Owner: Cinnamon Trail URL:http://www.cinnamontrail.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:31:28 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: All about Food, Recipes, Nutrition and Diet!!! Site statistics:Click here
Chicken Fry 2007-07-23 02:39:00 There are many ways to fry chicken. But this the simply delicious and easiest recipe I have got!!Chicken
FryIngredients:Chicken: 1 KgOnions: 2 big, pureedGreen Chillies: 5, slit lengthwise, adjust to tasteGinger garlic paste: 2 TbspTurmeric powder: 1/2 tspChilli powder: 2 tsp, adjust to tasteGaram masala: 1 tspCurd: 1 TbspSalt, to tasteOilCoriander leaves and Curry leaves, to garnishCashews, to garnishHow I did it:Clean chicken pieces and add salt, turmeric pwd, curd, ginger garlic paste, onion paste and marinate for 20 mins.Boil the chicken mixture on high till the water evaporates, and chicken is half done.Heat oil in a large frying pan, add red chilli pwd, and chicken mixture.Fry on medium till chicken is done, this takes atleast 30 mins. Add Garam Masala and adjust salt.Heat some oil in a small pan, and add green chillies, cashews, and curry leaves. Fry till crisp.Garnish the chicken with the fried chillies and cashews and coriander leaves.Serve hot with Rice or Rotis.Chicken FryAn
Mooli Ke Paranthe with Carrot-Tomato Raita 2007-07-20 13:41:00 I came home today after work, with a determination to make some punjabi food.When I take a peep in the fridge I find nothing but one radish, which I bought few days ago to add it in the Sambhar.And the only dish which striked me was Radish Paratha!Mooli Paranths with Carrot
-TomatoRaita
Ingredients:White radish: 1 cup, gratedGinger: 1 tsp gratedGreen chillies: 2, finely choppedCoriander leaves: 1 tbsp, finely choppedChappati flour: 2 cupsGaram Masala: 1 tspSalt, to tasteOil, to fryHow I did it:Mix the grated radish, ginger, and chopped green chillies, corriander, garam masala and salt. Leave to marinate for sometime. Squeeze well to remove the juice, add this juice while making the chappati dough.Cover the dough with a wet muslin cloth and let it rest for about 30 mins.Roll out small balls of the dough and fill with 1 tbsp of the filling.Roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Dust liberally with flour to avoid the stickiness.Pat off the excess flour and roast on a hot griddle.Fry one si
Colorful Platter of Peppers 2007-07-18 14:10:00 I was craving for stuffed Capsicum/Peppers
from past one week. And when I saw the peppers here from Cynthia, I could not resist anymore. So here is my version of stuffed peppers!!Stuffed Bell PeppersThe recipe of Stuffed Peppers varies from person to person. Each one has their own version of stuffing.These brightly colored bell peppers be it red, green or yellow, are rich source of nutrients!!Selecting the Bell Peppers: When selecting, peppers should be well shaped and firm. The skin should be unwrinkled and their stems fresh and green.Bell PeppersRice Stuffed Peppers:Rice I used for this recipe is the vegetable fried rice, I made for lunch today.Vegetable Fried RiceYou can use your imagination and stuff them with anything of your choice, be it potatoes, ground meat with veggies or rice.Ingredients:Capsicum: 3Oil: 1 TbspSalt, as per tasteStuffing: 2 cups cooked vegetable rice, or any stuff of your choiceHow I did it:Cut the top part of the peppers and remove the seeds inside.Place the Read more:Colorful
, Platter
Pretty Cookies 2007-07-15 14:49:00 A friend of mine, saw these cookies and said "Wow! these are like the biscuits I used to buy at Karachi Bakery, and I love them!". I was on cloud 9, at the very comparison of my cookies with the Karachi Bakery ones :)PrettyCookies
- Cherry KnobIf you are familiar with Hyderabad, Karachi Bakery is sure to ring a bell. To those who don't know, here is some info about it.Karachi bakery is established by Khanchand Ramnani in 1952 near Mozamjahi market in Hyderabad. It is known the world over for its excellent biscuits, which include Fruit biscuits, Cashew biscuits etc. They are often carried outstation as souvenirs from Shahi Hyderabad.The aroma of bread and biscuits, which emanates from the bakery, compels one to peep into the bakery once.Mozamzahi Market also hosts the time tested hyderabadi favourite IceCreams - Famous ice cream parlour which is the 65 year-old ice cream parlour and has seasonal specials like mango ice creams and muskmelon ice creams.Anyone visiting Hyderabad must not
