Olan

Olan is a simple dish done with ash guard and coconut milk. This is one of the main dish in Onam sandhya celebrated in Kerala. It can be done in yellow pumpkin too. A tasty and flavorful side dish. Give a try you will sure love it....

Homemade coconut milk

Even though you get canned coconut milk, homemade are always fresh and tastier. It is a very simple process just like preparing juice. Thick coconut milk can be used in smoothies and gravies. The thinner part is used for cooking. The 3rd time extracted milk is used for boiling vegetables. It can be boiled for more time, 2nd time extracted milk can be heated but not more. Whenever the thick part or first time extracted milk is used in gravies should not be heated for a long time. As soon you add the milk, stir and switch off immediately. Gravies and shakes done in coconut milk has a unique taste.

Kadai paneer

Kadai paneer is a mild dry gravy which is the combo of bell peppers and paneer.This paneer is served in small kadai(vessel) with copper in outer layer, hence named kadai paneer. I love this mild curry especially the crunchiness of bell pepper in it. Serve with hot pulkhas.

Processed rice flour | Rice flour

You may wonder what is processed flour? There is a little process before grinding to a flour, but very handy for preparing snacks or savories. The snack prepared with this flour stays crispy for long time and will be pure white in color when steamed.

Methi thepla

Methi thepla is a Indian flat bread with fenugreek leaves. This is so healthy and a nice combo with mango chunda. When comes to Gujarathi cuisine Methi thepla is common. It is suitable for travel. While packing for more than a day avoid curd/yogurt, use plain water. It stays good for 2 to 3 days. If you don't add besan flour the thepla becomes hard and taste bitter because of fenugreek leaves. 

Mango chunda

Mango chunda is a sweet mango chutney. This is traditional dish of Gujarat, side for chapathis, rotis or phulkas. A great combo with methi thepla (coming soon). In tamilnadu we do mango pachadi with jaggery,which I did with brown sugar. This chunda is with white sugar. But both taste differently. The roasted cumin powder gives a nice flavor to chunda. Roast the cumin powder and store it for curries or any dishes.

Chunda can be stored upto an year. If storing for long period store in a refrigerator and use dry spoon. This process is an easy method. Traditionally they do like pickles by drying in the sun. Try this easy sweet pickle.....

Sweet diamonds

Sweet diamonds ~ is deep fried version of biscuits. Unbaked version. A perfect crunchy snack for evenings. Kids love this snack. You can avoid sugar and make a spice version. Will post it soon....

Cashew cookies

Cashew cookies ~ vegan version tasted so wonderful. In place of all purpose flour, whole wheat or half of wheat and APF can be used. After removing the cookies from oven it will look uncooked or soft. Don't panic. Wait to cool completely for serving. Easy to bake, so do try this and let me know how it tasted....

Creamy spinach pasta

Creamy spinach pasta - is the creamier version and by adding spinach to the pasta is quite healthier. I have already tried spinach avocado pasta which is vegan version but this is loaded with milk and cheese. you can try with elbow pasta or macaroni. Kids love mac and cheese, try this and name it as green mac and cheese. They will love it. 

Sakkarai pongal

This is my 200th post. Mostly everyone does for pongal festival. But we have rice and grated jaggery on the day of pongal. My son Ro likes this pongal very much, rarely I pack for his lunch box too. This is a sweet version of pongal. Many of them add edible camphor. I don't like the flavor of it. If you are interested you can add a pinch. For temples or festivals they do sakkarai pongal as neivedhiyum. If you don't have jaggery try adding dark brown sugar.

Medhu vada | Ulunthu vadai

Medhu vada or uzhunthu vadai is a traditional south Indian recipe. This vada is prepared for every South Indian festivals and marriages, without vada it is not a complete food in festival or marriages. When comes to vada, I prefer medhu vada. When soaked in sambhar,rasam and yogurt it is called sambhar vadai, rasam vadai and thayir vadai. I love this vadai in all form. Try this and enjoy in any way....

