Pakarkai(Bitter Guard) Pitlai with Peanuts / பாகற்காய் பிட்லை

Ingredients

* Bitterguard - 1 big
* Toor dal - 1 cup(appr.200gms)

* Soaked Raw Peanuts : 3/4 to 1 cup
* Tamarind - 1 lemon size
* Chana dal - 1tbsp
* Coriander seeds - 2tbsps
* Red chilly - 6nos
* Grated Coconut - 1/2 cup
* Turmeric powder
* salt
* Oil for seasoning
* curry leaves and coriander leaves for garnishing
* Asafoetida
* Mustard seed 

Method

Pressure Cook the toor dal and soaked peanuts with little turmeric powder for 5 whistles.
In 1 tsp oil fry coriander seeds, chana dal, red chilly and coconut till they get golden brown.Allow it to cool and grind to smooth paste.
Cut bitterguard in round shape ,add tamarind juice,salt and allow to boil till the vegetable is cooked.
Add the cooked toor dal,spice paste, curry leaves to the bitterguard mixture.Stir and cook for few more minutes.
Season with mustard and asafoetida. serve with plain rice .

Enjoy... 

குசேலர் தினம் - ஆன்மிகம்

                    

                     மார்கழி மாத முதல் புதன்கிழமையன்று குருவாயூர் கோவிலில் குசேலர் தினம் கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது. அதிக பிள்ளைகளைப் பெற்றுக்கொண்ட குசேலர் வறுமை யில் வாடினார். அப்போது அவர் மனைவி, "உங்கள் நண்பரைப் பார்த்து நம் நிலையைச் சொல்லுங்கள்' என்று, வீட்டிலிருந்த சிறிதளவு அவலை எடுத்து குசேலரின் கிழிந்த அங்கவஸ்திரத்தில் முடிந்து அனுப்பினாள். குசேலர் கொண்டுசென்ற அவலை கண்ணன் உண்டதும், குசேலரின் குடிசை வீடு பெரும் மாளிகையானது என்று புராணம் கூறுகிறது.

                       பகவான் கிருஷ்ணரை குசேலர் சந்தித்தது ஒரு மார்கழி மாதமுதல் புதன்கிழமை. எனவே குருவாயூர் கோவிலில் பக்தர்கள் குருவாயூரப்பனான உன்னிகிருஷ்ணனுக்கு அவல் சமர்ப்பித்து வழிபடுவர். மார்கழி மாத முதல் புதன்கிழமையில் ஸ்ரீகண்ணபிரானுக்கு வீட்டில் அவல் நிவேதனம் செய்து வழிபட் டால் செல்வச் செழிப்பு ஏற்படும் என்பது நம்பிக்கை." 

For Vella Aval Recipe Click Here 

http://www.vidhuskitchen.in/2013/08/vella-pval-sweet-poha.html

Vazhaithandu Mor Kootu / Banana stem Mor Kootu / வாழைத்தண்டு மோர் கூட்டு

Ingredients

Banana stem / Vazhaithandu    : 1/4 kg
Grated coconut                                : 1/2 cup
Green chillies                                    : 3 
Cumin seeds                                      : 1/2 tsp
Rice flour                                            : 1 tbsp
Curd                                                       : 1/2 cup
Salt

For Tempering 

Coconut oil           : 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds     : 1 tsp
Curry leaves
Asafoetida
Red chilly              : 1

Method

Grind coconut, green chilly, cumin seeds and rice flour with little water to a smooth paste.

Peel the skin of vazhaithandu lengthwise.
Cut round pieces horizontally and remove fibre by pulling out.
Place all the rounds in butter milk water to avoid decoloration..
Now chop the rounds into thin pieces and again put it in buttermilk water.

In a pan cook the chopped vazhaithandu pieces with 1/4 cup water and salt.

Once done, add the coconut paste and mix well.

Boil for few minutes and switch off the flame.

Beat the curd till smooth and add it to the kootu and mix everything well.

Heat coconut oil in a pan,fry mustard seeds,curry leaves, broken red chilly and asfoetida.

Pour this over the kootu and mix well .

Serve.. 

Instant Tomato Rasam / Quick Tomato Rasam

Ingredients

Tomato          ; 2 nos
Cumin seeds   : 1 1/2 tsp 
Red chilly       :2
Mustard seeds   : 1/2 tsp 
Ghee                  : 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves 
Coriander leaves 

Method 

Soak cumin seeds ,red chilly for 15 minutes.
Grind them along with chopped tomato.
Add required salt,1 cup water ,mix well and let it boil .
When the foam farms switch off the fire. 

Take a pan ,splutter mustard seeds and pour it to the rasam.
Garnish with coriander leaves and curry leaves.

Serve hot. 

