Corn Patties

Corn is a cereal crop,a member of the grass family.Corn is grown around the world and is one of the globe's most widely used food staples.In Native American usage, the word for corn means "our life," or "our mother," or "she who sustains us." It was the cultivation of corn that turned Native American tribes from nomadic to agrarian communities.Do you know that a pound of corn consists of approximately 1,300 kernels.Let's see a very tasty patties recipe done with corn.

Ingredients

Fresh/frozen corn kennel - 2 cups
Fried chana dal(dhalia) - 1/2 cup
Ginger - 1 inch piece
Garlic - 2 cloves
Green chillies - 2
Oil -2-3 tbsp
salt as per taste
Cumin seeds - 2 tsp
Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup
All purpose flour - 2-3 tbsp

Recipe

1)Make a coarse mixture with chan dal,green chilli,ginger,garlic,cumin seeds,coriander leaves.
2)Then add the corn to the mixture and blend again.Once done transfer to a bowl,add salt.
3)Add the all purpose flour and mix nicely to a thick consistency.
4)Make dumplings out of the mixture and press them gently to get a round shape.
5)Heat a nonstick pan in medium heat.Place the tikkis and add little oil and cook them.Once done turn the side and repeat process.Serve hot with any chutney.

Tips

1)Can also deep fry the patties.
2)You can add extra all purpose flour if the batter is too loose.
2)Thaw the frozen corn for at least 20-30 minutes before blending.

Chatpat Rice Pots

Rice flour is milder, lighter and easier to digest than wheat flour and is a great substitute for people who are gluten intolerant.Rice flour is a staple in India, Japan, Southeast Asia and Thailand.In the 1980’s, the Western world discovered the value of rice flour and the usage in new applications began growing dramatically.Here let's see a very easy yet delicious recipe with rice flour. 

Ingredients

For Seasoning

Oil - 2-3 tbsp
Chana dal - 2 tsp
Urud dal - 2 tsp
Cumin seeds  - 2 tsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig 

For Making Dough 

Rice flour - 2 cups
Green chilli chopped - 2
Chopped onion - 1 (optional)
Salt as per taste
Chopped coriander - 1 tbsp
warm water

Recipe

1)Mix rice flour,salt,green chilli with warm water into a thick dough.
2)Heat oil in pan add the chana da,urud dal,jeera and mustard seeds respectively once they splutter switch off the stove and add the curry leaves also.
3)Mix the tempering nicely into the rice flour dough.
4)Make them into lemon size balls/patties(any desired shape) and pressure cook.Serve hot with any chutney.

Tips

1)Can also make this poha.Add little (2 tbsp) maida to make the dough tight.

I am going to send this to the even

Any One Can Cook : New Weekly Event hosted by Taste of pearl city

Under the category FB-For Beginners.

Triple Star Stir Fry

Stir-frying involves frying  food quickly over very high heat in an oiled pan. While stir-frying, you generally stir continually. A special slope-sided pan called a wok is designed for stir-frying.The term stir-fry was introduced into the English language by Buwei Yang Chao, in her book How to Cook and Eat in Chinese.Here let's see a interesting yet simple recipe.

Ingredients

Capsicum chopped - 2 *
Corn - 1 cup *
Boiled chana - 1 cup *
Paneer cubed - 1 cup
Salt as per taste
Chilli powder - 2 tsp
Oil - 2 tbsp
Tomatoes chopped - 1 (big)
Small onions peeled and chopped - 10
Garam masala - 2 tsp
Turmeric - 2 pinches
Green chilli slit - 1

Recipe

1)Heat oil in a wok,add the green chilli,paneer and stir fry till you see a golden coat over the paneer.
2)Add the onions and saute it nicely,then mix in the capsicum,chana,corn and stir fry for about 4 minutes.
3)Continue to stir fry by adding the tomatoes.
4)Now mix in the garam masala,chilli powder,turmeric,salt and mix nicely till all the vegetables are well done for about 6-7 minutes.

