Aamras!!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Mango Season!! Is there anyone who does not fall for mango!!! We can prepare many dishes with mango. Already many of my blogging friends have posted the recipes with mango. I am also here with Aamras or shikarni ( ಶಿಕರ್ಣಿ), which is famous in summer season. You can have it with Rice poli, Puran poli, Puri or chapati. Tastes great with anything.

This time, Mangoes are very less seen in the market. My husband got it from a village. He got the Aapus variety. Actually, Kalmi variety is used to make the Aamras, but as he did not get it, I managed to prepare it with Aapus only. We have to cut and eat Aapus variety mangoes.

He likes Puri with aamras. so, It is for him!! Puri Aamras is a great combination!!

I am giving the recipe for Aamras. 

Juicy mangoes - 3 to 4

Jaggery - 1 cup, crushed(adjust the quantity according the the sweetness of mango and jaggery)

Cardamom powder - 1/4tsp

Ripe banana - 1, sliced into small cubes

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Wash the mangoes and keep in water for some time. Remove from the water and peel the skin. Squeeze the mangoes and take a pulp in a big bowl. Keep the mangoes in another bowl. When all the mangoes are over and kept in a bowl, add little warm drinking water. Squeeze these mangoes again in a first bowl to take out all the pulp! 

Add all other ingredients and blend it with a blender only for few seconds. Keep it in the fridge, till you prepare the puris. Click here for puri recipe.

Keep smiling,

Soya beans Salad

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Soya beans!!! Healthiest beans for every one. Many people do not like to have it in beans form But there are many ways to get it into your stomach. You can make it flour and add it into wheat flour. You can have soya chunks or soya granules.

Soybeans belong to the legume family and are native to East Asia. Whole soybeans are an excellent source of protein and dietary fibre. Soy protein is the only vegetable with a complete protein... Read more 

I love it (Again me!!!!   ) in any form, as usual. But, this salad is really quick and healthy and tasty!!! My sister in law (Kavita) who stays in Sharjah, loves this salad from me!! When ever I ask her what she wants me to make for her, her first choice is always this salad. So this is for her!!

Soya beans - 1 cup, soaked for 8 hours and boiled till soft

Carrot - 1 big, cleaned and chopped into fine cubes

Capsicum - 1 medium, cleaned and cubed

Onion - 1 medium, cleaned and cubed

Mayonnaise - 2 to 3 tbsp(if you do not like Mayonnaise, add hung curd! it taste great!)

Pepper powder - 1 tsp (avoid this, if you are giving it to kids)

Salt to taste. 

Fresh coriander - 1 tbsp chopped (or even Parsley will taste good, if you like the flavor)

Lime juice - 1 tbsp

Add 1 tbsp of chopped green chilly for spicy taste.

Put  everything in a big bowl and mix it properly. Keep it in a fridge for some time before you serve. 

Munch it in the morning, or in the after noon or in the evening. Or have a bowl of this salad as a dinner!!! 

It gives justice to any time!!!

Sending this to two events,

Divya at  Dil Se..'s  Show me Your Wholegrains! event :

and

Madhuri's   Serve me Some... > Serve me Some…Salads event

Hope all of you will enjoy this healthy salad,

Keep Smiling,

Peanut Gujiya (ಶೇಂಗಾ ಕರ್ಚಿಕಾಯಿ)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Sweets!!! Deserts!!! I love sweets!!! I love to eat in any form!! I have written before also, if I do not get anything, I will have 1 tbsp Boost! 

Here is a sweet, which is usually prepared during Diwali. Gujiya or Karchikai is very common sweet in India. And the stuffing differs in each state and each region.

Mom always prepares the stuffing with, dry coconut, jaggery, dalia powder and cardamom powder. The one I have prepared was shown in a Kannada TV Show, which mom liked it so much and prepared it on Ugadi.

Giving you the recipe,

All purpose flour - 250 gm

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Milk - 2 tbsp

Oil - 1tbsp

Mix all with little water to make into soft dough, cover it with moist cloth. Keep it aside for an hour.

For stuffing,

Peanut - 1 cup, roasted. Remove the skin and clean it

Jaggery - 1 cup or less, depending on the sweetness of the jaggery

Dry Coconut, grated - 2 tbsp, roasted

Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Oil to fry

                                 

First, dry grind the peanuts for one round to make it coarse powder. Then add the jaggery, cardamom powder and coconut. Grind it again to make smooth powder. Transfer it into a bowl and add salt, mix it nicely.

