Peanut Chutney... my mil style

Peanut chutney is yummy. Everything about this is ok except for the high cholesterol improving characteristics :). Nevertheless whatever be the reason it can never be off the dosa clinging menu for a long while. Yes it is so scrumptious that i have to make it leaving no other choice. My kids love it too so now its an excuse for me to make it more often. I keep it away from my hubby's plate though... dont want him to eat those extra calories when he's wanting to shed off some ;)

This one is similar to the other one i make but has a hint of coconut in it which gets a little different and a little special with extra calories 

Diwali pics posted a little late...

I know this post is very late as posted on this date. I had put it in draft but getting the pics uploaded and added to the post was such a biiiiiiiiig task for this lazy me ;) Anyways i guess better late than never is whats right here :)

Diwali is a beautiful, fun-filled, tradition-filled, colorful, noise-filled, delightfully lighted wonderful festival that everyone of all age enjoys. I remember our childhood days when mom used to make lots of special diwali sweets and fill up dabba after dabba in a line. Sure the munching away never stopped until the boxes were emptied and dashed into the washing bin. And special were the days of Diwali which marked start with the ritual of getting up very early, getting ready with new clothes specially bought for the occassion, decorating the verandah with beautiful colorful rangolis, pooja at home and then cracking the first cracker of the day... hmmm those moments are so sweet to remember. The calls to friends and family, the visits to friends homes, then the funtime at evening woo-hooooooo lighting up lamps, bursting crackers, shouting happily ... and the happiness list ended nowhere. Days have passed by but the speciality of Diwali stays intact as it had been generations ago.

We had lots to snack upon this time. Made everybodys favorite so that each one of us could enjoy our share. I just picked up some pics this time before all the goodies got munched away. They turned out well and we had a great time enjoying the festival.

Salted Maida squares with a hint of ajwain - Aadit's favorite

Mixture - My mom's style :) 

Kaara sevu(in Tamil) Gram flour spicy mini sticks - Nikhil's favorite

Rava laddoo.. hmm my favorite

Gulab Jamun made with milk powder - my hubby's favorite

 Also had murukku's at home but somehow missed the pics :) Probably next time 

Carroty Bread Toast... Nutritiously delicious

My younger bunny's favorite this time. I enjoyed these when my mom used to make it for me and now I feel proud and happy when I make them and my lil one Aadit munches them away in no time. Carrots are so full of vitamins and minerals that it has to be an important part of our meal routine. Eating them in the same boring ways is no longer a need. 

Kids will love this version of their fav veggie. It just takes minutes to put things together and make this yummy toast to be served in a sweet way.

Potato Bajji...

I am sure bajjis dont need any intro, they are just so famous and that everybody likes the. Bajjis are a very common snack all over India. People use different vegetables to make different bajjis say onion, potato, carrot, mirchi etc. Each has its own unique flavor 

I feel it is the easiest snack when one might have an unexpected guest and there is really no time to think of anything better. So this always comes in handy. Served hot with chutney or sauce it is best on rainy days too. A hot cup of chai on one hand and a hot hot bajji on the other hand is so comforting

Cheesy Paneer & Corn sandwich/Roll

Nikhils favorite weekend breakfast can be nothing better than this because he is the one who gave me the recipe to do it - and want to add that he is very proud about it ;) Yes and I am not joking at all. One day we had been to a Chinese restaurant and we tried some chisken ball starters. Surprisingly the starter was too simple and too delicious that we couldnt take our hands off them. It had a very simple, elegant and unique taste that we we hadnt come across for a long time in usual restaurants. Nikhil had a question for me at the table. Mamma y dont you make this for us some day... its soooooooo yummy. We started talking about it and he added ... 'U know mommy it pretty easy... just some chicken, some garlic and some chilli flakes. We were surprised by his little findings and his cute way of stealing our hearts. I promised i wud make him some of these chicken starters whenever I find some time. 

Over the next weekend I was straining some homemade scrambled paneer as we were having surplus milk at home. Just then my little bunny jumped in and asked me what it was. When we talked he said 'y dont we make paneer rolls today for breakfast'. When 
I said it wud take time he immediately put on his lil chef cap and said 'it very simple i'll help you.. .just add the same garlic, chilli, paneer and done' Now I did not stand a chance to say no so we set to try it out. A crispy cum gooey cheesy breakfast... yummm... 

