Eating Beetroot is a difficult task for me. so i never pick beets when i go for buying vegetables. But hubby brings atleast 1/2 kg of beets, when he goes to buy vegetables. most of the time i make Beetroot Kootu and this poriyal. I think i have tasted a similar sort of poriyal from Saravana Bhavan. This Poriyal has Chana Dal and Grated Coconut, which will make you eat, even if you are a beetroot hater like me.

Beetroot - 2
Chana Dal - 5 tbsp's
Big Onion - 1
Grated Coconut - 2 tsp's



Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - 8
Split Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Dry Red Chilli - 2
Green Chilli - 1

1. Soak the Chana Dal in warm water for about 30 mins.

2. Peel the skin of the beetroot and chop then into small pieces.

3. Pressure Cook the Beetroot and Chana Dal for about 4 - 5 whistles.

4. Heat a Pan, add oil and heat it.

5. Add mustard seeds and let it pop and add split urad dal, curry leaves and green chilli & broken red chillis.

6. Now add the Finely Chopped Onion and fry it till it turns translucent.

7. Add Pressure Cooked Chana dal  and Beetroot to the Pan and fry them for 2 minutes in medium flame.

8. Remove the Beetroot's from the flame and add grated coconut and give a stir. transfer to the serving bowl.


Serve Hot with Rice and Ghee. My kid liked it, So Why Don't You Try for your Kid?

In India, we have not seen or heard about Granola, but Muesli is a Popular break-fast next to Cornflakes. Sometimes, while trying some stuffs like Cornflakes and Oats for break-fast, i think, why iam giving this to my family, leaving our own idli, dosa's. am i trying to follow Western Food Culture? Certainly Not. I feel, whats wrong in eating this, when its healthy? What do you feel, should people follow their Geographical Food Culture or not?  would love to know your views over it.

My mom is the one, who introduced me Muesli, when i complained her about Constipation Problem. I dont know, how she knew about this, but taking Muesli or Granola really helps out for Constipation problem, because it has Fibre rich Oats, Nuts and Raisins in it.

Before Going into the recipe, from what i learned from Wiki, Muesli is - the raw form of Granola is Muesli. I guess Muesli has unbaked oats in it. After knowing, that Granola can be prepared at home, will anything stop me?
Recipe for 5 - 6 single servings.


2 Cups of Quick Cooking Oats
1 Cup of Cornflakes (optional)
1/4 Cup of Honey
1 tbsp of Butter

6 almonds - chopped
1 tbsp Pumpkin Seeds
2 tbsp Melon seeds
2 tbsp Sunflower seeds

Black Currant - 2 tbsp's
Raisins - 2 tbsp's
Dried Cranberries - 2 tbsp's
Seedless Dates - 5 (chopped)



Mix the Oats with the Cornflakes, almonds and seeds. add Butter and Honey and mix well.

Pre-heat the Oven to 150C. Line your baking tray with a aluminium foil sheet. spread the Oats mixture over the tray.

Bake the Oats Mixture for about 10-12 minutes, till the Oats turn into Golden Colour. Take Care not to Brown them. It browns so quickly. so keep an eye over it while baking.

Cool them down after baked and mix raisins, black currant, dried cranberries and Dates to the Oats mixture and store them in an airtight Jar.


* Since i made these Granola in a small batch, for me, it kept well for a week long.
* It tastes Good just as it is. so its a healthy snack.
* Serve with Milk and some fruits like Banana. its so heavenly.
* I could not find Rolled Oats, so if you are using Rolled oats for this, then baking time should be increased for another 10 - 15 minutes.
* Dried Cranberreis and other seeds mentioned in the recipe can be found at Nuts and Spices stores.
* I strongly recommend Saffola Oats (newly introduced). Saffola Oats are really Good. At Present those Saffola Oats are available only at Big Bazaar and at Star Bazaar as of now.

