Popular Recipes of 2010

As the clock is ticking we are moving towards 2011 hoping, wishing New Year to be better than the year gone by and bring best in us.  Looking back it has been a good year overall though I had lot of plans and ideas to have a wonderful blogging year but it really didn't happen, neither the less wishing the next year to be more happening :). 

I have few person favorites but listed here are Top/Popular recipes of 2010. 


I made Broken Wheat Halwa for the first time and it come out so well and I got so many requests from friend to make this for them, once such request was during our blogger meet potluck, hope you guys liked it.  Overall I received very good feedback from the people whom tried it. 

Twist to usual Baigan Bharta added potato to it...yummy Baigan Aloo Bharta.  A simple twist and wonderful result, try it yourself to know :)

Easy, tasty and eye catchy that's Tandoori Chicken on Stove Top for you.  This is one of most simple way to making tandoori chicken without a tandoor ;)....with taste as good as it looks.  Many of my friends tried and totally loved it ..

Next is Green Apple & Coriander Leaves Chutney, one of my all time high appreciated recipe.  It's very easy to prepare and taste just delicious, also I like the picture so much.  Received many awesome feedback on this one but the one I remember the most is from a follower, whom made this for her in-laws and they all liked it very much :)

Tehri ~ Vegetable Biryani is my favorite if made my DH and till date who ever tasted this always loved it so much.  Also I'm so glad that people tried this recipe got positive outcome too.  A simple recipe can be made in jiffy, I just had yesterday :)

I never expected my innovated recipe a simple Tomato Toast will be loved so much.  A simple, fast and keeper recipe for sure, don't believe me?  Try it out and let me know.

Yet another simple, quick and colour delight -  Chickpeas Salad. 

So that's all for now, and I'm going to back soon with recipes as promised till then stay tune.

I'm back ...along a tag :)

Yes people I'm back ...I know I did disappearing act but that's part of me, though this time it was much longer than expected.  I have multiple reason to be away from blogging, I wanted to start blogging again and as usual of me to keep dragging it ..inbtw my blog had some technical problem due to which I had to close it for public and after much delay I (with DH help) rectified all or say most of the technical issues. 

Thanks for your messages/email etc, it feels great to know the work is appreciated. 

Is not that am not cooking but I feel am not cooking anything interesting enough to blog, and when I do cook something am too lazy to take pictures ...yah that's me! But for past few days I despeartly wanted to post since this year is ending but confuse with what to post....while suddenly I saw Indrani's post and realize that she has tagged me ..well it came as a sweet surprised considering the fact that I'm away from blog world for quite some time now and people still remember :D


Let's do the tag now ..Here are the questions and answers :

1.When you were a kid , what was your answer to the question: ” what do you do when you will grow up?”
Seriously I don't remember.

2. What were your favorite comics and cartoons?
Always Tom & Jerry.

3.What were your favorite games?
I used to play chess a lot in school days ..won few competition too ;)

4.What was your best birthday and why?
Well there are few but so far I really love my birthday just before my wedding 2 years back celebrated along with all my family members, in-laws and relatives, there were more than 50 people around ...total fun.

5.What is it that you would absolutely want to do that you have not already done?

Well there are lot of things I would love to do..I want to learn to play some instrument.

6.What was your first favorite sport?
Not a sports person :)

7.What was your first music idol?
I never keep any favorite, so none here too though I like lot of composers, singers.

8.What is the most beautiful Christmas present (or equivalent) you received?
3 years back our client manager has present me beatiful pair of crystal stud earnings from M&S...she knew I love earrings...:D



Stay tune...will post a recipe soon....

Dal Tamatar | Tomato Dal Recipe | Dal Recipes

Dal tamatar or tomato dal is one of the favorite dal recipe in our home and this is my sister recipe. There are many ways of making dal and daal tamatar and this is sure one of the easy recipe. My sister makes this so perfect, it just taste delicious. Tomato dal get pair along with roti or rice perfectly and it's wonderful with rasam-rice too. This is one of the easy method of making dal tamtar or tomato dal and very quick too.

Gun Powder | Podi

I love podi, be it any kinda of podi and I can eat it with anything and everything and the same goes for chutney too.

