Golden , Extra Fluffy Pancakes !!

 

 

Thinking of having a wonderful breakfast or some evening/midnight snack ? Pancakes !!! pancakes ...pancakes mmm yumm yummm

 

Ingredients:
All - purpose - flour - 1 cup
baking powder - 2 tbsp
Sugar - 3 tbsp
salt - 1 pinch
Egg - 1
milk - 1 cup
vanilla essence - a few drops. (optional)

 

Method :

 

Add the egg to a bowl and give it a good beating. Good enough to make some bubbles appear. Then add in some sugar and salt and mix well. Add the milk and essence. Now , slowly add the flour and baking powder and mix well.

If you want to adjust the consistency , you can reduce or increase the milk amount. But this measurement will be perfect.
Let it rest for 30 mins.
Heat a pan, grease with butter, add one full spoon onto pan. Let it spread on its own. Wait till bubbles appear on the top.
Now, its time to flip over.. Flip and let it cook for a minute. The pancake will fluff up..
Serve hot and maple syrup, honey or jam :))!! Top it with blueberries, strawberries, banana , etc and Enjoy with lots and lots of Maple Syrup

Tips:

• Making the consistency watery will make the pancake very thin and hard. Thicker the consistency,softer and fluffier the pancakes !!
• Once the batter is ready, let it rest for atleast 30 minutes. It helps !!

Do share comments !!!



Vada Curry

Vada Curry with Idly or Dosa is one of my favourite breakfast menu !!! Here's what you ll need..
Ingredients:
To make Vada:
Channa Dal - 1 cup
Moongh Dal - 1/4 cup
Urad Dal - 1/4 cup
Raw rice - 1 tbsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tbsp

For the curry:
Curry leaves - hand full
Cinnamon - 1 inch stick
Cloves - 4
Cardamom  - 3
Bay leaf - 1
Onion - 1
Tomato - 2
ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
chilli powder - 1 tbsp
coriander powder - 3 tbsp
turmeric powder - 1/2 tbsp
salt - to taste
oil - as required

Method:
Coarsely grind the vada ingredients, and keep in a bowl. To this paste, add, salt, curry leaves, asafotida and mix well. Now, make small patties, flatten it and deep fry in hot oil..When cool, break it down into small pieces. Keep aside.

In a pan, add oil. When hot, add he spices ( cardamom, cloves , cinnamon, bay leaf ).. fry to a few secs
Add curry leaves, onions and stir fry till onions turn golden brown. Then add ginger garlic paste and fry for 1 min. Then add sliced tomatoes and fry till its cooked..
Now, add the chilli, coriander and turmeric powder, salt , little water and let it cook for 2 mins..
Now, add the vada pieces and mix well.. Add required water for the consistency you want. cook for 2 mins and turn off flame. Garnish with coriander leaves !!!
Enjoy vada curry with steaming hot idlies, dosa, puri or chapattis..and simply just like that !!

Banana Crepes with Coconut Sauce !!

One of my most favourite and easy to make snack or desert !! Its so yummy and delicious..

Here's what you ll need to prepare..

Ingredients:

For the Crepe batter:

All-purpose flour (maida) - 1/4 cup

milk - 1/4 cup

sugar - 1/4 cup

egg - 1

salt - 1 pinch

butter - 2 tbsp

For the sauce:

Banana - 1 diced

coconut milk - 1/2 cup

jaggery - 2 to 3 tbsp

nutmeg - 1 pinch

Method:

For the crepe: Mix all the ingredients for the crepe batter except butter and give a good beating. And keep aside for a few mins.

In a pan, spread 1 tbsp butter, add 1 full spoon batter and spread it throughout the pan. Let it cook for a min. Then flip it over and transfer to plate immediately.

For the sauce: Add butter in the same pan, add the diced banana's and saute. Add the jaggery, coconut milk and nutmeg and stir for a few secs. And turn off flame.

NOTE: It need not cook for more than a few secs..

Add the filling to the crepe and fold it.. Garnish with extra sauce, chocolate syrup and powdered sugar.. Enjoy the yummyness!!!

