Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes

Bottlegourd & Moongdal Sambhar

2012-01-27T19:30:00.000+01:00

Bottlegourd and moongdal sambar is quite an easy, quick and delicious gravy which goes awesome with hot steaming rice or with rotis or idlies,pongal and to any other dishes, even i like to have with some toasted breads along with these sort of gravies...To enhance the flavour of this delicious gravy, i prepared a spice powder using fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds,asafoetida powder and dry red chillies, cooked everything with already cooked yellow split moongdal, yes this gravy sounds quite similar like a gravy between sambar and kootu, no need of sambar powder or chilly powder coz the spice powder we are preparing for this gravy itself gives enough spiciness..Definitely a delicious gravy to enjoy with any sort of breakfast or dinner dishes..Sending to A Veggie for a month - Bottlegourd guest hosted by Raji,event by Priya....

1nos Bottlegourd (medium size & chopped)

1cup Yellow split moong dal (cooked)

1no Onion (chopped)

1no Tomato (chopped)

1/4tsp Turmeric powder

1/2tsp Mustard seeds

1/2tsp Urad dal

2nos Dry red chillies

Salt

Oil

2tbsp Coriander leaves

1tsp Lemon juice

Spice powder:

1tbsp Fenugreek seeds

2tbsp Coriander seeds

5nos Red chillies

1tsp Cumin seeds

1/2tsp Asafeotida powder

Fry the seeds given in the list for spice powder one by one in simmer until they turns golden brown...Grind everything as fine powder and keep aside..

Heat enough oil and let splutter the mustard seeds,dry red chillies and urad dal...add the chopped onions and chopped tomatoes and cook everything until the onions turns transculent, add immediately the chopped bottle gourd ,turmeric powder with enough salt and saute for few minutes...Add the cooked dal to the cooking veggies..bring everything to boil, now add the spice powder as per need and cook the gravy until the veggies get well cooked, finally add the lemon juice,chopped coriander leaves and put off the stove..

Serve hot with rice or rotis...

Chocolate Cake Pops

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000+01:00

When i saw few cute cake pops at many of my few blogger's space, i could stop myself to make some at home,my buddies just pulled me to try them..Its was a big hit among my teddies, they couldnt stopped themselves having these yummy pops for their yesterday snacks..I used some leftover chocolate cake,i prepared two days back for our snacks for making this damn cute cake pops,my lil one helped me while making this cake pops,he just loved to sprinkle the sugar balls to the chocolate coated cake pops,we had loads of fun while making this cake pops..Few days back, i watched a french tv show, a french mom prepared this quick and easy breezy cake pops using some sponge cake and warm milk, later she used milk chocolate to coat the cake pops and decorated simply with some chocolate vermicellis..Seriously i loved the way she prepared,finally yesterday i prepared them at home..An excellent cake pops to enjoy without any hesitation,obviously a kid's friendly snacks...Sending this cake pops toKid's Delight -Something Sweet guest hosted by Kavi,event by Srivalli,Cooking With Leftovers guest hosted by Veena,event by Kalyani & Srivalli's Chocolate Mela..Do check out the other marathoners running blogging marathon with me here..

2cups Chocolate cake (crumbled)
Warm milk (as per need)
100grms Milk chocolate
1tbsp Butter
Chocolate vermicellis or sugar balls (for decroating the cake pops)

Grind the crumbled chocolate cake in a food processor,add the warm milk as per need to the grounded cake mixture and turn as stiff dough, take enough mixture and roll them as tiny balls, arrange over a plate and keep in fridge for an hour..

Take the milk chocolate,butter in a microwave safe bowl,heat for a minute in high power, mix the melted chocolate and butter to make a silky chocolate sauce..Dip the edge of the lollipop stick to the already chocolate sauce,insert immediately to the prepared cake balls, dip them now gently to the chocolate sauce,let the excess of chocolate drain back to the bowl..dip immediately the cake pops to the sugar balls..

Arrange the cake pops in a piece of foam and let them get cooled or arrange them in fridge for few minutes..Enjoy!!

Peppered Brinjal & Peanut Butter Curry

2012-01-26T19:30:00.000+01:00

Have you ever tried adding peanut butter in your brinjal curry??,if not just give a trial friends..Am sure if you love peanuts in your curry,this curry is for you..Yesterday for our lunch,i prepared this quick and simple curry to serve along with hot piping rasam,both together turned out our lunch super comforting and satisfying..I used freshly grounded pepper powder and peanut butter to spice up this brinjal curry with few garlic cloves..You can also serve this curry along with rotis or with a bowl of hot steaming rice..Even my teddies enjoyed this curry and loved the addition of peanut butter..Sending to Dish out-Brinjal & Garlic guest hosted by Sangee,event by Vardhini..

