Aromatic Rice Pulao

I have been wanting to try this recipe ever since I saw it on Shab's cuisine. All her recipes makes my mouth water and her photographs are just pefect.Its like you can actually taste and smell the food through her photos!
The Aomatic Rice was just as wonderful.Full of Flavor from the spices and very nutritious form all the veggies in it.
The moment my husband stepped into the houses he started sniffing and said "something smells delicious".
I had added some rose water also to the Pulao and it still tasted good.Not too overpowering.
As soon as I made the rice I ate some with my mothers lemon pickle!! Fantastic!
Please find her recipe here.

For dinner we had this with Chicken Vindaloo.

Chicken Vindaloo

I am not a morning person and worse I am not at all a winter morning person! Today when I woke up it was sooo cold ( well, atleast for my standard. heard hubby say "Its 56' F. Its not winter yet). But for me as soon as the leaves start to fall fom the big oak tree infront of our house, its WINTER. I just didnt want to leave the cozy comfort of my bed. So when hubby woke up to go to office, I just laid there pretending to be asleep, hugging Ayaan to keep him warm or rather to take some heat from him!

So hubby dearest didnt dare to wake me up.He just had some cereal and left ( he always has a big breakfast as he skips his lunch). so when he called and started to complain how hungry he is and how lazy I am , I decided to compensate by making him a hearty feast.. well atleast a small dinner!!

So i made Aomatic Rice from Shab's Cusine and Chicken vindaloo!

The Aromatic rice well..peru pole...was very aromatic. The smell of all the spices and the rose water !!! It was very delicious and very easy too.It went great with Chicken vindaloo and the mushroom fry which I ended up not making!!

so here is the recipe for Chicken Vindaloo

INGEDIENTS:

• Chicken cut into small pieces – 1kg
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
• Onion sliced thin – 2 cups
• Tomato  – 1/2 cup
• Tomato ketchup – 1 tsp
• Vinegar – 3 tsp ( I just added it till I got that sour taste, Used Red wine vinegar)
• Ginger sliced thin – 1 tsp
• Sugar – a pinch
• Oil – 1/4 cup
• Salt – as needed

For Grinding :-

• Chilli powder- 1 tsps ( depending on your taste)
• Ginger  – 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
• Fenugreek seeds – 1/2 tsp
• Garlic cloves  – 6

 Gind the above ingredients in 1-2 tsps of water in to a smooth paste.Keep it aside.

Method :-

•  Heat oil in a deep pan and splutter the mustard seeds.Add onion into it saute until transparent.Add turmeric powder and fry for a while and then add chopped tomatoes followed by tomato ketchup.Fry it well in medium heat until oil starts to separate.Now add the ground paste into it and fry it again for few minutes until they are well blended and oil separates.Add in the chicken pieces ,mix well and add the vinegar and salt into it. If you dont like the taste of vinegar too much add just a little.
• Cover the pan with a lid and cook the chicken gently in a medium heat stirring in between.Be careful that the chicken doesnt stick to the pan.
• 
  
  When the chicken is done,add ginger slices into it and mix gently.Add some water 1/2 a cup or so.Continue cooking in medium heat until gravy starts to thick.Add sugar,mix well and turn off the heat.Allow it to stand for 10-15 mts covered, garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with chappati's, parattas, or the aromatic rice
  
  
  

Vermicelli Upma

This is a very easy to make breakfast dish.

INGREDIENTS:

• Vermicelli - 2 Cups
• Water - 3 cups
• Onions - 1 big sliced
• Green Chillies - 4 (depending on your taste)
• urud daal -2 tbs
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tbs
• Curry leaves
• mustard seeds -1/2 tbs
• Diced carrots and Peas - 1/2 cup
• Salt
• Oil

For 1 cup of vermicelli you need 1.5cup of water

METHOD: 

• Take a pan and heat it.Add vermicelli and fry it till light brown and keep it aside. 
• Add 3 tsp oil into the pan .once the oil gets heated add cumin seeds,urud daal,mustard seeds and curry leaves .When all these are fried add veggie pieces and fry for 4 min and then add onions and green chilli pieces. stir it for another 5 min. 
• Add 3 cups of water and place a lid on the pan and increase the heat to med- high ,add salt as per taste. After 5-8 minutes when the water starts boiling , add fried vermicelli and mix well and  reduce the heat to low and Leave it with lid for 5-8 minutes untill all the moisture in the upma is gone .

Enjoy!!!

Ice cream sandwich cookies

This is a very easy to make dessert for kids. They will really enjoy it. Its got the goodness of an ice cream and of a cookie all in one. I got this recipe from sandra lee's show in food network. I had  some cookies left over   and some ice cream. So it was made in a jiffy!
To see the original  recipe from Sandra lee Please visit the foodnetwork website.
I used the cookies left over from my chocolate chip cookies experiment.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream, slightly softened  (or any ice cream of your child's choice)
• 30 chocolate chip Cookies

Method:

• Spoon about 2 Tbsp. of the ice cream mixture onto bottom side of each of 15 of the cookies; cover with second cookie, top-side up, to make a total of 15 sandwiches.
• Freeze 1 to 2 hours or until firm.

