Best of year 2009

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY of OUR RELATIONSHIP

IF YOU WANT ALSO,

I WILL NOT COME IN YOUR LIFE AGAIN!

GOOD BYE

from Year 2004

Five years back I got this message in my cell on 31st December at 11.45 pm. First, I did not understand, as it comes screen by screen. Then when I read twice I understood the meaning!

Years just fly  and sometimes we feel we are standing in the same place from many years and sometimes we feel that the year got over so fast!

And the year 2009 went very fast for me!

This year (2009) was special for me in many ways(good and bad). Me and my husband had to take few tough decisions for children and their future. I decided to move back to India for good for my daughter's education. And I was waiting for this! But it was difficult for my husband and my daughters as they are more close with each other and it is tough to stay away from each other. Praying to God to reunite us as soon as possible.

After coming to India, again I joined college! This was the best thing happened as I needed some change like this.! Thanks to mom, who took care of my lil one when I was in college.

This year, I started to post my recipes in my blog which was my dream from one year! And the blogging opened many doors for my experiments. I got many good friends here. Three cheers to blogging.

So coming to Srivalli's event, I am just posting few things happened this year in my blog or with my blog!!

I want to thank Srivalli, for encouraging us to stop and look back our success and failure. It will show us the correct direction to move forward.

1. My first post was : At last I am here!!!!! 

2. Top 5 recipes of the year from my blog:

1.Chapatis and guessing game remixed for the event

2.Jowar rotti ball(ಜೋಳದ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ ಉಂಡಿ)

• 
• 3.Aloo Pattice

• 4. Jowar flour ball(ಜೋಳದ ಮುದ್ದೆ)
  

5. Veg. Juice Pulao

3. Best recipe prepared from other blogs :
Haryanvi Thali

Palak Dal

4. Best Meal of the year :

Mutton Biryani

Meals dal and white kidney beans

5. Best dish of the month :

Antina Undi(Dry fruits laadu)

6.Best post or picture for each month or year:
Sweet Coconut Rice

Fresh Coriander tokku(chutney) and Award!!!

Hottt chilly chutneys

Tomato and Garlic Rasam(Tili saaru)

When I went on checking all the posts in my blog, I was really surprised, because I never thought I will be able to post so many recipes!! I was happy when I re read all the comments, I felt little sad, when there was no comment at all for many posts! And to tell the truth, these comments only make me happy and encourage me to be here in this blog world. 

There were many posts, which no one read!!! But honestly, no complaints! just my observation.

As I have started the blog and following the blogs this year only, all the blogs are new to me! 

I want to thank all the friends here for encouraging me and supporting me with their sweet comments and sharing their awards with me!

Cooking resolutions for the Year 2009! :

I am very bad in keeping my resolutions! That too I never keep new year resolutions. I do not need new year for resolution. But I am planning to learn some baking! 

These are only few things I could bring in one post! 

Sending this to Srivalli's most awaited event Announcing the "Best of year 2009" Event!

It is totally only about my blog and its contents. If my internet connection permits me to do some work, this year,I will come up with part II about my all blog friends, or else I will do that in the next year.

Keep smiling,

Problems come in series!!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Again I am back with problems I faced!

Is it funny or boring to read about problems??? 

This is in short!

From Thursday night my internet connection got disconnected. I complained on Friday! They promised that they will come on Saturday! but no one attended! Again I complained on Saturday, they promised that they will be there in half an hour! but that half an hour stretched to 48 hours! 

In mean time, on Sunday, my younger daughter poured the malt on the keyboard.!!! (She thought even key board needs some food!!)

Being new Hardware Engineer, I tried to repair my keyboard myself, without realizing this keyboard is non repairable. So again I need to run to the market to buy new one! My old multi media keyboard is now replaced with the smaller one! (And the full system has been covered with proper computer cover!! (Which I  always hated to put! )

Today, after complaining many times, technicians(a team of technicians!!) came to solve the problem. There was some problem in the exchange itself!. They took full 6 hours(This is INDIA!!) to fix the problem, But they did it and promised me that it will not happen again! Lets wait and watch!