 

Somas | Karanji

Somas ~ named in south and Karanji in North. They have little variations.It is a deep fried dumplings stuffed with sweet. Most of the people in India do this for Diwali with different names.

My sister in law Jayashri do this somas for every diwali. I used her tips for filling. The filling by itself taste very good. I am not fond of Somas. After a week the somas outer layer becomes soft. May be because of the filling. For distributing to few people and till a week somas stays crispy. Try and let me know your end results.

Ennai kathrikai

Ennai kathrikai ~ a classic south Indian menu. Most of them do ennai kathrikai without masala, but I like to add some flavors to the kuzhambu(curry). Mixed with rice and papad on the side makes mouth watering. If eggplants are good the curry will become so flavorful. Try this with small eggplants, so that it cooks easily.
 

Papdi | papri

Papdi is one of the popular chaat in India. It is very simple to prepare. This can be used in variety of chaats or can be taken as such. Have this in hand, and do varieties of chaat.

Quinoa soup

After a long break, I am joining you all with an healthy starter. I have never posted anything related to quinoa. This is an easy and healthy soup. The person who hates quinoa, will also try this soup..... When served with pasta it is a wholesome dinner.

Vanilla cake with yogurt

Hot pot cooking turns 2. A long and lovely journey with blogging world. Thanks to all my friends, readers and supporters. After coming to India, I have not started taking any pictures or blogging. I want to post some simple recipes. This was in my draft so long..... When stepping into 3 year I want to start again...with more recipes.

I have already post Basic vanilla cake with evaporated milk. This one is with yogurt with more spongy. This recipe was adapted from Eggless baking of Nita mehta book. I did a simple frosting with rainbow sprinkles.

Tostadas with black bean

An simple and quick snack with tostadas. It is so crunchy outside with melted cheese inside. This is sure a crowd pleaser, if  using for a large crowd make batches in oven. For single serving microwave is best. Create your own idea for stuffing inside. You can stuff vegetables too instead of bean. Try on your way and enjoy this simple snack.

Banana chocolate chip muffin

I am trying hard to post twice a week, but I cannot schedule myself. Eggless and vegan banana chocolate muffin is a wonderful breakfast or a snack for evening. If you are not a chocolaty person, avoid chocolate chip and add walnuts or any nuts of your choice.

Mooli paratha | Radish flatbread

A long gap between me and my blog. I miss all of your posts too. We are settling down and having hard time with kids. Most often I don't stuff radishes, I grate and mix with flour. The water in the radish is so healthy and quite enough to form a dough. So easy and healthy parathas.

Five cheese ziti

This is a copycat recipe of olive garden. Five cheese ziti was hit among the kids. If ziti sauce  and toppings are prepared ahead, this would be a easy process. The original recipe called for double cheese, I used only half of the cheese, but really turned out good. This is the continuation of last post....:)

Alfredo & Zitti sauce

We are having a huge change this weekend, we are moving from United states to India. Moving is always stressful. Our family has moved many times, but I still worry about packing things,settling down.....  stuck with mixed feelings. If I was not in this country, for sure I would not been in this blogging world. Before leaving from United states I want to try five cheese ziti a signature dish of Olive garden.

I will be posting five cheese Ziti in next post, before that I would like to share the sauce with you. I used Italian five cheese from Kraft in place of Fontina cheese. I want to use store bought Alfredo sauce to simplify my work, but unfortunately all Alfredo sauce had egg, so decided to make my own sauce. I would not say this is so healthy, because each and every ingredients in five cheese Ziti has fat content in it. Taking once in a while is OK :). Since it is homemade we can alter the full fat into skimmed or low fat cream.

Gongura thokku | pickle

Sorrel leaves or gongura was first introduced when we moved to Trichy, India. One of our neighbor do this way. Without onion and garlic it stays good for a month outside. In refrigerator it's good for longer time. When you are going out and want to pack something this is the best idea to mix with rice and a healthy way too. 

This week was so busy, that I cannot check the other fellow bloggers. I miss all your new recipes. Will sure check whenever I get time.

