Chicken Sandwich - a delicious comfort food

With the announcement of the "lunch box special" event, I have been thinking of what to post next. Thanks to all those who have been sending in entries and keeping their support going.

Chicken sandwich is one comfort food that I can have anytime of the day whether as a snack or a complete meal with a bowl of soup. My daughter too loves the taste of the vegetables and chicken combined with mayonnaise. An easy to make morning tiffin and I can ensure that she has her share of vegetables the smiling way. So here's to the chicken sandwich. If this post sounds more like my favorite rather than a lunchbox special, I am just not to blame it is the chicken sandwich that is so delicious. I am sure you all agree. For the vegetarians , just delete the chicken and you have a yummy veggie sandwich. You can also serve the mixture as a salad.



Ingredients:
4 slices of bread (preferably brown bread or multigrain bread)
2-3 tbsp mayonnaise (I am a mayonnaise fan and so an extra spoon would only make me happy)
2 tbsp finely chopped cucumber
2 tbsp finely chopped onion
3 tbsp finely shredded cabbage
2 tbsp grated carrots
2 tbsp finely chopped tomatoes
salt to taste (you may not need it with the salty taste of the mayonnaise, I however, like to add a pinch)
1/2 tsp sugar
1 cup (boiled and shredded chicken)
1 tbsp butter
2-3 tbsp tomato ketchup
Method: Combine all ingredients (except bread) in a mixing bowl. Mix so that all ingredients are well-blended. Take a slice of bread, and spread a layer of butter over it. Spread a layer of tomato ketchup and 2 tbsp of the chicken mixture. Cover with the second slice and you are ready to take your first yummy bite. Feelinf hungry already am going to make myself a sandwich.

A Kerala special for Onam – Avial

Onam has just come to an end. King Mahabali has blessed us and returned to his abode with a solemn promise to come back next year. The celebrations and more so the divine tastes of all the Kerala delicacies still linger on.

Although onam was just a week after moving into the new house, I decided to put in a little extra effort and prepare a small “sadya”. Made the traditional dishes of Sambhar, Avial, Thoran, Vendakaya Khichdi (Bhindi or Okra fried and put in a yogurt and coconut gravy) and yes, the sweet ending - payasam.

Avial is one of my favorite dishes just next to the tasty tangy Kalan. And so here I have the traditional Kerala delicacy which is a wonderful mixture of a variety of vegetables simmered in tamarind water and a coconut paste. My avial sure didn’t turn out as good as what my mom makes(but then moms are always the best cooks and there is just no out foing them), yet it turned out well enough to make me proud of my culinary skills. This is my version of the avail as I do not use some of the vegetables like yam due to reasons of strong likes and dislikes and also food allergy(my husband is allergic to it). This is I guarantee however, a mouthwatering combination. In fact, the avial in my refrigerator is over and just writing the recipe is making my mouth water.



Avial (Kerala vegetables cooked in tamarind water and a coconut mixture)
Note: some of the names are typically keralite and I do not know the English equivalents.
1 Paduvalankya (gourd – the really long variety)
¼ kg barbatti or achinga payar(similar to beans)
Vellarika – ½ kg (similar to cucumber, you can also use cucumber minus the seeds)
Carrots – 2 to 3
Drumstick -1
Coconut -1/2 (grated)
Cummin or jeera seeds- 1 tbsp
Green chillies – 2 to 3
Coconut oil -1 tbsp
Tamarind – 1 big ball (soaked in water) (some people also use yogurt instead)
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
Curry leaves – a handful

Method:
Wash and clean all vegetables and cut into thin long strips. Take an open vessel and add a glass of water. Add the vegetables, salt, curry leaves and turmeric powder. Let cook. When the vegetables are 3/4th done add in the tamarind water(as per taste). Boil and let cook for 3-5 minutes. Add the coconut mixture (grind the coconut, cumin seeds and green chillies coarsely). Let cook for another 3-5 minutes. Let it thicken. You can either make it fully dry or a little watery depending on your specific palette. Switch of gas. Add in the coconut oil and curry leaves. Stir well. Ready to serve.



This aviyal goes to Priyanka's "Festive Food Event- Onam".

Third event - Lunchbox special

Back after a really really lonnnnng break. I have been waiting to get back to my kitchen and yes, blogging about it. Got the kitchen started yesterday (it took a few days to get the house and settle down too). My daughter has joined the new school, hubby his office and here I am back viewing the world through my window (the internet). Its pouring outside (has been the case since the last 2days ) and so the so-called Andhra heat has had to take a breather for a while.

I have been wondering for a while as to what the theme for my third event should be. It was actually there right before me all the while, yes, my everyday mind game of what interesting to make for my daughter's lunchbox is what stood in front of me.

I am sure that there are many moms out there just like me who are left with the question of what to make that will appeal in terms of look and taste to their little ones.Two heads are better than one, I have read. For me, however, many many heads are definitely better than one and so I guess it would be a grand solution for all of us to put our heads together and come up with interesting recipes that would impress the really difficult customers at home.

Pic courtesy: http://ktimothy.com/

Whether it is cakes, wraps, pakodas, rolls, rice dishes, stuffed parathas, sandwiches or anything else that you could come up with...it sure would be a great collection for moms to keep handy for the times that they are left wondering what to make. I sure would find it a bible to what to cook tomorrow for my really hard to please daughter. Happy Cooking!! Looking forward to all your entries.

The deadline for the event is 15 October, 2008.You can send in your entries to vandanarajesh2@gmail.com Thanks to all my online friends who have been visiting the blog and providing me great encouragement to go on.