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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Coconut and Dry red chili chutney




With Holidays around the corner and all sweet and chocolaty all the time is what I see around me. And this is the time I feel like eating spicy all the time. So lets take a different route from the sweet section to the spicy section!
In times of need, you would try anything desperately ...Isn't that right? Well that's how my life works sometimes. Well maybe not every time, but maybe sometimes right.
That applies to when you cook too. what would you do when there is nothing in the house as in ingredients and you decide you want to go big ..haha...well that's how this chutney came up. Little of this and little of that and 'BOOM' a 'chutney' is made. :)
Too much drama know?...well simply said, I prefer to have frozen fresh grated coconut in my freezer almost all of the time. It really comes in handy at time of need. Like this time when I had to make a chutney for our breakfast dosas. And I like like my chutney spicy that's why all the chilies in the recipe. Try it you might enjoy it!
Quick and easy to make, delicious too. Goes good with Dosas, idlis or even hot hot pongal.



Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh grated coconut (Frozen or fresh works good)
6 - 8  red dry chilies
2 green chillies
2 garlic cloves
less than a marble size of tamarind
salt to taste

Tempering :

1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp jeera or cumin seeds
1/4 tsp urad dal
1 dry red chili
few curry leaves
1/2 tbsp oil


Method:

Grind together the first five ingredients with a little bit of water. Add the salt.
Heat a small pan with the oil.
Add the urad dal, when it browns add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds. When they start to splutter, add the broken red dry chili and curry leaves.
Add this immediately to the ground coconut and chili.
Mix well and serve with dish of your choice.
Tastes good with idlis, dosas and even upma.
Enjoy!!!




Monday, December 3, 2012

Pan Fried Masala Fried Fish Fillet



Well December is already here, which means few birthdays in our family and holidays for sure! Which also means lots and lots of cooking. I am hoping I can make some new dishes using some real easy ingredients! I will be sharing them with you guys so stay tuned! Dishes which will be easy to put together in time for busy days!
I am hooked on to Pinterest these days. There are some real cool stuff DIY stuff in there. if you haven't checked it out as yet, be sure to do it! Also knitting and crochet, one of passions, I have been looking at stuff and wish I could do all that I see. Which is like impossible but no wrong in wishing so right! :)
I am going to start on another knitting project, this time on the loom, a big project too, so lets see how it goes!

So with the first birthday in our home..here is what I cooked. Simple and easy to put together for sure. Delicious to eat too! Dish of the day was - Pan fried Masala Fried Fish on a bed of Vegetable pulao with a side of Onion Raita. :) wow big name!! :)


Ingredients:

4 Fish fillets (I used Tilapia, can use any white fish fillets)

Masala:

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp gus gus / khus khus / gasagasalu / white poppy seeds
2 tsp dried coconut powder or flakes
2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
1/4 tsp tumeric powder
1/2 tbsp chilli powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp jeera / cumin powder
salt to taste
1 tbsp of oil for 2 fillets of fish.

Method:

Grind the masala into a smooth paste with very less water.
Rub the masala over the fish fillet, more like patting it on the fillet.
Let it marinate for about 1/2 hour to 2 hours.
Heat oil in a large pan and fry the fillets till they are cooked on both sides by flipping them once or twice, on medium low heat for about 5-7 minutes, till the masala also gets fried to brown in color.
Serve with Rice of your choice.
Enjoy!!!



** I made a simple rice cooker pulao to go with it. Ground all the dry masala and sauteed with the vegetables of choice, only till they are half cooked. Substituted 1 cup of rice for the rice with coconut milk. Some coriander leaves and mint leaves to go with it. Everything goes into the rice cooker to cook.
Another method: Simple Rice Cooker Pulao

** Onion raita


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Happy Deepavali 2012 / Happy Diwali

Wishing everyone a Happy and Prosperous Deepavali!! May your life be filled with happiness, health and wealth. May you be happy always and may positive energy surround you always! :)



I hope everyone had a fun day today eating all the yummy goodies and lighting lots and lots of diyas. I hope people in India and elsewhere where you are able to play with firecrackers have had loads of fun, enough that you will be waiting to do this again all over again next year!
Well we had some fun! Played with a few sparkles and lighted a few diyas! I just hope my kids are able to enjoy it and will not forget our culture and our festivals.
Tho they won't be able to enjoy like we did when we were young. They really won't know what a ladi is or what a atom bomb or a hydrogen bomb is..:) or what a Boo chakra or a vishnu chakra or even what fountain is! But at least they will know what Diwali is and I hope they will continue the tradition way into the future!

