To The Herbs

Tamatar Ki Chutney , Tomato curry with raisins and dates

2016-06-09T11:33:00.000-04:00

It's been almost a year since I last posted any recipe. The reason for that is that I became a mom to little Mizo.he is now 8 months old and keeping me on toes .I have been so busy with him that I don't find time to post anything on blog :(
I've so many pics of food and so many recipes in drafts yet to finalize and post it ( will try and do it soon :) ).

Recently I made this amazing tomato chutney do try and let me know how it turned up.

Ingredients:-

6 red Tomatoes chopped in pieces
1/4 cup boiled and pureed raw Mango or AAM Papad
8 Dates
15 - 20 Raisins
50 gms Jaggery powder or Jaggery Syrup 5 tbsp if available.
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp yellow mustard
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp onion seeds ( Kalonji )
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
salt as per taste
2 dry chillies
1/2 tsp red chili powder

Method :-

Take a pan once its little warm add oil to it.then add cumin seeds . fenugreek seeds , fennel seeds , mustard seeds , Onion seeds and Red Chili and cook it for 1 minute.
Now add Tomatoes to the spice mixture above.Let it cook on slow flame and cover it for 5 minutes.
Mix it well and then add raisins , jaggery ,dates and raw mango ( or aam Papad if raw mango is not available) to the pan . Mix it well . Cover and cook it for 5 minutes.Keep on stirring in between.
Now add Chili powder and salt to this . Mix it well . Tomato Chutney is ready to be relished.

Fab Bag December 2014 Review!

2015-01-04T03:49:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone, it’s Fab Bag time. I subscribed to fabbag in month of December and this is my first fab bag :). This month they sent a Red Xmas themed cute bag with metallic Fab Bag logo. I really like the bright color of the pouch. The contents of this month’s Fab Bag are Just Herbs skin care kit, Sea Soul CC cream ,Kronokare Itsy Bitsy Massage Addict Lit-Cooling & Detoxifying , chocolato Chocolatey Christmas Gift and Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation – 52 Vanilla

Here is what the December bag looks like :-

Let’s get to the products :-

Sea Soul HD Finish CC Cream with SPF20 : I got a full size Sea Soul HD finish CC cream in shade light which closely matches my skin tone. It claims to improve discoloration, correct blemishes, minimize oil production and helps to lighten & brighten skin tone. It is very moisturizing and gives sheer coverage. It comes with SPF 20 and is free from harmful chemicals.

Sea Soul HD Finish CC Cream with SPF20 Price in India : Rs.650

Just Herbs 6 Step organic Skin Care Regime : A six step skin care regime from a herbal brand Just Herbs. The combo contains Silksplash Rehydrant face wash, Apricot Sparkle Skin Radiance scrub, Nourishing Massage cream, Fairever Protein Fairness Pack, Sun’nil Sun Protection lotion and Af’fair Skin Lightening cream. All the samples will last for 4-5 usages. I received kit which is for combination to oily skin

Just Herbs 6 Step organic Skin Care Regime Price in India : Rs.595

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation – 52 Vanilla

I’m yet to try this foundation to see how it is .

Kronokare Itsy Bitsy Massage Addict Lit-Cooling & Detoxifying : I got 2 x 35 ml bottles.One is the Chill Pill Cooling massage oil and other is the Real Deal Detoxifying massage oil.Full size 2 x 60 ml costs around INR 390/-

Chocolato Chocolatey Christmas Gift : This contains 4 assorted yummy chocolates.

I think they have out across better bags with better and more exciting products before. The Just Herbs kit was just too good and worth giving a shot.

What did you receive in your bag and what's your favorite product in it???

Bajra Til Tikki Recipe | Pearl Millet Sesame Tikki Recipe | Sajjala Tikki

2014-12-25T04:30:00.003-05:00

Bajra Til Tikki was often made by mom during winters . Recently I was in Bombay and mom made these for me. I wanted to share this healthy sweet recipe with you all.

Ingredients:

Bajra flour - 2cups
Grated Jaggery - 1cup
Sesame seeds - 1tbsp
Oil as required
2 cups water

Method :-

Add grated jaggery in 2cups of water and let it stay for 10 minutes , once its completely mixed with water . strain it and keep the Jaggery water aside.
In a bowl take Bajra flour , add Jaggery water and sesame seeds .Mix it well . The Consistency of this mixture should be dough like .
Divide the dough into small balls and press it into round circles.
Heat oil in a kadai/Wok for deep frying on medium flame.
Fry Bajra balls in kadhai on a medium flame. Cook till both sides become brownish.
Serve it hot.This can be even stored and it stays fresh for 3 to 4 days.