My lil chef was the real chef that day and with a little help from me we could make something that turned out to be a kids special. A very special treat for thier weekend breakfast. I enjoyed it too. And from then on it has been a regular item in the menu.
Here it goes... my little one's slightly mommy tweaked version :)

Done in sandwich maker

Done on tawa

Done on tawa and cut into halves

Ammini kozhukattai

This is one of my childhood favourites. Whenever yummy used to make idiyappam, she used to make small balls with the leftover dough and we all used to be crazy about it. We used fight over it as there wont be may. It was the same dough as idiyappam but still eating chinna kzhukattai was definitely different. It tasted great everytime we had them

Mamma used to make this fried version and they would be just gone in a minute. Simple and divine is what I would say. Its not always about fancy foods that we crave for. Sometimes its just about simple things that we look for. Sometimes food that bring back a lot of memories. This on is one of that kind

A simple recipe that makes me smile every time I have it. My kids love it too so its great news for me and my kitchen. So every time there is some leftover dough after making idiyappams I get to make this for sure

Soya nuggy masala

Soya, its goodness, its yumminess ummmmmmmmmm... we love it. For me and my kids soya is a saviour many a days. My kids love them and they name them veggie chicken so its a very entertained curry for casual dinners. There are so many ways you can add soya to your diet but as curries it is very easy and simple in every way - to eat, to make and to enjoy :)

In recent time i have seen soya related food and food products are gaining popularity. This  is mainly attributed to its surprisingly good health benefits. Naming them down is not my intent here cos i know you can google it in a matter of secs. Keeping these in mind i never forget to add it to our routine meals. Not everyday of course but quite often for sure. The plus that i have in adding it is my kids love for it. Whenever i have made this, i have noticed  that their hunger starts from the moment they see the nuggets. My lil one still calls them 'nuggies'. During the time that i spend in the kitchen for making these nuggy special curries i have n number of visits from both my little bugs. Big bug asks "Is it ready yet mamma... how long do you think its gonna take?? " Little bug asks "Leady Leady ???" And no wonder chapathis served with this favorite curry are gobbled up in no time. A heavenly helping hand for mommy.

This recipe is a simple way of making dry sabji that involves very few spices and very few steps too. Love to my buggies in a simple way.

Silky Creamy Paneer Delicacy

So long since since i sat down to pen some of my favorites. Life had so many changes - some were good, some ok, some very bad, some happy, some sad.. thoughts running all over my head. All these have kept me away from this place not cos I was busy,, not cos I was lazy, not cos i dint want to but i just dont know what. Anyways back again to write down some recipes that i have tried and also some of childhood favs that i had almost forgotten. You know my problem now.. if i dont pen i just forget it - let it be the recipe itself or its instructions. Very recently i caught with some recipes that i have enjoyed as a kid but have never tried it in my own kitchen. Will post them soon so that i can keep it safe for my very own reference.

This one here is an inspiration from my friends recipe. I had been to my friend Shobi's place couple of months back. She is a very good friend - a kind of person everyone would love to be friends with. This time it was an unplanned visit to their house when we stepped in right before dinner time. She had planned something special for her family when we guys and another family friend too joined in. Wow... what a fantastic meal that day... loved every bite and i did make sure to ask her for the recipe :) now thats how i am. My mil always says that one should never lose an opportunity to learn and especially if it is something that has won your heart. This time it was a yummy paneer curry with naan. I got the recipe from Shobi and then days passed by and as usual i forgot. Called her again and got the recipe but this time too forgot to note it down and as usual could not pull it up from my brainy brains database. I remembered bits and pieces but not the entire :( When thinking and trying to make it i did not have a couple of ingredients so had to change a few steps here and there to fit with ingredients that i had. Believe me the outcome was awesome. I will sure call my friend to get her correct recipe version and post it soon.

Here i present my version of Creamy paneer delicacy that is my new fav addition to a yummy dinner menu. This came out fantastic and the best part for me - niks my 4 yr old loves it to the core. This is the compliment that i got "Mommy you are soooooooooooooo nice. This is most awesome food i have ever had. When i grow big like Dadda i will make something yummy like this just for you." Now that was one good "Love award" for a proud mommy. So here it goes third time in a row being served for dinner. Special orders here.