Once again Wishing each one of you a very happy, fun and safe Diwali!!

Here is what went into our goodies at home...Recipes will soon follow!


Kajjikayalu, Rosettes, Rice flour Murukku, Besan burfi, Whole Wheat Diamond cuts (Limkilu), Mixture, Chekkalu, Boondi Ladoo, Almond Mysore Pak.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Atte ka Halwa / Maida Halwa / Sweetened flour with nuts and raisins



Its so easy to get side tracked with  so many "other stuff " to do in life. Thus is the story of my blog. Side tracked to the bottom of my 'to do' list and feeling the pressure of neglect for the past few months!
Too bad of me know!! I am not going to promise anything, I know I have made promises to get back on track, but never could keep up with any! I will just try!!

With Diwali around the corner and with the on going festival season, I am sure everyone must be preparing to make lots and lots of sweets and hots...ahh you know what I mean! What?? Diwali is next week? was my reaction when I thought about it. Well I guess its been on my mind, but didn't think it would sneak upon me like this. Like a few of you know, how I like to prepare well ahead for Diwali, but this time I am still so much behind. I just wish I could get up and go do something! :) Well I will be be surely doing something soon...but you guys be sure to go through my Diwali posts for something to make which are easy and quick.

Here today I am sharing Maida Halwa. This brings on nostalgia. I remember this from my childhood, when I was in Trinidad, where they used to make this or should I say this dish was a very important part of any festival celebrated. And I used to love it, never got bored of it once! I like it little bit drier and less sweet than usual. Hence I use less water.
Here I wrote a recipe using on 1/2 cup flour, since I make it in very less quantity at home, otherwise I have to end up eating it in the end.
As with any halwa, ghee makes a very big difference...How much you add is the key. Just to keep everything on the healthier side, I used Ghee in combination with olive oil.



Ingredients:

1/2 cup All purpose flour, Maida (dry pan roasted)
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
pinch of cardamom powder
1 tbsp cashews
1 tbsp raisins
3 tbsp ghee, clarified butter + 1 tbsp extra
3 tbsp olive oil

*Adding color is optional*

Method:

Dry roast maida, APF in a pan on low heat, stirring continuously, till it starts to turn color to light brown. Remove from  heat and keep aside.
Melt Sugar in water on medium heat. Then turn down to low or sim. Add the pinch of cardamom powder.
*You can add color to the sugar syrup if needed*
In 1 tbsp of ghee, roast the cashews and raisins to light brown and keep aside.
Put the maida back on medium heat.
Add the 3 tbsp ghee and stirring continuously until its all absorbed into the flour.
Add the 3 tbsp oil in a similar way, stirring continuously, it will seem gooey.
Stirring again, add a ladle of sugar syrup slowly, one ladle at a time, giving it time to get absorbed while stirring continuously. Do this till all the syrup is done.
If you prefer drier halwa, add lesser syrup.
Add the roasted cashews and raisins and mix it up well.
Serve warm or cold.
Enjoy!!!



Thursday, October 4, 2012

Winner of Giveaway of WTML

Sorry to post this so late....as usual I was caught in many other things other than the blog...I am hoping to get back to blogging as soon as possible :) (excuses...excuses)..

The winner of WTML for September, chosen by Gayathri is Sara of Sara's Tasty Buds for her entry Thengai kozhukatai. Sara - Please send me your address in India so that I can pass it on to Gayathri. 

Please be sure to check Gayathri's Blog for the next theme of WTML.

You can check and go thru all the entries for the September's WTML here.

