Merry christmas 2017

1. "A little smile, a word of cheer, a bit of love from someone near, a little gift from one held dear, 
2. best wishes for the coming year".

Cranberry coconut bars

• This holiday season as the weather is getting colder and the shimmering  lights in the night are getting brighter.
• There's no better way than indulge in the blissful season other then baking and get in the joyful holiday spirit , so as I dust off the flour all over me and as my home starts to smells like fresh baked cookies :) here's  a new delight called Cranberry coconut bars, the recipe used  was from the blog Belle of the kitchen .
• This is  recipe I used from the link If you wish to follow the recipe 
•  https://belleofthekitchen.com/2015/12/11/cranberry-bliss-bars-starbucks-copycat
• I did tweak it a little bit by not adding the topping or frosting but adding some sweetened coconut flakes towards the end instead .
• 
  
• Recipe:
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
• 1½ cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp orange extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• ¾ cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes 
• 
  
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 15x10 or 13x9 inch jelly roll pan or rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat together melted butter and brown sugar over medium speed with an electric mixer. Add in eggs, 1 tsp orange extract, and 1 tsp vanilla extract and beat until mixed well. Add in ground ginger, baking powder, salt, and flour, beating until just blended. 
• Stir in white chocolate chips and cranberries by hand. Spread evenly into the bottom of prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes until set and golden brown at the edges. 
• Add the coconut flakes towards the last few mins of baking gently spread the flakes on the top of the baked bar and bake for few more mins. Don't over bake or bars will be hard. 
• Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool. 
• Allow bars to cool completely before cutting into squares and Njoy !
• Wish you all a Merry Christmas ! 
• 
  

Roti by rotimatic with Beef curry

We all remember the viral video of rotimatic , or at least the Indian diaspora reading this 😀
I was also one among the very many out there who was  totally blown away by this amazing innovation. needless to say I had to have it.
But the wait was long 😞 depressingly long.... so after about 2 years this august I got my very own ROTIMATIC     >>>  YAYYYY!
Yes ! It is simply enigmatic and true to every hype out there , I have been using it for the last few months not only have we been eating healthy , but life is so much easier with work and kids this truly is a blessing ! 
So now to the recipe 🍴🍷Beef curry :
Beef  -1 pound
Red onion - 1 cup chopped length wise
Garlic -1 tablespoon chopped fine
Ginger- 1 tablespoon chopped fine
Fenugreek dried leaves- 1 tablespoon ( very flavorful )
Tomato- 1-2 chopped
Potatoes- 1 cube sized cut
Curry leaves- 7-8
Turmeric- 1 teaspoon
Chilli pwd -1 teaspoon (add spice as needed)
Paprika - 2 teaspoon
Black pepper ground- 1 teaspoon
Garam masala- 1 teaspoon
EVOO-2 tablespoon
Salt to taste

Clean and cut the meat in bite size pieces add 1/2 cup water cook in the cooker till at least 2 whistles let it cool down
Meanwhile heat up a thick bottom pan, add 2 teaspoon EVOO add the chopped red onions and curry leaves cook till translucent. Then add the chopped potatoes
Add the chopped ginger- garlic till raw smell is gone.
Add the paprika,  dried fenugreek leaves , garam masala , black pepper, cook for few mins , then add the cooked beef.
Let the beef cook cover the pan and let it cook on low flame, be sure to be mixing it once in a while so that it does not get burnt .Add the chopped tomatoes let it cook down.
After about 15 mins the beef starts to sweat out the oil . Add salt as per taste, and serve with hot rice or Rotis 

Happy thanksgiving 2017 !

"When you express gratitude and appreciation, you change your mindset. When you feel grateful for everything you have, no matter how small it is, and you allow yourself to FEEL this gratitude, you will receive more of what you are asking for". 

Lisa Townsend

Onam 2017

Celebrating the harvest festival !

Last week was all about Onam which is the harvest festival in kerala it is glorified as the  celebration of harvest season in the southern state of India.
Onam is best described visually as a display of beautiful flower arrangements in front of the house and  with a delectable array of vegetarian food preparations served on banana leaf along with rice  .
I absolutely love Onam so in my lil' way I try to make the most of it .
With all the globalization in today's time it was easy to pull of this traditional festival .
Thanks to Amazon prime and the Local Indian store :)

Now to the recipe

What U need :

1. Beans / Payar - 1 bunch chopped fine 
   Turmeric powder- 1 tsp
   Chopped garlic - 4-5
   Coconut grated - 1/2 cup
   Green chillies- 1-2 chopped
   Curry Leaves- 1 spring
   Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
   Olive Oil & salt - as needed
   
   Chop the beans or payar really fine use a blender if needed .
   
   
   

   Chop onion and the green chilies mix some of the green chillies with the beans add the turmeric powder and set aside.

   
   
   

   Heat oil in a non stick pan. Add the mustard seeds let the mustard seeds splutter, add the chopped onion, garlic, curry leaves and one slit green chilies. Sauté  the onion for few minutes till light brown

   Add the coconut and then add  the chopped beans and mix well cook for about 10-15 minutes. Stir intermediately  
   
   

   

   
   
   Serve with rice and all the other onam recipes  Njoy !

Penne pasta with basil chicken balls

This is one of the simplest and quickest dinner idea to put together, especially on the busy and bustling days this can be a life saver. Usually I have a rustic bread to go along with the pasta .