Chicken - Paneer Bistique Snack Wraps

Ingredients:
Bistique Flour - 1 cup (for 4 snack wraps)
For filling - any veggies of your choice. I used - Bell Pepper, onions, paneer
Baked chicken - bite size pieces
Egg -1 ( scramble it)
Salt
Pepper
oil

Method:
Mix the flour with warm water and salt and kneed a soft dough.
Keep aside while we prepare the filling.
Meanwhile, bake or shallow fry the chicken till done.
In a pan, add 1 tbsp olive oil, add the onions, bell peppers, paneer, chicken, salt and pepper and blend them well. Toss till the paneer is cooked.
Turn off heat. Let it cool while we prepare the wraps.
Also, make egg scrambles in the meanwhile and allow to cool.( This is optional)
Divide the dough into 4 parts. roll them cook like tortillas.
Serve wrap with filling and ketchup. Ensoy..:)

Tips:
I used, Bistique pan cake mix just for a change in making the wraps. You can use any flour of your choice.

Vaalaka/ Plantain Bajji

Ingredients:

Besan Flour - 1 cup

Valaka/ Plantain - 1 Sliced into thin pieces

Garam masala - 1/2 tbsp

pepper or chilli powder - 1 tbsp

salt - as required

• Make a paste of all the above except the plantain. Make sure its a little thick in order to stick well to the plaintain.
• Coat the plaintain nicely in besan paste and deep fry in oil.
• Fry all the pieces in the same way.
• Interesting and easy snacks ready in less than 15 mins. Enjoy hot !!!

Channa Puri Samosa

Ingredients:
Wheat flour/ Atta - 2 cups
Warm Water - as required
Salt - as required
Oil - 2 tbsp

• Mix the above ingredients except oil , and make a soft dough.
• Coat dough with oil and let it rest for atleast 20 to 30 mins.

Meanwhile, for the Masala filling:

Channa/ Chick Peas - 1 cup (Soaked over night and pressure cooked)
Potato - 1 (pressure cooked, peeled and diced)
Peas - 1/2 cup
Onions - 1/2 chopped
garam masala - 1/2 tbsp
coriander powder - 1 tbsp
chilli powder - 1 tbsp
Green chilli - 2
curry leaves - 1 strand
Salt - as required

• Heat oil in pan, Add curry leaves, onions, potato, peas, chick peas, all the masalas and cook for 5 to 10 mins. Add required salt and turn of flame.
• Let it cool down little bit.
• Now, to the rolled dough, place little filling, and press the edges firmly so that the filling does not come out.
• Deep fry in oil, till golden brown... Repeat the same for as many samosa's you want
• Enjoy hot !!! :)
  

Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies...

Ingredients:
All purpose flour - 2 1/4 cups
Baking soda - 1/2 tbsp

Baking Powder - 1 tbsp
Salt - 1 tbsp
Butter, softened - 1 cup (150 grams)

Granulated sugar - 3/4 cup
Packed brown sugar - 3/4 cup
Vanilla essence- 1 tbsp
Eggs - 2
Semi Sweetened Chocolate chips / Broken Chocolate pieces - 2 cups

Chopped nuts- 1 cup(optional)

For Chocolate Chip Cookies:

• First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F .
• Lets mix the wet ingredients first.
• To a large mixing bowl, add the flour, granulated and brown sugar, vanilla essence and eggs and beat till creamy.
• Now add the dry ingredients to the bowl - add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt - and blend till all ingredients are mixed well. Don't over mix. That will give a hard texture to your cookies. So just mix till all the ingredients are just combined together.
• Now, add the nuts and chocolate chips/ chocolate pieces and just fold the mixture. Don't blend or mix any further. Just fold the mixture using a spatula.
• To the baking tray, place a baking sheet so that the cookies don't stick to the tray, and place one scoop of cookie dough (Size off a golf ball) to baking sheet. Do not spread it flat. It will flatten in the baking process. Also while placing the rest of the cookie dough, make sure to have 2 inch space around the cookies. coz, it will expand in the baking process.
• Place all the cookies in tray, bake for 10 - 12 minutes.
• Once baked, let it cool for 5 mins.

Tips:

1. If you don't have brown sugar , just add granulated sugar instead. Plus add 2 tbsp honey for extra flavour. It tastes great !!!