Take Care and I will back soon!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Event - 'Walk through Memory Lane (WTML) - Festival time' and Giveaway

"Walk Through Memory Lane - Festival Theme"

Hi everyone, I am here again guest hosting another event called 'Walk Through Memory Lane', brainchild of Gayathri of Gayathri's Cook Spot. A lovely event which takes you time back into your childhood days and reminds you of all the yummy food you enjoyed as a child.

Here is a chance revisit them and recreate them in your kitchen. As with the festivals around the corner, I thought how about I choose the theme as 'Festival time'. I know there are many dishes I would like to recreate, which I have enjoyed in my childhood with my brothers and sisters during festival time, which I haven't eaten much during recent times. It always fun to enjoy them now with my children.



Just a few rules for the event -


- Please link the recipe you have posted to this page and to Gayathri's Announcement page

- Usage of logo is optional. This will be useful to spread the word. 

- There are no restrictions for the number of new entries.

- Two entries from the archives  are accepted. 

 If  linking an archived entry, please update it with the link to this page. 

Only Vegetarian recipes accepted. Eggs not allowed.

Non-Bloggers can also send in their entries by sending the recipe to my mail ID. 

This time around I am using the Linky tool, which will make it much easier for you to link your recipes with me. In the end I will just visit each post and collect the picture I need for the round up. 

- You can also send the post in email, if that's what you prefer, with a picture attached, Name, Blog URL, and Recipe URL to Smitha(dot)Joga(at)Gmail.com.

GIVEAWAY - Gayathri is sponsoring a giveaway to this event and the book she chose is "KEBABS AND TIKKIS" by TARLA DALAL. She will choose a random winner at the beginning of next month.

This giveaway can only be shipped in India, though all bloggers are eligible. So for bloggers in US, you can get it shipped to your place in India, be it you Mom's, friend's relative's or even you In-law's home. You will still get the book, but in India ;)

So I hope everyone will join in with me and recreate some of your favorite festival recipes which are embedded deep down in your memories. 
Any questions, email me or leave me a message.
Looking forward to all your yummy dishes.
Event closes on 30th September 2012


Monday, August 13, 2012

MEC - Simple and Easy All Time Snacks - Round up

Last month has been kind of hectic and also this month has lined up a few activities for me. so I am kind of busy and am going to be kind of busy till the end of this month. Till School starts that is...then hopefully everything will fall in routine, which again we will come to not like and will be looking for a change...:) haha isn't that the way of life!!
Anyways, here I am with the round up of MEC- Simple and Easy all time snacks - Round up.

1. Shweta from Shweta in the Kitchen sent in  yummy Instant Khaman Dhokla made very easily in  the microwave.


2. Harini from Tamalapaku sent Crispy Peppery Moong Dal made completely in the microwave...how easy can it get! :)




3.  Indrani from Recipe Junction sent in this delicious Pav Bhaji in Microwave..


4. PJ of Seduce Your Tastebuds sent in easy microwave made Potato Wafers


5. Archana of TangyMinds sent in this yummilicious Microwave Cooking :Chocolate coffee Mug cake


6. Sreevalli of Ammaji recipes sent in this scrumptious Sweet Dhokla...I can have this anytime!





Enjoy everyone!! TATA!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Junnu - A Sweet Milk Pudding

This is my first guest post. Sreevalli of Ammaji's recipes was so kind to ask me to do a guest post long back. But due to my computer problems I didn't get a chance to get to it till now! Thanks Sreevalli for asking me to do it! :)
I chose this simple sweet recipe for this special post called "Junnu". I am sure whoever has tasted this in the past would really like to revive this memory yet again.



The first milk of cattle after delivering a calf is called 'Junnu paalu' in our language, 'paalu' standing for milk.
This is steam cooked with some jaggery and black pepper to make this awesome pudding known as 'Junnu'.
Because of the thickness and creaminess of this milk, it forms a delicate pudding with a creamy texture without the addition of any other ingredients.
Well this was in the times when the 'first milk' was readily available like in the villages or even in the city, when your milkman would bring 'Junnu paalu' and offer it to you for a nominal price.

