Morphy Richards kettle

I just happen to come across this wonderful kettle in amazon for good price. just thought if any of you are interested to buy this. There is also a matching toaster for a very good price at amazon.

Quick Mixed vegetable cutlets

I delivered a beautiful baby boy 2 months ago and all this while was getting used to looking after this little addition to our family. My first kid and so much happening in our life in these 2 months. For 1st month my mum in law helped me look after my son so she had taken control of the kitchen. But now after one month I am in charge of the kitchen once again and now started to cook properly. So after the delivery of the baby this is my first post.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup mashed potato powder

1 cup frozen mixed vegetable

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp red chilli powder

a pinch of asafoetida / hing

1 tsp cumin seeds

handful of coriander leaves chopped

Method

Put the mixed vegetables in a microwavable dish and microwave it for 5 mins full power. I have a 800watt microwave. Now mash the vegetables , add mashed potato powder, red chilli powder, salt , hing , cumin seeds and coriander leaves.Mix properly with hand. Add 1/4 cup water and make a dough. Add powder if dough is watery or add more water if dough is dry. Now make patties and roast them on a skillet sprayed with oil. Cook till they turn brown and now spray oil on the other side of the patties and cook them till they turn brown on the other side also. Serve with green chutney or ketchup . Can be eaten just like that . Best served when hot.

Rice with Baby Onion curry , Butternut Squash Palya and Vegetable bajji

I tried this combination for the first time though I have made this curry few times and eaten with rice. I have also cooked pumpkin palya and eaten it as a side dish with other type of combination of curry and rice. And the vegetable bajjis are just a part of my pregnancy cravings. I had these baby onions at home which my sister in law had given to make this curry. And thanks to Mallika , my sweet sister in law from whom I got this amazing curry recipe. Its quiet an easy curry and no fuss curry. For pumpkin palya . I used butternut squash and the sweetness from this vegetable and the spiciness of chilli and mustard gives it a very good kick and balances the sweetness.

Baby Onion curry

Ingredients

About 250 gms baby onions

1/2 cup grated coconut

3-4 dried red chillies

1 1/2 tsp coriander seeds

1/4 tsp methi seeds

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp tamarind pulp

2tbsp oil

Method

Soak all the onions in warm water for 2 hours , this makes peeling a lot easier. Meanwhile dry roast coconut , red chillies , methi seeds and coriander seeds separately. Cool and grind these roasted ingredients with little water. After 2 hours peel the onions , heat oil and add the whole onions . Cook them till they turn golden brown in colour. Now add the ground paste and salt and 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook for 20 mins on low flame. Add more water if needed. If the onions are not cooked then cover and cook for further 10 mins. Serve with hot rice.

PS : I have also used normal chunked white onions instead of baby onions , they too taste quite good.

Butternut Squash Palya

Ingredients

1 Butter squash chopped ( The skin was tender so I did not peel the skin)

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

3 dried red chillies

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp grated coconut

1 tsp oil

Method

Heat oil , add mustard seeds. After they stop spluttering add chillies . Stir and immediately add chooped squash. Add 1/2 cup water and salt. Cover and cook on medium flame. This should take about 20 -25 mins. Do not overcook the squash , they become mushy.

Vegetable Bajjis

Ingredients

Sliced veggies

1 cup gram flour / besan

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp red chilli powder

1 tbsp cornflour

1 cup water

oil for deep frying

Method

Mix the above batter ingredients into a smooth consistency. Use as many different vegetables you want . I used Bell peppers , butternut squash, sweet potatoes. Other vegetables that can be used are potatoes , broccoli, cauliflowers , babycorns , spinach, etc. I used some sliced onions for the left over batter and added about a tbsp of rice flour to make onion pakoras.

I am so excited to post my recipes for The Combo Event conducted by Pari of Foodelicious blog.

Vani's Yum Yum Capsicum onion gojju / Bell pepper and onion thick curry

I love authentic Karnataka food and so I often browse some kannadiga's blogs for recipes. I wanted to eat something tangy and spicy and then I found this recipe from the blog Mysoorean by Vani , a blog I frequently visit . I have tried few of her recipes and I should say they tasted awesome. She is a very good cook . I have also tried to accommodate her method of cooking into my recipe ( Example I already had the recipe for Bisi Bele Bath but it was too complex , I read Vani's version of BBB and her method of cooking and I felt it was very easy . I adopted her method of cooking since then and to my suprise I did not have to comprise with the taste . My version of BBB was also good.) Thanks to Vani for her recipes and especially this gojju . I finished most of the gojju while tasting and there was nothing much left even for the photo and my poor hubby got the last bit of the gojju and could not even relish it much. I promised to prepare for him again and hopefully the next time also I don't end of tasting the entire quantity of gojju .

