Monday, August 30, 2010

Authentic Bindi Masala

There are times when you are bored with the same method of preparation of a particular sabji especially Bindi where I have only a couple of methods.  I thought of mixing and matching masalas and voila, the end product was awesome and then on, this preparation is always a hit. Aptly termed 'Bindi masala', I am sure you would enjoy this.

Ingredients:

Tender bindi - 1/2 kg
Onions (medium) - 1
Tomato (medium) - 1
Sambar powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Hing - a pinch
Urad dal - 1/4 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves- a sprig
Oil

Chop the head and the tail of bindi after washing and drying well. I chose similar size ones and was easy to cook and a visual treat too once it was done.

Take two tablespoons of oil in kadai, add urad dal, mustard seeds and when it splutters, add curry leaves and hing.  Add chopped onions and keep stirring till it turns translucent. Now, add the chopped tomatoes.  Keep stirring in medium fire till it becomes slightly cooked.

Add the bindi and then add sambar powder,coriander powder, turmeric powder,chilly powder and salt in that order.  Stir slowly and cover just for a few mintues. After two to three minutes, remove the lid.  Keep stirring till it is done.

This goes well with rice and a perfect combination with garam garam rotis.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Unique quotient of Relationships

Talk about any relationship, be it  between relatives or friends, is very unique and abstract.  Strange is the thought of how this develops. When a man and a woman enters into a marital relationship, they take a vow to be there for each other under the same roof.  Over a period of togetherness, they develop an unbreakable bond for which there cannot be a 'term'.  As time passes by, the man and the woman become very good friends surpassing their physical attractions.  This is only a general statement and might not be true in many cases.

A small example to cite: This is about a couple who had been married for a few months and the closeness between them is just building up.  The man meets with an accident and is in a critical state.  The wife is beside him 24 hours. His siblings fly from here and there to be with him.. When the man comes  out of the danger state, he tells proudly to his friends about the air dashing of his brothers and sisters who had come to see him and how much they love each other.  His friend replied that his siblings had to come as it is a blood relation and it is natural for them being drawn  closer in times of difficulties. But, he should,  in turn be proud of his wife who has been connected with him only for a few months and is there shedding tears and keeping vigil 24 hours with prayers at heart. That is the greatness of this relationship. This feeling of belongingness goes much beyond  the marital status. 

Relationship is the vibe one feels when you get along with someone. Not everyone can gel with anyone. It is an unique quotient .   Relationships widen as we grow and meet more people in different places.  But, do we recall each and everyone of them?  Travel is an ideal time when you meet new people but most of them bid goodbye once the purpose is contained.  I know of many of my relatives and friends who share the most wonderful relationship with their pets. This is an inner feeling which is shown and reciprocated.

It is difficult to build a relationship but dissolves so easily without we realizing that it has ended. There are other  times  when you meet your friend after a few years, you can sense the current flowing between each other. It looks as if you had not missed much and easy to get back to the news of the good old days and also updation of each other.

It is fact that we cannot live alone,need to have someone to talk to and exchange views and news.  I am sure many of us would be having someone , be it a friend or sibling with whom you can confide all your feelings.  For some of us, it may be the spouse himself.  Relationship develops on its own over a period of time and it is worth all the treasures of the world. There are some who come close to us and leave footprints and we are never the same again.

Was impressed by the following quote, hence thought would share with you all.  Do try to revive your old  friendship and also develop new ones.

'You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.' ~Frederick Buechner

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Yummylicious pepper cheese uthappam


Cooking can get very monotonous with the daily routine and a set of regular dishes.  Thus, came the concept of this pepper cheese uthappam and take my word, it is yummylicious and from then on, plain uthappams were history in my kitchen :):)

Ingredients:

Dosa batter
Cheddar cheese and Mozarella cheese - grated
Capsicum/Pepper - 1 finely chopped
Onions - 1 finely chopped
Tomato - 1 finely chopped
Green chillies - as required

In a pan, pour a tablespoon full of oil and saute the onions and keep stirring till it is soft. Keep it aside.

Pour a ladle full of dosa batter in the dosa tava. Make it slightly thick.  Pour little oil around the uthappam.  Now spread the chopped capsicum/pepper, tomatoes and the onions. Cover with a lid and cook for three minutes in medium heat. Now, spread the cheese mix and cover again for just 30 seconds.

Yummylicious pepper cheese uthappam is ready to devour.Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can add grated carrots or any other vegetable of your choice. The flavour that hits your palate is the melting cheese.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Zesty Lemon cake with raisins


I have been wanting to bake a lemon cake for quite sometime and nothing could have been better than baking it for my mom's birthday. It was an instant hit and the freshness of the lemon lingers in your tastebuds for a long time.


Ingredients:

Flour - 1 1/2 cups
Sugar - 1 cup
Butter - 1 stick
Eggs - 2
Baking powder - 1/4 tsp
Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
Lemon zest grated - 2 tbsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice - 6 tbsp
Buttermilk - 12 tbsp
Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
Raisins - 1/4 cup
For the glaze:
Confectioners sugar - 1 cup
Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
  • Sugar butter mix: Cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy.  Slowly add the eggs one at a time and then add the lemon zest too.  Keep it aside.
  • Flour mix: Sift together flour,baking powder and the baking soda and salt and keep it aside. 
  • Lemon buttermilk mix:Combine  lemon juice,buttermilk and the vanilla extract and keep it aside.
  • Add flour and lemon buttermilk mix to the sugar butter mixture alternatively beginning and ending with flour. Add raisins and gently mix.
  • Heat the oven to 350 deg. and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, checking on and off.
  • Once the cake is done, allow it to cool.
  • For the glaze, mix confectioners sugar and the lemon juice until smooth and pour it on the cake and allow it to fall over.

Zesty lemon cake is all set to devour. I am sure you would want to make this over and over again.
Related Posts with Thumbnails