My Experiments & Food

Potato and Spring Onion: A quick sabzi

2010-06-27T19:11:00.001+05:30

Where have I been? Its a question I ask myself more than you would have asked me. Mid way into 2010, I find myself with one thing that I have never been comfortable with - Change (with a capital C), or to be more precise Unplanned Change. Yeah yeah..."Change is the only constant" wise men have cited and so have the management books, but I am someone who just runs away from it. Maybe because I am

Bread Rolls: Fried bread snacks with potato filling

2010-04-26T21:20:00.000+05:30

A very simple recipe - served as a tea time snack in many Indian households. This is another of those recipes which I have still not been able to perfect, but is made by Hubby, every single time. Even he has taken time to perfect it. Sharing it for those weekend evening snacks when you have guests over, or when you simply want to indulge. Ingredients: For the filling: Boiled potatoes: 2 big,

Chutney for Summers: Coriander, Mint and Raw Mango

2010-04-25T01:08:00.003+05:30

Weekends these days are becoming so difficult. And I never thought I would say that (I start waiting for weekends from Monday morning)! Difficult not because I have suddenly fallen in love with my work, but because of the sweltering heat. The respite of office air conditioners is missed on these days. And while I would love to be confined to my room and switch on the a/c for the entire day on

Palak ki Kadhi

2010-04-13T00:31:00.001+05:30

I am back after ages...one and a half month to be more precise. It is surely the longest break I have taken, though completely unintentionally. Has it happened to you that life becomes unpredictably busy - busy not just with activities, but busy in thoughts as well. When your mind is constantly running and it takes over whatever personal space you treasure. Today, I decided to strengthen my

Favourite Menu for Guests

2010-02-27T19:23:00.000+05:30

When there are guests over, and you do not have time to think (or do not want to spend time thinking) what to cook, what do you do? Do you order from outside, or is there a menu which you bank upon? Guests for dinner. What is the menu? For me, it is usually the latter. There is a menu which I have made at least once for each guest who has been invited over for a meal. In fact, its become a

Gajar ka Halwa

2010-02-21T00:55:00.000+05:30

It's so good to be back. And relaxing. I spent the last few days going through the updates on my Google Reader (and there were so many!) and I now feel much more at peace after moving the "unread" items to "read".So, without much ado, we go straight to the Gajar ka Halwa, which is one of the most popular winter desserts, especially in North India. The dessert is best made from the "red" carrots

Taking a Break

2010-01-31T20:14:00.004+05:30

Hi Friends,I shall be on a break for a few weeks. February seems to be an extra busy month, and with too many things on my plate (pun intended), blogging seems a bit unlikely.I hope to return by the 3rd week of February. Till then, sharing with you the picture of the wonderful Gajar ka Halwa that I have been hogging on since the red juicy carrots have been in season. A better pic, and the recipe

Celebrating Indian Republic Day with Besan ka Halwa

2010-01-26T14:39:00.005+05:30

Today is a special day for all Indians, as our country celebrates the 60th Republic Day. We celebrated the day by watching the "Republic Day parade" on Doordarshan, and with this rich and delicious Besan ka Halwa!This halwa is my Grandmother's recipe and I learnt it from her. Its rich, full of calories and delicious. And doesn't really take much time to prepare. Indulge yourself!Ingredients:Besan

Quick and Healthy Breakfast: Egg in a Basket

2010-01-16T10:10:00.003+05:30

Egg in a Basket, or Egg in a Nest is called by many other names. It refers to a breakfast dish, prepared by cutting a hole in the bread slice and cooking an egg in the "hole". It is pretty simple to prepare, and is a good way to make your breakfast interesting. I love making them on weekends for an early breakfast. All you need is an egg, and a slice of bread. I used slices of multigrain bread to

Chatpata Hara Chana (Green Chickpeas)

2010-01-13T23:44:00.006+05:30

Which is your least favourite job in the kitchen?- Washing the dishes?- Cleaning the mess after cooking?- Chopping the veggies?- Any other?Well, for me the clear winner will be cleaning and chopping the vegetables - esp. ladies finger / okra, cleaning "saag" (green leafy vegetables) like methi, shelling peas and the likes. Yup, I do not like shelling peas at all. Hence, I find it easier to resort

