Crab Fried Rice

Fried rice is a super hit dish at my house.  The one I usually make is Easy fried rice or Fried rice with ground meat.

This recipe from thewoksoflife is pretty unique and I think I am going to add this to my favorites' list.

Crab Fried Rice

Crab Fried Rice

Ingredients:

1. 2 tablespoons oil
2. 1 tablespoon each of grated ginger, minced garlic
3. 2 cups white rice cooked
4. 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas thawed
5. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, white pepper
6. 1 tablespoon soy sauce
7. 2 eggs (beaten)
8. 1 cup cooked lump crab meat 
9. 2 scallions chopped
10. Cilantro chopped

Heat the cooking oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add the ginger and fry stirring for 30 seconds. Then add the garlic. Add the peas and stir well. Add the cooked rice, stir fry the rice for 3 minutes. Now add the white pepper and soy sauce, to the rice.  Add salt to taste. Stir to combine all together.

Using your spatula, spread the rice out into an even layer. Pour the beaten egg evenly over the rice. Stir the rice until all of the egg is cooked and incorporated.

Before adding the crab, use your spatula to once more spread the rice evenly. Add the crab to the rice and stir thoroughly. When the crab is warmed through, add the scallion and cilantro and stir well. Enjoy with Roasted Cauliflower

Tuna casserole

I have made this many times before and its super and delicious, but I never posted it here...for posterity...and in case aliens come looking for any recipes for one pit dinners :)

Tuna Casserole 

Tuna Casserol

Ingredient:

1. 2 cups dry egg noodles 
2. 10 ounces canned tuna in water drained and flaked
3. 1 cup milk warm
4. 1/2 cup water
5. 2 tablespoons flour
6. 1/2 teaspoon salt
7. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8. 1/2 cup each of frozen peas, chopped carrots
9. 1 cup bread crumbs
10. 1/4 cup onions
11. 1 teaspoon garlic minced
12. 2 tablespoon melted better

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Cook the noodles according to package instructions.

In a pan heat the butter and fry the onions and carrots for 5 minutes. Add garlic and fry for a minute. Move the onions and garlic to a corner and add the flour and stir for 2 minutes. Add warm milk and water and stir until there are no lumps. Add salt and pepper and tuna and stir together. Then stir in the peas and the cooked noodles.

Add to the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle with breadcrumbs and some butter

Bake for 20 minutes.  Enjoy

Egg stuffed sour cream biscuits

My dear brother was here for Thanksgiving and while getting ready to cook thanksgiving feast, I realized I was missing sour cream... for my most popular  Dill Sour cream mashed potato. As my brother was going out I asked him to get a "small size" pack of sour cream but not the "Smallest size"...Guess what size he got for me. THE 3LB TUB OF SOUR CREAM. I used about 1 lb of it and I have about 2/3 of the sour cream tub which I am trying to find ways to use.

And this sour cream biscuit recipe is one of the recipes for the mission. I have made biscuits before but they were not very fluffy. These are great. I made a couple of changes to the original recipe . I filled my biscuits with onion scrambled eggs.


Egg stuffed sour cream biscuits 

Egg stuffed sour cream biscuits

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups all-purpose flour
2. 2 tablespoons sugar
3. 21/2 teaspoons baking powder
4. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, baking soda
5. 1 cup sour cream
6. 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Ingredients for onion scrambled eggs:

1. 2 large or 3 medium eggs
2. 2 tablespoons finely chopped onions
3. 1 tablespoon oil
4. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, fresh ground black pepper, garlic powder

In a pan heat the oil and cook the onions till translucent. In a bowl add 1/2 tablespoon water and mix salt, pepper and garlic powder. Break the eggs into it and beat the eggs. Add this to the pan over the onions and scramble them. Let them cool.

Preheat oven to 400° (for dark pan or 425 for lighter pans). 

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Stir in the butter and sour cream just until moistened. If the dough is too dry add 1 tablespoon of water at a time 

Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 8-10 times. DO  NOT OVER KNEAD.

