It's a heavy down-pouring rain and can't step out. So to make my family feel warm and cozy, I thought of making some snack, which all of us can savor and enjoy the family time. Upon opening the fridge, I found mushrooms and immediately grabbed them to make manchuria. It's quick and easy to prepare. Mushroom is a best diet for heart patients and diabetics. It's believed that the word "Mushroom" to be derived from the old English "Muscheron" having relation to moss. For thousands of years they have been used as a food delicacy. It's shape, size and color is greatly diversified in the form of a cap with stalk or umbrella like structure.
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Fresh Button Mushrooms 200 gms.(wash & cut into bite size) ! Salt to taste ! Egg White 1 ! Garam Masala Powder 1 tbsp. ! Maida 2 tbsps. ! Monosodium Glutamate/Ajinomoto 1/4 tsp. ! Corn Flour 1 tbsp. ! Soya Sauce 2 tsps. ! Oil 1 tbsp. + for deep frying ! Tomato Ketchup/Sauce 1 tbsp. ! Onions 2 medium ( chopped finely ) ! Vinegar 4 tsps. ! Green Chillies 4 ( chopped finely) ! Ginger / Garlic Paste 4 tsps.
Method !!!!!!!!!!!
In a bowl, add maida, cornflour, salt, egg white, little amount of water and make the batter so as to dip the mushrooms. Dip mushrooms in the batter and coat them properly.
Heat oil in a deep pan, and when oil is hot add batter coated mushrooms and fry them till golden brown and keep aside.
In a frying pan, pour 1 tbsp. oil and when it's hot add chopped onions and sautee till translucent. Add ginger/garlic paste and fry for few secs. and then add chopped green chillies.
Now add crispy fried mushrooms followed by vinegar, soya sauce, garam masala powder, monosodium glutamate with frequent stirring. Add tomato ketchup and gently stir for another 5 mins. and sprinkle coriander leaves.
Serve hot Mushroom Manchuria as an appetizing evening snack.
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sri Rama Navami is a festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama. It falls on the ninth day of the month Chaitra. Celebration on this day includes "Kalyanotsavam" of Lord Sri Rama and Sita and offering naivedhyam to Lord Rama which is "Panakam". On the banks of river Godavari, Bhadrachalarama temple is where Lord Rama is worshipped. Sri Rama Navami is celebrated with thousands of devotees in bhadrachalam. SitaRama Kalyanam is very much famous and depicts the legend in a miraculous shrine,"Bhadrachalarama Temple".
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Jaggery 1 1/2 tbsps. ( Crushed to powder ) ! Black Pepper Powder 1 tsp. ( Freshly coarsed to powder ) ! Green Cardamom Powder pinch ( Freshly coarsed to powder ) ! Water 3/4 cup
Method !!!!!!!!!!!
Take water in a bowl, add jaggery, pepper powder, cardamom powder and mix well.
Mix till the jaggery dissolves completely in water.
Panakam is ready to be placed near Lord Rama and offer prayers and then serve everyone.
Note:To avoid any cardamom or pepper particles you can as well filter anddrink Panakam.
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When cooked tender, eggplant develops rich flavor. There are many variations in cooking this vegetable. Eggplant is considered king of vegetables. Eggplants must be thoroughly washed and cooked to avoid allergies if any. Combining potatoes with eggplants makes mouth-watering and tasty. I personally love brinjals a.k.a. eggplants a.k.a. aubergine cooked in any delicious way and with combination of potatoes makes so yummy dish. This was a request from "M" to make vankaya curry. So combined the colors of both yellow and purple with flavors of potatoes and brinjals.
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Eggplants 4 long (sliced and soaked in salted water) ! Potatoes 4 medium (diced into cubes) ! Tomato 1 (chopped) ! Onion 1 medium (chopped) ! Green Chillies 4 (slitted lengthwise) ! Dry Red Chilli 1 (broken) ! Ginger small piece ( grated to 2 tsps.) ! Curry Leaves few ! Salt to taste ! Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp. ! Asofoetida 1/2 tsp. ! Red Chilli Powder 3 tsps. ! Cashewnuts 4 tbsps. ! Chana Dal 3 tbsps. ! Urad Dal 2 tbsps. ! Mustard Seeds 1 tsp. ! Cumin Seeds 2 tsps. ! Oil 1 tbsp.