Grape Raita

2010-01-07T17:25:00.008+05:30

Winter is my favourite season. Even when I was in North India - when it seemed a herculean task to get out of the confines of quilts and blankets in the morning - I still loved the winter months. But as I moved to the western parts of the country, the season became quite mild. In my current city, we have already started using the fans during the day, while my parents and in - laws in the north

Sweet Beginnings: Kheer (Rice Pudding)

2010-01-03T19:47:00.008+05:30

The past one month, or rather the last month of 2009 seems like a blur. In between traveling, visiting friend's wedding, falling ill, vacationing, several rounds of packing and unpacking, I left my 3.5 year long association with my current (now past) organization. Even now, my mind is still full of to - do lists and preparation for the new assignment which I am due to begin in a week's time. So,

Common Cold & Ginger Chai (Tea)

2009-12-18T00:01:00.000+05:30

Common cold is so annoying. One sneezes, goes around with a runny nose, headache, fatigue and yet, one cannot be called technically ill. A day off from office requires a graver reason than “just” common cold!And to think that science has still not been able to discover a cure for it. Hmph! Like my Dad says “Zukaam ho gaya hai? Dawa loge to 7 din mein theek ho jaayega, nahi to ek hafte mein”. (You

Review: Chilly Q at The Yellow Chilli Restaurant, Pune

2009-12-17T17:16:00.006+05:30

Let me clarify at the outset. I am a Sanjeev Kapoor fan. Have been since I started watching “Khana Khazana” more than a decade and half ago. I vividly remember how our entire family would be seated in front of the television every Sunday noon to watch his show.But the viewings were discontinued once I moved out for higher studies and access to television was not much. Even now, Sundays are spent

Weekend Brunch: Healthy Vegetable Wraps

2009-12-12T15:16:00.006+05:30

This was an impromptu preparation for a Saturday brunch. Quick, healthy and tasty, and not to forget, quite filling.I used whole wheat parathas, prepared with minimal oil. I made them in advance, and lightly heated them in a microwave before serving. For the filling, I used whatever veggies I had at hand. You can add more variety based on your choice.Ingredients:For the filling:Cabbage, finely

Green & Pink: Coriander Mint Rice and Pomegranate Raita

2009-11-30T11:40:00.010+05:30

Yes! I have finally returned after my more than a month long break from the blogging world. Well not the blogging world – because I have started a new blog. Making My Day Brighter is my hobby blog and it would be great if you could visit it sometime. Your views are welcome.Coming back to the break from this blog – the reasons are several. My hubby was / is on a restricted diet due to health

Minestrone Soup

2009-10-25T14:27:00.003+05:30

What is on the top of your list when you proceed on a vacation? Packing, you say? Ummm, that's on my list too. But what comes as a close second is clearing the refrigerator. And what a task it is. Advance planning really tires me, and hence i find this chore a bit intimidating. Making sure that milk is not purchased on the day before traveling, the fresh veggies are consumed and leftovers are

Amla ki Chutney

2009-10-24T22:30:00.005+05:30

Amla, or Indian Gooseberry, is a spherical fruit widely known for its medicinal properties.Appearance: Light green in color with longitudinal stripes, it is smooth and hard in texture. It is usually the size of a table tennis ball, but may be larger. It has a seed in the center which is removed when the fruit is eaten / used for cookingTaste: The primary taste is sour and bitter. The fruit leaves

Methi and Besan ka Cheela

2009-10-10T18:15:00.004+05:30

Weekend is here again. This weekend is an extra busy one - with Diwali being just a week away (October 17th to be precise). Apart from the several Diwali customs (eating and preparation of sweets, bursting firecrackers, lighting up the house, Lakshmi Puja, meeting friends and relatives), there is one which takes special significance (at least in North India) - cleaning the house before Diwali.It

Chhole Tikki: Chickpeas served with Potato Cutlets

2009-10-01T16:20:00.011+05:30

Indian Street food is versatile in taste and preparation. It varies as you move from one state to the other. The ingredients remain the same, in most cases, but the flavor changes by addition / deletion of spices and garnish.Take the Bhel puri for example. It’s popularly called so in Maharashtra and the western part of India. But in North India, it transforms to Laiya Chana, and in the east as

