ISKCON HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND FRESH LIME/LEMON CHUTNEY

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,

How are you? I know its a long gap. I am not able to give time to my blogging which is very close to my heart. Without giving unwanted and unnecessary reasons, let me share with you a quickest, easiest and tangiest, tastiest chutney. 

I never knew that we can make chutney with whole lime or lemon. And I was careless to know also about the difference between Lime and Lemon. So ignorant I am many times. Now, I am happy  that I know both. 

The information from google I got about the difference between  lime and lemon : 

(Lemon vs Lime - Difference and Comparison | www.diffen.com/difference/Lemon_vs_Lime)

"Lemons and limes are both very acidic but have slightly different flavors and scents. Lemons have a sour, acidic taste, while a lime has a bitter, acidic taste. Both citrus fruits are frequently used in cooking and cocktails, as well a variety of household products."

And NOW the recipe for the chutney :

Before giving the recipe let me thank my dearest and sweetest friend Vaishali for sharing this recipe with me. Last week I went to her house after my  college as we both were invited as judges for Inter school cookery competition organised by ISKCON-HUBLI on the occasion of HERITAGE FESTIVAL.  It was an honor for us to get the invitation from ISKCON. 

When I went her home, she had prepared Mooli paratha for me and with that I was searching something to eat as I know her fridge is always full of chutneys, dips, pickles. Then she told me to take Lime chutney. I thought she is kidding as I never heard about making chutney using lime. I asked her for the recipe before tasting it. When she told whole limes are used in it, I was really surprised. I asked her twice is it really a lime chutney? Then she told me to taste it and see. It was really very good. It tasted like the lime pickle. But when we can't make lime pickle and keep, this is the best way  instead of using ready made pickles. Vaishali is a great cook and has an amazing knowledge about food and recipes. And moreover  a wonderful human being who always is smiling, what ever life offers her. I love her for that and respect her more like an elder sister. 

And again before going to the recipe, let me share our experience about cooking competition at ISKCON. It was a divine experience for me. I want to thank Shri.Ramdas of ISKCON, who followed my blog for few months and selected me and invited me as a judge. I really thank him from the bottom of my heart. And when cooking event takes place, Vaishali is always there with me. It never has happened that I had gone somewhere without her. So she too joined me as a judge. 

One more sweet surprise was I got a chance to meet Anushruti RK, a recipe developer, food writer and photographer of  http://www.divinetaste.com/ . It was a great opportunity for me to meet her and share the responsibility with her. Very sweet, simple and inspiring lady.

Competition was really good. Students had put lot of effort. Here are few photos from the competition. 

 

  

Now, now its time for the recipe:

Ingredients:

Fresh Lime/lemon -3 big or 4 small.

Methi(Fenugreek) seeds - 1 tsp, roasted 

Rock salt to taste

Sugar - 1 tbsp or more if the limes are very sour.

or Jaggery 1 tbsp(Taste differs)

Red chilly powder 2 tsp or more if you want it spicy.

For tempering : (optional)

Oil - 1 tsp

Mustard seeds

A pinch of hing or asafoetida 

Method:

Wash and wipe the lemons.

Cut into four and de seed all the lemons. Please take care not to leave one seed also. Or else chutney will be very bitter.

Take all the ingredients and put in a blender to make it a fine paste.

Transfer it to a bowl.

Temper it with mustard seed and hing. 

Chutney is ready to eat with parathas, hot rice, chapati and just like that. 

Keep Smiling,

Lime Juice Concentration

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Summer is here..  We always search for some refreshing juices. The supermarkets, shopping malls are full with lot of juices, Juice Concentration, Squash, Tang, Rasna are available in many flavors. I always like the lemon flavor as it is more natural and refreshing, but always prefer to make the juices at home and enjoy the real freshness.

Lemon.. is there any house which never has used it? It has lot of benefits. Having lime juice and honey with warm water everyday in the morning in the empty stomach makes you loose your weight. I have tried it. Lime is used in making many dishes. It is used in medicines. It is best for the scalp to remove dandruff. The list goes on... I like it the most as juice and just add little salt on it and squeeze it directly on your tongue. Feel the taste. I lovvvvvvvve it.

There are two ways to make this fresh juice. One is directly making it when ever you need it. Add 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp lime juice and salt  to one glass of water.  Mix well till everything is dissolved. Add Cardamom powder and powdered pepper(I like to add). Serve chilled. My younger daughter loves it.

But as it takes lot of time when you are in a hurry or you have to make for more number of people. So I prefer to make the concentration and keep it refrigerated. This concentration is really good to preserve for a week or so(if your town has 24X7 power supply)

Ingredients:

Water - 1 cup

Sugar - 1cup

Big size lime - 8 to 12(depends on the juice)

Salt - 1 tbsp

Cardamom -2(optional)

Method:

Mix the water and the sugar and keep on a medium flame. Boil it till its almost single layer syrup. It may take 20 minutes. You will come to know if you see the water color. It becomes slight golden brown. Don't boil it more time to make it thick syrup.