Method !!!!!!!!!!!
Heat oil in a pan and add cashewnuts, chana dal, urad dal and let turn golden.Once the dals turn nice golden add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, broken dry red chilli and curry leaves.When the mustard seeds splatter, add green chillies, grated ginger and asofoetida and sautee well.
Add chopped onions and once they turn transparent, add in tomatoes. Once the tomatoes become tender, add salt, turmeric powder.
Now add diced potatoes and cook on low - medium flame covered till 3/4 done. At this point add eggplant pieces and toss it. Cover and cook again for 15 - 20 mins. on low - medium flame till eggplant gets tender. Stir in between to avoid burning and to combine all the ingredients well.
Once they are tender, add red chilli powder and cook for 8 mins. covered. Switch off and serve.
Serve hot Vankaya Bangaladumpa Koora / Eggplant with Potato Curry with choice of rice, chapati or phulka.
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th. It's observed by Irish people. Green Shamrocks were worn in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. In modern-day Ireland, this day has traditionally been a religious occassion. People celebrate the day with observance of attending mass and attending parades and wearing green.
As soon as my daughter came home from school, she wanted me to make some snack with green color as it's St. Patrick's Day. I started thinking of what to make for her, then the cupcakes striked me and what all I had on hand in my kitchen...grabbed those ingredients and started doing it. I had a great help from my daughter in preparing cupcakes....we had green icing , so thought of decorating it with green shamrocks on top of the cupcake. She was excited and also my little one was just staring .... thinking when mommy is going to give her.
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For CupCake !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! Egg 1 ! Butter 5 tbsps. ! Salt 1/4 tsp. ! Lemon Juice 1/2 tsp. ! Baking Soda 1 tsp. ! Flour 1 cup ! Granulated Sugar 3/4 cup ! Fat Free Milk 1/2 cup ! Cocoa Powder 1/3 cup ! Light Brown Sugar 1/4 cup
For Frosting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! Butter 1 stick ! Vanilla Extract 1 tsp. ! Powdered Sugar 1 cup ! Icing for decoration Green Color
Method !!!!!!!!!!!
In a large bowl, take light brown sugar, butter, granulated sugar and beat well with an electric mixer.Add egg, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and beat well. Add lemon juice and milk and mix. Let all the wet and dry ingredients combine well.
Now preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease the cupcake holders. Divide the batter evenly in the cupcake molds. Bake until the toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. After 20 mins. remove cupcakes from pan and let cool completely.
Now for frosting, add butter in a bowl, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and beat until all the ingredients are light and fluffy.
Once the cupcakes are cooled completely, frost the cupcakes and top it off with the decorating green color icing as "Shamrocks".
Cocoa Puff CupCakes are ready to be served for kids.
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ugadi Subhakankshalu **** Wish You All A Very Happy Ugadi
The most significant Andhra festival is "Ugadi". Yuga means "year" and Adi means "start", so Ugadi means beginning of a new year. Ugadi marks the first day of the new year. Ugadi or Chaitra Suddha Padyami marks the onset of spring where the prosperity and well-being of life and vibrant colorful blossoms signify unmatched excitement. Jasmine clusters which spread unmatched sweet fragrance are adorned by women in the braids. Also the sweet scented flowers are offered to Gods and the fresh mango leaves are decorated across the entrance of our home to enhance the prosperity. Raw green mangoes spread their lovely aroma all around this season and the fully blossomed neem trees swing it's leaves to make the air healthy. From a fresh crop of sugarcane which jaggery is made adds a new sweet combination.