Alu Parwal: Potatoes cooked with Pointed Gourd

2009-09-29T19:54:00.004+05:30

Someone once asked me, “What is the English name for Parwal?” I did not know the answer then, but today, after a Google search, and a wiki research, I feel enlightened. It’s “Pointed Gourd”. Not “Snake Gourd” as the first search told me.Pointed Gourd, or Parwal / Potol as it is commonly known in India, is botanically termed as Trichosanthes dioica. Snake Gourd, on the other hand, is Trichosanthes

Moong ki Dal ka Cheela … On Bread

2009-09-27T15:20:00.004+05:30

Chilla / Cheela are savoury crepes served for breakfast, or even as snacks. They are prepared either with Besan (gram flour) or with Moong (lentils).Moong dal cheela is something my Mom used to make quite often for breakfast, and I developed a taste for them only recently. They are a great option for Sunday breakfasts.I also experimented with the leftover batter by dipping pieces of bread and

Maggi Noodle Soup: A dedication to the 2 – minute Noodles

2009-09-19T00:15:00.004+05:30

As Nestle “Maggi Noodles” celebrates its 25 years of association with India, I do feel nostalgic. The “2 minute” noodles were introduced in India in the early 80’s, and Nestle had really tried hard to sell it to the Indian Market. They realized it would be easier to please the children, rather than their parents. I remember schemes like getting a toy car (Zoomie!) if you buy 10 packs together, or

Apple Iced Tea

2009-09-14T11:36:00.007+05:30

This is one of the most refreshing drinks I have had. The first time I tasted it was during a Sunday brunch at Marriott Courtyard. And I have been hooked on to it ever since.Ingredients (To make 2 glasses):Water: 1 glassTea Leaves: 1 tsp or 1 tea bagApple Juice: ½ glassSugar: To tasteIce Cubes: LotsMethod:- Bring water to boil in a pan. Add the tea leaves / tea bag, and let it boil for a few

Dry Fruit Kheer

2009-09-10T11:26:00.010+05:30

Posting this recipe took some research. Not that the recipe itself is complicated, but because I wasn’t very sure of the English / popular terms used for two of the ingredients - “Makhana” and “Chiraunji”.Wikipedia refers to Makhana as Fox nut or Eurale Fox. While a Google told me that it is also referred to as Popped / puffed Lotus Seeds.Chiraunji was simpler. Google / Wikipedia tell me that the

Vegetarian Keema Matar – made with Soya Granules

2009-09-08T12:25:00.004+05:30

This was something I have wanted to make for a long time, and got the opportunity yesterday. A great recipe if you are a vegetarian, or are having vegetarian friends over.I used Meat Masala, which is readily available in the market, as the key spice. However, if you are averse to using it, or if it is not readily available, you can substitute it with other spices as mentioned below. Ingredients:

Vegetable Biryani Pulao

2009-09-01T19:42:00.001+05:30

Wikipedia differentiates Biryani and Pulao (aka pilaf, pulav, pilau) as:“The difference between biryani and pullao is that while pullao may be made by cooking the items together, biryani is used to denote a dish where the rice is cooked separately from the other ingredients.”Also, a biryani usually has rice layered with either meat or vegetables and flavoured with spices such as saffron. For this

American Style Pancakes - made with Whole Wheat Flour

2009-08-22T18:08:00.005+05:30

Pancakes. Every country has its own variation. In India we have Dosa, Cheela, Uttapam, Pesarattu and what not!The first time I had “American Pancakes” was when I was on business travel to Chennai. The hotel I was staying in had a luxurious breakfast spread. I don’t think I have ever been so motivated in my life to wake up early only for breakfast. A standard item on the breakfast menu was “

Quick Fruit Dessert

2009-08-15T23:04:00.004+05:30

A quick dessert. I made it today to celebrate India’s 62nd anniversary of Independence. Okay, the colors are not the customary saffron, white and green. But nonetheless, it’s something special to celebrate this very special day! The idea (for the dessert) is again my Mom’s. Ingredients: (Serves 4) Custard (Made by using 350 ml milk, 2 tbsp sugar, and 1 ½ tbsp vanilla custard powder) Arrowroot

