Tuesday, February 26, 2013

PANEER WRAPS RECIPE

As mentioned in my previous post Tortilla recipe , i am sharing the recipe of Paneer Wraps . This is a very easy and kids friendly lunch box recipe. The masala i stuffed inside inside the tortilla depends on your own choice and according to the taste of kids too. Since both my kids are a fan of paneer recipes i made the wraps with paneer stuffing. I included cabbage too in this, as both the kiddos hate eating cabbage. In this recipe, they didn’t even feel that i have added cabbage in this .
Paneer wraps 2
INGREDIENTS:
TORTILLA 4
PANEER CUBES 10
CABBAGE SHREDDED 1/4 CUP
ONION 1
TOMATO 1/2
RED CHILLI POWDER 1/2 TSP
GARAM MASALA 2 PINCHES
CORIANDER POWDER 1/4 TSP
OIL 2-3 TSP
TOMATO KETCHUP TO SPREAD ON THE TORTILLAS
Tortilla wraps 1
METHOD:
  • Heat a pan and add oil. Add the chopped onions and when it becomes nice brown color add the chopped tomatoes. Saute for a while till the tomato turns mushy.
  • Now add the paneer cubes, shredded cabbage, and the red chilli powder,coriander powder, garam masala and salt.
IMG_4871 IMG_4875
  • Saute well till the raw smell of the powders goes off.
  • Switch off the flame and allow this to cool. Spread the tomato ketchup on the tortilla.
IMG_4876 IMG_4898
  • Place 2 tblsp of the paneer mixture on the center of the tortilla as shown in the picture below. Roll it into a wrap and insert a toothpick on the center. The paneer wrap is ready to eat.
IMG_4902 IMG_4903
  • You can give this to your kids after they come back from school or pack it for their lunch box too.
        Tortilla wrap 3
Notes:
  1. You can add any veggie of your choice. Addition of capsicum will enhance the flavour a lot.
  2. You can add finely chopped carrots or frozen corn or peas too.
  3. Once i tried with dry chole  masala  for filling inside.

Monday, February 25, 2013

HOME MADE TORTILLA RECIPE | FLOUR TORTILLA RECIPE

   Tortillas are used to make wraps , which i rarely buy from stores. Normally for making wraps or kathi rolls i make the usual Roti | Phulkas and stuff the filling inside and wrap it and send it for kids lunch box. Last week i wanted to try out a tortilla recipe at home and finally made it and i adapted the recipe from here.
As we are shifting the house, this weekend i am totally busy with that and couldn’t follow any other fellow blogger’s posts. Hope to come back to routine in few weeks . I will posting some simple recipes for the next few weeks to keep this space active.
Tortilla 2
INGREDIENTS: (MAKES 6-7 TORTILLAS)
ALL PURPOSE FLOUR (MAIDA) 1 CUP
OLIVE OIL 1 AND 1/2 TBLSP
WATER AS NEEDED
SALT TO TASTE
METHOD:
  • In a wide bowl, add the flour and add olive oil and salt. Knead it into a soft dough using enough water. Do not knead it too stiff. Else the tortillas will be  hard.
  • Cover and keep it aside for 1/2 an hour.
[forgot to click pics in this stepSad smile.]
  • After that make equal lemon sized balls and start rolling each into thin rotis.
IMG_4878 IMG_4880
  • Heat a griddle , and when it is hot add the rolled tortilla to this and cook on one side and when you see brown spots flip it over and cook on the other side too.
  • Brush  it with little olive oil.
  • Repeat the same process for the rest of the dough.
IMG_4883 IMG_4884
  •      Tortillas are ready . Stay tuned for the Paneer wrap recipe in the next post.

Tortilla 1

Sunday, February 24, 2013

CUP CORN |BUTTER CUP CORN RECIPE

KIDS FRIENDLY SNACK

Cup corn is an easy snack and this involves no cooking too, if you have a Microwave Oven at home. Even the kids above 10years can make this as per their own taste . During our visit to Chennai last December , we had this in one the leading shopping malls. Though it is a usual one where we get in all parts of the city, this particular Cup corn have the flavor of Tandoori Masala and we all loved this. And after coming back here i tried this few times at home and kids loved this. Since i don’t have a MW at home, i cooked on stove top.

Cup Corn chaat 2

INGREDIENTS:

FROZEN CORN KERNELS 1 CUP
BUTTER 1 TSP
TANDOORI MASALA 1/4 TSP
CHAAT MASALA A PINCH
SALT AS NEEDED
LEMON JUICE FEW DROPS

METHOD:

  • Using less water cook the frozen corn kernels. If using MW just cook it for 3-5  minutes.

Corn chaat 1

  • Drain the excess water .