I will be back with my next post in a day or two!!

Keep smiling,

Fresh chana green rice(ಕಡಲೆ ಕಾಳು ಅನ್ನ )

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

One more interesting and very tasty rice which I love the most and the whole year I wait for this, as I have to prepare this only during November till January end.

We get this only from November till January. I love to eat this just like that. (We call it Kadli geeda in Kannada). Great time pass when chatting with your friends! But I take care not to spread all the skin and leaves on the ground and my environment dirty.

When I was browsing the net for this, I got these links, which explains in detail about this. (http://mathildasanthropologyblog.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/the-turkish-domestication-of-the-chickpea/)

and (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cicer_arietinum_HabitusFruits_BotGardBln0906a.jpg)

And the rice prepared using these chana really has different taste! NO other dry chana can replace this taste as each chana has its own taste. After Avare kalu I love this one very much. But we make lot of dishes with Avare kalu, and this girly chana (What!???!? Now a days, without my knowledge,  I am getting funny words for my kitchen things, girly because of its beautiful fresh curves on its body!!!) is used to make very few dishes.

Here is the recipe,

Long grain or normal rice - 1 cup(soak in a water for a minute and keep it to dry at least for 15 minutes.

Fresh chana(ಕಡಲೆ ಕಾಳು) - 1 cup

Oil - 2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Fry and paste the below ingradients:

(Go on adding one by one after each minute in a tbsp oil and fry till nice aroma comes)

Onion - 1 big, (this needs 2 minutes to fry). After the onion is fried go on adding others.

Fresh coconut -1/4 cup

Ginger - 1/2"

Green chilly - 2 to 3

Cardamom - 1

Cinnamon - 1"

Tomato - 1 small

Pudina (Mint leaves) - 1 bunch

When cool, make into a fine paste and keep aside

Lime juice - 1 tbsp

Heat oil in a cooker. Add the ready paste and fry till it starts leaving oil on the side. Now add fresh chana and salt. Cook it for a minute and add rice. Mix properly and fry for a minute or so. Add hot or warm water, according to how much the rice needs water. (usually what I do is, I do not measure the water for rice, but pour the water till the rice is just covered, but each rice has its own quality. So be sure about the water intake of the rice or else it will turn into kichadi!!)

Cover the cooker with lid and give two whistle. When done, add lime juice before transferring into serving bowl.

Fresh chana green rice is ready to serve. Enjoy each bite of chana!

Keep smiling,

One day like this!!!!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

A Day like this came after many years. Yesterday was a total disaster!(Can I say disaster!) I do not think it that worst also! When you go through my post, you only decide was it  so bad or it was just to test my patience. (After staying abroad for 11 years, this was first time to face these problems!)

First thing was, I was waiting for a plumber to fix a pipe to wash the dishes in the back yard. The water was standing past 2 days and it was stinking like hell, I was more worried about kid's health, as it is not good to keep dirty standing water, The plumber did not came. I called one more plumber. He promised he will be coming in the evening, but did not!!! He called and told he will come in the morning.

Second thing was, our gas cylinder(Both the cylinders)  got over. It is very difficult in our place to get one more easily. We need to go through a process, which needs us to wait for 21 days to book for another. And after booking they need another 15 to 20 days to deliver the cylinder. Monopoly!!! No Government can change the rules. We called the agency they told it is not possible for today, but will try to send next day. We have only 2 neighbors and no one likes to share their cylinder even for a day!

