Cooking With Swapna

Chicken pizza

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:23:00 +0000

Fresh & delicious homemade pizza with vegetables & shredded chicken.

Ingredients :

For the base :

All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups
Dry yeast - 1 tsp
Warm water - 1/2 cup
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Sugar - 1 tsp
Oil - 3 tbsp

For the Tomato sauce :

Tomato puree - 1 cup
Salt to taste
Tomato ketchup - 1 tbsp
Black pepper powder - 1 tsp
Garlic pods - 2 nos
Onion - 1/2 no
Dried Oregano - 1/2 tsp
Dried basil - 1/2 tsp
Pizza seasoning (optional)
Olive oil (or sunflower) - 1 tsp

For the toppings :

Cooked chicken pieces - 1/2 cup (Shredded chicken sauted in salt & pepper / red chilly powder)
Onion slices (sliced length wise )
Tomato slices (sliced length wise)
Capsicum (sliced length wise)
Shredded mozzarella cheese

Method :

For the base :

1. Dissolve the yeast in the luke warm water & set aside for 10 mins.

2. Mix together the flour, salt, sugar & a tbsp of oil. Now, combine the water & make a dough.

3. Coat the dough with 2 tbsp of oil & keep aside in the warm place till its doubled in the volume.

For the sauce :

4. Heat oil in the pan, add finely chopped garlic & onion.

5. Add the tomato puree, tomato ketchup, salt, pepper & dry seasonings.

Assembling :

6. Now knead the dough & spread it in the greased pizza pan. Preheat the oven at 200 C.

7. Spread the tomato sauce & then top with sliced onions, tomato, capsicum, cooked chicken slices & finally the cheese.

8. Bake it for 20 mins & serve.

Happy baking :)

Chicken tikka Sandwich

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Ingredients :

Chicken tikkas
Onion - 1 no
Tomato - 1no
Capsicum - 1 no
Corriander leaves
Mayonnaise to taste
Chaat masala
Whole wheat bread slices

Method :

Spread the chicken tikkas, onion sliced, tomato sliced, capsicum sliced, corriander leaves chopped, mayonnaise & sprinkle some chaat masala powder between the bread slices & serve.

Perfect for breakfast.

Millagai bajji / Chilly bajji

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:55:00 +0000

Ingredients :

Chickpeas flour - 1 cup
Rice flour - 1 tbsp
Corn flour - 1 tbsp
Chillies - 10 nos
Salt to taste
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp plus 1/2 tsp
A pinch of hing
Chilly powder to spice
Garlic - 1 pod (finely chopped)
Corriander leaves - 1 tbsp (Finely chopped)
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Water
Oil for frying

Method :

1. Mix together the finely chopped corriander leaves, lemon juice, cumin powder (1/2 tsp) & salt.

2. Now split the chillies & spread the corriander leaf mixture inside it.

3. In a seperate bowl, mix together the chickpeas flour, rice flour, cornflour, chilly powder, cumin powder, a pinch of hing, garlic minced, salt to taste & enough water to make a thick batter.

4. Heat the oil on medium heat, and dip the chillies in the above batter & deep fry them in the oil till done.

5. Drain the excess oil in the kitchen towel & serve hot.

Serve with chutney or tomato ketchup.

Pal Kova (Milk kova)

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:46:00 +0000

Happy pongal to all the viewers !!! Pal kova is a classic Indian sweet, made during festival seasons. I love the addition of grated coconut at the end to make it rich & unique. Perfect dish for sweet lovers :)

Ingredients :

Whole milk - 2 litres
Sugar - 2 cups (to taste)
Coconut grated(Without skin) - 1 tbsp
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Saffron strands - 2 nos
Ghee - 1 tsp

Method :

1. Heat the milk in the heavy bottomed pan. Bring it to boil.

2. At this stage, reduce the heat & allow the milk to boil for atleast 2 hrs. Keep stirring it continously.

3. Once, it thickens add the sugar, coconut grated, cardamom powder, saffron strands & keep stirring.

4. When the consistency looks like, you can roll a ball in it add a tsp of ghee & switch off the flame.

5. Refrigerate it or serve it warm.

Enjoy.

