30 Jun 2014

Event Announcement - Healthy Diet Event!

I am happy to announce that the Healthy Diet Event, a brain child of Priya from Priya's Versatile Recipes, is happening here for the month of July 2014. The topic I have chosen for this month's event is Healthy Lunch Ideas. Every mother wants to cook healthy food for her family and that is why this event is such a brilliant idea! By the end of the event, you get a collection of these wonderful recipes. I can't wait for the roundup of this event since I'm sure this will give many a lot of ideas and a lot of recipes to make their lunch preparation a much easier one.



So do participate and let's come up with some delicious lunch recipes!


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25 Jun 2014

Vegetable Aval Upma / Vegetable Poha Upma

Aval or flattened rice is a great breakfast option or it can be had as a snack too. The beauty of this dish is that, it can be prepared in very less time and it is very flavorful and tasty! I love any aval dish as it gives an opportunity to break away from the mundane idli and dosa!
I have already posted a simple aval upma recipe, this one has more vegetables and is more flavorful. Also check out the red aval upma recipe.




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21 Jun 2014

Pepper Chicken Masala

This is one of the tastiest chicken recipes that I have had! The spices that go into preparing this dish, makes it so delicious! Pepper chicken is a favorite in our house and we make this often especially when someone has a cold! The pepper makes this an extremely spicy and flavorful dish! We had this with a simple rasam and yet it was one of the most satisfying meals that I've ever had! Do try it out, you won't regret it.


Pepper Chicken Masala


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20 Jun 2014

Homemade Granola Bars

These are my most favorite bars, I've made a lot of bars but these are my 'go to' bars! Whenever I go on a diet trying to loose weight, these bars are my companion. They make a perfect snack. These bars are totally healthy and every week I make a batch and store it until my diet plan is over! 




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18 Jun 2014

Eggless Mango Muffins

Since my daughter started school, I'm upto my nose with things to do! My responsibilities seems to have doubled and baking and blogging has taken a backseat! Amidst all this, my maid quietly told my mum that her 3rd daughter's birthday is coming up. I normally bake cakes for her children's birthdays and I did not want to disappoint the little girl but since I did not have time to bake a cake, I made these mango muffins.


Eggless Mango Muffins


This is such a simple recipe, so easy and quick to put together. I finished this in 35 mins after bringing my daughter home from school. It tastes absolutely delish, so soft and moist! My maid said her daughter's have never had cupcakes/muffins before and they thoroughly enjoyed this muffin!


Eggless Mango Muffins

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16 Jun 2014

Dal Fry

This is one of the simplest and easiest dishes that you can prepare and it tastes absolutely yum! This is such a comfort food for all Indians, can't imagine life without dal fry or dal tadka. When I'm too bored to cooked or not well, it's always dal fry! This is such a flavorful dish and healthy too.




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14 Jun 2014

Eggless Brownies

I am finally satisfied with my eggless brownies! I have tried many eggless brownie recipes but none has been upto my satisfaction. I like only fudgy brownies, I don't like cake like brownies. Brownies have to be like brownies, intensely chocolaty and fudgy, what's the point in having cake like brownies! I like brownies like this Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownies and these fudgy cocoa brownies. I have been looking for an eggless brownie that will be this good, just like brownies are supposed to be!




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13 Jun 2014

Chicken Kuzhambu / Kozhi Kuzhambu / Chicken Curry

Chicken Kuzhambu is a favorite among all. This is an easy chicken dish and gets made quite often in our home. There are various ways to make a chicken kuzhambu and this method makes one lip smacking chicken curry! All the ingredients that go into making this curry makes it such a flavorful dish! The aroma that emanates while cooking is simply wonderful! Do try it out, you won't be disappointed!




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12 Jun 2014

Egg Dosa / Mutta Dosai Recipe

I have not had time to write a post in so long, been quite busy. My daughter is starting school and I can tell you, I'm more nervous than her! So it's time to write a simple post and what better than this lovely egg dosa! Whenever we have dosa in our house, we always have one egg dosa. This is easy to make and makes for a filling breakfast! Now if only I can get my daughter to egg dosa in the mornings! Would make such a filling breakfast before school!




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9 Jun 2014

Chocolate Cheesecake - a Guest Post by Anu | Easy No Bake Recipes

Today I am happy to have Anu from Anu's Kitchendelights! I love Anu's blog, the recipes that she posts are so awesome! So much of variety, she covers every area! Of course I love to go through her baked goodies, I have book marked many to try them out!


I'm really glad she agreed to do a guest post for me and I was eagerly waiting to see what she will come up with and I was so excited when she sent me a cheesecake and that too a chocolate one! For all the cakes I bake, I have never made a cheesecake! That's because I tasted a baked cheesecake somewhere and I did not like it! At all! And after that experience I have never dared to bake a cheesecake. 
After seeing Anu's recipe, I think I have to change my opinion and maybe try one!!




If you haven't already visited Anu's space do visit Anu's Kitchendelights for some amazing dishes!

Thank you Anu for agreeing to do this post for me!