1/2kg Brinjals (chopped lengthwise)
2tbsp Peanut butter
1no Onion (large & chopped)
1no Tomato (large & chopped)
7nos Garlic cloves
1tsp Pepper powder
1tsp Coriander powder
Salt
Few curry leaves
Salt
1tsp Mustard seeds+Cumin seeds
Oil

Heat enough oil,lets crack the mustard seeds and cumin seeds with curry leaves, add the chopped onions,chopped tomatoes,crushed garlic cloves and saute until the veggies turns mushy..Now add the chopped brinjals,salt and saute for few minutes, finally add the coriander powder,pepper powder,springle some water and cook with lid for 5 minutes, remove the lid,add the peanut butter and cook for another few minutes until the oil gets separates..

Serve hot with rice..

Nutella & Apple Sandwich

2012-01-26T08:09:00.000+01:00

A kid's friendly sandwich, will definitely suits prefect for a quick and super filling snacks, i prepared this delicious and easy breezy sandwich for my kid when he came back from this football match, he just loved it and enjoyed thoroughly, as apple is his favourite fruit i simply sliced them thinly and served as sandwich along with nutella spread and toasted bread slices..You can make the same sandwich with your kid's favourite fruits and their favourite spread, this combination works out wonder...If your kid love peanut butter or honey,just spread them over toasted bread slices along with their favourite fruit slices...Do check out the other marathoners running blogging marathon with me here...Sending this yummy,super satisfying sandwich to ,Kid's Delight -Something Sweet guest hosted by Kavi,event by Srivalli & Srivalli's Chocolate Mela..

4nos Bread slices
Few Red Apple slices
Nutella spread (as per need)
Butter (as per need)

Melt the butter in a pan, toast the bread slices on both sides, spread the enough nutella spread over the toasted bread slices, now arrange the sliced apples,cover them with an another toasted bread slice and give a press..

Serve with a cup of warm milk for snacks..

Zucchini & Sprouted Greengram Soup

2012-01-25T17:44:00.000+01:00

I never stopped making soups for our dinner with the famous low caloric vegetable zucchinis..This time since i had some leftover green gram sprouts, i just added them along with zucchinis for making this simple,quick and easy breezy soup for our yesterday dinner, serve this warm and super filling nutritious soup with a simple sandwich prepared either with meats or with fresh vegetables,am damn sure you will have a super satisfying dinner...A super comforting soup to enjoy without any hesitation while its chilled and rainy outside..Sending to my own event Healthy Diet-Warm Soups..

3cups Zucchini (chopped)
1cup Sprouted green grams
1no Onions (big & chopped)
3cups Vegetable stock water
Salt
Pepper powder
1tsp Dry parsley leaves
Olive oil

Heat enough oil in a pan, add immediately the chopped onions,saute until they turns transculent, add immediately the chopped zucchinis,sprouted green grams, saute everything for few minutes, finally add the vegetable stock water,water (if needed) with enough salt, dry parsley leaves,pepper powder and bring everything to boil..

Cook in simmer until the veggies get well cooked,put off the stove...Serve warm with a sandwich..

Mixed Nuts,Chocolate & Peanut Butter Fudge

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000+01:00

Who will not love this wonderful looking dark chocolate,peanut butter and mixed nuts fudge, definitely not me..I simply prepared this quick,easy breezy and quite addictive fudge with a combination of mixed nuts like walnuts,cashews,pistachios and almonds, the best fudge i ever made...Adding these four nuts to this simple silky fudge gives a super crunchy and nutty texture with mild peanut flavour, since my little one dont like cashews i simply grounded coarsely all those nuts and added them while making this fudge..A prefect dessert or snack to munch along with a cup of hot warm milk or a spiced tea..We had a great time munching these super nutty fudge for our evening snacks, an incredible fudge for a chocoholic person like me..Do check out the other marathoners running blogging marathon with me here..Sending to Srav's Chocolate Fest ,Kid's Delight -Something Sweet guest hosted by Kavi,event by Srivalli & Srivalli's Chocolate Mela..

1cup Sweetened condensed milk
1cup Dark chocolate chips
5tbsp Creamy Peanut butter
1/2cup Mixed nuts (grounded coarsely)

In a heavy sauce pan, melt the chocolate chips,condensed milk,peanut butter and stir continously..remove the pan and add the coarsely grounded mixed nuts..spread the mixture over a baking sheet lined over a rectangular pan and keep aside until the mixture get cooled, arrange them in fridge for atleast 2 hours or until firm..Cut into squares and enjoy it..

