Spinach Omelette w/ Indian Fusion

When I am on SBD this is my keeper recipe for breakfast..especially on phase one where no carbs are allowed. So spinach is a replacement for the starchy bread and to make you feel full. I make it so often that even kids started liking it and poor me have to share it with them..good and bad for me. This can be served just by itself or accompanied by oat meal or fresh veggies and coffee on the side.
My perfect combo is this with either a legume salad or freshly sliced sweet peppers and a sugar free decaf.

Ingredients :
2 large Eggs or use Egg Substitute ( I use 2 whites & 1 yellow)
2 cups washed chopped spinach
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1 or 2 Red chillies broken into pieces
4-6 Curry leaves
Salt and Black pepper/red chilly powder to taste

Method :
Add oil to a heated tawa/pan.
Once the oil is hot allow cumin seeds to splutter, then add curry leaves, red chillies and fry without burning.
To this add chopped spinach and cook for a min or two, add enough salt and pepper.
Now spread the cooked spinach on the tawa and break the eggs on it and distribute the eggs evenly to cover the spinach.
Add more salt and pepper or red chilly powder.
Once the bottom hardens turn it to the other side.
Cook for a minute and remove from heat.
Serve hot with mixed bean salad or chat to make a healthy breakfast or brunch.

Paper Dosa and Coconut Peanut Chutney

I have been MIA for the past month. Its not that I couldn't take time at all..but its the kind of void that you go thru sometimes..no mood to blog at all..It was first for a week, then two and so quickly its more than a month already..Even now I am just forcing myself so that my Blog Archive will show this month.

Summer is in full swing with temperatures hitting 28c-32c, feels like 40, something we are not used to here....kids are enjoying their summer holidays and having fun time.. so do we parents..Food is first thing first that pops up in holidays..With picky eaters we always have to be on the look out to entice them with something they look forward to eat.

Dosa with coconut chutney is one of kids fav..This coconut chutney is a variation by adding peanuts instead of roasted gram. Kids don't know the difference though. And the dosa is also made crispy to fold like a paper

Coconut Chutney - Type II

Coconut with Peanuts and Red chillies:
Ingredients :
To Grind:1 cup grated fresh/frozen coconut
1/2 cup Roasted Peanuts
1 tsp cumin seeds (optional)
4 Red chillies (increase or decrease accordingly)
A small piece of Ginger (about 1/4 inch)
1 Big marble size tamarind ball
Salt to taste
Enough water to grind these into a smooth paste

For Tempering/Tamlinpu:
1 tsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp urad dhal
2-3 red chillies cracked
8-10 curry leaves
1 pinch of Asafoetida/Hing/Inguva/Perumgayam

Method:
In a chutney grinder, put all the ingredients in the grinding list and grind them thoroughly to a smooth paste/chutney.
Transfer to a serving container.
Heat up the small tempering vessel add oil, after the oil is hot, allow mustard to splutter and add the rest of ingredients one by one ending with Asafoetida, fry for a few seconds and spread on the prepared chutney.

Paper Dosa
Follow the instructions here to make dosas, just increase the rice flour by 1/2 cup more and fry them for longer time to make them paper crisp...

Enjoy with coconut chutney and sambar.

Berry Banana Smoothie

Smoothies have become so regular when it comes for wholesome break fast ideas. One of the best ways to get in the daily required servings of fruits or vegetables. With berries you not only get the benefits of anti-oxidants but also fibre and other essential nutrients and adding banana gives that full feeling. Yogurt and milk satisfy the calcium needs and if thats not enough add a spoon full of protien mix to make it a booster drink to kick start our metabolism.

Since all the ingredients are easily available in our fridge, be it fresh fruit or forzen, yogurt, milk, all we have to do is to throw them in a blendor and and blend till a smooth. My two little boys, luv this smoothie, so I end up making it by demand sometimes.

Ingredients :
1 banana sliced, fresh or frozen
1 cup Mixed Berries, fresh or frozen
1 tsp Roohaza syrup or any rose syrup
1 tsbp honey
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp plain or flavored yogurt
Add 1 tsp sugar if using plain yogurt. (optional)

Directions:
If using fresh fruits then use ice cubes instead of water.
Mix all ingredients in a blendor and run till smooth.
Serve immediately chill.