Carrot, beans & potato poriyal

This is a simple stir fry with colorful combo. Most of them do this stir fry. I have posted a list of poriyal/stir fry but this one is a combination of 3 vegetables. Adding grated coconut enhances the taste of vegetables. It is purely optional.

Dal makhani

Dal Makhani - A rich and creamy dal originated from Punjab. Makhani means butter, so as the name suggests it is a buttery dal. Traditionally the dals are simmered overnight to enhance the taste and flavor. I used slow cooker method which also enhance the flavor. I used only butter and skipped the cream. If you want you can add cream too. My friend used to do with red chori instead of rajma, I used more red chori and little rajma, and followed her steps. Goes well with plain roti or Jeera pilaf.

Chocolate and vanilla icecream

Homemade icecream - no icecream maker - no preservatives - less ingredients. Yeah you got it rite!!!! Unbelievable with the end result. So creamy and so easy. You can try any flavor with this base. If you are preparing strawberry, mango icecream, puree the fruit and combine. This is a simple recipe from a tv program, I made some changes and got perfect consistency. Try for this summer.....

Spinach fritters

Whenever I do bhaji/fritters I usually go for instant mix. But my sister always insist me to do homemade. She usually prepare this way with other vegetables, but I tried with spinach. It was so addictive. The flavor of carom(omam) seeds was so wonderful and the addition of baking powder turned so crispier. I did only with spinach, you can use any vegetable of your choice like potato, plantains, bell peppers and onion. Even zucchini works great in this.

You can serve as a plain fritter or make as a chaat. The chaat will sure be a crowd pleaser. Add or reduce ingredients as per your taste for chaat. I got the chaat idea from a cook book, I don't have any clue of the book. Whenever I get it, I will sure update the details.

Vazhakkai podimas | Plantain stirfry

I always like podimas in plantain rather than fry. the fry becomes dry if there is less oil. So I always prefer this, I love when my mom cooks vazhakkai podimas. The plantains should be steamed correctly to grate. If you over cook the plantains, simply mash in hands. 

Eggless carrot cake

I want to try this carrot cake for last Easter, kept postponing and did after this Easter. The color of the cake depends on the carrot. If you are using white sugar and carrots are sweet enough you can use half cup too. Send carrot cake as a lunch to school, the kids will enjoy!!!

Mango pachadi | Mangai pachadi

Whenever we have a mango season my mom does this. I love to eat this with all different taste in a single dish. I have read in many blogs, for Tamil New year's day they add neem flowers with this. I have never tasted that way. If your taste buds wants all kind of tastes like sweet,spicy, tangy and saltiness try this....

Homemade Spinach Tortillas

Soft and fresh homemade tortillas is so simple and easy to prepare. The fresh spinach gives more flavor too....you will be stunned with the results of homemade tortillas with no artificial preservatives and flavors. Try on weekends and cover with foil to avoid the dryness. While using take the quantity you need and warm.

Broccoli with bread crumbs

Steamed broccoli with lemon peel and garlic taste wonderful. The bread crumbs gives crispiness to broccoli. When broccoli is steamed it doesn't lose color, the bright green with golden brown makes you to have more. My broccoli was not so fresh so I did not get nice color. I got this healthy recipe from a magazine.

Grilled veg sandwich

When I baked Eggplant sandwich, I tried this too. I used bell peppers of all colors. Try with whatever color peppers you have in hand. Great with green peppers too. This can be grilled in the oven too. I used stove top method. Try this for your dinner..........

Eggless brownie

Brownie are usually baked square and the texture is between cake and cookie. Not so soft as cake or hard as cookie. A variation made with brown sugar and no cocoa powder is Blondie. I added cocoa powder and brown sugar :)

Brownies served warm with ice cream is a wonderful combo. Like restaurants you can add some sizzling effect with brownie in hot cast iron pans. If you are a chocolate lover sure you will like this...Try this eggless brownie with no butter, obviously a low calorie brownie.  

