Idli with onion chutney

Idli is all time breakfast  to our family,which is very healthy and easy to prepare.Idli  or steamed lentil dumplings can be taken with variety of chutneys.All time my favorite one is Idli with onion chutney.I learnt this chutney from my mom,who is a fabulous cook.Whenever she cooks this chutney I end up eating  more Idlis.This is so tempting chutney that we can't stop asking more idlis.Today even my kids love to have this with Idli.Here goes my onion chutney.

Ingredients for onion chutney

• Onions 3 medium size ( can use one very big onion which we get here in US)
• Red chillies 3 to 4( can add more spices depends upon your spice level)
• Jeera 1/2 tspn
• Ginger 3 small pieces( Small gooseberry size)
• Tamarind ( small piece like gooseberry size)
• Tomato small( optional,you can use only tamarind)
• oil 2 tbspn
• salt to taste

For seasoning

• Mustard seeds 1/2 tspn
• Urad dal 1/4 tspn
• Red chilli 1
• curry leaves 2 strings

Procedure:

• Heat  oil in a pan, add  jeera,when starts spluttering add  chopped onions,red chillies,ginger.
• Fry well until onions changes the color ,fry around 10 mins in medium flame.
• When onions  and other spices fried well add tamarind, salt.
• Switch off the stove after one min.Let the mixture cool completely.
• Add 1/4 cup of water while grinding if you prefer the chutney should be lighter.
• Now for tadka or seasoing ,heat 1 tbspn of oil in pan add mustard seeds,urad dal,1 redhilli,curry leaves.when they start splutter add onion mixture boil for 1 more in tadka.
• Yummy onion chutney is ready.Enjoy with idli.
  

Also sending this to srivalli's Come join us for breakfast event

Blueberry pie

Blueberries are repeatedly ranked in the U.S diet as having one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits.Blueberries one of the few fruits native to North America,blueberries have been enjoyed by native Americans for hundred of years.After many years of research on blueberry antioxidants and their potential benefits for the nervous system and for brain health,there is exciting new evidence that blueberries can improve memory.Blueberries have reached superstar status in terms of their unique health benefits.Today I'm baking yummy blueberry pie or call it a cake.I'M POSTING THIS RECIPE IN BLOGGING MARATHON#52 under the theme seasonal foods.Here goes my recipe.

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers  2 cups( Grounded)
• Butter 4 teaspoons
• Fresh or frozen blue berries 2 cups
• Lemon juice 2 tbspns
• Gelatin 2 teaspoons ( unflavoured)
• Fat free Cream cheese 8 oz
• 14oz sweetened condensed milk
• Fresh mint leaves
  

Procedure:

• Preheat oven to 350F .Grease baking pan lightly with butter or oil.
• Combine crumbs and butter in a pan.Bake 10 mins in preheated oven.
• Now blend blueberries into puree.( keep few just to decorate it on top)keep aside
• Sprinkle gelatin on top and stand for 10 mins
• Microwave for 10 sec to dissolve gelatin
• Now beat cream cheese,condensed milk, blueberry mix in a blender.
• Pour this mixture on top of baked crust mixture.
• Refrigerate it for 8 hrs.Then decorate it with blueberries and few mint leaves( If it doesn't set after refrigeration,freeze it for 1 hr)
  

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Papaya mint& ginger flavored juice

Papaya fruit is sweet and a soft butter like consistency ,it is no wonder the papaya was reputable called the "fruit of the angles" by Christopher Columbus. once considered quite exotic,they can now be found in markets thought out the year.papaya not only good in taste but are rich sources of antioxidant nutrients such as carotene vitamin and  minerals.They are also good source of fiber,which has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels.Today I'm  posting a wonderful delicious papaya juice with slight ginger and mint flavour.I'm  posting papaya juice in Bm#52 under  the theme Seasonal produce.Here goes my recipe.

Ingredients:

• Papaya 1/2  medium size
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 teaspoon sugar
• Ginger 3 to 4 small pieces
• Mint leaves 2
• Cold water 1/2 cup

Procedure:

• Cut  and peel papaya and chop into small pieces .
• Blend papaya pieces,orange juice,sugar,ginger,mint ,cold water in a blender.
• Adjust sugar as per your taste.optionallly add lemon juice to increase sourness.
• Fresh papaya juice is ready .Pour it in chilled serving glasses and serve immediately.

