Thursday, September 16, 2010

Pineapple Chutney in M/W

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
This chutney made me crazy!! I loved this chutney so much that I went on nibbling just like that. And my daughter had an extra chapati. And already told me to pack the same thing (chapati wrapped with this chutney) for tomorrow. 
When I prepared the mixed fruit curry, there was more pineapple. My kids love it. But before sharing half of what I had, I was thinking to do something with it. I wanted to have something spicy as my mixed fruit curry was sweet, I thought of making chutney with pineapple. I was sure about the taste that it will be good, but never imagined it will come out so good.
Make and check if you want to trust me!!
Recipe goes here:
Pine apple - 1 cup, cleaned, pealed and cubed
Dry red chilly - 1 long
Red chilly powder - 1 tsp or 2 tsp if you want it spicier.
(Pineapple is having sweet and sour taste so you can add more chilly powder)
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Jaggery - 1/4 cup
Salt to taste
Hing a pinch 
Fresh coconut - 1 tbsp

For tempering
Oil - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - few
 Take peeled and cubed pineapple in a M/W safe bowl. Keep on HIGH for 2 minutes.
Take it out, add jaggery, cumin seeds,hing,dry red chilly and chilly powder.
Again keep on HIGH for 2 minutes, Keep stirring in between. 
Let it be cool. 
Add salt and fresh coconut.
Mix well and put in a blender to paste it. Transfer the chutney in to a serving bowl.
Heat oil in a M/W Safe bowl by keeping it on HIGH for 1 or 2 minutes. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Again cook it on high for 1 minute.
Add it to the chutney.
Adjust the seasoning.
Cook on HIGH for 30 seconds.
Chutney is ready to serve with chapati, bread, rice, dosa, idly or anything you wish. I think it goes well with chicken tikka or Fish tikka or any kababs also.

You can prepare this on gas stove also. But it is easier in M/W  because, the fruit cooks well and quick in M/W.

This serves 3 to 4 people if you are serving in a thali for one time only!!!

Sending it to 

AND
My event 
Keep Smiling,

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Mixed Fruit Curry : Clicked for Cook And Click-4

Tried and tasted by Nivedita 
Hi All,
When I posted  "Mixed Fruit Curry for "COOK AND CLICK -4", I was not sure about the taste. But wanted to try as it sounded new to me. 
I went ahead and prepared. It was awesome. I loved it.
I prepared half the qty from given.




The fruits I have used here are:
Papaya
Apple
Banana
Black grapes
Pineapple
You can use which ever is available.
Click here for the recipe. 
This is called the hight of absent mindedness.
I totally forgot to write that I prepared this in Microwave. 
But you can cook outside also.
So this is going to my event :



Hoping to get few clicks from you all. Last date for this event is September 20.


Keep Smiling,

Let me talk about Breast Cancer

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Matru Devo bhava or Mother is Next to God... 
Confused with above statement? 
I am trying to write down about a disease which is usually linked with the woman. It is scientifically also proved that Breast milk is the best food for a baby. And only a woman have this gift from God. 
But, unfortunately, the same woman gets a disease which is number two when you study about Cancer diseases i.e Breast Cancer.
Being a woman, I feel it is my responsibility to spread the knowledge and awareness about Breast Cancer among common people. According to a report, one in eight women are the victims of this disease in United States and India has one in twenty two woman who is suffering from it.  It occurs both in male and female, but male breast cancer is rare.
One of many reasons for not diagnosing this disease in an early stage  is that a common  woman is not aware about the symptoms and usually she feels shy to goto a doctor for regular check up. This shyness should go and every woman should come forward to have a  regular checkup to make sure that she is safe from this disease. A little doubt also should not be ignored. 
To spread the knowledge and bring the awareness about this deadly disease,  October month is recognized as "National Breast Cancer Awareness month" There are many activities which takes place during this month all over the world. These activities try to spread the knowledge about this cancer and its prevention.
Now a days the pink ribbon has become the universal symbol of breast cancer awareness and can be worn to honor the victims.
 Indus Ladies forum is doing THIS great job by encouraging people to talk about it, and do some thing about it. 

Let me try to find out about this disease with the help of internet :
What is Breast Cancer?
It  forms in tissues of the breast, usually the tubes that carry milk to the nipple and glands that make milk.
What are the symptoms?

  • Unusual swelling of all or one specific part of the breast
  • Continuous skin irritation or dimpling
  • Persisting pain in breast
  • Persisting nipple pain or inversion of nipple
  • Inflammation or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
  • An unusual discharge from the nipple other than breast milk
  • Lump in the underarm area
(Can read more HERE)


I do not know any other way to make the people aware about this disease and the prevention. Please take care of your health. Do not ignore the tiniest doubt also. Remember "Health is Wealth" and "You get life only once" and do not spoil it for ignorance.

I am not a medical professional to give more details with confidence. But I just want to request my readers to spread the knowledge about this deadly disease in your own way. Lets be bold enough to talk about it and prevent the disease before it comes to us.

