Gobhi matar masala|Cauliflower masala

      Gobhi matar masala or cauliflower peas curry made with tomatoes and cashews. Indians just love cauliflowers... the most widely and easily available vegetable in any grocery store.
      As i got bored of the same old cauliflower sabji with onion tomato gravy, i thought of making this humble flower adding some richness to it. So i made this cauliflower sabji with a tomato-cashew gravy omitting the onions.

Paneer tikka masala|without oven or tandoor

     Paneer Tikka masala is a popular punjabi dish loved by all. Paneer tikka masala with step by step pics to understand better.
    Paneer tikka masala is a tangy gravy made with ripe tomatoes and is very rich due to the addition of cream. For the tikkas if you have an oven, the tikkas can be grilled in the oven. Here i am posting the pan fried paneer tikkas for the paneer tikka masala.

Tomato salsa

I made this salsa sauce as an accompanianment with the Wheat and corn crackers. The crackers were basically just salted. I made this salsa salsa sauce to add a punch to the crackers. The Tomato salsa can be served with any chips, nachos or crackers.

Coconut candies|coconut ladoos

    I just can't get over my love for coconut sweets.... i just keep luking for different recipes with coconut.  I made Rava coconut ladoo, then coconut mounds, and few more desserts with coconut. And to add to my love i recently saw a cookery show with a similar recipe of coconut candies. So i thought to try it...

Wheat n Corn crackers

         I and my kids always keep looking for something to munch in the kitchen. So i try to make some finger snacks and store them for the kids. I never cook very large quantities of such snacks as they become boring after eating 2-3 times. And as the kids don't like to eat same snacks everytime i keep looking for different snack recipes all the time.

Mint rice|Pudina rice

     Mint rice or Pudina rice are spiced pulav with the flavours of south-indian spices in addition to the mint or pudina in the rice. This pulav is cooked in a pressure cooker so making its preparation quite easy and the ingredients used are easily available in any Indian kitchen pantry.

Semiyan payasam|seviyan kheer|how to make seviyan/vermicelli payasam

Seviyan kheer is the most preferred dessert in my mom's place during any festival or on arrival of any guest. And my mom makes the world's best seviyan kheer. I don't know what she does... but even after trying so many times and following her recipe exactly, still my seviyan kheer never used to taste as good as her's.

Potato salad with cucumber and mint

  Salads... as we all know are packed with great nutrition and health. I personally prefer to have atleast 1 bowl of salad everyday atleast once. My 3 yr old daughter also just loves salads, may it be a fruit salad or a veggie one.
   This potato and cucumber salad is very refreshing coz of the cucumbers,lettuce and mint, at the same time its quite filling coz of the potatoes.

Methi paratha| Fenugreek flatbread

    If you ask any north indian that name one dish that they can eat at any time of the day... the very common answer would be PARATHAS or PAROTHA as they say in punjabi. Punjabi's can have parathas anytime like for breakfast or lunch or snack time and even for dinner. 
   There are a lot of things that can be experimented with parathas. They can be made with refined flour, wheat flour or multigrains aata. The choice of fillings is just endless, Aloo, paneer, green peas, radish, and so on.... The style of making parathas also has options like you can make stuff parathas with different fillings or you can mix the fillings with the flour and make dough of it...later being the easier option.

Onion fritters|pyaaz ke pakode

      Onion fritters or pyaaz ke pakode are the most common appetizers in any Indian household.... The most wanted snack for a rainy day with a cup of tea.... just heavenly.
       There are various versions of pakodas... A variety of ingredients can be added and substituted in different pakodas. Onion fritters are usually made with chickpea flour/besan for binding. The spice levels can be adjusted according to personal tolerance. But spicier the better

Paneer jalfrezi|Jhalfrezi

    I am amongst those people who enjoy cooking... but at times just feel like cooking somethng really fast but can't compromise on the taste.... i know a lot of people are like that. At times i really like to take time and prepare extensive dishes which require lot of efforts. But sometimes i am too lazy to cook. For such days i really look for ready in minutes recipes.