Foodies' Delight - Mirchi Bajji 2007-07-13 06:02:00 I call myself as a pure hyderabadi. Some say you can identify a hyderabadi easily :)If your answer is "YES" to most of the points below, then you are a Hyderabadi!Mirchi BajjiYour answer is 'Seeedha Chale Jao' when somebody asks you for directions, whether it is to Malakpet, Masab Tank, Malkajgiri or Moosapet.You have at least one cousin, friend, colleague or acquaintance in the US in software.Everytime somebody gives you a piece of good news, the first thing you ask them is "Party kab hain?"You call 11 AM as 'SUBAH SUBAH'You look at the fixed price stand and still ask 'DENE KA BOLO'You crave for Pani Puris, Bhel Puri, Pav Bhaji and Mirchi Bajji etc., though you have many restaurants serving exotic food around.And as said in the last point, I started craving for some spicy chat food from the moment I saw the JFI event hosted by SaffronTrail this month. And the ingredient for the month is Chillies, and what could be a better option to choose for the event - Mirchi Bajji.Green Chil
Chicken Korma 2007-07-10 02:34:00 It was my friend V's birthday last week. She is from Philippines and a great fan of Indian food. She came to my desk and invited me to the party, and before leaving, she tured back and said, "Can you please do me a favor? Can you cook Chicken
korma for me, for the party, Please?"Chicken KormaHmmmm... now that was a a big task for me, because everytime I cook chicken I just put in all the spices and other ingredients just according to my instincts..... And now to please everyone at the party, I had to be a bit more careful. And finally the outcome was pretty good.This is the easiest korma recipe I have. Not too spicy, but with lots of flavor. I guess anybody who wants to try Indian food, this is a good one to start with.Chicken KormaHere is the recipe:Ingredients:1 kg chicken pieces, skinned and cut into bite sized pieces.6 tbsps vegetable oil1 tbsp ground coriander1 tbsp ground cumin1 tbsp Garam Masala4 cardamom pods2 onions, pureed2 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste1 cup Yougurt2 plum tomatoe
Penne Al'Arrabiata 2007-07-06 06:52:00 After out trip to Italy last month, we were missing Italian food very much. And the sad part is, we did not have much time to visit an Italian restaurant. So today I decided why not try some recipe for lunch?Penne
al'ArrabiataSince we both love hot and spice food, my pick for lunch was Penne al'Arrabiata... ummmm... sounds tasty is'nt it.... it tastes delicious too :)The original recipe just has tomato sauce with chilles and oregano, but I even added some peas, beans and carrots for added nutrients.Penne al'ArrabiataSo here goes my recipe:Ingredients:3 cups penne, cooked according to instructions2 small onions, finely chopped2 tomatoes, diced1 cup tomato puree2 garlic cloves, finely chopped1 cup frozen/fresh peas, carrots and beans 2 tbsp olive oil1 tsp red chilli flakes (adjust acc. to your taste buds)1 tsp dried oregano1 tsp dried basil2 tbsp parley, finely choppedsalt, to tastepepper, to tasteHow I did it:1. Heat oil in a deep wide pan and saute galic and onion till soft and fra
Pineapple Gateau 2007-06-28 02:25:00 Today is J's birthday, and found it to be an appropriate day to start my little cook blog, with the birthday cake I baked for J. This is a delicious Gateau generously layered and decorated with pineapple and is a perfect choice for those looking for an alternative to chocolate flavours.I am not a very good baker and this is my fist experiment with baking. I was afraid about the outcome, but was pretty satisfied at the end, though I need to improve a lot :)Ingredients:For the Cake:Flour : 50 gmsCornflour : 50 gmsBaking Powder : 1 tspEggs : 4Sugar : 100 gmsPineapple essence : 1 tspFor the Icing:Fresh Heavy Cream : 2 cupsIcing Sugar : 1 cup or acc. to tastePineapple essence: few dropsFor the Filling:Tinned Pineapple pieces, syrup retainedTo Decorate:Fresh or tinned Pineapple pieces and cherriesHow I did it:Grease and line one 9"/12" baking tray.Pre heat oven at 200 degrees Centigrade.Separate eggs, and beat whites till soft peaks form.Add in sugar, and beat till white and glossy.Add in e