I have probably eaten the actual Junnu only once or twice in my lifetime, but the delicate taste has forever made a mark in my brain!
Now during present times, its very rare that we can get 'Junnu Paalu'. So I tried to make this delicacy using the ingredients readily available to us and I think it came out perfect, absolutely just like the actual 'Junnu'.
But I had to use eggs and so its not eggless like the actual and real 'Junnu'. Maybe some day that also will be possible. :)
Its a very simple recipe which churns out this amazing and delicious Milk Pudding. The combination of jaggery and pepper in  the real junnu is perfectly compensated by the sweetness is condensed milk and black pepper. The eggs bring out the right texture in the pudding, very close to the real one.


Ingredients:

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 oz)
2 cups milk
2 eggs
pinch of black pepper
1/4 tsp Cardamom powder

Method:

Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl along with eggs
Grease a steel bowl ever so lightly with oil.
Steam cook it in a pressure cooker for about 30 minutes.
Remove and cool before flipping over onto a plate.
Flip it twice to bring it right side up.
Serve warm or cold.
Enjoy!!!


Friday, July 13, 2012

2 minute Microwave Sponge cake in a mug with a sweet chocolatey inside




Days just fly by when kids are at home. Keeping them occupied and entertained is very big hassle which I guess every Mom faces! Same story goes with me. Especially my younger one....he either gets bored very soon or wants to do tons of stuff all at the same time. And so my struggles with him continue...in a sweet way!

Its been a while I posted here...tho I want to post, time just passes me by!....Even tho I am hosting an event on my blog....I am not finding time to write up a post! I feel very bad that I am not able to post. Its not that I am not cooking, but I am, but just to write up and edit the pictures, its become difficult. Something or the other keeps me away from my Laptop.
And then in between there are other stuff which have kept my mind in a turmoil!! I hope everything will be better by the end of summer. Let see...

So in order to send something to my own event, I made this Sponge cake in a mug. I wanted to make this long ago, when I have seen the chocolate version making rounds in the blogosphere. Just to give it a little twist, I inserted Hershey's chocolate kisses to the center to give kids a sweet surprise. And who wouldn't love a cake made just under 2 minutes??


For 2 mugs

Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour
less than 1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 egg
3 tbsp butter
pinch of salt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 of 1/4 cup milk
2 Hershey kisses for the interior for each mug

{1 minute on high + 20-40seconds as needed. (on high power - 1000 watts)}


Method:

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add in the wet ingredients and mix together.
Pour in 2 microwave safe mugs until about 1/3 full.
Put 2 Hershey's Kisses in the center, into the middle of the batter. they may not get covered completely but, when the batter cooks, they will get covered.
Microwave on high (1000 watts) for a minute.
[you will see the batter rise high and it will go back down again]
After a minute, microwave for about 20 seconds and check if its done, otherwise microwave for another 20 seconds. Microwaving for too long will make the cake dry.
Let it sit in the microwave for 2 minutes.
Remove and its ready to be served. You can let it completely cool or eat it just so!
Enjoy!!!

Sending this to MEC - Simple and Easy Snacks  - event on my Blog







Sunday, July 1, 2012

Hosting MEC - Simple and Easy All Time Snacks


Things have been pretty busy around here, Inlaws, kids vacation, friends...busy and fun time! Very very busy weekends as we are pretty much out of the house all day! Can't think of a more fun stuff to do, but things do come our way and we are making full use of time we have in hand!

MEC is being hosted here again after a long time. This time the theme being, Microwave Easy Cooking - Simple and Easy All Time Snacks, THANKS to Srivalli from Cooking 4 all Seasons who is the brain behind this wonderful event.

Dishes can be sweet or savory, and can be made using many or few ingredients...so go ahead and start making those yummy yummy dishes!!

I will be accepting both VEG and NON-VEG recipes.
ALL DISHES must be churned out from your MICROWAVE AND MICROWAVE ONLY! NO STOVETOP AT ALL FOR THE WHOLE RECIPE. Tho you can use blenders, mixies, food processors, BUT NO STOVETOP!