So when I saw Mriganayani's Gun Powder I was so tempted to try, her blog is just wonderful with yummy recipes and all so helpful pictures.  I made few changes; eg: in her recipe is asked to grind the sesame seeds alone first then following by the lentil but I did all grinding together as I did in small quantity.  I loved the podi and it got over in no time :-).. Thanks gal for the recipe.


And this podi goes to Aqua's & Jaya's Back to Basics Event ...thanks Jaya for the tip :)

Ingredients:

Toor Daal/Pigeon Pea  - 2 tbsp
Chana Daa;/Bengal Gram - 1 tbsp
Urad Daal/Black Gram - 1/2 tbsp
White Sesame Seeds - 1/2 tbsp
Dry Red Chili - 10-12 pieces
Hing - a pinch
Oil - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Pluck stems from chilies and keep aside.

2. Roast sesame seeds in a pan until golden brown and oil starts coming out. 

3. In a same pan add 1/2 tsp oil and roast all the daal one by one until golden brown and keep side. 
[I roast one by one to get all the daal roasted properly]

4. Add another 1/2 tsp of oil and fry the chilies until light brown.

5.  Let all the ingredients comes to room temperature and grind in to fine or coarse powder along with salt and hing. 

Once the powder is cool store in airtight containers and enjoy with rice/idly/dosa or with anything as I do.

Enjoy your day ...

Assorted Pakoras | Fritters

Most of us like/love pakoda/fritters over a cup of tea.  I have tried so many times to post a pakoda recipe but it never really happened so this time I made up my mind I have, this was part of starter for a small get-together we had this Sunday.  This recipe which is little different, I just tried adding few new extra ingredients and made pakoda of Cauliflower, Onion, Potato, Bread along with mint chutney, I have posted mint chutney here.

Serving: 6-8 persons
Ingredients:

Potato - 1 Medium
Onion - 2 medium
Cauliflower - 1 cup florets
Bread - 4-5 slice (I used 2 hot dog buns)
[optional]
Tomato Ketchup - 3tbsp
Mint Chutney - 3tbsp
Oil - for deep fry

For Batter:

Chickpeas Flour/Besan - 1 1/2 cup
Rice Flour - 1/2 cup
Red chili Powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp [optional]
Garam Masala - 1/4 tsp [optional]
Soda - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Orange Food Colour - 1/2 tsp [optional, I used Kesari Powder]
Water -

For Chili Paste: [optional]
Green chili - 4-5 [ to taste]
Mint Leaves - 3 tbsp [chopped]
Garlic - 1 small pod
Ginger - 1/2" piece

Method:

1. Grind all the ingredients under 'Chili Paste' into smooth paste with little or no water.

2. Mix all the ingredients under 'Batter' along with chili paste in to smooth paste without any lumps adding water in small quantity and make a thick batter, keep aside.

3. Wash, peel and cut onion, potato in thin round/slice shape.

4. Cut the cauliflower in small florets and microwave for 5mins in little water, keep aside.

5. Cut the hot bun from middle and apply tomato ketchup in one slice and mint chutney in another, place both the slice together and cut in small pieces. 
[If using bread do the same thing, apply chutney and ketchup in individual slices, place together and cut in desired shape and size]

6. Heat oil in a wok/kadai, dip veggies and bread pieces in chickpeas batter covering the batter all over the pieces and deep fry in medium heat until golden brown.  Repeat the same for all the batch.

Serve hot/warm with choose of chutney/sauce/ketchup.

These are great starters for any party or a yummy snack, we all know this ofcourse :)

Enjoy your day ....

Baati | In Oven

In my previous Baigan Aloo Bharta post I showed thali of daal baati, so here is the baati which I made in oven.  I have blogged before making baati on gas top in baati cooker along with daal and khayri recipes.

The changes made in this baati recipe are I added soda and turmeric the 2 ingredients which I learnt from Sonal, adding soda does make the baati soft so do try it.  Here presenting delicious meal of daal, baati, bharta, khayri, gatte ki sabji along with pickle :)

Ingredients:

Wheat Flour -  1 1/2 cup

Semolina - 1/2 cup

Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp

Oil - 1-2 tbsp

Salt - 3/4 tsp

Turmeric -3/4 tsp

Water

Ghee/classified Butter -

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients along with enough water to make a chapati like dough.