Frankfurt crown / Kranz cake

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:43:00 +0000

Happy 2012:) I m starting this year with this delicious, rich & creamy cake. This is most popular cake in frankfurt made with rich vanilla pudding butter cream and caramelized almonds. Its normally made in ring mould. Perfect cake for celebrations.

Ingredients :

For the sponge :

Butter - 100 gms
Sugar - 150 gms
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
A pinch of salt
Eggs - 3 medium sized
All purpose flour - 150 gms
Cornflour - 50 gms
Baking powder - 2 tsp

For almond praline :

Butter - 10 gms
Sugar - 60 gms
Peeled chopped almonds - 125 gms

For the butter cream :

Custard powder - 40 gms
Sugar - 100 gms
Milk - 500 ml
Butter - 225 gms

For decoration :

Red cherries
Strawberry jam - 3 tbsp (dissolved in water & filtered)

Method :

1. Preheat the oven about 180 C & line up the baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Whisk together the butter, sugar, vanilla essence until you have a smooth mixture. Whisk in the eggs, one after the other.

3. Mix together the flour, cornflour and baking powder and whisk into the egg and sugar mixture.

4. Spoon the batter into the baking pan and bak it for 40 mins or until done.

For the praline :

5. Heat the butter, sugar and almond in a pan until the mixture has turned brown. Pour onto piece of foil and leave to cool.

For the butter cream :

6. Make the custard following the instructions on the packet but add 100 gms of sugar and 500 ml of milk. Leave the custard to cool, stirring occasionally.

7. Whisk the butter into the custard mixture until smooth & soft. Make sure the butter and cream in the room temperature

Assembling the cake :

8. Cut the cake horizontally into two or three layers. Spread the jam on the bottom layer.

9. Spread the butter cream on the bottom two layers. Then put all the layers back on top of each other to reconstruct the cake.

10. Coat the entire cake with the rest of butter cream and sprinkle the praline and decorate with the cherries on the top. Refrigerate the cake for about 2 hrs before serving.

Happy baking.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:01:00 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY BELOVED READERS

Lemon juice

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000

This lemon juice will help alkalize the body. I like to drink it through a straw to protect my teeth:)

Ingredients :

1/2 Lemon
A glass of water
Sugar to taste
A pinch of salt

Method :

Squeeze the lemon juice & add to a glass of water. Add sugar & a pinch of salt. Mix well & serve cool.

Banana Walnut muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:59:00 +0000

Banana muffins are simple to bake by just combining both wet & dry ingredients together. It taste little crunchy outside and very moist inside when served immediately. Outside layer tends to become softer when stored & served next day, yet taste delicious & perfect for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

Ingredients :

Walnuts - 1 cup
All purpose flour - 1 3/4 cups
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
Eggs - 2 nos
Unsalted butter, melted & cooled - 1/2 cup
Large bananas - 3 nos
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

Method :

1. Preheat the oven at 180 C & line up the muffin pan with paper liners.

2. Sieve & combine together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon powder, salt, nuts & sugar.

3. In another bowl, combine together the mashed bananas, melted butter, lightly beaten eggs & vanilla extract.

4. Now fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined.

5. Spoon the batter in the prepared muffins pans & bake it for 20 - 25 mins or until done.

Serve warm.

Bitter gourd curry - spicy & tangy

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:34:00 +0000

Good, healthy and nutritious vegetable. Due to medical values, we try to have it once in a week. Boiling and deep frying the bitter gourd removes the bitterness and taste delicious with rice and rotis.

