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.