JAGGERY MUSTARD INSTANT MANGO PICKLE ~MAHARASHTRA SPECIAL FOR ICC, FEBRUARY

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

How are you all? I am happy to be again in Indian Cooking Challenge this month. And I am happy to take this challenge because I need to use mangoes and that too are from our trees. Its always a very happy feeling to use the vegetables, fruits grown from our backyard. Now a days, I use raw mangoes in everything. In rice, chutney, curry, upma, thalipeeth... list goes on.

And now Srivalli"s challenge. 

She has followed Varada's recipe which is really just perfect for this season. Its sweet, its sour, its tangy and it has the fresh taste of fresh mustard seeds... Ohh! I really loved it. Thanks to Valli and Varada. The color of the dish itself drives you crazy!!

Visit VALLI'S PAGE TO SEE HER VERSION INSTANT MANGO PICKLE

Ingredients:

Raw mango - 1/4 kg

Part I~

Mustard seeds(small and red ones) - 1/2 cup

Methi seeds - 1/2 tsp

Haldi- 1 tbsp

Red chilli powder - 1/4 cup(color should be strong)

Jaggery - 3/4 cup(original recipe has 1cup)

Salt - 1/2 cup

water - 1/2 cup or less, (add little first)

For tempering

Oil -1/2 cup(I have used ground nut oil)

Mustard seeds -1/2 tsp

Haldi -1/2 tbsp

HIng -1/2 tsp

Method:

Wash and peel the mangoes.

Deseed and cut into small cubes(smaller the better)

or

grate it into a pulp.(I liked the cubes)

Heat oil in a kadai.

Add the mustard seeds, allow to splutter.

Add haldi and hing.

Remove from the fire and allow it to cool fully.

Mix all the ingredients under part one and turn into fine paste.

Add this to the mango cubes. Mix well.

Pour the tempered oil.

Mix well, adjust the seasoning.

Enjoy this super duper pickle for breakfast, lunch, dinner.... or in between as a snack with bread or biscuit or chips...

Keep Smiling,

SWEET N SPICY RED MASALA POHA FOR PPCS

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

I have posted my recipes in PPCS  in a particular manner. I started with soup, pickle, chutney, side dish, main dish, rice and dessert. Actually I had planned to post some healthy cookies I made last month. Unfortunately, I lost the photos from my camera. And now I don't have time to bake again and click, I thought of bringing some snack to  Potluck Party, Cyber Style party. Hope you all do not mind and enjoy it.

And even Juice is pending in the menu. I will bring it in coming months.

Poha is very common in breakfast menu in South India and Maharashtra. I am not sure about other parts of India. Poha is prepared in different ways at different places and is enjoyed as an evening snack too. Its a quick snack for unexpected guests. Its filling also.

Here, I am  giving a simple but different recipe which is normally prepared by local Brahmins here in our North Karnataka. They call it as Gojjavalakki. They crush the poha.

Mine is little altered as they do not add onion but I love it in poha. Thats why I can't call it gojjavalakki and hence named it as Masala Poha.

Don't go for the color in my photo as my camera is a very normal one, and sometimes I can not get the proper color. But this poha turns out red as I am using red chilli powder, jaggery and tamarind paste.

You can check my MIX VEG POHA which is very common way of making in our side.

Coming to today's recipe:

It serves 2

Ingredients:

Thick poha(Thick flattened rice) - 1 1/4 cup

Water to soak the poha

Oil - 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Cumin seeds - tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp

Hing - 1/4 tsp

Onion - 1  big, finely chopped

Green chilli - 1 small finely chopped

Curry leaves - few, finely chopped

Red chilli powder - 2 tsp

Bisi bele bath powder or Rasam powder - 2 tsp

Jaggery - 2 tbsp

Tamarind paste - 1 tbsp

Fresh coconut - grated (2 tbsp)

Marination:

{to add to Soaked Poha(this gives extra taste to your poha as the poha absorbs salt and sugar taste)}

Salt to taste

Sugar - 1 tsp

Lime juice - 1 tsp

Puthani powdered - 1 tbsp(optional)

Fresh coriander - 2 tbsp finely chopped

to Garnish(optional)

Fresh coriander - 1 tbsp, finely chopped,

Fresh coconut - grated, 1 tbsp

Method:

First soak the poha in little water. I just put it in a colander and sprinkle the water and keep it like that for 5 minutes.