Divide the dough into 8 parts. Take a part of dough into you palm and spread it into a circle 3-4 inches wide. Place about 1 tablespoon scrambled egg and close the dough like a dumpling. Place 1 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Brush biscuits with butter; Enjoy yummy breakfast biscuits.

To reheat...wrap in a paper towel and microwave for 40-45 seconds and enjoy on a busy morning

Orange Cranberry Butter Cookies

These are the most delicious and easy to make cookies, I have ever made.  This recipe first appeared int the "Southern Living" magazine. The original recipe called for 1.5 cups of butter. But I used only 1 cup better and the cookies were awesome.

Orange Cranberry Butter Cookies

Orange Cranberry Butter cookies

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup butter softened
2. 1.5 cup cups powdered sugar
3. 1 cup dried cranberries chopped
4. Zest from 2 oranges
5. 3 cups all purpose flour
6. sprinkling sugar of your choice color...I choose golden
7. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
8. 1/2 teaspoon salt
9. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Beat the butter for 2 minutes and add the powdered sugar and mix well. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder and add it into the butter and mix well. Add the cranberries and orange zest and stir to combine. Divide the dough into 2 parts and roll into 2 square logs and wrap in plastic and refridgerate for 2 hrs.

Roll the logs in sprinkling sugar and cut them into 1/4 inch pieces. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Set the cookies on a parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes until the edges turn slightly brown.

Cool on a cooling rack and enjoy

Cashew Celery Shrimp Stir-fry

Last year one of Chinese neighbors invited us for dinner. She had some unique Chinese dishes, which I had never tasted before. But they were very delicious. One of the dishes she made that day was Celery and Shrimp stir fry. I uped the taste of that dish with cashews today and let me tell you, the dish just disappeared. I served it with Beetroot fried rice 

Cashew Celery Shrimp Stir-fry

Cashew Celery Shrimp stir fry

Ingredients:

1. 12 oz shrimp peeled and deveined
2. 4 celery stalks, thinly sliced 
3. 1 tablespoon each of soy sauce, sesame oil, white wine
4. 1 teaspoon each of grated ginger, grated garlic
5. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
6. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
7. 3/4 cup roasted salted cashews 
8. 3 scallions, thinly sliced white and green, separated

Mix the soy sauce, sesame oil and wine, in a medium bowl, set aside. 

Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat until very hot. Add 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil, the celery and cashews. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and fry for about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a plate.

Return the skillet to high heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the shrimp and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and stir-fry until shrimp turn pink, about 2 minutes. Add the ginger-garlic mixture and  and stir for a minute. Return the celery and cashews to the pan along with scallion whites and stir to combine

Transfer the mixture to a serving dish and garnish with the remaining scallion greens. Enjoy

Mughlai paneer pockets

These are similar to paneer paratha or my version Palak paneer paratha but the stuffing is different and the way its made is different. This is easy to eat on the go. Usually Indian food is not very portable, but these are super portable and delicious for kids school lunch

Makes 4 to 6

Mughlai Paneer Pockets (Cottage cheese stuffed wheat pockets)

Mughlai Paneer Pockets

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups wheat flour

Ingredients for filling/stuffing:

1. 1-1.5 cups grated paneer
2. 1 medium carrot grated
3. 1/2 cups chopped capsicum/bell pepper
4. 1 tablespoon chopped cashew nuts (optional)
5. 1/4 cup green peas
6. 1/4 cup chopped onions
7. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder, amchur powder
8. 1 tablespoon oil
9. 1 green chilli finely chopped
10. 1/2 teaspoon ginger garlic paste / finely chopped garlic
11. Ghee/ butter for frying the pockets

In a pan heat the oil and add the onions and carrots to it and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add cashews and bell pepper and add all the spices and mix well. Let cook for 5 minutes. Add peas and paneer and mix well and cook for 5 more minutes. Garnish with cilantro, cut the flame and mix again. Set aside to cool

Mix the flour with water and form dough and set aside covered for 15-20 minutes.

