Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Lemon Rice / Nimmakaya Pulihora





Hello everyone, today i'm going to show you the real taste of Andhra Pradesh. Lemon rice is one of the rice delicacies usually made in special occasions like festivals or family feast. It is easy to make and doesn't involve much hazzle.







So all you need to make it is :

  • Rice : cooked 200 gms
  • Lemon juice : of one whole lemon
  • Salt : depending on how much you would want to use
  • Turmeric : half table spoon
  • Green chillies : 2-5 long ones, slit into half along the length
  • Curry leaves : 8
  • Chana dal : teaspoon full
  • Urad dal : teaspoon full
  • Jeera : teaspoon full
  • Mustard seeds : teaspoon full
  • Asafoetida : half teaspoon
  • Groundnuts : fistful

You make it like this :

  • Cook rice and add lemon juice, salt and turmeric, mix well and keep it aside.
  • Heat oil in a kadai or wok and add chana dal, urad dal, jeera, mustard seeds, asafoetida, groundnuts, curry leaves, green chillies and let the whole thing fry and add the mixture to rice and mix well.

Your lemon rice is ready................................


Happy cooking !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

R



Friday, January 23, 2009

Gongura nunekura / Sorrel leaves fry

Few days back i made this. Andhra pradesh is famous for its gongura. Our meal is not complete without this leafy vegetable. Whether it be weddings, parties or any get together, the menu is complete only if it has this leafy evegtable in it.
There are many ways of cooking this vegetable. Gongura chutney is most famous and tasty among all. What i give you here is a variation of the chutney. So here goes the recipe.


Ingredients :
  • Sorrel leaves , leaves separated from the stems
  • Onions : 2 medium sized ( if you are using about 3 bunches of sorrel plants )
  • Green chillies : 2-3
  • Oil : 3-4 tablespoon
  • Urad dal : a table spoon
  • Cumin seeds : a teaspoon
  • Mustard seeds : a teaspoon
  • Asafoetida : half teaspoon
  • Red chillies ( dried ) : 2-3 ( if you want it to be more spicy or hot )
  • Methi or methi powder : methi - half teaspoon / methi powder about a pinch
  • Salt : as per your taste
  • Red chilly powder : half teaspoon

Procedure :

  • Heat oil in a wok or kadai and add urad dal, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida, methi, dried red chillies and let them fry for a minute.
  • Then add cut onions and green chillies ( slit longitudinally ) and let that fry till the onions change to golden brown.
  • Then add sorrel leaves and fry it till the leaves change colour leaving out all the water and the whole mixture comes together.
  • Now add salt and red chilly powder and let the whole thing fry for another minute before you take it off the flame.



Happy cooking !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

R


Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Tomato Pickle

Yesterday i heard my aunt talk about tomato pickle. I wanted to try it myself. Now that i got it, i want to share it with you people.

Ingredients :
  • Tomatoes : 250 gms, cut into long pieces
  • Oil : 3-5 table spoons
  • Red chilly powder : 2-3 table spoons
  • Salt : 1-2 table spoon
  • Asafoetida : a pinch or two
  • Mustard Powder : 2-3 table spoons
  • Tamarind : size of lemon

Procedure :

  • Grind mustard seeds into a powder and keep it aside.
  • Heat oil and add tomatoes and tamarind and let the whole mixture boil till it becomes soft.
  • Add red chilly powder, salt, asafoetida and mustard powder and boil the whole thing for some more time till the oil floats on top.
  • You can also add a pinck of methi powder while it is boiling but i usually avoid it for the fear of turning the pickle bitter. A pinch wouldn't make much difference i guess.

Your tomato pickle is ready. Have it with hot rice and ghee.

Love

R

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Snake gaurd raita / Potlakaya perugu pachchadi





Hey guys i'm back with another recipe.This is a very easy one.I'll get straight to the recipe.

