Okra (Bhendi) Fry

Welcome 2011!

Somehow 2010 passed away so soon. Lot of achievements during the year like I got my driving license, my daughter passed her masters with flying colors and a couple of other personal milestones! I wish 2011 also to be a year filled with joy & happiness to all!

When I had been to Chicago last month I realized something which I want to share.I was thrilled to note that my daughter Lavanya's American & Asian friends were fascinated seeing me make chappathi! They loved the taste of it....just goes to show that good food,whatever cuisine is well enjoyed by all. Here's an Okra recipe which Lavanya's friend, Tiffany Hayden requested:

Ingredients:
1/2 kg.okra
1 onion chopped
Salt 1 tsp or to taste
Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder 3/4-1 tsp
To season:
Oil 2 tbl spoons.
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp cumin seeds

Method:
Wash and wipe okra well so that it doesn't turn slimy & sticky once cooked. Cut it into 1" pieces.
Heat oil in a kadai or wok.
Add the mustard and cumin seeds.
When it splutters add the chopped onions and keep stirring till the onions turn pink.
Add the chopped okra. Mix well.
Reduce the flame,cover and keep for about 5 min.
Add salt,turmeric,chilli powder and mix well.
Leave it open till the okra pieces are fried and are golden brown in color.
Can be served with chapathi or rice.

Indian spices for all diseases

COLDS

Mix a gram of dalchini/cinnamon powder with a teaspoon of honey to
cure cold. Prepare a cup of tea to which you should add ginger, clove, bay
leaf and black pepper.. This should be consumed twice a day. Reduce the
intake as the cold disappears.

GINGER FOR COLDS.

Ginger tea is very good to cure cold. Preparation of tea: cut ginger
into small pieces and boil it with water, boil it a few times and then
add sugar to sweeten and milk to taste, and drink it hot.

DRY COUGHS.

Add a gram of turmeric (haldi) powder to a teaspoon of honey for
curing dry cough.. Also chew a cardamom for a long time.

BLOCKED NOSE.

For blocked nose or to relieve congestion, take a table spoon of
crushed carom seeds (ajwain) and tie it in a cloth and inhale it.

SORE THROAT.

Add a tea spoon of cumin seeds (jeera) and a few small pieces of dry
ginger to a glass of boiling water. Simmer it for a few minutes, and
then let it cool. Drink it twice daily. This will cure cold as well as
sour throat.


AJWAIN/AJMO FOR ASTHMA.
Boil ajwain in water and inhale the steam.

CURE FOR BACKACHE..

Rub ginger paste on the backache to get relief.

GARLIC FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

Have 1-2 pod garlic (lasan) first thing in the morning with water

HONEY AND GINGER FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

Mix 1 table spoon and 1 table spoon ginger (adrak) juice, 1 table
spoon of crushed cumin seeds (jeera), and have it twice daily.

MIGRAINE.

For the cure of migraine or acute cold in the head; boil a tablespoon
of pepper powder, and a pinch of turmeric in a cup of milk, and have it
daily for a few couple of days.

BITTER GOURD/KARELA IS GOOD..

A tablespoon of amla juice mixed with a cup of fresh bitter gourd
(karela) juice and taken daily for 2 months reduces blood sugar.

TURMERIC/ ARAD CURE FOR INJURIES

For any cut or wound, apply turmeric powder to the injured portion to
stop the bleeding. It also works as an antiseptic. You can tie a
bandage after applying haldi/turmeric.


CRAMPS

You must do a self-massage using mustard oil every morning. Just take
a little oil between your palms and rub it all over your body. Then take
a shower. This is especially beneficial during winter. You could also
mix a little mustard powder with water to make a paste and apply this on
your palms and soles of your feet.

HEADACHES.

If you have a regular migraine problem, include five almonds along
with hot milk in your daily diet. You could also have a gram of black
pepper along with honey or milk, twice or thrice a day. Make an almond paste
by rubbing wet almonds against a stone. This can be applied to forehead.

Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see
its wonderful effects. OR When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon
works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in
water and apply it all over your forehead

TURMERIC

FOR ARTHRITIS.

Turmeric can be used in treating arthritis due to its
anti-inflammatory property.. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes
to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per
cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local
action.


GOOD FOR THE HEART

Turmeric lower cholesterol and by preventing the formation of the
internal blood clots improves circulation and prevents heart disease
and stroke. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes
to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup
of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

GOOD FOR INDIGESTION

Turmeric can be used to relieve digestive problems like ulcers,
dysentery. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to
dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per
cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local
action.


HONEY IS A GOOD CURE FOR ALL DISEASES

Mix 1 teaspoon honey with ? teaspoon cinnamon powder and have at night.


HICCUPS

Take a warm slice of lemon and sprinkle salt, sugar and black pepper
on it.. The lemon should be eaten until the hiccups stop.

HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL

In 1 glass of water, add 2 tbsps of coriander/dhania seeds and bring
to a boil. Let the decoction cool for some time and then strain. Drink
this mixture two times in a day. OR Sunflower seeds are extremely
beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol
deposits on the walls of arteries.