Divide into 6 parts.

Roll the dough into 8 inch. Add 2 tablespoons stuffing into the center and fold the edges onto the stuffing, making a pocket.

In a pan heat 1 teaspoon butter and on medium low flame add the pocket to the pan. Cover and let fry for 2 minutes. Flip and fry covered for 2 more minutes. Cut the pocket into 2 triangles and serve with ketchup

Apple Cider Pumpkin bread

It is the season of the the Pumpkins and the apple ciders....mmmmmmmmm Apple Cider...One of the best drinks . So I got a whole gallon of Apple cider and after having my fill...now I need ways to use the rest of it. And here comes the apple cider Pumpkin bread. Yummy for a quick break fast. Toast a slice and serve it with butter or as is

Apple Cider Pumpkin bread

Apple cider pumpkin bread

Apple cider pumpkin bread with home made cream cheese frosting

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup each of apple cider, pumpkin puree
2. 2 large eggs
3. 1/4 cup vegetable oil
4. 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
5. 2 cups all-purpose flour
6. 2 teaspoons  baking powder
7. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg
8. 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
9. 1 medium apple peeled, cored and chopped

Preheat oven to 350°.

In saucepan, boil cider until it's reduced to about 1/4 cup; let it cool.

In bowl, whisk together well pumpkin purée, eggs, oil, brown sugar, and cider.

In bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Stir in walnuts or pecans if using, and stir in apple pieces.

Pour batter to a well-buttered 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pan.

Bake in middle of oven 1 hour, or until a tester comes out clean.

Let bread cool in the pan.

Pear upside down cake

The super market has been having a whole lot of pears recently and they look super fresh and super delicious. I got a whole pack and after eating all the pear as can, I had to find other ways to use the pears and the cake recipe I found and made is super delicious.
We practically ate this cake for breakfast.

Pear upside down cake

Upside down pear cake

Ingredients:

1. 2 large or 3 medium small pears, peeled, cored and sliced length wise into 1/4 inch thick slices
2. 4 tablespoons butter melted
3. 1 egg
4. 1/2 cup granulated sugar + 1/4 cup brown sugar
5. 2/3 cup milk
6. 1 teaspoon each of cinnamon + vanilla extract
7. 1/2 teaspoon ginger + salt
8. 2 teaspoon baking powder

Butter the bottom of 8 inch baking pan and spread the pears on the bottom. 

Melt the butter and beat it with the sugar into a smooth cream. Add milk, egg and vanilla and beat again. Sift the dry ingredients together and milk them into the wet ingredients.

Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Add the batter on top of the pears and bake for 30-35 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Take the pan out and set aside for 5 minutes. Put a plat on top of the pan and turn the pan so that we get the upside down cake.

Enjoy with whipped cream

Chicken Stir fry Indian Style

I love making stir fries which are quick and easy and have some meet and a ton of vegetables in it. When I started searching for the recipes all I could find are Chinese...ofcourse Stir Fry is all Chinese I know (roll eyes)

   but but but...I like stir fry and I do not always want to eat Chinese.

So I made my own...Chicken stir fry with Indian spices and boy oh boy it was yummy

Chicken Stir fry Indian Style

Chicken Stir Fry with Indian spices

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb chicken cut into 1 inch cubes but only 1/4 inch thick.
2. 1 tablespoon each of coriander powder, 
3. 1 teaspoon cumin powder
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt + more to taste
5. 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
6. 1 teaspoon dried mango powder (optional) (substitute fresh squeezed lemon juice)
7. 2 tablespoons oil
8. 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
9. Your choice of vegetables (I used mushrooms cut into thick slices, onions, bell pepper) (Can also include Zucchini and Squash

Marinate the chicken with salt, chilli powder and ginger garlic paste and lemon juice for 30 mins.