When done, Add all the ingredients under marination and mix well.

Keep it aside.

Heat oil in a wide thick kadai.

Add mustard seeds and wait them to splutter.
Add the urad dal and wait till changes to golden color

Add the cumin seeds, curry leaves and onion and green chilli

Fry till onion turns pink.

Go on adding all other ingredients one by one, just stirring each time you add one.

Mix well and cook for 3 minutes. Or cover and cook for 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn it.

Add the marinated poha and mix really well.

Adjust the seasoning.

Garnish with fresh coriander and Coconut. Serve hot.

Linking it to 

Potluck party, Cyber style! - Fun and the Challeng... 

Keep Smiling,

CRISPY POTATO HEARTS FOR PPCS (FOOD REMAKE)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

How are you dearies? Hope all is well at your end. 

Started my post like a letter :-), This month I got the perfect recipe from our group., February is the month of Love... and I got to make these lovely potato hearts.

A very simple, easy, quick but the yummiest snack for everyone.

I am not giving the details of the recipe here. Please visit Mon's PAGE to get the recipe.

My kids loved this chat and already ordered me to make again this Sunday :-)

Sending this to Jagruti's 

Keep Smiling,

GO NUTS!!! A WAR WITH RAW for ENFF event ~ GROUNDNUT JUICE

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Confused with the title of the post? Yes, I am right when I have written WAR with RAW.  My blog has always had a war with raw food. This is a war of love for your body, your health and your life. Today I am going to share my thoughts, my experience with the raw food and few excerpts from GURUJI SHRI RISHI PRABHAKARJI's talks which are published in the book 'NUTRITION PACKED AMRUT AAHAR', "a cook book of uncooked food" by SHEHNAZ A THANAWALA.

Again confused?

Let me start it again. I came in contact with SSY(SIDDHA SAMADHI YOGA) course around 15 years back. And that changed my life. The way of thinking towards everything on this Earth changed, I started thinking positive. My stage fear disappeared. I became more friendly with everyone. It was a new life for me. I don't want to talk more about myself as we are here to talk about food.

The main thing changed was the food habit. I realised the importance of RAW food.

As the years went,though it was not possible for me to follow it 100%, but I always preferred having raw food everyday and whenever possible. Once a year, I stay on raw food for continuous 13 days which helps me to reduce my weight and cleanse the body.

{Now, whatever I am writing below are the answers from Pujya Guruji:

1.What is RAW food?

• Any natural food item which is not cooked or processed by heat can be called raw(or uncooked) food.

2.Is it difficult to digest RAW food?

• Not at all, actually it is easier to digest raw food (takes only 13 hours to digest) than cooked food which takes 24 hours to digest and Non Veg which takes about 72 hours.

3.Are all the raw foods are good to eat?

• NO, not necessarily so, It is the amount again how much we take and how we take it.

4.How much quantity of raw food one should eat?

• Normally  healthy people should have about 50% to 70% of their total daily food as raw food. But, for someone who wants to start newly, has to increase the quantity slowly from 20%.

One can do a 'raw food fasting; once a month where you can have 100% raw food or juices on that day.

5.Will the RAW food make me weak?

• No, in fact you can be strong and healthy. Initially people may have a diarrhoea or constipation as the body needs time to get adjusted.

6.Can one cure the ailments and diseased by having this Amrut Ahar or RAW food?

• Yes, many have succeeded. Chronic diseases can be effectively controlled by proper diet.

But, take care to consult proper teachers before you start it as a regular intake, considering your food allergies, the diseases you have.}

*****While I am typing this, I got the sad news that  Pujya Guruji Rishi Prabhakar has left for his heavenly abode leaving us to spread his worldly message.******

I don't know what inspired me to write about him in today's post or how it came in my mind that I should write about the raw food and him. May his soul rest in peace. I am sure that he is always there for us in our heart.

This post is dedicated to him.