One of our friend Chithra suggested me to try a Gujarati-Rajasthani Restaurant called Mathsuk's at T.Nagar. The day after she suggested i went there, as i love Rajasthani - Gujarati Food's. The Restaurant offered lots of sweets and snacks, of the Rajasthani and Gujarati state. Needless to say, the stuffed parathas, Kadhi's were so Good and the price was also reasonable. and there i tasted this Bhindi Kadhi, it tastes like our Vendakaai Morkuzhambu.I liked it so much and wanted to try at home, and its here now.

Recipe Source: Sanjeev Kapoor's Dal and Kadhi Book.

Recipe For 3- 4 adults

Bhindi - 10 (trim the head and tail and cut them into 1/2 inch pieces)
Oil - 2 tbsp (to fry the Bhindi pieces)

Heat a skillet and add Oil. Add Chopped Bhindi pieces, when the Oil gets heated. fry the bhindi pieces in medium flame for about 4-5 minutes, till they are cooked. add very little salt, while frying. (Need not Deep Fry the Bhindi's)


Whisk or Mix the Following


-  4 tbsp's of Besan Flour
- 2 Cup's of Curd (3 days old Curd)
-  a pinch of Turmeric Powder
- 1 tsp Chilli Powder
- a pinch asafoetida powder
- 3 Cup's of water
- and little salt to taste

Mix all the above Ingredients together and keep aside.

Get Ready with


* Green Chilli - 2 finely chopped
* Garlic - 5 cloves (finely sliced)
* Ginger - 1 inch size finely sliced

* Oil - 1 tbsp
* Mustard - 1 tsp
* Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
* Chopped Corriander Leaves

Heat a tbsp of Oil in a Skillet, add mustard and let it pop. then add fenugreek seeds and let it fry. Now add the chopped Green chilli's, Garlic and Ginger and Fry them, till they change into Golden Colour.

Now add the Whisked / Mixed  Curd-Besan Flour mixture to the skillet and slow the flame. let the mixture come to boil in slow flame. it will take some 5-7 minutes.

Now add the fried Bhindi's and let the Kadhi sit on slow flame for another 2-3 minutes.


Remove the Kadhi from flame and add chopped corriander leaves as garnish and serve hot with Rice or Roti's /Chapathi's.

Indian Style of Hakka Noodles, is my proud attempt. By the Look, also by Taste, it tastes like Szechuan Noodles. You can never find out, Why I call it as Indian Style, till you read the Recipe Ingredients.
So far, I prepared it atleast thrice in the past one month. It comes out instantly and I just love the blend of Indian flavours with the Noodles. So after finding out the Surprise Indian Touch, I have given to the Noodles, Think of giving it a try...You will never Regret I bet!

Veg. Hakka Noodles - 1/2 Packet
Vegetables - [1 cup] of finely sliced Carrot, Beans, Cabbage, Capsicum(in different colours).
Chilli Sauce - 1/4 tsp
Soy Sauce - 1/4 tsp
Vinegar - 1/4 tsp
Tomato Sauce - 1 tsp

Aji-no-moto - a small pinch
Spring Onions - 3 (finely cutted with scissors)
Oil - 2 tbsp
Tomato Thokku / Tomato Pickle - 1 tbsp (this is the surprise ingredient)



Boil the Half pack of Hakka Noodles in 2 cups of water for about 3-4 mins. Drain the noodles and pour some water over the noodles and drain again.

Heat 1/2 tbsp oil in a Pan and fry the finely sliced vegetables for just 1- 2 mins. add a slight pinch of aji-no-moto and mix. set this aside.


Heat Oil in a Iron Skillet. Add Tomato Pickle / Thokku to the oil and Stir well.
Add all the Sauces to the Skillet and give a Stir.
Add the Fried Vegetables to the Skillet and give a Stir.

Now add boiled and drained Noodles to the skillet and mix well with sauces - pickle and vegetable mix with Chopsticks or just Toss the Noodles. 


Switch off the flame and add chopped Spring Onions to the Noodles.

Note: No need to add salt, as the Tomato Pickle / Thokku will have enough salt.




Cabbage

  Keerai is my favourite. During my school days, My Lunch Box will be packed up with some Green Dish and Curd Rice. I just love to eat Keerai. My mom Prepares different dishes with Greens / Keerai.