Keep Smiling,

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Rasagulla (Food remake)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Bengali Sweets is my weakness since childhood. I had made a rule in my house for my aunts and uncles. If they are coming home they MUST come with a box of Bengali sweets. And no one missed it any time.My mother's sister and her husband used to bring 2 boxes for me. Till today my aunty brings the box for me! So sweet of her!

 When I was in UAE, I learnt making Ras Malai with eggs but never thought of making rasagullas at home. After coming back to India, I tried  2-3 times, but rasgullas became stonegullas!! The whole bowl I had to throw in the dustbin, and you know I hate wasting food.
But few days back, I was determined to learn it. Again hunting started for the recipe and AGAIN I landed up in Sailu's Kitchen. She is a darling with her wonderful recipes. 
So, here I am with Yummy bowl of Rasagullas, which were gulped in  by me and my daughter within 24 hours after I made!!!!
CLICK for original recipe. 


Ingredients:
For Paneer :
Milk - 1/2 litre
Lime Juice - 2 to 3 tbsp
Keep the milk to boil. Once the milk starts boiling, add lime juice and boil for few minutes. You will see the milk curdled. the milk and water becomes separate. Close the lid and keep for 5 minutes. Now strain the whey and discard it. Take the curdled milk in a steel sieve. Wash it with cold water for 2 times to remove the smell of lime. Transfer it into a muslin cloth. Tie it and hang it for half an hour. You can keep some wait on it, if you can not hang it. 
After half an hour, take the paneer and knead it nicely with the hands.
Paneer is ready.


Make small equal size ball with the panner as shown in the photo. Remember the balls becomes bigger in size once boiled. Take care there should not be crack in the balls.

Now for the Syrup ;
Sugar - 1 cup
Water - 3 cups
Cardamom Powder 
Keep the water and sugar in a thick bottomed vessel or cooker(the best option). Once the sugar is melted and the water starts boiling, Add the paneer balls slowly in it. Keep the heat on HIGH. Add cardamom powder. Cover the cooker lid and give one whistle. Off the heat. Allow it to cool by itself. Do not remove it before only.
If you feel they are not cooked, cook for few more minutes.
If you are using vessel, take care to cover the vessel with thick lid so that the steam should not be allowed outside.
Allow to cool and transfer into desired glass bowl and refrigerate before serving.


Sending it to Ruchika's event 

BSI-PANEER which is continuation from BSI


and

Keep Smiling,

Monday, September 13, 2010

I am the second winner in a contest!!!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Hurray!!!!!!! First time I won a prize in a contest here in blog world. I am very happy. 
Today is a special day!! Rajul got selected in the next round up for a dance competition.. Phalguni's cat walk was amazing!!! She walked like a real model!! 
And when I came home, I got this news about my winning.
I want to thank Keri of  SANDWICH 365  whose blog is something unique and special. I am a regular follower of her blog. Visit her blog to get amazing recipes.
Falafel Sandwich (Indianised) this recipe has won the second prize
SECOND PLACE WINNER: A Bottle of Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a Jar of Mezzetta Deli-Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini. Congratulations NIVEDITA'S KITCHEN for her "Falafel Sandwich" for recipe and preparation method, visit:niveditaskitchen.blogspot.com
Thank you Keri once again!


Keep Smiling,

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Brinjal masala

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Some times, I don't understand to name the food I prepared. I don't know what name should I give to this food so just given as Brinjal Masala.
I tried this without any plan. But it came out very good. And I loved it with hot rice and pickle.
These long hybrid brinjals are not regular in our place. We get those purple round small and big ones. So when ever I see these, I bring home. I make Sambhar or normal dry sabji with tomato and onion. But this time, I thought of trying something new and I was not sure that what I am going to do. I just opened the spice box and checked what is available.

I  came out with this recipe:

Ingredients :
Brinjal - 3, cut into round slices and kept in the water
Tomato - 1 big, grated
Oil  - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Jaggery - 1 tsp
Water - 1/4 cup

Dry roast and powder:
Dry red chilly - 3
Dry coriander seeds - 1 tsp
Sesame seeds - 1 tsp
Dry coconut - 2 tbsp

Heat oil in a kadai.
Add mustard seeds. Once splutter, add tomato and masala powder. Mix well.
Add the brinjal slices. Fry for some time.
Add all other ingredients with 1/4 cup of water. Mix well and cook till the brinjals are soft. It takes very less time(5 to 7 minutes).
Adjust the seasoning.
Have with chapati or rice.

Sending this to
Jay's on going event  
jay Ho Brinjal

And
Akila's 

Keep Smiling,

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi and Modak

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
WISHING EVERY ONE A VERY HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI
(The above Ganesha pen stand is given in my younger daughter's school for the festival)
Usually we make Kadabu on this day. But as I used to make Modaks in UAE, I thought of making only modaks this time. 21 modaks are offered to Lord Ganesha with other sweets.
This recipe is for 21 modaks.
For dough:
All purpose flour (APF) - 1/4 cup
Wheat flour - 3/4 cup
Salt a pinch
Oil - 1 tbsp
Knead with little water to make a soft dough. Keep it aside.