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Raspberry cake

Wonderfully delicious, bright red raspberry is among the most popular  berries to relish.They are rich source of health promoting plant derived nutrients,minerals,and vitamins that are essential for optimum health.Delicious raspberries are low in calories and saturated fats but are rich source of dietary fiber,and antioxidants.Fresh raspberries are excellent source of vitamin c,which is also a powerful natural antioxidant.My daughter just loves berries,she told me to prepare raspberry cake.She demanded me with frosting,hmm she did frosting with me. Somehow i never tried frosting on cakes before,may be this is my first frosting . Coming to the recipe, it is completely my own thought and it tasted awesome.so ,thought of posting in my blog..Today I'm posting simple Raspberry cake in Blogging Marathon #52 under the theme seasonal produce.Here goes my recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour(  1 cup +1/2cup)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup raspberries( blend 5 to 6 into puree ,keep remaining aside)
• 1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup sugar(powdered)
• 1 tspn  rose syrup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Procedure:

• Preheat oven to 350F(175c).Grease baking pan with olive oil or butter.
• Take a bowl,Cream together sugar and butter in a bowl.Beat eggs at one time,stir in vanilla essence. Combine flour and baking powder ,add to the creamed mixture, rasberry puree,rose syrup, mix it well.Add milk until batter is smooth.
• Pour batter in the baking pan.Bake for 30 to 40 mins in the preheated oven.( or  until tooth pick inserted comes out clean.)

Frosting:
Add 1 tspn of rose syrup in cream cheese frosting and decorate as per your wish.

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Beetroot rice

Beetroot rice or beetroot pulav is a very healthy and easy recipe.Beetroot also known simply as the beet,has been gaining in popularity as a new super food due to recent studies claiming that beets juice can improve athletic performance,lower blood pressure and increase blood flow.Beetroot is a rich source of folate and manganese and also contains thiamine,riboflavin,vitamin B-6,Magnesium,phosphorus,potassium,zinc,copper and sodium.My daughter love to have colorful food so thought this will be good for her.Very easy to prepare with few ingredients.I'm posting this recipe in BM#52 under the theme weekend special dinners.

Ingredients

• Beetroot chopped 1 cup
• Basmathi rice 2 cups
• Vegetables( I use carrot , cauliflower and beans too) 1 cup
• Onion 1 medium size chopped
• Green chilli 2 ( sliced vertically)
• Ginger garlic paste 2 tspns
• whole garam masala( clove,cinnamon,cardamom each 2,bayleaf 1)
• oil 1 tbspn( preferebly ghee)
  

Procedure:

• Soak basmati rice in water at least 1 hr.
• Heat 1 tbspn of oil or ghee in a pan add whole garam masala,followed by chopped onions and sliced green chilli.
• When onions are little brown add ginger garlic paste fry well until the raw smell goes off.
• Now add chopped beetroot followed by chopped vegetables.Fry few mins( around 5 to 8),then add drained rice and mix it well.Add 4 cups of water and enough salt.
• Shift this mixture to the rice cooker and cook until it is done.Yummy beetroot rice is ready.Enjoy just like that or can have it with curd.

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Aloo kulcha

Kulcha is a type of leavened bread eaten in India and pakistan,made from maida or wheat flour.It is usually eaten with chole. Kulcha.Kulcha is a typical punjabi recipe.Amritsar, a city in Punjab is famous for its Amritsari Kulchas.I tasted different varieties of naas in resturants and havent tried any kulchas. So, thought of doing it at home.For a change last weekend I tired Aloo kulchas. They really tasted awesome.It is very easy to prepare on stove top.I'M posting this recipe in BM#52 UNDER THE THEME Weekend Special dinners.I adapted my recipe here...Here goes my recipe.

Ingredients:

• Maida 3 cups
• Curd 3 tbspns
• Baking soda 1/3 Tspn
• Baking powder 1/2 Tspn
• Sugar 1 Tspn
• Oil 1 tbspn
• Salt 3/4 Tspn
• Ajwain seeds( carom seeds) 1 Tspn

For filling:

• Potatoes 3 to 4 boiled
• Salt 1/2 Tspn
• Green chilli 1-2 chopped
• Ginger  1 small piece
• Amchur powder 1/2 Tspn
• Coriander powder 1 Tspn
• Red chilli powder ( 1/4 Tspn  or very less)
• Garam masala 1/4 Tspn
• Coriander leaves 1 tbspn

Procedure:

• Take a bowl, mix maida,baking soda,baking powder,sugar,salt oil.Prepare a smooth dough with lukewarm water.Punch the dough 2 to 3 times to get smooth kulchas.
• Add 1 tspn of oil to the dough and cover it with lid in warm place.Keep it aside for 3 hrs.
• After 3 hours the dough will raise,punch the dough  and knead it smooth.

For filling

• Boil potatoes,peel the skin off add salt,greenchilli,ginger,coriander powder,amchoor powder,redchilli powder,garam masala powder and coriander leaves.
• Make 6 to 8 round balls of the dough.Make potato mixture into round balls.
• Take one ball of the dough and roll it into a flat disc of 3 inch,put the potato mixture ball on the disc and press it with hands.Close and fold the disc from all sides to make kulcha.
• Now roll this kulcha into flat disc with the roller.Add some carom seeds on top of kulcha and roll lightly.
• Heat a  pan  add little oil,put the kulcha in the pan and roast it until it just brown on both sides.Continue the same process with the rest of kulchas.
• Serve  these kulchas with curd or pickle or chole curry.
  

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Pav bhaji

Pav bhaji is a traditonal Maharashtrian cusine,which is popular all over India.The pav bhaji is a spicy preparation with a mixture of vegetables,either whole or mashed,a generous dose of fresh tomatoes,a dollop of butter,optional.Pav means bread.Bhaji in Marathi means vegetable dish.Pav chaji consisits of bhaji( a thick vegetable based curry) garnished with coriander,chopped onion,and a dash of lemon and lightly toasted pav.The pav is buttered on all sides.I first tasted pav bhaji in Mumbai,when visited my sisters home.It was awesome.It's been 3 years harldy I cook bhaji at home.Last week when I was watching a cookery show tempted much and decided to do that in weekend.Hmm I know it will take more time to cook both for the meal.I prepared pavs in the morning and cooked only bhajji in the evening.in that way we enjoyed pav bhaji for dinner.I followed Vahrehvah recipe.It was awesome ! kids loved to the core.Enjoyed every bite.I'm posting this recipe in BM#52 under the theme Weekend special dinner.Here goes my recipe.

Ingredients for the simple Pav:
Yeilds- 12 to 15 pavs.

• Maida 7 cups small( mine is 160 ml cup)
• Yeast 7 gram
• warm water 31/2 cups
• Butter 7 teaspns
• Sugar 1 teaspoon
• Salt 1 teaspoon.

Procedure:

• Mix yeast and sugar( first mix yeast and sugar then add warm water) in warm water and let it stand for 5 mins,until you see foam in the top or bubbly.
• Then add salt to the flour and mix with yeast mixture until smooth elastic dough for about 10 mins.
• Place bread dough  in a greased bowl and cover,let it rise until double for 1 hr.
• After 1 hour punch down the dough and mix again very well with flour.Make small balls and arrange it on baking sheet sprinkled with flour on the bottom of the sheet.
• Cover and let it rise until doubled around 1 hour.You may coat with egg white or little milk for shine on the top.
• Bake at 400Ffor 20 to 30 mins until the bread is deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped inside.
• Remove from the baking sheet and let it cool.Brush with butter or oil

For the Bhaji or curry

• carrots 2 to 3 chopped
• 1/2 cup beans chopped
• 1/4 cup green peas fresh or frozen.
• 2 to 3 medium size potatoes
• 1 cup cauliflower chopped
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 2 large tomatoes finely chopped
• 1 green pepper or capsicum chopped
• 2 tpn of ginger and garlic paste.
• 2 green chillies chopped
• 2 to 3 tbspn of pav bajji masala( store bought)
• 1 tspn of chilli powder
• 1 tspn of cumin seeds
• 1 tspn of turmeric powder
• Grated paneer 2 tbspns
• Butter 2 to 3 tbspn ( preferably amul butter)
• salt to taste

Procedure:

• Boil all vegetables in a pressure cooker except tomatoes,onion and capsicum. Add enough water just to cover veggies.
• Chop onions,green chilli,tomatoes finely and keep aside.
• Heat 2 tbspn of butter(  I  love to use amul butter for bajji),when it melts add cumin seeds, chopped onions.
• Fry onions until they are translucent.Then add ginger garlic paste.,saute well till the raw smell goes off.
• Add green chillies,fry well then add chopped tomatoes fry themtill they become soft.Cover with lid let itfry around 8 to 10 mins)
• Now add chopped capsicum saute ew mins  then add turmeric powder,chilli powder,salt,pav bajji masal( I use store bought everest masala).
• Time to add boiled and mashed veggies now.Add mashed veggies and combine well with masala.Add enough water for the curry.
• We can add grated paneer if we want.I added to satisfy my kids tastebuds.Let the curry cooks in medium  to low flame around 10 to 15 mins.Add extra water if it is too dry,cook few  more mins.
• when the curry is done ,can add 1 or 2 tbspn of butter if we want and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.Sprinkle some chopped onions,squeeze little bit lemon juice on top.
• Enjoy yummy bhajji with pav!

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