Baked Malai Kofta (Dumplings baked with Gravy and Cream)

2009-08-12T12:55:00.005+05:30

Let me clarify at the outset – this is not my recipe and has not been prepared by me. It has been prepared by my Mom – and she sourced it years ago from the Recipe Booklet which she received along with the purchase of “Nicky Tasha Kitchenette”. The Kitchenette is not there now, nor is the Recipe Booklet. But this preparation continues to be one of my favorites, as well as my brother’s.Like I had

Onions and Tomatoes

2009-08-07T22:54:00.003+05:30

In India, the average meal is accompanied by pickle, and salad. And when I say Salad, it usually refers to sliced or chopped raw vegetables such as cucumber, onion, tomatoes and beetroot, and seasoned with salt pepper and lime juice. That’s it. Sharing a photograph taken of an Onion and Tomato “Salad”. The vegetables were sliced by my Mom, to accompany an elaborate meal which she had prepared

Lauki Ka Halwa (Dessert made from Bottle-gourd)

2009-08-05T12:29:00.006+05:30

July – August is usually the time in the time of the year when my husband and I visit our hometown. Both his parents as well as mine reside in the same city, and hence one visit suffices the purpose. This year, the visit was more special since I met my grandmother (paternal) after a gap of 1 ½ years. Usually she stays with my Uncle in a different city, and her health does not permit her to travel

Quick Breakfast – Microwave Eggs

2009-07-12T13:02:00.004+05:30

I love to have eggs for breakfast, but most mornings (on weekdays), I am too pressed for time. How much time does it take, you may argue, to make a fried egg, if not an omelet or a boiled egg? Quite a few precious minutes, for someone like me. I completely agree with Garfield when he said that “Good Morning is an oxymoron”.But now, I have a solution – yes! Something

Khoya Aloo - Potato Curry with milk solids

2009-07-09T18:21:00.005+05:30

Khoya (or Khoa /Mawa) is made by drying milk over low heat, till it reaches an almost solid consistency. It is used in the preparation of various Indian sweets, and sometimes savory dishes as well. My recipe falls in the latter category.Potato curry, in India, can be made in so many ways – every family has their own variation. Sharing my recipe which uses khoya. The curry is rich in taste (and

Quick Fried Rice - with Vegetables

2009-07-07T15:14:00.007+05:30

What do you do when you have leftover rice in the refrigerator? I know there are several recipes in which it can be used, but the most common use which I have seen in Indian households is to temper it with cumin or mustard seeds, and / or fry with onions to make Jeera Rice or Lemon rice. Turmeric is often added to the rice to give it a fresh color – Sanjeev Kapoor once said that Indians have a

Matar, Paneer and Corn Rice

2009-07-06T19:57:00.011+05:30

It’s finally started raining, in Western India atleast. I hope that this spell of showers do not end in a day or two, but continue for sometime. This weekend, it was raining in the afternoon and I had the pleasure of watching the rain with a cup of coffee in my hand. It was such a lovely weather that I did not want to cook an elaborate meal. Yet, I did not want to resort to junk food either. I

Layered Dessert – Mango Special

2009-07-06T19:04:00.012+05:30

For me, the biggest inspirations come when I am alone. Like yesterday, when my hubby was to attend the marriage of a colleague, and I was not accompanying him, and had the Sunday evening all to myself. We had bought mangoes in the afternoon, and as always, my husband insisted that we have Mango Shake once he returns from the function. I had other plans though. Since I started this food blog, and

Vegetarian Omelet

2009-07-04T15:10:00.006+05:30

It’s been a hectic work week entailed with travel, and I was so looking forward to this weekend. I woke up with a sense of purpose – there was a long to-do list in my mind, and I made myself a strong cup of coffee. An hour later, I had scanned through the newspaper, transferred the to–do list from my mind onto paper, finished the last chapter of the whodunit I had left incomplete last night, and