To fry 
Oil


For stuffing,
Fresh coconut, grated - 1 cup
Jaggery, powdered - 1 cup 
Dalia powder - 2 tbsp(kadale parapu or puthani)
Cardamom  powder - 1 tsp
Salt a pinch

Mix everything under stuffing, in a M/W safe bowl and cook on HIGH for 1 minute. No M/W, no problem, keep the mixture on heat for a minute in a vessel. 
Divide the stuffing into equal 21 balls.
Same way,
Divide the dough into small and equal 21 balls.
Take one dough ball in your palm and stuff it with coconut and jaggery mix. Give the desired shape(usually its round with folded lines on the top, but you can give kadabu shape also, you can see in the above photo). Repeat with remaining dough and the stuff. 
Keep oil to heat. Fry these modaks in batches till golden color.
Offer with other sweets to Lord Ganesha.



Keep Smiling,

Friday, September 10, 2010

Grilled garlic and green lady finger

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Okra, bhindi, lady finger or bendekai, is not everyone's favorite. But there are ways to make those people love this beautiful  vegetable. This grilled okra is one of those. Avery simple recipe but tastes yummy.

I have ON-OFF passion for this vegetable. There are months where I do not bring it home for others also and there are months where I bring every time and try new recipes with these. And now a days, I bring it often because its my daughter's favorite vegetable. But she likes it only if its cut into small size. So when I prepared these I only had to finish it, And she warned me to make it again but with small sized bhindi.
The size depends on your choice : I love to have it like this only.
Lady finger - 500 gm
Oil - 4 tsp
Lime juice - 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Gram flour - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 1 tsp

Make a fine paste of :
Green chillies - 8 to 10
Garlic - 15 flakes
Fresh Coriander - handful

Wash, pat dry and trim the ends. Slit from the center keeping the ends intact.
Mix the fine paste, slat, gram flour, lime juice and sugar in a bowl.
Stuff the okra with this paste.
Brush the drip tray with 2 tsp of oil.
Arrange the okras on a tray. 
Brush with remaining oil.
Grill on 240 degree C for 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve hot with chapati or serve it as a starter.
If you do not have oven,
You can directly shallow fry on tawa till they get crispy.
Sending it to
Priya's BSI-OKRA, where as BSI stands for Blogger Segret Ingredient and is started by Biz.

And 
Kiran's  Veggie/Fruit A Month - OKRA started by Priya .

Keep Smiling,

Mixed Fruit Curry for "COOK AND CLICK -4"

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Next recipe for the event   "Cook and Click" . This is for SEPTEMBER 11th to SEPTEMBER 20thCook  Click here also for the details Event Announcement - "COOK AND CLICK" :
I took it from "BAY BOOKS COOKERY COLLECTION"
THE QUANTITY GIVEN IN THE BOOK IS FOR 6 PERSONS. 
YOU CAN REDUCE THE QUANTITY ACCORDING TO YOUR NEED.
I have changed only one ingredient from the original recipe as I do not get this here at my place. If you are getting it, you can use the same:
Crystallized ginger - 4 to 5 pieces
(I do not get it here, so I will use the normal ginger) - 1" piece - peeled and cut
Hot water
Onions - 2, chopped
Butter - 60 gm
Crushed coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
Curry Powder - 1 tbsp
Plain flour - 1 tbsp
Veg stock or chicken stock - 2 cups
Lime juice - 2 tsp
Black pepper - 2 tsp, freshly ground
Grate coconut - 3 cups
Chopped mixed fruits - 4 to 5 cups(Melons, peaches, plums, grapes, bananas, apples, pears or any other fruits available)
Fresh cream - 2 tbsp
1 If using crystallized ginger :
Cover ginger with hot water for a few minutes to remove sugar, drain, pat day and chop.
2. Sauté onions in butter until tender.
3. Stir in ginger coriander seeds, curry powder and flour.
4. Cook gently for minutes.
5. Gradually add stock, stirring rapidly.
Bring to boil, add lemon juice and season to taste.
Simmer for 30 minutes.
Stir in coconut, fruits and cream.
(there is no salt mentioned in the book, but I feel we should add little salt as per taste)

I hope at least this time I will get few clicks. This is very interesting curry!


Send the following details before SEPTEMBER 20THto nivedita.mt@gmail.com with subject "COOK AND CLICK- 4" :
your name, 
blog name, 
url of the link  and 
the photo attached.
Non bloggers can send the details to my mail.
NO need to retype the recipe. Just link back this one in your post. 
Please share your experience about this dish.
If you already got this recipe in your archive, share the experience.

Any suggestions, new ideas are welcome. 
(If you have any special recipe which you want cook with others here, you can send it to me. I will add it in the event with your details, whenever possible)

Keep Smiling,

Search This Blog

Lijit Ad Wijit

My Shelfari Bookshelf

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog