Alu Gobhi

• Cauliflower is one of our families favourite vegetable.The secret of getting the perfect taste of this vegetable is not to overcook it.This reminds me of an incident which happened to one of my friend who tried cooking it for the 1st time.

She asked her friend how to cook it and her friend said "bas cooker mein ek sitti rakh de!"(keep in a pressure cooker for 1 whistle)Well!she did that and what she got was something which didn't even faintly resemble cauliflower.After that she just threw it in trash with disgust.Wish she could have called me and I would have given her some idea how to salvage the disaster.

So here's the recipe :
Ingredients:

• Cauliflower-1 medium washed,stems removed and cut into medium florets
• Potatoes-2 washed and cut into cubes
• Onions-2 cut into stripes
• Green chillies-2 cut fine.
• Tomatoes-1 big cut fine
• Ginger garlic paste-1 Tsp
• Red chili powder-1 Tsp
• Dhania -Jeera powder-1 Tsp
• Garam masala powder-1 Tsp
• Turmeric powder-1/2 Tsp
• Salt- 1-1 1/2 Tsp or to taste.
• Oil-2 Tablespoons

Method:
Take 1 tbsp oil in a kadai and fry the potatoes for about 5 min.
Remove from fire,add some more oil and fry the onions till light brown.
Add the ginger garlic paste and fry some more.
Add the tomatoes and fry some more.
Add the cauliflower,stir and add turmeric and salt.
Add the fried potatoes,cover and cook for 5 min on medium fire.
Then add all the remaining masalas stir well ,cover and cook till cauliflower and potatoes are cooked crisp-tender.Add a little water if needed.
Garnish with coriander leaves.

Simple potato bhaji

This is my husband Ashok's favourite bhaji,which he can eat for breakfast,lunch and dinner as well!


Ingredients:

• Potatoes -3 medium sized
• Onions -2 medium sized
• Garlic -2 cloves
• Ginger -1 inch pc.
• salt -1 1/2 tsp
• turmeric -1/2 tsp
• sambhar powder -1 tsp
• red chili powder - 1/2 tsp
• oil -2 tbsps
• Mustard seeds -1/2 tsp
• urad dal (black gram)-1/4 tsp
• chana dal(bengal gram dal) -1/4 tsp
• Jeera (cummin seeds) - 1/4 tsp

Method:

1. Peel the skin of the potatoes and cut into cubes.Onions in stripes,and the ginger garlic into small pcs.
2. Microwave for 3 min adding turmeric powder and salt.
3. Remove stir well and microwave again for 2 more min .
4. Heat oil in a kadai and add the mustard seeds,urad dal,chanadal and jeera.
5. When the mustard splutters,add the onions ,ginger and garlic.
6. Fry till the onions turn light brown.
7. Add all the masalas and then the cooked potatoes.
8. Cover and cook for about 5 min.
9. Open,stir well and fry on low flame for another 5-7 min or till the potatoes are nicely fried.
10. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Chocolate Barfi

This is one of the easiest of recipes which can be prepared in a jiffy.

Ingredients:

Milk Powder - 3 cups
Sugar -3 cups
Nestle or Cadbury's cocoa -1 cup
Butter -1 cup
Water - 1 cup
A few cut badam ,cashew and pista nuts for garnish

Method:

1. Mix the milk powder and the cocoa thoroughly.
2. Heat water in a kadai and add the sugar.
3. When it forms a 2 string consistency add the butter.
4. Keep stirring till the butter dissolves.
5. Keeping the flame really low,start adding the milk powder and cocoa mixture.
6. Put off the gas.
7. When it becomes a mass pour it onto a greased thali.
8. Garnish with cut cashews,Badam,and pistas
9. Cut into squares when cool.

Badam Barfi

This is my daughter Lavanya's favorite Indian sweet.

BADAM BARFI (Almond Cake)

Time: Approx.30 min.

Ingredients:

Badam(almonds)-1 cup
Sugar - 2 1/2 cups
Ghee - 1 cup
Milk - 1/2 cup or just enough to grind the almonds
water -1 cup

Method:

1. Soak badam in hot water for about 1 hour.
2. Remove the skin and grind to a paste with milk.
3. Heat water in a kadai and add the sugar.
4. When it forms a 2 string consistency (slightly thick) add the badam paste. Stir well.
5. Keep adding the ghee when it starts getting thick.
6. Remove from heat when the mixture starts leaving the side.
7. Pour it onto a greased plate and leave it to cool.
8. Cut into diamond shapes and serve.

Happy Pongal

Since today is the new year I thought I would do the posting of my 1st recipe.

Chakara Pongal

Ingredients:

3/4 cups raw rice
1/4 cup green gram dal(mung dal)
2 cups powdered jaggery
4 tablespoons ghee or clarified butter
a pinch of cardamom powder


Method:

1. cook the rice and dal with 2 cups water in the pressure cooker.
2. when completely cooked remove.
3. keep 1/2 cup water in a dekchi and add the jaggery.
4. when it becomes slightly thick add the cooked rice and dal mixture.
5. keep stirring well till the mixture becomes thick.
6. Add the ghee as and when required.
7. Add the cardamom powder and remove from fire.