Monday, September 2, 2013

GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH RECIPE | SANDWICH RECIPES | KIDS FRIENDLY SNACKS


Very recently, i got a sandwich maker as a compliment for signing an aircon service contract for an year. Actually i was planning to buy this for a long time , though i was using that before after that it got repair, i was postponing to buy it . But finally i got this and wanted to make sandwich for kids. My kids loved this a lot and Varun named it Pizza Sandwich. So if you want to pack some interesting snack for kids lunch | snack box , then go ahead and try this one.
cheese sandwich 2
INGREDIENTS:
WHOLE WHEAT BREAD 4
TOMATO 4-5
CAPSICUM 1/4
OREGANAO TO TASTE
RED CHILLI FLAKES TO TASTE
MOZZARELLA CHEESE AS NEEDED
BUTTER TO SPREAD ON THE BREAD
cheese sandwich 3
METHOD:
  • Spread butter on one side of the bread. Cut the tomatoes into rounds slices. I used baby tomatoes. If using normal tomatoes make the quantity to 1.
  • Place the tomato slices on the other side of the bread which is not spread with butter.
  • Spread cheese on this.
cheesesandwich sandwich
  • Sprinkle oregano and red chilli flakes ( if using) on this.
  • finely chop the capsicum and sprinkle few on it.
Cheese sandwich cheese sandwich
  • Place another slice of bread and it and place this carefully on the sandwich maker.
  • Spread little butter on the top. This is optional. If making for kids or if packing for kids box add butter.
  • Repeat this for another set of bread.
cheese sandwich cheese sandwich
  • Cook the sandwich in the sandwich maker.
cheese sandwich
Note:
  1. I used whole meal bread, you can use white bread too.
  2. If you want you can use chopped onions too.
  3. You can use any variety of cheese. Even cheese slices will work out.
  4. Even you can finely chop the tomatoes and mix with cheese capsicum, oregano and red chilli flakes.  Stuff this inside the breads and make the sandwich.
Be creative while making this Pizza sandwich.
Check out my other sandwich recipes too
Pinwheel Sandwich
Sprouted green gram sandwich
Cabbage paneer sandwich

Sunday, September 1, 2013

POORI RECIPE | HOW TO MAKE POORI | SOUTH INDIAN BREAKFAST RECIPES


When i posted the recipe of POORI MASALA | POORI KIZHANGU, few readers were asking to post the recipe of how to make poori too. Though i make it twice a month, but never had a chance to click the making of Poori as either it would  be on weekends or on a weekday morning breakfast. Finally i made poori for kids snack , after they come from school, generally they eat meals as they normally take some tiffin like idli, paratha, chapathi or bread for lunch. When i made this around 3 pm suddenly i thought i would click poori so that it will be useful for readers too. So in a hurry i clicked and posting the recipe now.
check out my

Scroll down to note down the tips as how to make poori in advance if you have guests coming to home.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

KANDATIPPILI RASAM RECIPE | PATHIYA SAMAYAL RECIPES


Kandantippili rasam i wanted to post for a long time , but somehow i didn’t search for that in Singapore, but when my mom visited me last month bought this for me and i wanted to start a series of recipes which we used to give for moms after delivery , commonly called as Pathiya samayal in Tamil and Postpartum food in English.  My athai used make this for me when i delivered my second kid Varun, and  she used to tell this kandantippili rasam helps in digestion too. Now a days we generally do not follow pathiyam after delivery and in my case too when i deliverd my first child 12 years back my mom strictly followed pathiyam but for the second one after 4 years i never follow any strict pathiyam. This kandantippili i don’t know what is is the English term of this but you can get this easily in most of the small shops in chennai. I will be posting some Postpartum food which we generally follow at our house, more frequently here.
kandatippili rasam
Before moving on to the post, thank you so much for trying out the Gokulashtami recipes and i am overwhelmed to see the mails . Thank you so much again.
INGREDIENTS: SERVES 4
KANDATIPPILI 4-5 sticks
TOOR DHAL 1 TBLSP
BLACK PEPPER 1 TSP
JEERA 1/2 TSP
TAMARIND EXTRACT 1 AND 1/2 CUP
TURMERIC POWDER 1/4 TSP
GHEE 1/2 TSP
COOKED TOOR DHAL 1/2 TBLSP
MUSTARD SEEDS 1/4 TSP
CURRY LEAVES FEW
ASAFOETIDA A PINCH
SALT AS NEEDED
rasam
METHOD:
kandantippili
  • Dry roast the kandantippili , toor dal, black pepper .
  • Powder it finely in a mixer along with cumin seeds.
rasam rasam
  • Soak a small lemon sized tamarind and extract the juice from this.
  • In a vessel add the tamarind water, 1 tblsp of the ground powder, salt, asafoetida, turmeric powder.
rasam rasam 2
  • Let this boil for 7-9 minutes in a low flame.
  • Add 1 and 1/2 cup of water to the cooked toor dal and add this to the boiling mixture.
  • Let this become frothy , add curry leaves and switch off the flame.
  • Temper with mustard seeds in ghee.
rasam 1
  • Super flavourful rasam is ready for serving.
Rasam - pattiya samayal
Note:
  1. You can make the powder in bulk and make rasam whenever you want.
  2. If you want you can add 1 tomato (pureed) while boiling. But for pathiyam tomaotes will not be added.
  3. You can add 1/2 tsp of coriander seeds while roasting if you want.
       