Paneer & Chickpeas Pulao

2012-01-24T17:29:00.000+01:00

I was planning to prepare some easy pulao with paneer cubes which i picked when we went to Indian groceries before a week...I really felt that store bought paneer packets are quiet easy and handy for making out any gravies or any other dishes when we are really craving for paneer dishs..I was bit lazy to prepare paneer at home,fortunately i can buy paneer packets here which wasnt that much easy before few years ago, i can definitely say that i can get any Indian spices or any other Indian veggies very much easily in Paris itself when compared few years back..Coming to the super flavourful paneer and chickpeas pulao, this flavourful one pot meal is very simple, quiet easy to prepare and delicious when served along with any sorts of raita...This paneer pulao suits incredibly for any get together or any parties and also as simple lunch box dish..This pulao is definitely very worth to try and we loved it...Sending to my own event CWS-Chickpeas guest hosted by Sukanya of Saffronstreaks & Radhika's Let's Cook-Rice..

2cups Basmati rice (cooked)
1cup Paneer cubes
1cup Cooked chickpeas
1tsp Shah jeera
1no Onion (chopped lengthwise)
3nos Green chillies (slit opened)
1tsp Garam masala powder
1/2tsp Cumin powder
1/2tsp Pepper powder
Salt
1/2cup Mint leaves (chopped)
Oil

Heat enough oil in a large pan, add the shah jeera,let them crack..add immediately the chopped onions and stir until they turns transculent, now add the slit opened green chillies and chopped mint leaves, saute until the mint leaves shrinks.

Meanwhile heat few drops of oil and fry the paneer pieces on both sides until they turns golden brown, keep aside....Add the garam masala powder, cumin powder, pepper powder to the cooking veggies and toss until the spice powders get well mixed...now add the already cooked basmati rice,fried paneer pieces to the spice and toss everything gently..

Serve hot with any spicy side dish..

Orange Kheer

2012-01-24T08:30:00.000+01:00

Orange kheer also well known as kamla kheer is quite famous in most of the Bengali home..This kheer is quite easy to make and definitely a super delicious yummy kheer to enjoy either warm or chilled..If you are bored of eating your oranges as salads or in bakes, just give a try to this super irresistible kheer, even kids will love this orange kheer..Yep this kheer was quite a big hit at home,my teddies just enjoyed having this delicious kheer for their dessert after their lunch, wat an incredible way to enjoy this vitamin rich fruits na!!!..Do check out the other marathoners running blogging marathon with me here..Sending to CEDD guest hosted by Suma,event by Raven & to Kid's Delight -Something Sweet guest hosted by Kavi,event by Srivalli..

4cups Milk
1cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
5nos Cardamom pods (crushed)
Few Saffron strands
2cups Orange (peeled,segments and deseeded)
Few nuts for garnishing

Heat together the milk, sweetened condensed milk, crushed cardamom pods in a large pan and cook until they turns bit thick..Add the saffron strands to the milk mixture and cook again for 2-3minutes..take off the bowl and let them cool..

Add the deseeded & segmented orange pieces to the milk and arrange in fridge for an hour..Serve chilled topped with nuts..

Kappa Thoran

2012-01-23T18:03:00.001+01:00

Kappa thoran, a super delicious and flavourful simple curry prepared with cooked tapioca chunks spiced with grated ginger,grated coconut and slit opened green chillies..We simply had this yummy thoran with hot piping rasam rice for our lunch today..Kappa/tapioca is quite a staple food for every common man of Kerala..Many different dishes are prepared with this famous tapioca in Kerala, mashed tapioca are served often along with meen curry while some enjoy with hot onion & chilly chutney even Mallu makes a delicious briyani with kappas too..Coming to this thoran,if you like to have boiled tapioca in a different form do try out this simple and super flavourful thoran..Sending to Kerala Kitchen hosted by Kaveri..

1no Tapioca (Cut as bite size &cooked)

1no Onion (large & chopped)

3nos Green chilles (slit opened)

1tsp Ginger (grated)

3tbsp Grated coconut

1tsp Mustard seeds

1/2tsp Urad dal

1/4tsp Turmeric powder

Salt

Curry leaves

Coconut oil/Oil

Heat enough coconut oil,let splutters the mustard seeds,urad dal..add the chopped onions,slit opened green chillies,grated ginger,curry leaves and cook until the onions turns transculent, now add the already cooked tapioca chunks,turmeric powder and salt,cook everything in simmer until the tapioca chunks gets well coated with the spices,finally add the grated coconut,give a stir and put off the stove..

Enjoy with a bowl of rice.

No Bake Nutella Covered Cornflakes Cookies

2012-01-23T08:30:00.000+01:00

Am starting one more week of Blogging Marathon with kid's delight-something sweet as theme, so obviously this week is gonna be an another week of sweets and desserts..Each and every recipe of this week will be definitely a kid's friendly recipes..

Sorry guys, i know its again a chocolate based post am posting today, yep i couldnt stop myself and these no bake cookies ressembles quite like my milk chocolate clusters, but this yummy and super crunchy cookies goes for nutella spread,white chocolate chips,vanilla essence and cornflakes..Seriously its our recent family favourite, everyone at home simply love this super addictive cookies which doesnt go for baking, with an adult help even a kid can prepare this super tempting cornflakes cookies..Am sending this super crunchy snacks to Kid's Delight -Something Sweet guest hosted by Kavi,event by Srivalli, MEC guest hosted by Kalyani,event by Srivalli,Srav's Chocolate Fest& Srivalli's Chocolate Mela.

