Yes my God watches over me.Thank you Dina for your continuous encouraging words to update my blog with Bible messages. What a mighty God we serve. Yes He is our all mighty God and with Him we can do anything.

Read an article last week about an Old farmer who was driving down a Highway. When he was driving on the Highway, his cell phone rang. He answered his wife's call. There His wife urgently warned him " John I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on Highway 59. Please be careful honey!!!!!"

John replied "Darling, It's not just one car. Its hundreds of them!!!".

Sometimes even our perspective varies the way we see things. We can simply look at the Facts of a situation that we are going through Alone, or we can even see the Facts in the light of the Truth of Gods word.

There is no promise anywhere in the Bible which says that while we are in these earthly bodies, we will not face any trouble. But we do have a beautiful promise from God, that He will give us peace in the midst of the trouble. May

Isaiah 26 verse 3, we read that the quiet confidence is called Perfect peace. "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you"

May be you are the one who says, " I don't really have eyes of faith. The problem is too big, its too close. Ohhh i'm totally blind. You know, i can't sem to see any way out. But my dear friend "My God's ways are higher than your ways". May be the "Thing" has crowded your whole life. But we have a God who can help us to come of the problem that you are going through.

Let me tell you one interesting story about 2 horses.

Illustration: Horse Bell

Two horses were living on a rural field. From a distance, the horses look alike. But if you near the horse, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking closer to one of the horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner made a good home for him to stay even thou the horse is blind.

If you are near by the blind horse, you will hear the sound of a bell. The bell sound comes from the baby horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. The bell lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

The blind horse always listens to the bell sound and follow that sound, trusting that she will not lead him astray.

When the baby horse returns to the shelter each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back. Making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear the sound of the bell.

Conclusion:

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have lots of challenges and problems . He watches over us. He even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in a need.

Many of the times, we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those whom God places in our lives. At other times we are the guide horse, helping others to see.

John 6:46 we read ""Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.".

Just like this verse, we don't always see Him, But you know He is always there to help us when we are in trouble. When you can't see Him, look around or just listen for the one He has assigned to help you. They will be there. God never leaves us alone. He is always there with us.

God's eyes are beautiful. All glory to God...

Red Capsicum Chutney / Yellow Capsicum Chutney

2015-05-18T20:19:00.001-04:00

After i published my last post, i got lots of phone calls and messages from my friends asking me to update the blog very often with more recipes. So here you go friends. Hope you will like it, love it and share it.. He he he.

Last Saturday my neighbor gave me the Restaurant depot card for us to visit that store. With lots of curiosity , our family went to that store just to see what do they really carry To my surprise, we found yummy fruits, vegetables, all kinds of meat and all that you need to cook at home/ restaurant except the canned goods.

We bought 1 full box of mangoes, 5lb red peppers, 25 lemons in a bag, 5 lb apples in a bag, and some sauces and cookies.

Red pepper.. Yumm yumm. Mummy i want more of that red vegetable!!!! Thats what i hear whenever i make this red pepper/capsicum vegetable.So tried the red pepper chutney after seeing it in my friend Mullais's website. I did some changes and tried it, and we just loved it. My little girl asked me " Mom can you please make more of this Chutney. I love this Chutney and I love you too Mom". That made my day..

I add this red veggie with the mushrooms to make mushroom red pepper masala, Sometimes i make mixed vegetable rice with the bright red veggie. Very often i add it to the Chicken stir fry and Pasta dishes Sometimes i add this to the fish curry to make it more colorful. Trust me , it does taste good. Ok ennoda kathayae sollitu iruntha appuram eppo recipe pathi sollurathu.. Let me share my recipe.

To make this chutney, you need just 30 minutes of your time from start to finish.

You will need:

1 Red Pepper / Yellow or even Orange pepper
1 Big Tomato / 2 small tomatoes
1/4 of big onion / 2 small onion
1/2 cup of grated coconut
Handful of coriander leaves
2 Red chilies
5 Garlic Pods
1/2 inch ginger(finely chopped)
curry leaves (optional)
Salt to taste
2 tsp oil

Procedure:

Step 1:

Wash the red pepper and take off the seeds and rough chop them and keep it aside.

Step 2:

Wash the tomatoes and chop them and keep it aside. Just do the same thing with the onions too.

Step 3:

Some of the ingredients that you need to make this yummy chutney.

Step 4:

Heat a pan and add some oil to it. When its hot just add the curry leaves (optional)red chilli, onions, garlic and ginger and saute it just for 2 minutes.

Step 5:

Now add the chopped red peppers and saute it for 5 to 7 minutes in a medium flame.

Step 6:

Now add the tomatoes and saute it for 5 more mins. Now you can add the grated coconut and the chopped coriander leaves and saute it just for a minute and switch off the stove.

Step 7:

Let it cool for 5 minutes.

Step 8:

Now add the water and salt to the mixture and grind it to the Chutney consistency. We prefer the smooth consistency chutney, not the course consistency.

I did not do the extra tempering to give the final touch to add the extra taste and extra fat.

Chutney tastes yumm yumm.. We had it with South Indian Dosa. You can even have this chutney with Chapathi.

Hint:

You can even add some urad dal to the oil before adding onions.