Tips

1)Cut the capsicum,paneer into cubes of the same size approximately.
2)If you would want a semigravy of this recipe,mix 1 tbsp of cornflour with water and add them to the stir fry and mix nicely for about 2 minutes.
3)If you would like to make this a non-vegetarian dish,you can add meat after green chillis and saute nicely till they are completely done,keep them aside,follow the remaing part of the recipe above and add the meat again in the end for optimal taste.

Instant Chocolate Halwa

The word "chocolate" entered the English language from Spanish.Chocolate comprises a number of raw and processed foods produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America, with its earliest documented use around 1100 BC.Here I am going to share a very simple yet delicious dessert recipe with you.

Ingredients 

Coco powder - 1/4 cup
Corn flour - 1/4 cup + 1/8 cup (3/8th of a cup)
Powdered sugar - 1/4 cup
Milk - 1/2 cup
Condensed milk - 1/4 cup
Walnuts - 2 tbsp
Vanilla essence - 2-3 drops

Recipe 

1)Mix all the ingredients in a microwave cooking safe bowl.
2)Microwave for about 4 minutes.
3)Remove from the microwave add the Vanilla essence and scrambble them nicely.
4)Garnish with walnuts and serve.

I am going to send this to the event " Celebrate Sweet " hosted by      Nivedita's Kitchen

Tomato Dosa

First reference to Dosa occurs in the Tamil Sangam Literature from around 6th century AD.Though dosa typically refers to the version made with rice and lentils, many other versions of dosa exist and are popular in varying degrees.Here I am going to share a very tasty dosa with tomatoes and rice.

Ingredients

Raw rice - 1 1/4 cup
Urud dal - 2 tbsp
Toor dal - 2 tbsp
Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
Red chillis - 2
Tomatoes chopped - 2 (medium)
Jagerry - 1 tbsp
Coriander leaves - 3 tbsp
Salt as per taste
Oil as per requirement

Recipe

1)Soak the rice,toor dal,urid dal in water for 2 hours.
2)Grind them along with all the remaining ingredients into a smooth dosa-like batter.
3)Heat the griddle so it is just hot,now reduce the flame to medium heat.Sprinkle water and fill the ladle with dosa batter.Gently pour the the batter onto

the center of the pan.Now begin spreading the batter with the back of the ladle in circular motion out to the edge of the pan.
4)Spread oil all over the surface and around the edges of the dosa.
5)After the upper surface begins to look cooked with no soft and runny surface,flip the dosa.Allow to cook for 30-40 secs after flipping the dosa.
6)Fold it in half and then serve.

Tips

1)Dosa is more tasty when you serve it hot.

Masoor dal

Masoor dal is a ready source of protein.Here I am going to share with you a very simple yet tasty recipe with Masoor dal.

Ingredients
Masoor Dal - 2 cups
Carrot chopped - 1 cup
Cauliflower - 1 cup
Salt as per taste
Turmeric powder - 3 pinches
Onion chopped - 1
Cloves - 2-3
Oil - 1 tbsp

Cumin seeds - 2 tsp
Dhania - 1 tsp
Amchur powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala - 2 tsp
Chilli powder - 2 tsp

Recipe

1)Pressure cook the onions,carrots,cauliflower,masoor dal and turmeric powder.Keep aside.
2)In a pan heat oil and add jerra,dhania powder,amchur powder,garam masala respectively.
3)Switch the stove off and also add the chilli powder to this.
4)Mix the tempering to the pressure cooked masoor dal,add salt and lemon juice.Goes well with chapati,dosa and also with rice.

Tips

1)Keep the stove low while making the tempering taking care not to burn them.

Vegetable Fried Rice

Rice is one of the most popular foods in the world and stir-frying it with fresh vegetables,seafood,meats and other delectable,is a great way to enjoy it.Fried rice is an incredible dish regarded to be invented sometime during the Sui dynasty (589-618 AD).Here I am going to share with you a very simple Cumin seeds Fried Rice.