Note: you can always add some nuts or extra chocolate chips into the ice cream. Just mix the nuts or chocolate chip into the ice cream. I was using Breyers cookies and cream icecream so i didnt add anything extra!!

I am sending this to Sri valli's kids delight food event.

chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookie is an all time favorite in my family. Since Ayaan has discovered the art of eating cookies,cakes and ice creams I always try to make new items for him. Sometimes they are a big success and sometimes they are a big failure.
This chocolate chip cookie was a big hit. Even My hubby loved it. After their daily play time together they will come home and both take a big glass of warm milk and dip the cookies in it and eat it. And Ayaan will enjoy them with out any fuss. I wish it was this easy to make him to eat his lunch and dinner! But I must say it has been a real progress now days not as picky as before!
Anyways..here is the recipe for an easy to make chocolate chip cookie!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

 

 

METHOD

 

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F .Grease cookie sheets .
•  Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a spoon. Drop cookie dough large teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
• Bake for 12 to 14 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Once the cookies are completey cooled transfer them into an airtight container.

Banana Pancakes

Getting my son to eat something is a very big challenge. He has this very peculiar eating habit . he will not eat anything that has nuts,fruits,veggies and nothing even with chocolate chip.its all plain food for him.Should be one single color.No garnishing of any sort.If  I give him rice with some ghee he will eat it.
So now days i am just thinking of a way to get some fruits and veggies into his diet. That itself is a big challange for me!
One thing that he eats well is Pancake.So I started making this banana pancakes and fortunately he loves it! sometimes I let him decorate his Pancake into a face using chocolae chip for eyes and nose and a sliceof banana for the smile.He alwasy picks out the chip and gives it mommy!!
Oh no no! he loves chocolate just doesnt want it in his pancakes.
So here is the recipe for pancake. There is a simple version using the pancake mix and one from scratch. i will include both here. I usually make it using hungry jack's complete pancake mix.Its easier.

Using the MIX:-
Ingredients:


• 1 cup Hungry Jack  Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix (Just Add Water)

• 3/4 cup water

• 1/4 cup ripe mashed banana

• No-Stick Cooking Spray

Method:
Combine pancake mix, water and mashed banana. Mix just until large lumps disappear
Heat skillet over medium-high heat .Spray with no-stick cooking spray. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides.

This is the recipe for making it from scratch.
 
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 ripe bananas, mashed


DIRECTIONS

Combine flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, vegetable oil and bananas.

Stir flour mixture into banana mixture; batter will be slightly lumpy.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides; serve hot.
  .
I got this recipe from allrecipes.com

I am also sending this to Srivalli's kids delight event

Eazy peezy veggie sandwich

Here is a very easy to make veggie sandwich. Its simple to make,healthy and delicious.

Ingredients

• Green bell pepper– 1/2 cup (thinly sliced length wise)
• Shredded cabbage – 1 cup
• Shredded carrot – 1/2 cup
• chillie powder– 1/2 tsp or more depending on taste
• Turmeric powder – A pinch
• Salt to taste
• 2 bread slices
• Butter
• Fat free Ranch
• A teaspoon of oil

Method

•  Heat oil in a pan.
•  Add the Green Bell pepper and roast it well. Remove and keep it aside
•  Add the chopped cabbage,carrots,turmeric,salt and mix them well.
• Sprinkle some water and cover it with a lid.
• Cook on a medium flame for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the roasted bellpeppers in to the veggie and mix well.
• spread butter on the bread and toast them  until they are crispy on the outside.
• Spread Ranch on the inside of the bread slice.Arrange the veggies on the bread. Top the sandwich with another slice of toasted bread .
• Serve hot.

Note:
For those who cant live without non-veg add half a cup of cooked and shredded chicken and you will get a nice chicken sandwhich too!!

Meat Cutlet

Who doesnt like a good cutlet? I love it and so thus every one else in my family.My mom's cutlets were so special..you just eat it once and you are hooked! My mom makes beef cutlet and she makes them in a perfect oval shape. I dont have that much patience to sit and make them into that perfect shape so i usually end up making it round. So here is the recipe that i learnt from my mom...

Ingredients:

• Chicken/Beef/Lamb1/2 kg
• Potatoes 2 medium size ( peeled,boiled and mashed)
• Onions medium 2 finely chopped
• Ginger Garlic paste 2 tsp
• Turmeic powder 1/4 tsp
• Red chillie powder 2 tsp or as per your taste
• Corriander powder 1 tsp
• Garam masala 1/2 tsp
• Salt
• Oil or frying

Method:

Cook the chicken with ginger garlic paste,chillie powder,turmeric,corriander powder and garam masala and a little salt. When the chicken is cooked remove it  from the gravy and keep aside as to cool down. In the ramaining water add the finely chopped onion. Let the onion cook in the gravy till there is no more water in it.By doing this we will retain all the flavour.When the onion is cooked and all the water is gone remove it from the flame. As this is cooling down.Shred the chicken well. you can use a grinder for this. But be sure that the chicken is only shreded and not made into a paste.
Into the cooked onion gravy add the shreded chicken,mashed poataoes and a little salt. Mix well with hand.Check the salt.
Make a ball with this mixture and press down.
Make sure the edges are smooth.
Keep this aside.