Apple Bajji

Ingredients

Apple                     : 2 
Besan flour           : 4 tbsps
Rice flour              : 1 tbsp
All purpose flour    : 2tbsps 
Baking soda          : 1/4 tsp 
Red chilly powder   : 3/4 tsp 
Asafoetida              : 1/4 tsp 
Salt 
Oil  

Method

In a bowl prepare a batter using the besan flour,rice flour,All purpose flour,asafoetida,salt, red chilly powder,baking soda and add enough water and mix without any lumps. The batter should be in dropping consistency. 
Heat a kadai,add oil for frying.. 
Wash the apples and slice them lengthwise, dip it into the batter. 
And fry till golden brown. 
Apple Bajji is ready now.. 
Serve with coconut chutney or with tomato sauce..  

Lunch Box Ideas

Simple & Quick Sambar Sadam + Baby Potato Fry / Roast  

Simple & Quick Sambar Sadam Recipe

http://www.vidhuskitchen.in/2012/12/simple-quick-sambar-sadam.html  

Baby Potato Fry / Roast Recipe

http://www.vidhuskitchen.in/2012/12/baby-potato-fry-roast.html 

Classic Combo - 22

Malabar Avial + Mysore Rasam  

Malabar Avial Recipe  

http://www.vidhuskitchen.in/2014/02/malabar-avial-recipe-mixed-vegetables.html

Mysore Rasam Recipe

http://www.vidhuskitchen.in/2013/06/mysore-rasam.html 

Easy Peanut Chutney without Coconut / நிலக்கடலை சட்னி

Ingredients

Peanuts            : 1/2 cup
Urad dal           : 1 tsp
Chana dal         : 1 tsp
Green chillies   : 5 
Salt

Method

Dry roast the peanuts till crisp.
Roast chana dal,urad dal, green chillies with little oil,
Let them cool. 
Remove the skin of the peanuts.
Grind everything together with required salt smoothly with little water.
Temper with mustrad seeds and curry leaves . ( optional).
Serve with idli or dosa.

Microwave Eggless Multicolour Cake

Ingredients

Maida           : 1 cup
Water            : 3/4 cup
Sugar             : 1/2 cup
Refined oil      : 1/4 cup
Baking powder  ; 1 tsp
Salt                    : a pinch
Vanilla Essence  : 1 tsp
Rose Food colour : 1/2 tsp
Green food Colour  : 1/2 tsp 

For the Frosting

Butter   : 1/2 cup
Powdered sugar  : 1 1/2 cup
Vanilla essence   : 1 tsp
Milk                     : 1 tsp

Method

Sieve maida,Baking powder,salt together 3 times and keep aside.
Add oil,water and mix.

Add sugar to it and mix well till sugar dissolves completely.

Add vanilla essence and mix.

Now add the sieved flour little by little to the milk mixture and blend gently.

Divide the batter into 3 equal portions.

Mix One portion of batter with rose food colour and another portion with green colour.

Pour the batter into microwave safe bowl and microwave it for 3 minutes. ( it took exactly 3 minutes for me to bake this cake)

Each layer must be microwaved in a seperate bowl.

Once done cool it on a wire rack. 

Assembling the Cake  

In a bowl beat the sugar,butter,milk& Vanilla ssence till the mixture becomes light .

Take a sharp knife and slice the cakes. 

Place a cake layer on a plate, spread 1 sp of frosting evenly,place the pink colour cake, spread 1 tsp

frosting,place green colour and spread frosting and repeat .

Spread the remaining frosting all over the sides and top of the cake.

Refrigerate it for 20 to 30 mintes ( until frosting is firm ) and slice..

Enjoy....;)

Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry / Kathamba Curry

Ingredietns

Cabbage       : 1/4 kg
Carrot           : 2
Green peas   : 1/4 cup
Beans            : 150 gms
Grated coconut : 2 tbsp
Oil : 1 tsp
Mustard seeds
Urad dal
Red chilly 1
Green chilly 1
Curry leaves
Salt  

Method

Peel the carrot and wash all the vegetables.

Finely chop the cabbage, beans and carrots.

Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds,when they splutter ,add urad dal,broken red chilly,chopped green chilly ,curry leaves and fry.
Add carrot ,peas,salt and sprinkle some water,cover and let it cook on low flame.
Once cooked add grated coconut,mix well and remove from fire.
Serve and Enjoy...:) 

Bread Dosa - Quick Breakfast Recipes

Ingredients

Bread Slices     : 4 nos
Rice flour         : 1 cup
Sooji                 : 1/2 cup  
Chopped Onion   : 1/4 cup
Green chillies      : 3 nos
Greated ginger     : 1/2 tsp
Pepper                  : 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds         : 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves
Salt
Oil 

Method

Grind the bread,sooji,rice flour with required salt to a smooth paste and transfer to a bowl.
Add chopped onion,chopped green chillies,ginger,chopped curry leaves,pepper,cumin seeds and mix well.
The batter should have pouring consistency like rava dosa batter.Heat a non-stick pan , rub lightly with oil, pout the batter to the hot pan like rava dosa.
Drizzle some oil and let it cook till the edges turn brown.
Flip over and let the other side cook. 