I am really happy to do a guest post for one of my fellow blogger and friend, Beulah of Full Scoops. She is one of the supporter of my space and passes her comments in her best manner and  keeps inspiring. When she asked me to do a guest post i was really surprised and happy and so readily accepted. I asked her suggestion for the type of dish, and when she gave the choice of either baking or dessert, it was easy for me to go into cheesecakes. As she have a wonderful collection of desserts and cheesecake recipes I had to select something different that do justice to her blog. Her baking recipes are drooling and they have a professional touch that has inspired me.  




When I decided to go in for chocolate cheese cake, I should admit that I was keeping my fingers crossed thinking about how it would turn out.  Though I have already tried out cheese cakes, they were in very small short glasses just enough for 3 of us and this is the first time I'm making a cheese cake in bit more volume using a spring from pan. Fortunately it turned out well in-spite of hot and humid temperature here. I kept my recipe simple with my own proportions and adjustments.
They were creamy and chocolaty and perfect to foil in your mouth in no time. Luckily lighting was perfect here and i enjoyed taking my clicks which went up to 100 giving the food writer and food photographer in me great creative delights.  




Chocolate Cheese cake Recipe - Ingredients:
Preparation time: 8 hrs (including setting) | Cooking time: 30 mins | Recipe cuisine: World | Category: Dessert
                                                                                                                                For the Base:

  • Crushed Biscuits - 1 cup (digestive or crackers)
  • Butter - 4 tbsp
  • Coco powder - 2 tbsp (omit if using chocolate biscuits)
  • Powdered sugar - 2 tbsp
  • For the Cheese cake:
  • Cream Cheese - 1 cup
  • Heavy cream   - 1 cup
  • Sugar -    1 cup ( powdered)
  • Semi sweet/ Dark Chocolate - 1 cup + 1 tbsp butter
  • Agar Agar - 3 tbsp
  • Water - 1/2 cup

For Topping:

  • Chocolate shavings - 2-3 tbsp
  • Cherries - few to decorate
  • Whipped/ heavy cream - 1 scoop




Method:
To prepare base:
1. Crush the biscuits to a fine powder in a mixer. In a bowl mix the powdered biscuits, coco powder, sugar and melted butter and mix with your finger tips until it resembles bread crumbs and butter is well incorporated.



2. Press this mixture over the base of a 8’ inch spring form pan or any tin with detachable base.



3. Refrigerate the base for about 1 hr. Meanwhile you can prepare the cheese filling.

To prepare Cheesecake:
1. Take the agar agar and soak it in 1/2 cup hot water for 10 mins.
2. In a bowl beat the cream cheese, heavy cream and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.



3. Melt the chocolate with butter using a double boiler method. Allow it to cool slightly and slowly stir in to the cheese mixture and mix well.



4. Place the china grass along with the water and allow it to melt stirring all the while on low flame. (Alternatively you can also microwave along with the water for 2 mins on med high). Once it melts completely pour it over the chocolate cheese mixture and stir well without any lumps.



5. Immediately pour the chocolate cheese mixture over the prepared biscuit crust. 
6. Cover and allow it to set in the refrigerator for 4 hrs or overnight.

Take it out and decorate with chocolate shavings and top it up with cherries and whipped cream.
Dig into these yummy treat.



Notes
1. Allow the agar agar to melt completely and add while it is still hot itself. You can also strain and add to avoid lumps.
2. If desired you can add another layer to this cheese cake with chocolate ganache or just simply melt milk chocolate and pour over it.
 
3. If you prefer using gelatin, use 1 tbsp of gelatin mixed in 4 tbsp of water. Mix it and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then heat it in a microwave for 30 seconds. Allow to cool completely and then use.



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8 Jun 2014

Carrot Stir Fry / Carrot Poriyal Recipe

Carrot stir fry is an easy to make side dish for lunch. I make this quite often since this is one of the few veggies that my daughter eats. I have added very little spice for her sake, you can add more. And I prefer grating the carrots so that it will be easier for my daughter to eat. You can just chop the carrots into small pieces and make this stir fry.




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7 Jun 2014

Fruit Custard | Easy No Bake Recipes

This is one of the most favorite dessert made in my family. My early childhood memories are filled with this custard, we loved it growing up. My mum used to make this often as a way to sneak some fruits in us! I ate so much of this during my 1st pregnancy too! So many many memories of fruit custard!


Fruit Custard

This is an easy to make quick dessert and you will not have anybody complaining over this dessert! You can also make this custard with a single fruit, like this mango custard. That tastes good too!


Fruit Custard


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5 Jun 2014

Black Forest Trifle

If you love Black Forest Cake then this trifle is for you! This dessert has all the components of a black forest cake - the chocolate cake, cherries, whipped cream, chocolate shavings and it is also soaked with kirsch liqueur or the cherry syrup. This is a delightful dessert which can be served as individual servings after dinner or in parties. 


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4 Jun 2014

Prawn and Paneer Masala

This is the first time I tried this combination and I should say the taste was beyond my expectation. Paneer is such a versatile ingredient that you can add it to any dish and it tastes awesome! We loved it! This is again one of my anni's fabulous cooking!!




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3 Jun 2014

Masala Egg Rice

I thought of this recipe when I was making egg bhurji. After making it, I was thinking, it would be really yum to add rice to this masala and also would make an easy lunch recipe and a lunch box recipe.
So I set out to try it out one day for my husband's lunch box and it came out very well and tasted yum too!
I added freshly made rice but you can use left over rice too.




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1 Jun 2014