Nivea Pure Effect Total Face Cleanup-Review

2014-12-25T03:08:00.001-05:00

It’s my first review for Nivea Pure Effect Total Face Cleanup . I tried this recently and found it amazing.It can basically be used as a face wash, a scrub as well as a mask and it does all that in like in 5 minutes.

Ingredients:

A long list of chemicals has been mentioned on the pack.

Price:

Rs. 99 for 50 ml

Regime as mentioned:

Step 1: Apply the product to moistened face by smoothly massaging in upward circles focusing on forehead, nose & chin, avoiding the eye area.
Step 2: Spread evenly across face & leave for 3-4 minutes.
Step 3: Rinse off with lukewarm water to get the perfect complexion.

It feels like a thin non-creamy mask, which has these very tiny particles that work as a scrub. You are supposed to apply it all over your face, scrub and then spread it evenly like a mask. It dries up in about 3 minutes and then you can wash it off with lukewarm water and you are good to go.It works real good and leaves your skin soft and smooth

This is a good product is for people with Normal to Oily skin. If you have dry skin you might experience certain amount of dryness.
All in all, a super product especially if you are looking for a 5 Minutes Face Cleanup session at home

Pros

Leaves your skin fresh clean and soft.
Very gentle.
Very economical.
Travel friendly.
Good for people with Oily skin.

Cons

list of chemicals.

Rating:

4/5

Would I repurchase/ recommend Nivea Pure Effect Total Face Cleanup?

Yes, I would.

Have a nice day. Stay beautiful..

Links to buy this product

Nivea Pure Effect Total Face Clean Up Face Wash

Matar Ke Chhilke Ki Sabji (Peels of Pea Pods with Potatoes)

2014-12-23T01:58:00.004-05:00

My mom made this unique dry vegetable today , which is made from Matar ke chilke ( Peels of Pea Pods) which we usually throw off , its easy and tasty but a little time consuming

I am sure after tasting this sabji you will never throw away the pea pods again. It can be served i as a side dish with Dal and Chapati.

Ingredients:

1 cup Matar Ke Chhilke (peel of pea pods) chopped small
1 cup boiled potato peeled and cubed in small size
1 tsp cumin seeds
Pinch of asafetida
Salt to taste
½ tsp red chili powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp amchoor powder
1 green chili finely chopped
½ tsp garam masala (optional)
1 tbsp cooking oil

Method:

Peel the pea pods and separate the two halves of each pod.Now fold and press each half of the pea pod in such a way that outer fleshy side of the pod remains outside .
Remove the inner tough membrane of pod, by sliding it down slowly along the length of the pod from inside.Separate all the peels and then chop them in small pieces. Keep them aside for later use.
Heat the oil in a pan and add asafetida and cumin seeds. Add now chopped peels of pea pods.Let it cook for few minutes on a medium flame ,. Now add cubed potatoes to this and mix
Mix in turmeric powder, red chili powder, chopped green chilies and salt.
Cook covered on low heat till vegetable is just tender. Mix in amchoor powder and garam masala powder.
Remove and serve hot with Chapati.

Crystalized GINGER candy Recipe | Adrak chini recipe

2014-11-13T09:22:00.004-05:00

I happened to read about this Ginger candy in a facebook group ,I saved it to try it later and finally I tried it today and its just amazing .I like ginger and happen to add it loads of curry I make even in my tea. oh I just love Ginger tea :).Well about the recipe its pretty simple and just needs 3 ingredients and Ginger by the way is healthy is so many ways so its like a must try for you all too.

Ingredients :-

1 cup Ginger root
1 Granulated Sugar
1 tsp salt
3 cups of water

Method :-

Peel and the Ginger root and thinly slice it or grate it . ( I grated it)
Cover it with water and boil it for 10- 15 minutes , strain the water ( this can be used to make Ginger tea). Repeat this process.
Now in a heavy bottomed pan add 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup water and let the sugar dissolve.
To this add the boiled ginger and salt and let it thicken up , this might take up to 20 -25 minutes . Let it simmer on a low flame.
Once done transfer it to a plate and let it dry.
Ginger candy is ready. Store it in a air tight jar.