Corn chaat 3

  • Transfer it to a wide vessel. when it is hot add the tandoori masala, chaat masala, butter and salt.

Corn chaat 4

  • Mix well and add a dash of lemon juice.

Corn chaat 5

  • Mix again. The cup corn chaat is ready to serve.

Cup Corn chaat 1

Note:

  1. As the chaat masala, tandoori masala and butter has salt in it, add little salt.
  2. If using corn cobs , pressure cook that for 4-5 whistles and take out the corn kernels.
  3. You can add many variations to this recipe as per your choice. Will post the recipe with lot of variations soon.
    

Friday, February 22, 2013

OATS UPMA | OATS UPMA RECIPE

INDIAN DIET RECIPES

After trying out Instant Oats Idli , i wanted to explore more Indian version of Oats recipes. I tried out this Oats Upma for a weeknight dinner for myself ,and i liked it too. so after 2 days i made the Oats Upma again for me and my hubby. We both liked it and  yesterday when i made the Oats Upma again i clicked the pictures too. This Upma is made in a jiffy and to be more honest , it tasted pretty good . So over to the recipe of Oats Upma:
Oats Upma 1
INGREDIENTS:
OATS(QUICK COOKING OATS) 3/4 CUP
WATER 1/4 CUP – 1/2 CUP
ONION 1
CARROT(CHOPPED FINELY) 2-3 TBLSP
GREEN CHILLI 1
GINGER (GRATED) 1/8 TSP
OIL 2 TSP
MUSTARD 1/4 TSP
TURMERIC POWDER A PINCH
URAD DAL 1/4 TSP
ASAFOETIDA A PINCH
CURRY LEAVES FEW
LEMON JUICE 3-4 DROPS(OPTIONAL)
Oats Upma 3
METHOD:
  • Dry roast the oats for few minutes without getting it burnt.
step 1
  • Chop the onions finely and slit the green chilli.
  • In a pan, add oil and add the mustard seeds, urad dal, green chilli, ginger and when the mustard splutters and the urad dal changes color add the onions, followed by that add carrots, and curry leaves and asafoetida. Saute well and add salt.
Step 3 Step 4
  • Once the onions becomes translucent add the roasted Oats and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of water.
  • Close the lid and cook for 1- 2 minutes in a low flame.  Take out the lid and mix it again, if you  feel it is dry just sprinkle 2-3 tblsp of water and mix well. Keep in the flame for few minutes and switch off the flame.
Step 5 Step 7
  • Add the lemon juice to this and mix well.
Step 8
  • Always serve hot.
Oats upma 4
Notes:
  1. You can add any veggies of your choice. Adding capsicum give a nice flavour to this.
  2. Always serve this hot .
  3. Actually i made and clicked it and it took 15 minutes. After that i sprinkled 2-3 tblsp of water and sauted for 2 minutes in a low flame. It turned out moist and soft.
Oats upma 2

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

PASTA IN WHITE SAUCE | PASTA RECIPES

Pasta is a most welcoming dish at my home and i generally make it with Home made Sauce and usually pack it for kids lunch box or sometimes for weeknight Dinner too. Usually i make pasta in  this way but my kiddos love the pasta in white sauce too. Most of the times i make it either for lunch box or dinner and i couldn’t click the pictures, but two days back i made Penne pasta in White sauce and gave them for evening tiffin after they are back from school. Normally i try to include little bit of veggies in this as they will not fuss eating veggies if i put them in pasta.

For Recipe of white sauce pasta click Here.

pasta in white sauce 1

INGREDIENTS (Serves 3 )

PENNE PASTA 1 AND 1/2 CUP
WHITE SAUCE 1 CUP
MIXED VEGGIES 3/4 CUP
OLIVE OIL 1 TBLSP
OREGANOPOWDER 1/2 TSP
BLACK PEPPER TO TASTE
SALT AS NEEDED
CAPSICUM (CHOPPED) 1 TBLSP
PARMESAN CHEESE 1 TBLSP(FOR GARNISHING)

pasta in white sauce 2

METHOD:

  • Chop the veggies finely (i used carrot,green peas, corn and broccoli)
  • Boil the veggies in little water by adding little salt to this.
  • Do not over cook, let the veggies be crunchy.

White sauce pasta step1

  • Cook the pasta as per the instructions by adding salt and few drops of olive oil.
  • Drain the water and run the pasta thro cold water.

pasta step 3

  • In a sauce pan, add oil and add the capsicum and saute for a minute.

pasta step 4

  • Add the veggies to this and saute for few seconds and add the oregano and pepper powder.

pasta step 5

  • Add the white sauce to this and mix well.
  • Let this boil for a minute.

pasta step 5

  • Add the cooked pasta to this and give it a nice stir gently.
  • After 2 minutes switch off the flame.

     pasta step 6 

  • Serve it hot by sprinkling little parmesan cheese on the top .( i didn’t have cheese in hand , so i didn’t add)

 pasta in white sauce 3

Note:

  1. You can soak the pasta in water for 10 minutes before cooking which will ensure easy and fast cooking.
  2. You can veggies of your own choice.
  3. You can add red chilli flakes to this while serving if you want this little spicy.