Turkey Kheema Wrap -- Indian Style Quick and Easy dinner

2015-05-15T00:04:00.000-04:00

Turkey Kheema Wrap

Turkey Kheema wrap is a quick and easy recipe to make in less than 30 mins. You can even take it for lunch in your lunch box.. Kids friendly and Adults friendly recipe. You can easily substitute the minced turkey meat with Eggs, Minced Chicken, and Minced Beef. I learned this recipe from my sister in law Angela, when I visited her during last Christmas. Thank you Angie akka for this easy peasy recipe. I did some modification to make it Indian style.

You will need:

1 Onion (finely chopped)
1 lb minced turkey meat
2 tbsp Crushed Ginger and Garlic (Use Mortar and Pestle to do this work)
2 tsp fennel powder
1 tsp Chili powder
1 tsp pepper powder (Optional)
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp Cumin Powder
2 tsp Dry Mango Powder/ Chat Masala Powder (Optional)
Salt to taste
Few curry leaves (finely chopped)
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp Oil

To build a Wrap :

1 cup tomato finely chopped
coriander leaves finely chopped
Your all time favorite lettuce (Iceberg or Romaine) Optional
1 cucumber thinly sliced
Chili flakes
Mayonnaise/ Thick Yogurt(curd)
Pepper powder
Chapathi/Roti/ Whole wheat Ready made Roll-ups

Procedure:

Step 1:

Take a frying pan and add 1 tbsp oil to it, Now add the mustard seeds to it. Allow it to splutter and add the chopped curry leaves and the onion. Saute it just for 2 minutes. Now add the crushed ginger and garlic and saute it until it gets rid of the raw smell.

Step 2:

Reduce the flame to Low and add the Marsala powders one by one (Turmeric powder, cumin powder, fennel powder, Chili Powder). Just stir it for a minute and Increase the flame to High. Now add the washed minced meat. Keep sauteing for 5 mins. Now add the salt and stir it continuously. At this time the mixture would look like this.

Turkey Kheema

Now just to enlighten the taste sprinkle some mango powder and pepper powder on this mixture and give it a stir. Check for salt one more time.

Step 3:

Building the Wrap:

1. I used the ready made Whole wheat roll to make my job easier.

Rectangle shape Roll-up.. You can substitute it with Homemade Chapathi/ Roti

2. Warm the roll on the dosa pan/ Griddle, if you don't like Cold Foods.

3. Now keep the warm chapathi/ roll up on a plate and spread Mayonnaise on it. On the center of the Roll Up, Keep one spoon full of prepared Turkey Kheema . Top it up with chopped tomaoes, chili flakes too. I didn't add Chili flakes to my kids wrap.

Roll up topped with Turkey Kheema, chopped tomatoes, chilli flakes

4. You can add all your favorite veggies. I had cucumber handy. So I added thinly sliced cucumber and some fresh finely chopped cilantro(coriander leaves). Sorry my fridge is running out of lettuce. :). So I did not add lettuce today.

Roll Up loaded with Turkey Kheema, tomatoes, chilli flakes, cucumber and Coriander Leaves

5. Just fold it, cut it in half and serve.

My loving 3 year old picky eater loves to eat Ketch Up with everything. So just added some ketch up on top to invite her picky tummy to try this, Wow she just loved it.

Hints:

1. You can add green peas to the Kheema

2. Can make the same recipe with Scrambled eggs, Ground chicken, and with Tofu.

3. You can eat this Warm / Cold.

4. It doesn't need any extra side dish.

5. This dish has all the nutrients that you need.. Fiber from Whole wheat, Protein for Turkey meat, Vitamins and Minerals for the veggies.

6. One Pot Meal, Kids friendly, Lunch box friendly, Easy to make, Everyone's favorite, What else do we need.

Ground Beef Kothu curry recipe

2012-09-28T19:19:00.000-04:00

You will need:

2 lb minced beef
1 red onion (Chopped finely)
½ tomato (chopped finely)
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp pepper powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp fennel seed powder
1 tsp meat masala (optional)
3 tbsp oil
1 tsp salt

To Grind (Home made masala)

1 tsp coriander seeds
1 red chilli
½ tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp whole pepper
½ tsp fennel seeds

Procedure:

Step 1:

Take pressure cooker add just 1 tbsp oil to it. Now add the minced(ground) meat along with chopped red onion, tomatoes, ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder, pepper powder, cumin powder, fennel powder, meat masala and salt. Saute it just for 5 mins. Then add 2 cups of water and cook it for 8 to 10 whistle.

Step 2:

In the mean time heat a small pan/ wok and add coriander seeds, cumin seeds, whole pepper, fennel seeds and saute it in a low flame for few mins untill you get good smell. When you get good aroma, switch off the stove and let it cool for couple of mins. They dry grind it in a mixie without adding water and keep it aside.

Step 3:

In a big wok(Vada chatti or cheeni chatti) add 3 tbsp oil . When it becomes hot add cinnamon stick and curry leaves. When it splutters add the home made masala and saute it just for 1 min.

Step 4:

Immediately add the cooked meat and saute it untill you get nice dried texture as shown in the picture. It will take minimum 10 mins. Check for salt. You can even add more oil to it if it get sticks to the bottom.