1cup White chocolate chips
4tbsp Nutella spread
2cups Cornflakes
1tsp Vanilla essence
Few sugar balls

Take the chocolate chips,nutella spread,vanilla essence in a microwave safe bowl,cook for 1-2minutes in high power,stir well,add immediately the cornflakes,mix everything well..

Drop gently enough nutella covered cornflakes in a muffin paper cups and sprinkle few sugar balls over them,let them cool completely, arrange in fridge for half an hour..

Serve with a cup of tea...

Eggless Chocolate Melting Moments

2012-01-22T10:00:00.000+01:00

Most of my readers will definitely know about my love for chocolates, its my weakness..I cant live without chocolates, for our last day of blogging marathon i wanted to make some delicious and quite addictive melting moments, these super delicious biscuits are my most favourite..Since ever i had them, i have completely fallen in love with this biscuits, they are well named coz they are very soft and super light, they are also deeply chocolately and quite addictive..Its also an easy recipe for a baking beginners, you can very well make this cookies without chocolates, but i wanted mine as chocolate version..A super light biscuits to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee for our snacks...Do check out the other marathoners running blogging marathon with me here..Sending to Srivalli's Chocolate Mela & to Srav's Chocolate Fest..

100grms Butter
3/4cup All purpose flour
1/4cup Cornflour
1/4cup Icing sugar
2tbsp Cocoa powder

Preheat the oven to 350F..Beat the butter and sugar until they turns light and fluffy, meanwhile sift the flour,cornflour and icing sugar together, add them to the butter-sugar mixture,make small balls from the dough (dont flatten them) and place them with enough spaces between them over a baking sheet lined over a baking tray..

Bake the biscuits for 15-18minutes,(while these biscuits were still warm, i just made some impressions with a fork,its optional), allow the biscuits to cool completely..dust the top of the biscuits with icing sugar and enjoy with a cup of tea...

Cappuccino Muffins

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000+01:00

I heard rarely people saying 'no' to coffee flavoured bakes, i wont even hesitate a minute to have them anytime of the day,just love coffee flavoured bakes..Here comes one of my fav cappuccino muffins i prepared two days back for our snacks, this cappuccino muffins tastes absolutely divine when they were still warm and obviously these muffins are quite addictive..Apart from my lil one, everyone at home just enjoyed this yummy,super spongy muffins for their snacks, i used white chocolate chips for making this muffins instead of dark chocolate chips also i made a simple ganache to frost these super delicious muffins...Do check out the other marathoners running blogging marathon with me here..Sending to Srivalli's Chocolate Mela & to Srav's Chocolate Fest..

2cups flour
1/2cup Sugar
1tsp Baking powder
2tsps Instant coffee powder
1/2tsp Cinnamon powder
1no Egg (large)
1cup Milk
1/2cup Butter(melted and cooled)
1tsp Vanilla extract
3/4cup White chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350F, grease the muffins moulds and keep aside..In a bowl,mix together the flour,sugar,baking powder,expresso powder,cinnamon powder and keep aside..

In an another bowl,whisk together the egg,milk,butter,vanilla extract...Add gradually the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients,stir until everything get well mixed,fold gently the white chocolate chips..

Pour the batter to the already prepared the mould and bake for 20-25minutes or until the skewer inserted comes out clean..

Chocolate Ganache:
1cup Chocolate chips
1cup Low fat cream

Warm the cream, add the chocolate chips and mix everything well...let them cool and arrange in fridge..While serving, spread enough ganache on the top of muffins,sprinkle few sugar balls and enjoy..

Creamy Leek & Butternut Squash Soup

2012-01-20T19:30:00.000+01:00

Do you trash the green part of the leeks??, if so this soup is definitely for you..I never trash anything that much easily,i'll also find some other way to finish anything best out of those waste..Here comes a super delicious,flavourful soup i prepared using the green part of the leeks which most of the people trash them as they always use the white part of the leeks..I tried making this creamy soup along with butternut squash chunks and few carrot chunks just to feed easily my teddies, for my surprise those green part of the leeks works out wonder in soup along with carrot and butternut squash chunks..Needless to say that this soup is definitely filling,super satisfying and also comforting..Serve it with a simple sandwich or with grilled meats,am sure you guys will have a delicious dinner..Sending to my own event Healthy Diet-Warm Soups..

2cups Leeks (green parts only)
1cup Butternut squash (cubed)
1/2cup Carrots (chopped)
1no Onion (large& chopped)
2cups Vegetable stock
Water
1cup Milk
2tbsp Cornflour
Pepper powder
Salt
Olive oil

Heat enough olive oil, saute the chopped onions until they turns transculent, add immediately the cubed butternut squash,chopped carrots and chopped leeks,salt and cook for few minutes, add now the vegetable stock,water with pepper powder and bring to boil..meanwhile make a thick paste with cornflour and water and keep aside..