Coming back to today's post,

Yes, I am following this diet with the Pranayam and the meditation I learnt during the course and It has helped me to overcome many diseases, mentally and physically.

I agree that it was not possible for me to follow it 100% as I take non vegetarian food and normal cooked food on daily basis, but YES, the RAW FOOD has always helped me to keep my health under control.

I have already posted many raw food recipes in my blog. You can click salad parade  to get the recipes and few more in my archived posts.

           Today's recipe is a unique one which I have taken from the same book. I always enjoy this juice which is very healthy and can have at breakfast.

Its groundnut juice. Surprised? Groundnut and juice?

I will come to the nutrition facts about peanuts.

It is full of proteins. Actually contains more protein than meat, about tow and a half times more than eggs and far more than any other vegetable food except Soya bean and yeast. BUT, its best to eat ground nut after it has been SOAKED OVERNIGHT.

Peanuts or groundnuts are rich in proteins and packed with essential nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin E, magnesium, zinc, iron, and dietary fibres. Peanuts provide optimum health benefits and are excellent energy boosters. 
click the LINK for more details.

And Jaggery  is loaded with nutrients such as calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium and phosphorous. Jaggery is often known as a cleansing agent because it helps to get rid of unwanted particles from the respiratory tract, lungs, food pipe, stomach and intestines. Extremely rich in iron, jaggery is advised to all those who have a low level of haemoglobin in their blood and are anaemic.

click the LINK  for more details.

Try to have it once or twice a week. As for every thing, even this has little side effect which is negligible.It is allergic to many.

If you are having first time, then may be you will get acidity, but don't worry if its not severe. 

To make one glass of juice:

Ingredients:

Groundnuts -20 soaked overnight

Banana or Chikoo or apple or dates or any two or one(choice is your)-1/2 cup

Jaggery to taste or 1 tbsp

Powdered cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp

Method:

Blend all in a mixer till smooth paste.

Add the water to bring it to the consistency of a milk.

Serve immediately.

Linking it to Eat Nutritious, Feel fabulous 

Keep Smiling,

GATHIYA ~ GUJARATI SPECIAL FOR ICC, JANUARY

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

How are you? Seeing me in Indian Cooking Challenge after 6 months. NO excuses, but really missed all the challenges. 

Hope you all are not Katti with me. 

Srivalli"s ideas are always very unique and she chooses the challenges very 

challengingly :-)

This time it is easier one, but again depends on the quantity of the baking soda 

and the time you roast it.

Srivalli has followed her friend Vaishali's recipe. 

And even my experience is same like Valli's. my dough also got stuck though I added water. And it was very hard to press, I had to call my daughter as my hands are not that strong to press. (got some problem)

And even I did not had mould for gathiya, I had this long strip one so thought of using it,

Whats there in shape??? right?

And I added some pepper powder to give a spicy taste, it was really good.

I used only 1/4th of the quantity as I already had a big packet of ready gathiya (ready made).

So, here goes my pictures for the challenge for the month of January 

which is Gujarati Special Gathiya. 

Here is the  original link from Valli's space:

Gathiya ~ Gujarati Special | How to Make Gathiya | Indian Cooking Challenge - January

AN EVENING TREAT TO MY SELF.

Keep Smiling,

PARLE - G KHEER FOR PPCS

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Sorry for not participating in the event in the last two months.Health was  a priority.
I always loved Parle-G biscuits, and who won't love these oldest sweetest biscuits. When I was young and not well, I always demanded Parle G because I knew this is the time to convince my mother and enjoy my biscuits dipped in coffee or tea. And I love that cute boy on the wrapper, I am sure you all too love him. 
Today I am here with a sweet using my favorite biscuit,which tastes good when eaten hot and tastes heaven when eaten cold.

I am talking about Kheer. I love kheer (again same slogan). I can have anything sweet. O K, leave me here only.

Coming to the recipe,

This is little different but very easy. You don't have anything and have very little time for an unexpected guest. And you really want to serve a better food with a great dessert. Your search ends here...