Hint; You can even add fresh green peas to this recipe.

You can serve this with paratha, rasam rice and sambhar rice.

Diamond Cuts Recipe

2012-09-25T15:27:00.005-04:00

My mom used to make this Diamond cuts very often during my school days. I think she used to make this atleast twice a month. I love this diamond cuts for evening snack. Here is my mom's recipe. You can give it a try. Very simple to make. Just store it in a air tight container and, it will stay good for minimum 1 month.

Here comes the recipe.

You will need:

1½ cup All purpose flour/ Maida
1 Egg
½ cup coconut milk
½ cup powdered sugar (Optional)
1 pinch Salt
Oil for deep frying

For Sugar syrup: (If you are planning to make this sugar syrup avoid adding sugar while making the dough)

1 cup sugar
½ cup water
2 pinch Cardamon powder

Procedure:

Step 1:

Mix the all purpose flour(Maida), sugar, cardamon, egg, salt in a mixing bowl.

Step 2:

Now add the coconut milk and mix it very gently untill it forms a dough shape. You can add drops of water if you need .

Step 3:

Cover the dough with a lid and let the dough rest for 15 mins.

Step 4:

Heat the oil in a deep frying vessel. In the mean time, divide the dough into 2 to 3 balls and flatten it really thin sheet similar to chapathi or poori.

Step 5:

Cut it into diamond size using a knife. You can even use pizza cutter..

Step 6:

Deep fry the diamond cuts in the medium heat oil until it turns golden brown color.Remove from the oil and keep it in a tissue paper

Sugar syrup:

For this simple sugar syrup just heat the sugar, cardamon and water in a vessel to form 1" thread consistency.

Cool slightly and add all the fried diamond cuts into the sugary syrup and mix it well. Cool it completely and store it in a air tight container for long shelf life.

In the above picture i did not make any sugar syrup. Instead i just added sugar to the dough while making the dough, just to make my work easy. You can try that too..

Chicken Manchurian Semi gravy style

2012-09-21T15:16:00.001-04:00

During college days, we used to visit Chicken Sampoorna hotel near NJJ BUS Stand at Coimbatore with my Nagercoil friends. We always order Ginger chicken and Chicken manchurian along with some fried rice and naan, when we visit this place. I can still remember, how we finish the food. Wow.. Cant forget those days Julie akka, Mado, Linda, Jovita, Jermey. Love you guys..

I tried my best to get that taste.

You will need:

1 medium onion (cut into bite sized pieces)
1 capsicum(green pepper) cut into bite sized pieces
5 pods of garlic. chopped very finely
1 inch ginger (chopped very finely)
2 tsp soy sauce
½ tsp chilli garlic paste
2 tsp vinegar/ lemon juice
2 tbsp corn flour mixed with ½ cup water
2 pinch ajino motto
Extra salt to taste
oil for deep frying
Green onion..for garnishing

For Marinade:

1 lb chicken (boneless thighs) cut into bite size pieces
½ tsp soy sauce
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
½ tsp pepper powder
1 egg
3 tbsp corn flour
salt to taste

Procedure:

Step 1:

Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and marinate with the ingredients under the marinade section and let it marinate for few hours inside the refrigerator.

Step 2:

Heat the oil for deep frying and when its hot fry the chicken until its 90% cooked. Dont cook it for long time, coz overcooking the chicken will harden the meat.

Step 3:

Now heat 3 tbsp oil in another pan and add the chopped garlic and saute it for 2 mins then add the ginger to it and saute it for 1 more min. Now add the onions and the capsicum and saute it for few more mins.

Step 4:

Now add the chilli garlic paste, soy sauce, vinegar, ajino motto and the chicken. Check for salt at this time. Now to get the semi gravy consistency, add the corn flour mixed with water until you get the desired consistency.

Wahlah... Yummy chicken manchurian is now ready to serve with yummy chicken fried rice.

Spicy Fish Fry

2012-09-19T17:07:00.001-04:00

You will need:

1 lb Fish (Clean and cut into 5-6 pieces)
1 tsp Chilli Powder
1 tsp cumin powder
½ tsp Garlic powder
½ tsp Ginger Paste (Can substitute with ginger garlic paste)
½ tsp onion powder
4 to 5 curry leaves (cut into small pieces). I use dry curry leaves powder 2 pinch
½ tsp vinegar / ½ tsp lemon juice
Salt for taste
½ cup oil for frying

Procedure:

Step 1:

Take a bowl and mix all these ingredients except oil and let it marinate for minimum 2 hours inside the refrigerator.

Step 2:

Now heat the oil in the frying pan. When the oil becomes hot, put the marinated fish in the hot oil for 2 to 3 mins until it gets brown crust and then flip it on the other side and fry until its done.

Fish fry is ready to serve. You can serve this fish fry with any variety dishes, like Biryani, Tomato rice, Lemon rice, Sambhar rice, Rasam rice.

You can can even have it as snack. he he.