Kadaintha Keerai,
Paal Keerai,
Paruppu Keerai,
Keerai Kuzhambu,
Keerai Sambhar,
Keerai Adai,
Keerai Vadai,
Keerai Poriyal.

The above are all the one's that i remember here to mention. Of all these, My vote is for Keerai Pappu or. Paruppu Keerai and Keerai Sambhar. But the one that iam sharing today, Kadanja Keerai is also my favourite, only when my mom prepares it. yes, spicyness and tanginess should be in correct proportion for this dish. My mom makes it so Good.


Arai Keerai - 1 bunch
Small Onions - 10  / Big Onion - 1
Tomato - 1
Green Chilli - 2
Garlic - 2 cloves
Tamarind - a small piece
Oil - 1 tsp


Oil - 1/2 tsp
Mustard - 1/4 tsp
Dry Red Chilli - 2
Split Urad Dal - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida Powder - a pinch


Remove the Greens from their stems and Wash Araikeerai(Greens), three times atleast and keep aside.

In a Skillet, Heat a tsp of Oil, add Garlic, Green Chilli's and fry them. Now add Small Onions and Saute them. When the onions turn translucent, add chopped tomato and saute it along.


Add Washed Araikeerai to the Skillet and saute it along with onion and tomatoes for about 3-4 minutes.

Add tamarind and salt to taste to the Skillet and mix well with the other ingredients. Remove the Skillet from the flame and let it cool down for few minutes.


You can either Mash the Greens in the traditional way with a pot and mathu or you can also grind them in your mixer with the pulse button.

Heat Oil in a skillet and add mustard - let it pop and add urad dal and Dry Red chilli's and asafoetida powder.
Now add the Mashed Greens / Kadanja Keerai and let it boil for a minute or till it thickens like thokku.


Serve with Hot Rice. Iam sure this one dish will make your meal a Hearty Meal!!

I find very difficult to find time, even to check mails, in such case, blogging has become a dream to me. As hubby dear had gone to Paris, Managing home alone is a tough task. Time goes so slowly, and now i realise, how helpful was my hubby, all these days. A Person's absence brings the Person so close is absolutely True. I experience it right now!

Last week, Chennai got rains, and we enjoyed the climate very much. as a part of it, i loved to spend time in kitchen making these Spicy Stuffed Bread. This was prepared after getting inspired from Ari's Baking and Book's Hot Pockets.I customised the Filling / Stuffing the Indian Way and its the best way to impress an Indian Tummy, I bet!



Wheat Flour - 1 cup
Maida / All Purpose Flour - 2 and 1/2 Cup's (Divided)
Active Dry Yeast - 2 tsp
Sugar - 2 tsp
Warm Milk - 1/3 cup
Warm Water - 1/3 cup
Salt - 2 tsp
Egg -1
Sunflower Oil - 1/3 cup


Indian Tomato Pickle / Thokku
Mozarella Cheese
Paneer / Cottage Cheese
Egg - 1 (for egg wash)
Sesame Seeds


Warm the water and Milk and mix together. Add Dry Yeast and Sugar to it and mix well, till the yeast gets mixed. let them rest for 10 minutes, till the yeast mix, turns frothy.

In a mixing bowl, mix the Oil and one Egg. beat it well. Add the Yeast mix to the bowl.

Add Wheat Flour to the bowl and mix. Now add all purpose flour - 1 cup and mix well. add another one cup of all purpose flour and mix, combine all the flour together and make it as dough ball.

Knead the Dough ball, with the help of the 1/2 a cup of all purpose flour, for atleast 10 minutes.

Grease a Glass bowl, with little oil and put the kneaded dough into the bowl. wrap the bowl with a cling sheet and let the dough raise for about 1 and 1/2 an hour.

After the Dough has raised, pinch a lemon sized dough and roll it, by dusting some flour for help.


Get Ready with the stuffing ingredients. also mix an egg with a tbsp of water and beat well with a fork, for egg wash.


Roll the dough very thin.