Kothavarangai kootu | Cluster beans kootu

The whole city has been warned with 'Sandy' , but before the power goes off , I want to update my post. This kootu with peanuts will sure be a hit in your house which is a comfort food. I like the kothavarangai  we get in India, even I get it here. It has no taste nor flavor. But when this kootu is done in India it has a unique flavor and taste.

Cream of tomato soup

When time is short and you crave for any hot soup in this fall, don't use canned soups. Instead, in just few minutes you can put all in a pressure cooker or in a large stock pot, puree and have it. They are sure to become a family favorite. When the weather turns cool we need something hot. My kids love soups especially this tomato soup. When you are having cold, this soup soothes your throat and pepper helps to cure it.

The title says, cream of tomato soup - but I didn't use white sauce. The potato works as a magic here to give a thick consistency. For richer taste I added cream, if in diet skip that. The beet will give the dark color to soup. Carrot also helps to give color and nutritious too.

Mysore pak

Mysore pak - I wanted to try for a long time, but somehow kept on postponing. Since Diwali is nearing I thought of doing some sweet recipes. I remember lots of comedies with mysore pak in Tamil movies. But anyhow made a mind to try.

After Krishna sweets have come we all had mysore pak of soft version, before that we had hard mysore pak with little pores in it. It's so long time I had those sweets. Many of them tell we have to use more ghee for mysore pak, so always avoid it. After seeing Vardhini's and Sharmille's mysore pak, I wanted to try with equal ratio of ghee, sugar and flour. This is an easy recipe try it.....

Vegan peanut butter mug cake

Very rarely I prepare the mug cake, most of the time when Ro wants a cake I do One minute cake in microwave. This time I thought of doing with peanut butter then got an idea of doing it vegan so skipped milk and used flax seed powder. The flax seed powder has a nutty flavor, so easily blends with this cake. Try adding walnuts or any nuts to give an extra taste.

If you are a peanut lover u will like this taste. It was so soft and moist. You can add a pinch of baking soda too.

Szechwan babycorn

An another Indo-chinese recipe with baby corn. I have tried gobi manchurian, nothing a big difference. But some variations are there in preparing sauces. Babycorn has a different taste goes well with this type of chinese cooking. When coming to vegetarian options in chinese they are limited to fried rice, noodles, soup and these kinds of appetizers. It can be taken as a side for fried rice or can be taken as such for appetizer. The end results of this are so satisfying that I wish you should all try this....

Milagu kuzhambu | Pepper tamarind curry

These types of kuzhambu or curry will be little spicy. Black pepper is known to have a great amount of antioxidant properties. It also have benefits against bacterial growth, so when having severe cold try adding pepper in your daily food. It really helps to heal a little. Soup with black pepper on top is so comforting while having cold. Likewise this curry also tastes good to your taste buds when having cold.

I don't feel much difference between milagu/pepper kuzhambu, karuveppilai/curry leaves kuzhambu, both have the same spice to grind. May be when doing milagu kuzhambu you can avoid curry leaves, but it tastes good. So I added curry leaves. You can skip that.

Broccoli stir fry

Many doesn't like the taste of broccoli. I can have it only when combined with other veggies. Even my kids love broccoli in this way. Try this version of combining other veggies, even who doesn't like broccoli will love this. Combine the veggies as per your kids choice. Try combining potatoes, color peppers, peas.

Chipotle bean burrito

So long before I brought the Morning star recipe book from a store. The pictures in the book are so inviting.
I tried this recipe from that book.

I miss the Trader's Joe here. I have to drive an hour for that shop. Worth driving. If you have not been to Trader's Joe, Try!! you will really love that shop. Lots of vegetarian choices are there. I bought veggie burger and red chilly tortilla from there. Even though its named chilly tortillas it was as normal as the regular except the color.

Canned pinto beans and store bought salsa make preparation quick. No plannings ahead. If you have time and like to reduce the sodium level, consider to cook the bean by yourself. Chipotle chilly powder would be a hit for this recipe, if you don't have use the regular chilly powder.

Kara kozhukattai | Spicy rice balls

My kids love this balls, they love to eat as breakfast, snack and take this for lunch too. I don't add spice in the flour. My SIL suggested me to do that. When mixed with rice flour it gives a nice taste. I used Idiyappam flour, any type of rice flour can be added.

Vazhaipoo parupu usli

I prepare parupu usli whenever I do morkuzhambu or rasam. When I do sambhar I avoid it, since both are dals. Microwave method is very easy and saves lots of oil too. You can skip the microwave method and do straight in the pan, but have to add more oil. This type of usli can be done with different vegetables like beans,capsicum and cluster beans. I like the capsicum, it really tastes good. Try it....