Mutton Kheema - Spicy

2011-11-01T15:32:00.002-04:00

You will need:
1 lb Minced Goat meat (Kheema)
1 medium sized onion (finely chopped / grated)
3 curry leaves
2 tbsp meat masala powder (1 tbsp red chilli powder + 1 tbsp corainder powder + 1 tbsp cumin powder)
1 tsp fennel powder (optional)
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste( preferably homemade)
1½ cup water
2 small onions or 1 shallot(finely chopped)
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 string of curry leaves
1 tsp pepper powder (optional)
½ tsp Amchoor powder (Dry mango powder)
2 tbsp oil (Preferably coconut oil)
salt per taste
2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves for garnish

Procedure:

Step 1:

Take a pressure cooker and mix the minced meat, finely chopped onion, curry leaves, meat masala powder, fennel powder , ginger garlic paste, salt and the water. Mix it gently with your hands and allow it to cook for 6 to 8 whistles.

Allow it to cool for next 15 mins.

Step 2:

Now heat 2 tbsp oil in a heavy bottom vessel. When its hot add cumin seeds and then the curry leaves, Now add the finely chopped small onions to it. Saute it for just 2 to 3 mins.

Step 3:

Now add the cooked meat along with the water. Check for salt and allow the water to evaporate. Wait for 2 to 3 mins. Continue to saute it, till you get the dry form as shown in picture.
(If you have kids at home, you can save this soup for them)

Step 4:

Now add black pepper powder and the amchoor powder and mix it well. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves and serve it with Chapathi, parotta or Rasam rice.

Egg Kuruma

2011-03-08T09:28:00.000-05:00

Egg kuruma is my favorite. This is my mom's recipe. I love this kuruma with Appam. You can have this even with rice. Easy recipe. Just need to grind everything and 5 mins in the stove.

You will need:

4 hard boiled eggs
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 string of curry leaves
2 red chillies
2 tbsp oil (Preferably coconut oil)
salt per taste

To Grind:

1 cup of freshly grated coconut (or frozen) Or 1 cup of almond powder
3 small onions (pearl onions)
2 garlic pods
1 tomato
1 tsp chilli powder(Can adjust the spice level according to your taste bud)
1 tsp cumin powder
½ tsp fennel seeds

Procedure:

Step 1:

Hard boil the eggs for 20 mins de shell them, then cut it into half and keep it aside.

Grind all the ingredients under the list To Grind along with some water to a fine smooth mixture and keep it aside.

Step 2:

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and add the ground mixture to it and allow it to boil for 10 to 15 mins.

Step 3:

Now add the hard boiled eggs into the boiled ground mixture and let it simmer for 3 to 5 mins. Check for salt.

Step 4:

Finally in a small pan heat 1 tbsp oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, ½ onion(finely chopped), curry leaves, red chillies. When everything finish splutters add this into the egg kuruma and cover the lid. Switch off the stove.

Egg kuruma is now ready to serve. Serve this with Appam or with plain white rice along with pickle. Yummyoov. You will definitely like it for its taste.

Hint:
You can add almond powder or grind almond along with coconut for extra flavor.

Egg Thokku

2011-01-15T22:59:00.001-05:00

Egg thokku is the simplest side dish to go with dal rice or even with Chapathi/ roti. Try it.. You will definitely like it. Takes just 10 mins, but tastes yummy..

You will need:

4 eggs
1½ big onions
1 big tomato
1 tsp chilli powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp garam masala powder (optional)
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
few curry leaves
2 tbsp oil
salt as required
¼ tsp mustard seeds
¼ tsp cumin seeds
¼ tsp fennel seeds
coriander leaves( few finely chopped)

Procedure:

Step 1:

Chop onion lengthwise and keep it aside. Chop the tomatoes finely.

Step 2:

Heat some water in a vessel and boil 4 eggs. Let it boil for 15 mins. Now the boiled egg is ready. Keep it aside.

Step 3:

In a non stick pan, heat 2 tbsp oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and fennel seeds, Once it splutter add curry leaves to it.

Step 4:

Now add the chopped onions to it and saute it till it turns translucent. It will take around 5 mins in medium heat. Then the ginger garlic paste to it along with the chopped tomatoes. Saute it till the tomatoes turn mushy.

Step 5:

Now add the chilli powder and turmeric powder. Saute it just for one min. Add salt at this stage

Step 6:

De shell the boiled eggs and cut it . Now add the boiled eggs to this masala and saute it. Add the garam masala to this now. If you have some chopped coriander leaves, you can add it at this stage. Check for salt.
You can add some water if you are making this dish for a big crowd.

Lower and flame. Now cover it with a lid and keep it in the low flame just for 2 to 3 mins. Switch off the flame and serve it with dal rice or with Chapathi.. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

Oil Cookies

2011-01-15T22:19:00.000-05:00

I tried this time the sugar cookies by replacing butter with oil. This time i tried it with oil.

I came across an article called Butter Vs Oil for the healthy benefits. http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2009/01/butter-versus-oil-championship-fight.html

Ok as you all know Oil is better comparing to butter. I have a 2 year old allergic to dairy products. So i just tried this oil cookies and we all like it. You can definitely give a try. Very simple to make. Ok here comes the recipe.

Your will need:

Dry Ingredients:

2 cup All purpose flour(Maida)
¾ cup sugar(Powdered sugar)
1¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

⅓ cup oil
1¼ tsp vanilla essence
1 egg plus milk to make ⅓ cup

Procedure:

Step 1:

Beat one egg along with some milk to get ⅓ cup. In that add oil, vanilla essence and keep it aside.