Remove from the heat and allow it to cool.

Once cool, add salt and lime juice. First add 8 lime juice and check the taste. You will have to see and judge whether to add more juice or not. Because some times the limes are very sour and you may need very less lime. Check and adjust according to the taste.

THE TASTE SHOULD BE STRONG IN SWEETNESS AND SOURNESS TOO..

If you want you can crush 2 cardamoms and add in the juice. 

BUT if you are planning to use this concentration for the juice adding FRESH PUDINA OR KALA NAMAK OR JALJEERA, it may NOT taste good.

The lime juice concentration is ready. Store it either in a glass jar or good quality plastic bottle(I prefer TUPPERWARE :-) ).

NEXT TIME WHEN YOU WANT TO HAVE A GLASS OF JUICE,

JUST ADD 1 PART OF THIS CONCENTRATION AND THREE PARTS OF CHILLED WATER.

ENJOY IT COLD ON THESE HOT SUMMER DAYS(EVEN NIGHTS TOO :-) )
This quantity makes around 10 - 12 glasses of juice..


CHEERS :-)

Keep Smiling,

mixed fruit pickle

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

This  pickle was my favorite when I was kid. But, it was rarely made because it has nuts in it and buying nuts was not much affordable.

Whenever we got the chance to eat it, we used to hide it in our hands to eat it later, slowly and enjoying it fully.

Now, my kids do not like it at all! I feel so bad for them!! They do not like anything sweet. All the sweet things are for me! They do not know the real happiness which is hiding in it!! hehe!!! going mad about this pickle. Now, I make it for myself and enjoy it whenever I want. But that joy will never come back!!

Very easy to make and can store it in a refrigerator for months.

Coming to the recipe :

Lemons - 12 to 15

Cashew nuts - 1 cup

Almonds - 1 cup, cut into pieces

Dry dates - 1 cup

Oil - 1/8 cup

Mustard seeds - 1 tbsp

Hing - a pinch

Salt to taste

Red chilly powder  to taste 

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp

Jaggery - 1/4 cup

Wash the lemons,  cut into 4 pieces. Remove the seeds.

Clean the dry dates, remove the seeds.

Keep both lemon and dry dates in a separate vessel and cook in a cooker for 6 to eight whistles.

Allow it to cold.

Till that,

Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds and allow to splutter. Add hing and remove from the heat. Allow it to cool. Once cold, add red chilly powder, turmeric powder, Jaggery. Cook it again for few minutes. Cool it.

Take the lemon, dry dates, cashew nuts and almonds in a bowl. Add the ready masala and salt to it. Mix well.

Store in a glass jar. Use after 2 days.

Sending it to my event 

Event Announcement ~ "Complete My Thali(CMT)-Pickle...



Going on a short vacation and will not be able to check your entries. But please forward your entries till 19th.

I will post the round up only after 25th October. I hope its fine for all of you.

Keep Smiling, 

Ginger Pickle

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Simple but healthy, tasty and instant pickle. My daughter and me will eat it like sabji than pickle. We eat it with paratha, chapati, rice, upma and the list goes on. Some times just like that!!!

Here are the ingredients,

Ginger - 1/4 kilo

Lime juice - of 4 to 6 medium

Salt to taste

Red chilly powder - 3 to 4 tbsp

Haldi - 1 tsp

Sugar - 2 tbsp

Oil - 2 tbsp, heat the oil and let it be cool

Soak the ginger in salted water for half an hour. Clean the skin and cut into thin long pieces.

Add in a glass jar with all other ingredients. Check the taste. Keep for an hour for immediate use. Try to preserve in the fridge as it may spoil if kept outside.

Keep smiling,

Lime and chilly pickle

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

The first recipe of pickle from me!!! A very easy and tasty pickle which goes well with parathas. My husband loves this pickle to the extent that he eats it with idlis also!!

You can prepare and store in a glass jar for a week. You should keep on mixing it often. But do not make in large quantity.

Here comes the ingredients,

Lemons - 10 to 12 for pickle, washed, dried and cut into 8 pieces

Lemons - 2 to 3 for juice

Long Green chilly - 10 to 12, washed, dried and cut in to half and slit

Salt - 4 to 6 Tbsp

Sugar - 2 Tbsp

Mustard seeds - 2 tsp crushed powder

Oil - 1 tbsp

Haldi - 1/2 tsp

Mix all the ingredients in a glass bowl. Keep for one hour. Check the taste and adjust the seasoning. Store it in a jar. It can be used after one day.

Keep smiling,