Divide all purpose flour in to equal small lemon size balls. Roll into oval shape of palm size. Take one tbsp of ready peanut powder mix and put it slowly in the middle of  rolled puri.  Close it to neatly and bind it with water to give gujia shape. Repeat with other balls. 

Heat the oil in a kadai. When its hot, keep it on medium flame and fry all the gujiyas in batches.

You can store it for a week or 10 days.

Keep smiling,

Extending the last date for my event!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,

I AM GOING TO EXTEND LAST DATE FOR MY EVENT. LAST DATE IS 10TH APRIL.
TWO REASONS FOR THIS
I AM GOING ON SHORT VACATION FOR A WEEK AND
I HAVE RECEIVED ONLY ONE ENTRY!! 
RUSH YOUR ENTRIES.
http://niveditaskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/02/forgotten-indian-games-edited-and-re.html




Keep smiling,

Instant Vermicelli Idly

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

A wonderful, healthy, tasty and easiest breakfast for the whole family. Even you can feed this to 9 months infant, who has started to eat just now. I always love to try Idly s in different size bowls, as kids will enjoy it.

But, my both daughters won't like it at all!! I don't know the reason, but they both have it either two or one idly. So I do not make this more for them. Ask me?? I love to have it any time. 

Ingredients :

Very thin vermicelli - 1 cup

Bombay rawa or semolina - 1 cup

Fresh curds - 1 cup

Salt to taste

Eating soda or Bi carb soda - 1/8 tsp

Carrot or potato - 1 medium, cleaned and grated (not in the photo, but usually I add it)

Ghee - 1 tbsp to roast

Oil to apply to the mould

Roast the semolina and vermicelli (Seperately) till you get a very good aroma. Allow it to cool. When it is cold, add all other ingredients and mix it properly to make it into nice batter. While doing this, Keep the cooker with 1 cup water on heat. 

Apply oil to the mould and pour the batter in to the moulds(Each mould will hold 2 tbsp batter). Keep it in the cooker and steam it without wait on the cooker for 12 to 15 minutes.

Once done, serve hot with ghee, chutney powder, coconut chutney or sauce. 

Sending this to Suma's  on going event, JIHVA - Breakfast which is linked to Indira's Main announcement-JIHVA

Keep Smiling,

Chigali (Tamarind lolly pop) for Forgotten Indian Games

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Summer is in. All the children are waiting for the vacation. During our childhood, the whole year we used to wait for this long holidays which lasted for more than 2 months. Every year, the postman used to bring the result on April 10. We all used to roam the whole area to search the postman! And once we spot him, we used to attack him!! Poor man!!! But he always gave our result without scolding us! He knew our tension!

We used to play lot of games and have lot of things to eat! In those, this Chigali or Tamarind lolly pop was very popular. We all used to enjoy the tangy, spicy taste of this lolly pop. We all children used to bring each ingredient from our house. Then a elder one in our group used to prepare it.If you don't have mortar and pestle, you can try in a blender or grinder. But it tastes good if you use mortar and pestle.

Ingredients are very simple and easily available at home.

Fresh Tamarind - 1 bowl, clean, remove seeds.

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Curry leaves - 2 lines

Salt to taste

Red chilly powder - 1 to 2 tbsp

Jaggery - 2 tbsp

Lemon leaves - few(Optional, if you have lime tree near by!)

First make the tamarind little soft then add all other ingredients. Crush is till the tamarind becomes full soft and other ingredients blend with it nicely. 

Tamarind lolly pop or CHIGALI is ready to eat. We used to stick the balls to neem sticks or match stick or small spoon. We used to enjoy it for very long time, some times more than two hours!!! 

This is going  to my event  Forgotten Indian games!! (Edited and re written), ...

I am still waiting for your participation for my event!! Rush in your entries!!

I am sending this to  PJ's (Seduce Your Tastebuds)  ongoing event Think Spice - Tamarind, which is a brain child of   Sunitha  of Sunita's World.

 So I am linking this post to Sunita's Think spice page. I hope every one will enjoy these lolly pops!!

Keep Smiling,

Water melon Juice(edited and reposted)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

My way of having watermelon!!!!

scrape it inside and add little salt! have it directly. no need of glass or cup!! or straw. You will definitely enjoy the crunchy melon and juicy water.

In summer, when you come home after long sunny day, if you see a glass of red color juice topped with ice cubes!!! How will you feel???

That is the wonder of Watermelon. A crunchy and tasty fruit, you will enjoy in any season, either as a bite or a sip.

From the source, it is said that, watermelons were being cultivated in China, which is today the world's single largest watermelon producer.

Water Melon is an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin A (here).