Ingredients:

Milk - 1/2 litre or 500 ml

Sugar - 3/4 cup or less(ask your tongue for it :-)  )

Parle G Biscuit - 8 to 10

Cardamom - 2, powdered

Ghee - 1 tsp

Method: 

• Boil the milk in a thick bottomed pan. 
• Once done, add sugar and keep on a low flame. 
• Boil it for at least 20 minutes, the milk will reduce to 3/4.
• Crush the biscuits and add it to the milk, 
• Stir and cook it for some more time(around 10 minutes).
• Be careful not to leave it alone, or it will burn at the bottom.
• Now add the cardamom powder and ghee.
• Mix well. Boil for few more minutes.
• Remove from fire and allow it to cool. 
• Have it warm or keep it in the fridge, have it chilled.

Linking it to 

Potluck party, Cyber style! - Fun and the Challeng... 

Keep Smiling,

MAGIC WATER AND MILK FOR HEALTHY LIFE/EAT NUTRITIOUS, FEEL FABULOUS

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

How are you all? I am here today with a healthy purpose. Jagruti and Me have started a event on healthy, nutritious food series.

Its not only about recipes or food preparations. Here we are talking also about few tips or may be exercises or any other way which helps to keep us healthy.

I am not a Guru or gained any diploma or degree in any of the field, but I am following it regularly. Here whatever I am posting is what I have experienced and gained the benefits.

Today, I am talking about how I start my day and how I end it. I mean what is my first food intake in the morning  and what is the last thing I sent to my body. ;-)

The first thing after I get up and brush my teeth is this glass of warm water with honey, lime juice and Cinnamon powder.

And it really works. I am taking it regularly in the morning. For me it has worked as an energizer and has proved very positive.

THIS IS TOTALLY MY EXPERIENCE AND IT IS NO WHERE SUGGESTED BY DOCTORS.

Warm water is always better than the normal water at any time of the day. But having it in the morning has its own benefits.

With that if you are adding a tbsp of lime juice, you are adding Vitamin C and many more.

There are 100+web sites or blogs to give you information about the benefits of having this magic water. I have just tried to refer few and giving you the links.

This is from the web site (http://www.hopinghealth.com/top-10-benefits-honey-lemon-skin-hair-health/)

1.  Drinking lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey may help to reduce belly fat and obesity. Lemons are low in calories while honey is a fat free, natural energy booster. Their combination helps to melt down the fatty deposits in the body. Honey contains natural fruit sugar which is digested easily. Add one teaspoon of honey and three teaspoons of lemon juice to a glass of warm water. Stir well and drink it every morning to shed those extra kilos from the body.

And 

here is the best information about the benefits of having lime in your water in the morning:

http://wiki-fitness.com/lemon-lime-health-benefits/

But, 

there is an information about side effect of having lemon is here: http://www.livestrong.com/article/180835-side-effects-of-lemon-in-water/

AND

http://health.sify.com/fab-foods-that-burn-fat/

"Lemons have a high citric acid content that may irritate your stomach, particularly if you have an ulcer. This acid, even if diluted in water, can also damage tooth enamel if consumed in large quantities".

And according to the fitness guru Rujuta Diwekar(author of “Don't Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight”)(recently I have started following and reading and watching videos about her) won't agree with this that it  helps us to burn calories. 

Anyways, for every good thing there is always some bad thing, but when you see the positive side, its fine to go ahead, right?

I believe in it, because it keeps me fresh or may be I have it with my regular exercise, walking and meditation. Each of us have our own experience right? 

Now adding Cinnamon to your water has lot of benefits.

Go through this site to get more information. 

http://cinnamonvogue.com/cinnamoncommonuses.html

and

http://www.getprograde.com/Health-Benefits-Of-Cinnamon.html#.Utx7t9K6bGg

For me, it has proved to remove bad cholesterol.  

And, now the last thing is adding garlic in your milk in the night.

If you really don't like it you can have it thrice a week. 

Garlic has played a very important role in Indian food history. Just go through the sites if you want detailed information about its benefits.

http://nilasays.hubpages.com/hub/Garlic-milk-A-medicinal-drink

"Getting down to the main topic of this hub - Garlic milk : A medicinal drink.