2. Cover the dough for 1 hour with dump cloth and keep aside.

3. Make medium size ball and keep in baking tray.  [ I followed Sonal idea of rolling the dough in sausage and then into ball ]

4. Preheat the oven in 225C

5. Bake the balls in 225C for 10 -15 mins.

6. Turn the baati over and bake for another 10-15 mins.  Check if the baati fully cooked, if not bake for another 5-10 mins.

Break the baatis and dip/pour in ghee ...adding more ghee makes the baati very tasty :D

And this goes to Sonu's Flavours of Rajasthan a event started by Nayna.

Enjoy your weekend ...

Baingan Aloo Bharta | Punjabi Baingan Bharta Recipe

Baingan Aloo Bharta is another bharta variety which is delicious and if you like bharta then this is of course no exception. I started to make aloo baigan bharta by chance when once I was trying to utilize some left over boiled potato and from then it's has become regular and favorite. Potato gives texture to bharta and also we don't really have to use tomato too with this combination.

Lobia Masala | Blackeye Beans Curry

Remember my Plantain Shallow Fry recipe?  There was another side dish and I promise to post the recipe soon, so here it comes.  I make blackeye beans/Lobia in many way and it's never the same, this recipe I adapted from Priya's Rajma Masala. 

I saw her recipe and liked it so instead of using kidney beans I used blackeye beans...after all everything is beans only ;) ..I did few changes here and there and come up with this one and it tasted yum.

Ingredients:

Lobia/ Blackeye Beans - 1 cup
Onion - 1 large
Tomato - 1 large
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Ginger-Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp
Red chili Powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1tsp
Dry Mango Powder/ Amchur - 1/2 tsp
Kasoori Methi - 1tbsp
Jaggery - 1 tsp [optional]
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1tbsp
Water
Cilantro - 1 tbsp [chopped]

Method:

1. Clean, wash and soak blackeye beans in water overnight and pressure cook with water (for 1 cup beans add 2 to 3 cup of water) and little salt for 4-5 whistles or duration you cook your beans.

2. Wash and chop onion, tomato and grind to fine paste with little water.

3. In a pan heat oil, add cumin seeds and let it splutter.  Add the ground paste with ginger-garlic paste and mix everything well, cook for 2 minutes.

4. Add red chili, turmeric powders stir well and cover and cook for 5 minutes in medium flame or until oil separates from paste,  stir in intervals.

5. Add kasoori methi, garam masala, amchur, jaggery and salt mix everything well and cook for 2 minutes with lid on.

6. Add black eye beans/lobia and also water (used to cook the beans) and bring it to boil.  Check for salt and add more if required.

7. Cook in medium flame for 5-8 minutes or until the gravy become thick, stir in intervals. Garnish with cilantro.

Lobia Masala is ready, you can replace black eye beans with any other bean of your choice :)

Have a gud day ...

Festive Food ~ Rakhi | Raksha Bandhan 2010

Dear All,

Festive Food is back with Raksha Bandhan 2010 event again. 

It was like yesterday when myself and Purva started Festive Food Event to enjoy the joy and happiness of all the festivals around us and it's already been 2 years...

The bond between brother and sister celebrated in form of Rakshabandhan.  I do not wish to repeat same thing again so for more details about Raksha Bandhan [Rakhi] please visit our announcement. 

Coming to the event this year again it's pity simple .  The purpose is to celebrate, do not think that you have a cook a dish to be part of this one.

Guidelines:

1. Send in entry in form of pictures, memories which relates you with Rakhi.

2. You being creative ~  made Rakhi, Card or any other thing? Send that too as entry...I will be happy.

3. Send in your entry of celebration even if you have not prepared anything specify for the day. You can share your purchased Rakhi/sweets/gift etc details too.

4. If you did prepare something special [sweet dish, any main dish, savoury snack] for the occasion share with us.

So you got it? It's all about sharing...

Since Rakhi is on 24th Aug '10, last date to send your entry is  12th Sep '10.