Aloo Palak 2007-07-25 01:08:00 When ever we used to visit a restaurant, there would be a common order, like Butter naan, Butter Chicken and for vegetarian dish it would be either Palak
Paneer or Aloo Palak. This has been coming from my childhood days. But now the items in the order have changed because of the new restaurants budding everyday, and elaborated menus.But still, the dishes I mentioned are my favorite till date :)Aloo PalakI always thought that preparing Aloo Palak is a tedious and a long process, till I came to know about the recipe, and it looked very easy and no-fuss type. I made this for dinner yesterday and served with some hot rotis and it was a hit!Now to the Recipe,Ingredients:Palak/Spinach: 500 gmsGinger Garlic Paste: 2 TbspOnion: 1 big, choppedGreen chilies: 4, chopped (adjust acc. to taste)Aloo/Potatoes: 5, boiled and dicedTurmeric: 1 TspGhee/Butter: 4 TbspCumin seeds: 1 TspGaram masala: 1 TspCoriander and Cumin powder: 1 TspFresh cream: 1 TbspSalt to tasteHow I did it:Boil spinach and Keep asi
Eastern Delights 2007-08-03 01:27:00 The eastern states of India like Bihar, Bengal and Orissa, have a very rich culture. And coming to their cuisine, Rice is dominant over Wheat. Fish is also a favorite of the people of eastern India, apart from these plenty of vegetables are also grown which form a substantial part of Eastern
Indian meals.Steaming and frying are popular methods of cooking and Mustard oil is commonly used for frying and cooking.The spices used in their cuisine are also markedly different from those used in the other parts of India. They majorly use Mustard seeds and paste and also, as they call, a magic spice mix 'Pancha-phutana'. It is also called as Panch-phoron or Panch-puran in Bengali.Chhatu BesaraIn Oriya Besara are kind of dishes which are cooked in Mustard. I got a few recipes from here.Chhatu Besara (Recipe adapted from here, with some modifications)Ingredients:Mushrooms : 400 gmsPotatoes : 3, peeled and dicedAmchur Powder : 1 tspPanch-Phutana : 1 TbspMustard paste : 3 tspTurmeric powder : 1/
Vegetable Fried Rice 2007-08-02 00:56:00 Talking about Fried
Rice, there was a mobile chinese food stall at the end of our street which used to sell, veg and egg noodles and fried rice, manchurian, chilli chicken etc. But the name on the van read "Cheneese Needles and Fast Food".The food was excellent, and by the time it was 6 in the evening, there used to be a huge crowd.Once I tried telling him that the spelling on the van was wrong and has to be corrected, and his answer was "Kya farakh padtha hain, Cheneese ho ya Chinese ho? Dhanda tho acha chal raha hain na!" (What is the difference if it is Cheneese or Chinese, when the business is going good)Vegetable
Fried RiceIngredients:Long grained rice/ Basmati Rice: 2 cupsCapsicums/Peppers: 1Beans Finely Chopped: 1/4 cupCarrot Finely Chopped: 2Green peas: 1/4 cupCabbage Finely Chopped: 1/4 cupSpring Onions Finely Chopped: 2Green Chilies Chopped Finely: 2-3Ginger Chopped Finely: 1 tspGarlic Finely Chopped: 1 tspSoya Sauce: 2 tbspAjinimoto: 1 tspSalt & pepper to tasteOil: 3 tbspHow
Chicken Tikka Masala with Jeera Rice 2007-08-05 01:45:00 According to wikipedia ,the origins of chicken tikka masala are disputed. It has been suggested that chicken tikka masala originated from the kitchens of Bangladeshi chefs in the UK. The recipe's age is also unproven, with claims ranging from the 1970s back to the mid-1950s. A widely reported explanation of the origins of the dish is that it was conceived in an Indian restaurant in Glasgow in the late 1960s, when a customer, who found the traditional chicken tikka too dry, asked for some "gravy". The chef improvised a sauce from tomato soup, yogurt and spices.Chicken
Tikka Masla with Jeera RiceChicken tikka masala is now served in restaurants around the globe. It is perhaps in the UK that its popularity is highest, where it is thought to be the country's most popular dish.British government minister Robin Cook remarked: "Chicken tikka masala is now Britain's true national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absor Read more:Masala