Ingredients :

Bittergourd - 100 gms
Oil - 1 tbsp
Onion - 2 large sized
Tamarind pulp - 1 tsp
Jaggery (or sugar) - 1/4 tsp

For Dry roast :

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Black pepper corns - 1 tsp
Corriander seeds - 1 tsp
Red chillies to spice (arround 3 to 4)
Ginger - 1 inch piece
Garlic - 2 pods

Grind them to smooth paste by adding little water.

Method :

1. Boil the water and switch off the flame. Put the chopped bitter gourd in the water & cover it for 10 mins.

2. Drain the bitter gourd and deep fry them in the oil. Keep aside.

3. Heat oil in the pan, add onions and saute till tender.

4. Add the grounded paste, tamarind pulp & cook.

5. Add the fried bitter gourd and jaggery & cook for another 5 mins on low flame.

Serve with rice.

Dairy-free chocolate cake with chocolate frosting

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:27:00 +0000

Best dairy free chocolate cake which turns out to be the best all the time. This rich and creamy frosting makes this cake more delicious. Merry christmas to all my readers.

Ingredients :

All purpose flour - 3 cups
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Baking soda - 1 tsp
Cocoa powder - 2/3 cup
Sugar - 2 cups
Vinegar - 2 tbsp
Chilled water - 2 cups
Vegetable oil - 2/3 cup
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

For frosting :

Unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped - 120 gms
Unsalted butter - 2/3 cup
Icing sugar - 1 1/3 cups
Vanilla extract - 1 1/2 tsp
Toasted almonds for surrounding the cake
Golden & pearl sugar balls for decoration

Method :

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C. Lightly grease and flour the cake tin.

2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa into large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

3. Pour into prepared tin and bake for 40 to 45 mins.

For the frosting :

4. Melt the chocolate & allow it to cool completely.

5. Cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar & vanilla extract.

6. Add the melted chocolate and mix slowly until incorporated.

7. Cut the cake horizontally and spread the frosting & finally over the cake.

8. Now decorate the cake with toasted almonds in the side & on the top.

Happy baking :)

Meat balls in spicy coconut gravy

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:22:00 +0000

Ingredients :

Kheema - 400 gms
Cashews - 13 nos
Salt to taste
Cinnamon stick
Cloves - 3 nos
Cardomom - 2 nos
Onion - 2 nos
Riped Tomato - 1 large or 2 small
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Chilly powder - 2 tsp (adjust according to ur spice level)
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Coconut paste (I used 1/2 coconut)
Corriander leaves

Method :

1. Grind the kheema along with the salt.

2. Make small kheema balls resembling like a golf ball & stuff one cashew in the middle & keep it aside.

3. Heat oil in the heavy bottomed pan, add cinnamon, cloves, cardomom and onion.

4. Saute them for few mins till onion turns golden brown, add ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder.

5. Add tomatos, chilly powder & salt to taste.

6. Now arrange the khemma balls inside. Cover & cook for 15 mins, till kheema becomes tender.

7. Add coconut paste & cook for further 10 min. Garnish with corriander leaves.

Serve with rice.

French Toast

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:28:00 +0000

French toast most popular american breakfast can be prepared with lots of different flavors and variation.

Sometimes I like to add cinnamon or vanilla essence for little variation. This can be served by dusting the powdered sugar or just like that. Kids will love it :)

Ingredients :

Bread slices - 4 to 5 nos
Milk - 1/2 cup
Egg - 1 no
Sugar to taste
Cinnamon powder (optional) - 1/2 tsp
Butter / oil for frying
Powdered sugar (optional) for dusting

Method :

1. Whisk together the milk, egg, sugar & cinnamon powder.

2. Heat the pan, now dip the bread slices in the egg mixture & cook them till golden brown in either side.

3. Dust it with powdered sugar and serve.

Serve warm.

Gingerbread - Christmas celebration starts

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:44:00 +0000

My christmas baking starts with this delicious gingerbread. It taste delicious with the flavour of ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg powder. There are many ways to decorate this gingerbread. Here I used the confectioners frosting for the decoration. Instead we can use the raisins and nuts too. And this recipe is adopted from "Joy of Baking".

