GREEN PEAS SOUP, SESAME TWISTS/SAVOURY CRACKERS

"I WISH ALL MY FRIENDS HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR"

Here is simple and colorful delicious Green Peas soup. To serve with soup is sesame twists and cheese crackers which is perfect accompaniment. This is so easy to make and hope you all will enjoy this. Sesame twists recipe is noted from whole foods magazine and with slight twist to the recipe I made the savory crackers out of the same dough which tasted good too. Eat Healthy and Live Healthy !!!!!!!!!!!




Ingredients for Peas Soup :

Green peas - 1 cup
Tomato - 1
Celery - 1/2 stalk
Garlic - 1 pod
Onion - 1/2
Green chilli - 2
Cummin - 1 tsp
Butter - 1 tbsp
Milk - 1/4 cup
Pepper - as needed
Salt as needed

For serving :

Butter,sour cream or Cream can be topped while serving the soup.




Method :

1. Heat butter in the kadai add cummin, green chilli, onion , tomato, celery one by one.
2. Add the green peas and water let it boil until it is cooked.
3. Cool, blend it in the blender and strain it.
4. Dilute with milk and water to the desired consistency.
5. Heat it and add pepper and serve.
6. Serve with cream or sour cream or butter.



Ingredients for Sesame Twists/ Savory Crackers :

Wheat flour - 1 1/2 cup
All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cup
Butter - 1 stick
Baking powder - 1 1/2 tbsp
Butter Milk - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 2 tbsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Sesame seeds - 1/4 cup




Mix together for the crackers :

Parmesan cheese - 4 tbsp
Chilli flakes - few
Italian Herbs - few



Method :

1. Sieve the flour and baking powder. Add the salt and sugar, add butter milk make like dough. 2.Rub the cold butter into flour mixture with fingertips so that the texture will be like bread crumbs.

3. Stir in the buttermilk. Make like a dough. Let this dough rest for 1 hr or overnight in fridge.

4. Now divide the dough into two.

5. Take one part of dough, flatten the dough using rolling pin into 15 inch square and make 15 1/2 inch strips.

6. Brush with water and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds.

7.Twists each strip twice, set on the greased baking sheet or tray and gently press ends flat to prevent twists from unrolling. Bake in 425 f preheated oven for 25 minutes or until nice golden brown.

Savoury crackers:

1. Same way roll the dough in the flat surface.
2. Cut into desired shapes.
3. Brush with water and sprinkle the cheese mixture. Bake until crisp and cheese is golden brown in color.

Note :

For variation sprinkle , sea salt, garlic powder according to your flavour.
You can also use all purpose flour fully instead half and half.
Bake till crisp and enjoy with your favorite soup.


Once again " Wish You all Very Happy New Year ". May this new year bring you happiness, joy, peace and prosperity to you and your family.

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OATS PORRIDGES

Oats has become one of the breakfast menu in many homes. It is truly one of the amazing cereal which has so many health benefits. Oatmeal and oat bran are significant sources of dietary fiber. Eating oats in our diet provides a wide range of important health benefits.Oats, like other grain and vegetables contain hundred of phytochemicals which reduces risk of getting cancer.

Oats have a higher concentration of well-balanced protein than other cereal and also like other cereal grains, they are also valued as primary source of carbohydrates which provide calories for energy needs. Still many more benefits...... There are so many dishes that we have started making using oats like

1. Porridge
2. Idli

3. Adai

4. Pongal

5. Upma
6. Soup thickener

7. Dosas
8 .Cookies

9. Bread
10. Cereals
11. Sweets
12. Vadams ( This I tried last year when I was in India came out so good)

Many more... So today I am posting the variety of porridges which I used to make for the breakfast. The base of the porridge is same like oats cooked in water or Milk. But by adding our favourite flavour changes the taste of the porridge. So here are some ......

* Vegetable Oats porridge * Sweet Porridge * Oats with butter milk * Ginger flavored * Oats with cummin seasoning * Tomato Masala Oats

Ingredients for cooking Oats :

Oats - 1/2 cup

Water - 1 1/2 cup

Salt

Method :

1. Boil water and add oats to that let them cook for sometime until oats are cooked well.

2. Add salt and keep at aside.

For vegetable porridge :

I just add only finely shredded Cabbage, Carrot and spring onion. Add carrot and cabbage to the oats when is cooked half way. Overcooking the veggies loses the crunchiness. Add Spring onion at last. The crunchiness and flavour of Spring onion gives wonderful taste to the porridge.

For Sweet Porridge :

Instead of cooking the oats with water cook with half milk and water. Add sugar and add some raisins, dates or nuts according to your choice. Even you can add cinnamon, Apple or other fruits too.