Cook in simmer until the veggies get well cooked,add the milk and the cornflour paste,mix well,bring to boil and put off the stove ..serve warm with toasted breads..

Cinnamon Flavoured Dark Chocolate Butter Cookies

2012-01-20T08:30:00.000+01:00

If you love cinnamon flavoured cookies, this cookies is for you..Beware, coz these cookies are quite addictive and definitely super buttery...If you dont care or mind about the few pounds you may gain coz of this cookies, well you can prepare them very much quickly.... I just prepared them yesterday evening for my teddies snacks, needless to say my two batches of these eggless cookies vanished very much quickly..These cookies were very much flavourful,buttery,super addictive and will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth..Just dip them in warm milk and have them, these cookies tastes absolutely divine..I had hard time to take a picture of these cookies, coz few hands were waiting impatiently to pick and have them..To be honest, i just got a cookie to taste, everyone at home just loved it..Do check out the other marathoners running blogging marathon with me here..Sending to Srivalli's Chocolate Mela& to Srav's Chocolate Fest...

1+1/2cups All purpose flour
1cup Sugar
1cup Butter (room temperature)
1/4cup Dark chocolate (chopped roughly)
1tsp Cinnamon powder
A pinch salt

Beat the butter until they turns soft, add the sugar to the butter,beat for few minutes..now add gradually the flour, cinnamon powder,roughly chopped dark chocolate chunks and turns a dough...Preheat the oven to 350F, arrange a baking sheet over a baking tray..Make a small balls from the dough, flat them in ur palms and arrange over the baking sheet..bake in middle rack for 10-15minutes or until the top turns firm..Keep aside and let them cool..

Enjoy with a cup of coffee..

Brinjal & Field Beans In Tangy Gravy/Kathirikkai Mochai Kaara Kuzhambu

2012-01-19T19:00:00.000+01:00

The name of the dish itself tempts me a lot, i can survive for many days with this super tangy,delicious gravy prepared basically in tamarind extract and with other spices...My mom's signature dish, she also used to add drumsticks and potatoes incase if she run out brinjals in this mouthwater tangy gravy..Its been a quite long i prepared this fingerlicking gravy at home and finally i decided to make some yesterday which is simply served with fried papads for our lunch..Been born and brought up in Pondicherry, my mom's cuisine goes for a ultimate combination of wonderful South Indian cuisines together..This gravy looks and sounds exactly like the tamarind based gravy prepared in chettinad cuisine..This gravy can stay for many days and tastes much more better the next day than the day they are prepared..Sending to Gayathri's Walking Through the Memory Lane & Dish out-Brinjal & Garlic guest hosted by Sangee,event by Vardhini and to Flavors of Tamilnadu hosted at Sweet Karam Kapi..

6nos Brinjals (medium & sliced lengthwise)
1cup Field beans/Vella mochai (cooked)
2cups Tamarind extract
15nos Shallots (diced)
2nos Tomatoes (chopped)
10nos Garlic cloves
1/4cup Gingelly oil
1/2tsp Mustard seeds
1tsp Fenugreek seeds
Few curry leaves
1tbsp Coriander powder
1tsp Chilly powder
1tsp Cumin powder
1/2tsp Pepper powder
Salt

Heat the gingelly oil, fry the mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds and curry leaves, add the shallots,garlic cloves and chopped tomatoes and saute everything for few minutes until the shallots gets partially cooked..

Add the sliced brinjals,saute for few minutes again, now add the tamarind extract with salt, coriander powder, chilly powder,cumin powder and pepper powder, cook in medium flame..

Add now the cooked field beans to the cooking gravy and cook until the gravy turns thick and the oil gets separates..

Serve warm with hot steaming rice and papads...

Zucchini & Chocolate Muffins

2012-01-19T08:30:00.000+01:00

Its been a while i havent baked anything with zucchini, an incredible versatile vegetable quite known for its low calories..Whenever i bought this low caloric vegetable, i'll prepare either dals or rotis with them,somehow my sweet tooth was craving for some bakes with chocolate since few days..Finally i prepared some super spongy muffins with finely grated zucchini and dark chocolate with eggs and usual ingredients..My teddies just loved these cute looking muffins for both their breakfast and for their snacks, none noticed the 'secret ingredient" until i told them that these pretty looking muffins are prepared with zucchini..Wat a simple way to sneak these veggies na..Do check out the other marathoners running blogging marathon with me here..Sending to Srivalli's Chocolate Mela,Cooking For Kids-Zucchini guest hosted by Anusha,event by Kalyani and finally to CEDD guest hosted by Suma,event by Raven& to Srav's Chocolate Fest...