It is also in debate that whether watermelon is a fruit or vegetable?? For me it is both, that too after checking the recipe(Taste of NorthIndia) by Sangi of simplydelicious. Click WaterMelon Watermelon!!!!!!! for older post.

I love to have it in any form, crunchy bites removed from the fridge, a whole big glass of juice topped with ice cubes and seasoned with salt and pepper, in salad or dosa prepared with its skin. Yes!! dosas prepared using the skin of the watermelon tastes very good. Give it a try. Just add the peeled skin with soaked rice which you make for normal dosas.
Do this need any recipe???
Watermelon - 1 cup, remove the seeds
Salt to taste
Ice cubes
Blend all together to get a glass of watermelon juice.

Sending this to Madhuri's event  Serve me Some...  

Keep smiling,

Eggless Chocolate Pudding on my Birthday!!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Today is my birthday and I turned 37 years! Nothing more to say about me!!

Today, I thought I will try some baking in the microwave oven, which I never did before. I have prepared rice, sambhar, vegetable and sweets, but I am always scared to try baking a cake, pie or pudding or jelly!! I remember once, I tried dates cake from shilpa of Aayi's Recipes. It came out good, but I was not happy with that.

 I was searching for some quick and easy recipe, and I got THIS one. This site does not have photo. So I thought of taking pictures. 

I have kept all the ingredients in the photo, except GHEE. 

It came out very good!

But, what I thought was If we keep the ready mix for some time before adding cocoa powder it will be good, as I felt, the semolina is still not cooked full.

Mom prepared PURI, POTATO DRY SABJI AND SEVIYAN PAYASAM. 

Planning to celebrate my birthday with my elder daughter's which falls on March 30.

Keep Smiling,

Musk Melon, Choice is yours!!! Juice or Milk shake!

All of you might be wondering that why am I  posting the juice recipes. My interest on trying juices is increasing everyday as the Summer is in here!!! I do not like any fizzy drinks or soft drinks, ready drinks or cold drinks. I avoid giving these to my kids too. All these years, I was happy with cold water during the Summer season.

But, when I entered Madhuri's event, I went on thinking about the juices we can make easily at home! Many juices in the mind!! Let me see how much  my internet, the time, my kids will allow me to make juices and shakes before the event reaches the last date, and how much I can post the recipes. But, for sure, I will keep on trying juices from everything and make you people drink it too!!! 

Today is the Musk Melon day!

In my house, during our childhood, Musk Melon was the regular fruit. It was a must fruit on Shivrathri. Even though I know the juice will be tastier, I never tried it before.

Musk Melon is widely known as 'Cantaloupe'.  It is a summer fruit. Being rich in Vitamin C, an antioxidant, muskmelons have been believed to be good for preventing heart diseases and cancer. ... Read more here to know about more health benefits from this fruit.

There are two types of Musk Melon. One is bigger size and the other one is small. This time, I got the small ones in local market. I did not time or patience to wait for the bigger one and try the juices. So I took two small musk melons and came home.

Taking mom's version,  Instead of eating it, I tried these juices and within no time, my both daughters finished it. And they both enjoyed it having it in the same bowl made with the skin of the fruit.

That side is Musk melon milk shake, and this side is musk melon juice. The middle bowl is the seeds which you can sun dry and have it! Tastes great! 

First, giving you the recipe for MUSK MELON MILK SHAKE,

Musk Melon - 1 small,  washed, peeled and cubed

Sugar - 3 to 4 tbsp or check the sweetness of the fruit and add the sugar

Milk - 1/2 cup

Cardamom  powder - a pinch

Almond and Pista powder - 1 tbsp 

(I always keep this powder ready at home. I add it to bread jam, chapati and dosa when giving to my kids)

Salt - 1/8 tsp

Add cubed melon, sugar, milk in a juicer and turn to juice. Strain in a glass. Mix the powders and keep in the fridge for some time before you serve. 

Makes one glass only (as the melon is small).

Second, giving you the recipe for MUSK MELON JUICE,

Musk Melon - 1 small,  washed, peeled and cubed

Jaggery - 1/4 cup, (again, check the sweetness of the fruit before adding the jaggery)

Salt - 1/8 tsp

Almond and Pista powder - 1 tbsp (optional)

Mix everything in a juicer and churn it to juice. 

It is better to have it immediately. It will turn black and will not taste good, if you keep it for a longer time.

Makes one glass only (as the melon is small).

Sending this to Madhuri's event  Serve me Some...  

Sending it to  Dr.Sameena's  event

Juice recipes...