Tomato Masala oats :

Heat tsp of oil in the pan, Season with mustard, urad and channa dhal tsp of each. Saute little onion and 1 pod garlic sliced. Add 1/4 tsp of saunf powder, chilli powder and 1/4 tomato chopped until tomato is mashed and cooked well. Now add curry leaves. Now add water Once it is boiling add oats and cook till done. Garnish with coriander.

Ginger Flavoured oats :

If you really love ginger flavour this suits your taste bud. Add Ginger and green chilli paste to the cooked oats and give one boil. It give lovely taste too.

Oats with butter milk :

Add some butter milk, asafoetida and chilli paste to the oats after it is cooled. It is so so yummy. Even you can have it as diluted or in thick consistency too.

Oats with cummin seasoning :

Season cummin, redchilli, curry leaves and asafoetida to the cooked oats gives nice and wonderful aroma.

All the above are some ways which we usually do at home.

Some other serving suggestion for oats :

1. Serve butter milk oats or cummin oats with pickle or sundal. Tastes so good.

Note :

The above recipe is using Instant quaker oats but you can use rolled oats too which is so healthy. But it needs long time and more water too cook.

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VEN PONGAL WITH SAMBAR, CHUTNEY AND TAMARIND GOJJU

I wish everyone " HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS " .

Today I am posting Venpongal which is a popular dish in South Indian homes and Restuarants. It is typically served as breakfast menu. It is combination of Rice and Moong dhal with mild seasoning of Pepper and Cummin. Sambar and Coconut Chutney is served as accompaniment for this Ven pongal. Another side dish which we make at home is Gojju which is tangy, sweet and spicy one which goes very well with pongal. So here is the simple pongal meal for you to enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients for Pongal :

Raw rice - 1 cup
Moong dhal - 1/3 cup
Water - 3 cups
Milk - 1 cup + 1 cup(keep it warm)
Pepper - 1 tsp ( crack to 2 pieces)
Cummin seeds - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - few
Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
Ginger - 1 tsp finely chopped
Coconut - 1 tsp (optional)
Cashewnuts - 10 ( cut to 2 pieces each)
Salt to taste
Ghee - 3 tbsp (If calorie conscious use half ghee and oil)




Method :

1. Dry roast the moong dhal slightly.
2. Combine the rice and dhal adding 3 cups of water and 1 cup of milk in vessel keep inside the pressure cooker.
3. Pressure cook for 4 whistles.
4. Once the pressure is released. In a separate pan heat the ghee or oil season with Pepper, cumminAsafoetida, cashew nuts, Coconut switch of the flame. followed by ginger, curry leaves,

5. Add this tempering to the cooked rice and dhal. Keeping the vessel in the flame add some more milk mix well so that it gets mushy. Once everything is blended well. Switch off the flame.

6. Add a tbsp of ghee serve hot with sambar and chutney.

Note :

1.You can also do the Pongal without pressure cooker. Like cook the rice and dhal in water and milk until it is cooked and mushy then season it with other ingredients.

2. When you cook the rice and dhal in cooker sometime it will overflow to avoid this add tsp of oil and pinch of turmeric so that it will not happen.


Ingredients for sambar :

Vegetable of your choice - 1 cup ( I used carrot, radish and drumstick)
Shallots - 1/2 cup
Tomato - 1/4 cup
Toor dhal - 1/2 cup
Turmeric - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - few
Mustard - 1 tsp
Sambar powder - 1 tbsp
Chilli powder - if needed
Tamarind pulp - 1 tbsp ( Or according to ur taste)
Coriander for garnishing
salt and oil


Method :

1.Pressure cook the Toor dhal with little turmeric and tsp of oil.
2.Boil the vegetables , onion and tomato in water.
3. To this add the dhal, tamarind, sambar powder,curry leaves add some water if necessary let them boil for some time.
4. Now season with asafoetida and mustard. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Ingredients for Tangy Tamarind Gojju :

This can be done in two ways

1. Grinding 1/2 onion with tbsp of tamarind pulp and 2 tsp of jaggery by adding little water and then seasoning with urad dhal, green chillies, curry leaves and mustard.

This is another way which I am posting since the onion was so pungent.

Shallots or purple onion - 1/4 cup
Tamarind pulp - 1 tbsp
Curry leaves - few
Asafoetida - pinch
Green chillies - 1 sliced
Red chilli - 1 broken into pieces
Water - 1/4 cup
Jaggery - 2 tsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Urad dhal - 1 tsp
salt and oil



Method :

1. Heat oil in the pan crackle mustard and add urad dhal.
2. Add chillies, curry leaves ,asafoetida one by one.
3. Saute onion till transparent , add the tamarind, water, jaggery.
4. Once the raw aroma disappears and quantity is slightly reduced. switch of the flame and serve.




Note : Adjust the sourness and sweet according to your taste.

Click Here for the COCONUT CHUTNEY

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CHAPATHI MEAL WITH DHAL,SUBZI,SALAD AND ROASTED CURRY

Today I am posting simple chapathi meal with four sidedishes which I make once in a while. This is one complete whole meal in which everything is there dhal, subzi, salad, roasted curry. We really enjoy having this kind of meal sometimes instead of making one gravy or side dish. So here is the visual treat for you to enjoy...and also I will be posting more meal soon.

The dishes are so simple and no so much of spices and masalas.

1. Chapathi

2.Ridgegourd/Beerakaya Subzi

3. Simple Dhal(Moong)

4. Radish and Carrot salad

5.Roasted potato

Ingredients for Ridge gourd Subzi :

Ridge gourd - peeled and cubed 2 cups

Onion- 1/2 chopped finely

Tomato - 1/2 cup finely chopped

Cummin Seeds - 2 tsp

Turmeric - 1 tsp

Coriander powder - 1 tbsp

Cummin Powder - 1/2 tbsp

Garam masala - 1/4 tsp

Chilli powder - as required

Coriander for garnishing

Oil and salt

Method :

1. Heat oil in the pan and splutter the cummin seeds.

2. Add onion saute for few minutes and followed by tomato.

3. Add all the spice powder and ridge gourd.

4. Add little water and once the vegetable is cooked and reached desired consistency.

5.Check for salt and garnish with coriander.

Note :

You can substitute Ridge gourd with bottle gourd, Potato, Cauliflower and peas, Paneer also tastes so good.

DHAL SEASONED WITH SPICES

Ingredients for Moong dhal :

Moong dhal - cooked 1 cup

Cummin seeds - 2 tsp

Onion - 1/4 cup chopped

Tomato - 1/4 cup chopped

Chilli powder - 1/8 tsp
Garam masala - 1/8 tsp

For grinding:

Garlic - 2
Green chilli - 2
Make paste out of garlic and green chilli.

Coriander for garnishing

Salt and oil

Method :

1. Pressure cook dhal or in pan with little turmeric.

2. Heat oil in the kadai and splutter cummin.

3. Add onion saute followed by the ground paste.

4. Add tomato once it is mashed and cooked add the dhal, salt and chilli powder.

5. Add some water and cook for some time.

6. Garnish with coriander.

Note:

This is so so yummy dhal which is so simple and really you feel very light with chapathi.

This can also be served with rice too.

Some time I mix the leftover dhal for making dhal masala paratha too. Tastes so good.

Ingredients for Salad :

Radish- 1 cup

Carrot - 1 cup

Green chillies - 4 or 5

Mustard - 1 tsp

Turmeric

Lemon - 2 tsp

Salt to taste

Method :

1. Mix the radish, carrot in bowl with chillies.

2. Heat 1/4 tsp of oil splutter Mustard switch of the flame and add the turmeric in hot oil.

3.Immediately add to the veggies. Add the salt and lemon juice mix well and garnish with coriander.

Note :

If you have beets You can combine with this.

The mustard and Turmeric gives nice flavour to the salad.

Ingredients for Roasted Potato :

Potato - Boiled 2 cups

Chilli powder - as required

Turmeric - few

Saunf powder - 2 tsp

Salt

Curry leaves

Method :

1. Heat oil in the pan, add the chopped potato and the spice powders , curry leaves.

2. Add salt and fry till roasted.

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ROASTED TOMATO BASIL PESTO

Hi all its been loooooooooooooong time since I visited any of your blogs and updated mine too. But thanks for those who visited my blog and enquiring my absence. Yah its because of place change, weather change, holiday season, I've been so tied up with other things and off course I should blame my little laziness too. Mmmmm at last started from now...I really missed all your beautiful posts for last few weeks. Hope to catch up soon. One recent change in my blog photos will be lack natural day light which is very important for the Food photography. Because of this Minneapolis weather. Also its getting dark earlier and days are very very cold. But anyway I am trying to find out some ways to compensate this.

So after all the above stories here comes the recipe part.. Tomato Basil pesto which is so tasty that you can use for pasta as well as works for sandwich spread too.

Ingredients :

Cherry tomato - 2 cups (Broil it till the skin is lightly blackened)

Walnut - 1/4 cup toasted

Basil - 1/4 cup

Garlic - 1 pod

Lemon juice - 1/4 tsp ( optional)

Paprika - according to your spice level

Pepper - 1 tsp

Olive oil - for roasting the tomato

Salt - as needed

Few basil for garnish

Parmesan cheese for topping

I used Sauteed Mushroom and Broccoli to go along with pasta.