Monday, August 26, 2013

RAVA UPPU SEEDAI RECIPE | GOKULASHTAMI RECIPES


Gokulashtami is always special to my mother i law as she always tells me to make as many items as possible to offer Neivedhyam for Lord Krishna. Two years back when i was talking to her she told that she made Rava uppu seedai for Krishna jayanthi and she learnt the recipe from her friend. At that time i didn’t remember asking her the recipe but last week suddenly i remembered that conversation while talking to her and asked her for the recipe. She couldn’t give exact measurements but i was bit worried whether the seedai will burst as rava is bit coarse in texture. But she told me to try in small quantity but she told the rava uppu seedais didn’t burst. Later after 2 days, while talking to my relative here, she was mentioning her mom will make rava seedais and to my luck she is now in Singapore now to visit her. So mami instructed me properly the recipe of Rava uppu seedai and following her recipe i made it correct.These Rava seedais turned out crispy too. Thanks to your mom Chitra.
rava seedai
INGREDIENTS
RAVA | SOOJI 1/2 CUP
POTTUKADALAI |CHUTNEY DAL|ROASTED GRAM 1 TSP
COOCNUT (SCRAPPED) 1 TSP
BUTTER 1/2 TBLSP
SALT AS NEEDED
SESAME SEEDS(WHITE) 1/4 TSP
OIL FOR DEEP FRYING
rava seedai
METHOD:
  • Powder the rava and pottukadalai  in a mixer. You can even powder the pottukadalai  alone finely. My rava was bit coarse i felt and so i powdered it too.
rava seedai Rava seedai
  • Dry roast the coconut and sesame seeds separately till golden brown.
  • Add butter , salt and the roasted coconut, sesame seeds and the ground rava and pottukadalai.
Rava seedai Rava seedai
  • Knead the dough into a soft pliable dough. This will take very less water 1 to 2 tblsp.
  • Cover this and keep it aside for 45 minutes.
Rava seedai Rava seedai
  • After that make small balls out of this and allow this to dry in at kitchen towel or a while cloth for 10 minutes.
  • Heat the oil for deep frying.  Carefully drop this in oil and deep fry in a low flame till  nice golden colour.
  • Drain this in a kitchen towel to absorb the excess oil.
rava seedai Rava seedai
  • Rava Seedais are ready for neivedhyam.  Rava seedai
Note:
  1. Adding pottukadalai is optional. I just added out of my own interest as the original recipe mami gave was without pottukadalai. I just added for binding.
  2. But do not add more than the proportion mentioned. It will become soggy.
  3. You can add 1 tsp of rice flour too instead of roasted gram dal, but if adding rice flour roast it nicely and sieve and then add.
  4. Red chilli powder can be added to enhance the taste.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

5 easy Krishna jayanthi recipes, Gokulashtami recipes


 Gokulashtami | Krishna Jayanthi 2019 falls on Aug 23. Though i have posted an elaborate post on recipes to make for Janmashtami , HERE, but for working women and people don’t have time to prepare for an elaborate neivedhyam like uppu seedai, vella seedai, mullu murruku or thattai or due to any health reasons if you can not make preparations the before day, here are 5 quick recipes that you can make for Neivedhyam to Lord Krishna on Gokulashtami | Krishna jayanthi.  In our family, we have the tradition as we have to fry some sweet or savory in oil on Krishna jayanthi. So even if ladies in the house can not go into the kitchen and make anything the men in the house make some simple vadai and aval payasam. My mil says that the smoke comes out from the oil get rids of the negative thoughts inside the house.


