Stuffed Banana Peppers

Dear all,

This recipe is from one of my friend's ,which was very tasty .Both me and Sarada had the opportunity to enjoy the dish:)Very easy to make and good with rotis or rice .

Here you go

Red Onion medium size -2
Banana Peppers or Anaheim peppers -6
Besan flour- 4-5 teaspoons
Salt and Chilly powder acc to taste.
Oil -3 teaspoons for peppers
3-5 teaspoons for frying the stuffing
 

PROCEDURE:
1)Heat oil in a shallow pan,add finely diced onions and fry till raw smell leaves and are slightly translucent(medium brown color).

2)To this add besan flour,salt,chilly powder and fry till the raw smell goes away from besan and it all comes together as a soft thick paste like consistency(Remember :the besan should not fry or become crisp)

3)Transfer the stuffing and keep aside for cooling

4)Meanwhile make a single slit along the length of the peppers and robe the seeds using a spoon.

5) Once the stuffing is cooled enough to be handled by hand,stuff the peppers evenly and fully such that the peppers close along the slit and the stuffing doesn't fall out.

6)Heat oil in a shallow pan and place the peppers one next to the other fry along the sides and close the lid after sometime.

7)Allow the peppers to cook evenly by turning them gently around on all sides.

8)When the peppers are tender switch off the stove and transfer them to a serving tray.

Read More

Bitter Gourd Curry - My mom's recipe :)

Ingredients 

4 small bitter gourd (cut round/cubes, with/without seeds - Optional)
1 table spoon Curd (only if you like to remove the bitterness)
1/2 small onion (do not add too many)
1 tea spoon Cumin seeds
1/2 tea spoon Haldi
1/2 tea spoon Ginger Garlic paste
2 table spoon Sesame powder
1 table spoon Jaggery

Add below ingredients as per your taste 

chilli powder
Daniya powder
Salt
tamarind paste

If you want to remove bitterness of bitter gourd, follow below step  (optional)
Once you cut the bitter gourd, add curd and 1/4 tea spoon of salt. Rub the bitter gourd pieces and set aside for 10 mins.

Quick how to -

1. Heat oil in a pan
2. Add Cumin seeds, Once they start to splutter,  add onions and fry till they becomes transulent
4. Add haldi and Ginger Garlic paste, and stir to mix well
5. Add the Bitter Gourd pieces. Add little salt and cover. Allow to cook  for about 5 mins on low flame.
6. Add cilli powder, Daniya powder, salt and stir until mixed
7. Add the tamarind paste and little water. Let the it cook for 10 mins on medium to low flame till the bitter gourd gets cooked
8. Add the sesame powder and jaggery, stir to mix well for couple of mins.
9. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with hot rice :)

Read More

Dates, almonds & walnuts cake

Ingredients:

All purpose flour	1 cup
Dates (seedless)	18
Nuts (almonds, walnuts)	2 tsp
Granulated Sugar	3/4 cup
Milk	1 cup
Butter	1/2 cup
Baking soda	1 tsp
Salt Procedure:	1/4 tsp

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease your baking pan with butter and keep it aside.

• Warm 4 tsp milk in microwave and soak dates, set aside. In a mixing bowl add sugar, milk and butter, whisk till sugar completely dissolves.

• Sift flour, baking soda, and salt and keep aside. Grind the dates along with milk and make smooth paste. Add dates paste in milk and sugar mixture, stir well.

• Add sift flour slowly and mix well till all the ingredients are combined. Add chopped nuts and mix gently. Pour batter in grease pan. Sprinkle some nuts on top.

• Bake it for 30-35 minutes or until inserted toothpick come out clean.

Read More

Healthy Oatmeal and Multigrain/bean Dosa

Step 1: Proportions: 1 cup whole urad dal, 2 cups old fashioned oats, 3/4 cup mutigrains/beans(bought this pack from indian store. You can make your own too. Just mix whatever dals and beans you have in your kitchen pantry)

Step 2

Wash everything except for oat meal thoroughly and add water. Then add the oatmeal and then add 2-3 tablespoons poha and 1 tea spoon methi seeds. close the lid and let the mixture soak for 6-8 hours. for faster results put it in the oven with the light turned on.

Note: Do not wash the oatmeal. it has to be added at the end.

Step 3

Grind/blend the mixture and soak it overnight or for 8-9 hours. (more than 10 hours might over ferment the batter. so please check after 9 hours. Again, the best place to ferment is in the oven with the light turned on. This is the picture of the fermented batter.

Step 4:

Add Salt and mix the batter. Make your dosas and enjoy with your favorite chutney and aloo puttu.

For me, it tastes way better than a normal dosa. Completely healthy with no rice whatsoever and super yummy. The Dosas came out perrfect - crispy on the edges, soft in the middle.

Read More

Homemade chocolate for kids

Ingredients

• Cocoa powder - 5 tbsps
• Milk powder - 1 1/4 cups
• Butter - 1/4 cup
• Sugar - 2/3 cup
• Water - 1/2 cup

Method

1. Sieve milk powder and cocoa powder and keep aside.
2. Heat water and sugar in a vessel and bring to a boil. Reduce flame and continue cooking till the syrup reaches one string consistency. Add the butter and mix well till it melts and blends with the syrup. Turn off heat.
3. Add the cocoa-milk powder mixture gradually (a few tbsps at a time) and mix well till glossy. Grease square pan or plate. Pour the mixture into the pan and smooth the top with a spatula allow to set for 10 to 15 mts at room temperature.
4. Place in fridge for 10-15 mts. Remove from fridge and use a cookie cutter to cut into desired shape.
5. You can also add a layer of molten chocolate and top it with wafers(vanilla) and then pour another layer over it.once it cools down u can cut into squares.you can enjoy wafer filled chocolate.

Read More

Shrimp Scampi(Modified/easier version)

• Peel/Detail the Shrimp and wash and dry.
• Take 2 table spoons of all purpose flour in a small bowl, mix salt, pepper and red chili powder to taste. Mix with a fork. Dip each shrimp on each side , dust off excess flour and place the shrimps in a plate.
• Now, heat up olive oil in a pan and shallow fry shrimp till they are cooked(shrimp cook easily, almost like saute on medium high flame.  Place fried shrimp in your serving bowl. 
• In the same oil, saute finely chopped onions, parsley and garlic. Place this mixture over the shrimp evenly
• Take 2-3 table spoons of your favorite pasta sauce in a small bowl (I use a mix of marinara and Alfredo) and add a table spoon of white vinegar and mix it nicely . Pour this mixture over the Shrimp. Please note the shrimp should not soak in the sauce. It should just be the way it looks in the pic below.
• Garnish with spring onion leaves and finely chopped Jalapenos (if you like it spicy) and serve.

Note: this dish tastes best when it is served right after its made and makes for a great appetizer. So, this is something you need to make right before our guests come. I used very little oil and as you can see in the pic, it is not greasy.

Read More

Whole Wheat Pasta Salad

I'll call it My Italeterrean pasta salad . Whole Wheat pasta with red bell pepper ( cut into thin length wise slices ), olives,cherry tomatoes, baby spinach with home made dressing - dried oregano , dried rosemary, dried parsley , fresh ground pepper and salt in extra virgin olive oil along with freshly cut mozzarella cubes. Mix all the dried spices and cheese in the olive oil and leave it aside for 30 mins at room trmperature and then mix it with with the rest of the salad . Top It with pine nuts before serving . You can substitute the mozzarella with feta cheese If you like but go easy on salt if you do so coz fetta is naturally sour.

Read More