Remove and serve with coconut chutney 

Enjoy .. :)

Eggless Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

Maida             : 1 cup
Peanut Butter  : 1/2 cup ( Homemade Peanut Butter )
Sugar              : 1/4 cup
Refined oil      : 1/4 cup
Honey             : 1 tbsp 
Baking powder   : 1/4 tsp

Method 

Preheat oven to 150 C.
Mix all ingredients thoroughly until you have a smooth dough and form into 12 to 15 equal-size balls. 

Place on a lightly greased baking sheet and flatten it slightly with hand.

Bake for 12 minutes and remove from oven.

Place the baking sheet on wire racks to cool completely. 

Enjoy

Carrot Chutney - Side dish for Idli / Dosa

Ingredients

Carrot       : 2
Onion       : 1 
Red chillies   : 4
Tamarind       : 1/2 tsp
Urad dal         : 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds
Curry leaves
Salt
Oil 

Method

Wash and peel the carrot and grate it using a grater.
Heat 1 tsp oil,fry urad dal,red chillies,tamarind,Chopped onion, till golden brown and transfer it to a plate. 
In the same kadai,fry the grated carrot until raw smell leaves. 
Transfer all the ingredients to a mixie jar and grind along with salt and little water.
Heat 1 tsp oil in a frying pan,add mustard seeds.
When it splutter ,add the curry leaves.
Pour this tempering over the chutney and mix well

Whole Wheat Eggless Nutella Cake

Ingredients

Wheat flour     : 1 tbsp
Nutella            : 1 tbsp
Milk                ; 2 1/2 tbsps
Baking powder  : a pinch 

Method

Add wheat flour , baking powder,nutella in a Microwve safe mug and mix well. 
Add milk , mix well and make sure there are no lumps. 

Microwave it for 1 minute.

Enjoy

Homemade Mango Jam

Ingredients

Medium sized ripe mangoes    : 3
Sugar                                        : 3 tbsps 
Lemon juice                              : 1/2  tsp

Method

Wash & peel the mango.
Cut it into small pieces.
In a pan,add the chopped mangoes,sugar,lemon juice and cook over low heat.
Stir & Mash well.
Cook for 15 minutes or until it is thick. 
Allow to cool completely. 

Store mango jam in the fridge.

Enjoy...:)

Angaya Podi /அங்காயப்பொடி

Ingredients

Coriander seeds   :1/2 cup
Toor dal               : 2 tbsps
Manathakali vathal  : 2 tbsps
Sundaikai vathal      : 2 tbsps
Dry ginger              : 1 tbsp
Pepper                      : 3 tbsps
Ajwain seeds            : 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds             : 3 tbsps
Dried Curry leaves   : 1/2 cup 
Kandathippili (Long pepper)  : 1 tbsp 
Red chilly                 : 1
Asafoetida                 
Salt 

Method

Dry roast each ingredient separately.

Mix them and grind coarsely.

Add salt and asafoetida and mix well.

Let it cool and store in an air tight container.

Serve with hot rice and gingelly oil or ghee.

Classic Combo - 21

Jeera Rice + Chapathi + Quick Green peas curry +Cucumber & Carrot salad  

Jeera rice Recipe

http://www.vidhuskitchen.in/2010/01/jeera-rice.html 


Quick Green Peas Curry made with Besan flour ( Without Coconut /Cashew Paste) Recipe

Quick Green Peas Curry made with Besan flour ( Without Coconut /Cashew Paste) 

Cucumber & Carrot Salad

Finelly chop peeled cucumber & peeled carrot,add pepper powder,salt to it and mix everything well.

Karunai Kizhangu Masiyal / கருணைக்கிழங்கு மசியல்

Ingredients

Karunai kizhangu    : 2 nos
Cooked toor  dal      : 1 tbsp
Tamarind water        : 2 tbsps
Grated coconut         : 1 1/2 tbsps
Grated ginger            : 1/2 tsp
Green chillies            : 3 nos
Mustard seeds
Asafoetida
Salt
Curry leaves
Red chilly 
Oil

Method

Wash and pressure cook the karunai kizhangu for 4 whistles.
Allow it to cool, Peel the skin and mash well. 
Add it to the tamarind water along with turmeric powder,asafoetida,salt and let it boil till the raw smell of tamarind goes away. 
Grind coconut,ginger,green chilly to a fine paste.
Add the coconut paste,cooked toor dal to the boiling mixture and mix well.
Cook well until it reaches masiyal consistency..
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a kadai,add mustard seeds ,1 broken red chilly,curry leaves and fry.
Add it to the masiyal and mix.
Enjoy..:)