Methi Gajar Moong dal stir fry | Fenugreek leaves , split and husked Green gram and carrot stir fry

2014-11-10T10:53:00.000-05:00

This side dish is routinely made in our house , its healthy tasty and doesen't take much time to cook , I wanted to share with you all this recipe as it makes wonderful side dish and when you are in for a quick side dish for dinner/ lunch. . It goes well with rice and any lentils / dals. Hope you like the recipe .

Ingredients:-

1 small bunch of Methi/ Fenugreek leaves , washed cleaned and chopped
2 carrots diced
1 Oinion chooped
1/4 cup Moong dhal / split and husked Green gram, washed and parboiled
½ tsp ginger garlic paste
1 Green chili finely chopped
¼ th tsp Chili powder
¼ tsp haldi / Turmeric powder
¼ tsp Hing / asafotedia
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
¼ tsp Cumin seeds
Salt as per taste.
1 tbsp oil for cooking

Method :-

In a pan heat oil , add mustard and cumin seeds , let it splutter.Add chopped Oinions to this and let it cook for few minutes till Onion becomes tender
Add the green chilies and ginger-garlic paste and cook for a minute.
Add the carrots, turmeric powder, chili powder, salt, and mix everything well. Sprinkle some water and cook closed under very low flame for 10- 12 minutes until the carrots are cooked.
Once the carrots are cooked , add the methi leaves, cooked moong dhal, and hing and mix everything well.
Let it sit under low flame for 5 more minutes until the lMethi leaves are cooked.
Enjoy it with Chapatis

Mooli Paratha How to make Mooli Parathas | Radish Paratha

2014-11-08T04:02:00.001-05:00

Now with the start of winters I always feel like having Pratha in morning but somehow with lack of time it’s usually on weekends .Mooli Pratha was something which was always made in our house like in many Punjabi homes. Mooli paratha.

I was not so much into cooking before marriage but now I can cook various Pratha’s like Ghiya Pratha / Bottle Gourd Pratha ,Methi Paratha and all kind of Prathas

While making Mooli Pratha make sure you grate it and squeeze the juice from the grated mooli. otherwise the parathas might break. Mooli juice can be used knead the dough for making parathas.

Ingredients :-

For making the dough

3 cups wheat flour
1 tsp Ajwain / carrom / Bishops weed A pinch
Water to knead the dough
1 tbsp ghee/oil

For the stuffing

2 big mooli / radish grated
2 Green chillies thinly chopped
½ cup Fresh cilantro thinly chopped
Salt as per taste
Oil to cook

Method :-

Make the whole wheat dough and keep it aside.
Grate the mooli/radish and keep aside for 10- 15 minutes. Squeeze the water from it. this is done so that the mooli parathas do not break while rolling the dough. this radish juice can be used to make the dough instead of water.
To this grated Radish add Fresh Cilantro , salt and green chilli , mix it well.
Divide the kneaded dough into portions.Roll out one portion of the dough into a circle.
Place one portion of the prepared filling in the center of the dough circle.Bring together all the sides in the center and seal tightly.Roll out again into a circle with the help of a little flour.
Cook the paratha on a tava (griddle), using a little ghee until both sides are golden brown.
Repeat with the remaining dough and filling to make more parathas.
Serve hot with curd or tomato ketchup , curd or Pickle of your choice

Lemon Tomato and Spinach Pasta

2014-11-07T03:27:00.000-05:00

Pasta has always been one of my favorites and I love to experiment wit it by adding different veggies . This time I made it with Spinach , Tomato and Lemon and it tastes just heavenly in case you like tomatoes and Spinach :) and wit a dash of lemon..its amazing. so do try and let me know your comments .

Ingredients :-

For the tomato Spinach sauce:-

500 g or 2 cups pasta, cooked and drained
2 teaspoons of oil
4 - 5 cloves of garlic, chopped finely /crushed
4 cups of Tomatoes finely chopped
2 cups baby spinach
1 tsp of oregano
1 tsp chili flakes
1 tsp of powdered black pepper
1 tbsp of lemon juice
salt as per taste
1/2 cup water

For the pasta:

200/250 gms of Pasta
3 or 4 cups water
salt

Method :-
To make the pasta:

Boil the water in a pan,add the pasta and cook for 6-7 minutes.Strain the water and reserve the pasta.