In a pan heat 1/2 the oil and add the mushroom and fry on high for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the vegetables and fry for 5-10 minutes. Drain.

Add the rest of the oil to the pan and add the chicken and fry for 10 minutes until its cooked through. Add the vegetables back and add the spices and add salt according to taste.

Garnish with hand full of cilantro and enjoy with white or brown rice

Chicken quinoa fried rice

I have been making Chicken Quinoa Rice for a long time and it is awesome and pretty simple to make. Today I made a Chicken quinoa fried rice, which is super awesome too

Chicken Quinoa fried rice 

Chicken quinoa fried rice

Ingredients:

1. 1 cups quinoa and 1/2 cup rice (optional) cooked according to directions and cooled 
2. your favorite vegetables cut into small cubes (my mix of vegetables is carrots, cabbage,onions, yellow squash and green bell pepper) (purple cabbage would look awesome)
3. 2 tablespoons sesame seed oil or canola oil
4. 2 tablespoons low sodium soya sauce
5. 1 teaspoon white vinegar
6. 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
7. 2 cups shredded chicken

In a pan heat the oil and cook the vegetables until tender. Add garlic and stir for a minute. Add chicken and 1 tablespoon soya sauce and mix well. Add the cooked rice and quinoa and the remaining soya sauce and vinegar and stir to combine. Cook on high for 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve with black beans or as is

Ginger Chicken

When we get nostalgic the first thing we think of are all the people you spent your time in the "good old days" and the second thing we think of will be either the food or the beautiful locations where you spent your most relaxing evenings.

Today I am thinking more of the food...the ginger chicken my Big brother would get for me form one of the road side roti stands in the Old City of Hyderabad. When I think of it, all the love the dish used to encompass also come to my mind and I start missing all the people involved...my parents...my Bade Bhaiyya...the house etc etc.

Anyway, I have been trying to recreate that taste for a very long time and this time I got pretty close. And it was very tasty and I hope I am creating the same kind of memories for my children...for which, one day they will become nostalgic.

Ginger Chicken (Chicken cooked in a ginger based curry)

Ginger Chicken

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb chicken cut into small pieces
2. 1 medium onion ground to paste
3. 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
4. 2 tablespoons each of fresh squeezed lemon juice, soya sauce, 
5. 3 -4 inches of ginger about an inch thick...ground to paste as little water a possible
6. 1/2 teaspoon or more salt to taste
7. 1 teaspoon chilli powder
8. 3 tablespoons oil
9. 1 teaspoon garam masala 

Wash the chicken well and pat dry it. Mix it with lemon juice and soya sauce and ginger garlic paste and set aside for atleast 1 hr. Then add 1/2 teaspoon salt and chilli powder and set it aside.

Heat the oil in a non stick pan. Ground the onion to fine paste and on low heat fry this ground paste for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally, making sure not to burn the paste. Add the ground ginger and fry for 10 more minutes. Raise  the fire to medium and add chicken and fry for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water and let it boil for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and if the gravy becomes too thick add some more water. Taste test for salt and adjust accordingly. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy with Romali roti

Sabudana khichadi

Sabudaana or tapioca balls are the ones you find in bigger sizes in the Boba milk or bubble tea. These are good for you. But cooking with them is a little tricky. But once you get the idea down, the items turn out to be pretty yummy.

Sabudana khichadi (Tapioca balls stir-fried )

Sabu daana khichidi

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup sabudaana
2. 1 tablespoon peanuts
3. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, mustard seeds
4. 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
5. 1 tablespoon oil
6. 3/4 teaspoon salt
7. 1 Serrano chili chopped fine
8. 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

Wash the sabu daana twice or thrice. Overnight soak the sabu dana in a cup of water.