Monday, February 18, 2013

FILTER COFFEE | SOUTH INDIAN FILTER COFFEE RECIPE

Filter coffee , the name itself makes me refreshing. Though we don’t have filter coffee everyday morning but it is a must at my place during weekends. But in my mom and mil’s place everyday we make filter coffee. I am pretty confident in making a good filter coffee and i learnt a few tips from my mom to make a perfect filter coffee. Though amma makes it normal stainless steel filter, i got introduced to the Electric coffee maker by my Mil. Now a days i use only the electric coffee maker only as it is easy to handle when it is very hot too. So i am sharing today the recipe of how to make filter coffee both in steel filter and electric coffee maker.  My sister was insisting me to write this post for a long time and finally i am sharing the recipe of filter coffee today.
The making of filter coffee comes mainly by practise and knowing the do and don’ts involved in this recipe. The quality of coffee powder also plays an important role in this. Here in Singapore i use the Kothas coffee powder regularly and in India we get from particular shop in West mambalam, chennai who grinds the coffee beans freshly and give. Even the Cafe Coffee day powder also works out well for a good filter coffee.
Filter coffee 1
I am just sharing the measurement of the coffee powder which i use here and it may slightly vary from the different varieties of powder available in the market.  Once u make continuously for 3- 4 days you come to know about your coffee powder. 
INGREDIENTS:
COFFEE POWDER
WATER
SUGAR
MILK
METHOD: USING STAINLESS STEEL FILTER
  • Heat the upper part of the coffee filter ( the part with holes) for a 3-4 seconds.
FILTER COFFEE STEP 1 FILTER COFFEE STEP 2
  • Place it over the down part and add 1/4 tsp of sugar to top portion. Adding sugar is purely optional. If you have any diabetic people around do not add sugar. The addition of sugar is to give thickness to the decoction.
  • Add 1-2 tblsp of coffee powder to this and  bring the water (approx 1/4 cup) to a nice rolling boil. Add the very hot water to the filter and slightly cover this with the lid.
  • Always pour the hot water around the sides. Do not pour in the center. Pouring from the sides will make the decocotion to flow smoothly from the filter.
Filter coffee step 4 Filter coffee step 5
  • After few minutes the decoction will be ready. Boil the milk till it comes up and pour it to a tumbler. Add the decoction (generally the first decoction will be strong and so you can add little only.) to the milk. Add sugar. Do not add more than 1/2 tsp of sugar for 1 cup of milk . the more the sugar you add it will suppress the flavor of coffee. Even sometimes my mom skips adding sugar as we add sugar while making decoction. 
Step 13 Step 14
  • Froth it up by nicely giving a mix using another tumbler. Do not over do as it may end up in cold coffeeOpen-mouthed smile.
Filter coffee 3
MAKING FILTER COFFEE IN ELECTRIC COFFEE MAKER:
I use the preethi coffee maker for a so many years and it works out quite well.
They give one small and big filters to wherein you have to put the coffee powder. Generally i use the small one , but if you are making for more than 5 people then use the bigger one.
  • Insert the small filter cup into the big one.
Filter coffee step 8
  • Add the coffee powder (approximately 2 tblsp)
  • Place it on the coffee maker.
Filter coffee step 9 Filter coffee step 10
  • Switch on the filter and it will just 3-4 minutes to get the decoction ready.
  • Switch off when the red light in the electric coffee maker turns off.
Step 12
  • Follow the same step as we followed in the last stage as boiling milk, adding sugar and decoction and froth it up.

Filter coffee 2 
Notes:
  1. We generally use full cream milk for filter coffee.
  2. Do not more water to the filter as it will end up in making thin decoction.
  3. Never heat up the decoction , if you want to  heat it up just keep it in very hot water for few minutes.
  4. Always boil the milk freshly and the reheated milk will spoil the taste of fresh filter coffee.
  5. Even while reheating the milk too , do not do directly, just place the milk in a cup over a cup of water in a wide saucepan and heat the water .
  6. Never reheat the coffee too as it will not at all taste good.Do not add sugar to the milk while boiling.
  7. you can store the decoction in the fridge for a day.
Hope i have mentioned everything clearly in the post, have any queries feel free to write to me. the post made me for a craving of filter coffee now itself. So i am going to make afresh cup of filter coffee now.