Ande Ka Funda 2007-08-08 08:46:00 Eggs make a valuable contribution to a healthy, balanced diet. They are an excellent source of high quality protein.There is even a song about eggs which goes like this :Aao Sikhao Tume Ande Ka FundaYeh Nahin Pyare Koi Maamule BandaIs Mein Chhupa Hai Jeevan Ka Fal SafaTV Pe Bhi Dikhaye Ke Roz Khaao Anda!!!Egg Curry with RiceI always use eggs for cooking, when I do not have much time, or when I am tired after a long day and don't want to spend hours in the kitchen. They are so versatile and can be used in cooking in many ways. The egg curry below is one of the fastest and quickest one, if you have hardboiled eggs ready in the fridge.Tips:When buying eggs, open the carton to be sure none of the eggs are cracked; discard any that are, they may have bacteria that might contaminate the egg.Be sure to store the eggs in the original egg carton in the refrigerator. Don’t take them out and put them in the door. Every time the refrigerator door is opened it exposes the egg to the room tempe
Heavenly Tiramisu 2007-08-07 02:58:00 Tiramisu is a traditional Italian dessert, which literally means pick me up (tirami-su). This dessert has many variations, but the constant ingredient, in all the variations is Mascarpone cheese.I was craving to have it, from the day we were back from our Italy trip last month. And finally gathered up courage to experiment it :)TiramisuThe basic ingredients of Tiramisu include, eggs, mascarpone cheese, ladyfingers, cream, espresso coffee, liquors like brandy, marsala and rum, a little bit of sugar, and cocoa or shaved chocolate.Since the basic recipe uses raw eggs, I have made some modifications.The recipe is adapted from here and here.Chocolate Tiramisu:Ingredients:Cream Filling :Mascarpone : 250gCream Cheese : 250gHeavy cream : 250gBitter chocolate : 150g - coarsely choppedSugar : 1/2 cupRaspberries : 250g, fresh or cannedSoaking Syrup:Strong brewed coffee : 1 1/2 cupsGranulated white sugar : 2 TbspBase:Lady finger biscuits : 24Topping:Cocoa powder : 2 TbspRaspberriesMethod:Chocolate Read more:Heavenly
Bulgur Pilaf 2007-08-12 01:45:00 What is Bulgur
?Often confused with cracked wheat, bulgur differs in that it has been pre-cooked.Bulgur holds a place in recipes similar to rice or cous cous but with a higher nutritional value.This Middle Eastern staple sounds more exotic than it is; bulgur is what's left after wheat kernels have been steamed, dried, and crushed. This cereal grain has been a food staple for years because it offers an inexpensive source of low-fat protein, making it a wonderfully nutritious addition to your low-calorie meal plan.Bulgur PilafHigh in fiber and protein, and low in fat and calories, bulgur is another food that offers bulk and nutrients to fill you up without adding pounds. One thing to keep in mind, a cup of bulgur has fewer calories, less fat, and more than twice the fiber of brown rice.Often confused with cracked wheat, bulgur differs in that it has been pre-cooked.Bulgur holds a place in recipes similar to rice or cous cous but with a higher nutritional value.Bulgur Pilaf:Ingredients:Bu
Happy Independence Day - Tri Color Halwa 2007-08-15 05:54:00 60 years, yes it’s been 60 years since “that” midnight seasoned with aspirations of a million people. India and Indians have come a long way; gone are the days when India was totally depended on the western world for all that’s “cutting-edge”. Today, India is a proud member of the science & technology high table.Tri Color
ed Sooji Halwa
I would like to celebrate the Independence
day with the Tri Color halwa :)Ingredients:Sooji : 2 cupsSugar : 3 cupsGhee : 1 cupWater : 5 cupsSalt, a pinchGreen Color, few dropsOrange Color, few dropsMethod:Heat ghee in a wide bottomed pan.Add Sooji, and fry on low, till it gives a very nice aroma.Meanwhile keep water for boiling.Add boiling water to sooji, while mixing well, to avoid lumps.Keep stirring on medium, till all the water has been absorbed.Add sugar, and mix well.Stir till it forms halwa consistency.Divide the halwa into 3 portions.Mix orange color in one, and green in an other.Take a wide plate, and put the halwa mixed with green an Read more:Happy
Remembering Forgotten Heroes!! 2007-08-14 04:30:00 August 15th 2007, is the 60th independence day being celebrated, by all Indians across the world. At stroke of midnight, on 15 August 1947, India became an independent nation. This was preceded by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's famous speech titled Tryst with destiny.“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.”15th August is a National holiday of India. In the capital New Delhi most of the Government Offices are lit up. Flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs take place in all the state capitals.This day, I would like to remember few of the forgotten heroes, the freedom fighters, from all over India, who laid their lives for us, for the free independent India!!Leaders from Beng Read more:Remembering