Ingredients

Freshly washed and chopped vegetables - 2 cups (carrot,corn,beans,capsicum,peas)
Basmati rice - 2 cups
Salt as per taste
Jeera - 1 tbsp
Onion thin slice - 1 (Big)
Oil - 1 tbsp
cloves -1
Cinnamon -1 inch piece
Cardomon powder - 1 pinch
Butter - 1 tbsp
Bay leaf - 1
Green chillis slit - 2

Recipe

1)Fry the Basmati rice with the butter in a pan till the rice appears glazed.Once done  keep aside.
2)Heat oil in a cooker,add the cloves,bay leaf,cinnamon and cardomon.Fry till the are  slight brown.
3)To this add the onions,green chillis and cumin seeds and saute till the onions are soft  and pink.
4)Mix in the chopped vegetables and fry them for about 10 minutes.
5)Now,add the rice,salt and 3 1/2 cup of water and pressure cook for two whistles to get a tasty fried rice.

Tips

1)Cooked rice can also be used to make fried rice,taking care all the ingredients are  mixed well in pan for about 5 minutes.
2)You can also microwave the vegetables for about 5 minutes to fasten the process.

3)We can also use an electric rice cooker.Take care to make the gravy in a pan and then transfer them to the rice cooker along with rice and water.Large quantity party food can be made very easily with this process.

Idli

Idli may have been imported to India from Indonesia during 800-1200 CE and earliest mention in India occurs in Kannada writing of Shivakotiacharya in 920 AD.The Sanskrit Manasollasa of 1130 AD has ‘iddarika’.Tamil apparently only first mentions ‘itali’ in the 17th century.Idli is safe, harmless to health and can be taken by young and old. It is a fermented food which contains the good bacteria and offers a wide range of healthy benefits. Though it is a South Indian food it has become a globalized product liked and tasted by people all over the world today.I have struggled quite a bit in my journey of making idli,yes it is a simple recipe but trying to get them fermented,steamed,tasty and fluffy wasn't a cake walk for me.I Have wondered how folks back home make those fluffy cloud like visions of idli's so effortlessly.After 5 years of trying to learn and create the right one's,I think it is time to share this with you.Here I am going to share three ways of making plain idli.

IDLI METHOD 1

Ingredients

Urad dal - 1 cup
Idli Rava -3 cups
Salt as per taste
Soda - 1 pich (optional)

Recipe

1)Soak the idli rava and urud dal in water for about 4-5 hours in separate containers.
2)Wash and strain the idli rava for at least 2-3 times.This is a very important step.
3)Blend the urud dal to a very fine batter.Do not add too much water while grinding urad dal.
4)Mix the urud dal and idli rava in a container nicely without any lumps.The batter should be of medium consistency to make soft Idli's.
5)Keep it covered, for overnight fermentation (at least 6-8 hours) in a warm place(The batter will increase in level).
6)Stir in Soda and salt.The consistency
7)Steam the batter in Idli stand for 8-10 Min's (wait for 5 minutes after switching the stove off to remove the idli's to a bowl).
8)Serve hot with coconut chutney & Sambar.

IDLI METHOD 2

Ingredients

Urad dal - 1 cup
Rice -4 cups
Salt as per taste
Soda - 1 pinch (optional)

Recipe

1)Soak the Rice and urud dal in water for about 4-5 hours in separate containers.
2)Wash and strain the rice and urud dal.
3)Blend the urud dal and rice to a very fine batter separately.Do not add too much water while grinding.
4)Mix the urud dal and rice batter in a container nicely without any lumps.The batter should be of medium consistency to make soft Idlis.
5)Keep it covered, for overnight fermentation (at least 6-8 hours) in a warm place(The batter will increase in level).
6)Stir in Soda and salt.
7)Steam the batter in Idli stand for 8-10 Min's (wait for 5 minutes after switching the stove off to remove the idli's to a bowl).
8)Serve hot with coconut chutney & Sambar.