• Old entries are accepted as long as you didn't sent the same for the last 2 event and link back to this page.

• Please link back to this event announcement. I would be glad if you can include Logo and spread the word. There are no restrictions on the number of entries.

• Send in your entries at Indian.festivefood@gmail.com with below mentioned information:

    * Your Name:

    * Dish Name:

    * Blog’s Name:

    * Blog URL:

    * Post URL:

    * Picture(s):

• Non Bloggers no need to get upset, email your recipe along with the picture. I will post it on your name and include it in the round up.

Let's celebrate and share....

Festive Food ~ His Cooking Event Roundup Part III

I'm back with Festive Food~His Cooking Event roundup part III and yes it's the last part after Roundup Part I and Part II.  Thank You all for taking part in this event and sending your entries.  It was a great pleasure hosting this special and unique event and I got very good response with amazing feed back ...it's my pleasure to know that most of you enjoyed this event to fullest ;)....without much delay let's just straight jump to the roundup and have a look at the delicious entries.

I have tried my best to include all the entries, in case I have missed out any kindly do let me know.

And here is the entry that I missed in the roundup,  my apologies Anu.

Here is easy, yummy, colourful and delicious Thattai Delight from Anu of Chandrabhaga and this one is her hubby recipe which he enjoyed during his school days ...let's us enjoy this now too :)

Let's kick start the roundup with rich and yummy looking Peas-Carrots-Paneer Curry in Creamy Sauce which is Priya of Mharo Rajasthan's Recipe husband's favorite recipe and also we have one more lip smacking Bharwa Shimla Mirch recipe ... now I know why these recipes are favorite.. :)

Next is Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen Egg Bhurji from him, with interesting touch of spinach just go straight to her blog to know what else her hubby can cook and how this recipe came up ;)

Padhu from Welcome to padhuskitchen sharing with us this cute Potato Sandwich Recipe and her place Sunday evening snack is His department :), we should take a lesson or two from her ;)

Jagruti of Joy of Cooking is sharing with us Crispy potato Bhajiya which came as surprise cooking for him along with their son, since that wonderful?  Also we have Banana Brulee
 to relish.

Next up is Neeta of Neeta's Healthy Plate entry Pappadum Samosas and Green Smoothie now there are few gud things about this entry, 1st this is Neeta's first entry for any event and also she is sharing Trevor pic with us isn't that cool.. and samosa with pappad? How nice is that..you really got to checkout her post ...

Tanmaya from Chamchameet is sharing delicious Egg Roll and Anda Bhurji and she says he is pro in cooking and make these dishes just superb..how blessed our dear lady is :)

Delicious and simple Pumpkin Kootu & Jeera Rasam is from Jaishree of Ruchi, so glad to have a entry from her ...

Kanchan of Kitchen Gossip is sharing tempting us with Dudhi Fritters and she says her hubby is better cook than her..ahh that's so sweet :)

Sangeetha from Sangi's Food World enjoyed a wonderful combo of Chapathi with karamani keerai kuruma as Sat'day dinner thanks to her hubby :)

Gayathri from Gayathriraj-Heaven On Spoon sent us Dosa with Onion Chutney which was a special surprise for her on her birthday along with other great surprises...wow that's wonderful...I better show her post to my DH for some H I N T S !!

Garlic Dal is Madhvi of Vegetarian Medley husband favorite dish to make and this comes as surprise to her, we all love these kind of surprises :-).

Denny from Oh Taste n See is sharing Ennai Kathirikkai Fry which her hubby made after much of pestering, threatening and pleading from her ;) and according to her he makes this very yummy ....

Next up is Kiran of SUMADHURA wonderful & yummy entries Ivy Gourd StirFry, Simple Okra StirFry, Simple Sooji Upma and Cabbage Tomato Curry made by her husband and also we have her brother cooking Beets and Mixed Vegetable Curry making way to our little event. 

And here comes my entries for the event Tehri~Vegetable Biryani, one of the dish which he makes so perfect and I can never get it like he does and sharing his Palak Saag and Peas Fried Rice.

Thank U again ladies (and also their husband, brother, son, daughter,dad) for taking part in this event and making it happening.