Ingredients :

All purpose flour - 3 cups
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Baking soda - 3/4 tsp
Ginger powder - 2 tsp
Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
Nutmeg - 1/4 tsp
Cloves powder - 1/4 tsp
Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Egg - 1 large no
Molasses - 2/3 cup

Frosting :

Powdered sugar / Icing sugar - 2 cups
Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Light cream or milk - 1 1/2 tbsp

Method :

1. Sieve together the flour, baking soda, all spices and salt.

2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and molasses and beat until well combined.

3. Gradually add the flour and mix.

4. Divide the dough and wrap it and refrigerate it until firm (atleast 2 hrs)

5. Roll the dough into desired shape. Preheat the oven at 350 F and bake it for 10 mins or until done.

For the frosting :

6. Beat the butter and add vanilla extract. Gradually add the powdered sugar & finally the milk and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.

7. Decorate the gingerbread with the frosting.

Merry christmas :)

Strawberry Milkshake

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:49:00 +0000

Refreshing, creamy, rich & delicious milk shake just perfect for kids after school.

Ingredients :

Strawberry - 1/4 cup
Sugar - 2 tsp
Vanilla ice cream - 2 scoops
Milk - 1 cup

Method :

1. Place strawberries in the bowl of a blender and blend until finely chopped.

2. Add milk and blend until almost smooth.

3. Add ice cream and sugar and continue blending until thick and well combined.

Serve immediately.

Pickled onions - Perfect for tandoori chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:58:00 +0000

This pickled onions are perfect when served with tandoori chicken, grilled food, hot dogs & in the burgers. All we need to do is slice the onions & soak it in the boiling water and finally mix it with lemon juice and salt. Very simple & easy to make yet taste crunchy and delicious.

Ingredients

Onion - 1 no, thinly sliced
Red chilly powder to taste
Salt to taste
Red color - a pinch
Lemon juice - 3/4 cup, enough to submerge onions

Method :

1. In a saucepan, boil a cup of water. Once the water is boiled, switch off the flame and add the sliced onions and cover the pan with the lid. Let it rest for 30 mins and then drain the water thoroughly.

2. In a bowl, mix together the onions, red chillypowder, salt, red color & lemon juice.

Ready to serve.

Pesto Trapanese

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:43:00 +0000

Most popular Italian dish which is highly nutritious and healthy. Crunchy taste of almonds with fresh basil and tomatoes makes this pasta more delicious.

Ingredients :

13 oz dried pasta
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 1/4 cups basil leaves, plus extra for garnishing
2 fresh red chillies, seeded
1 1/2 cups roughly chopped ripe tomatoes
1 cup almonds with skin on, coarsely grounded
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to serve (optional)

Method :

1. Cook the pasta in a salted boiling water according to the package instructions until done.

2. Meanwhile, put the garlic cloves, basil, chillies and tomatoes in a food processor and process until finely chopped but not smooth. Stir in the ground almonds and oil, and season with salt.

3. Drain the pasta and return to the pan. Add the pesto and stir thoroughly. Serve immediately with a sprinkling of grated cheese and garnish with basil leaves.

Enjoy.

Cumin Seed Cooler

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:47:00 +0000

This drink is usually served as a pre-dinner appetizer. You can adjust the seasoning to your taste, although the final drink should be a mixture of sweet, salty and spicy.

Ingredients :

Cumin seeds - 2 tsp
Tamarind paste - 1 tbsp, mixed with 6 tbsp of water
600 ml water
Grated jaggery - 2 tbsp
Black salt - 1/2 tsp
Finely chopped corriander leaves - 4 tbsp
Curry leaves - 1 tbsp

Method :

1. Dry roast the cumin seeds in a small saucepan for a minute or so, until they start to darken. Crush them to a fine powder.

2. Combine the tamarind, water, jaggery and black salt in a jug, stirring constantly until the jaggery has dissolved. Stir in the ground cumin, corriander leaves & curry leaves.