Step 2:

Now for dry ingredients, take a mixing bowl and shift 2 cups of all purpose flour along with baking soda, salt and sugar.

Step 3:

Then add the wet ingredients(egg. oil, vanilla essence) into the dry ingredients and knead the dough with your hand untill you get a soft dough.

Step 4:

Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.

Step 5:

After 1 hour preheat the oven to 400 degree F

Step 6:

Now roll it out on a floured board . Cut it to a desired shape. The thickness should be appraoximately 3 times of the credit card size.

Arrange it in a non greased cookie tray and bake it for just 8 to 9 mins. Approximately you will get 30 to 35 cookies.

Enjoy.....
Step 6:

ஜெபிக்க எது நல்ல நேரம் ?

2010-10-27T09:44:00.000-04:00

அதிகாலையில் - தாவீது போல

மத்தியானத்தில் - தானியேல் போல

நள்ளிரவில் - பவுலும் சீலாவும் போல

ஆபத்தில் - பேதுரு போல

துக்கத்தில் - அன்னாளைப் போல

வியாதி வருத்தங்களில் - யோபுவைப் போல

சிறுவயதில் - சாமுவேல் போல

இளமையில் - தீமோத்தேயு போல

முதிர் வயதில் - சிமியோன் போல

சாவிலும் - ஸ்தேவான் போல

வேலையைத் தொடங்கும் போது - எலியேசர் போல

வேலையை முடிக்கும் போது - சாலொமோன் போல

எந்த வேளையிலும் - இயேசுவைப் போல

“எப்போது வேண்டுமானாலும் ஜெபிக்கலாம்; எப்படி வேண்டுமானாலும் ஜெபிக்கலாம்; எங்கு வேண்டுமானாலும் ஜெபிக்கலாம் என்பதால் நம்மில் அநேகர் எப்போதுமே, எப்படியுமே, எங்குமே ஜெபிப்பதில்லை” - யாரோ.

Quotes by Sadhu Sunder singh

2010-06-20T13:28:00.000-04:00

"He was searching for me before I sought Him. Christ whom I had never expected came to me. I was praying, 'If there be a God, reveal Thyself'...I was praying to Hindu gods and incarnations. But when He came there was no anger in His face, even though I had burnt the Bible three days before. None of you have ever destroyed Scripture like me. He is such a wonderful, loving, living Saviour..."

"There is a great difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him... If we only know of Jesus as a good man, a great example, it is no help to us. Those who know Him know Who He is. When we know Him everything is different and we are living in a new world -- a new atmosphere. Heaven begins on earth for us. Those who know Him know that Jesus is everything to them. They can bear witness because they have been living with Him...If we live in Him He will reveal Himself to us and we shall bear witness -- not for a day or a night only..."

"For the first two or three years after my conversion, I used to ask for specific things. Now I ask for God. Supposing there is a tree full of fruits -- you will have to go and buy or beg the fruits from the owner of the tree. Every day you would have to go for one or two fruits. But if you can make the tree your own property, then all the fruits will be your own. In the same way, if God is your own, then all things in Heaven and on earth will be your own, because He is your Father and is everything to you; otherwise you will have to go and ask like a beggar for certain things. When they are used up, you will have to ask again. So ask not for gifts but for the Giver of Gifts: not for life but for the Giver of Life -- then life and the things needed for life will be added unto you."

"Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear, but it does not cease to exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water. Likewise, the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others from the love which he imparts to us."

"From my many years experience I can unhesitatingly say that the cross bears those who bear the cross."

"While sitting on the bank of a river one day, I picked up a solid round stone from the water and broke it open. It was perfectly dry in spite of the fact that it had been immersed in water for centuries. The same is true of many people in the Western world. For centuries they have been surrounded by Christianity; they live immersed in the waters of its benefits. And yet it has not penetrated their hearts; they do not love it. The fault is not in Christianity, but in men's hearts, which have been hardened by materialism and intellectualism."

"When Jesus entered Jerusalem the people spread their clothes in the way and strewed branches before Him in order to do Him honour. Jesus rode upon an ass, according to the word of the prophet. His feet did not touch the road which was decorated in His honour. It was the ass which trod upon the garments and the branches. But the ass would have been very foolish to have been uplifted on that account; for the road really was not decked in its honour! It would be just as foolish if those who bear Christ to men were to think anything of themselves because of what men do to them for the sake of Jesus."

"A newborn child has to cry, for only in this way will his lungs expand. A doctor once told me of a child who could not breathe when it was born. In order to make it breathe the doctor gave it a slight blow. The mother must have thought the doctor cruel. But he was really doing the kindest thing possible. As with newborn children the lungs are contracted, so are our spiritual lungs. But through suffering God strikes us in love. Then our lungs expand and we can breathe and pray."

"Just as the salt water of the sea is drawn upwards by the hot rays of the sun, and gradually takes on the form of clouds, and, turned thus into sweet and refreshing water, falls in showers on the earth (for the sea water as it rises upwards leaves behind it its salt and bitterness), so when the thoughts and desires of the man of prayer rise aloft like misty emanations of the soul, the rays of the Sun of Righteousness purify them of all sinful taint, and his prayers become a great cloud which descends from heaven in a shower of blessing, bringing refreshment to many on the earth."