For Pasta :

I used whole wheat Thin spaghetti, its your choice.

Method :

1. Toss the tomato with little olive oil, pepper and salt and broil it.

2. Now in the blender add the tomato along with olive oil and the juice that comes out while broiling.

2. With that add the walnut, basil, salt, Garlic,pepper, paprika, lemon juice. Blend till its coarsely done.

3. Cook pasta with salt. Drain it.

4. If the the pesto is very thick add little water from the pasta and dilute for sauce consistency.

5. Now in the serving plate arrange the pasta add the pesto on the top and garnish with cheese and Basil.

6.Serve with sauteed veggies.

Note :

I sauteed Broccoli and Mushroom with little olive oil, pepper and salt.

You can store this pesto for 3 to 4 days.

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MURUKKU OR JANTIKALU

Hey all here is the murukku or Jantikalu which you all did for ICC challenge. Its like student submits late homework I was not able to make in time but anyways will try it out all the items and post when time permits for me. Here is the murukku we enjoyed during the festive .......

Ingredients :

Raw rice - 4 cups

Urad dhal - 1 cup

Water -1/2 cup

Seasoning :

Cummin seeds - 1 tsp

Sesame - 1 tsp

Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp

Salt - to taste

Butter - 75 gms

Oil for deep frying

Method :

1. Wash the rice , soak for 2 hrs or so then drain rice and shade dry for 1/2 hr of until it has very little moisture. Then powder it.

2. Roast the urad dhal to light brown and powder it.

3. Mix both flours add all other seasoning and butter. Parallely heat oil in the vessel.

4. Divide the powder into 2 equal parts for first part add the water slowly and make softer dough.

5. Put the dough murukku maker press directly over the oil cook over the medium flame, turn over other side till slightly color changes. Drain to the tissue paper. And store in the Air tight container.

For variation I did garlic murukku :

Add (5 pods) garlic paste and chilli powder ( as required)to the flour add water to make dough and continue with the same above procedure.

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SURUTTAI POLI (SURUTTAI MEANS ROLLED)

Hope everyone had wonderful weekend. I am enjoying my new place with wonderful weather so still not in a force with kitchen works as I had so many things to shop, arranging things between works with my sons school. So still I am posting Diwali recipes all these days. Hope you too will enjoy these ......

This is sweet dish which we call as " Suruttai poli " Means rolled poori kind of thing stuffed with roasted gram dhal sweet mixture. Which is absolutely crispy and tasty. This is one of our favourite snack. So easy to make but rolling part has to be done very fast otherwise it breaks. so here is the recipe.....




Ingredients for poli (outer wrap) :


All purpose flour - 1 cup
Rice flour - 2 tsp
Salt - a pinch
Oil for frying


Method :


1. Mix all the above and make like poori dough.
2. Leave it for 15 minutes.
3. Make small balls and roll everything to thin circles using the rolling pin and keep it aside.
4. Now keep oil in the vessel for deep frying.





For Filling :


Roasted gram dhal - 1/2 cup
Powdered Sugar - 1/2  cup
Cashew nuts - small bits 2 tbsp
Ghee for frying cashews


Method :


1. Powder the dhal and mix with the powder sugar.
2. Fry the cashew nuts in ghee and add the powdered mixture.
3. Mix well so that everything is blended well. Keep it aside.




Here is how the Packing is done :


Now for this outer wrap you need 1/2 cup powdered sugar for dusting. Spread this in a plate.


1. Now deep fry the rolled dough in oil not too crisp and not too soft.
2. Dust it with sugar , Keep 2 tbsp of powdered mixture in the edge roll and keep in the tray.
3. Repeat the same with other rolled circles one by one.
4. Don't delay in rolling once it is dusted with sugar immediately stuff and roll.
5. Delaying tends to break.


Note :


1. Roll all the dough and keep aside this is to avoid puffing while deep frying. Making like this is because the circles will be slightly dried so there wont be moisture will frying.
2. While deep frying put the rolled thins one at a time pour the oil over the top dont turn and take out immediately. It should not be too soft and crisp.




This can be stored for 10 days at least. But sure you will finish with 3 to 4 days. Store in air tight container.

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ITS AWARD TIME

Thanks for everyone who passed these awards and also I am sorry for this delayed post too. I am really honoured and Happy to receive this.