The celebration of Ugadi, is marked by a special preparation in every Andhra home called "Ugadi Pacchadi". Ugadi pacchadi (chutney sauce) is the essence of life which means that our life is balanced with all the six tastes. A brief explanation is as follows : Tamarind is for sourness in life, Raw mango is for tanginess in life, Neem Flowers is for bitterness in life, Jaggery is for sweetness in life, Salt is for Saltiness in life, Chilli is for anger or heat in life. These are the main six ingredients that combine oneself, which is why it's called "Shadruchula Sammelanam". Shad means six, ruchulu means tastes and sammelanam means combined.... all the six tastes combined together is "Ugadi Pacchadi". If you noticed, Shadruchula Sammelanam is my site's description ( all the tastes combined ). Traditionally, the "Panchanga Sravanam" is held at temples to chant mantra's and predictions are made for the new year.
This festival is celebrated with warmth in Andhra Pradesh as "Ugadi", in Karnataka as "Yugadi" and Maharashtra as "Gudipadwa". We don't get neem flowers here, so my parents dried the neem flowers and sent us from India. Neem flowers are dried so as they last for long time.
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Tamarind Extract 1 cup ! Raw Mango chopped 3/4 cup ! Neem flowers 1/2 cup ! Jaggery 1/3 cup ! Salt pinch ! Red Chilli Powder pinch ! Chopped grapes and bananas 1/4 cup (optional)
Method !!!!!!!!!!!
In a bowl take tamarind extract. To it add chopped raw mango pieces, neem flowers, jaggery, pinch of salt, pinch of red chilli powder and mix well.
Optional chopped grapes and bananas can be added to the pacchadi.
Combine all the flavors in a silver bowl.
Ugadi Pacchadi is ready to be placed near God and offer prayers. Then serve everyone Ugadi Pacchadi at home.
Note:Ugadi Pacchadi should be eaten first before taking anything else for breakfast.Once offered prayers and placed near God, serve prasadam to everyone at home.
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Home sprouted mung chat tastes really good if combined with tongue-tingling spice masala. It's a pleasure if taken as a plain sprouted mung beans. To make it a road-side snack, just toss in a pinch of masala's,chillies, lemon juice and you have a perfect evening snack. Sprouted mung beans are as healthy as they can be.
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Green Gram Dal ( mung beans) 1 cup ! Onion 1 ! Green Chillies 2 ! Carrot 1 ! Tomato 1 ! Red Chilli Powder 1 tsp. ! Salt to taste ! Cumin Powder 1 1/2 tsps. ! Black Pepper Powder 1 tsp. ! Lime 1 ! Mint Leaves 4 tbsps. ! Coriander Leaves 2 tbsps.
Method !!!!!!!!!!!
Wash, clean and soak the mung beans overnight. The next day drain out the water and cover with the lid with little air letting in. For every 6 to 8 hours rinse the mung beans to make them moist. After 2 days mung beans sprout and are ready for the mung chat.
Rinse and keep the sprouts in a bowl, adding little water and let it steam for 4 mins. in microwave and keep it aside.
Now chop finely green chillies, onion, tomato, mint leaves and coriander leaves. Squeeze lime juice and grate the carrot.
Arrange all the prepared ingredients and serve accordingly.
For kids, serve sprouted mung chat topped with grated carrots and tomatoes and their choice of spices.
For grown ups, serve sprouted mung chat topped with chopped onions, green chillies and the rest of the ingredients.
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Delicious cookies are easy to make and a great treat to anyone. Outer shell is crispy and inside it's soft and chewy. These chocolate chip cookies are made with a combination of white and brown sugars and butter, which is why they are so rich and chewy. Topping of semi-sweet choco chips are distinguished ingredient used in this recipe. It's one of all-time favorite to kids. What better way to treat kids other than chocolate ! ? They are ready to go on snack which are baked to perfection.
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! Egg 1 ! Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips 3/4 cup ! Butter (softened) 1 cup ! Vanilla Extract 1 tsp. ! Sugar 1/4 cup ! Light Brown Sugar 3/4 cup ! All-purpose Flour 2 cups ! Baking Powder 1/4 tsp.
Method !!!!!!!!!!!
Beat butter, sugar and light brown sugar in a mixing bowl until smooth. Once beaten add vanilla extract, beaten egg, baking soda and beat well. Now stir in the flour and blend until all the ingredients are incorporated well.
In the end stir in semi-sweet chocolate chips and mix well. Keep the dough aside.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
On an ungreased baking sheet, drop the dollops of the mixture 2 inches apart and bake for 10 mins.
