Kulfi

A very indulging Indian icecream, Kulfi is my all time favourite. I adopted this recipe from Anjum Anand's Book I mentioned here. Sending this off to Srivalli's Thanda Mela.

Coming back to the recipe, here is what you will need.

Mango Lassi/Mango Smoothie

I am here again with a summer soother. The colour of the drink is not yellow enough coz the mango was not fully ripe. Its better to use a fully ripe mango for the full flavour and colour.
Sun plays a hide and seek game here. There is a joke about Ireland which goes like,' We have 3 summers in a year! One each in April, May and June and all lasts for a day. Well, things are really not that bad. Still, I donot miss out on the opportunity to make these cold goodies whenever it is sunny here.
This light, fruity blend makes a fabulous refresher on a summer day.

Makes 1 glass:

Sweet Lime Soda

This refreshing drink is an absolutely must for summers. In Kolkata, you can get it near any malls and supermarket. It works like magic to beat the heat and leaves you refreshed. I have tried to re-create that taste at home and my hubby loved it. Both of us are a fan of this drink. Its an addiction I must say, so restrain yourself from drinking lots as it it said to give gas problems if consumed too much.

Sweet Lime Soda:

Masala Bhindi Fry

I had never liked lady's finger, neither the taste nor how they look. I would always make some face and turn it away from from my plate. But, last year on our visit to India we went for a short vacation to Kodaikanal and Munnar with my parent in laws.
It happened, one day they ordered bhindi fry for lunch in a restraunt, my heart sank and very reluctantly I had to take my share on my plate. I don't like making faces in front of my laws. But, somehow I liked it. The onion and tomatoes did the trick I believe. Since then, this vegetable finds a place in my menu often.
Sending this off to Jagruti's Joyful Eating whilst travelling.
Here are the pics of the trip.

Kodaikanal

Munnar

Coming back to the recipe of 'Masala Bhindi Fry:

Chickpea Salad

A very simple and nutritious salad. Chickpeas with chopped onion and tomatoes with a dash of lemon juice makes a real quick salad. If you are using canned chickpeas, it will save you the time of soaking and boiling the chickpeas. I had prepared Chole Bhatura the other day and after soaking the chickpeas realised that it was a little more than needed for 2 people. So, I saved about half a cup of boiled chickpeas to prepare this salad.

Here is the recipe for 'Chickpea Salad'

Ingredients:

½ cup boiled chickpeas.
1 small onion chopped.
1 tomato chopped.
1 tbsp lemon juice.
¼ tsp roasted cumin powder.
¼ tsp black pepper powder.
¼ tsp salt or to taste.
Few coriander leaves chopped.

Serves 2.

Process:

In a bowl add all the ingredients and toss well. Serve immediately.

Sending this off to Madhuri's Event - Serve me some salads and to MLLA#22, brainchild of Susan and this month being hosted by Ruchikacooks.

Check my other MLLA entries here.

Enjoy!

Blueberry Scones

At the outset, a big thanks to all my blogger friends for their warm wishes. I am elated. You guys made my day!!! :)...
Now, coming back to the recipe I want to share today.. 'Blueberry Scones'
My hubby was delighted when I baked raisans scones for him. He loved the taste and this boosted my confidence and I went ahead to make them again. This time, I tried to use fresh blueberries instead of raisans and... hooray! they came out excellent. I have used the same recipe from book I mentioned in my post here. One thing I noticed this time was when making the dough was I needed less yoghurt as the some of the fresh berries ruptured and the juice helped in kneading. Hence, I have reduced the amount of yoghurt here.

Needless to say, sending this to Champa's Baking from Book- Breakfast and Bake-Off.

A Special Occasion and a special Dish - Navratan Korma

Time flies! Today, its 2 years since I got married. For this special occassion, I prepared my hubby's favourite- Navratan Korma. This delicious Mughlai dish gets its name from the diffrent veggies, fruits and nuts used in it ( I may have used more than nine). This prepartion varies from person to person. We like it in a rich white korma sauce. 

Now coming back to the recipe of today post..