Sending this smoothie to Sanghi who is hosting FIL-Fruits event.

Uthappam

Uthappam has loads of childhood memories. Every Friday evening/night tiffin was this Onion Uthappam back home. I would passionately wait for that Friday night when my mom used to make the tastiest uthappam for us. Though I was never able to come near the uthappam that my mom made because I use oil very sparingly, still that taste and smell linger in my mouth after years. In my early college days when I use to attend my maths tuition early in the morning, a hungry me would come home and while rest of household would eat idly as breakfast, I would make myself this tasty uthappam(spoilt Uh !!!!) and enjoy before i get into my routine study schedule. Then during my Bachelor's Degree, I use to end my Friday fasting with my grand mother's uthappam in the night with either raw onion chutney or coconut roasted gram chutney.
Uthappam though a Tamil word but equally recognized in Telugu and in almost all South Indian restaurants this is a tiffin item in the menu. Mostly consumed for breakfast or dinner. Usually in every South Indian home the left over idly batter is use to make Uthappam for the next meal. Again whether using rice or rice rava to make idli, Uthappam can be made with either of the idli batters. Also either the chopped onions, green chillies and other spices can either be spread on the flattened batter or can be mixed earlier in the batter itself, depending on one's preference.

Whats needed :
2- 3 cups Idli Batter
2 medium size chopped Onions
5 -6 Green Chillies minced
1 Tbsp cumin seeds (jeeragam/jeera)
Enough Oil & salt

Procedure:
Add around half cup of water to the idli batter to make it dilute and stir well
Heat the dosa tawa/non stick pan and grease it with a enough oil
Spread a big laddleful of uthappam batter in a circular shape with 1/3 inch thick on the heated tawa/pan
Add some cut onions, green chillies, cumin seeds from the centre towards the edges.

Cover and cook on medium heat.
Remove lid to check if the base is golden brown, flip onto the other side and cook till onions are done and the uthappam is cooked.
Serve hot with Raw Onion, ginger or Coconut chutney.

Idli with Coconut Chutney - A Humble Combo, A bond indeed

The relationship of a south Indian with Idli and coconut chutney so intense that we can write pages about it. This is one break fast that we South Indians grew up on back home.
I call it a humble combo because every household can afford to make it at home or even to take out from the near by breakfast restaurant or get from small street side stalls. I grew up in a joint family along with grand mothers, uncles and aunts. Idli is one easy breezy breakfast to feed large families. At my house back home it was a staple breakfast 2 to 3 times a week. Though I was not so fond of it those days and never use to eat more than 1 or 2, I very much long for Idly and coconut chutney in this part of the world. Obviously we know the value of things when we can't get them so readily. With very few South Indian restaurants in Toronto you got no option then to enjoy home made idlis and chutney. And I do prefer it than store bought..Though the preparation takes a few long steps, and involves using lot of equipments like wet grinder, Idli moulds and pressure cooker, scooper etc..it’s all worth to go through the process and enjoy it at least in the weekend. All the more when the whole family including my 3 year old loves it.

Idli is prepared mainly in two different ways. Though there are many other variations and varieties of Idlies. In Tamil Nadu they use whole rice and Urad dhal(White Lentils with Black husk on them usually called black gram) and in Andhra(at least in my home, I don't know in other parts) we use Rice Rava(Cream of Rice) and Urad dhal and also the proportion of rice or rice rava and urad dhal differs.

For a Tamil Nadu style idly I use 1 cup urad dhal to 3 to 4 cups rice( par boiled or combo of par boiled and raw rice or the Tamil nadu special idly rice), soak them separately and grind them separately. Usually the urad dhal is grinded to very fine batter and the rice is grinded to hold rava constituency, then both are mixed together with salt and allowed to ferment overnight, where by morning the batter almost rises to double or triple, so that you get that soft fluffy idlis.

With Andhra Style, I use 1 cup urad dhal to 2 to 3 cups rice rava(usually call Idli rava), soak them separately and then urad dhal is grinded to very fine batter and the rice rava is squeezed from all water and added to the ground urad dhal then both are mixed together with salt and allowed to ferment overnight. Unlike the batter made with whole ground rice, this one doesn't rice so much , but is good enough to make delicious idlies.. I find this method is easy too..as we need to grind the urad dhal only and add it to the already made rice rava.

