Monday, March 31, 2014

WATERMELON AND CUCUMBER COOLER | SUMMER DRINKS RECIPES

Watermelon and cucumber cooler

Watermelon and cucumber are one of the best summer cooler. I know that it is best to eat the fruits as it is, but some times we need some fresh fruit juice instead of taking plain water. To stay cool in this summer try out this watermelon and cucumber juice. This is very easy to make and gives instant energy too.
After spending 10 days of holiday in Delhi and in Jim corbert , it is bit tough for all of us to come back to this very hot weather here in Singapore. Stay tuned for more interesting recipes which i have explored during these holidays.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

COOKING FOR GUESTS SERIES#16 - TRADITIONAL LUNCH MEAL


cooking for guests 16 Full meals or traditonal tamilnadu meals or kalyana sappadhu, whatever we call, i always enjoy very happy cooking a full meal. Though now a days , we cook so many variety of cuisine for guests, this traditional tamil nadu meals will always have a special appreciation always. Two weeks back when i had guests at home i made this traditional lunch. Though i felt later , it could be more elaborate with one more curry and a sweet pachadi, still the guests enjoyed the meal. Will post one full tamil nadu meals soon. My mom always used to make this menu for newly married people who visit our place during our childhood days. My mil's place the menu will be slightly different, which i will post soon.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

PAPAD KI SABZI |SIDE DISH FOR ROTI | NO ONION NO GARLIC RECIPES



Papad ki sabzi is a rajathani dish , which i learnt from my friend very long back. I noted down the recipe in my book but forgot to try. Last week when i made rotis for me and my hubby for breakfast(rotis for breakfast is very rare) i thought i will try out this sabzi. Actually i was running out of veggies and even onions too. It turned out very nice and we both liked this.This can be made in a jiffy .

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

VAZHAIPOO VADAI | VAZHAIPOO VADAI RECIPE


 Vazhipoo vadai , i remember eating at my friend's place during my childhood days. Her mom makes this in very small coin size and we used to eat so many vadais without any counts. Long time i was planning to make vazhipoo vadai, but some how finally i made this last week. We had this with simple rasam rice and it tasted very awesome. Even you can make this for a tea time snack too.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

COOKING FOR GUESTS SERIES #15 | KIDS SNACKS MEAL



Holidays has started for kids and making snacks for them in the evening is the toughest task for every mom. On the first day of holiday, my friend took my kids along with her kid to a movie. Since i have lot of work at home i couldn't join. But i told her i will make some yummy snacks for kids when they are back. So before they come i planned for a kids meal. I know few among them are very choosy with veggies, but kids when they are in group they eat vegetables which they don't like much. So i planned the menu accordingly and the end result was super hit. Kids loved and enjoyed the meal.

Friday, March 21, 2014

ARAI PULI KUZHAMBHU RECIPE| SUNDAKKAI VATHA KUZHAMBHU WITH PIDI KARUNAI


Arai-puli-kuzhambhu Arai puli kuzhambhu is a not a different dish, it is a vathal kuzhambhu with pidi karanai and black channa. Last year during our December holidays, when i was staying in my mom's place , i learnt this . My perimma made this and tasted very well. I have never cooked pidi karanai (not the elephant foot yam), but with  vathalkuzhambhu it tasted super yum. We all really enjoyed it a lot. I took step wise pictures there but the final one were not good. So after coming here i made this twice and clicked the pictures also. Sharing the recipe of arai puli kuzhambhu. Though the name signifies half tamarind(arai puli) never know why it got the name. Quantity of tamarind water is same as we do for normal vathal kuzhambhu

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

JAVARISI VADAM | JAVARISI |SAGO VADAGAM RECIPE |VADAM RECIPES

Sago-vadagam

Javarisi vadam is my most vadagam . When i was in chennai 6 years back, every year i used to do this every year during summer. I make varieties of vadam but after coming here, i don't get sunlight and so i haven't made this for years. When i changed my camera last month, i passed on my old camera to my sister. When i was talking to mom, she was telling that she is making vadams as the summer started. I casually asked her if possible can you take step wise pictures for me with exact measurements and send the final product to me for final clicks. she happily agreed and my sister's son helped her in clicking and sending me the step wise photos. Thanks to my friend's hubby who brought this from Chennai and passed on to me.  Follow the exact measurements and you will get perfect vadams.

Monday, March 17, 2014

AVAKKAI PICKLE|AVAKKAI MANGO URUGAAI |INDIAN PICKLE RECIPES

Avakkai- pickle Avakkai mango pickle , the one of the most favorite dish i love to make. I learnt this during my early days of marriage from my athai(aunt) . She is an expert in doing this and she used to send big bottles of pickles to me after i got married. She was staying close to my in-laws place. I always wanted to learn the recipe from her and when i asked her she beautifully explained me the procedure. The next year she sent me raw mangoes and i made it according to her instructions. It came out extremely well. After coming to singapore, i never put this avakkai pickle and suddenly 2 weeks back i thought i should make this. I bought mango from little india, but here we don't get it cut with the seed intact. In chennai, they will cut and give.
Followed my athai's recipe and it turned out very well. Sharing the recipe of avakkai pickle today.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

COOKING FOR GUESTS SERIES #14 | ALOO PARATHA PAPDI CHAAT AND MORE

Cooking for guests series-13
This week cooking for guests menu comes with a North Indian lunch menu| even you can make it for dinner too. This can be made for brunch too on a weekend. Though this menu looks simple , i am sure your guests will be impressed by the combo of menu.