Rava ladoo... another version

My love for rava ladoos is never ending. It is so much that apart from making them so much at home I end up buying at sweet shops too. Now thats crazy right. Every diwali I make this for sure... it being my favourite

Simple to make and lovely to enjoy makes it most preferred sweet :)

This is another version or  I should say "the usual version" followed by the sweet shops. This is the correct version also I guess. The recipe I posted earlier is my mom tweaked version :) 

Yam fry... simple and yummy

My elder one loves this vegetable not by its appearance but by the taste after its fried. He has given it a new name too... "Vegetable Fish". Its yummy, spicy and crisp to perfection. We all love it at home. My mil taught me this method to make the fry. When she makes it .... its all gone before lunch is served. They taste best when really hot and crisp

Takes a little time to make it but it is all worth the time spent in the kitchen :)

Sauted Onion Raita....

I was introduced to this wonderful raita by my very good friend Shalu. She is a gem of a person. Everytime we go to her home, she makes sure that we have atleast one meal before we meal. Love her hospitality and sweetness :)

One day as usual when she made dinner for us.... she cooked an awesome biryani with this sidedish. It was very new to me. Me and my hubby loved it so much that we almost finished the entire bowl. I know my friend wont mind at all :) Its so simple to make and is liked by everyone too 

Aamla di Paani...

Landed in my country after a long time and after very long jetlag days we started going out to meet friends and relatives. We went to my sisters place last week. When we reached there I was really exhausted. The heat and noise of traffic had made me really tired. 

The moment I was in her house , I was looking in the fridge for something refreshing to drink when my eyes caught a glimpse of a tupperware bottle filled with something. I asked my akka what was it and she said "Dont ask me but do try it". She served me a chilled glass which i gulped in secs. So refreshing, so light and so yummy that i could not resist asking for another glass to which she smiled ans said "Now that means its yummy???" I was so impressed that my tastebuds hit my brain buttons which in turn made my mouth utter "Recipe plsssssssssssssssss....."

 So here you go for a very very simple way to refresh yourself. 

(Pics coming soon)

Serves... concentrate can be stored a while

Serve option... Serve chilled with ice cubes and preferably mint

This is what u'll need....

Aamla/Gooseberry10-20 nos.()

Chaat masala as per taste

Water

Bottle to store in fridge

Here is the stir....

• Cut amla into small pieces and remove the seed. Transfer this to a mixie jar

• Grind all aamla to make a fine paste. Dont use water to grind it

• Sieve it thru a strainer to remove any lumps or excess fibre. Make sure you press the mixture to help squeezing using the back of a spoon. Dont use your hands for any reason

• Transfer the entire juice into a bottle and store it in the fridge 

• When serving, add little chaat masala to a glass, pour a couple of tablespoons of this concentrate and then fill it with water. Top it with ice cubes and fresh mint leaves  

• Enjoy a refreshing drink

Notes:

• Dont use your hands to squeeze out the liquid. It will help the concentrate stay for a longer time
• Adjust concentrate amount when serving to mark it up to your taste

Spicy Ginger Chicken

Have been very busy lately with lots of things. But even amidst all this hungama our tongues and tummies crave for real good food. Thought i should try something on my own. Probably simple and easy to make, especially something that will not need any pampering during the making.

There was a lot of ginger lying in the fridge, dint know what to do so decided this recipe. I did not have time that day to sit down and search for recipes so just pulled a few things from here and there and brought them all together to bring out this yummy recipe. Never imagined it would turn out that good. My hubby loved it so much that i made it again in just a couple of days :) .... now that really meant appreciation

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... Warm

This is what u'll need....

Ginger grated 1/4 cup
Chicken small pieces 1/4 cup
Oil 3 tbspn
Onion 1 small
Chilli powder 1/2 tspn
Jeera/Cumin seeds  1/4 tspn
Garam masala 1/4 tspn
Coriander powder 1/4 tspn
Salt to taste

Here is the stir....

• Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds
• As they start spluttering, add the onion and little salt. Fry till the oil is slightly translucent

• Toss in grated ginger and fry it on medium heat for 15-20 minutes until the raw smell of ginger is no more. Taste it instead of smelling it to check if ginger is done. Might take some more time too



• Add chicken pieces, chilli powder, coriander powder, remainning salt and fry for another 5 minutes with lid on

• Add a little water and put the lid back on. Let it cook for another 15-20 mins. No need to keep stirring. Just check once in a while and give a quick stir

• Remove from fire when chicken is good and oil starts to ooze out.

• This serves as a good appetizer or even a side with hot rice or roti

Here is the stir....