Amritsari aloo kulcha

                               
    Kulchas are soft leavened flatbreads usually served in punjabi dhabas. Aloo kulchas resemble the punjabi aloo paratha... but its not the same. Because the Kulchas are made with Maida or all purpose flour and are leavened using baking powder unlike the aloo parathas.
   The kulchas are soft from inside and lightly crisp from outside.

Daal makhani

     Have you ever been to a punjabi house for lunch or dinner? If yes then this daal is not a new term for you. Daal makhani or Makhani daal is a staple food in any punjabi household.
     Traditionally the daal used to be prepared in traditional stoves known as Chulha... which is a stove made with mud and lit with wood or coal. The daal was cooked in clay or mud pots giving the daal a unique taste which is difficult to achieve with the modern gas stove and pressure cookers.

Rajasthani Kadhi

    Kadhi is a spiced yogurt based sauce which is thickened with gram flour or besan... Kadhi has a cooling effect thats why its a most preffered currry during summers. The slight tangy taste of the kadhi just refreshes your pallette...
    Few days back i happened to visit a rajasthani neighbours house for lunch. They served this Rajasthani kadhi and i was just in love with it. I quite often prepare the Punjabi kadi which is loaded with Pakoras which take a bit of time to prepare it. Rajasthani Kadhi on the contrary is quite simple and easy to make and is just ready in minutes.

Palak paneer

  Palak paneer is a spinach gravy added with cottage cheese. Palak paneer is one of the most preferred dish in any north indian household.
  Knowing the benefits of Spinach/Palak i personally make sure that i cook atleast one palak dish in a week.... and Palak Paneer is my hubby's absolute favourite.
  Palak dishes are not very pleasing to everybody's eyes... especially to encourage kids to eat palak is really a tough task. But if this beautiful vegetable is cooked with respect it can do great wonders...

Paneer butter masala

Paneer Butter Masala is the most loved Indian curry which is surely available in the menus of all almost all Indian restaurants... Some recipes call for only a tomato based gravy.... but its a lil tangy for my pallate... so i make this gravy using onion tomato and usual indian spices.
            The recipe is easy to make and is ready in minutes...

Soya Pulao

Soybean is hailed as the most protective bean. Soy contains 40 percent protein. It has the highest protein content amongst plant products. Soybean is the only vegetable food that contains all eight essential amino acids. 
I recently read on the pack of soyabean chunks dat soyabean has maximum amount of proteins as compared to other protein foods like meat and cereals....

Bread Rolls

 Bread rolls are an extremely easy to make snack which can be ready in minutes. We are not very fond of deep fried food... But when i prepare these bread rolls for evening snack.... the plate just comes back clean to the kitchen. May it be kids or elders... this dish is an absolute crowd pleaser.
So here is the recipe of Potato Bread Rolls....

Veg thukpa soup

Thukpa is a tibetan noodle soup. It originated in the eastern part of tibet. The dish became popular in Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal pradesh in North east India.
My hubby is  really fond of Soup before dinner.... so i keep trying different soups every now n then. So while searching for any differnt soup i came across the Veg Thukpa Soup. Its very easy to make soup and doesnt require much of efforts....

Shezwan oats

Oats are loaded with dietery fiber, provides high level of protein, has low level of fat, reduces bad cholestrol, stabilises blood sugar, helps in weight management.... But not many people like to eat it coz its actually bland in taste. But if its cooked in a nice way it actually tastes good beacuse it can just acquire the taste of watever ingredients its cooked in...
We usually think that we can make only porridge from oats but we can make lots of savoury dishes with oats. Since i am keeping a check on my weight i love to eat oats for lunch coz its filling yet not fattening. I love eating oats in chinese style by adding shezwan sauce to it. So here is the recipe of Shezwan oats

Dum aloo

Punjabi Dum aloo is a tangy curry made using tomatoes and curd. Deep fried baby potatoes are simmered in a tangy gravy to give it a nice dum....