In a pan heat the oil and fry the peanuts for 5 minutes . Add cumin and mustard seeds and a few curry leaves and fry till they start to splutter. Add the rest of the ingredients and fry for a couple of minutes. Add the sabudaana and lemon juice and salt and stir to combine. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy immediately

Szechuan Pepper Salmon

Szechuan numbing peppers look like black pepper corn but have a tart numbing taste to them. I love them but is not very popular with my familia until I made this dish.

My other half went to Szechuan province in China and got acclimated to the new tastes and he got me six different varieties of the numbing peppers. Ahhh to smell the fresh spices...its fantastic. So I finally got a chance to cook with them and yum yum yum.

Szechuan Pepper Salmon(Pan fried salmon with Szechuan Peppers)

Szechuan Pepper Salmon

Ingredients For Marinade:

1. 2 tablespoons each of soya sauce, corn starch
2. 1 tablespoon white vinegar or rice vinegar
3. 1 egg white lightly beaten
4. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Ingredients

1. 3-4 salmon fillets cut into 1.5 inch cubes.
2. 1/4 cup peanuts chopped roughly and roasted
3. 6 dried red chillies
4. 1 tablespoon each of crushed red Szechuan Pepper , numbing pepper pounded, chopped garlic
5. 2-3 green onion stalks chopped
6. handful cilantro chopped
7. 2 tablespoons oil divided

Marinade the fish with the ingredients under marinade.

Chop the peanuts and roast them and set aside.

In a non stick pan add 1 tablespoon oil and fry the fish on medium low heat for 2 minutes and turn and fry for 2 more minutes. Drain and set aside.

Add the remaining oil to the pan and add the dried red chillies and fry for a minute. Add the szechaun peppers and (turn on the vent...if you haven't done so yet) and fry for a minute. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the fish back to the pan and stir well. Garnish with green onions and cilantro and peanuts and enjoy with steamed rice

Mushroom Brussel sprouts scrambled egg

If cooked properly Brussel sprouts are super delicious and if they are not swimming in cheese sauce, are pretty healthy too. I have made scrambled eggs with different vegetables in them, but yet again this is an effort to put some veggies into my family's meals.

Mushroom Brussel sprouts scrambled egg

Mushroom Brussel sprouts scrambled egg

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup brussel sprouts washed and sliced thin
2. 1 -2 cups chopped mushrooms
3. 6 large eggs
4. 1 tablespoon each of oil, butter, plain yogurt
5. 3/4 teaspoon salt
6. 1/2 teaspoon each of fresh ground black pepper , garlic powder
7. handful cilantro chopped fine (optional)

Heat the oil and butter in a pan and add brussel sprouts. Fry on medium high for 5 mins. Add chopped mushrooms and fry for 5-7 minutes.

In a bowl add a tablespoon of water, salt, pepper and garlic powder and mix. Add yogurt and beat it. Add the eggs and beat them

Add the eggs mixture to the pan and keep stiring for 5 minutes or until eggs are set. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy with rice or roti or on toast

Mushroom methi anda

Cabbage scrambled egg

Scrambled egg #1

Okra Scrambled egg

Mushroom Scrambled egg

Maat ki phalli Jhinge Nariyal wale

This recipe is very similar to my other recipe Maat ki Phalli Nariyal Masala , but with addition of shrimp in it. So for a vegetarian version skip the shrimp and either way enjoy with hot steamy rice or roti

Maat ki phalli Jhinge Nariyal wale (Shrimp with Cluster beans and coconut)

Shrimp with cluster beans and coconut

Ingredients:

1. 1 package frozen pre-cut cluster beans (12 oz) thawed
2. 1 package frozen shrimp 12 oz- thawed or fresh, peeled and deveined
3. 1/4 cup desiccated coconut
4. 1/2 cup thinly sliced onion
5. 1 tablespoon each of coriander powder
6. 2 tablespoons oil
7. 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
8. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, turmeric, cumin, mustard seeds
9. 1-2 green chillies chopped