Ingredients :
  • Snake gourd / potlakaya : cut into half moon shape
  • Yogurt : a cup for half cup of cut snake gourd
  • Turmeric : half teaspoon
  • Salt : a teaspoon
  • Green chillies : 2 medium sized chopped
  • Curry leaves : 5-7
  • Coriander : for garnish


For seasoning :

  • Oil : 2-3 table spoons
  • Urad dal : a teaspoon
  • Jeera : a teaspoon
  • Mustard seeds : a teaspoon
  • Asafoetida : half teaspoon


Procedure :

  • Pressure cook the cut snake gourd for about 2 whistles and squeeze the water out of it and mix it with yogurt along with turmeric and salt.
  • Heat oil in a kadai and add all the ingredients for seasoning i.e urad dal, jeera, mustard seeds, asafoetida in that order.
  • Once the urad dal changes to light brown colour, add chopped green chillies and curry leaves and after the green chillies and curry leaves changes colour to light green, add the seasoning to the yogurt.
  • Garnish with coriander.Have it with rice or roti.


Enjoy the dish !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

R

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Colorful Delight


I have experimented a recipe in my kitchen lab.If taken regularly i guarantee that your weight falls as steeply as our share market.You tend to glow as moon on full moon day and as active as a child.I usually love salads made of fruits,vegetables.I thought that why wouldn't i give my hand in making a delightful recipe which is healthy,colorful.This recipe needs a microwave oven to heat it.

Cooking time is less than 30 mins.The maximum time taken is for cutting the veggies.The more thinner the slices,the more deep it cooks.And 5-8mins for heating in microwave oven at 850 degrees.



1. Thin slices of Green pepper or capsicum,
2. Thin slices of Red pepper ,
3.Thin slices of yellow pepper,
4.Thin slices of onions,
5.Thin slices of garlic,
6.Thin leaves of cabbage,
7.Small pieces of broccoli,
8.peas.
9.pinch of salt to taste.
10.small spoon of coriander powder.
11.small spoon of sonf powder,
12.Extra virgin olive oil,

Note:Green chillies can also be added.

Mix up all these veggies and with olive oil and microwave it for 5-8mins at 850 degrees.squeeze slice of lime to get tangy taste.


Here completes....yummy, tasty,tangy,colorful salad full of vitamins and minerals.so weight watchers can give a try to this recipe.A glass of lassi will add flavour to the salad.

Happy Eating !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T

Dark circles

Welcome everyone to Grandma's corner.Here you'll find easy ways of finding solutions for your everyday problems,whether it be health, cooking or anything for that matter.
This corner will deal with home remedies and also ways for better living.Those would be the remedies my grandma taught me.It is with immense pleasure that i look forward to posting a remedy in this section,if not everyday,atleast once a week.Here comes the first one.
Dark circles are always a problem for everyone, especially in these days when people hardly find time to grab good sleep.My solution is not a replacement for a sound sleep but some times even after we sleep adequately, it is possible to find those dark circles under the eyes.
All you have to do is grind the raw potatoes with the skin peeled off, i would say 2 medium-sized potatoes would be sufficient.Apply the paste under the eyes, gently rubbing the paste in a circular fashion.You can also apply the paste over the eye lids, depending on how the darkness is distributed around and over your eye.If the darkness is more under your eye, then apply the paste first under the eye for about few days until the colour matches it with the one over your eye.Then start applying the paste over the eye too.
Donot rub the paste for more than 15 minutes.Apply paste once or twice a day depending on the severity of the darkness.You shall see the change with in a week.

Any queries you have,please ask us.
Love
R & T

Friday, January 16, 2009

Grated Carrot Pickle




I learnt this from my friend's mother.She is an amazing cook.I make a similar dish but use cucumber instead of carrots and i dont grate cucumber.Well,after i tasted it once at my friend's place,i couldnt resist making it.It's very easy to make and adds to your menu.So,here's the recipe.