Babycorn chilly

Babycorn chilly is an indo-chinese dish which can be served as a finger snack by keeping it dry or as an accompanionment with fried rice or noodles by keeping gravy in it.....

Here is the recipe of Baby corn chilly in a gravy...

vegetable cheese sandwich

       Sandwiches make a great snack anytime. One can actually add anything for the filling of the sandwich like vegetables, salad, cheese, mayonaaise, mustard sauce, chutney, pesto... and so on. 

      On a lazy sunday when i was not at all in a mood to make a heavy breakfast ... i searched the fridge and found cucumbers and carrots to my rescue.... So i chopped them fine, added mustard sauce and a cheese slice which is my kids favourite.... and the sandwiches were ready.

I used brown bread for a healtier version...  and toasted it with low fat butter beacuse it already has a lot of calories in the form of cheese.

PALAK POORI

 Spinach or palak is considered to be a super food.....as it is loaded with tons of low calorie package. Spinach consumption helps in improving blood glucose levels, controlling diabetes, lowering blood pressure, lowering the risk of cancer, improving bone health, lowering the risk of developing asthma and more...
               Knowing all the great benefits of Spinach... still its becomes difficult at times to consume it.Especially feeding spinach to kids is a task in itself.... But palak poori is pack loaded with great nutrients in disguise...

Rava laddoo

RAVA LADDOO

    Rava laddoo is a traditional maharashtrian dessert. These laddoo are prepared during almost all Indian festivals epecially during Ganesha chaturthi and Diwali. 

   I and my son are true Sweet tooths..... and when it comes to desserts like Rava laddoos we just can't stop ourselves from binging into it... Its like its gone in a day after making a box full of laddoos.... They are just unresistable

Shezwan fried rice

 Who doesn't like chinese food????  We all do.... Infact i just love chinese food. But actually the Authentic chinese food doesn't appeal me much coz its a bit bland... But the Indo-chinese version is what we get in most Indian restaurants and street side shops....

Chinese cooking is High heat cooking which means one should be ready with the items required for the dish and just keep popping everything in the wok really fast just giving a few seconds to cook each ingredients.

Mushroom and spinach rice with cherry tomatoes

    Mushroom and spinach is a classic combination. You can cook so many dishes with them.... Mushroom and spinach sandwich.... soup.... sabji and lots of other things. I tried cooking rice with these two awesome ingredients and also added cherry tomatoes to it. If one doesn't get the cherry tomatoes you can skip them... but the taste and texture of cherry tomatoes is amazing....

Broccoli stir fry

 Broccoli... inspite of knowing it for so many years that this not so gud looking veggie is filled with lots and lots of nutritive values..... I never thought of trying it. But Few days back i thought of giving it a try... so searched a few recipes and finally ended up making a stir fry broccoli with peanuts. 

punjabi chole

 PUNJABI CHOLE CHOLE BHATURE.... a North Indian delicacy which a huge favourite of all. This is one gravy dish which we usually mess up. The chickpeas should be boiled  first with the whole garam masalas so that the chickpeas get nicely infused with the flavour of the garam masalas. Then it needs to be added to onion tomato gravy. Sounds simple... It is. But the key to get the chole right is to boil the chickpeas for a correct time so that its cooked about 90% and after adding them to the gravy the rest of cooking needs to be done.

Paneer Pasanda

Paneer pasanda is a savoury dish with paneer sandwiches and a tangy gravy. This recipe is super tasty but it takes a bit of time to prepare it.

Paneer needs to be stuffed with dryfruits and chutney to make a sandwich and carefully fried.  Gravy for the paneer pasanda is kept a bit tangy yet cream nd cashew paste is added to make the gravy rich. As i said its time taking.... but the end product is really worth it. Paneer pasanda... as the name says paneer to everybody's liking, I am sure everybody's gonna like it.