What you need :

Pasta  - 1cup (penne)
Sun dried tomatoes - 1 Tbsp
Chicken balls or meatballs - 7-8 (I used Costco chicken balls)
Parsley - a hand full chopped
Parmesan cheese - 2 tbsp
Garlic - 3 chopped finely
Olive oil - 2tbsp
Salt as needed


Boil  the pasta with salted water, usually penne a little longer as compared to the thinner pastas like angel hair or fettuccine
Heat the pan add the oil , sauté the chopped garlic add the meatballs cook for few mins
Add the cooked pasta with a little water this helps to create these sauce .
Toss together then add the tomatoes, parsley and cheese
Check the salt add more is needed.
Serve with buttered rustic bread and some good wine
Njoy !

Groundnut Chutney

What u need 

• Coconut - 1/2 cup
• Shallots  - 1-2 chopped
• Ginger  - 1 inch
• Curry leaves  - 4-5
• Oil -  1 tbsp
• Salt as needed
• Roasted groundnuts - 1 tablespoon
• Mustard seeds  - 1/2tsp
• Dried red Achilles - 4-5

Roast coconut , roasted ground nuts , red chillies , ginger and shallots in a bit of oil for few minutes  .

Then grind the above ingredients into a paste , add oil in a pan when hot add the mustard seeds as they start to break add the finely chopped shallots and curry leaves,

Add the grand coconut mixture to the oil.

Keep in stirring for few mins then add salt.

Serve it with some crispy masala dosas . Njoy !

Spicy Salmon fish fry

This is a very simple and healthy recipe that U can make  any time , it so happened while I was on my morning walk with my walking buddy and she mentioned that our grocery FM had some really good salmon on sale !
So I headed to the store and got some on my list :)

What U need
Salmon fillet - 2 Lbs
Salt -as needed
Paprika- 1 tsp
Pepper white and black- 1tsp
Turmeric pwd- 1 tsp
Chilli pwd- 2 tsp
Garlic pwd- 2 tsp
Lemon slices
Red onions for garnish
Olive oil for shallow frying

Marinate the fish with the above ingredients at least for 2 hours  or overnight too ,Heat  a non stick pan for  a few minutes add oil and gently slide in the fish.
Fry each side for few minutes till crispy then serve with some sliced lemon wedges and red onions NJoy !

Egg fried rice

What U need ~

•  2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 teaspoons of garlic chili sauce
• 1 teaspoon cut beans  
•  Olive oil for frying (my preference)
• 4 cups cooked jasmine rice, chilled
• 6 large cloves garlic clove, crushed
• 2 green chillies 
• 2 eggs 
• 1 onion, thinly slices
• 1/2 cup cilantro springs optional 
• 1/2 lemon cut quarter size optional

Prepare the ingredients by finely chopping the garlic and green chili. Heat a wok until very hot and then add 1-2 Tablespoons of oil . Add the finely chopped garlic and chilis and stir fry until the garlic is golden brown. Add the onion slices and  cut beans stir fry for 30 seconds to a minute until they are translucent, but still slightly firm. Add the rice and mix together with all of the other ingredients. Once the sauces have been mixed thoroughly with the rice,  make  a center hole in the pan add the eggs that have been beaten scramble it along with the rice add the cilantro leaves and turn off the heat.
Add the lemon on the side serve eat yourself and Njoy !

Happy Easter with yummy Beef Puffs

Easter has always been a special time of celebration coming together and spending time with family and friends . This easter instead of making the beef cutlets I decided to go with a twist beef puffs very similar just a different cover -up :)

What You need :

Puff pastry rolls - 1 box

Beef -2 pounds boiled and highly salted and minced or shredded

Boiled potatoes-1 crumbled 

Shallots chopped-1/2 cup

Ginger finely chopped-1/2 inch

Green chillies chopped as per taste

Cilantro chopped -1 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Oil- 1 tablespoon 

Garam masala - 1 teaspoon

Heat  a pan and add the oil when hot add the onions , ginger sauce for few minutes

Add the shredded meat, boiled potatoes, green chillies, cilantro.

Mix well saute for few minutes more, add salt and garam nasal towards the end.

Next step is to cut up the pastry I usually cut one roll into 6 pieces, so one box will be enough to make 12 puffs. Then stuff these rolls with the meat mixture pinch on the edges like in the picture and lightly pat the top .

Once all these puffs are stuffed arranged them on a tray with a 1 inch space between each of them 

Bake at 400 " for 15 mins you can always brush the top with egg whites for an extra shiny glaze too.

After 15 mins the Beef puffs are ready to be devoured , serve with a tangy chutney or ketchup and NJoy !!

 " Wish you all a very happy and joyous Easter "

Cajun Rice

• What you need :
• 
  
• 1 cup uncooked rice
• 2 cups water or chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 lb sausage cut up
• Cajun or Creole Seasoning
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cups diced onions and bell peppers
• 
  
• Combine rice, water (or broth) and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer . Remove from heat and set aside when done. Keep covered.
• 
  
• Cut the sausage into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes. For extra flavor you can use chorizo too . When the oil is very hot, add the sausage  in a single layer. Brown on one side, about 2-3 minutes, then flip and brown on the other side. Remove the sausage to a plate and set aside
• 
  
• Add the remaining olive oil to the pan, increase heat to high, and when the oil is hot, carefully add the onions and bell peppers. Add more seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and browned.
• 
  
• Add the onions and bell peppers, then add the sausage back in, along with any juices that may have collected on the plate. Add the cooked rice and stir until well combined. 
• NJoy !