In a pan heat the oil and fry the cumin, mustard seeds for 2 minutes. Add onions and cluster beans and green chillies a and cover and cook for 10 minutes. Move the beans to one side and add a little bit more oil if needed and add ginger garlic paste and fry for 30 seconds. Add shrimp and the rest of the ingredients stir to combine and cover and cook for 10 more minutes. Add dried coconut and stir to combine and fry for 2 more minutes. Garnish with a handful of finely chopped coriander and enjoy

Japanese Curry Buns

These kind of buns are in so many cuisines with some minor variations. I have been making the Tuna Buns for a long time now. These  buns I made today are a variation of the tuna buns and are filled with curry. These are super delicious and soft. The original recipe is here

Baked Japanese Curry Buns (Yeast buns filled with potato meat curry)

Japanese Curry Buns

Ingredients for Curry:

1. 2 medium potatoes peeled and chopped
2. 2 medium carrots scrapped and chopped
3. 1-2 cups cauliflower
4. 1/2 cup fresh/frozen peas
5. handful of chopped spinach (optional)
6. 1 teaspoon each of salt, coriander powder
7. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin powder, turmeric powder, finely chopped garlic

Ingredients for Buns:

1. 1 packet yeast
2. 1/4 cup water (lukewarm)
3. 3 cups flour
4. 2 tablespoons sugar
5. 1 teaspoon salt
6. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
7. 1 cup water
8. 1 egg (lightly beaten)
9. 1 tablespoon milk
10. 1 cup panko bread crumbs ( I used Italian breadcrumbs)

In a pressure cooker , add all the ingredients for the curry and cook for 3 whistles. Let the steam escape, add the peas and simmer until it becomes thick, without any water. Let it cool

Mix the yeast and the warm water in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes. Mix in the flour, sugar, salt, butter and water and form a dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise to double its size, about 60-90 minutes.
Get the dough and knead for 2 minutes. Place the dough back into the bowl and let rise again.
Get the dough down and knead for 2 minutes.

Mix the egg and milk in a bowl.
Roll out one of the pieces of dough into a 6 inch circle and place a spoonful of the curry in the center. Fold the dough into a ball. Make about 12

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Dip the buns into the egg wash and then dip them into the bread crumbs to cover.
Cover the bread with plastic and let rise for 20 minutes.
Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy

Marathi Masala Chicken

This is one of the most delicious dry chicken recipes. And if you love coconut you will love this curry as it has a ton of coconut in it. Serve with with hot rice and dal and mmmm

Marathi Masala Chicken (Pan fried chicken with coconut)

Marathi Masala Chicken

Ingredients:

1. 2 chicken breasts cut into medium small cubes
2. 1 teaspoon each of salt, chilli powder (adjust to taste), coriander powder, cumin powder
3. 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
4. 2 tablespoons dried kasuri methi crushed
5. 1 heaped teaspoon ginger garlic paste
6. 1 medium onion sliced
7. few curry leaves
8. 2 tablespoons oil divided
9. 1/2 cup dried coconut flakes

Marinate the chicken with all the ingredients except onions and coconut and set aside for 30-60 minutes

In a pan heat 1 tablespoon oil and fry the onions till they start turning brown...about 10 minutes on medium high. Add coconut and fry for a minute and cut the heat. Cool and ground to paste with little water.

In the same pan heat the remaining oil and add the curry leaves and fry till they get crispy. Add the chicken and cover and cook for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add the ground onion and coconut paste and reduce the heat to low and fry for 15 more minutes. Stir occasionally. Make sure the curry doesn't burn. Garnish with green onions or cilantro and enjoy

two bean rice

This is the most yummy delicious one pot, super quick dinners one can make and it vegetarian.
The ingredients are minimal and everyone has them in their pantry...so go ahead, make it in the time it will take you to decide what you want to eat + order them + get them .

