Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Filter Coffee

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
I learnt making tea at the age of 6. But never used to have it. I am good girl. Am I??  I started drinking coffee at very young age. This habit came from my mother. Till today her day starts with a big mug of filter coffee. 
I love a cup of hot coffee from my mother and I missed her coffee all those 12 years I was in UAE. Now I am enjoying it again. 
Coffee is more popular in South India and One must taste the Madras coffee. Idly and coffee is  must for breakfast in South India.
The history of coffee goes at least as far back as the thirteenth century, though coffee's origin remains unclear.The word "coffee" entered English in 1598 via Dutch koffie. This word was created via Turkish kahve, the Turkish pronunciation Arabic qahwa. Read more here .
Coffee beans are roasted and crushed into fine powder. I will not go in detail as the post will too long. But the smell of fresh ground coffee powder takes me to another world. 
After easy availabilty of coffee machines, automatic coffee makers, the use of original coffee filter is very less.
In my house, we still use that traditional South Indian filter. The photo is below. We have the smaller size as we are very few people at home.

We use few brands, one is Panduranga, Green label or the locally made fresh coffee powder. Some times we mix two powders and keep it.
AS Per Niveditha's request, I am just adding lines below the photo(Thanks Niveditha)
STEP1

      Boil 2 cups of water.

Ingredients :
For making filter:
Coffee powder - 2 to 3 tbsp as per the taste you want (more for stronger coffee)
Water - 2 cups
Boil the water and follow the photos to make filter coffee. I think its easier than writing.

STEP 2

Put the coffee powder in the upper part of the filter(where there are holes)
STEP 3

Cover it with the filter cap.
STEP 4

Add the boiling water till the top. and keep it closed for half an hour.
STEP 5

STEP 6

After half an hour the filtered coffee dicoction is ready.

Filter coffee dicoction is ready. Some times, I make and keep it in the fridge for 2 days. 
Now to make 1 big cup of coffee
Coffee dicoction - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Hot or warm milk - 1cup
Put one cup of decoction and sugar in a steel vessel. Boil it. Add milk once it starts boiling. Boil for a minute. 

STEP 7

Take one cup of dicoction and keep it to boil with 1 tsp of sugar.

STEP 8

Boil the milk.

STEP 9

Add one cup of milk to the boiling decoction. And boil for 30 to 45 seconds.
Put (or sieve) into a mug, cup or steel tumbler.
Enjoy the coffee. 


Sending a cup of coffee to 

 Back to basics  held by Jaya of  Desi Soccer Mom 

Keep Smiling,




Fenugreek leaves with Yellow moong (ಮೆಂತ್ಯೆ ಬ್ಯಾಳಿ )

Tried and tasted by Nivedita 
Hi All,
I feel very happy always to post North Karnataka food. Its my dream to reach each corner in North Karnataka and explore the old and unknown recipes. I am sure I will do that once my younger one learns to manage herself.
Here is one easy and common food of North Karnataka. Its healthy too. I love to have this with rice, milk and pickle.
Methi leaves or Fenugreek leaves is called and Menthye pallye in Kannada. There are few types in this. One is with long leaves which is little bitter. Another one is round leaves. This is tastier than the other one.
Ingredients :
Methi leaves - 2 bunch
Yellow moong - 1/2 cup
Onion - 1 big chopped
Garlic - 3 to 4 cloves, finely chopped(skip it if you do not like the garlic)
Green Chilly - 2, finely chopped
Tomato - 1 big, cubed
Dry coriander powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder  a pinch
Salt to taste
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Soak Moong in water for half an hour.
Wash methi leaves in salted water. Drain and chop. 
Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds. When splutter, add onion and garlic. Fry for a minute. Add soaked dal and tomaoto. Fry for few minutes. 

Add the dry ingredients and chopped leaves. Mix properly. Add 1/4 cup of water. Allow it to cook till the moong is tender and the raw smell of methi leaves is gone. Adjust the seasoning. 

