Friday, September 24, 2010

Simple Chicken Curry

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Whenever I get chance to make chicken dishes, this is must for me. I love this chicken curry as it is easy but very tasty. It goes well with Naan, roti, dosa, rice or idiyappum.
Its long time, I have cooked non veg at home. I prepared this curry few months back. It was in my draft. Yesterday, when I was searching a curry recipe for Divya's event, I got this one.
Here is the recipe :
Chicken - 1/2 kilo
Cut  the chicken into pieces. Wash it twice. Rub  the chicken with salt and turmeric powder. Keep it for some time. Wash it twice and drain the water. 
For marination
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Oil - 1tsp
Curds - 2 tbsp
Salt a pinch
Garam masala - 1 tsp
Mix all and marinate the chicken for 15 minutes to half an hour or till you prepare the gravy.

For gravy :
Oil - 2 tbsp
Onion - 2 big, thinly sliced
Tomato - 2 big, cubed
Fresh coconut paste- 2 tbsp, 
Fresh yogurt - 1 tbsp
Red chilly powder - 1 to 2 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Salt to taste
Warm water as per the need of consistency
Fresh Coriander hand full garnish

Whole garam masala :
Cardamom - 1
Cloves - 2
Cinnamon stick - 1/2"
Poppy seeds - 1 tbsp(optional)
Star anise- 1 petal(not full one piece, its very strong in flavor and taste)

Coarse powder the whole garam masala and keep it ready. (make 2 portions, keep little for adding it in the last step)

Keep cooker on the heat and add oil. When the oil is very hot add the sliced onion and fry till golden brown. Add the whole garam masala. Fry for a minute. Add tomatoes and fry for a minute. Now add curds, coconut paste, Mix well and cook for a minute. Add the marinated chicken. Add Mix and fry well for few minutes. Add the water. Close the cooker and give one whistle or just cover it till the chicken is tender and cooked..
Adjust the taste. Garnish with fresh coriander.
Serve with naan, roti, chapati, dosa or rice!!
This is my entry to 
(I could manage to make one more post for her event :-)  )
Keep Smiling,

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Pea Nut Gojju

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
This is the curry I learnt from my cousin who has already shared her few recipes with me in my blog. She is settled down in Sagar after marriage and learnt all the traditional food from that region. Whenever I get chance to talk with her, I speak only about the food and her daughter.
This gojju or curry is very easy to make but tastes good with hot rice and coconut oil.

Ingredients :


For paste:
Peanut - 1 cup
Fresh coconut - 1/2 cup
Green chilly - 2
Fresh coriander - handful
Tamarind paste - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp(optional)


Water  - 1 cup or more(as per your requirement and consistency)

For tempering
Oil - 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - few(not in the photo, as I did not had in the night when I made this)
Green chilly or dry red chilly - 1 


Method: 
Take all the ingredients under "for paste"  in a mixi or blender and grind into a fine paste. 
Add water as per your requirement. The gojju should be medium thick.
Transfer into a serving bowl.
Take oil in a small kadai.
When hot, add mustard seeds. When splutter, add cumin seeds, green or red chilly and curry leaves. Fry for a minute. Add this to the ready gojju.
Serve as it is or just warm it for HALF A MINUTE. 
Serve with hot rice and 1 tsp coconut oil(if you like the flavor) on it!
Its heaven!!
This is my last minute entry to (sorry, I missed to visit her blog since last month!)


AND
(linking it to Pari's event announcement page)
Keep Smiling,

Event Round up - COOK and CLICK 3 and 4

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
I am not able to give more publicity to my event "COOK AND CLICK" . I will be back with this event again after some time. I think I should give more time limit to the readers to try my recipe and send me the clicks.
Giving 2 event round up in one post as I received single entry for each event.
Here is the round up for event :
I got one entry for Tosha ie  from
Satya of Super Yummy Recipes  
She has wonderful childhood memories with this sweet.

Thanks Satya for trying the recipe.





I received the one entry from 
Lalitha of Indian spice Magic


She has written in the mail sent to me : Tasted similar to panchamiratham in tamil which we get in palani. Thanks Lalitha for trying it out.
And she is new to blogging world. Visit her blog to see what she got for us.
My verdict also is the same as Lalitha's.

Keep Smiling,

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Gujarathi Kichadi

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Rice is my weakness!!! Do you think I get weak when it comes to FOOD!! yes. Nothing can comfort me other than good food. It is not compulsory to have rich, lavish, expensive, Indian, Continental or from any part of the world. Some times a simple kichadi also makes you feel happy.
The down recipe made me and my kids very happy and we all  enjoyed it for dinner. 
It is the simplest but tastiest Kichadi I have ever tried. 
You don't need anything with it other than a hungry stomach!! 