I served this with chappati for my husband as he is on diet . Not being a huge fan of chappatis , I ate it with white rice. I felt it tasted very good with rice.

For the recipe visit Vani's Mysoorean blog.

Thanks Vani once again.

Rava Idli / Semolina Indian Style Dumplings

Rava idli is a very popular dish in southern India and a personal favourite of mine. Unlike the conventional type of rice idlis , this does not take any time to ferment and is quiet instant. MTR makes instant rava idli mix. My mum uses this mix very often but she also makes them from scratch which is very easy . There are no unusual ingredients . Its quick and tasty . This can be served with chutney or just eaten plain. These have a flavour of their own and hence I normally eaten just plain. Thanks to mum for this recipe . I have altered it a little looking at many recipes online.

Ingredients

2 cups semolina / rava

1 cup sour curd beaten smooth ( I used my normal soya yogurt which is not quiet sour but this should also work)

1 tbsp oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp urad dal

1 tsp channa dal

3 mild green chillies slit

3 dry red chillies broken

few curry leaves

handful of crushed roasted cashewnut

handful of chopped coriander leaves

1/2 cup of grated coconut (optional , I did not use this time)

1 tsp salt

2 tomatoes sliced for garnishing

a pinch of baking soda (optional , I normally use it but ran out of it this time). This will make the idlis fluffy and spongy

Method

Heat a wok and add oil . when the oil is hot add mustard seeds , urad dal , channa dal , curry leaves , green chillies , dry red chillies . Saute for not more than a minute. Now add semolina and roast it with constantly stirring till a nice aroma of semolina is smelt . Turn off the heat and transfer into a wide big bowl. To this add salt , coriander leaves , grated coconut , and beaten yogurt. Add a cup of water to make a thick batter . Now get the steamer ready and idli moulds greased with oil. Add soda at this last point just before pouring the batter into idli moulds. On top of each idli in the mould placed roundly sliced tomato. This batter will make 2 batches of idlis approximately. I have four idli mould plates with four idli mould in each plate so this should make about 25 - 30 idlis. Cook on high flame for 5 mins and then simmer it for 10 - 15 mins. To check whther the idlis are done , insert a toothpick and check if it comes out clean then the idlis are done else keep for further 5 mins. Serve hot .

For detailed video see Show me the curry youtube video. The have added ginger which I do not add , I still haven't tried using with ginger . This video will give the idea for consistency of idli batter.

Batata Pohu ( Spicy rice flakes with potatoes)

Its been very long since my last post. I became pregnant and was feeling quiet tired and fatigued so could not cook for long in the kitchen . I was experiencing morning sickness as well and so cooking was a torture for me as the smell of curries and any cooked food would make me nauseated. But after whole 4 months , I am back to my original self ( still pregnant with a growing bump though). This dish is a very simple one and I cooked it quiet often during my 1st trimester. Its normally eaten either for breakfast or as an accompaniment with tea in the evening. It should be served straight from wok . I got this recipe from MIL . My mom also made this but I like my MIL recipe. Thanks to her.

Ingredients

1 medium potato boiled and sliced into small bite sized pieces (I don't like peeling them for nutritional reasons)

1 1/2 cup poha / rice flakes

1 tsp oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp urad dal

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 medium sized onion sliced

3 medium hot green chillies

few curry leaves

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp salt

handful of fresh coriander leaves to garnish

Method

Wash the rice flakes thrice and set aside for 5 mins. This will make the poha soft. Meanwhile heat a wok and add oil . When the oil is hot add mustard seeds , cumin seeds , urad dal, green chillies , curry leaves and onion. Saute the onions till they soften and to accelerate this process you can add salt with onions . This will make the onions cook faster. Now add turmeric and potato pieces. Stir it well and add the rice flakes / poha. Mix well and stir for a minute or two. Put of the heat and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot.