Cooking Up Something Nice: July 2008

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Date and Banana shake

Have been planning to whip up something for Aarti's "Summer Splash" for a few days now. Actually with the summer coming to an end and it getting really cold with the heavy rains in Mumbai, I guess I am in a slightly different frame of mind. However, this was definitely one that would not like to miss out on.

A banana shake is something that I generally add to my breakfast menu, however, wanted to add a slight twist to it and here it is a date-banana shake. This date banana shake is yet another quick recipe that is done in 2 minutes and you have a tall glass to just relax and enjoy.

Ingredients:
Milk(cold) - 1 glass
Dates -2 (deseeded and chopped finely)
Vanilla Essence - 3 to 4 drops
Banana -1
Sugar - 1/2 tsp (you may even substitute it with honey)

Method: Put all the ingredients into the mixer and whip up a nice frothy date-banana shake in a minute. Enjoy!!!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Jeera Rice and an easy raita

The last few days have been truly busy with a lot of things of winding up (as I mentioned shifting residence and moving from Mumbai). The next few weeks too is going to be one of hectic activity. With a lot of things to be sorted out, directions to be given at the bank, school admission to be taken care of and a lot of things that keep cropping up and demand inclusion in the long check off list.

Hubby is on leave so it has been some fun too with exploring the streets of Mumbai, some art galleries and of course shopping. So its work and fun all in one. Not much serious cooking happening. Have been finding easy shortcuts to the elaborate cooking, in fact, I have already got into the winding up mode and will be packing my kitchen in a week's time. So it's going to be a little slow on my side for the next few weeks.
However, for the contributor's to the "Paneer event", do not worry at all. It will go strictly as per the schedule. Thanks to all who have made contributions of their delicious paneer creations. Looking forward to more of the delights with a few more days left for the deadline.

For today there is a simple anytime anywhere recipe of a yummy jeera rice and raita that I would like to post. One of my easy cooking sunday lunches. This with a chicken curry and crispy pappads are a meal in itself. This blog post goes out to all those beginners in the kitchen who would like to make a successful and simple beginning. I do remember my early days of experimenting when I would call my mom for instructions on how to make even rice and a simple potato fry(Ya the initial days were really tough with absolutely no idea of cooking:)).

Jeera Rice
Ingredients
Basmati rice – 1 cup
Water-1 ½ cups
Jeera ( Cummin seeds )- 1 tsp
Salt – to taste
Ghee – 1 tbsp

Method:
Soak basmati rice for approximately half an hour. Wash and drain. Take a pan and add the ghee to it. Put in the jeera ( cumin seeds ). Let it splutter. Now add the rice and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the water and cover and cook till done. Serve with chicken curry or spicy vegetable gravy and raita.
Note: There are many friends of mine who like to make additions to the jeera rice with curry leaves and also fried cashewnuts. You may try that for an added flavor although at my place this is the cultivated taste that my family likes.

Raita
Ingredients
Curd- one cup
Onion – 1 (small , finely chopped)
Tomato – 1 (finely chopped)
Cucumber- ½ (finely chopped)
Green chillies -2 (finely chopped)
Fresh Coriander or cilantro – a handful (finely chopped)

Method:
Mix all the ingredients and add salt to taste. Serve chilled. Enjoy this absolutely refreshing delicacy.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Paneer Makhani

Have been wanting to make a post more often, in fact, everyday was my initial plan. However, keep slipping on that due to some reason or the other. Right now it is moving residence in the next few days that has taken precedence. There are so many things to be done around the house. Moving in a couple of days and then going to the new place and settling down in the new house I think is going to keep me away from blogging for some time. However, will try to be around for as long as I can juggle between home and cooking for my blog.

Sorting out things especially books,papers and yes, clothes seems to be an unending task. My hubby is always left "wondering" as to why I keep complaining that there are so many clothes to be sorted through. Why "wondering" must be what you are thinking about right now? It is because he is really not able to understand me when it comes to clothes. With a cupboard full of clothes and complaining to have to spend so much time getting them sorted I still end up telling him that I really don't have anything nice to wear when I have to go out somewhere. Guess this is going to remain a mystery for him throughout, that's probably why they say "Men are from Mars and Women from Venus".

I have been spending some time surfing and have come across several of these delicious curries on various blogs and they all go to Srivalli's curry mela.

Just couldn't resist it and so had to make this post. This Paneer Makhani goes out to you Srivalli...great theme...great idea yummy rotis and now curry to go with it. I know now just where to look on a day when I run out of ideas for dinner.

This also goes to the "Eat Healthy- Protein rich" event. It is such a wonderful theme, a great way to eat healthy and experimenting with a variety of nutritious ingredients.

Ingredients
Paneer- 200 gms (chopped into cubes)
Butter- 2 tbsp (keep 1/2 tbsp aside to add at the end)
Oil - 1 tbsp
Tomato - 2 big (boil the tomatoes covered with water for 5 to 6 minutes, once the peel starts separating, cool. Take out the peel and grind to a smooth puree alongwith the soaked cashewnuts)
Onions- 1 (big, finely chopped)
Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Kashmiri Chilli powder- 1 tsp (not heaped) (I like to use Kashmiri chilli powder as it adds colour without being too spicy)
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Cummin powder - 1/2 tsp
Whole cummin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Kasuri methi or dried fenugreek leaves -1 tbsp
Cashew-10 to 12 (soaked in hot water and made into a paste in the mixer, you can grind it alongwith the boiled tomatoes)
Garam masala powder- ½ tsp
Whole garam masala - 2 green cardamoms, 2 cloves, 1 inch piece cinnamon
Fresh coriander leaves – 2 tbsp
Salt- to taste
Sugar-3/4 th tsp
Cream or milk - 3 to 4 tbsp ( I generally use milk when I make it for everyday meals at home. When I have guests for lunch or dinner I prefer to add cream for a richer texture and taste)