2cups All purpose flour
1/2cup Cocao powder
3/4cup Zucchini (grated)
1tsp Baking powder
2nos Eggs (beaten)
100grs Butter (room temperature)
3/4cup Sugar

Preheat the oven to 350F, grease a muffins mould and line them with muffin papers.. Sift the flour,cocao powder and baking powder in a large bowl ..Cream the butter and sugar in a another vessel,add the beaten eggs and beat until they turns soft and creamy,add the grated zucchinis and give a stir..Pour the wet ingredients to the flour and stir quickly, dont overmix....

Pour the mixture in the greased muffins mould and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the muffins turns golden or skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean..

Serve warm!

Bottlegourd & Chickpeas in Yogurt Gravy

2012-01-18T17:46:00.000+01:00

Its quite hard to finish out if you have some leftover bottlegourd chunks and some cooked chickpeas sitting sadly in your fridge since few days,no problem here comes a super delicious gravy to finish those leftovers... I just combined those leftovers together to prepare this great looking yogurt gravy..I simply cooked both bottlegourd chunks and cooked chickpeas together and finally cooked them in a yogurt based spiced gravy,which is quite now as mor kuzhambu among Tamilians..We had a fabulous lunch with this super comforting mor kuzhambu served simply along with a spicy potato roast,needless to say we had an incredible lunch today..Sending to my own event CWS-Chickpeas guest hosted by Sukanya of Saffronstreaks & A Veggie for a month - Bottlegourd guest hosted by Raji,event by Priya....

1cup Bottlegourd (chopped)
1/2cup Cooked chickpeas
2cups Yogurt
1/4tsp Turmeric powder
Oil
1/2tsp Mustard seeds
1no Dry red chillies
Few curry leaves

To grind:
1tbsp Rice
3tbsp Toordal
2nos Green chillies
1/2tsp Cumin seeds
1tsp Coriander seeds
2tbsp Grated coconut

Soak the toordal,rice,coriander seeds,cumin seeds in water for half an hour, grind it along with green chillies,coconut as fine paste and churn the yogurt with turmeric powder,grounded paste and salt..

Meanwhile, let splutters the mustard seeds in enough oil,followed by dry red chillies and curry leaves,now add the chopped bottlegourd,cooked chickpeas and salt,cook everything in simmer until the veggies gets well cooked,finally add the yogurt mixture and bring to boil..put off the stove..

Serve hot with rice along with any spicy side dish..

Milk Chocolate Clusters

2012-01-18T08:30:00.000+01:00

Milk Chocolate clusters,an irresistible super quick snacks which gets ready very much easily and quickly..Beware of this super yummy clusters,yes these clusters are really super addictive, you will gain few pounds if you dont control yourself while having them, these clusters are super crunchy and definitely chocolaty..A kid's friendly snacks also suits prefect for grown up kids like me too..If you make them at home, am damn sure that you wont stop munching this super delicious milk chocolate clusters...As i used microwave oven for melting the chocolate and peanut butter together, so am sending this yummyilicious snacks to MEC guest hosted by Kalyani,event by Srivalli,Srav's Chocolate Fest.& Srivalli's Chocolate Mela..Do check out the other marathoners running blogging marathon with me here..

150grms Milk chocolate
1+1/2cups Cornflakes
2tbsp Creamy Peanut Butter

Take the milk chocolate, peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl,cook for 1minute in high powder,stir well,add immediately the cornflakes,mix everything well..

Line a baking sheet in a baking tray, drop gently a tablespoon full of the chocolate covered cornflakes over the lined baking sheet,let them cool completely, arrange in fridge for half an hour..

Serve with a cup of tea...

Brinjal,Garlic & Sesame Powder Rice

2012-01-17T19:09:00.000+01:00

Sometimes we doesnt need to cook for hours, even a simple one pot meal can satisfy prefectly our tummy...Here comes one of my fav and super quick one pot meal which i simply prepared by cooking finely chopped brinjal chunks with garlic and spicy sesame podi i posted few days back..Well this rice goes for a quick preparation, do pick quick cooking brinjals for making this rice and needless to say this rice tastes absolutely flavourful,satisfying,healthy at the same time you can carry this rice very well in your lunch box..Since garlic is used in tempering this rice, obviously its a super flavourful rice..Sending to Dish out-Brinjal & Garlic guest hosted by Sangee,event by Vardhini, Radhika's Let's Cook-Rice&to Flavors of Tamilnadu hosted at Sweet Karam Kapi.. ..

2cups Cooked rice
6-7nos Garlic cloves (chopped)
10nos Brinjal(chopped finely)
3tbsp Sesame Podi
1/2tsp Mustard seeds
1/2tsp Urad dal
3nos Dry red chillies
Few curry leaves
Oil
Salt

Heat enough oil, let splutters the mustard seeds,urad dal and fry the dry red chillies and curry leaves until they turns brown,add immediately the chopped garlic cloves,fry until they turns slightly brown, add the chopped brinjals,salt and saute for until they turns soft, now add the cooked rice,sesame podi,toss everything gently until everything get well mixed..