IDLI METHOD 3 (JASMINE IDLI)

This is named so for the softness this particular idli gives.

Ingredients

Boiled rice - 1 cup
Rice - 1 cup
Urud dal - 1/2 cup
Sabudana - 1/2 cup
Methi seeds - 2 tspc c c           
Yeast - 1/2 tsp
Methi seeds - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1 tbls
 

Recipe

1)Soak the rice,boiled rice,sabudana and urud dal in water for about 4-5 hours in separate containers.
2)Wash and strain the rice,boiled rice,sabudana and urud dal.
3)Blend the urud dal,rice,sabudana and boile rice to a very fine batter separately.Do not add too much water while grinding.
4)Mix them in a container nicely without any lumps.The batter should be of medium consistency to make soft Idlis.
5)Keep it covered, for overnight fermentation (at least 6-8 hours) in a warm place(The batter will increase in level).
6)Mix the yeast,sugar in lukewarm water and add this to the batter just before steaming.
7)Steam the batter in Idli stand for 8-10 Min's (wait for 5 minutes after switching the stove off to remove the idli's to a bowl).
8)Serve hot with coconut chutney & Sambar.

Tips
1)You can make idli in blender,grinder or also in food processor.
2)The batter in method 2 is good for dosa also,just add in 1 tsp pf methi seeds while soaking.
3)Check the batter for salt before steaming.
4)After fermenting,just scoop the top layer out and throw it.
5)There is also microwavable idli cooker available in the market.
6)Don't stir the batter very much after fermenting,you will lose the bubbles formed.

Blogs 1st Anniversary Fruit Cake

Its my Blogs first anniversary and I am so excited about it...!!!!!!!!!Thank you friends for all the support you are giving me.

Fruitcake has been around for centuries and has a history as rich as its ingredients.In around 1400's the British began their love affair with fruitcake when dried fruits from the Mediterranean first arrived.Here I am going to share a delicious and easy fruit cake recipe with you.

Ingredients for Recipe part 1
Sugar - 1/4 cup sugar
Water - 1 tbsp
Warm water - 1/4 cup
Vanilla extract

Recipe
1)In medium heat, heat ¼ cup of sugar with 1 tbsp of water and keep stirring until the color changes from light brown to dark brown.
2)This would take minimum 15 minutes. Once the color becomes darker,remove the pan and pour ¼ cup warm water.
3)To this add the 1tsp vanilla extract and keep aside.

Ingredients for Recipe part 2
Sugar - 1 cup
Butter( Room temperature) - 1/4 lb
Eggs - 3

Recipe
1)Blend all the ingredients well by adding eggs one by one.Keep aside.

Ingredients for Recipe part 3
all-purpose flour - 1 cup
baking powder - 2 tsp
salt - 1/2 tsp
spice powders - 1 tsp (cinnamon powder,ginger powder,cloves powder and nut mug powder)

Recipe
1)In a mixing bowl,add all the ingredients mixing nicely and keep aside.

Ingredients for Recipe part 4
Dried fruits - 1 cup (apricots, dates, raisins, cherries, currants, plums, tutty-fruity, etc)
Nuts - 1/2 cup (cashews, almonds,walnuts, etc)
Lemon zest - 1/4 tsp (grated orange skin)

Recipe
1)Mix all these in a bowl and keep aside.

Main Recipe
1)Bring in all the ingredients from recipe 1,2,3,4 and blend nicely.
2)Preheat the oven to 350 F.
3)Pour the mixture into a greased baking pan,and bake for around 50 minutes.Once done place the cake in a cooling rack for about 10 minutes before removing the cake from the pan and store in a air tight container.

Tips
1)While making caramel be careful while pouring warm water,it might splatter
2)To prevent over browning, line the bottom and sides of the pan with foil. If you leave extra foil overlapping the sides, it will be easier to remove the cake.
3)Take care that you only fill half of the baking pan with the blended mix.The cake will raise as you bake.

Ganapati Bappa Moriya.

Wish you all a very Happy Vinayaka Chaturti