Tangy poha - A snack based on Rice flakes


Phew! It feels super nice to get back to this place after a long time. I was totally missing cooking, clicking and posting as a whole. I am on a business trip for a short while and all these things can't happen like before. Nevertheless, I try to whip up something which has that home-made feeling along and quick whenever I get to. Now, I realize how much I am into this cooking thing and how difficult it is to stay away from it. I kinda feel good about it.
I love lazy Sundays with some nice snacks to much on as you see a classic movie. I made a dish with avlakki/aval/atukulu. I don't know what is called.(It is close to huli avlakki) It is a result of some extensive search on aval based recipes. It tasted refreshingly good.

Serves - 2
Preparation time - 1 hour(includes soaking time)

Ingedients:
Aval/Atukulu/Rice flakes/Beaten rice/Poha - 1.5 cup
Tamarind paste - 1 spoon
Grated coconut - 3 tb spoons
Jaggery - 1/2 tb spoon(optional)
Peanuts - 2 tb spoons
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tb spoon
Jeera - 1/2 tb spoon
Onion - 1 finely chopped
Green chillies - 3
Bengal gram/chana dal - 1 tb spoon
Salt - 1 tea spoon(adjust)
Oil - 1 tb spoon

Procedure:
1. Wash the rice flakes with water and soak in just about 1/2 cup of water of water for 2-3 mins. Squeeze out the extra water.It shouldn't turn soggy but should be soft.
2. Now add tamarind paste,jaggery, grated coconut and salt to rice flakes. Combine and set it aside for about 30mins-1 hour.
3. Heat oil in a kadai. Add the chana dal,cumin,mustard and green chillies. After they give nice aroma, add onion and saute for about 2-3 mins.
4. Add the soaked rice flakes and give it a mix. Switch off the flame and serve topped with some roasted peanuts.

Ain't it easy?
ps: That picture was the only one I managed to click before invaded by some intruders who I should call colleagues.

Pick 3 fave recipes and win B&BW Body Lotion on Edible Garden!
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by Hb ~ Sunday, October 25, 2009 13 comments

Just not any other dish Sep 09 - Round up

Me: Bloggy bloggy..
Blog:Yes mumma..

Me: Have I been neglecting you?
Blog:No mumma..

Me: Are you sure?
Blog: Yes mumma..

Me: Where is your round up?
Blog:Hahaha!

Ok, this is me and my blog talking to each other. She(Yes, my blog is feminine!) says no and I feel yes. So, I apologise to her and want to tell her, it shaped up only after few apprehensions, some thought and loads of inspiration.
I have these voices in my head and tons of excuses to give for not presenting the round up as promised in time. Nevertheless, I chose to gift my event's winner this book. A big bunch of thanks to you all guys who sent entries and sweet messages along which the whole point about this event. I see myself smile every time I see an entry in my mail-box.

So, shall we have a look at the round-up. Since, there aren't many( I mean MANY) entries, I didn't categorize in any particular order.






Pari Vashisht @ Foodelicious's Dinosaur Pasta









Muskaan @A2ZVegetarian cuisine's Watermelon punch










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by Hb ~ Wednesday, October 14, 2009 6 comments

Maramaralu/moori mixture/Bhel puri - Puffed rice in assorted vegetables


Be it The necklace road in Hyderabad or Brigade road in Bangalore,(these places see lot of visitors/tourists in the respective cities), one can always see a tiny stand and bunch of paper cones. The crowded streets/beaches in almost all Indian cities are dotted by peddlars who are immersed in scooping up the most tasty street snack of India, moori mixture(called by various names). When I am walking with my mom and happen to see such a stall, after initial glares, she would give in too.The temptation for this humble snack is alike for everyone.
Since, it is considered unhealthy and what's with the flu scare everywhere, I decided to make it at home. Now, because it's me who is making, it needs to be customised, no? This is my version of a healthy snack for evening times.