To make the Tomato Spinach sauce:

Heat the oil in a pan.add the crushed garlic and fry for a minute or two.Add the chopped tomatoes now and saute them till they become soft.
Now add all the herbs, salt and pepper and mix it with the rest of the tomatoes.Add Spinach and half cup of water to the mixture and mix it well.
Saute the tomatoes and spinach till they the entire mixture becomes one. this will take about 15 -20 mins on a low flame. keep on stirring in after couple of minutes till the tomatoes are cooked.
Add Pasta to this mixture and mix it well.
Serve it hot with a dash of Lemon.

Ragi and Onion chapati | How to make Ragi chapati | Millet and onion chapati

2014-11-05T12:15:00.002-05:00

Ragi – is rich in calcium, fibre, protein, iron and other minerals. It is a low fat cereal and most of the fat are in the unsaturated form. There are various dishes prepared for Ragi like upma , idli , dosa and son on.The below recipe is made by adding Ragi and grated Oinion it's from one of my mom's repository and it surely makes a healthy and filling breakfast.

Ingredients :-

1 cup Ragi flour
1 medium Onion grated
salt as per tatse
I green chili finely chopped
2 spoons of curd
water for kneading the dough
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
oil for cooking

Method :-

Add all the ingredients and knead it to a soft dough.
heat a pan , grease it with oil .
Now make equal size balls of the dough and make small chapatis wit your hand by applying little oil to your palms. as Ragi chapatis can break easily.
now.
Transfer it to the pan and cook it on a low flame . Once done flip it over and cook the other side.
Ragi chapatis can be enjoyed with curd , pickle or ketchup.

Peas and Carrot Pilaf | Gajar Matar Pulao

2014-11-02T01:46:00.000-05:00

Pulao's are comfort food that can be made in minutes and are delicious even . Carrot and pea are generally a delicious combo and by making puloa with this combo makes it more delicious and colorful too. This combo of veggie pulao needs can be made in jiffy . You can have it with any curry , curd or pickle of your choice.It's simple to make easy and healthy!!

Ingredients :-

1 cup Basmati rice.
2 carrots medium sized chopped
1/2 cup green peas
1 tbsp oil/ butter/ghee
2 cloves
2 bay leaf
1/2 tsp turmeric
salt to taste
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
2 cups water

Method :-

Wash and soak the rice in plenty of water for 20 minutes. Drain.
Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan for 30 secs , add cloves, cumin seeds , bay leaf and cinnamon powder . Let it simmer for 20 secs.
Add carrots and peas and cook for a minute on a medium flame.Add turmeric powder and salt to this and mix it well.
Add soaked rice, 2 cups of water , bring it to boil and cook, covered on a low heat till rice is cooked.
Serve hot with curd , pickle or curry of your choice.

Indian Flat/Broad Beans Recipe with potatoes , tomato and brinjal | saem aur baingan ki mix sabzi

2014-10-19T13:13:00.000-04:00

Today i learned a very tasty mix vegetable form my motherinlaw and wanted to share with all of you . It comprises of borad/flat beans ( saem as we call in hindi ) , potato , tomato and brinjal .It tastes amazing and it a must try :)

Ingredients :-

10-12 flat beans , chopped
1 medium size potato
3-4 medium size Brinjal chopped
2 medium size potatoes
1/2 cup chopped cilantro / coriander
1 tsp fenugreek seeds / methi dana
5-6 cloves of garlic washed and chopped
1 tbsp mustard oil / or any other cooking oil
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
salt as per tatste
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 cup water

Method :-

Wash and chop all the vegetables and keep it aside.
In a heavy bottom wok / kadhai , add mustard oil and let it get warm .Add methi dana / fenugreek seeds .
Now add garlic cloves to this and let it simmer.
Add all the dry spices and let it simmer for few seconds.
Add all the chopped vegetables to this mixture along with chopped cilantro and mix it well.
Add water to this , cook it and cover it .
Keep on checking now and then till all vegetables are cooked well.
Serve it hot with Chapatis

SAUTEED RADISH GREENS RECIPE | MOOLI KE Patton KI SABZI

2014-10-19T06:55:00.007-04:00

Did you know that radish greens are edible? When you buy radishes, make sure you don’t throw out the greens! The radish greens are Edible, and this super-easy recipe turns the radish leaves into a healthy side dish!

