Tricolor Poriyal (Independence Day Special)

Wish You All Happy Independence Day :)

This tricolor poriyal is a very usual poriyal in my home and my mom used to make this very often. It is very colorful and even tastes great. Also I used to make this poriyal often.

Ingredients:

Carrot - 2 (finely chopped)
Green Peas - 1/2 cup
Cabbage - 1/2 cup (finely chopped)
Onion - 1/2 (finely chopped)
Dhania/Corriander powder - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Coconut - 2 tbsp (grated)
Mustard - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Cilantro/Corriander leaves - few sprigs (for garnishing)
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1 tbsp

Method:

1) Heat a pan, add oil and add mustard. Once it splutters, add urad dal. Then add finely chopped onion.

2) Saute it until translucent and add the veggies.

3) Saute for a minute and add the dry powders along with salt.

4) Mix it well and add water and let it cook.

5) Once it gets cooked well, add grated coconut and cilantro.

Colorful tricolor poriyal is all set to taste.

Gongura Chutney

This is the first time, I am trying a recipe with gongura leaves. Never seen gongura leaves even before. Usually I used to get store made gongura pickles. While I was to shopping last week, I found a big bunch of gongura leaves. Even if I had no idea of making any recipes of it, I grabbed a bunch, as I had a friend from Hydrebad here. This recipe is from Suma, who shared this with me and great thanks Suma, for sharing this recipe. It came out very well and love the homemade, tangy and spicy chutney.

Ingredients:

Gongura leaves - 1 bunch
Red chilli - 8 to 10
Peanut - 3 tbsp (roasted)
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1 tbsp

Method:

1) Pick the leaves and wash it. Then heat a pan, and roast it for about 4 to 5 mins. Keep it aside and let it cool.

2) Now heat a pan, add oil. Also add cumin seeds and red chillies.

3) Saute it very well and add the peanuts.

4) Roast it for 2 mins and add the gongura leaves.

5) Roast it for about 3 to 5 mins.

6) Let it cool and grind to a smooth paste, by adding salt to it.

Tangy and spicy gongura chutney is ready to taste.

Celebration Time

Dear friends, now its celebration time. First, I am very glad that my recipe "White Pumpkin Milk Kootu" wins a Cookbook Giveaway in "ONLY - Micorwave Cooking" an event conducted by Pari (Foodelicious). It was really surprising as this was my first attempt using microwave for cooking, from start to end. Also double happy that its my first winning in Cookbook Giveaway, in this blog world. Once again thanks Pari, for this wonderful Cookbook Giveaway. Expecting lot more events from you and love participating in those. I won this "Microwave Recipes" authored by Tala Dalal.

More microwave recipes soon :)

Secondly, my recipe "Paneer/Cottage Cheese" has been awarded the Best Dessert award, by an event conducted by Divya Pramil of " http://youtoocancookindianfood.blogspot.com/". Thanks Divya for such a lovely event and the roundup was really excellent work. Waiting eagerly for more lovely events from you Divya :)

Best Dessert Award

Participation Certificate

Participation Award

Blueberry Popsicle

Yummy!!!!

My daughter was asking for popsicles and the good thing is I had blueberry handy. Very easy and simple to make. It was really delicious to have homemade popsicle for these hot summer days.

My daughter grabbed one while I was clicking :(

Ingredients:

Blueberry - 1/2 dry pint
Yogurt/Curd - 1cup
Honey/Sugar - 3 tbsp

Showing her popsicle :)

Method:

1) Put all ingredients in blender.

2) Give a nice blend.

3) Pour it in a popsicle mould and refrigerate for four to six hours.

4) After it is firm, take it and wash in running water, for few seconds. Take the popsicle out and enjoy.

Can't wait to grab one...

Enjoy the chill and yummy popsicles for this hot summer.

Kid's Cheese Toast

This is one of my daughter's favorite toast and I make her this often. Even my hubby love this toast. Today I used mozarella cheese and cheddar cheese, as cheddar cheese gives nice color. Else you can use just mozarella cheese alone. You can use any cheese in this toast. Serve it with ketchup.

Cheese Toast....Isn't looking yummy???

Also refer my post "Cheesy Peas Dosa" and "Snack with Ghee Leftover" for more healthy recipes for kids and cheese recipes.