Serves - 2
Preparation time - 15minutes

Ingredients:
Bhel/Murmuralu/Puffed rice - 2 cups
Carrot(grated) - 1/2 cup
Onion - 1(chopped)
Green chillies - 2(sliced)
Potato - 1(boiled and diced)
Tomato - 1(chopped fine)
Lemon juice - 1.5 tb spoon(adjust)
Coriander - garnishing
Peanuts - 1/2 cup
Salt - 1 tea spoon(adjust)

Date and tamarind chutney
dates - 8-10
Tamarind - 1 tea spoon
Fennel seeds/saunf - 1/2 tea spoon
Salt - 1/2 tea spoon
Chilli powder - 1/2 tea spoon
Jaggery (optional)

Procedure:
1. Soak the dates in water for about 15minutes, till they become soft. Now grind the fennel seeds to a fine powder. Add tamarind,salt,chilli powder and dates to it and grind it to a fine paste. Add water and jaggery if required. This will be our date and tamarind chutney.
2. Combine tomato,onion,green chilli, potato,peanuts,carrot and the chutney. Season it with salt and lemon juice.
It is packed with nutrition and is a low-fat snack.
The chutney can be used as a dip or as a spread.

And and, Here is our winner for the event 'Just not any other dish'. Thank you all for participating in it!Round up and the gift to be announced in the following post.
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by Hb ~ Friday, October 9, 2009 9 comments

Sweet potato and cheese toast




This is how conversation goes between me and a friend S(She is married to a happy husband, happy because she makes the most delicious food,every single day.)

Me: Hey, I am hungry. Why don't you tell me some snacks that I could make with sweet potato. That is the only thing lying in my pantry.
S:Boil in water till they are semi-cooked. Then try deep-frying and putting salt.
Me: Naah, tell me something else.
S: Make a cutlet/kebab. The same way you make the vegetable cutlet.
Me:Hmm..

This conversation happened after actually going through tons of recipes involving sweet potato.

*After a while*

Me: Oye, I made a sandwich filling out of the sweet potato. It tastes good.
S: Ok, fine. Enjoy your meal :)

Yes, I know. I am like that. After all that querying and searching over web, I still make what I want to. Anyone, who wants to hire me as a chef? ;)

Preparation time - 10-12minutes
Serves - makes 2 slices of toast

Ingredients:
Sweet potato - 150 gms
(When boiled and mashed should be about 3/4 cup)
Jeera powder - 1/2 tea spoon
Salt - 1/2 table spoon(Adjust accordingly)
Pepper powder - 1/2 tea spoon
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tea spoon
Whole wheat bread - 2 slices
Cheese - 2 tb spoon(grated)
Ghee - 1/2 tea spoon

Procedure:
1. Boil till soft and mash the sweet potato. Add salt,jeera powder, chilli powder and pepper powder to it.
2. Take the bread slice and spread this mixture over it. Place the grated cheese on top of it.
3. Heat the ghee in a pan. Place the bread in it. Now let it cook over low flame for 1-2 minutes, keeping it covered. Take care not to char the bread slice. (I like it better that way though, gee!)

Take it off the stove and into the mouth. The melted cheese and the whole burst of flavors from pepper and chilli, heavenly!

I know these pictures haven't come really well. Don't blame the camera or the toast,it was hungry and impatient me.

And, I do owe you guys something. The round up for this event is due. It will happen really soon. I promise.
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by Hb ~ Tuesday, October 6, 2009 12 comments

Sweet chapati err ..Indian flat bread with jaggery


Why is it that when we don't have access to something, we long for it even more? Why is it that the place we just left ,keeps calling us back. Does it happen to everyone or just me? While I can't even see anything close to bajji or laddu, I feel like eating some authentic bobbattu(Andhra flat bread with sweet filling inside)After some thorough elimination because of non-availability of ingredients, I zeroed in on this snack. I can't afford to call this one Ada because I missed out on coconut which looks like a vital ingredient. Nevertheless, it tasted heavenly and I loved it!

Without any doubt this will be my first and most likely only dish which requires so few things to put the whole thing up. Ideal as a evening snack for hungry kids and poor souls who adore anything home-made after a taxing day at work.