Potato Stew

2010-04-23T22:07:00.001-04:00

Potato stew with Appam makes yummy breakfast or dinner. My family like Appam very much. Even if someone give me appam everyday i can eat it. Appam goes very well with any non veg curries like egg curry, mutton or chicken curry.

For a change from non veg curries i tried this simple potato stew which goes very well with appams. I'm a spice lover and i cant eat anything which is not spicy. But this stew is simply tasty with less spice in it. You can add spice if you want. But believe me, it taste good with just green chillies and onions.

Here come the recipe of this simple stew.

You will need:

2 large potatoes
1 large red onion
5 green chillies
3 to 5 garlic pods
salt for taste
1½ cups of thick coconut milk

For seasoning:

1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp urad dal
1 small onion(shallot) cut into small pieces
few curry leaves
2 tbsp oil . preferably coconut oil

Procedure:

Step 1:

Peel the potatoes and cut into bite size pieces. Boil it in 3 to 4 cups of water until it become soft.

Step 2:

Peel the onion and cut into small squares. When the potatoes gets 80% cooked, add the chopped onion along with the green chillies and the garlic pods.

Step 3:

At this stage you can add more water if the vegetables are not fully cooked yet. If the vegetables are fully cooked add the thick coconut milk and switch of the stove . Now stir the coconut milk along with the potatoes.

Step 4:

Now for seasoning add oil in a frying pan and allow it to heat. When it turns hot add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and the urad dal one after the other. When it splutters add the finely chopped onion and allow it to brown. Now add the curry leaves and add the potato stew to this. Switch off the stove.

Enjoy this with Appam .Easy recipe on a busy day. Taste very good too.

Butternut Squash Halwa

2010-03-24T15:56:00.005-04:00

Our visit to Farmers market brings new vegetables to our home once a while. This time we got Butternut Squash. I like the color and its appearance. And the name itself told me that it has to be good.. Butter, Nut.. Lovely name right.. Yeap Very nice vegetable. You can definitely try this vegetable.

After buying this vegetable I really dont know what to do with it.It was sitting on my counter top for more than a week. I was confused whether to go with sweets or to make come curries. Called my fried Dahlia and asked What to do with Butternut Squash. She told me to make Halwa or you can use it in the Sambhar. So i'm using Half of it in Halwa and the other half in Sambhar. Thanks Dahlia akka for your suggestion. I did exactly like carrot halwa and it taste very good. But instead of thickening the milk at stove top i added condensed milk.

It is a good source of fibre, vitamin C, manganese, magnesium, and potassium. It is also an excellent source of vitamin A.

To make this tasty Halwa:

You will need:

3 cups of grated butternut squash
1 cup of condensed milk
½ cup water
2 pinch of cardamom powder
2 tsp ghee
1 tbsp dry raisin
1 tbsp cashewnut (roughly chopped)
Sugar as needed .(I dint add sugar, Its purely optional)

Procedure:

Step 1:

Cut the butternut squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds using a spoon as shown in pic.

Step 2:

Grate the peeled squash using a grater ..(Just like u grate carrots).

Step 3:

Now switch on Non stick pan at Medium heat. Add the ghee. When its hot add the raisin and cashew nut. Saute it till the raisin plums and the cashew nut turns golden brown color. Remove the raisin and cashew nut when its done. Keep it aside.

Step 4:

In the remaining ghee add the grated butternut squash and lower the heat. Saute it till it get rid of the raw smell. It will take 10 to 15 mins in medium low flame. Now add the water and allow it to boil.

Step 5:

When the water starts boiling add the condensed milk along with the cardamom powder. Saute it till you get Halwa consistency. It will take less than 7 mins.

Step 6:

Now garnish with the raisin and the roasted cashews . Transfer it into another bowl and allow it to cool. Refrigerate it for few hours. Now its time to cut and serve. Wow Yummy Butternut squash Halwa is ready.

Hint:
You can add extra sugar if you like extra sweet version of this Halwa.

Chilli Adai

2010-03-18T10:54:00.004-04:00

My H like Adai more than regular Dosa. We like spicy Adai's. One fine evening i have no dosa batter in my fridge. Suddenly i came up with this idea. Just 2 to 3 hours soaking time is enough if you soak the dals and rice in hot water. This simple adai goes with idli podi very well. If you have time you can make coconut chutney as side dish too. This Adai goes very well with South Indian Aviyal. Here comes the recipe for this simple Adai...

You will need:

1 cup raw rice
½ cup toor dal
½ cup Channa dal
¼ cup urad dal
½ tsp cumin powder
½ tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp Asafoetida Powder (hing powder, LG)
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
salt as required
bunch of coriander leaves
Chilli flakes (optional)
oil (To make Adai) You can use ghee also

Procedure:

Step 1:

Soak rice, toor dal, channa dal, urad dal together in a vessel for 3 to 4 hours.

Step 2:

Grind it in a mixie/ blender by adding little water(Not too watery..Just like regular dosa batter). Grind it to a course paste.