• Fry ginger till the raw smell goes off. Else once the chicken is in it will take a long long time to take off the ginger smell
• Adjust spice levels as per taste
• Add little water and cook. If you feel it is getting too dry in between add a little more. Do not add too much at any time
• Garnish with coriander leaves (dint have any that day :) )

Rava ladoo....a yummy yummy ladoo

I love rava ladoos and I cant tell you how much..... my mouth is watering when I am writing this now. I know and my dear ones know that I can just keep eating and eating them all the time. Love my mom for the way she makes it. They are just too yummy. I remember that my mom always used to pack this when I was in hostel. Also I have a dear aunt who makes it for me every time I visit her .. thanks to you Viji aunty :)

It is a simple, sweet and classic dessert that no one can ever resist. Roasting a few ingredients and bringing them all together is easy and fun too. Kids love it too and so that is a plus

Serves... makes 10-12

Serve option... Room temp

This is what u'll need....

Rava/Sooji/Semolina - 1 cup

Sugar - 1 cup (adjust to taste)

Grated coconut - 1/4 cup

Elaichi/Cardamom - 5-6 pods

Cashews and raisins for garnish

Ghee - 3 tbspn

Milk as needed

Here is the stir....

• Heat ghee in a pan and add rava to it
• Roast it on medium to high heat until rava turns slightly brown
• Transfer it to another bowl
• Fry cashews and raisins in a tablespoon of ghee and add it to the fried rava
• In the same pan toss in grated coconut and stir till it turns slightly golden
• Pour back the rava mixture into the pan and mix it all together for couple of mins
• Add sugar, elaichi and stir for not more than a minute
• Turn off the heat and transfer it to a bowl
• Shape them into small balls when the mixture is still a little more than warm

Notes....

• If you are having trouble shaping them into balls, try using a little extra ghee or hot milk. but remember just a little
• Adjust sugar to suit your taste

Mushroom peas curry

I am back here after a long long time and am myself feeling like everything in here is very new. We have had a new sweet addition to our family who kept me busy and tied-up all time that i almost forgot about my blog. I have a  toddler too who keeps running around the house that makes me feel overly busy sometimes :)

Today my friend was home for dinner when i was well reminded about my blog which had kept me pleasingly busy some time back. She told me that she was impressed with my blog and so tried a couple of recipes. Her words made me happy and a little proud too ... the fact being that she loved them both. Little praises from her made me happy and invoked me to write something tonight.

Its been really long that I wrote a post so I am feeling I am running too slow with my typing and thinking. Well, I have been trying and enjoying lot of recipes these days but just could not find time to take pics and post them. I specially learnt a lot new cos my mom and mil were with me for a while to help me with the little one. Hmmm... I know that sounds too much of a story to discuss a recipe.

Sooooooooooo....Its mushroom again. This one is like a simple twist to an old tale. I love this curry with a simple but pleasing combination of soft and tender mushrooms and silky smooth sweet peas. No sweating here... now that sounds interesting. It's so simple to make that it takes care of my dinner menu quite frequently ;)

We love this as my elder one is a big mushroom fan and a bigger peas fan. Thanks to him that i get to make it more often :) Goes perfect with rotis and pooris

Serves... 2 ppl 

Serve option... Warm puffy chapatis or pooris

This is what u'll need....

Jeera/Cumin seeds 1/4 tspn

Onion 1 medium

Green peas 1/4 cup

Mushroom 2 cups sliced

Milk 1/2 cup

Garam masala 1/4 tspn

Red Chilli powder 1/4 tspn

Salt to taste

Oil 1 tbspn

Here is the stir....

• Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds
• After few seconds toss in chopped onions and sprinkle salt. Fry them till onions turn translucent

•  Add peas and cook for about 5 mins

• Stir in mushrooms, chilli powder and give a quick toss. Let it sit on medium heat for about 5 mins. Mushrooms done need a lot of time to get cooked

• Pour milk into it and let it all cook till mushroom and peas are cooked till soft

• Sprinkle garam masala, give a quick stir and remove from heat
• Transfer to a serving bowl. Enjoy this with rotis or pooris and you are sure to love it

Note :

• Dont cook for too long. Both mushroom and peas are very tender so may take only a few mins before they can hop into the serving bowl :)
• Adjust spices to suit your taste buds
• Keep the flame when adding milk. Then after a few stirs you can go ahead to putting it on medium