Will be gone in no time ...
Enjoy your cookies ... :)

Samba Puttu

Ingredients:

Samba/ Chemba Puttu Flour - 2 cups

Salt - 1 tbsp
Water - as required

Shredded coconut - as required

Sugar - as required

For Puttu:

• Wet the flour with water,add salt and keep aside for 5 mins.
• In Puttu Kolal, add 2 hand full flour, then 1 hand full coconut, repeat the same till you reach the end of the puttu (kolal )vessel.
• Place it on top of the pressure cooker, and steam it.
• Puttu will be ready in 5 to 10 mins.
• Transfer to plate, add sugar and enjoy with Green gram dhal ( cooked and sugar added) and papad.

Tips:

1. If you dont have a puttu kolal/ vessel, spread the puttu flour with the shredded coconut on a tray and steam it by placing inside the cooker.
2. Pressure cook the green gram dhal in cooker, and use the pressure outside to steam to Puttu... All in one !!! ..
3. Follow the same steps for 'White Puttu' as well..

Good for an ideal breakfast !!! Tastes Yummy yummy .... Enjoy

Dahi/Curd Vada

For Vada:

Urud Dhal - 1 cup

Moongh Dhal - 1/4 cup (optional)

Salt - to taste

Curd - as required

Chat masala - 1 pinch

chilli powder - 1 pinch

Coriander leaves - to garnish

Boondhi - to garnish ( optional)

For Curd Vada:

• Vada: Soak the urud dhal + moongh dhal overnight or for 6 hours. Then grind it into a fine paste. Add salt and keep aside.
• Heat oil in a pan, take small amount of batter in hand or plastic cover, make a small hole in the centre ( like a doughnut) and deep fry it in oil. Remove once golden brown, squeeze excess oil and soak it in water with salt added to it for 10 mins. Squeeze extra water and keep aside.
• Take required curd in a bowl, add salt, chat masala, chilli powder and mix well to make it creamy.
• Place the vada's in a serving dish, pour the curd layering the vada's fully and garnish with chat masala, chilli powder, coriander leaves, boondhi (optional)

Enjoy Curd Vada ...

Tips:

1. Use slightly sour curd for Curd Vada..
2. Well, if you dont get to make the doughnut hole at the centre, forget it. I dont get it either. The taste is all that matters. You ll get it over time..

Sweet Poli

Those were the days when i used to go to Tnagar Sri Krishna Sweets just to have sweet poli.... Now that I'm too far away from Home town... i missed sweet poli a lot... But not anymore ..:) i did nt know it was this easy and can be made at no time at Home ...!!!!...Its very easy, delicious and quenching..that i sometimes have them for breakfast or even lunch...

I'm extremely sorry for the photo quality and quantity ...coz, the minute the poli comes hot out of the pan....it gets over within 5 mins... I had to literally hide these two pieces to click a snap of it... And what you see in the snap happened to be my share :(( Just two left... I could nt wait any longer to relish my share of the precious and delicious poli.

Here's your chance to enjoy it too....Dont miss it..Try it out and enjoy.

Delicious sweet right at your kitchen ..you dont have to go to a sweet stall for this anymore ...:)))))))

For Sweet Poli:
Poornam:Boil channa-dal until half-cooked and drain the water.

Pat dry the dal and keep aside. Add jaggery, cardamom and grind.

Make it thick by heating in low heat for a little while. (Dont add water...the jaggery will have enough water to bring it to the right consistency. Right for it to be made into balls)

Make this into round balls.
Outer Layer :Add a pinch of turmeric and salt to All purpose flour (maida ) and knead it by adding a few tsp of sesame oil and keep aside for at least 10 mins.

Pat/Roll it on a plastic sheet or banana leaf into round flat shape.

Place a ball of poornam in the centre and cover it with the dough.
Pat it again, like a chapati. Heat a pan/griddle, put the poli and add a spoon of ghee around it.

Turn over until both sides are cooked well.

Tips:

1. Adding turmeric powder gives a nice yellow color to the poli....
2. Do not add extra water.
3. Adding grated coconut to the poornam enriches the taste more..
4. Eat or refrigerate within 2 to 3 days..

Carrot Halwa

Ingredients:
Carrots - 2 ( serves 2 people)
Milk - 3 cups
Sugar - 4 to 5 tbsp
Ghee - 2 tbsp
Cardamon powder - 1 tbsp
Cashew nuts and Raisins - to Garnish

For Carrot Halwa:

• Boil Milk in a heavy bottomed pan. Once it comes to a boil, add the carrots and keep stirringto avoid from sticking to the bottom.
• Once the milk has completely drained, add the sugar and cardamon powder. Stir well for 5 mins.
• Once it comes to a solid state, add ghee and turn off flame when the ghee oozes out of the halwa.
• Garnish with Cashew nuts & raisins..
  