1. Rohini has passed me this award.




2. Thanks Asha for passing me the above awards and also these awards.





3. Sashiga has also passed this award and I am really happy and excited.



Thanks buddies for passing me these awards. Have wonderful weekend !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I would like to share these awards to all my fellow Bloggers.

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BESAN LADOO

Besan ladoo very common sweet which is simple to make but very tasty. Enjoy seeing it and Have wonderful Weekend !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients :

Besan- 1 1/2 cup or Ladoo flour - 2 cups

Semolina - 2 tbsp fine one( If you are using ladoo flour don't use Semolina or using semolina optional this gives nice texture to Ladoos)

Sugar - 3/4 cup (Slightly I will powder it, you can also add 1 cup  or equal amount of sugar to besan if u need more sweet)

Ghee - 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup
Cardamom - 1/2 tsp powdered(optional)

Almonds, cashews, pistachios - 4 tbsp roughly chopped reserve some for decorating too.

Method :

1. Add the besan or Ladoo flour along with semolina if you are using.

2.Dry roast in the pan till the raw smell goes.
3. Now in a pan add the ghee once it is melted add the flour and roast again so that raw small goes. Don't under do it. Your nose can feel the good aroma. Remove from fire add the cardamom if your using.

4. Transfer to a bowl and cool it.
5. Mean while roast the nuts in the ghee slightly.And reserve some for decor.
6.Now when the besan Mixture is warm add the sugar and nuts. Make to tight balls.

7.Touch each balls in the tip with ghee followed by Nuts in the top. Proceed with everything. Enjoy the yummy crunchy Besan Ladoo !!!!!

Note:

1. Its important the besan mixture should be warm before mixing the sugar otherwise the sugar melts and becomes soggy.
2. ts not compulsory to powder sugar but I do it.
3. Semolina is mainly for the texture which gives crunchiness . If Ladoo flour is available avoid the semolina as the Ladoo flour itself slightly coarse to give the crunchiness.

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GINGER CRISPIES

Ginger crispies is real flavorful and crunchy snack for the evenings. If you are ginger lover I bet you will surely like this. Give it a try, easy to make and tastes perfect for this wonderful winter.

Ingredients :

All purpose flour - 1 cup
Ginger paste - 1 tbsp
Chilli paste - 1 tbsp or according to your spice level I make little spicy
Salt
Butter - 1 tbsp
Water - for dough
Oil for deep frying



Method:


1. Take a mixing bowl add flour, Ginger and chilli paste. Add salt and add hot melted butter to it.
2. Add required amount of water and make like chapathi dough.
3. Now heat oil in heavy bottom vessel. Once it hot.
4. Just pinch the dough to small pieces and add to the hot oil directly.
5. When it turns to golden color and bubbles reduces remove it and put in Kitchen tissues.
6. Proceed same with remaining dough. Once everything done , let it cool completely and store it in the air tight container.



Happy Munching !!!!!!!!!!!!


Note :

Adjust the quantity of ginger and chilli according to your taste , the strong flavor of ginger varies in places.

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BADAM HALWA

Hi everyone I am back with the sweet post but this sweet is which I made for diwali. I was very much busy all these days since we were in shifting process. Still nothing is settled. But today my blog needs sweet you know why ?????????????? It has been a year since I started blogging. Yah its my 1st blog anniversary or Birthday to my blog. My first Milestone and I decided to mark it by giving her sweet. But unfortunately not able to prepare any sweets because of unpacked carton boxes, messy house,things scattered here and there and mainly lack of kitchen stuffs.

During this wonderful memorable day I am very much happy to thank all of you who supported and encouraged me a lot through your lovely words and also without your constant support nothing would have happened. I wish the same support from you all throughout and also I got such a wonderful friends from this blogosphere. I am really happy about that. So here is my Sweet for the party......Do join with me to enjoy this wonderful day. Will be soon with more recipes once I finish my diwali treat recipes....

INGREDIENTS :

Badam - 100 gms

Cashewnuts - 10 full

Sugar - 300 gms

Milk - 1/2 litre

Ghee - 200 gm

Color - Yellow(Optional)

Saffron - 2 pinch crushed

METHOD:

1. Soak the badam in warm water overnight and peel the skin.

2. Grind it with the milk ,sugar and cashew to coarse paste(not so coarse).

3. Now pour this in heavy bottom vessel and add food color if your using it. Stir it. Once it is slightly thickened add little ghee.

4. Do add the ghee once in a while and keep stirring.

5. At one stage the ghee comes out and it will stop sticking the sides of the vessel.

6. The consistency will be like dosa batter. Now add the saffron mix well and switch of the flame. Cool it and store in airtight container. This taste so good both warm and room temperature.

Enjoy eating halwa !!!!!!!!!

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