Rules are as follows:

1. VEG and NON-VEG DISHES accepted

2. All cooking must be done in the MICROWAVE only, that is final product must come out of the Microwave. Blenders, mixies, grinders, food processors allowed! Imagine you are left alone on an island with only a MICROWAVE and the ingredients!

3.MULTIPLE entries are allowed.

4. Two entries from archives allowed, as long as its reposted with LOGO and LINK.

5.LINK back to this announcement and Srivalli's MEC announcement page in your post.

6.Use of LOGO is mandatory, fun way to spread the word around!

7.Sure you can send in posts you sent to other events!.. No probs at all!

8.NON-BLOGGERs - Welcome and please do send in your entries...good way to showcase them and be PROUD of them!!!

9.DEADLINE is on the 31st July...I will surely accept entries sent on the last minute of that day too!! ;))

10.After POSTING, EMAIL me the following details @ smitha.joga@gmail.com with MEC-Simple and Easy all time Snacks as the subject.

Your Name:
Your Blog's name
Your Dish:
Your Dish's URL on your blog:
VEG or NON-VEG:
Picture attachment


Please so send in ur lovely entries...will be looking forward to enjoying all kinds of easy snacks!




Monday, June 18, 2012

Kid's Delight Round up

Hi everyone! As 15th June rolled by, Kid's Delight has come to an end. I would like to thank Srivalli for giving me this opportunity to host this wonderful event on my blog. It's so good that I got so many new ideas and so many new dishes to try out for my kids. Many of them are not only kid friendly but also Smitha friendly!..haha...ya I would love to cook and eat all these wonderful dishes!

so guys what are you waiting for!! Enjoy the roundup!


1. Ashwini's sent in scrumtious Chocolate Covered Strawberries










2. Priya sent in the following yummilicious dishes -

Pear Nutella Muffins/Cup Cakes










Fruit Lassi









Baid Al qata/Salouq









Falafel 









Appam with Cauliflower-peas  Milky Gravy









Chettinad Vellai Paniyaram









Mangalore Bonda/Goli Bajji









Onion Pakoda










3. Jayashree's delightful dishes

Panakam




Cucumber Snake













4. Srividhya sent in these fun Summery recipes























5. Kamalika sent in these tasty dishes





Jeera Rice




Brown Chana Sundal




Masala vadai




Tomato Macaroni with Cheese




Vegetable Pulao




Vegetable Spaghetti




Pineapple Yogurt




Kulfi




Colorful Fruit Salad




6. Srivalli sent her delicious Microwave Eggless Biscuit Brownies











7. Harini sent some refreshing summer delights for kids

Mixed Fruit Popsicle

Mixed Fruit Popsicle

Watermelon Lemonade

Watermelon Lemonade


8. Chef Mireille sent in her wonderful Kid friendly creations

Carrot & Paneer Dry Curry




Passionfruit Batida











Lucuma Ice Cream












Banana Peze & Fried Plantain




















Beet Cocoa Cake













Chicha Morada













Peanut Mango Chicken













Oven Baked Fish Sticks













Breakfast Pizza








Carrot Coconut Muffins












Blueberry Pumpkin Seed Parfait












9. Princy Vinoth sent her yummy Baby Pizzas














10. Priya sent her easy kid friendly dishes

Nutella Cashew Shake












Urad Dal Ki Kachori











Nutella Mug Cake













Green Lemon Cooler













Cheesy Corn & Coriander Swirl Bread











Eggless Peanutbutter Chocolate Mug Cake












11. PJ sent some yummy dishes

Crisp Paneer Fingers













Onion Podi Idli











Eggless mango cake












12. And lastly my entries to this event

Instant Apple Crisp



Mint Lemonade



Mini Bagel Pizzas



Jam Cookies



Mango Smoothie



Coconut Chocolate Chip Pecan Banana Bread



Mango Shrikhand



Thanks to everyone for sending in such delicious, yummy and kid friendly dishes to this event. I think I rounded up everyone, but if I forgot any..please leave me a message and I will add it in.