So I  decided to cook rice and sambhar in microwave oven! Thank God I have at least something to survive(is it so big problem, compared to many poor who never gets one full meal for few days or flood victims!! noo!) But main problem here was power. Here the power goes when ever it wants. From morning 7 to 9, then 12 to 1. After noon 3 to 4 then 6 to 7. This schedule is fixed. Other than these timings, sometimes, again it goes at 10 to 11!! Sometimes, they will inform through news papers that the power will not be there from 10am to 6 pm. Yesterday, Some how I managed to prepare rice and sambhar. But my younger daughter wants rice and dal (Malt) everyday, I could not prepare it in oven. She had to be on Rice only! ( Thats fine. She will learn to adjust)
Third thing was, how come I forgot to post about servants. From two days, servants did not come! So that work also was on us. Mom helped to clean the house. Other things I managed to do with ajji. 
Fourth thing was, my daughter's exams are going on. So need to give time to her also!!
And the Morning came without Tea, Coffee for us  and Milk for kids. Our Ajji went to neighbor's house with milk, tea powder, coffee powder to make tea and coffee. Now, for the breakfast, I went to near by Darshini and brought idli plates. My elder daughter ate and took the same for her lunch box.

Against my wishes, I went in search of cylinder in black marketing,(Yes!! that also runs here!!!), but decided to wait for one more day! and came back.

We called the agency to check, again they told we will try!!

So again, I prepared rice and sambhar in oven. I did not wanted to bring outside food, as my both kids had Vomiting last week and both are still on medicine.

And in between this all, Plumber came and checked the problem. He first told it is not possible to do anything. 

Then I stood with him, showed few ways and discussed the alternatives with him, And we came to conclusion.I went with him, to buy cement and sand. One problem was fixed. 

After mom called the agency, 10 times, we got the cylinder. This problem was also fixed.

And Power!! I can not help in this, no one actually!!!

But to my surprise, I did not loose my patience anywhere. I was cool. (if this was the case before few years, I would have yelled at others, would have blamed the system and what all, I do not know!!!)

I just thought, what should be the next step and what are the alternatives for these problems.

Thanks to my patience and everyone who read my day with patience!

Moral of the story is :

Never loose patience and hope!! Face everything with smile!!

Keep smiling,

Avare kalu sambhar(Surti papdi sambhar) and Counting game!!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

Every time I feel funny or odd to write that this is my favorite recipe!! Because I just love everything eatable in this world. So one more my favorite food to you all !!! he he he!!! 

I thought of taking the photo after I finish eating but before our lunch was over, Avare kalu sambhar got over. Thats why I could not take separate photo of Avare kalu sambhar.

First comes the game:

"Can you count and tell me how many times I have typed "Avare kalu" in this post!!!! It is just for fun. No prizes! 3 claps to everyone who counts correctly!"

Avare kalu is very common and mostly everyone's favorite because of its unity in diversity!! What is this I have written!! Let me think, why it came from my ink (oops from my key board). May be because of its taste. Avare kalu tastes different with every way it is cooked, and each food has its unique taste. Nothing can compete with avare kalu(As per me!)  So three cheers to Avare kalu!

Have I gone mad to write so funny! But Avare kalu makes me mad. Once I start eating Avare kalu sambhar, some one has to snatch the plate from me!! .

Many of my blogging  friends have posted the recipe for this sambhar and many other preparation with Avarekalu.

Here goes my version, (almost same as other's, can't help it!)

Avare kalu - 1 cup

Boil it with 1/2 tsp of salt till Avare kalu is tender.

Oil - 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Jeera - 1 tsp

Curry leaves - 1 line

Hing - a pinch

Haldi - 1/2 tsp

Chilly powder - 1 tsp

Dalia powder - 2 tbsp

(this is must for my version)

To make paste:

Tomato - 1 big

Tamarind - 1 tbsp

Red dry chilly - 2 to 3

Jaggery - 2 tbsp

Sambhar powder - 2 tbsp(any mild brand)

Curry leaves - 1 line

Salt to taste

Mix and make it into a fine taste.

Heat oil in a vessel. Add mustard seeds, jeera and curry leaves. Add ready paste and cook it for few minutes.

Add chilly powder and haldi. Add 1 1/2 cup of water and cook till it starts boiling. Add boiled Avare kalu and dalia powder. Adjust the seasoning. Cook for few more minutes. And check the taste one more time. Add fresh coriander and serve with hot rice.

I am sending this Avare kalu sambhar recipe to Srivalli's event,  Announcing My Legume Love Affair, Eighteenth Helpi...

And here is the link as well as a link to Susan's host line-up, as  per Srivalli's instructions.