Keep Smiling, 

Raw Mango Chutney

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

On Ugadi day, we got the first batch of lovely raw mangoes from our trees. And, now mango is in every food we make. Mango is added in UPMA,SABMHAR, DAL, THALIPEETH, RICE, COCONUT CHUTNEY.

But here I am giving pure raw mango chutney.

Tastes great with rice, chapati, bread, Idly, Dosa, Paddhu...... list goes on.

As usual, I liked to  have it just like that!!!

I have tried to keep all the ingredients to make a chutney in one plate.

Raw mango -1 cup, cleaned and cubed in to small pieces

Methi seeds - 1 tsp

Chana dal - 2 tbsp

Jaggery - 1 tbsp

Red chilly powder - 1 tsp

Dry coconut - 1/2 cup

Curry leaves - few

Hing - pinch

Salt to taste

Dry roast Chana dal, dry coconut. Mix all the ingredients with it and blend in to a coarse chutney. Mango chutney is ready to serve. You can store it in a fridge for 2 to 3 days. 

Keep Smiling,

Pineapple Gojju

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Making curry, gravy or chutney with fruits is really very interesting. I have tasted the chutneys and gojju using fruits  in few weddings. But never thought of trying, as I am sure, my husband never liked it. And I  was lazy to make only for myself.

My cousin who stays in Sagar, (Shimoga) told me that this Pineapple gojju is very common in temples and weddings. Few weeks back, she gave me the recipe. But I totally forgot and could not contact her now. So I prepared it with  the ingredients what I remembered.

When I prepared and tasted, I fell in love with it. It is again a quick and easy one but tastes great with hot rice! I had it just like that.

Recipe follows like this,

Pineapple - 1/2 cup, cleaned and cubed

Boil the Pineapple cubes in little water and keep aside.(with the stock)

For paste:

Jeera - 1 tsp

Coriander seeds - 1/2 tsp

Urad dal - 1 tbsp

Dry roast the above seeds. Add

Fresh coconut - 2 tbsp to it 

And grind into a fine paste with little water.

For gravy,

Oil - 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Hing - 1/8th spoon

Salt to taste

Red chilly powder - 1 tsp

Jaggery - 1 tsp(If Pineapple is not sweet)

Turmeric powder - 1/4 spoon

Add oil in a kadai and heat it. Add mustard seeds, Add hing when seeds crackle. Immediately goes red chilly and turmeric powder. Fry for few seconds and add ready paste. Cook it for a minute to remove the raw smell. Add boiled Pineapple cubes(without water). Add salt and jaggery. Mix properly and add the stock. Check the taste and adjust the seasoning. Cook for few more minutes and enjoy the gojju.

Thank you  Nithu for this event, as I tried it only for the event . And from now onwards, this will be in my regular menu.

"Think Beyond the Usual - Soup, Curry and Chutney with Fruits" event hosted by  Nithu's Kitchen

Keep Smiling,

Spicy Pineapple Juice

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,
I am always lazy to make juices, and prefer to eat fruits!! 

But, if some one is making and giving me the glass in my hand I am always happy to have it,(thats why I love a can of  Beer in my hand!! just open the can and enjoy your sip !!!    )

But Madhuri made me think about the juices to make at home, if I want to participate in her event. And all of you know, how much I am crazy about event participation. It is like attending all the award functions, even after knowing that you will not get any award !! 

Here is my second juice for her event. But I really want to thank Madhuri, because and only because of her, I am trying to make juices at home, and enjoying my glass of juice!! ( at last away from my beer can  !)

This is a spicy juice, because of its ingredients. But you will love the spicy taste, when it passes your throat!! (Is my language out of control???)

Coming to the recipe,

Fresh Pineapple - 1/2, washed, cleaned and cubed 

Water - 1/2 cup or more depending on the juice of the fruit

Check the sweetness of the fruit. If it is not sweet add, 1 tbsp sugar or skip it

Put Pineapple cubes, water and sugar(if adding) in a juicer or blender and make a juice. If you like juice without fruit chunks, strain it. I like it as it is, so kept it like that only.

White pepper - 1 tsp powdered

Ginger juice - 1 Tbsp

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Mix the white pepper powder, Fresh ginger juice and salt into the juice and mix it properly. 

Do not add everything together in a juicer, I t won't taste good!! Or you can try to save the time, prepare, and let me know the taste. 

I loved adding it later.

Add Ice cubes before serving. 

Sending this to Madhuri's event  Serve me Some...  

Sending it to  Dr.Sameena's  event

Juice recipes...

Keep Smiling,