Ingredients :
  • Carrots : 250 gms
  • Lemon juice : about 3 teaspoons / juice from a whole medium-sized lemon
  • Salt : as per your taste ( i add about half teaspoon )

For the seasoning :

  • Oil : 3-4 teaspoons
  • Urad dal : a teaspoon
  • Jeera : a teaspoon
  • Mustard seeds : a teaspoon
  • Asafoetida : half teaspoon
  • Curry leaves : 5-10
  • Green chillies : 2 medium-sized,finely chopped

Procedure :

  • Grate the carrots, add salt and lemon juice and keep aside
  • Heat oil and add urad dal, jeera, mustard seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves and chopped green chillies in that order and take it off the heat once d urad dal changes colour to light brown.
  • Add the seasoning to the marinated grated carrots.

This is a very easy dish to make and it can be stored in the fridge for almost 3-5 days.Since the carrots are raw and not cooked or boiled,its as good as eating a whole carrot. Anyone who doesnt prefer to eat raw carrot can be given this dish and trust me,they wouldnt be able to resist it,once they taste it.Try it with rice or roti.Either ways you'll like it.


So go ahead and try this yummy dish.


Happy cooking !!!!!!!!!!!

Love
R

Friday, January 9, 2009

Wah!!!!Wahtta Living

Disappointed with everybody
Dedicated to nothing
Depressed for everything
Down with Complex in me
No mood to do anything
Scared for nothing
Pessimism
Blaming others
OMG !!!!what people think about me
Husband calling me a lazy bone
Not taking responsibility
Not accepting the people as they are
Always depends on others opinion

!!!!!!!SIGH!!!!!!!..

This was me before joining Art Of Living(AOL) ( http://www.artofliving.org/ ).Now its a different issue. (:-)). Its NEW ME now.I don't say that I have transformed totally, there is still a streak of OLD ME.At times my OLD ME pops out and starts dominating my NEW ME (after all i have fed her for the past 25 years).AOL Basic course mainly deals with the SUDARSHAN KRIYA ( http://www.sudarshankriya.org/ ) and PRANAYAM.

There are other activities apart from breathing techniques which are equally interesting. The family you belong to will greatly influence you,nurture you,support you, and bring out a good human being in you.I was warmly welcomed to the family of AOL and its my responsibility to keep up my family's name.

Now i feel........WAH !!!WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LIFE ...WAH!!!! WHAT A LIVING!!!
JAI GURUDEV!!!!!

T

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Kewl Kalamkari

I have planned to buy a dress/saree for sankranthi.http://www.vmission.org/hinduism/festivals/sankranti/)
Been to many shops in and around Hyderabad as i was keen on buying natural fabrics.Many shops could not impress me with their affluent environment,buzzing shoppers,same old stuff until my eyes landed on the ad given in magazine. http://www.wowhyderabad.com/

The shop is located in Banjara Hills,road number 10.Thinking that they would sell the same stuff with fat amount tagged to them(as the shop is in Banjara Hills),I even took my anxious colleagues who believe that i have an eye for good stuff.The moment came when three of us enquired about the shop and reached the location.I was not impressed as the dress looked more affluent,gaudy with a fat tag attached,as expected(May be the shop does not suit my pocket).

The neighboring shop caught my attention where i could see some prints.The shop is "Master Weavers".The fabric is too good.They sell only printed cottons.The KALAMKARI sarees are too good.I could find some KALAMKARI DRESS MATERIALS and plain cottons as well.I could not resist myself from buying a KALAMKARI SAREE and a KALAMKARI PURSE which fit into my budget.

so i would give 3 and half for 5 for the fabric and 3 and half for 5 for the rates tagged to them.
Love
T

Kandi pachchadi ( Toor Dal Chutney )

What would you do if there aren't any vegetables at home and you have too cook something ,or you want to add on something special to your menu?
Here's a recipe that will add spice to your menu.This is easy and quick to make and lasts for atleast 3 days if stored in fridge.

Ingredients :
  1. Toor dal ( kandi pappu ) : a small cup
  2. Red chillies : about 5-7 ( depending on how hot you eat )
  3. Jeera ( cumin seeds ) : 1 Teaspoon full
  4. Garlic : 6-7
  5. Salt : as per your taste





For the seasoning :

  1. Asafoetida
  2. Cumin seeds / Jeera : about half teaspoon
  3. Mustard seeds : full teaspoon
  4. Curry leaves : 6-7

Procedure :

Dry roast the dal first till it turns into light brown and the smell of the dal comes out and keep it aside.