Keep smiling,

Dal E Dinner from Srivalli!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

It is so easy to prepare food, when some one is guiding you!! That's why I enjoy very much when ever I follow other blog and cook any dish. And I post it in 'Food Remake' label, as it is very common in Indian film industry to remake the movies from one language to the other. So even my food here is the remake one!!!

I always loved  Srivalli's  recipes. This dal is from one of her recipe. When she posted this, she was not sure about the name of this dish. As per her explanation in the post (Yet another dal), I told her to give the name as "Dal-E-Dinner". Go through her post for details. 

(I tried to take the photo as she has taken!, Pakka remake!! )

Enjoy this quick and tasty dal with hot rice or Chapati!

Keep smiling,

My daughter's dance in TV!!(Reposted with photo and video)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All
My elder daughter's dance performance was telecasted in UDAYA TV CHANNEL, AT 11 AM(IST), THIS SATURDAY, (12/12/2009),IN "CHINNARA LOKA"  PROGRAM.
If any one is getting Udaya channel in your place, and have time, you can watch!! 
I would like  to tell about this  event. Rajul got only 3 days to learn and practice this dance. I was not sure whether she will remember the steps or not! But she did! Hope next time she will perform better.

Here is the link to watch it :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a08WMTz5ydM
The credit goes to my bhabhi who recorded the dance and thanks to my brother who uploaded in Youtube.
And thanks to Youtube also.
I hope you will enjoy and appreciate her dance!
Thank you every one for the wishes. 
Keep smiling,

Kurmura masala, Onion bhaji and Tea( (ಚುರುಮರಿ ವಗ್ಗರಣಿ, ಉಳ್ಳಾಗಡ್ಡಿ ಭಜಿ, ಚಹಾ)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

One of the famous street food of North Karnataka, specially from Dharwad and Hubli. It is famous street side food available all the 12 months of the year, and it is more in demand during rainy season, even though its all time favorite of Dharwadians. Even in the houses,  it is a very common evening snack. One more snack prepared with this is Mirchi (spicy chilly pakodas), Here I could not prepare mirchi as I did not get proper long and thick green chilly.

Dharawad means, Pedha and churmari, mirchi and bhaji. We love to have it often(even after knowing the bad effects of Kurmura, we cannot help!!) But, I have reduced it to the extent. I do not allow my children to have kurumara.

Coming to the recipe for Kurmura masala

Kurmura :  4 cups

(It makes for 3 to 4 people)

Oil - 1/4 cup

Mustard seeds - 2 tsp

Jeera - 2 tsp

Curry leaves - 2 lines

Pea nut -  15 to 20

Dalia dal - less than 1/4 cup

Dry red chilly - 4 to 6 (optional, as they do not add in stalls)

Chilly powder - 2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Sugar - 1 tsp

Haldi - 1 tsp

Dalia powder - 2 tbsp

To make masala

Heat oil in kadai, add mustard seeds, jeera.  Now add pea nuts. When they are fried, add curry leaves, red dry chilly. Fry for 10 seconds. Off the heat. Add salt, haldi and chilly powder. Mix properly and keep aside for 5 minutes or till cold. Add dalia powder to this. Then add kurmura and sugar. Mix properly. Adjust the seasoning, kurmura masala is ready.

When serving, you can add raw onion chopped, fresh coriander, and thick sev.

Coming to Onion bhaji or pakora,

Onion - 4 to 6 big, cut into very thin long slices.(Very important)

Gram flour - 4 to 5 tbsp to sprinkle on onions to cover them

Curry leaves - 1 line chopped finely

Green chilly 2 to 3 chopped finely

Red chilly powder - 1 tbsp

salt to taste

Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp crushed

Ajwain - 1/4 tsp crushed

Haldi - pinch

Sugar - 1/2 tsp

Hot oil - 1 tbsp

Oil to fry the pakoras

Mix all the ingradients in a bowl with NO Water at all. Keep aside for half an hour. After some time, the onions are covered with gram flour. If you feel it is not enough, sprinkle some more gram flour to onions and keep for some more time. Then fry the pakoras in hot oil, by taking little onion and dropping it in oil. repeat for rest onion mix.