Fish Scrambles ...

Ingredients:

Boiled Fish Pieces - 10

Egg - 1

Chopped Onions - 1/2

Chilli powder - 1 tbsp

coriander powder - 3 tbsp

turmeric powder - 1/2 tbsp

Garam masala - 1/2 tbsp

Salt

Pepper - 1 tbsp

Oil

For Fish Scrambles:

• Heat Oil in a Pan, Add the onions, fry for 2 mins
• Add the cooked Fish pieces and stir well. Stir in such a way that the fishes break into small pieces.
• Add the masalas and stir again for 2 mins. Add lil water if you want.. or else not required.
• Add one egg to this mixture and stir well. Once the egg is mixed well, add the pepper and salt.
• Remove from heat. Garnish with Coriander Leaves.

Serve hot ....

Enjoy your Fish Scrambles ....with Steamed Rice and just by itself ...

Tips:

Add some spices, salt and masala's while cooking the fish. That adds more flavor.

Or use the fish from the leftover Fish Curry ( If you have them). Just for a Change ..!!!

French Fries

We were passing by McDonalds today, and was tempted to have french fries...But an inkling just came over my mind that, i can make fresh fries at home in a more healthy way... So here you go ... Ingredients:
Potato - 2
Salt - to taste
Pepper - to taste
water
oil

For French Fries:
Cut potato into vertically, evenly shaped. Soak in salt water for 10 mins
Remove the potato pieces from water and place in tissue paper to drain excess water..
Heat Oil in pan, fry the potatoes in oil, till golden brown.
Transfer to serving tray and garnish with salt and pepper..

Enjoy hot with ketchup...

Tips:
For Crispy french fries, dip the potatoes in rice flour before frying in oil...

Carrot Manchurian

I happen to buy 10 lb of carrots few days back and was wondering, what new dish can i do with carrots... Well, i was craving for Manchurian so so i thought id make Carrot Manchurian... It was a great hit and believe me, I love Carrot Manchurian more than Cauliflower or Mushroom Manchurian ...It tastes great!!! From that day on, Carrot Manchurian has always been on our Special Day Menu !!! Try it and you ll love it !!!

Ingredients:

Carrots- 1/4 kg ( cut into round pieces)

Garlic ( finely chopped ) - 4 to 5 cloves
Ginger ( finely chopped ) - 1" piece

Green chillies ( chopped) - 3 to 4

Onion ( finely chopped ) - 1/2

Bell peppers / capsicum ( finely chopped) - 1/2

Tomato sauce - 4 to 5 tbsp

Chilly sauce / sweet and chilly sauce - 1/2 tbsp

Soya sauce - 1/2 tbsp

Corn flour - 1 tbsp

Spring onions / coriander leaves - few

salt to taste

For the batter:

All purpose flour ( maida) - 1/4 cup

Cornflour - 3 tbsp

Red chilly powder - 1/2 tbsp

Pepper powder - 1/2 tbsp

Soya sauce - 1/2 tbsp

Ginger- garlic paste - 1 tbsp

water ( as required)

salt to taste

For Carrot Manchurian :

• Mix all the ingredients to make the batter. Not too thick and not too thin... the consistency similar to dosa batter. Add water as needed.
• Heat oil in pan, Dip the carrots in the batter and add them to the oil and let it cook till golden brown. It might take 10 to 15 mins. Change sides occasionally till crisp and golden brown.
• Meanwhile, prepare the sauce...
• For Sauce: Heat oil in a pan, Add ginger garlic pieces, green chillies, onions , bell pepper and let it cook till golden brown. Then add tomato sauce, chilly sauce and soya sauce.
• Mix 1 tbsp corn flour with water and add to pan. Add more cornflour - water mixture if you want more sauce and add salt if required.
• Saute for 3 mins and turn off flame. Garnish with Spring Onions. Since i did nt have spring onions today, i used coriander leaves.
• Just before serving, mix the sauce with the fired carrots and serve hot.

Enjoy Carrot Manchurian ...
Tips:

1. Also try Mushroom Manchurian, Cauliflower Manchurian and Vegetable Manchurian... in the similar method.
2. If you want more sweetness, add little more tomato sauce ( ketchup) ...