Now add chopped coriander leaves, chilli powder, cumin powder, asofoetida powder and ginger garlic paste along with the course paste and switch on the mixie/ blender one more time just to get the coriander leaves mixed with the dal paste.

Step 3:

Now add the salt and mix it.

Step 4:

Heat griddle/tawa/ nonstick pan pour a ladle of batter and roll it around to spread it evenly. Cook one side pour some oil around and turn other side to cook .When done remove and serve.

You can top one side of the dosa with chilli flakes or onions to get chilli Adai, Onion Adai.

Tofu Scramble

2010-03-16T13:10:00.001-04:00

I like scramble eggs very much. We eat that with Chapathi, side dish for sambhar rice or dal rice, or even as breakfast. But as you all know eggs are loaded with cholesterol. So tried the same recipe with added spiciness in Tofu. We liked it very much. Had it with Chapathi for dinner. Hope you will like this too..

You will need:

500 gm Firm Tofu
2 big onions
½ tsp Chicken Masala Powder
1 tsp pepper powder
1 tsp chilli powder or 5 green chillies(finely chopped)
½ tsp cumin powder
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
½ tsp mustard seeds
2 tbsp oil
salt per taste
Few coriander leaves( Chopped finely)

Procedure:

Step 1:

Chop the onions finely and keep it aside.

Step 2:

Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and then add the finely chopped onions to it.

Step 3:

Crumble the firm tofu with your hands and keep it aside.

Step 4:

When the onions turn translucent after sauteing it for 3 to 5 mins, add the ginger garlic paste.

Step 5:

Saute the ginger garlic paste for just 2 mins till it get rid of the raw smell. Now add the chicken masala powder, chilli powder and the cumin powder, pepper powder along with scrambled tofu at this stage.

Step 6:

Add salt. Stir it continuously till you get scrambled form. Add chopped coriander leaves. This might take 8 to 10 mins to get this scrambled form.Serve it hot with Chapathi or any of your favorite dishes.

Simple Chilli Shrimp Fry

2010-03-08T12:00:00.010-05:00

You will need:

1 lb shrimp
2 onion
5 garlic pods(chopped very finely)
2 green chillies
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp pepper powder
curry leaves.. 2 strings
salt for taste
1 tsp mustard seeds
3 tbsp oil

Procedure:

Step 1:

Heat oil in a non stick pan. Add mustard seeds when its hot. Then add the curry leaves.

Step 2:

Add finely chopped onions, green chillies and garlic to it. Fry it till it becomes translucent.

Step 3:

Add the shrimp and cover it with a lid. Add salt at this time.

Step 4:

Cover it with a lid for 4 to 5 mins. Now add the chilli powder, pepper powder. Then uncover the lid and fry it for few more mins.

Step 5:

Fry it for few more mins. Check for salt.

Serve hot with your favourite rice or with rasam, dal curry.

Baby goat Masala

2010-03-04T18:12:00.000-05:00

You will need:

3 lb baby goat with bones
1 tbsp freshly made ginger garlic paste
5 small onions(shallots) You can add more also for extra taste
some curry leaves
½ tsp turmeric powder
salt
2 cup water (Can add more if needed)

For Masala:

2 onions(finely chopped)
2 tomatoes chopped
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tbsp Sakthi mutton masala or you can use(1 ½ tbsp coriander powder, 1 tbsp chilli powder)
½ cup diluted coconut milk or (2 tbsp coconut milk paste).. Optional ingredient
5 stalks of coriander leaves
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
3 cardamom
3 tbsp oil
salt as required

Procedure:

Step 1:

Pressure cook the ingredients under first table for 3 whistle or untill its 90% cooked. Keep it aside

Step 2:

Heat oil in a big non stick pan. Add cinnamon stick, cardamom and cloves. Then add the onions and fry it till it become translucent.. It might take 5 to 10 mins in medium high heat. Then add ginger garlic paste and saute it for 2 mins till it get rid of the raw smell. Then add the tomatoes and saute it till the oil oozes out. Now add the masala powder along with half of the chopped coriander leaves and saute it just for a min.

Step 3:

Now add the cooked baby goat along with the pressure cooked soup and onions. Allow it to cook covered along with the masala for 5 to 10 mins till the cooked goat absorbs all the masala. Check for salt. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. You can add coconut milk at this stage if needed.

Enjoy with any variety rice like ghee rice, peas pulav, fried rice or with your favourite rotis like naan, chapathi.

You can make the same with mutton, beef and pork as well.. If making with beef or pork. Pressure cook the meat till its fully cooked. Some part of beef take 8 to 10 whistle.

Eggplant Gravy/ Enna kathirikai

2010-03-03T06:32:00.002-05:00

You will need:

8 brinjals
2 onions (chopped finely)
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 cinnamom stick
2 cardamom
2 tbsp tamarind paste(adjust according to your taste)
2 tbsp sakthi chicken masala powder
3 tbsp oil

To Powder:

¼ cup peanuts( ground nuts)
½ cup sesame seeds
½ cup grated coconut

Procedure:

Step 1:

Heat 1 cup of oil in a pan. Make some slits in the brinjal and deep fry it . Keep it aside.

Step 2:

In a non stick pan roast the peanuts, sesame seeds and coconut individually till it turns light brown color. Once its roated add some water and grind it to a course paste and keep it aside.