Call it Panipuri or Golgappa or Paani ke Batashe…

2009-06-24T15:24:00.005+05:30

…this delicacy remains mouthwatering. Wikipedia tells me that it originated from Uttar Pradesh in India. But its presence is felt throughout the nation, even though it is called by different names and the preparation may slightly vary, to suit the taste buds of the particular region / state.The Gol gappas that I have known since childhood are served with boiled potatoes / safed matar (boiled

Dahi wale Alu (Potato curry cooked with yoghurt)

2009-06-15T13:26:00.005+05:30

Like most of my recipe encyclopedia, this one too comes from my Mom, though I did not like the preparation as a kid. I think it was because of the asafoetida which she added (and which I still avoid). I remembered it years later, when I was trying to cook something quick for dinner, just for myself, and my husband was eating out with colleagues. I made it again yesterday with hot parathas, for

Garlic Bread topped with Vegetables

2009-06-09T23:16:00.010+05:30

I shall not take credit for this recipe. Like the Chili Cheese Toast, this project was solely handled by my husband and is a part of the same recipe family. The ingredients are similar, and so are the calories!That said, it tasted amazing, and I was reminded of the garlic bread served at the pizza joints. He had made it as an accompaniment to Mix Veg Pasta (maybe a post on it later) which I was

Methi Ki Puri

2009-06-09T19:28:00.010+05:30

Ages ago, when I was in kindergarten, our class was taken for a picnic to the city zoo. After watching the monkeys, giraffes and the lions, we had rested for lunch on the bank of a duck pond. Wondering what my Mom had packed for lunch, I opened my lunch box and it was packed with “green puris” . I was overjoyed, because I liked them more than the plain puris which were quite boring to look at.In

Mango Shake - It's summers!

2009-05-31T21:04:00.004+05:30

One of the few good things about Indian summers (at least for me) is the arrival of Mangoes - the king of fruits. There are several varieties which are grown in India, and the way it can be eaten are many. A simple google search will yield umpteen recipes. But I like to eat the fruit the way it is, and prefer not to use it as an ingredient for desserts, chutneys or any other delicacy.But since

Chili Cheese Toast

2009-05-25T19:23:00.003+05:30

This is my Mom’s recipe, and I do not know where she sourced it from. It was, and continues to be, one of the favorite dishes of my brother.A few weeks into my marriage, my brother introduced it to my husband. We had bought our new microwave oven then, and were planning to inaugurate it by trying out Vegetable Au gratin. Enter my brother, and he insisted that the dish be accompanied by “Chili

Kulfi

2009-05-19T15:10:00.002+05:30

In North India, Kulfiwallahs are the norm during summers. When I was a kid, every afternoon at around 3 pm, the kulfiwallah would visit our lane, ringing the bell tied to his thela (2 - wheeler mobile "shop"). His timing was perfect - most of the kids were back from school by then, and lunch was also over. The most basic kulfi cost Rs 2, and then there were larger and more "richer" versions

Summers & Home-made Iced-Tea

2009-05-16T16:27:00.002+05:30

May is peak summer time in India. I woke up today – a Saturday, and a day off from work - to see the sun shining brightly as ever. Should I step out and increase my risk of early wrinkles and bad skin, at the cost of getting a few household chores completed? Nah! Of course not. So what if my “weekend to-do list” keeps growing in length. I shall first pamper myself and then think about it. That I

Corn Potato Snack

2009-05-13T16:19:00.003+05:30

This recipe was suggested by my Mom, when I was hosting a party for a few of my colleagues, and did not know what to serve as starters.It’s a quick recipe, and can be made in less than 15 minutes if you have boiled potatoes stocked in your refrigerator! Ingredients:Corn Kernels (Fresh or frozen): 2 cupsBoiled Potato (cut in small cubes): 1 CupGreen Chili (Finely chopped): 1Cumin Seeds (Jeera): ½

Colorful Vegetable Soup

2009-05-13T16:06:00.002+05:30

This was a favorite soup when I was in UK during winters. It’s relatively easy to make. Especially simple if you have frozen veggies at hand.Adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor’s recipe of Celestial Vegetable Soup, with come variations of my own. Ingredients:Frozen Peas: ¾ CupMixed vegetables (chopped Carrots, Broccoli florets, cauliflower florets): 1 cupMushrooms (Sliced / quartered): 8 – 10Capsicum (