Keep on high flame to remove the water. Its ready to eat. Have with chapati or roti. 
I am going to have it with rice.
 Sunitha's World page

Keep Smiling,

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Black forest cake in Microwave and an award

Tried and tasted by Nivedita 
Hi All,
I had kept some other recipe to post. But, when today I tried this cake and clicked the photos, I could not wait posting it. Its like a magic. As all of you know, my daughter loves that chocolate cake in the mug. Past 3 days she was behind me to make it but I was avoiding it. I wanted to try some new cake but was hesitating as most of the times my baking is worst and I get disappointed with the out come.
But today I gathered my disappointment and told it to be little positive! And I am here with my black forest cake in microwave. 
This recipe is given by the lady who taught to bake the cake. Its actually heaven when you bake it in an oven. I don't know why am I delaying buying an oven! I really have to feel confident that I can bake anything in that oven. Then only I am going to buy it!
My daughter wanted small round pieces so that she can take it to school tomorrow. And I did not have proper dish to bake it big size. So I tried it in a mug and then in small bowls. When I saw this tiny round cake, I called my princesses  to come with their Barbie dolls. And we three had a birth day party for the Barbie dolls. My kids were jumping with joy.
I have put the Chocolate syrup on the cake to decorate and that was enough for my little one as she does not like the cake.
Coming to the recipe,
PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE QUANTITY.
Ingredients :
All Purpose Flour or Maida -1/4 cup or 40gm
Cocoa Powder - 1/8 cup or 10gm
Sugar - 1/4 cup or 50gm
Eggs - 2
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Soda - a pinch
Hot water - 1 tbsp (Add if required, if the batter is thick)
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp


Method :
Whisk egg, sugar and vanilla essence over hot water till custard consistency. (double boiler) This is must to get spongy cake.
Add sieved maida, cocoa powder, baking powder and pinch of soda into it.
Mix cut. Add little hot water if you feel its thick. (I did not put) Mix cut
Put in a greased 6" Microwave safe dish. 
Keep on HIGH  for 2 minutes or less. According to your M/W power. My M/W has 800 power as HIGH.
I baked it for 2 minutes and gave one minute standing time. 
Release sides and allow it to cool. 
Cake is done. Its very spongy, and very light. But tastes little dry as it is baked in M/W.
There is solution for that also.
Make a sugar syrup by adding 1 tbsp sugar in 1/2 cup of water. Cut the cake into 2 equal halves with a thread or knife. 
Soak the cake with the syrup by spreading it carefully with small spoon. Refrigerate for an hour or so.
If you are lucky enough to get whip cream, spread the cream after you put the sugar syrup.
The lovely black forest cake is ready to eat.
DO NOT WAIT AFTER YOU MIX EVERYTHING. 
DO NOT WHISK FOR LONGER TIME
You can bake it in a preheated oven at 180 deg C for 30 minutes.
Now coming to the award,
The award has come from Reshmi of Rasoi . So sweet of her to think about me and passing this to me. I feel happy and feel motivated when I get an honest appreciation from someone. 

And 
Srivalli's 365 days of Microwave Cooking! event 


Keep Smiling,

Monday, July 26, 2010

Avare kalu (Surti paapdi ) Pallye

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Being a seasonal vegetable, it tastes great after waiting for many months. I have already written more about this in my last post Avare kalu sambhar(Surti papdi sambhar) and Counti...  
Here is the recipe for Dry sabji.
Directly coming to the recipe,
Ingredients :
Surti paapdi or avare kalu - 1 cup, clean, wash and give one boil to make it tender.
Onion - 1 big, cleaned and chopped
Oil - 1tbsp
Curry leaves - few
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Gurellu Chutney(Niger seeds,ಗುರೆಳ್ಳು) powder - 1 tsp(optional, I used here, because its very common in my house)
Salt to taste
Tamarind paste - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder
Fresh coconut grated - 1 tbsp(optional, I did not put)
Fresh coriander to garnish

