Tempered Green Chillies !!!

This simple, delicious, spicy and tempered green chillies are the best accomplishment for rotis / chapatis / rice. 

Ingredients :

1. Green chillies - 6 nos
2. Oil - 1 tsp
3. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
4. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
5. Salt to taste
6. Hing - 1/2 tsp
7. Dry mango powder / Lemon juice - 1/2 tsp

Method :

1.  Clean and slightly slit the green chillies (remove the seeds, if desired).

2.  Heat oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, turmeric powder and hing.

3.   Add green chillies and salt to taste.  Cover and cook all the sides.

4.   Once the green chillies are cooked, sprinkle some dry mango powder or lemon juice.

Serve it warm.

Kathirikai Peas Kuruma | Brinjal Green Peas Curry

Brinjal and green peas curry is very delicious and unique preparation.  We can use both fresh, frozen or dried peas for this curry.  This can be served with both rice and rotis.  

Ingredients :

1. Brinjal - 5- 6 medium sized
2. Fresh green peas - 1/4 cup
3. Oil - 1 tsp
4. Cinnamon stick - 1 no
5. Cloves - 3 nos
6. Green cardamom - 2 nos
7. Onion - 2 small sized, finely chopped
8. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
9. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
10. Green chilly - 1 no
11. Coconut, grated - 1/2 cup
12. Chilly powder - 1 tsp (to taste)
13. Tamarind pulp - 1/2 tsp
14. Salt to taste
15. Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method :

1.   Heat oil in the heavy bottomed pan, add cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom and finely chopped onions.  Saute till tender.

2.   Add ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder, green chilly and salt.  Saute.

3.   Add sliced brinjal and green peas (if you are using dried peas, soak them for few hours).

4.   Grind together coconut, tamarind pulp and chilly powder to smooth paste and add them to the brinjal curry.

5.   Add enough water and cook them till done.  (I pressure cook them for one sound)

6.   Garnish them with freshly chopped coriander leaves.

Serve with rice / rotis.

Orange flavoured Milk Tea !!!

This is one of my favourite type of tea.  We can use fresh / dried orange peel for this tea.  A good cup of tea should be strongly brewed and well balanced with creaminess that isn't too rich, and sweetness that doesn't overpower.  Proportion of milk and water can be balanced as per your taste.  Instead of white sugar we can substitute with brown sugar or honey or without sugar too.  This taste great with milk orange flavour. 

Ingredients :

1. Fresh Milk - 1 cup
2. Water - 1/4 cup
3. Sugar to taste
4. Tea powder - 1 tsp, heaped
5. Orange peel - 1 tbsp

Method:

1.   In a pan, mix together water, tea powder and orange peel.  Bring it to boil.

2.   Add fresh milk and sugar to taste.  Simmer the flame to low and let it boil for 3 - 5 mins.

3.   Strain using the tea filter and serve.

Serve hot.

Chocolate Himberry Loaf Cake !!

This is on of those awesome cakes that is deeply chocolaty without being overwhelming and that manages to get a little more list and crave-worthy as it sits for a few days tightly wrapped.  This is a great recipe for doubling and freezing. This can be used for ice cream sandwiches, or cubed and layered with cream and crushed meringues.  Simply delicious !!! 

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 1 1/4 cups
2. Unsweetened cocoa powder - 1/2 cup
3. Baking powder - 2 tsp
4. Salt - 1/4 tsp
5. Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup
6. Sugar - 1 cup
7. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
8. Eggs - 2 nos
9. Milk, room temperature - 1/2 cup
10. Him berry - 1/2 cup

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven to 180 C.  Grease and line up the baking loaf pan with parchment paper.

2.   Sieve together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.  Keep aside.

3.   Cream together butter, vanilla extract and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time and keep whisking after each addition.

4.   Add the dry ingredients, alternating with milk.  Start and end with flour mixture.  Gently, fold the chopped him berry and bake it for 45 to 60 mins or until the skewer inserted comes out clean.

5.   Allow them to cool completely and decorate some him berry on top and serve.

Happy baking :)

Chow Chow (Chayote) Skin Chutney / Thogayal

Healthy, easy, delicious and nutritious chutney is best served with hot steamed rice...

Ingredients :

1. Chow chow peel - 1 cup (from 2 medium chayote)
2. Oil - 1 tsp
3. Urad dal - 1 tsp
4. Red chillies - 2 no (to spice taste)
5. A pinch of hing
6. Tamarind pulp - 1 tsp
7. Coconut - 1/4 cup
8. Salt to taste

Tempering (optional)

1. Oil - 1 tsp
2. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
3. Ural dal - 1 tsp
4. Red chilly - 1 no
5. Curry leaves

Method :

1.   Wash and clean the chayote peel and keep aside.

2.   Add oil in the pan, add urad dal, red chillies, hing and roughly chopped chayote peel.  Add required salt and cook over medium heat until done.  Allow them to cool completely.

3.   Grind together cooked chayote, tamarind pulp and coconut.  Add little water if necessary.

4.  Heat oil in the separate pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves and red chillies.  Allow them to splutter.  Add them to the chutney and serve.

Serve..