Serves - 2(around 4)
Preparation time 10 minutes

Ingredients:
whole wheat flour - 1 cup
Jaggery (grated) - 3-4 tb spoons
Salt - 1 big pinch
Ghee - 2 tea spoons
Water - 1/2 cup

Procedure:
1. Mix the flour,jaggery and water together. Knead into a soft dough which can be pressed against tawa.
2. Heat a griddle and sprinkle some ghee over that. Moisten your hands with some water and spread the dough on the pan into a circular bread. Drizzle some ghee on top. Fry this for about 2-3 minutes on either sides.

Eat it hot, really hot. Nothing fancy, quick and easy snack.I liked the melted jaggery all over!

Note: You might need to use jaggery syrup which is filtered if you feel it contains impurities(like the original recipe says). I didn't have to.

Oh by the way, this happens to be my 50th post. My blog baby is growing up!

Last two days to send in your entries to my event!
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by Hb ~ Tuesday, September 29, 2009 13 comments

Cauliflower pepper fry


Sitting by the window pane, watching the rain pour away to glory ; Standing at the edge of water pool and leaving the paper boats with child like enthusiasm ; Listening to the drizzle of the rain and refusing to leave the couch ; The memories, smells and feels associated with monsoon rains are plain awesome. Today's post is an ode to one of the most beautiful times of the year. The kind of food our mood demands in this particular season needs to be peppy and pleasing to palate.
On such a rainy day, for dinner I wanted to make something very hot and reviving to taste buds. After looking at a beautiful cauliflower, I knew what I had to do. This is a flavorsome and comforting stir fry with cauliflower which sure is monsoon-friendly!

Ingredients:
Cauliflower - 2 cups(broken to small florets)
Salt - 1 tea spoon(adjust)
Water - 1 cup
Oil - 1 tb spoon
Turmeric powder - 1 big pinch

To be roasted and ground to a powder(yields about a tb spoon)
Red chillies - 3-4
Pepper - 1 tea spoon
Coriander seeds - 1/2 tea spoon
Jeera/ cumin seeds - 1/2 tea spoon
Garlic - 1-2 cloves

Procedure:
1. Wash the cauliflower florets and cook them in salted water for about 8-10 minutes. They should be cooked just right.
2. Powder the roasted spices in a mixer/processor.
3. Heat the oil in a pan. Add florets along with little salt and turmeric powder. After frying for 1-2 minutes, add the roasted powder. Saute for another 2-3 minutes.
Get off the stove and serve it with rasam-rice or as a starter.

Do you love food and cooking as much as I do? Do you carry sweet memories and not so sweet experiences on your cooking expedition? You may send an account of the same and win a customized gift from me. Event details are here. 5 days to go!

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by Hb ~ Friday, September 25, 2009 13 comments

An award


First things are always special. So is this award. Thank s Aruna for this beautiful badge on my blog.
This award comes with the following rules

# You must thank the person who has given you the award.

# Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

# Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.

# Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

# Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.

# Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

# Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated

I was asked to tell some interesting things about me. These are some weird things about me which can be out-right boring. Well, let's get started.

1. I get attached to the place and people around me in no time. It gets really tough for me to part from them. I would be in tears every single time I have to move from one place to another. Why can't life be just the same? I hate change sometimes, or hmm most of the times.
2. This is pretty weird. I hate Mr. Sun. I understand how important he is. But I just hate going out in sun. Forget about the tan, the harsh rays and the bad headache, phew! This is why I like winters more.
3. I do believe there is a streak of environmentalism in me. I can give up anything except eating non vegetarian food(sob!) for that cause. Needless to say, people littering around and other such things get on my nerves.
4. I am the least adventurous person I have ever come across. Bungee jumping or rock climbing, I just can't do.
5. I hate to be around overly talkative people. For that matter I can't stand beyond limits of anything. I prefer to be alone than be in company of such people.
6.I try to learn about people from the way they dress. I don't jump to conclusions but I do feel it says lot of things.
7. I am really pathetic when it comes to remembering birthdays, anniversaries and other important days of family and friends. I know it is on 17th of September but I don't realize it is 17th of September that particular day.

Many people I know would have already received this one ,so I am not sending to any. Please feel free to take up the tag if interested.
I would soon get back with a recipe. Till then, adios!
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by Hb ~ Tuesday, September 22, 2009 6 comments

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