My discoveries in the kitchen.....

Fish Fry

2011-01-10T06:26:00.000-08:00

Special Fish Fry

Fish - 4 pieces sliced(pomfret or any big fish)
button onion(chopped well) - 2
coriander powder - 1 tsp
chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
tumeric powder - 1/2 tsp
pepper - 8
ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
curry leaves - 10
Aniseeds(saunf) - 1/2 tsp
jeera - 1/2 tspce
rice powder - 1 tsp
rice grains - a pinch
oil for shallow frying
salt to taste

1. Grind all the ingredients except the fish , rice grains and oil.
2. Apply this paste on the fish.The rice flour ensures that the masala sticks well to the fish.
3. Let the fish marinate in this masala for a couple of hours
4. Take some oil in a frying pan
5. Put a few rice grains into the hot oil.the rice grains will help in letting the masala not separate from the fish
6. Add the fish and fry well on both sides.

Buying veggies....

2011-01-05T08:48:00.000-08:00

I have realised that to make a good dish all the ingredients that go into it have to be at their best...

When I got marrried I knew to cook but not the intricacies.For all those who like the kitchen and like cooking good food it is important to know how to select the ingredients.

Some tips:
While selecting onions choose the medium size ones which are firm with a papery look.The ones which are soft or have green shoots coming are old and will not add flavour to the dish.
Choose tomatoes which are firm and have a bright red colour.
While choosing ginger pick the ones which are firm,have a thin skin and not too many shoots.
While choosing green chillies pick the ones which are smooth and have no wrinkles on them.The small, thin dark green ones have a sharp taste.
Take the cabbage which has dark green crisp leaves outside.
While taking ladysfinger take the firm tender ones which are just 2 or 3 inches and also when you press the end it should simply break off.
Choose firm bright red carrots which are long.

Cold coffee

2010-07-31T09:55:00.000-07:00

Coffee is something my husband and i like to have occasionally.This is my version of cold coffee which comes out really well and many fussy coffee addicts also like this one....

Ingredients:

Vanilla icecream - 2 scoops
coffee powder - 2 teaspoons
milk (full cream)- 1 cup
water - 1 cup
sugar -2tsp(optional)
Ice cubes - 8
Cream - 4 tbsp(optional)

Method:
Bring water to a boil and add the coffee powder and let it brew for a couple of minutes
Let the coffee powder settle down.Strain the coffee into another container and add milk to it followed by the sugar.
In a blender add the coffee and vanilla icecream and beat just once.
Put the ice cubes into 2 tall glasses
Pour this over the ice cubes
Put 2 tbsp cream into each glass and sprinkle some coffee powder on top and serve.

Important: The sugar and cream are optional.Sugar is required only if the coffee becomes too strong!!!

Bread Masala

2010-07-31T09:41:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most simple breakfast recipes yet a very yummy one.

Ingredients:

Bread - 8 slices (cut into small pieces)
Onions - 1 (sliced)
Tomatoes - 1( finely chopped)
Green chillies - 2 (finely chopped)
Cinnamon , cardamom - 1 each
Ginger garlic paste - 1/4th tsp
Coriander leaves - 1Tbsp (chopped fine)
Chilly powder - 1/4th tsp
Dhania powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 3 Tbsp
Salt to taste

Method:

1.Heat oil in a non stick kadai
2. when its hot at the cinnamon and cardamom
3. Then add the onion and fry until the onion turns translucent
4. Add the g&g paste and fry until the raw smell of the paste goes
5. Add the tomato,green chilly , chilly powder , dhania powder and salt and cook until the tomato is cooked i.e the pulp will get absorbed and only the peel will be seen
6. Add the bread and cook for another 3 mins.
7.Add chopped coriander leaves
8.Serve hot.

Bread Pudding

2009-02-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

(Serves 2)

Bread - 5 slices
Eggs - 1
Milk - 1 cup
Cashew nuts - 1 Tbsp (chopped)
Dried Plums or Raisins - 1 Tbsp
Butter - 2 tbsp
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Jam - 1 tbsp
Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp

Method:

1.Blend the milk , sugar and eggs and keep this mixture aside
2.In a glass baking dish and spread butter evenly on the inside
3.Arrange a layer of bread to cover the bottom
4.Pour milk egg mix on the layer until its wet.
5.Sprinkle part of nuts, plums and jam over this.
6.Cover with another layer of bread and evenly pour the milk egg mix over this
with some more nuts, jam and raisins.
7.Place another layer of bread and pour the remaining milk egg mix and nuts jam and
raisins.
8.Spread 2 tbsp butter on top and bake at 250 "f" degrees till golden brown.Serve
hot.

Peanut Smoothie

2009-02-16T22:06:00.000-08:00

This has a very south Indian taste to it but its a very interesting smoothie. It could be a meal by itself!!!

Serves 2

Peanuts - 3 handfuls
Brown rice flakes - 3 handfuls
bananas - 2 small
tender coconut water - 1 coconut
tender coconut pulp (malai) - as much from 1 coconut
sugar - 2 tsp (1 more tsp if the coconut water is not sweet)
milk - 1/2 cup

Put all the above in a blender/ mixer and blend well.

banana cocoa smoothie

2009-02-16T21:57:00.000-08:00

This is a good smoothie filled with vitamin C and potassium.A little high on calories but weight watchers its ok to treat yourself once in a month with this!!!!

banana - 1
milk - 1 cup
orange juice - 1/4 cup
sugar - 2 tsps
cocoa powder - 1/2 tsp

1.Mash the banana
2. Add all the ingredients and blend well in a blender

A variation to this drink could be : using pineapple juice instead of orange juice.

Mint ó Energy

2008-12-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

This is another of my favorite drinks.Its an amazing drink with gives you loads of energy for the day.An ideal accompaniment with breakfast!! I have tried this and it really boosts your energy and tastes good too.I will upload a picture shortly.

Ingrdients:

Spinach - 8 to 10 leaves
Mint - 10 leaves
Lime - 1
Sugar - 1 or 2 tablespoons
Water - as required

Method:
Put all the ingredients together in a blender and blend it well.
put the juice through a strainer as there will be some residue.You can add this residue to the juice if you dont mind it in the juice.I personally dont like to have the residue so I discard it!!
Mint ó Energy is ready!!!!

Choco Crispies

2008-12-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

I saw this on T.V and found it very interesting.It looked very simple and yummy.I love chocolates and this was too good to resist. This is not for weight watchers !!!!

Ingredients:

Butter (unsalted) - 2 tbsp
Chocolate bars (Mars or any bar with caramel inside ) - 2 small bars
Cornflakes - 2 tbsp

Method:

Heat the butter in a long heavy bottomed vessel
When the butter has melted completely break the chocolate bars and add to the melted butter
Keep stirring this mixture on a low flame until both mix completely and the mixture starts bubbling
At this stage turn the flame off
Crush the cornflakes slightly and add them to the chocolate mixture
Now Mix everything well until the cornflakes is thoroughly coated with the chocolate
Take spoon full of this mixture and place it in a plate.using 2 small bars of chocolate you will get 4 crispies.
Leave the plate in the fridge for a few hours
The yummy chocolate crispies are ready!!!!