PILES

Radish juice should be taken twice a day, once in the morning and
then later in the night.. Initially drink about ? cup of radish juice and
then gradually increase it to ? cup. OR Soak 3-4 figs in a glass of water.
Keep it overnight. Consume the figs on an empty stomach, the next day
in the morning

VOMITING

Take 2 cardamoms/elachi and roast them on a dry pan (tava). Powder the
cardamoms and thereafter add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it
frequently. It serves as a fabulous home remedy for vomiting. OR In
the mixture of 1 tsp of mint juice and 1 tsp limejuice, add ? tsp of
ginger juice and 1 tsp honey. Drink this mixture to prevent vomiting. OR
Limejuice is an effective remedy for vomiting. Take a glass of chilled
limejuice and sip slowly. To prevent vomiting, drink ginger tea. OR In
1 glass water, add some honey and drink sip by sip.

WARTS

Apply castor oil daily over the problematic area. Continue for
several months. OR Apply milky juice of fresh and barely-ripe figs a number of
times a day. Continue for two weeks. OR Rub cut raw potatoes on the
affected area several times daily. Continue for at least two weeks. OR
Rub cut onions on the warts to stimulate the circulation of blood.. OR
Apply milk from the cut end of dandelion over the warts 2-3 times a
day. OR Apply oil extracted from the shell of the cashew nut over the
warts. OR Apply Papaya juice OR Apply Pineapple juice.

URINARY TRACT INFECTION

In 8 oz of water, put ? tsp of baking soda and drink it. OR Drink
plenty of water, as it aids in flushing out the waste products from the body.
OR Drink Cranberry juice. You can also add some apple juice for taste.

SINUSITIS

Mango serves as an effective home remedy for preventing the frequent
attacks of sinus, as it is packed with loads of vitamin A. OR Another
beneficial remedy consists of consuming pungent foods like onion and
garlic, as a part of your daily meals.. OR Fenugreek/methi leaves are
considered valuable in curing sinusitis. In 250 ml water, boil 1 tsp
of Fenugreek seeds and reduce it to half. This will help you to perspire,
dispel toxicity and reduce the fever period. OR Tie a tsp of black
cumin seeds in a thin cotton cloth and inhale.

TONSILLITIS

Take a fresh lemon and squeeze it in a glass of water. Add 4 tsp of
honey and ? tsp of salt in it. Drink it slowly sip by sip. OR Milk has
proved beneficial in treating tonsillitis.. In 1 glass of pure boiled
milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder and pepper powder. Drink it every
night for about 3 days.

Pista Barfi

Ingredients

• Shelled Pistachios-1 Cup
• Semolina - 1 Cup
• Milk Powder -1 Cup
• Ghee -1 Cup
• Sugar - 3 Cups
• Water - 1 Cup
• Green food colour -2-3 drops

      Method:

• Powder the pista.If necessary powder semolina also.Mix all ingredients together and let it stand for 4 hours.
• Heat it and keep stirring till the mixture leaves the sides.Add green food colour.Pour it onto a greased plate and cut after its set

Malai Makai Palak ( Spinach and Corn with cream)

A palak delicacy from the land of Punjab

Ingredients :

Palak - 2 bunches
Corn - 1 cup
Onions - 2 medium
Oil - 2 Tbsp
Ginger Garlic paste - 1 Tsp
Green Chillies - 2 (cut fine)
Salt to taste
Amchoor
Fresh cream - 1 Cup
Lime Juice - 1 Tbsp
Kasuri Methi - 1 Tsp

Method :

1. Heat some water in a pan and add salt
2. Dip the Palak leaves for 2 minutes and put it immediately in cold water
3. Squeeze out the water, chop the palak and puree it
4. Heat Corn in the microwave for about 2 minutes
5. Take Oil in a pan and add Jeera
6. Add the Onions and the Green chillies and fry till it becomes brown
7. Add the cooked corn and the palak puree
8. Add Salt and Amchoor
9. Finally add fresh cream and mix well
10. Add lime juice and kasuri methi
11. Serve Hot

Hint : Add half teaspoon chilli powder if you want it spicy

Microwave Therattipal

Microwave Therattipal is one of the quickest and the easiest of sweets which you can prepare even after your guests have arrived.

Therattipal is one of the sweets kept along with Murukku (Chakli) and Ladoo during a wedding from the girl's side (As part of Cheeru) . It is said that the prescence of Therrattipal amongst the other items will bring prosperity to the newly weds.

Ingredients :

Nestle Condensed milk - 1 tin (400 gms)
1 Tsp Ghee
4 Tsp Milk Powder

Method :

1. Mix the condensed milk and the milk powder together and keep on high for 4-5 minutes.
2. Stir well and if the consistency is not right, keep for another 2 minutes.
3. Add Ghee and mix well
4. Serve Hot or Cold

Cheesecake

On the event of my birthday, I decided to post my daughter Lavanya's favorite dessert - Cheesecake.

Ingredients :

• Marie Biscuits (Powdered) - 200 Gms - About 19 biscuits

• White Butter (Melted) - 4 Tbsp - 50 Gms
  
• Paneer (Cottage Cheese) - 200 Gms
• Sweetened Condensed Milk - 400 Gms
• Fresh Cream - 200 Gms
• Gelatin - 10 Gms - 3-5 Tsp
• Water - 5 Tbsp

Method :

1. Crush Marie biscuits. Add Butter, press it flat on a flat bottomed casserole.
2. Soak Gelatin in 5 Tbsp Warm water in a bowl. Keep this bowl in another bowl of hot water and keep stirring till it dissolves.
   
3. Crumble the Paneer and blend it in the mixer with the condensed milk. Add Gelatin and blend again. Whip the cream and fold it into the Paneer mixture.
4. Pour this mixture into the casserole over the biscuits. Chill for 5-6 hours before serving.
   

Tip : Add few drops of Lemon Juice to make this a Lemon Cheesecake

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.