Ingredients :-

1 bunch radish greens

2 garlic clove, minced

1 tbsp of Mustard oil / or any cooking oil

Salt and pepper to taste

I Green Chili choped

1 tsp of cumin seeds

Instructions :-

Wash the radish greens, then chop them.

Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat.

Add cumin seeds ,green chili and garlic to this and let it simmer for few seconds.

Add radish greens to the frying pan, and cook, stirring periodically, until they wilt (about 2 minutes).

Remove the sauteed radish greens from the frying pan and serve.

aloo gobi curry, how to make punjabi aloo gobi recipe | Cauliflower Curry

2014-10-13T13:34:00.003-04:00

Aloo Gobi is a traditional Punjabi main dish made out of potatoes, onions,Tomatoes, cauliflower and fine blend of spices . This punjabi special vegetarian cusine goes well with Paratha, Roti and rice.its very simple to make and a tasty one as well.

Ingredients :-

2 cups chopped cauliflower/gobi

2 small potatoes

2 to 3 tbsp oil

½ tsp turmeric powder/haldi

½ tsp red chili powder

1 tsp coriander powder

½ tsp garam masala powder

2.5 to 3 cups water

few coriander leaves for garnishing

1 large onion

1 large tomato

½ inch ginger

2-3 garlic

Method :-

First remove the cauliflower florets. wash them in running water then boil 2.5 to 3 cups of water in a pan with salt. close the burner add the gobi/cauliflower florets in the salted warm water and keep covered for 15-20 minutes.
Peel and dice the potatoes and keep it aside.
Make a smooth paste in a blender with the onion, tomato, ginger and garlic. add little water if required.
Heat oil in a pan . Add the ground paste and stir.
Add all the spice powders ,fry till the oil leaves the sides of the masala paste ,continue frying till the whole masala, comes together and changes color with oil leaving the sides.
Add the chopped cauliflower and potatoes. stir. then add water, salt and stir.
Cover and cook till the potatoes and cauliflower are cooked and tender.
Check a couple of times. if the water dries up too much whilst cooking, then add some more water.
Serve aloo gobi hot with rotis or rice.

karela stir fry or karela sabzi | how to make karela stir fry recipe | bitter gourd recipe

2014-10-12T14:33:00.001-04:00

Stir Fry Karela sabzi is a simple yet delectable recipe which requires less effort and is less time consuming. Its easy and requires very few ingredients. It's one of the most nutritious vegetable too.

Ingredients :-

250 gms tender karela/bitter gourd
¼ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
½ tsp red chili powder
1 tsp coriander powder/dhania powder
1 tsp fennel powder/saunf powder
a pinch of asafoetida/hing
½ or 1 tsp dry mango powder/amchur
1 tbsp gram flour/besan
2 tbsp oil
salt as required.

Method :-

Wash the karela in water first, slice the it into thin round pieces. Add some salt to this and keep it aside for 3-4 hours ( This helps in reducing the bitterness of Karela )
After that wash it.Heat oil in a frying pan or kadai.Add the karela slices and saute on a low or medium flame till the slices become lightly browned. takes about 8-10 minutes. stir in between.
Now add all the dry spice powders but no salt .As we had already added it in the step 1.
Stir and saute for 5-6 mins more on a low flame.
Add the besan and saute for some minutes till the rawness of the besan or gram flour goes away. takes about 4-5 minutes more.
Enjoy it with Chapatis.

Corn and Potato Tikki | Corn Tikki Patties Recipe

2014-09-29T05:25:00.002-04:00

Corn Tikki Patties has been my hot favorite . Corn is also referred as Makai or Bhutta In India. This is is simple to make. The ingredients required for Corn Tikki Patties Recipe is easily available in your kitchen. You could eat this Corn Tikki Patties Recipe as starter of light snack.

Ingredients :-

2 cup boiled sweet corn kernels (makai ka dana)

1 cup boiled

2 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania)

2 green chillies, finely chopped

1/4 tsp garam masala

3 slices of bread

1/2 cup finely chopped Onions

salt to taste

1 tsp of chat masala

1 tsp roasted powdered cumin powder

1 tbsp of oil

Method :-

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Divide the mixture into equal portions. Shape each portion into even sized round and flatten the rounds to make tikkis.