Pakoras are also ready.

Now for the tea, it is more famous as KT, and always one cup is shared by two.( people order by saying, bring 1 by 2 KT)

Water - 1 cup

Milk - 1 cup

Sugar - 4 tbsp

Tea powder - 1 tbsp

Mix all together and boil at least for 8 to 10 minutes, till the tea becomes thick. (I know it is not good to boil the tea for more than 3 minutes altogether! but helpless, when we get that unique taste in the mouth!!!) Some times it is ok to spoil our self!!

So here comes all together Dharwad famous street food.

Keep smiling,

Remixed dosa and onion sabji for the event.

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

As I have already done this before, one more remixing of my posts for the event. 

Actually this is my daughter's favorite lunch, which she loves to take often. So I thought of remixing two recipes and sending this to RV's event.

For Dosa recipe, ( for previous recipe, click here)

In first entry I make large dosas, but my daughter likes to take mini dosas as they remain soft till lunch time, I started making mini dosa.                           

Raw rice - 2 cup

Urad dal - 1 cup

Tomato - 2 big, chopped

Red dry chilly - 2

Coriander seeds - 2 tbsp

Jeera - 1tsp

Salt to taste

Oil to make dosas

                                                                                                  

OR

You can skip all masalas and add only tomatoes while grinding the atta. This also tastes good.                                                         

Soak the rice and urad dal for 4 to 6 hours. Before grinding, wash both and add other ingredients except oil. Keep it over night or 8 hours.

Heat tava, spread the batter to make mini dosas. Spread ghee or butter on dosas. You can make 3 to 4 mini dosas at a time. Remove it and keep aside.

Now coming to Onion subji recipe, (for previous recipe, click here)

Onion – 1 big (Chopped lengthwise)

Tomato – 1big (Chopped finely)

Curry leaves – 4 to 6

Chilly powder – 1 tbsp

Mustard seed – ½ tsp

Crushed peanut and almonds – ¼ cup(crushed to big pieces)
(If you like add cashew nuts also), optional

Jeera – ½ tsp                                                                      

Salt to taste                                                                                                     

Haldi -1/2 tsp

Oil - 1 tbsp

Hing – a pinch

Sugar – 1 tsp

Fresh coriander – 1 tbsp

Only extra ingredient in this is adding Crushed Cinnamon stick - 1 big, which really gives an unique taste.

Add mustard seeds and jeera in hot oil. Now add curry leaves, hing and onions with crushed nuts. Cook till brown, add tomato. Let it cook till oil separates. Add Chilly powder, salt, sugar and haldi. Add little water and boil it for five minutes. Mix with chopped fresh coriander.

Pack both together for lunch box. 

I want to send this lunch box  to RV's  Food for 7 Stages of Life - Kids Special Event Announcement 

and it is essential to give credits to Sudeshna of

 Sudeshna’s Cook like a bong(http://bengalicuisine.net) page.

Keep smiling,

Egg bhurji with green leafy veg.

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

It is always very difficult to feed green leafy vegetables to kids. They just puke it out, if we stir fry and give them. Till now, I thought to add the leaves in dal and feed the kids,  is the only way. But my aunty (Mom's cousin) gave me a tip. A very healthy and easy way to give green leafy veg. to your kids. 

Every one know the benefit of intake of green leafy vegetables and egg in everyday food.

So I am good girl, if I do not explain the benefits in detail!! (Just because, it is my last minute entry, I do not have much time!! Sorry!)

Just add any leafy veg. into Egg bhurji and the purpose is served.

Jumping to the recipe,

Green leafy veg - 1 bunch, cleaned, washed and chopped finely

(Methi or palak or Rajgiri or any leafy vegetables which cooks faster)

Eggs - 2, beat and keep ready in a bowl

Onion - 1 big chopped

Garlic - 2 flakes(optional)

Green chilly - 1 chopped

(skip green chilly and add 1 tsp red chilly powder, if you are giving to younger kid)

salt to taste

Jeera - 1/2 tsp

Dhania powder - 1 tsp

Haldi - 1/4 tsp

Tomato - 1 small (only if you are using Palak)

Lime juice - 1 tsp for other leafy veg.