This drink with garlic, is tasty, less hot, less smelly and very effective in fighting cold,sore throats and infections. Is your picky eater prone to frequent cold ? This is the right drink to enhance his/her immune system. Kids love it !...." CONTINUE READING...

http://ayurveda-foryou.com/health_articles/garlic_benefits.html

"HOW TO TAKE GARLIC:

Crush two or three small cloves of raw garlic and eat it raw or boiled, before going to sleep. You can have it with a glass of milk or with water. Please do not take more than two or three raw cloves of garlic per day as it might makes your blood thinner and might cause serious ailments.

Contra-indications/precautions:

Do not consume more than three to four raw cloves of garlic a day.

Patients having heart and other problems should take medical advice before consuming it.

It's best to avoid garlic before any surgery because it could probably disturb Anticoagulants.

If you are on any medication, always check with your doctor first before taking raw garlic.

Asthma patients should not use it as it worsens the symptoms of Asthma."

So, what do you think about my post, please do comment on your experience,

It will lead us to new road.

Sending it to our own event started by me and Jagruti :

Linking it to Eat Nutritious, Feel fabulous 

Expecting your views on it.

Keep smiling,

Eat Nutritious, Feel Fabulous - Challenges that we all should take !

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

How are you all?Wishing you all a very happy new year. Everyone is busy around making new resolutions and Trying(!!) to keep. Today Me and Jagruti are here for something else. We don't want you people do make some resolutions and trying hard to keep those. We want you all to do some commitment and follow it regularly.

Resolutions are to break but not commitments.

Dearies, we are here to bring some awareness about what actually is a real healthy food and its benefits. We would like to invite all of you to join us and lets make our and our loved ones life healthy.

I learnt a great lesson in the life and always push myself to keep fit and healthy. May be I am off and on in between but always follow at least three things.

Some simple rules for good life:

Regular exercise and brisk walking at least for 45 minutes,

Meditation

Good food,

Lot of water intake.

Laughing

 I am not talking any thing new or I am not a guru in any of these fields. But this is what I have realized and I have committed myself to maintain these. Will you join me too. Not actually only me, its WE, Me and Jagruti.

Lets hear it in Jagruti's  (of Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey) words:

"What is the real meaning of healthy? These days this word is constantly thrown around without truly understanding it's real value. With so many claiming to be eating healthy, there is still a massive increase in the general public developing all sorts of health related illnesses. 

The only way to combat all of these illnesses is to eat well and to do plenty of exercise. There are so many nutritious foods out there that can increase our well being and health. wholegrain, proteins and essential amino acids, good fats and fruits and vegetables! It's about eating all of these in moderation. If we can incorporate more of these foods into our diet, then our overall health is sure to improve!

Obviously, simply adding a piece of fruit to your calorie loaded dessert doesn't suddenly make your dish healthy. Adding heaps of sugar to your nutritious porridge is completely against the point! A bit of vegetable puree to fried food won't magically make it beneficial. It has been scientifically proven that eating certain foods together cancels their nutritional value. For example foods with calcium will prevent any iron being absorbed in the body, so eating these together in the same meal isn't going to help!

I want to search for recipes that actually are healthy and full of nutrients. That use all of the true ingredients out there, that have medicinal benefits to the body. I want all of you to come up with recipes that do have health benefits, where every ingredient in the recipe can provide the body with a different nutrient. This recipe could be one that's been passed down the family, or your own creation!

The focus is on low GI and low fat!

I was thinking over the past few months to start this challenge, one day our fellow food blogger Nivedita of Nivedita's Kitchen mentioned the same and then we both decided to go ahead with this project.

So why wait any longer, it's new year, let's make a new start ! Let's cook with nutritious food in right manner and share with the world out there. If you are thinking same as me and Nivedita, join us and let us know if you want to be a part of this challenge. 

So let's Eat nutritious and feel Fabulous !