Heat a non-stick pan and cook each tikki over a high flame, using a little oil until both sides are golden brown in colour.

Serve hot.

BOMBAY SANDWICH | VEGETABLE SANDWICH RECIPE | BREAD SANDWICH RECIPE

2014-09-23T11:23:00.004-04:00

Bombay Sandwich | Bread Sandwich |Vegetable Sandwich , though there are many versions this one always bring my childhood memories back , My mom used to make this quick and easy sandwich and me and my brother used to enjoy .

Recently my mom had come to my place and I told her I want to have the sandwich which she used to prepare when we were kids and there it was :) ( one always feel so pampered when moms are around ..you have to just tell them what you want to eat and they make sure they make it for you :)) )

This is simple and quick sandwich one can even toast the bread slices but it tastes good even without toasting.

Ingredients :-

1. Green Chutney / Coriander Chutney (here is the recipe for it Corainder Chutney)

2.Butter ( I've used white butter which my mom made at home )

3. Boiled potato cut in thin slices

4.Tomato cut in thin slices

5.Cucumber cut in thin slices

6.(optional) Onion cut in thin slices

7.Tomato Ketchup

8.Bread Slices

Directions :-

Cut the potatoes, cucumber, tomatoes, and onions into thin slices.
Spread a tablespoon of green chutney onto each of the four of the bread slices and butter on the other four slices.
Layer slices of potato, cucumber, tomato and onion over the chutney and add Tomato Ketchup over it
Cover each with a buttered slice of bread and enjoy :)

Kharbuje ke Beej ki Barfi | Melon Seeds Sweet | How to make Melon seeds sweet

2014-09-06T10:39:00.001-04:00

My mom made this Melon seed barfi on Janmasthmi recently its healthy and amazing in taste and a must try.

Ingredients :-

1 cup Melon seeds
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp Ghee/ Clarified butter

Method:-

Dry roast the Melon seeds in a pan. Grind it in a mixer and keep it aside.
In a pan add 1/4th cup water and sugar on a low flame till sugar is mixed properly with water. you will know its done you would see bubbles in the syrup.
Add the grinded melon seeds to this mixture and stir it properly. Once the mixture starts sticking to the pan , turn off the flame.
Take a plate add 1/2 tsp of ghee on it and spread it properly. Equally spread the melon seed and sugar mixture on this plate let it cool for 10 minutes .
Now cut it in square or any shape you desire.
Melon seeds Sweet/ Barfi is ready to be savored.

Rice Kheer Recipe, how to make Rice Kheer recipe | chawal ki kheer | Rice Pudding

2014-09-06T06:33:00.002-04:00

Rice Kheer is an Indian version of rice pudding cooked with milk and sugar, flavored with nuts and saffron.It's a Classic!! and can be made for any festival or celebration or also as a sweet dessert which you can serve after meals. this is quick and easy recipe and does not demand much cooking skills. I made This Rice Kheer for Teej Festival :)

Ingredients :-

2 tbsp of Basmati Rice
1/4 tsp of Kesar
4 Green Cardamon/ Choti Elaichi
1/4 tsp of Ghee
1 1/2 liter Milk
4 tbsp of Sugar
2 tbsp of Chopped Almonds

Method:-

Wash and soak the rice in plenty of wer for 10 minutes . drain.Keep aside

Pound cardamom and Saffron in fine powder and keep it aside.

Heat 1/4 tsp of Ghee in a heavy bottomed vessel , add soaked rice and cook for a minute

Add milk and bring it to boil , reduce heat and cook till the mixture is reduced to 1/3 rd of the quantity.

Add sugar and cook for 10 minutes and low the head.

Add cardamom and saffron powder and turn of the heat .

Cool and refrigerate the mixture. Serve chilled garnished with almonds.