Serve.

Sprouted Green gram sundal - Very healthy

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:11:00 +0000

Sprouted green gram sundal is very healthy & easy to make. Even if we have no time to sprout the green gram, we can soak it for few hrs and make this delicious sundal. It's really healthy :)

Ingredients :

Sprouted green gram - 2 cups
Oil - 1 tbsp (or ghee)
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
A pinch of hing
Red chillies to spice (arround 3 to 4)
Curry leaves - 1 tbsp
Onion - 1 no
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilly powder - 1/4 tsp (optional)
Coconut pieces - 1 tsp
Salt to taste

Method :

1. Soak the green gram overnight, drain the water, tie them in the clean cloth & keep aside for one day for them to sprout)

2. Microwave the sprouted green gram for 4 to 5 mins or until cooked.

3. Heat oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, red chillies, curry leaves and pinch of hing.

4. Add the finely chopped onion and saute. Add turmeric powder, chilly powder, salt to taste and coconut pieces.

5. Add the cooked green grams & saute.

Serve warm.

Onion Tomato raita -Perfect dip

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Raita is always a good accomplishments with biryani, pulav & with parathas. Addition of coconut to this raita brings more flavour & taste extremly delicious like served in marriage ceremonies.

Ingredients :

Curd / Yoghurt - 1 cup
Onion - 1 no
Tomato - 1 no
Green chillies - 2 nos
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Grated coconut - 1 tsp (optional)
Salt to taste
Corriander leaves - 1 tbsp
Chaat masala - a pinch (optional)

Method :

1. Finely chop the onion & tomato. If the tomato is riped, removed the seeds inside.

2. Grind together green chillies and coconut.

3. Mix together the curd, finely chopped onion, tomato, coconut paste, cumin powder, salt to taste, corriander leaves & chaat masala (optional).

4. Regrigerate it until served.

Note:

If coconut is not used in this raita, just add the finely chopped green chillies along with the onion.

Brownies mit pecan

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:32:00 +0000

Are you new in baking? You don't have electricmixer? Are you a chocolate lover? Then here is the recipe which you need to try. Crispy top crust & moist texture with wonderful chocolate flavour along with a pecan crunch. All we need is just a bowl to melt the chocolate and butter and mix all other ingredients together using the wooden spoon. It taste wonderful with a scoop of vanilla icecream. The coffee lovers can replace the cocoa powder with coffee powder for different flavour. Good way to start the baking :)

Ingredients :

All purpose flour - 3/4 cup
Sugar - 1 1/4 cup (for bittersweet chocolate or 1 cup for semi-sweet chocolate)
Bittersweet (or semi-sweet) chocolate - 150 gms
Butter - 1/2 cup
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
Unsweetened cocoa powder - 2 tbsp
Eggs- 3 nos
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Pecans - 1/2 cup (chopped)

Method :

Preheat the oven at 180 C and line up the baking pan with wax paper.

1. Sieve the flour & salt together. Keep aside.

2. Melt the chocolate and butter together over a saucepan of simmering water.

3. Remove from heat and stir in the cooca powder and sugar.

4. Whisk in the vanilla essence & eggs one at a time.

5. Finally, stir in the sifted flour & chopped pecans. Bake it for 25 or 30 mins or until done.

Happy baking :)

Peanut Chaat - Quick & easy snack

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:40:00 +0000

Quick and easy chat which serves as a best starter for the get-together parties. We can make many variations in this by adding tamarind chutney, green chutney, papadis, yoghurt, sev, boiled chick peas, potatoes or even pani puris. It taste really yummy :)

Ingredients :

Roasted peanut (or boiled peanut) - 1 cup
Onion (Finely chopped) - 1/4 cup
Tomatoes (Finely chopped ) - 1 no
Green chillies (very finely chopped) - 1 no
Red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp (to taste)
Finely chopped corriander leaves - 1 tbsp
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Chaat masala - 1/2 tsp
Dry mango powder - 1/4 tsp
Cucumber (finely chopped) - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method :

Mix together all the ingredients & serve immediately.