Method:
Take a pan and add the oil and 1.5 tbsp of butter. Add the whole cummin seeds and the whole garam masala and saute for 10 seconds. Add in the chopped onions and ginger-garlic paste. Saute. When the onions turn transparent, add the puree of 2 tomatoes ground with soaked cashew nuts. Saute for 3-4 minutes. Add salt, turmeric powder, Kashmiri chilli powder, coriander powder and the cummin powder. Saute for 3-4 minutes till the oil starts coming out from the sides. Now add the kasuri methi (crush between your palms and add) and half the chopped coriander leaves and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the paneer pieces. Add half cup of water and cover and cook till paneer is done(about 5 to 6 minutes). Open and add the garam masala powder and the remaining chopped coriander leaves.Add half the tbsp of butter. Finish with cream or milk (your choice). Serve hot with any of the Indian breads or even rice.

There have been a number of awards that have been showered on me by friends in the blogging world. Thank you for thinking of me it sure feels really good. Will soon make a post exclusively for that:)Thanks to all of you who have been sending in their entries for the Paneer event...looking forward to more such delicious entries.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Potato Pakodas - just right for the Mumbai rains

Potato pakodas
The Mumbai rains have been generous enough to bless us with occasional showers that create just the atmospehere to feast on some hot and crispy pakodas. The tiny drops of water going pitter patter on the window panes, a hot cup of chai and a platter of hot crisp pakodas..what more could one ask for. The drops soaking the dry soil bit by bit and the fresh smell of wet mud and greenery all around is truly a picture perfect setting. It is sure time to put on the kadai on to the hot stove and bring out those piping hot golden delights.

Rushina with her pakoda contest has provided just the excuse I needed to indulge. Potato pakodas it was and so in went the chunky potato slices into the gram flour (besan)batter for a royal dip and then were dropped into the hot oil to sizzle away. The house filled with the aroma that deep fried delights bring with them and I just couldn't wait to lay my hands on this lovely treat. Here is the easy potato pakoda recipe that we polished off with tea. This entry goes to Rushina's "hot" event.

Ingredients:
Potato -2 (cut into thin round slices, leave in hot water for 5-7 mins)
Besan - 4 to 5 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp ( you may increase it as per your taste)
Asafoetida - 2 pinches
Salt - to taste

Method:
1- Make a thick batter with the above ingredients(except potato) adding water as required.
2- Dip in the potato slices. Let the potato slices stay in the batter for approximately 5 minutes to soak in the flavor. Deep fry till golden brown. Enjoy!!

Announcement of second event - Paneer: a delicacy

The first event thmed chicken - my favorite has provided great encouragement to go on and make the announcement for the second one. The previous event had a collection of 50 wonderful recipes and this makes me look forward to the exciting entries for the second event. Hope all of you would lend your support for the second one too.
The theme for the second event is "Paneer - a delicacy". Paneer is another favorite at my place and is a welcome addition to the menu.

The paneer definitely needs no introduction to us all. Paneer is the Indian cheese made out of curdling hot milk with lemon juice or vinegar. A rich source of protein the paneer is any vegetarian's delight. It is generally used in the sliced form (in cubes), however, the crumbled variety "chenna" used in the Eastern Indian too is an equally tasty option. So by paneer here , I mean any dish made out of this wonderful and versatile ingredient whether a savoury or sweet, a curry or dry subzi. you are the boss. I look forward to all the mouthwatering varieties that is possible with this wonder ingredient. Here are some simple rules to make it a fun experience for both you and me.

Rules
1)Each one of you may send in as many entries as you like.
2)Please do send me an email at vandanarajesh2@gmail.com with
-Your name
-Blog name(url)
-The particular blog post url
-Name of the dish
- A brief description
- A Photo as attachment
3)Please do link to this post from your blog.You may use the event image in your post, if desired.
4)For any other queries,feel free to write to me at the email mentioned or leave a comment on the blog.
The last date for submissions is 31st July 2008. The round up will appear in the first week of August.

Looking forward to all your delicious paneer recipes.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Chicken - my favorite : event round up

The last one month has been simply great. Each morning I log on to my gmail account and there is a delicious chicken dish waiting for me. The enormous variety and the mouthwatering pictures actually would get me hungry from morning itself. My daughter who has been at home with school holidays on has been enjoying looking through the various blogs and has been urging to make this dish today and that tomorrow.

This is my very first event. I have been watching the events taking place in the blogging world for sometime now and have been wanting to host one of my own. However, the thought of whether I would get any entries at all has been making me put it off for so long. The fear of failure you know. What if I do not get a single entry. However, I am glad and thankful to all my blogging friends to have proved me wrong. It has been great doing the round-up with so many wonderful recipes. This one month has truly been a great experience, not only did I get to host my first event, got a good number of entries as well which makes be delighted and also made many new and good friends online.
So to begin with here’s the roundup to a great collection of 50 chicken recipes. An anytime guide to making great chicken whether for your party or everyday cooking.

1) Maya Shanbag from http://konkanworld.blogspot.com/
- Chicken with greens/Saagwaala Murgh (a delicious chicken dish that combines the goodness of spinach and collard greens)