Carrots and potato Sauteed with Fresh Fenugreek Leaves | Gajar Aalu methi dry recipe

2014-08-25T11:14:00.005-04:00

Methi is a popular north Indian side dish. Methi is wonder herb, has great medicinal values. Well combination of these three will only be healthy. You can’t go wrong with taste if you follow the recipe. Methi , Carrot and Potato are easily available and it makes a amazing side dish do try and let me know if you liked it :)

Ingredients

Carrots – 2 to 3 medium to big
Potato - 2 small or 1 medium boiled
Fenugreek leaves (fresh methi laves)- 2 bunches
Vegetable oil – 2 – 3 tbsp
Hing (asafoetida) – ¼ tsp
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Cumin seeds (jeera) – 1 tsp
Salt – to taste
Garam masala powder – 1 tsp
Coriander (dhania) powder – 1 tsp
Red chilli powder – 1 tsp or to taste

Instructions

Boil the potatoes and cut into cubes.
Peel and cut carrots Wash and chop fenugreek/Methi leaves.
Heat oil in a wok/ kadai. Add mustard, hing, cumin, let it crackle. Add Carrot and potato , cook for 5 - 7 minutes.
Add Methi leaves, stir fry till water evaporates. Cook for further 5 mins.
Add all the masala powders.Fry for 5 mins or till carrots and Potato are cooked and has a slight crunch.
Remove from heat and serve hot with chapatis

Kala Chana Masala Recipe, Black Chickpeas Curry (Punjabi Style)

2014-08-22T09:09:00.001-04:00

There are ample of variety to try with chana . Best thing about chana masala is it goes well with roti/paratha or steamed rice. it's one of the best comfort food. If you go to Delhi or Punjab the staple food everywhere you can see is rajma chalwa, chole chawal, chole batura .This lentil is very delicious and rich in protein. With its low glycemic index, Kala chana is perfect for a healthy diet. Lot of people make sprouts from kala chana and eat it in salads.

I have cooked the kala chana masala curry in a pressure cooker to reduce its cooking time. If you don’t have pressure cooker then you can cook this kala chana masala sabzi in normal pan too, however it will take quite a lot of time to get cooked.

Ingredients :-

1 cup of dried black chickpeas/kala chana (soaked overnight or for 8-9 hours)

3 cups water for soaking black chickpeas

1 medium size onion, finely chopped

1 large tomato, finely chopped

4 to 5 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 to 2 green chilli finely chopped

1 tsp cumin

½ tsp red chilli powder

½ tsp punjabi garam masala

¼ tsp turmeric

pinch of asafoetida/hing

2 tbsp ghee or oil

salt as required

Instructions

Soak the black chickpeas or kala chana overnight or for 8-9 hours.
In a pressure cooker, add 2 tbsp of ghee or oil.Add cumin, crackle them and then add finely chopped onions , saute the onions till they become light golden.
Add garlic, green chilli and saute for 15-20 seconds .
Add finely chopped tomatoes and saute them till the oil starts leaving from the sides of the onion-tomato masala.
Add the turmeric powder, asafoetida, kashmiri red chili powder and saute for 2-3 seconds, then add the kala chana along with all of the water. season with salt and stir well.
Pressure cook on a medium to high flame for 8-9 whistles or more till the chickpeas are cooked well and softened.
Lastly sprinkle the garam masala and stir. garnish the kala chana curry with coriander leaves.
Serve the kala chana curry with steamed rice, rotis or chappati.

Cabbage Peas and Onion Recipe

2014-08-02T04:25:00.000-04:00

This is everyday simple cabbage recipe , it goes well with Chapatis as well as rice .

Ingredients :-

1 small cabbage chopped

1 small sized onion (sliced thinly)

1/2 cup green peas (matar)

1-2 green chillies (chopped)

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp Fenugreek seeds/ Methi Dana

1 tsp ginger finely chopped

salt to taste

4-5 curry leaves

1 tbsp of cooking oil

Method :-

Heat oil in a pan .Add Mustard seeds and Methi Dana let it splutter, add green chillies, curry leaves and ginger.

Add Peas and let it cook for 4 to 5 minutes, now add sliced onions and fry till light brown , Add salt and and other spices.

Now add cabbage ,mix it well.

Cover it and cook for 10 minutes.Keep on stirring it in between.
Cook till Cabbage is cooked , serve it hot with chapatis.