Oven roasted cauliflower| Cauliflower fry

Oven roasted cauliflowers are so so good that can be served as an appetizer or snack with ketchup for kids. Great alternate to french fries that are deep fried. After roasting in oven the white florets will have golden brown edges that looks so appetizing.

Spaghetti with spinach balls

This was the recipe from my cousin. I think she learned from food channel. I changed lot of things to suit our taste and finally settled with this recipe. A perfect vegetarian option. Ricotta cheese and spinach was awesome combination. I have tried spinach avocado pasta, may be spinach and pasta works great too.

Vellarikka ellu pachadi | Cucumber with sesame seeds

We get this small cucumbers for every summer in India. My mother in law does a lot and refrigerate the chopped cucumbers (with temper) and the paste separately.  When in need we mix and eat. This taste totally different from usual raithas. Give a try you will really like it.

Eggplant sandwich

Eggplant sandwich - I badly wanted to try this. This came out so good and tasted like pizza. I did as a open sandwich the kids loved the cheese layer on top. I Cut the Italian bread into half and did 2 different sandwiches, one this and the other was grilled veggie sandwich (will be posting soon). My eggplant skin was not so hard so I grilled as such, if you feel it's hard and don't like the skin peel them off and grill it.

Italian salad

I have never chopped lettuce finely. I use to tare with my hand. When I had lunch at my friend's home she chopped so finely, I love the idea and asked for the recipe. Then I changed a little and got this wonderful salad. Increase or reduce the vegetables of your choice.

Capsicum pilaf

Whenever I buy color peppers, I cook this pilaf and pasta. If you don't have color peppers try with green pepper. The flavor of mint and cilantro enhances the taste of rice. Try this simple pilaf.

Potato roast

Mostly I add potatoes to the other vegetables and do as a combo, rarely I do roast or garlicky potato. My kids love potatoes without any masalas, they love to have the plain roast, will post soon. This roast goes well with rice or any roti's too.

Strawberry nutella milkshake

I buy nutella to bake some cookies or brownies, but end up eating with bread or as such too :) Strawberries and chocolates are great combo, so thought of preparing milkshake with it. A filling and yummy breakfast to start your day.....

Chana karakuzhambu

Most of them like this white chickpeas. I have tried chickpeas in many ways like salad, chickpeas pilaf, chana masala. This karakuzhambu tasted so nice, since the chickpeas was cooked with all masalas. This recipe was shared from my sister from a television show. Enjoy with chips or papad with hot steamed rice.

Besan Zucchini

I love this green squash.  Usually I add with pasta and do some side dishes. I wanted to give a try in Indian way, so simple and easy dish with no onion and no garlic.

Broccoli with roasted peanuts

Broccoli are very healthy and rich in vitamin C. Broccoli consumption helps to prevent heart diseases(from an article). Broccoli should be taken twice a week for health benefits. I have tried broccoli stir fry with other vegetable combination and this with roasted peanuts which gives crunchiness and added flavor to the vegetable.

Hakka noodle soup | Noodle soup

When it is cold outside, this is a real treat. Eat with bread for a whole dinner. So easy to prepare, within 15 minutes your dinner is ready. Satisfying and deeply comforting vegetarian noodle soup............

Beetroot halwa

Beetroot is a little sweetish vegetable. When I do normal curry I use to mix with rice and eat but prefer to have beet as halwa :) Spread as a jelly in bread for kids. They will love to have this vegetable jelly :)

Cheese rolls

A simple and easy bread cheese rolls. A perfect kids snack and they will enjoy to roll up too. Few minute wonders makes your kid happier :)

Palkova | Milk sweet

Doing palkova with milk is really a big work and you have to stand with it for more time. The easy version of palkova is with condensed milk done in microwave within 10 minutes. I have never tried condensed milk version in stove top, if someone have tried please let me know.... whether it works or not. Hope it should work....

Cabbage peas stir fry

Cabbage and peas - a very nice and colorful combo. I don't like the change of color in cabbage, so I microwave it. If you wish you can stir fry in pan itself. Try this combo...