Serve hot with papads..

Dark Chocolate Pannacotta

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000+01:00

For the 2th day of blogging marathon,am posting this great looking pannacotta,a real feast for a chocoholic person like me..We had this great looking famous Italian dessert pannacotta,prepared with dark chocolate,full fat milk,cream and agar agar powder,which i served after a lunch yesterday...Everyone at home relished this wonderful looking silky and creamy pannacotta for their dessert especially my lil son loved it much who likes rarely desserts with chocolate ,for my surprise he enjoyed having this pannacotta and even asked me to serve twice..This pannacotta gets really quickly which took hardly less than 15minutes to get ready apart from chilling..An easy breezy refreshing dessert to enjoy after your lunch or dinner definitely without any hesitation...For a light version of this pannacotta, you can use low fat milk and low fat cream,which tastes truly delicious too..Sending to Srivalli's Chocolate Mela& to Srav's Chocolate Fest...

1cup Full fat milk
1+1/2cup Low fat cream
1/4cup Sugar
150grms Dark chocolate bar(chopped)
1tbsp Agar agar powder
Few chocolate vermicellis for decorating

Heat together the milk,cream,chopped chocolate and sugar in a vessel, whisk everything well until the sugar gets well dissolved, immediately add the agar agar powder to the hot milk-cream mixture,mix well and put off the stove...Pour this mixture in ramekins or small moulds, keep aside until the mixture gets cool..Cover them with aluminium foil and arrange in fridge atleast for an hour..

Enjoy this refreshing pannacotta topped with few chocolate vermicellis..

Broccoli & Chickpeas Clear Soup

2012-01-16T16:56:00.000+01:00

Are you dieting??, definitely this wonderful bowl of soup will be very much helpful for you..A comforting soup surely filling for a dinner or for a lunch with a simple sandwich..Its quite a quick,easy breezy and delicious soup simply prepared with broccoli florets and cooked chickpeas spiced up with pepper powder,cumin powder,salt and dry oregano..Surely a healthy soup to enjoy and definitely a best and better way to sneak this antioxydant rich broccolis..Sending to my own event Healthy Diet-Warm Soups,Susan's's MLLA#43 guest hosted by Cayenne & to my own event CWS-Chickpeas guest hosted by Sukanya of Saffronstreaks ..

1no Broccoli (medium sized & cut as florets)
1cup Cooked chickpeas
1no Onion
1/2tsp Pepper powder
1/4tsp Cumin powder
1/2tsp Dry oregano
3cups Vegetable Stock

1cup Water

Olive oil
Salt

Heat the olive oil,add the chopped onions,saute until the onions turns transculent,add the broccoli florets,saute for few minutes..Add the vegetable stock,water,salt and cook until the florets turns slightly tender, add the pepper powder, cumin powder and cooked chickpeas..cook for few minutes...add the dry oregano, give a stir and put off the stove...

Soup is ready to serve!!!!

Chocolate Sweet Pongal

2012-01-16T08:30:00.000+01:00

Today another edition of Blogging Marathon starts and as usual i'll be running for both two weeks, this time i choosed two beautiful themes to run for next two weeks, for the first week i'll cook up different dishes using chocolate as main ingredient and for the second week as kid's delight with something sweets as theme, obviously you can see more super delicious sweet dishes for this next two weeks..Am very much thrilled and excited to be a part of this fabulous event again..

We had a fabulous pongal feast yesterday...Am here with a delicious, sweet pongal prepared with rice,moongdal along with sugar and chocolate powder..This pongal is really very quick to prepare as i went for pressure cooking the rice and dal together and finally cooking them in a sugar syrup with cardamom powder,chocolate powder and roasted cashew nuts,ghee...Needless to say that this pongal vanished within few minutes,yep we loved the warm sweet pongal and enjoyed it..An incredible sweet to enjoy either warm or cool,definitely a kid's friendly dish..Yep my teddies enjoyed simply with our family favourite onion medhu vadas..Sending to Srivalli's Chocolate Mela, Srav's Chocolate Fest&Radhika's Let's Cook-Rice ..

1cup Basmati Rice
1/2cup Moongdal
1cup Milk
3tbsp Chocolate powder
1/2tsp Cardamom powder
3/4cup Sugar
2tbsp Ghee
Few roasted cashew nuts

Cook the rice,moongdal together in pressure cooker with 3 cups of water upto 3 whistles, meanwhile heat the sugar with a cup of milk,bring boil until the sugar gets well dissolved, keep aside..Once the steam gets released, mix the sugar-milk syrup along with the cooked rice-dal mixture,chocolate powder,cardamom powder, ghee and roasted cashew nuts,cook until the mixture gets thickens..

Enjoy warm!