Then dry roast the rest of the ingredients excluding salt.

After all the ingredients cool down,grind them into fine powder.

Add water to the powder and mix so that it forms a paste.

Season the paste with asafoetida,cumin seeds,mustard seeds and curry leaves in heated oil.

Enjoy your chutney with hot rice and ghee.

Love

R

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

My Breakfast Today - The Sabudana Khichdi.

I always believed that having a good heavy breakfast helps to start the day and last till the end of it.A good diet and a sound sleep are very necessary to keep ourself fresh and focussed all through the day.Since we do not eat any thing for almost 6-8 hours during our sleep at night,it always helps to have a proper breakfast and a heavy one,especially for those who do not find time to have a proper lunch due to their hectic work schedule.
So here's something which i think fits into the category of a proper breakfast -


Ingredients :

Sabudana : 200 gms
Green chillies : 2 medium sized cut into small pieces
Curry leaves : 6-7
Jeera : a teaspoon full
Mustard seeds : a teaspoon full
Asefotida : about half teaspoon
Salt : as per your taste (i used half a teaspoon )
Lemon juice : 2 teaspoons
Refined oil : about a tablespoon







Procedure :

Soak sabudana overnight.Wash it properly and drain the water.Do not squeeze the sabudana.







Heat the oil in a pan and add asefotida,jeera and mustard seeds in that order.After the mustard seeds start sputtering,add green chillies and curry leaves.
Once the curry leaves and green chillies change their colour into light green,add sabudana and mix well.
Once the sabudana changes colour and becomes transclucent,add salt and mix it well.
Finally sprinkle lemon juice on it after you take the pan off the heat and before you serve.





Enjoy your breakfast.

R

Monday, January 5, 2009

Finally!!!

Its surprising to see things in my To-Do list getting ticked off.Yuppy!!!!!!!! I am a blogger.Yeah i am proud blogger with one post old.I am intrigued by some blogs and fell in love instantly with blogging.Here is the place where i can pour my heart out and share with fellow bloggers.Looking forward to some beautiful experiences in blogging.

Happy Blogging!!!!
T

Recipe of the day - Karela ( Bitter Gourd ) pickle

So its time for the first recipe on this blog.I mostly love to cook south indian dishes,specially spicy ones.So i would love to share all that i make in my kitchen.Here comes the first one.
Ingradients :
  1. Karela ( kakarikaya ) : 250 gms
  2. Jeera ( jeelakarra ) : 2 table spoons
  3. Mirchi powder : 3 table spoons
  4. salt : as per your taste , i would say 1 table spoon
  5. Oil to deep fry karela

For the filling :

Grind the jeera,mirchi powder and the salt together and mix it with little water or little oil and keep aside.

Procedure :

If you do not want your dish to be very bitter, you can try scraping a little along the big ridges of the karela.

Slit the Karela along half its length into four segments or you can just cut its belly so that you can fill it properly.You can use either the white Karela or the regular one.But i prefer the white karela and usually shorter ones for this recipe.The white karela is less bitter and it gives a wonderful taste.

After you slit the karela,apply salt on the inside of it and keep it aside for about 15-20 minutes.

Squeeze out the water from the karela and put oil in the pan ( you can use oil as you use for deep frying the vegetables or you can use about 2 table spoons of oil ) and fry the karela till it turns brown but be careful as to not burn it.

Then fill the karela with the filling and put about a teaspoon of more oil in the pan and fry the filled karelas.

Your karela pickle is ready and have it with steaming hot rice.You can store this in the firdge,it would long for a week.

Let me know if you liked the recipe.

Happy cooking.

R

Friday, January 2, 2009

Welcome

Dear Readers,

We welcome you to view this blog and share your ideas by leaving comments on our posts.This will not only encourage us but also help us learn and share things in a better way.The information you obtain on this blog would be one of its kind.
Love
R