Friday, March 14, 2014

APPLE CARROT AND GINGER JUICE |SUMMER DRINKS RECIPES

Apple carrot juice

   When i was roaming around the Changi city point mall, after leaving Varun in the class, i felt like having some juice and visited a fruit juice shop inside the mall. I joined the queue and while standing i happened to see this apple carrot ginger juice in their menu list . Though i had my favorite pineapple juice , this apple carrot and ginger juice i wanted to try it out at home. I made this yesterday and it tasted very well. I can say this is the best thirst quencher. Try it out this summer and it is a very healthy juice too. Though it is always the best to consume fruits as such but some times it s ok to make juice and it is far better than store bought juices.
Check out my other Summer drink recipes too.

Click HERE for more summer coolers.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

ELANEER PAYASAM |ELANEER PAYASAM RECIPE |EASY PAYASAM RECIPES

 Elaneer payasam
Have you ever tried Payasam with elaneer (tender coconut) !. Though i have heard this many times , never tasted this or made on my own at home. Last month when Suresh visited Chennai officially, he happened to taste this elaneer payasam in a restaurant and immediately he called me and told it tasted very nice. I am so curious to try this at home but don't have any clue as how to make it. I asked my mom and she told she had written this in her note book and she sent that book with my hubby. That book has lot of nice recipes , which my mom learnt from many source.
Elaneer payasam turned out extremely well and i highly recommend you to try this at home for a change from usual payasams. This kheer needs no cooking too. Sounds interesting right!

Monday, March 10, 2014

THANDAI RECIPE|THANDAI |HOLI FESTIVAL RECIPES

Thandai-holi-festival 3   I have never made this thandai on my own, but happened to drink this few times in holi parties. Few of my friends insisted me to put this recipe of Thandai . I got this recipe from my friend who regularly makes thandai for our holi party.  It turned out very well and i never know it is very easy to make Thandai at home. Even my south Indian friends, if you are not celebrating holi also, just try out this drink and stay cool this summer. This thandai is made for Maha shivaratri too.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

COOKING FOR GUESTS#13 - WEEKEND BRUNCH MENU

cooking-for-guests After posting an weekend brunch menu few weeks back, i got few mails  to post some more brunch ideas. So i made this last week with a menu with Kuzhi paniyaram, kara chutney, tomato rice, raitha, potato curry , curd rice and sago payasam. This is a simple and easy to make menu , if you plan well in advance. Enjoy making this brunch menu and have a happy time with your guests.

Friday, March 7, 2014

TOMATO PUREE RECIPE | HOME MADE TOMATO PUREE RECIPE | NO ADDED PRESERVATIVES

tomato pureeTomato puree i wanted to try our for a long time , last week when i saw  red tomatoes in the nearby local shop at cheaper price, i bought and made puree out of this. This is a very basic recipe and doesn't involve any preservatives. I stored in the refrigerator for 10 days and it stayed good.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

SHAHI PANEER RECIPE | PANEER RECIPES|SIDE DISH FOR ROTI

Shahi-paneer2
Shahi paneer i wanted to try for a long time, but i am not sure how to make it exactly. Two weeks back when bought a a paneer packet , i saw the recipe of Shahi paneer behind the cover and i thought i will give it a try. Believe me, it turned out extremely well and it was a super hit among all. I can say this is a restaurant style Paneer recipe. Do try this paneer recipe at home and enjoy.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

VEGETARIAN PIZZA RECIPE | PIZZA WITH HOME MADE PIZZA BASE


mini pizza

Pizza , it is one of the recipe in my to do list for a long time. I tried Tortilla pizza , but wanted to make this pizza with home made pizza dough . Finally i made it last week for my kids and surprised them after the came back from school. I made it into mini pizza so that it will be easy for me to share the pizza among  my 2 kids! Over to the recipe of vegetarian pizza with home made pizza dough.
check out my Tandoori paneer pizza recipe.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

COOKING FOR GUESTS #12 | SNACK MENU - ONION PAKODA BREAD UPMA AND MORE

Bread-upma-pakoda-rava-ladoo This week cooking for guests come with an interesting snack menu. When you call your friends or relatives during evening tea time , you can always make this menu and i am sure your guests will enjoy this menu. I made Onion pakoda,Bread upma and rava ladoo along with tea. Check my south indian tiffin menu which i have posted in guests series 7.