, Forgotten
Kadai Paneer and My First Blog awards!!! 2007-08-19 12:54:00 I love paneer in any dish. Paneer... the word itself reminds me of all the mouthwatering exotic dishes like Palak Paneer, Paneer Butter Masala, Paneer Burji, Paneer Jalfrizi and finally but not the least Kadai Paneer...Today I tried to make paneer at home, and was surprised to see that it is very easy and hassel free process... I was excited at the success of my first experiment with homemade paneer...Homemade PaneerHomemade Paneer:Bring 1 and half liter of whole milk to boil, in a heavy bottomed pan, stirring occasionally to ensure that it does not burn or form skin.When it just starts boiling, add 3 tbsp of fresh lime juice.The milk solids start curdling, and cheese separates from whey. If the two are not split completely add two more tablespoons of lime juice.Strain the mixture through a cheese cloth/ muslin cloth.Place the cheese cloth bundle on a flat surface. Fold the cloth into a nice round shape, and place a heavy object like a clean brick or a big flat bottomed pan filled with Read more:First
Lychee Panacotta with Coconut and Ginger!! 2007-08-21 13:25:00 What is Pana cotta?Pana cotta actually is an Italian dessert made with a cream as a key ingredient, hence the translation of the words which mean "cooked cream." Although not all recipes for panna cotta actually require cooked cream, the traditional recipe makes a light, smooth, eggless custard, flavored with caramel, vanilla or cinnamon.Lychee
Panna cotta with Mango PureeThis version is a little different, which includes Lychees, Coconut cream and Ginger
!!!Ingredients:Cream : 200 mlSemiWhipped cream : 200 mlCoconut Cream : 100 mlSugar : 50 gmsLychees : 100 gms, pureedGinger : 1 tsp, gratedVanilla essence : few dropsGelatin : 6 leavesMethod:Soak Gelatin in cold water to soften and keep aside.Take cream, coconut cream, sugar, ginger in a heavy saucepan and bring to light simmer, just till boiling for 10 mins.Remove from heat and add the Lychee puree and vanilla.Squeeze the excess water out of the gelatin and stir into the hot cream.Allow the cream to cool completely.Fold in the semi whi
Holiday in Swiss 2007-08-25 05:28:00 Hello All.... I am off for a holiday in Swiss
... and will be back next week.. with loads to share!!!Till then bbye!!! And Happy Blogging!!! Read more:Holiday
Paramannam(Sweet Rice Pudding) 2007-09-24 13:15:00 In India the word festival is synonymous with the word excellent food. There is no celebration considered complete unless and until rich food is served among friends, family and relatives. Lots of cooking of good quality food is done and served on festival days.This dish is prepared as an offering to God in every home and temple of south India on any festive occasion like this.ParamannamI made this on Ganesh Chaturthi, and it was loved by every one!Ingredients:Rice: 1 cupMilk: 4 cupJaggery: 1 cupCashew Nuts: fistfulRaisins (Seedless): 1/4 fistfulCardamom (powder): 1/2 teaspoonClarified Butter(Ghee): 1/2 tablespoonHow I did it:Wash and soak rice in two cups of water for about fifteen minutes.In a small sauce pan, bring to boil half a cup of water and crushed jaggery. Lower heat and slowly simmer until the syrup is sticky (if a drop is taken between the thumb and fore finger, it should feel sticky but not stretch out like a thread).Remove from heat and keep aside.In another s Read more:Sweet
, Pudding
Minty Pea Rolls - Improved :) :) 2007-09-21 13:15:00 Minty Pea Bread Rolls
I made these bread rolls few days back here, and was quite upset with the shape of the rolls though the taste was pretty good. But as they say, the dish must a treat to both eyes and tummy. So I wanted to try my hand on them once again... I usually can't stay steady with out getting the things perfect :)I had the left over mint pea stuffing in the fridge, so I made the bread rolls for breakfast again. Minty Pea Bread RollsThis time, they were just perfect. A treat to both eyes and tummy :) :)Now I believe that "Practice Makes a Man Perfect"!!!Minty Pea Bread RollsMy husband calls me a perfectionist :) How many of you are perfectionists?? :)