Spinach Daal recipe with Pigeon pea | Palak Daal Recipe with Toor/Arhar

2014-08-01T03:40:00.000-04:00

I love Spinach and always look out for new recipes with it.This time its Spinach/Palak Dal, its healthy , tasty and easy to make, with iron and fiber(Spinach) and (Daal) protein all in one. There are many versions of Spinach Daal , this one I made with Toor Dal/ Arhar Dal/Pigeon pea

Ingredients

1 cup tuvar dal/pigeon pea lentils
2 cups chopped spinach/palak
2, 3 cloves of Garlic chopped
1 green chili/hari mirch, chopped
1 inch ginger/adrak, chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds/sabut jeera
¼ tsp asafoetida/hing
1 tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp Coriander Powder/ Dhania powder
½ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
½ tsp red chili powder/lal mirch powder
Water for cooking
2 or 3 tbsp ghee /oil
salt as required

Instructions

1. Wash the Toor Daal and cook it in a pressure cooker with turmeric powder. add 2 cups of water , pressure cook for 1 to 2 whistles or till the dals become soft , Keep it aside.

2. in a pan, heat ghee/oil . fry the cumin and then add the chopped ginger and garlic and fry for a minute.

3. Add the chopped chili and fry for half a minute, now add the chopped spinach. add red chili powder , asafetida and Dhania powder.

4. saute for 5 minutes till the spinach becomes soft and stops releasing water on a medium flame.

5. Now add mashed Toor Dal and mix it with spinach.

6. add water around ½ cup to 1 cup depending on how thick or thin you want the daal to be.

7. finally add salt and Garam Masala simmer the palak dal for 6-7 minutes.

8. serve palak dal hot with rice or Chapati.

Road Trip to Medak

2014-07-31T06:26:00.000-04:00

On a rainy Sunday morning , me and my husband decided to go for a drive , we wanted to go to a place which is not very far off and something we can just cover in a day .While deciding which place to go we came across Medak Church and thought of exploring it .The best part of the drive to Medak church is the scenic ride to country side with good weather and music its quite an experience.

The Drive :- We started from Kondapur and headed towards Miyapur 'X' Roads. At the junction we took the right turn to hit the Medak Road. Its a straight drive to Medak from there.The Medak Road is not your typical four lane highway. It starts off as a usual 2-lane road and is a scenic ride through the country side.

on our drive we came across few monkeys and took few stopovers and pics :)

and finally we reached the Medak Church it was quite peaceful ,The short inside visit of the church was breathtaking the Church is indeed very beautiful. The paintings on the walls are simply one of the best piece of art I have seen. We so wanted to take photos but weren't allowed .The outer structure of the church is a monumental piece of architecture. The Church definitely happens to be biggest I have seen till now. From wikipedia article "With its massive dimensions, 100 ft width and 200 ft. length, the church can accommodate as many as 5000 people at a time".it was a quite a refreshing trip.

Palak Dry Recipe | South Indian Palak Recipe | Spinach Dry Recipe

2014-07-21T11:39:00.001-04:00

I Love Palak and always in search of new recipes , last week I was at my neighbors house and we were just talking , she told me she has made Palak sabzi and I was quite curious as how is it , she being a south Indian make sabzis little different and its always tasty .when I tasted it I was like wow!! :) How you made this ...and following is the recipe, In this recipe Palak flavor is amazing with garlic and curry leaves.

Ingredients:-

500 gms of Palak , washed and coarsely chopped
1 tbsp Oil for cooking
Salt as per taste
1 tsp of turmeric powder
1 tsp of red chili powder
4 ..5 cloves of garlic chopped
1 tsp of Bengal Gram /Chana
1 tsp of cumin seeds
1 tsp of mustard seeds
9..10 curry leaves
3/4th cup of boiled Milk

Cooking Instructions:-

Pour oil in a wok /Kadhai/Pan
Add cumin seeds , mustard seeds, garlic, curry leaves and Chana Dal and let it simmer for 1 min
Now add washed and coarsely chopped Spinach to this , mi it well .
Add turmeric powder, salt , red chili powder and 1/4th cup of water and let it cook .
Keep on stirring in between
Once the Spinach is cooked add 3/4th cup of milk to it , mi well and let the milk dry.
Spinach sabzi is ready
Serve it hot with Chapattis or rice.

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2 cup boiled sweet corn kernels (makai ka dana)

1 cup boiled

2 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania)

2 green chillies, finely chopped

1/4 tsp garam masala

3 slices of bread

1/2 cup finely chopped Onions

salt to taste

1 tsp of chat masala

1 tsp roasted powdered cumin powder

1 tbsp of oil