Step 3:

In the same pan add 3 tbsp oil and add cinnamon stick and cardamon. Now add the finely chopped onion and saute it till it turns translucent.Then add the ginger garlic paste. Saute it for 1 min.

Step 4:

Now add the course paste along with the sakthi chicken masala and close it with a lid. Turn the flame to very low. Allow it to cook for minimum half an hour till the oil appears at the top.

Step 5:

Now add the tamarind juice. Add the fried brinjals into the gravy. Check for salt. Add more water if needed according to your required consistency.

Enjoy with Biryani, chapathi.

Dry Fish thokku/ Karuvadu thokku

2010-02-18T15:15:00.002-05:00

You will need:

2 cups of shredded dry fish
2 big red onions (finely chopped)
2 tomatoes (finely chopped)
1 tsp chilli powder
salt per taste
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
corainder leaves
3 tbsp oil

For seasoning:

1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 string curry leaves

Procedure:

1. Wash dry fish nicely. Shred the dry fish very small and keep it aside

3. Now heat oil in a pan and add shredded dry fish to it. Fry it for 2 to 3 mins. Keep it aside

4. In the remaining oil add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and chopped onions. Saute it till the onion becomes translucent. Now add the chopped tomato and saute it till the oil comes on top.

5. Now add theginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, salt and saute it for a min.

6. Add the fried dry fish and mix it nicely. Check for salt and chilli powder. Continue to saute for 3 more mins.

7. Add chopped coriander leaves.

Poori kilangu/ Potato Masala

2010-01-28T11:47:00.002-05:00

You will need:

3 big potatoes
1 big onion
5 garlic pods (chopped finely)
1 tbsp chopped ginger
1 tsp turmeric powder
5 to 8 green chillies( according to ur spice level)
4 bacon strips( cut into small pieces).. optional
salt per taste

For seasoning

1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp urad dal
few curry leaves
few coriander leaves( finely chopped)
3 tbsp oil/ ghee

Procedure:

Step 1:

Chop onions, garlic, ginger, green chilli and keep it aside.
Cut the bacons and keep it aside

Step 2:

Chop potatoes and boil it in the water till it become soft. Or pressure cook the potato untill it becomes soft.

Step 3:

Heat 1 tbsp oil a pan and crisp the bacon pieces. this will take 2 to 5 mins. Once the bacon is crisped, take it out and keep it aside.

Step 4:

In the same oil add another 2 tbsp oil also and allow it to heat. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal, curry leaves. Now add chopped onions along with ginger, garlic and green chilli and saute it till the onions get translucent.

Step 5:

Now add the turmeric powder and saute it for a min. Add the salt

Step 6:

In the mean time strain the cooked potatoes. Now add the onion mixture and bacon crisp to the cooked potatoes and mash it. Check for salt. Enjoy with poori, roti.

Hint:

You can use this masala to make masala dosa too.. yummy yummy

Poori

2010-01-27T12:49:00.000-05:00

You will need:

2 cups chapathi flour
¼ cup sooji/ rava
2 tbsp ghee/ oil
salt for taste
water to knead the dough.. just like chapathi dough
2 cups oil for deep frying

Procedure:

Mix chapathi flour, rava, salt and water together to get a soft dough. then add 2 tbsp ghee/ oil and knead the dough for 2 more mins and keep it aside. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes to 45 minutes.

Make small balls as of golf ball size. Flatten each ball using the rolling pin. Using rolling pin just flatten it to a thickness of credit card.

Heat oil in a pan. when its super hot add poori and immediately flicker the hot oil over the top pf poori with spatula, so that it will swell up like ball. This take only few seconds. Flip the poori and cook the next side to get golden brown color.

Serve it hot with and veg or non veg side dishes. I love to eat with potato masala. Will upload the recipe soon..

Paneer Potato Masala

2010-01-14T16:38:00.001-05:00

You will need:

2 red onion or 1 big yellow onion
1 tomato or 3 tbsp canned crushed tomatoes
2 potatoes (cut into bite size pieces)
10 to 15 fried paneer pieces
1 tsp red chilli powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
1 tsp cumin powder
½ tsp black pepper powder
salt for taste

For tempering:

1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp mustard seeds
½ tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp channa dal
1 red chilli
5 curry leaves
3 tbsp oil

Procedure:

Step 1:

Heat a non stick pan and add some oil. When the oil is hot add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, channa dal, red chillies, curry leaves and the urad dal one after other.

Step 2:

Add chopped onions and saute it for 3 mins in high flame till it become light brown color. Now add the potato, chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, pepper, garam masala powder and close the lid for 2 mins. Add the tomato paste at this time. Now add ½ cup of water along with salt and cover it with a lid for 3 more mins till the potato is half cooked.

Step 3:

Now add the fried paneer pieces and cook it till its full cooked. It will take less than 10 mins. You can add water if it started sticking at the bottom of the pan. To get semi gravy form, you have to allow the water to evaporate by not closing the lid.

To get more gravy you can add ½ cup of coconut milk at the end.

Yummy potato paneer gravy is ready to serve. Serve with chapathi

Tips:

You can also add chopped mushroom into this gravy.