Ingredients:

Bread - 6 slices
Mozarella Cheese - 1/4 cup (shredded)
Cheddar Cheese - 1/4 cup (shredded)
Pepper powder - 1 tsp
Butter - 4 tbsp

Cheesy....

Note:

You can use green chillies instead of pepper, for adults.

Method:

1) Mix all ingredients in a bowl, except bread slices and butter. Spread the butter on both sides of all breads. Then keep the cheese stuffing on a bread. Top of with another slice of bread.

2) Turn on the sandwich maker and spray some cooking oil. Keep the stuffed bread and toast for 3 minutes. Else you can toast on stove top even, by just heating a tawa and apply little butter and place the bread and toast it both the sides.

3) Once its done, slice them and now its ready for your kids to enjoy.

My daughter squeezed ketchup for me...helping me in serving :)

Cheesy toast for kids is all set to taste. Serve it with ketchup.

Mushroom Cashew Gravy

Long back, years ago, they used to cook very rich foods made of ghee, cashews etc. The recipes they make tastes delicious and very rich in taste. But nowadays, being calorie conscious and because of work load, we avoid most of the stuffs and heading to fast foods. Even if those recipes are high in calorie, they are good for health. So we can have them occasionally, as it is a great treat for our taste buds and good for health even.

Yesterday, when I headed in my refrigerator for some veggies, to make gravy for chapathi, I found a box of mushroom which I shopped two days back. Thought to make this gravy, as it would make a great combo for chapathis. Mushroom is our all time favorite. I use mushroom in my cooking very often.

This mushroom cashew gravy is a very good combination for chapathis (Indian flat bread) or fried rice. The cashew paste we add in this enhances the flavor and tastes very rich and creamy. Also it is used to thicken the gravy. It tastes delicious and especially my daughter loved it.

Ingredients:

Mushroom - 1 cup (cut to pieces)
Cashewnuts - 5 or 6
Onion - 1 (finely chopped)
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Green chilli - 2 or 3 (slitted)
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Dhania/Corriander powder - 2 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Cilantro/Corriander  leaves - few sprigs
Salt - to taste
Oil - 2 tbsp

For grinding:
Onion - 1/2
Tomato - 1
Cashewnuts - 6 or 7

Method:

1) Heat a pan and add oil. Then add finely chopped onion.

2) Saute it well and add ginger garlic paste. Saute it to get rid of the raw smell and add slitted green chillies and cilantro. Also add the cut mushrooms.

3) Then add all the dry powders.

4) Mix well and add water and let it boil.

5) Meanwhile grind all the ingredients together to a fine paste.

6) Once the mushroom mixture starts to boil, add the cashew paste.

7) Let it cook for about 5 minutes. Finally garnish with cashews and cilantro.

Rich, creamy and delicious mushroom cashew gravy is ready to taste.

Kid's Gelatin Dessert

Glad that this is my 75th post.....

No kids would be there who hate jellies, including my little one. I came across this jelly snack from the gelatin dessert package. We use these gelatin in many of our desserts. I was amazed that a snack can be made, just with this powder.

Lemon

Orange

I tried it and it came out very glossy looking. The best part is even my hubby loved it. Best snack that can be made for kids on these hot summer days, being away from the hot kitchen. It was really great dessert for this hot summer. Should have this when its chill, else it will start to melt.

Ingredients
Jell-O Gelatin Dessert (any flavor) - 1 pack (3 oz)
Hot water - 1 cup
Cold water - 1 cup
Whipped cream/topping - for topping (optional)
Dry fruits or Fresh fruits - 3 tbsp finely chopped (optional) [I used craisins and apricots]

Method:

1) In a bowl, put the entire pack of gelatin powder. (I used orange flavor)

2) Add the hot water slowly and keep on stirring continuosly, until the gelatin gets dissolved.

3) Stir for about 2 mins so that the powder gets dissolved well.

4) Then add the cold water to it.

5) Transfer this to any square shaped bowl (I used my baking pan) and refrigerate for atleast 4 hrs or until its firm.

6) Take it out after 4 hrs and let it be for about 5 to 10 minutes.

7) Cut into small squares or any desired shapes.

Orange Flavor

Lemon Flavor

8) Transfer to any serving container and top it with whipped cream. Or can add cut fresh fruits even.

with whipped cream topping

with whipped cream and dry fruits topping

Juicy, glossy and chilly kids gelatin snack is ready now. Just dig into it.

Serve it immediately when its chill.