Method:
Heat  oil in a kadai. 
Add cumin seeds and curry leaves.
Add onion and fry till it changes its color.
Add salt, tamarind paste, turmeric powder and gurellu powder. Fry for a minute.
Add boiled papdi and coconut. Mix well. Adjust the seasoning. Cook for a minute. 
Its ready to eat.
Sending this to 

Keep Smiling,

Aloo Matar Sabji (Peas & Potato masala) - Microwave method

Tried and tasted by Nivedita 
Hi All,
Most of the times, my use of microwave is restricted to warm the food. But now a days I am trying to make new recipes in it, as it is like an extra hand for me. Morning is very busy time, cooking all the things at a time, Make coffee, boil the milk and drinking water, make breakfast, prepare the food for kid's lunch box. My two burner stove is not enough for me. Thats why, when ever I am short of time with many things to cook in short time, I take the help of microwave. There are only few dishes I always love to repeat it. One is Microwave Chocolate Cake (learnt it 2 months back, and its my daughter's favorite) which I repeat once a week. 
The second one is this, Aloo matar sabji which goes very well with Puri and hot chapatis.
Here is the way to make it 100 % in microwave
Ingredients :
Potato - 4 to 6 medium
Onion - 1 big, finely chopped
Fresh or frozen peas - 1/2 cup
Tomato - 1 big, grated
Curry leaves - few
Coconut milk - 1/4 cup(I used ready coconut powder and added it in warm water)
Oil - 1 tsp or you can skip it.
Salt to taste
Red chilly powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala - 1 tsp (I use MTR product which is mild but gives good aroma)
Fresh coriander to garnish
Wash the potatoes. Prick all over. 
Keep in the microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes or if your M/W has the option to boil the potatoes(I have) cook it with the option on for 5 minutes. Allow it to cool. Peel the skin and cut into cubes.
Cook the peas also in M/W on HIGH for 3 minutes. Keep aside
Take oil in M/W safe bowl  (if using). Keep on HIGH  for a minute. Remove and add onions. Or if not using oil, add the onions directly.
Keep on HIGH for 3 minutes and let the onions fry and change the color. I forgot to take the snap of that.
Next add the tomato and mix it. Cook on HIGH for 3 minute, stir in between. 
Remove it. Add all the dry powders. Cook for half a minute. Now other remaining ingredients except the coriander. Cook on HIGH for 4 to 5 minutes.
Keep it in the M/W for few minutes. 
Open and transfer it into the serving bowl. Garnish with fresh coriander.
Aloo matar sabji is ready to serve.
This makes for 4 to 6 persons.
My daughter loves (me too!) to have it with puri like this :
                                  
Sending this to two events :

And 
 Srivalli's 365 days of Microwave Cooking! event 



Keep Smiling,

The boy who never listened!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita 
Hi All,
Past one month, my younger daughter never sleeps without this story then followed by another story"Cap seller and the Monkeys". Some times I have to repeat it twice. Every time she enjoys the story as if she is listening it for the first time. I wanted to post the story before only, but some other works did not allow me to. 
Now I am here with the story which is my creation according to my need to keep my daughter away from few dangerous things. And just to make her eat food I add about the diet also in the story.
Please give your time and read the full story to encourage me to write in the future(If you really feel I can write!)

Once we get into the bed, she says "shock story mamma".  Are you wondering what is this shock story. You will come to know once you go through the story. Actually I started a very short story and it pulled on. Read it. Its universal and you can change the situations as per your need.
My story starts here, and I am writing the same words I tell her.