For Coating:

•  Bread crumbs 1 cup (Italian bread crumbs taste very good with its herbs)
•  Eggs 1

Beat the egg well. Dip the cutlet in the egg and roll it in the bread crumbs. Keep this in a tray. Repeat the process with the remaining cutlets.  Once done deep fry the cutlet in oil.

Serve it hot with tomato ketchup or any other condiments of your choice!!

Notes:

• You can prepare and keep this cutlets in the freezer for future use. Take it out of the freezer one hour before your fry them.
• If you are like me and dont like to use too much oil while cooking you can alwaya bake them. But it tends to take a longer time to get to that brownish color.

Here is how I bake the cutlets:

• In a baking tray put a little oil.place the cutlets in it and keep it in a preheated oven of 350*. Turn the cutlets once after half an hour. Like i said takes a long time to get to that desired color. But its healthier :)

Chickpeas Salad

This is one of my favorite dishes.IT's very simple...very little cooking required. This dish is mostly eaten during ramdan time in my house! My hubby dearest loves this. Its simple and healthy.so dont have to worry about how much he eats!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chickpeas/White chana/Garbanzo beans
• 2  finely chopped onions
• 1  big finely chopped tomato.
• 1/2 cup Corriander leaves chopped
• 1/4 tsp turmeic powder
• 2-3 green chilly finely chopped (Take according to your taste)
• Lemon juice as per you taste.
• Salt as required.

Method:

• Soak chickpeas in water overnight.
• Cook the chickpeas with a little salt and turmeric.This will give the chickpeas a very nice golden color.Make sure that you dont add too much water.When the chickpeas are cooked , open the lid and reduce the excess water.If you feel that there is too much water just drain the excess water out.
• Add the finely chopped onion,tomato,corriander leaves and green chillies.
• Add the lemon juice and salt into it as required.
• Mix well.
• Remove from Flame.

While serving it to kids be sure to remove the green chillies, you dont want them to bite into it.

You can add a little chat masala if you like.But I prefer the fresh taste! Serve it as a side to your meal...or just eat it as it is!!!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

I love cakes and Ayaan has inherited that trait from me..the only trait i think! In everything else he is like his Pappa. A cake in my home lasts only for 2 days maximum..yes even the big ones. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and everytime in between..thats how we devour our cakes. My husband on the other hand..doesnt like the frosting on cake. Says it's too sweet..really cakes sweet..ha.So when one day Ayaan said he wants cake  I went thru my pantry to find that there is no more frosting left. And Ayaan never eats plain cake.The only think I found was a can of pineapple. Then I remembered about the pineapple cake recipe that I had seen on semi home made!! yes yes..she is a big inspiration for me! Keeps it very simple always.So here is the recipe. The picture is not perfect as i had taken it long before the intention of blogging. so please bear with me.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 box cake mix yellow or pineapple flavored(And everything else that u need to make the cake batter)
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup pineapple slices

Method:

• Heat the oven to 350*. Make the cake batter as directed on the cake mix box.
• In a 13 X 9 inch pan melt some butter or use a non stick spray to cover the bottom and side of the pan. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly in the pan. Arrange pineapple slices over the brown sugar. The original recipe calls for cherries to be placed in the pineapple rings.But i dont like it so i dont use them .But if u like it go ahead and place them in the center of the pineapple.
• Pour the cake mix over the pineapple.
• Place it in the oven for 30-35 minutes or till a toothpick inserted to the center of the cakes comes out clean. Remove it from the oven. Place a serving plate over the pan upside down.Turn the pan upside down onto the plate.Leave it for 5 minutes.This way the brown sugar will drizzle over to the sides of the cake. Remove the pan.Let the cake cool for 30 minutes (that is if u can wait)!

Cut a big slice of the cake and Dig in!!

Chicken Tikka BBQ

I wanted my first blog to be one of Ayaans favorite dish. He loves chicken. but not as a curry..Fried or BBQed. On one of my visit to a friends house she made this Chicken BBQ. It was very simple and very delicious..Simple coz all u need is a packet of Tikka masala. I use Shaan's chicken Tikka masala..and Like Sandra Lee says its simple, its fresh and its Semi home made!!

All u need is...

• Skinless Chicken 2kgs
• Garlic paste 1 tbsp
• ginger paste 1 tbsp
• Lemon juice 8 tbsp
• Shaan Tikka BBQ mix one packet

Method:

• Clean the chicken and cut deep slits on each piece of chicken. Mix all ingredients together except the butter. If u dont like ur chicken very spice use like 3/4th of the packet of masala.Apply the mixture over the chicken and marinate for at least 2 hrs. The more the time the tastier it gets.
• Apply butter over the chicken and grill the meat till it is tender. An another alternative is to use the oven. Pour the butter in a baking pan, place the chicken pieces in it and bake it in 350* for 40- 45 minutes.Turning and brushing it with little butter occassionaly. Adjust the oven heat and time according to your oven settings!!

I serve this with fresh veggie salad. Bon appetite!!!