Phirni

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:01:00 +0000

As the festival season is approaching, most of the houses will be flavoured with different sweets & savouries items. And this is one of the famous Indian dessert made by soaking and grinding the rice & boiling them in the milk with the flavour of cardamom powder and saffron strands. Very easy to make & taste delicious. Perfect sweet for diwali :)

Ingredients :

Rice - 1/4 cup
Sugar - 3 tbsp or to taste
Milk - 3 cups
Condensed milk - 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
Blanched almonds - 3 tbsp
Saffron strands (optional)

Method :

1. Soak the rice for one hour and grind them coarsely.

2. Bring milk to boil in the heavy sauce pan & slowly add the rice and sugar to taste. Stir constantly till the milk reduces to half the quantity.

3. At this stage add the condensed milk, saffron strands (optional) and cardamom powder.

4. Remove from heat and add almonds.

Chill & serve.

Gobi Capsicum Sabzi (Partially Microwave)

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:54:00 +0000

Flavour of cauliflower and capsicum go well together & taste absolutely delicious for rotis, chapathis & naan. Cauliflower and bell peppers are more nutricious and very rich in vitamin & fiber. Try this & you will like it :)

Ingredients :

Gobi / Cauliflower florets - 2 cups
Green capsicum / Bell peppers - 1 cup
Oil - 1 tbsp
Onion - 2 nos
Tomato - 1 no
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilly powder to spice
Salt to taste
Garam masala - 1 tsp
Corriander leaves for garnishing

Method :

1. Clean the cauliflower florets & microwave for about 7 to 8 mins or until cooked.

2. Meanwhile heat oil in the frying pan, add finely chopped onions and saute till tender.

3. Add turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste, chopped tomatoes and salt to taste. Saute.

4. Add chilly powder & capsicum. Cook for 2 mins.

5. Finally add the cooked cauliflower florets, garam masala & cook together for about 2 mins.

6. Add finely chopped corriander leaves.

Serve with rotis.

Cabbage Poriyal - Microwave version

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:26:00 +0000

Simple & easy side dish, perfect with rice.

Ingredients :

Cabbage - 1 small sized
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 tbsp
Red chillies - 5 nos
Salt to taste
Grated coconut - 1/4 cup

Method :

1. Chop the cabbage and microwave cook for 10 to 12 mins or until done.

2. Meanwhile, heat a tbp of oil in the pan and temper mustard seeds, urad dal, red chillies & curry leaves.

3. Now add the cooked cabbage to the seasonings & grated coconut. Fry them for 2 mins & add salt as required.

Serve with rice.

Rava Ladoo - Vijaya Dashami special

noreply@blogger.com (Swapna Pravin) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Happy Vijaya Dashami to all the readers. Rava ladoo most popular Indian sweet is made with semolina. More the quantity of ghee we add it taste extremely delicious. To make it rich I added cashewnuts, almonds & raisins. When stored in air tight container, it will stay for one week too. Perfect snack for kids & to celebrate the festival fun.

Ingredients :

Rava - 1 cup
Sugar - 3/4 to 1 cup
Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
Milk or water - 1/2 cup
Saffron strands - a pinch
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Nuts (cashew nuts, raisins) - 1/4 cup
Ghee or oil (be generous) - 2 tbsp

Method :

1. Roast the rava in the ghee or cup till light golden brown in color.

2. Then add the sugar & roast for further 2 mins.

3. Meanwhile, roast the nuts and keep aside.

4. Now, add the grated coconut & fry for few mins.

5. Add the cardamom powder, saffron strands and roasted nuts. Combine.

6. Finally, add the milk & switch off the flame once well combined.

7. Make balls out of this mixture when it is still warm. More milk can be added if needed.

8. Cool the balls completely and store it in the air tight container.

Happy cooking :)