There was a boy (no name for the boy, my daughter does not want a name!) who never listened to his mamma, pappa, didi and naani. One day he got up from the bed and wanted to watch TV in the morning. 
He went to the kitchen and asked 'Mamma, can I watch TV?(Very good boy!) 
Mamma told 'No, you should not watch TV in the morning. You should (my daughter is perfect to say these now) brush your teeth, take bath, do puja, have breakfast, get ready and go to school'
The boy did not listened to her. He went to the hall, and touched the switch to on the TV. He got shock and started crying. (My daughter will tell same like Housefull story no ma?)Mamma took him to the doctor. Doctor asked what happened. Mamma told about the shock. Doctor gave him two injections (no logic, just to scare my daughter to be away from the switches)
Doctor asked the boy whether he eats all the vegetables and fruits and does he drinks milk or not. The boy answered yes I do, I eat everything mom gives. I like Sai bhaji(Green leafy veg curry) and Veg. Juice Pulao in which all the green leaves and most of the vegetables are added.And I love the Tomato and carrot soup mom makes. I always take the rice items she packs for me. He added that his favorite desert is Fruit and cream which mom gives him once a week.
Doctor was happy and gave him a toy car to play and sent him home.
(This was the story I told her the first day, so she has kept the name as 'shock story') Then I went on adding the stories).
Next day  mamma had kept the incense sticks in the puja room after her puja. This boy wanted to do also. He asked the mother. When mom told no, he did not listen. He took the sticks and started playing, and got his fingers burnt. Mamma took him to the doctor again., Doctor applied some cream and gave him a bitter medicine to take and sent him. (My daughter loves this bitter medicine story as she loves to take the medicine).
Next day his didi was doing some art work using scissors. The Boy went and asked her to give him also the scissors. Didi told him "its not for small kids. When you grow big like me, you can also use it." But the boy did not listen, he snatched the scissors and started cutting a piece of paper. His finger got cut and it started bleeding. Seeing the blood, boy was scared and started screaming and crying loudly.Mamma and Pappa took him to the doctor. Doctor put the bandage and gave him one injection.  

After few days, mother was doing some work in the computer. This boy also wanted to play in the computer. Against mother's No also, he did not listen and sat with her to play. After some time his eyes started burning and water coming from his eyes. He pressed the wrong key and spoiled the computer. Mamma was very upset. She called him and told him to be a good boy and listen to the elders. He was quite. 

Next day didi was playing her cycle. The boy too wanted to play her cycle. It was big for him, but he tried to climb and tried to ride the cycle. He fell down and broke his head. Mamma and Pappa rushed to the hospital. Doctor put him the stitches and gave injections. He told him not to goto the school for a week and have only bland food. And doctor was very upset for this naughty boy who never listened to any one. He told him not to be so naughty and listen to the elders at home.
The boy came home and started thinking 'why everyone calls me naughty? Am I really naughty?  From now, I will listen to the elders and try to be a good boy.  And he changed him self.
Mamma prepared nice Kichadi for him as per doctor's advice.

                                        
Rice - 1/2 cup
Mixed dal - 1/2 cup
(Toor dal, Yellow moong dal and broken green moong)
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Pepper - 6
Salt to taste.
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Warm water to cook the rice.
Wash the rice and dal. Drain and keep aside for 15 minutes.
Heat ghee in a cooker. Add cumin seeds. Fry for few seconds. Add pepper and ginger paste. Fry it for half a minute. Add the rice and dal. Mix and fry for some time, till the rice changes its color. Now add the salt and warm water double the rice level. Close and give two whistle. You can make it outside also. Let it cool and serve with paapad, pickle or curds.

After two months,  the boy was celebrating his birthday. The doctor also came for the party. He was happy to see the boy and told him "Arre, you did not come to my clinic for two months. You have become a very good boy". Doctor gave him toys, chocolates and many gifts. Everyone clapped for the boy. 
You should see the twinkle in my daughter's eyes! for this last sentence. And she too claps with smile.
You can change the situations and make your own story. This story has worked for me. She listens to me for few things at least. 

Sending this to a very unique event where your writing skills are polished : 

Please leave the comments about this story.

Keep Smiling,

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Reposting Halwa recipes for my event

Tried and tasted by Nivedita 
Hi All,
I was surprised when I checked my archived posts and got these many halwa recipes. Just giving the links with photos as these are many to repost alone. 

Carrot and Orange Halwa


Sending my Heart to My Valentine!!!


Instant coconut halwa

Carrot burfi

This goes to my event, 

I wish to thank everyone who has participated in my event and those also who tried but could not for some reasons. 
I will be posting the round up in the first week of August.
Keep Smiling,

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