Two Bean Rice (Rice with green beans and kidney beans)

Ingredients:

1. 1.5 cups of white rice cooked with 1/2 teaspoon salt
2. 1 can kidney beans drained and washed
3. 1 can green beans drained ( I had frozen green beans instead...so used 1.5 cups thawed)
4. 1 tablespoons each of oil, lemon juice (optional), toasted sesame seeds (optional)
5. 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
6. Few curry leaves + 2 dried chillies + 1 teaspoon turmeric (Just for an Indian touch...if you have them)
7. 1 large or 2 small garlic chopped fine
8. 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste

In a pan heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. Cover and let splatter for 1 minute. Add curry leaves and dried chillies if using .Add the green beans and fry for 5-7 minutes until they are cooked through. Add garlic and fry for 30-40 seconds. Add salt and turmeric and mix well. Add the rice and the kidney beans and stir to combine on low flame. Add sesame seeds and lemon juice and mix well and enjoy

Spicy Thai Coconut Peanut Baked Wings

It was Super Bowl Sunday...Patriots Won and we all ate a lot of Chicken Wings...1.3 Billion of them according to American chicken council, out of which we ate 24 :) . These 24 were Thai flavored with coconut and peanuts and they were delicious...no sauce needed.

Spicy Thai Coconut Peanut Baked Wings (Baked Chicken wings with cocnut and peanut flavor)
Ingredients:

1. 24 chicken wing sections...fresh or frozen
2. 2 heaped tablespoons peanut butter
3. 1 cup thick coconut milk
4. 1 teaspoon each of salt, Thai chilli powder or paprika, coriander powder, garlic powder
5. 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

Mix all the ingredients except the chicken wings into a smooth paste. Add the chicken wings and marinate upwards of 1 hr.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Lay the chicken wings on a rack and bake for 50-60 minutes in the middle rack of the oven. Turn midway.

Make sure the juices run clear and the wings are cooked through

Enjoy

Dates mug cake

The original recipe is for Chocolate chip cookie in a mug. But the texture is more like a cake for me but the taste is delicious. And ofcourse I swapped the chocolate chips for dates and made it Iron rich for myself :)

Dates mug cake
Ingredients

1. 1 tsp oil
2. 3 tbsp milk
3. 1/4 tsp vanilla
4. 2 tablespoons brown sugar
5. 4 tbsp flour
6. pinch of salt
7. 1/4 tsp baking powder
8. 3 large or 4 medium dates chopped

Mix the oil, milk, and vanilla in a mug. Add brown sugar, salt, flour, baking powder and stir to combine. Add chopped dates. Microwave on high for 1 minute 10 seconds to 15 seconds. Let it cool a bit before enjoying super delicious dates mug cake

Lima bean chicken noodle soup

This extra ordinary chicken soup is made with Cauliflower noodles...not your every day store bough noodles.
I made the noodles from the dough I made for the cauliflower Gnocchi and instead of making gnocchi's out of the dough, I flattened it to 1/8 inch thick circles and cut into strips 1/8 inch wide and 1.5 inches long.

Lima bean chicken noodle soup

Chicken Cauliflower noodle soup 

Ingredients:

1. 2 chicken breasts boiled in salted water for 30 minutes. Drained and shredded
2. 1 medium small onion chopped fine
3. 1 chicken bouillon
4. 1 medium carrot chopped into half circles
5. 1 cup noodles made like here (Cauliflower Noodles)
6. 1/2 tablespoon each of olive oil, butter
7. 3 large garlic grated
8. 1/2 teaspoon salt or as needed
9. 1/4-1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
10. 1 can lima beans drained

In a heavy bottomed pan heat the oil and butter and fry the onions till tender. Add garlic and fry for 30 minutes. Add chicken and fry for 5 minutes. Add carrots and fry for 5 more minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the noodles and keep boiling for 10 minutes . Enjoy a piping hot bowl of chicken cauliflower noodle soup

Masala Oats Ravva Idli

There is the recipe for Ravva Idli . And there is the recipe for oats idli. But the idli I made today is with the instant oats and samolina. I got a big pack of 500 gms of the instant masala oats, so it was easy for me to measure 1 cup out of it. But if you have those individual packets, I am not sure how many you would need. But the idlis were soft and delicious.