Hyderabadi Lamb(Mutton) Kheema Kofta Curry - Meat balls in Cashew Rich Gravy 2007-09-20 13:15:00 I have been busy lately and now I am back to the normal routine with cooking, taking pics and blogging. I have been facing tantrums at home from J, saying that I am cooking merely for blogging and not for him :) and also complains that my camera gets the first chance to capture my dish. I guess this is a common argument in many of your homes too.Kheema Kofta
with Ghee RiceJ was craving for kheema koftas from past one month and because of my busy schedule could not meet the household demands :)To those who dont know Koftas are popular throughout India. They are made using fine lean mince which is blended with herbs and spices and made into balls.This dish sounds exotic and tastes it too! Add it to a dinner party menu and your guests will end licking their fingers :)Ingredients:Ground Lamb meat(Kheema): 1/2 KgOnions: 2, mincedTomato Puree: 1 cupGreen Chilles: 5, adjust acc. to your taste buds, slit length-wiseCashew
Nuts, Chironji and WaterMelon seeds: 1 cup, soak in water for 1 hr and gr Read more:Curry
Minty Pea Bread Rolls!! 2007-09-18 13:15:00 When dear Coffee of The Spice Cafe announced the theme of Monthly Blog Patrol(MBP), this month which is making bread from the scratch using the recipe from fellow bloggers, I have been very busy browsing through all the my favorite blogs searching for recipes. And in that process I came across a very nice blog Bake My Day, where I found so many nice recipes for bread, and the one which attracted me was the Minty Pea Bread
.Stuffed Bread Rolls
This was my first experiment with yeast, and I was worried about the output. But luckily it was not that bad. The bread rolls came out to be delicious with hard crust and soft insides with herb flavored filling. We had it for dinner and it got a lot of appreciation :)But I guess I need to improve on the shaping of the bread roll!! This is the recipe with little modifications according to our taste.Ingredients:For the Bread(Dough):All Purpose flour: 500 gmsWhole wheat flour: 150 gmsActive Dry yeast: 1 1/2 tspSalt: 1 1/2 tspSugar: 1TbspHerbs de proven
Pulihora/Puliyogare/Puliyodharai - Tamarind Rice 2007-09-17 13:12:00 Pulihora, Chitrannam or Tamarind Rice.. all refer to the same dish, a rice delicacy prepared using tamarind. This is the one dish which is prepared on any festival. It doesnt need a special intro to many South Indians esp., to those from Andra, Karnataka and TamilNadu; though the name and the taste differs slightly from state to state. To Kannadians it is Puliyogare and to Tamilians it is Puliyodharai. It is even served as prasadam in many temples.PulihoraIt was so often made during festivals or during outings that my father sometimes used to make fun saying that it is a default menu in our households; for festivals it is pulihora and payasam, and for outings it is pulihora and perugannam(daddojanam).This is the recipe from my mom, and never goes wrong.Ingredients:Rice: 2 cups (uncooked)Chana Dal: 1/4th cupTamarind paste: 2 TbspGreen Chillies: 8 (adjust acc. to your taste buds)Curry Leaves: 2 stalksGround Nuts/Cashew Nuts: 1/2 cupDry Red Chilles: 5Hing/Asafoetida: a pinchMustard Seeds:
Vinayaka Chaturthi 2007-09-16 13:01:00 Wish You All Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!!!Mushikavaahana modaka hastha,Chaamara karna vilambitha sutra,Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra,Vighna vinaayaka paada namastheGanesh Chaturthi or the birthday of Ganesha (God of Wisdom and Prosperity) falls on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (around August-September). It is celebrated all across India and is the biggest festival in states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and TamilNadu.Ganesh at our HomeGaneshji is one of my favorite deities. This is the one festival which I have been performing without fail from my childhood. I used to sort out the books from the subjects which I find tough, to keep near the idol and to write "OM" on them :)I used to long for the modaks and all the goodies prepared on that day for the "Naivedyam". Naivedyam : From top-left clockwise : Pulihora, Vadapappu Kobbari, Undrallu, Kudumulu, Payasam and GaareluIn short this is the festival enjoyed by everyone!!