Navratan Korma:

Savoury Semolina Cake

I tried this recipe from Anjum Anand's Book, Indian Food Made Easy. I had picked this book from my local library and had bookmarked this recipe. This savoury cake is a baked version of Gujarati Handvo. A very healthy option for breakfast - I just love it! I have made a few variation in the recipe.

Sending this to Champa's Event, Baking from Book- Breakfast and Bake-Off.

Savory Semolina Cake:
Ingredients:
2 tsp vegetable oil, plus extra for oiling.
1 cup semolina.
1 cup plain low fat yoghurt.
3 tbsp water.
¼ cup frozen peas.
¼ cup chopped onions.
¼ thinly sliced carrot.
¼ chopped bell pepper.
1 tsp grated.
1 green chilli chopped finely.
Few curry leaves.
1 tsp red chilli powder.
¼ tsp turmeric powder.
1 tsp mustard seeds.
½ tsp cumin seeds.
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda.
1 tsp sesame seeds.

Serves 8.

Process:

1.Preheat the oven at 180 C and oil a medium loaf tin.

2. Mix together the semolina, yoghurt, water, salt to make a batter of a medium thick consistency. Heat the oil in a small saucepan. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chilies and cumin seeds and cook for about 20 seconds until the mustard seeds have popped and the cumin is aromatic. Add the veggies and spices and cook for 2-3 minutes Stir into batter.

3. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda and immediately pour the mixture into the prepared tin and sprinkle over sesame seeds. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.

4. The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean and when the edges are crisp. Leave the cake to cool in the tin.

5.When cooled take it out of the tin, slice them. Serve them with the chutney of your choice.

Enjoy!

Chena Matar (Peas with cottage cheese)

I had never heard of this particular preparation of peas until one day when my husband asked me to prepare it. I asked my MIL about the recipe. Its very simple and nutritious. Sending this to the event -My Legume Love Affair # 22 brain child of Susan and this month's event being hosted by Ruchikacooks.
Click here for my previous MLLA entries.

Chilli Paneer Wraps

I do not need to profess my love for paneer again. You can check my earlier paneer recipes here. Today I have a wrap with a spicy paneer mixture filling. This one goes to the event- Global Kadai started by Cilantro and this month being hosted by Divya with the theme - Indian flavoured Burrito/Wraps.

Raisan Scones

I love baking. Till now my baking ventures had been confined to baking cakes. I am still to try my hands on breads and other baked goodies. When Champa announced the event - Baking from Book. I was delighted, coz I tend to bring cookbooks from the library but, donot use them to the fullest.

This time I have tried scones. My husband had been asking me to make some. So, this one is for him.

I have mentioned about this book in my post here. It has a huge collection of low fat baking recipes.

The original recipe was of Orange Raisan Scones. I omitted the orange and made 'Raisan Scones'. I have made some changes to the recipe. However, I have written down both the recipes here. According to the recipe in the book baking time was 12-15 mins at 220 C. However, after baking at that temperature, I could see my scones turning brown in 9 mins. So, better keep a watch when baking them. I would suggest baking them at 200 C.

Needless to say I am sending this to Champa's Baking from Book - Breakfast

Aaloo ki Sukhi Masaledar Subji (Spiced Dry Potato Subji)

Potato is a staple food in my house. It is a very versatile vegetable and there are many ways to prepare something out of it. Here is one of my preparation. It's one of my favourite.

Cucumber Bhurji Salad

A no pain salad and a perfect summer soother, very healthy and tasty. This salad is one of my favourite. Just chop and mix and it is ready to serve.

Here is what you will need:

Chilli Cheese Melts and am back!

I am back! I was away from the blogosphere as we had gone for a short holiday during the Easter Weekend. Needless to say I missed this space. I will surely checkout out all the recipes I have missed from my fellow bloggers. Hmm..lots of blog hopping for me there..!
Now coming back to the recipe. I had planned to post this recipe before going to the holiday but somehow couldnot manage time for it. Well, better late than never. I had these 'Chilli Cheese Melts' first in 'Burger King' here and loved them. Those 4 peices were never enough so, I decided to make them at home. I had made them the day before going on hols. We had it with 'Veggie Burger'.
Serve them warm and these cheesy melts will melt in your mouth and sooth your tastebuds. Watch out to pamper youself with these melts only once in a while, its an addiction and will add to your waistline!