Thank you so much Sushma for sharing such a wonderful  recipe.

Coming to the recipe,

Ingredients: 
Split green gram with skin : 1/2 cup
Yellow moong dal  : 1/4 cup
Rice: 1 cup (any rice)

Whole garam masala :
Cinnamon: 1/2"  stick
Cardamom: 2nos
Clove: 2 nos
Green chilli: 1 no
Pepper powder: 1/2 tsp



Ghee/clarified butter: 2  tbsp
Oil: 1 tbsp


Bay leaf : 1
Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves: 1 string
Asafoetida: a pinch
Turmeric: 2 big pinches


Salt: According to taste

Water:  I used till one inch above the rice level.

Method:
Wash the dal and rice.  Soak in water for 30 minutes or more. 

Drain the water and keep it ready.
Heat oil in a cooker. 
Add cumin seeds. Now be quick to add all the whole garam masalas. Fry till nice aroma fills your kitchen.
Add curry leaves, hing and sauté.
Now add green chilly and turmeric.
Add the drained rice and Dal.  Mix well and fry for some time. Add hot water till 1" above the rice level. Add salt and give 3 - 4 whistles. Remove from fire. 
When cold, open and check the consistency.  If you like more watery, add some more HOT water and boil it for some time. Add the ghee before serving.
I bet, you will enjoy this wonderful, healthy Kichadi.

Sending this to the event by SimplySensationalFood.


AND
Keep Smiling,

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Chocolate Cookies again!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
I am getting addicted to baking. All these years I never thought that I will start baking! I always got scared with the word Baking. But last year I took a resolution(which I am always against) that I will start baking and first time I kept my promise.
Here is one more trial from my kitchen
Chocolate Cookies was my first bake after I bought my OTG. I followed the Recipe from Deepa and it was a hit. I prepared it 2-3 times and the box was empty within a day.
Then I thought of taking little risk(I am grown up :-)   ) and tried this recipe:



All Purpose Flour - 1 cup
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Brown sugar - 1/4 cup
Unsalted butter -  1/4 cup
Coco powder - 1/6 cup
Baking Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Milk -  2 tbsp
Sugar to cover the cookies






  • Grease the baking tray. 
  • Preheat the oven.
  • Sieve the APF, Coco powder, baking power and salt in a big vessel.
  • Cream the butter and sugars till creamy and fluffy. 
  • Add the sieved flour to this and mix well.
  • Add milk and knead like a soft dough.
  • Divide the dough in to lemon size balls. Press the balls to make round cookies shape.
  • Roll the cookies slowly on a sugar to get the light sugar coating.
  • Spread the cookies on baking tray.
  • Keep it in the middle rack.
  • Bake it on 180 degree C(350 degrees F) for 10 minutes.
  • Check the cookies. If you feel they are still not done, bake for few more minutes.
  • Cookies will be soft for some time before they get crisp.
Sending these cookies to  

AND

Keep Smiling,

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Apple Jam

Tried and tasted by Nivedita 
Hi All,

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is the famous saying.
but I have a doubt,
what if a doctor is beautiful/ handsome?
"Keep that apple away"


When it comes to give the fruits to the kids, its difficult as many kids won't like to have fruit. But they love to eat jam with chapati, bread or toast. 

When I got the LG complimentary book, there was a recipe for this jam. But  I went of postponing to try it. Because my both kids do not like sweet and I am not much into jams. 

When I announced MEC - Fruits, this was the first thing came in my mind. I took the book and tried the recipe but used only half the quantity from given quantity.

It is the easiest and quickest jam to prepare. And kids will love to have it with chapati or bread. Or try it on toasts and with dosas.
Apples are rich source of antioxidant compounds. Because of the fiber content, it helps in regular bowel movements. The best thing is apple does not have any caloric content and helps in heart disease and helps to control cholesterol.


Apple - 1, cleaned, peeled and cut into cubes
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Lime juice - 1 tbsp
Take the apple cubes in a M/W safe bowl.
Cook it on HIGH for 3 minutes, covered, but stirring in between. Let the apple are soft and sugar is mixed well with apple. Remove it out and allow it to cool.
Put it in a blender to puree it.
Transfer it into the same bowl and cook on HIGH for 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in between and check for the jam consistency. As each Microwave differs with the  heating condition, please take care not to over cook it. 
Once you feel the puree has got the jam texture. Remove it from M/W. Add lime juice and mix well. Once it comes to room temperature, store it in a fridge or have it with bread or chapati immediately. You can keep it in the fridge for more than a week. I was glad that my daughter loved it and had it with bread toast.
Sending this wonder jam to 

My event 

AND


Neha's (of Home Made Food

Kids Menu Event


Keep Smiling,

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,

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