Masala Oats Ravva Idli

Masala Oats Ravva idli

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup masala oats
2. 1/2 cup ravva or sooji fine samolina
3. 1 tablespoons+ extra oil for basting the idli moulds
4. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin and mustard seeds
5. 1 teaspoon baking soda or Eno Fruit salt
6. 1 teaspoon Chana dal soaked in water for 10 minutes
7. 1/2 cup plain yogurt
8. 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
9. 1 tablespoon each of finely chopped ginger, green chillies and cilantro, cashew
10. 2 tablespoons finely chopped onions
11. 1 tablespoon each of grated carrot, beetroot, cabbage

In a pan heat the oil and fry the cumin, mustard seeds, few curry and fry for a minute. Add cashew and fry for a minute. Add Chana Dal and all the veggies and fry for 5 more minutes. Add soji and fry/roast for 5-7 minutes.

In a bowl mix the yogurt with lemon juice. Add the masala oats and sooji to the yogurt and set aside for 15 minutes. Add baking soda or eno fruit salt and add more water to get the consistency of a thick pan cake batter.


Prepare the idli pans by applying oil with a finger. Add a tablespoon of batter. Stream in a cooker for 15-17 minutes. Let the steam escape and cool for a minute before taking the idlis off the pan. Enjoy with your favorite chutney or curry leaf powder

Ravva Idli

Gajar Lauki Halwa

There is Gajar halwa, there is Lauki Halwa. This halwa I made has both Carrots and Bottle gourd in it and it is awesome. The process is exactly the same but the combination of both carrots and bottle gourd gives it a different texture and a different taste.
So here you go

Gajar Lauki Halwa (Bottle gourd and carrot dessert) 

Gaajar Lauki Halwa

Ingredients:

1. 3 medium sized carrots peeled and grated with the finest grater you have
2. 1 medium small bottle gourd, peeled, cored and grated or chopped very fine
3. 1/2 cup sugar
4. 1/2 cup heavy cream
5. 1 teaspoon rose water or 2 cardamom
6. 1 tablespoon butter or clarified butter (ghee)
7. 1 teaspoon each of raisins, chopped almonds and cashew and charoli (Chiranji) fried in 2 teaspoons ghee

In a heavy bottomed pan heat the ghee and add the grated carrot and bottle gourd and stir well. Reduce heat to medium and cover and cook for 30-40 minutes.  Add sugar and cook till it melts.  Add heavy cream and cardamom or rose water and stir to combine. Simmer till the water in the cream evaporates. Add the fried nuts and raisins and serve warm or cold

cauliflower gnocchi

I was trying to find a recipe for Gnocchi form scratch and I found this recipe for Cauliflower Gnocchi. People are going crazy about using Cauliflower in everything these days...I am joining in. I made this Cauliflower Gnocchi and it is great. You will not tell that there is Cauliflower in it. But you know you are giving something better to your kids when you give this to them.

 cauliflower Gnocchi 

Ingredients:

1. 2-3 cups of cauliflower florets
2. 1 medium large russet potato
3. 2 cups + as needed all purpose flour
4. 1 egg lightly beaten
5. 1 teaspoon salt
6. 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Boil the potatos and cauliflower separately for 15-17 minutes until very soft. Peel the potatoes and mash the cauliflower (well drained) and potatoes together until smooth. Add the salt and pepper. Add the flour and mix until dough forms. Make a well in the middle and add the lightly beaten egg into it and mix well. If the cauliflower had lot of water in it you might have to add more flour until it comes together.

Divide the dough into 2-3 parts and roll each part into logs about 1/2 inch thick. Cut the logs into 1 inch pieces.

Boil water in a stock pot with salt. Add the Gnocchi to it and boil it until they start to float. Drain and serve with your favorite paste sauce.

I served it with Marinara sauce