Click on the names for recipes




Friday, August 23, 2013

NEI APPAM RECIPE | KRISHNA JAYANTHI RECIPES


Nei appam is generally made during Krishna jayanthi |Gokulashtami along with Uppu seedai and Vella seedai.  We also make this for Ganesha Chathurthi and Karthigai Deepam too. Even for working women who cannot come and make all items elaborately after coming back from office, they can offer Nei appam and Aval payasam for neivedhyam. This nei appam my amma makes very nice and generally she deep fries it . But i made in paniyaram pan . So sharing today the recipe of nei appam  which i learnt from my mom.
nei -appam
INGREDIENTS: MAKES 12 APPAMS
RAW RICE 1/2 CUP
URAD DAL 1 TBLSP
RAVA | SOOJI 1 TSP
JAGGERY 1/4 CUP + 1 TBLSP
GHEE AS NEEDED
CARDAMOM POWDER A PINCH
COCONUT GRATED 2 TBLSP
nei appam 3

METHOD:
  • Soak the rice, urad dal and rava for 2 hours.
  • Drain the water and grind this into thick paste without adding much water. When  it is done, add the jaggery and pulse till it mixes to the rice mixture.
nei appam nei appam
  • Add coconut and cardamom powder to this and pulse again.
  • The batter is ready, Let this be like a ildi batter consistency.
Nei appam Nei appam
  • Heat the paniyaram pan and add ghee to this. Spoon in the batter and keep the flame low. When it becomes golden brown flip on the other side. Add some ghee and cook till golden brown.
  • Repeat the same for the rest of the batter too.
Nei appam nei appam
  • Nei appams are ready for neivedhyam.
nei appam
  • If deep frying add ghee plus oil in a pan and spoon(little bigger spoon) in  for one appam at a time.
nei appam 2
Note:
  • Instead of urad dal you can add 2 tblsp of wheat flour to ground rice and jaggery mixture.
  • You can add mashed banana (1 banana) to get pillow soft appams.
  • A pinch of baking soda can be added just before making this.
  • If you feel the jaggery has impurities then grind the rice separatelythick, and melt the jaggery in little water and add filter this and add this to the rice paste.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

METHI PAKODA RECIPE |METHI PAKORA RECIPE


Methi pakoda is an easy and quick snack which i tried for the first time. This methi pakoda turned out well and we had this as an evening snack with hot tea on a rainy day. I have tried Methi pakoda kadhi but this is a different recipe of pakoda which i tried from a cook book. If you have Methi leaves in hand, just go ahead to make this methi pakodas.
methi -pakoda
INGREDIENTS: SERVES 3-4
METHI LEAVES 2 CUPS
BESAN |GRAM FLOUR 1/2 CUP
RICE FLOUR 1/4 CUP
SAMBAR POWDER* 1-2 TSP
JEERA POWDER 1/4 TSP
AMCHOOR POWDER 2 PINCHES
CORIANDER LEAVES 1 HAND FUL
SALT AS NEEDED
GARAM MASALA 1/4 TSP
ONION 1
OIL FOR DEEP FRYING
*Sambar powder can be replaced with coriander powder and red chilli powder.
methi -pakoda
METHOD:
  • Wash the methi leaves and chop them roughly.
  • In a wide bowl add the methi leaves and add the rice flour, gram flour, sambar powder,coriander leaves,amchoor powder,jeera,salt and garam masala.
  • Add chopped onions to this.
pakoda pakoda
  • Add little water to this and make it to a dough consistency.
  • Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. when the oil is hot, keep the flame to medium.
  • Spoon in the dough in small batches into oil and deep fry them till golden brown.
pakoda pakoda
  • Drain excess oil in kitchen towel and serve hot with tomato ketchup.
methi pakoda 3       NOTE:
  1. Adding amchoor powder lessens the bitterness of the methi leaves in the pakoda.
  2. Mint leaves can be added instead of coriander leaves.
Check out my other methi leaves recipes:

Monday, August 19, 2013

ONION CHUTNEY | VENGAYA CHUTNEY RECIPE|SIDE DISH FOR IDLI


Onion chutney was introduced to me when my mom was here. Very long back i learnt the recipe of vengaya thogaiyal recipe from my mami and tried it few times at home too. But this onion chutney i have never tried or tasted. When i posted the recipe of WHEAT DOSA Ii placed this onion chutney near by the dosa. Many readers asked the recipe of that. So i made this vengaya chutney last week for idlis. Try out this easy onion chutney (without coconut).
Also check out my


onion- chutney
INGREDIENTS: YIELDS 1 CUP
SHALLOTS | SMALL ONION 15
URAD DAL 1 TBLSP
RED CHILLI 4-5
TAMARIND A SMALL PIECE
SESAME OIL 2 TSP
MUSTARD SEEDS 1/4 TSP
SALT AS NEEDED
onion- chutney

METHOD:
  • Peel the skin the onions and wash it nicely.
  • Pat dry it and add little oil and add the urad dal and red chilli. In a low flame roast this till golden brown. Keep it aside.
  • In the same pan add the shallots
onion chutney onion chutney
  • Roast this in a low flame till golden brown.
  • Allow this to cool and grind this along with tamarind and salt into a smooth paste.
onion chutney onion chutney
  • Add little water while grinding.
  • In a pan add sesame oil and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. When done add this to the chutney.
onion -chutney