Heaven on Earth : Switzerland !!! 2007-09-04 08:55:00 Switzerland is truely Heaven
on Earth
, and it is a must see for everyone, at least once in the lifetime!!!Some of the pictures I would like to share!!It was a beautiful experience staying in the apartments surrounded by mountains and clouds....The Apartments we rented"The dying Lion of Lucerne" is one of the world's most famous monuments.It was carved out of natural rock in memory of the heroic deaths of the Swiss mercenaries at the Tuileries in 1792. Mark Twain described the Lion of Lucerne as the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world.Lucern - The Lion MonumentLucern Lake The entire route to Jungfrau was unimaginably wonderful. It was an engineer marvel to lay tracks with tunnels and stations at around 11,500 feet; the highest railway track in Europe.Train Route to JungFrau - Top of Europe The temperature up on the top was -3C, and is said to be covered with snow all year round!!Snow Covered Alps Snow Covered Alps Swiss is known for the scenic beauty of its valleys and Read more:Switzerland
Gaarelu / Vada 2007-09-28 13:15:00 Gaarelu is synonymous with the word Festival or Guests. When we were kids Amma used to make them only during festivals or when any special guests are visiting us!!!Gaarelu/Vada/Ulundu Vada is a very famous South Indian breakfast which is accompanied with Coconut Chutney and Sambhar.Everyone in our family likes these... hope even you will enjoy them :)GaareluIngredients:Whole urad dal: 2 cupsGinger: 2 inch, finely choppedGreen chillies: 4, finely choppedOnion: 2, finely choppedSalt: to tasteOil: for deep fryingMethod:Soak Urad Dal in enough water overnight.Grind into a soft paste, using very little water. The batter should be very thick, not like dosa batter. Add ginger, onions, chilies and salt to this and mix well.Take a deep pan or kadai and heat oil for frying.Wet your hands and take a lemon sized ball and flatten it and make a hole in the center. (You can use a plastic sheet or a banana leaf, to make things easier).Slowly put it in oil and deep fry on both sides till golden brown.S
Paneer Butter Masala 2007-09-27 13:15:00 "Paneer ButterMasala
", the most common name in almost all the menu cards of all the Indian restaurants, and the most common item which people tend to order :) and I am one of them.All the paneer dishes sound so delicious and exotic. And everyone agrees with me, so have you ever tried making Paneer at home? If the answer is "No", then you must surely try it.Making Paneer at home is not only easy but also fun. There is a satisfaction and happiness when we cook dishes with Paneer made at home :)The process of making paneer is very simple. All we need is, Milk, Half a Lemon, a Big pot and a clear Towel.I have explained the process of making it here.Paneer Butter MasalaComing to the recipe...Ingredients:Paneer: 250gmsTomatoes: 3, choppedOnions: 3, choppedGaram Masala: 1 tspGingerGarlic Paste: 1 TbspCashew Nuts: Fistful, soaked in water for 15 mins and grind to get a smooth paste.Dry Red Chilies: 5, adjust acc. to your taste budsCorriander leaves: 1 small bunchMint leaves: a fewKasoori Met
Pickled Deviled Eggs and "Egg Mice"!!! 2007-10-08 13:15:00 Pickled Deviled Eggs and "Egg Mice"When dear fellow bloggers Jai and Bee announced the new event "CLICK", I was very much excited. But the theme, i.e., EGGS made me think!! How can one get a creative idea out of eggs? An egg is an egg, white and oval, in what ever angle you try to take a picture of it :)When I asked a dear friend of mine for an idea, the answer was, "I can't think of anything except boiling it and cutting into half and swallowing :)"Hmmm... tough, it was for me, becoz I am not good with camera, and I was whiling away the time drooling over the lovely entries sent by my fellow bloggers here.When I put on the thinking cap, many ideas flashed... and I decided to go with this - Pickled Deviled Eggs!!!Pickled Deviled EggsIngredients:Hard Boiled Eggs: 4, peeledBeetroot and Red Cabbage: 1 cup each, choppedWater: 2 + 2 cupsVinegar: 1/4 + 1/4 cupCloves: 5 + 5Cinnamon: 1 inchSalt: 2 + 2 tspFor Deviled Eggs:Mayonnaise: 2 TbspDijon Mustard: 1 TbspPepper ans Salt: to tastePickl
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