Oil - 1 tbsp

Heat oil in a kadai, add jeera, onion and green chilly. Fry for some time. Add tomato if you are using palak. Cook it till tomato starts leaving the sides. Add salt, dhania powder and haldi.(and red chilly powder if not using green chilly). Mix it properly. Add beaten eggs. Mix it properly and cook till egg is 3/4 cooked(3 to 4 min). Now add chopped green leaves. Mix it and cook it. Keep on stirring, or else it will get burnt. Once the green leaves is cooked and the raw smell is gone, add lime juice. Take it from the heat. Mix properly. The bhurji is ready to eat with chapati or rice!!

I want to send this healthy dish to RV's Food for 7 Stages of Life - Kids Special Event Announcement 

and it is essential to give credits to Sudeshna of

 Sudeshna’s Cook like a bong(http://bengalicuisine.net) page.

Keep smiling,

Jowar Vada (ಜೋಳದ ವಡೆ)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All

Back with our North Karnataka recipe. This is my favorite snack which you can have either with meals or as a tea time snack. In North Karnataka, it is prepared on every new moon day (Amavasye). I always used to wait for new moon day to eat this. Many other dishes are also prepared on this day. I will try to post those also in future.

Coming to the recipe,

Jowar flour - 1 cup

Green Moong gram flour - 1/2 cup (If it is not available, You can skip this)

Gram flour - 1 tbsp

Rice flour - 2 tbsp

(This much quantity will make around 12 to 15 vadas.)

Oil to fry

TO MAKE PASTE

Green chilly - 6 to 8 (according to your taste, use more or less)

Jeera - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Haldi - 1/2 tsp

Curry leaves - 2 lines

Fresh coriander - handful

Grind all with little water to make coarse paste

Mix all flours and the paste with water to make soft dough. Take care not to make it watery, or else the vadas will not come out. Keep it aside at least for half an hour.

Heat oil in thick bottomed kadai. Take big lime size dough, press on your palm in to round or oval shape. Slowly drop it  in hot oil. 

Let it fry for 5 seconds, turn it and fry till golden color. Repeat with other vadas also. You can make 3 to 5 vadas and fry at same time. 

Serve with curds and peanut chutney powder(click here for recipe)  when you are having with meals.

Or for tea time, you can have it with spicy coconut chutney.

Sending this to EC's event, WYF:Tea time snack event announcement

Hope all of you enjoy my come back recipe with hot cup of tea and Jowar vadas.

Keep smiling,

I am back with thank you note and award!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

A BIG HELLO to all my friends!
First I would like to thank all my friends who wished the best luck for my exams. 

 SE(Denufood), Faiza Ali , Pavithra, priya, shanthi, Smitha J.L. , Sushma Mallya, *sangi* 

And every one who has wished me for the exams.

(photo taken from here)

Thank you every one

Hurray, I am back after completing my 2 exams. Yes! I did it!! After a long gap, I appeared for 2 exams. And I did well in both! One was Computer Hardware, which was only oral and practical. And they kept all parts of the computer scattered on a table and told me to assemble it. 

I did it in 10 minutes!!!!!, and almost 15 questions asked about the hardware! And I answered all the questions.(Hey!! I prepared my self for 15 days to be nearly perfect!)

One more exam was?????

 I would like to keep it secret!! Sorry girls, I will let you know after I get my results!!! But this also went off good, with lot of writing! 

I enjoyed both the exams. Now waiting for the results. And then, want to do some more course in computer. Hope I will be able to manage everything.

A very special thanks to *sangi*  for sharing her award with me! Very sweet of you dear!

I will be back with my recipes in a day or two! My daughter is complaining that I have not given her time all these days. So need to be with her. And my ward robe is in mess!!  I must clean it and bring our room back in to proper shape. 

See you very soon! 

Thanks for the support and love.


Keep smiling,