Once the edges of the cookies turn golden, remove the cookies on to the wire rack and let cool completely. ( Do not touch the cookies as soon as they are done or removed from oven. Give them a standing time to cool completely on the rack.)
Once cooled completely serve the delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies to kids along with yummy chocolate milk. Lovely combo !!!!
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fruity smoothie with bananas and honey dew melon, is a healthful and all fruit milkshake. It makes a great breakfast and afternoon smoothie. Make sure honey dew melon and banana's are ripe. For honey dew, it should be heavy for it's size and should be firm. Here I used sweetener, you can as well use regular sugar if you prefer. It's a gorgeous and indulgent smoothie, but totally healthy too!
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Banana ( sliced into rounds ) 2 ! Honey Dew ( cut into cubes ) 1 1/2 cups ! Sweetener 4 packets ! Reduced Fat Milk 1/2 cup
Method !!!!!!!!!!!
In a blender, add sliced banana's, cubed honey dew melon, sweetener, reduced fat milk and combine all the ingredients in the jar of the blender.
Blend on medium speed untill smooth and once blended pour in the serving glasses.
Serve chilled Banana Dew Shake. It's a delicious, fruity smoothie.
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Garlic Bread is a perfect blend of butter, garlic and cheese. It's a real appetizing treat. It's typically topped with extra virgin olive oil and is baked in an oven. In this recipe I didn't use olive oil and didn't bake in an oven. Instead of olive oil, I used butter and toasted on the skillet. Homemade garlic bread is more flavorful and is a real treat. Usually it's made with Italian bread or French bread. For a healthier treat I used wheat bread.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tomato soup is a more complex dish which is served either hot or cold.It can be made from chunks of tomatoes or with the puree.Primarily tomato soup consists of broth or cream.Here I've used chicken stock as a variation.It's quick and easy as it's done in microwave.
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Diced Tomatoes 14 oz. ! Chopped Coriander Leaves 1 tbsp. ! Onion 1 medium ! Salt to taste ! Pepper Powder to taste ! Sugar pinch ! Chicken Stock 2 cups ! Cornflour 1 tbsp. ! Cooked Rice 3 tbsps. ! Butter 1 tbsp. ! Milk 1/2 cup
Method !!!!!!!!!!
Mix cornflour in cold water and heat the chicken stock till it's hot. Keep them aside.
Place butter and onion in a large microwave safe bowl. Cover and cook for 4 mins. in microwave.
Once onions turn transparent add cornflour, salt, pepper powder, pinch of sugar, chopped coriander leaves and place back in microwave and cook for a min.
Now add diced tomatoes and place back in microwave. Cover and cook for 4 mins.
Stir halfway through cooking and add milk and cook for another 4 mins. Once done add hot chicken stock and mix well.
Allow it cool slightly. Once cooled blend till pureed consistency. Sieve the puree to extract thin liquid.
Once liquid is attained, stir in the cooked rice and reheat the soup uncovered for 4 mins.
Tomato Soup is ready to be served with chopped coriander leaves.
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! French Toast is a breakfast food. Typically it is made with bread and eggs. This versatile dish is often topped with butter, sugar, syrup or fruits. This can be taken as a dessert too. Usually it's suggested that the bread should be thick sliced such as challah, english muffin bread, cinnamon swirl bread or raisin bread. In this recipe I've used wheat bread.
Ingredients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! Bread Slices 8 ! Eggs 3 ! Unsalted Butter to brush ! Reduced Fat Milk 1 cup ! Sugar to sprinkle
Method !!!!!!!!!!!
Break the eggs into a bowl and beat them lightly with a whisk. Add milk and whisk until smooth. Keep aside.
Pour the egg mixture into a flat bowl and place the bread slices into the beaten batter. Turn and coat well both sides of the bread slice and let stand in a plate till the liquid is absorbed.
Now preheat the grill and brush with small amount of butter and when the grill is hot place the bread slices on the grids.
Toast on only one side and once it's toasted take out in a serving plate. Cut into triangles and serve hot.
Serve hot French Toast with unsalted butter and sprinkle sugar on top.
To watch the video please click on the following clip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