Guidelines to follow :-

• Prepare dishes with Wholegrain, Vegetables, Fruit, Legumes,Seeds, Nuts, Natural sweeteners or low fat dairy or Non-dairy products without loosing their vitamins and minerals. These type of dishes won't be allowed e.g. Cake baked with little fruit or Baked samosa made with AP flour as there is no nutrition in AP flour so no point to either bake or fry. Do you know what I mean ? 
• Recipe which are allowed only contains ONLY 1 tsp. fat or sugar per serving.
• Only Vegetarian dishes will be allowed.
• Can cook Breakfasts, lunch, Dinners, Snacks or drinks.
• Me and Nivedita will be hosting this challenge over alternative months.
• We all will post our recipes on 20th of every month.
• Use of logo and link of this announcement page is MUST.
• If you want to join us please email me at jagrutiscookingodyssey1971@gmail.com

• or you can mail at nivedita.mt@gmail.com

This month Jagruti is hosting the event. So please send your recipes to her blog.

Keep Smiling,

RAAGI ROTTI(NAACHNI FLOUR CRISPY FLAT BREAD)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

After few months I am writing about other recipe than for PPCS. Sorry people, it was tough time to manage whole lot of things at one time. I will make it a point to post at least one recipe each week. Gone are the days where I used to post 4 to 5 posts in a week.

Today I am here with a very healthy recipe. In Kannada there is a proverb "raagi tindavanu nirogi" means the person who eats raagi everyday will never get any diseases. And yes, thats very true, my own experience and have seen people who are having no health issues. I have seen people recovering from many chronic diseases. They say its good to have Raagi Ganji in the morning for breakfast. But I don't have that patience and may be I will not like it that much, bland ganji!!!

So, making it little interesting, and turning it into an item song from a normal one, I followed the Thaali peeth! (Masala Rotti) recipe and made these crispy raagi rotis. Its not new nor I invented it, its very regular in our villages. I am just adding it in my blog with few clicks. May be my grand mother will laugh if she reads this, as it is a very regular food for her. 

Coming to the recipe,

To make 4 normal size rottis :

Ingredients :

Raagi Flour - 1 cup(either you used the store one, or if you have a chance make it at home which is again time consuming, I used the store one)

Wheat flour - 1 tbsp

Rice flour - 2 tbsp(to make the roti crispy)

Salt to taste

Onion - 1 big or 2 small, finely chopped

Green chilly - 2, finely chopped

Fresh curry leaves and coriander - 1 tbsp finely chopped

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Hot water - 1/2 cup or less

To roast:

oil - 1 to 2 tsp for each rotti

Method:

Take everything except hot water and oil in a big wide bowl.

Mix well. Add half of the hot water and mix well, check if you can make the soft dough with it. Or else add some more or sprinkle (exact word!) water to make the dough just soft. 

Make the tawa hot,

Take foil and cut into a two palm square size.

Keep the foil on a platform or roti making plate

apply 1/2 tsp of oil on it and spread it.

Take one small ball size of dough, keep on the foil and slowly press it to give the normal roti size. 

You can apply some water to your fingers to make the work fast.

Once the tawa is hot, sprinkle half tea spoon of oil on it, 

Take the foil and invert it on the tawa. wait for 10 seconds, Slowly remove the foil so that it leaves the rotti on tawa.

fry for half a minute and turn it on the other side. Add another tea spoon of oil so that it gets crisp.

Fry it till it gets crisp(may 2 to 3 minute)

Remove and repeat with other dough.

Serve hot with ghee, pickle, curds and papad with onion, don't want any thing!! have it just like that. 

Keep Smiling, 

HEALTHY BLACK URAD DAL RICE (FOOD REMAKE)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

So again I am here for the PPCS EVENT. This time I got my partner Balachandrika of http://www.ennillam.com. She has prepared a very healthy rice and yes it is, and a very good way to feed black urad dal to your kids without any problem. I loved it, my kids loved it(surprisingly my younger one took second help). I too prepared Brinjal curry with it as even Balachandrika had given in her post. My method is different but tasted good with the hot rice. Thanks Bala for this healthy and delicious recipe. 

Please visit her place for the detailed recipe as I have copied exactly the same. And for the brinjal curry, I will post it in a week. (Its a promise this time). 

http://www.ennillam.com/2013/11/healthy-urad-dal-rice-ulutham-parupu.html

She has explained it with step by step photos. Enjoy. 

Sending this to Jagruti's 

Keep Smiling,