Pathir Pheni

2012-01-15T08:30:00.000+01:00

Happy Pongal,Happy sankranthi and Happy Lohri wishes to my readers and friends..For this month's Indian Cooking Challenge, we landed to Karnataka and prepared one of their special Pathir pheni, usually this pheni are called as chiroti at our place which my mom prepare usually with maida flour, while going through the original recipe shared by Harini of Tamalapaku these phenis are prepared with fine semolina/rava which sounds quite interesting for me..I tried this pathir pheni few days back just by grinding the usual rava as fine powder and prepared this incredible Karnataka's special sweet, thanks to both Srivalli and Harini for sharing this flaky and super addictive pheni,we just loved it..I prepared already twice these phenis and everytime they gets vanished very much quickly, once these phenis are ready to enjoy i simply rolled them over the powdered sugar instead of sprinkling while serving as per the original recipe went for and conserved them in an air tightened box, my teddies just loved it..

1cup Rava.Semolina (grounded as fine powder)
4tsp Ghee (should be solid,dont melt it)
2tsp Rice flour
Salt
Powdered sugar
Water to knead
Oil for deepfrying

In a bowl,mix the powdered rava,2tsp ghee,salt and mix well to turn as crumb like texture, knead everything as smooth dough with enough water,cover the bowl with a cloth and keep aside for an hour..

Meanwhile beat together the ghee,rice flour, as a smooth paste..pinch the dough as 4-5balls,roll them as thin puris, apply enough rice-ghee paste to the rolled puris, place one over another rolled puris, makes as a layer, i used five rolled puris..roll the layered puris as a log, cut the log into 1inch pieces, and roll out each piece as thin puris..keep them cover and repeat rolled the other pieces as thin layered puris..

Heat oil for deepfrying, fry each puris until they get fried,take care not to change the colour..Drain the fried puris with a paper towel..

While serving sprinkle enough powdered sugar and serve it with badam milk..

Sesame Powder/Ellu Podi

2012-01-14T09:38:00.000+01:00

Homemade spice powders are always welcome whenever we feel lazy to cook up,every home have their own versions or their traditional way of preparing those handy spice powders, one of my mom's signature spice powder is this simple,quick,easy breezy sesame powder,this flavourful ellu podi goes awesome with hot steaming rice, i love to have this podi with rice often, i wont even drizzle ghee or oil while mixing this delicious powder...You can keep this sesame podi for a month in an air tightened box, they will serve even as Idli podi whenever you run out of your usual idli podis.. I just love to sprinkle this podi while preparing dosais to make them as podi dosais, also while making curries...Obviously this is one of the best and super flavourful podi we never stopped preparing them whenever we like having something spicy...A perfect podi to enjoy simply with ghee topped hot steaming rice..Sending to CWF-Sesame seeds guest hosted by Reva,event by Kiran, Vardhini's U event,Susan's MLLA#43 guest hosted by Cayenne ,and to Gayathri's Walking Through the Memory Lane&to Flavors of Tamilnadu hosted at Sweet Karam Kapi.. ..

1cup Sesame seeds
5nos Dry red chillies
10nos Peppercorns
1/4cup Channa dal
1/4cup Urad dal
1/2tsp Asafoetida powder
Salt

Dry roast sesame seeds, dry red chillies,peppercorns together until a nice aroma comes out, to the same pan,dry roast the channadal,asafoetida powder and urad dal until they turns slightly brown..Let them cool completely.

Grind everything as bit coarse powder and store them in an air tightened box..Serve with rice..

Bottlegourd & Roasted Moongdal Podi Stirfry

2012-01-13T11:15:00.000+01:00

A quick,easy breezy side dish for rotis or rice prepared just with roasted moongdal powder and finely chopped bottlegourd which i simply spiced this quick and delicious stir fry with grated ginger and slit opened green chillies..A super delicious and definitely a nutritious curry to enjoy along with any kind of rice dish or simply with rotis...This stir fry gets ready very much quickly and a prefect lunch box dish too..Sending to A Veggie for a month - Bottlegourd guest hosted by Raji,event by Priya,Vardhini's U event..
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2cups Bottlegourd (chopped)
2nos Green chillies (slit opened)
1tsp Ginger (grated)
Few curry leaves
1tsp Mustard seeds+urad dal
1/4cup Yellow split moongdal
2tbsp Grated coconut
Salt
Oil

Dry roast the moongdal and grind as bit coarse powder,keep aside..Heat enough oil,let splutters the mustard seeds,urad dal,add the grated ginger,slit opened green chillies,curry leaves, fry for few minutes, immediately add the chopped bottlegourd pieces and salt,saute for few minutes, sprinkle water and cook until the veggies turns soft, finally add the grounded moongdal powder and grated coconut to the cooked veggies..

Stir everything together until the veggies gets well coated with the roasted moongdal powder..serve hot with rice or rotis..