Veg kadai

 Veg kadai.... It is an extremely easy to make recipe with simple vegetables. It usually happens in almost all households that by the last day of the week all vegetables in the fridge are almost over and all that is left are few capsicums and carrots. Same happens with me... and i feel so lazy to cook on weekends. So this recipe is always a saviour. Its easy to prepare with simple spices and some fresh cream. Yet the result is always facsinating... which leaves everybody just drool over it.

Cheesy corn and spinach sandwch

Ingredients:                                                                                                             

1. Bread slices - 8 (brown or white)

2. Boiled sweet corn - 1 cup

3. Onion chopped- 1/2 cup

4. Spinach - 1 cup

5. Butter - 3 tbsp ( divided )

6. Wholewheat flour - 1 tbsp

7. Milk - 1/2 cup

8. Oregano- 1 tsp

9. Black pepper- 1/2 tsp

10. Salt to taste

11. Oil- 1 tsp

12. Cheese cubes- 2

Method:-

1. Preparation: First wash the spinach, cut it finely then boil it for 3-4 mins in water. Once boiled strain it and keep aside. Also boil the sweet corn. Chop the onion finely.

2. To prepare the veggie mix: In a pan put oil, once it is hot add the onions and saute` it till it gets translucent. Then add onions and spinach. Add salt and oregano. Saute` it well and turn the flame off.

3.White sauce: In another pan or kadai heat 1 tbsp of batter. Once it melts add the whole wheat flour. Keep stirring it using  wire whisk so that no lumps are formed. In a min it wil change its colour to slighty golden. Just then add the milk. Stir continously. It will start thickenng. Turn off the flame and add the pepper powder and the veggie mix.

4. Transfer the mixture in a bowl and then add grated cheese. If u add the cheese in the hot kadai it will start sticking to the kadai because of the hot temp of the kadai.

5. To make sandwiches: Take 2 bread slices. Apply a thin coat of butter on both bread slices. On one bread spread the prepared mixture and cover it with the other slice. Now toast the sandwich on  non stick pan or grill. Add butter to the sandwich while toasting it. 

6. Delicious and healthy corn and spinach sandwich is ready.

Notes:
I have used wholewheat flour instead of Maida  to make the white sauce to make it a little healtier.
You can use olive oil instead  of butter for toasting the sanwiches to cut the fat content.

MUSHROOM MASALA

Mushroom masala curry: 

This is my Dad's favorite.... every time i visit them he will surely ask me to prepare this for him. Its quite an easy preparation. 

                      I have used grated onions because it gives the gravy a nice texture. Pounded ginger garlic is used rather than the paste because pounding ginger garlic helps in enhancing the flavours. Blanced tomatoes to reduce the tartness. I have used fresh cream to enrich the gravy. Its an all time favourite. 

                   

BABY POTATO RELISH

 

 Baby potato relish.... a simple and easy to prepare baby potato recipe with cherry tomatoes. Last week my husband bought cherry tomatoes from the nearby grocery store. i was wondering what to do with it. Had some baby potaoes at home. so thought of making this simple yet interesting recipe. I was doubtful whether my kids would like it or not..... but to my surprise they just loved it and wanted more of it.
                Coming back to the recipe.... here are the step by step pics of the procedure.

WHITE SAUCE PASTA WITH MAYONNAISE

PASTA.... the word itself makes you go slurrrp.... my 4 yr old son jst loves it. He wants it every friday for his tiffin. I gave him the usual cheese pasta for his tiffin earlier, but the cheese got stuck to the pasta and he just cudn't eat his favourite food. One of my friend suggested me to use mayonnaise instead of cheese to prevent it from sticking.... So i tried it...and Bingo!! it worked.

Paneer bhurji

                        

Hey folks,

                  Being vegetarian can be a bit of a toss when it comes to your requirement of protein. For my kids doctor told to give paneer everyday to complete their daily need of protein. But really!!!!!!!!!!! is it that easy.

                   So i found this easy solution. Paneer bhurgi can be taken as a side dish... or as i do... make bhurgi rolls for my kids. My kids just love it....