Though home made idlis and chutney are tasty and hygenic..I still long for that street side idli and coconut chutney..I still remember those days even in a good restaurant a plate idli use to be only 1 rupee 25 ps with unlimited chutney. Just the smell of this combo was a simple pleasure. Mini idlies soaked in hot sambar topped with ghee is a frequent site for breakfast or lunch in Chennai restaurants.

Now if I don't get to some serious recipe time, I will never go out of my ranting.
For cream of the Rice (Rice rava)Idlis:

Ingredients :
1 cup urad dhal
2 to 3 cups Rice rava(Idli rava),
Salt to taste
Water enough to grind and mix
2 Tbsp Yeast (if desired) I usually don't use

Method:
1.Wash thoroughly and soak urad dhal for althea 3 hours.
2.Simultaneously soak rice rava separately.
3. Wet Grind urad dhal to very smooth batter, keep aside.
4. Now squeeze rice rava from all water with palms and added to the ground urad dhal. 5. Then add salt and enough water and mix thoroughly till all the rice rava and ground urad dhal combine well and mix into each other.
6. Allow this mixture to ferment overnight.
Tips : In cold places fermentation is a challenge. So I usually follow these steps. Always use thick steel vessel to ferment the batter. Heat up the oven for a few seconds, turn off and then place the steel vessel on the oven rac. Let it stay in the oven overnight isolated by the colder temperatures outside. You can repeat that process a few times for better results, if the temperature outside is too cold. Remember to place the steel vessel with batter on a wider plate when placing in the oven..at times the batter ferments and rises so much that it overflows on the oven rac..
7. After the overnight fermentation when the you are ready to make idlis, mix the raised batter, adjust salt if necessary keep aside.
8. Fill 2-3 cups water in the Idli Steamer depending upon the size of the cooker and heat up till the water starts to boil.
9. Meanwhile grease the idli moulds with oil or ghee and add a ladle full of idli batter into each single mould, taking care that the batter does not overflow the mould.
10. Now insert the idli mould plates into the idli steamer and steam on high first and then medium heat, for 15 - 20 minutes depending on the size and the number of idlis.
11. Once the time elapses, check to see if the idlis are done and then remove from heat.
12. Sprinkle cold water on the hot idly mould plates and use a special idly scooping spoon to separate the idlis from each mould.
13. Serve hot and fresh with choice of chutneys, podi/powders or gravies.

Coconut Chutney :

Though Idli can be eaten with various accompaniments like, chutneys, podis, curried gravies like fish, chicken, lamb; one best combo for Idli always rules..that is Idli with Coconut chutney.
Like variations in Idlis making, Coconut chutney is also prepared in a number of varieties..and different combination of ingredients.

1. Coconut with roasted gram with green chillies, yogurt based
2. Just with Plain Coconut
3 Coconut with roasted gram with red chillies
4. Coconut with peanuts & green or red chillies
5. Coconut with Coriander/mint leaves and green chillies

Here let's see the making of first variety mentioned above.
Coconut with roasted gram with green chillies, yogurt based:
Ingredients :

To Grind:1 cup grated fresh/frozen coconut
1 cup roasted gram/vepina chenaga pappu/varutha kadala parippu
1/2 cup sour yogurt
1 tsp cumin seeds (optional)
4 green chillies (increase or decrease accordingly)
1 marble size tamarind ball
Salt to taste
Enough water to grind these into a smooth paste

For Tempering/Tamlinpu:
1 tsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp urad dhal
2-3 red chillies cracked
8-10 curry leaves
1 pinch of Asafoetida/Hing/Inguva/Perumgayam

Method:
In a chutney grinder, put all the ingredients in the grinding list and grind them thoroughly to a smooth paste/chutney.
Transfer to a serving container.
Heat up the small tempering vessel add oil, after the oil is hot, allow mustard to splutter and add the rest of ingredients one by one ending with Asafoetida, fry for a few seconds and spread on the prepared chutney.

Serve with hot idlis, dosas etc..

Now that we made both Idli and Coconut chutney lets enjoy this combo.

Going green w/ Pesarattu and Peanut Coriander Chutney

For some good reasons I was missing in action in food blogging and this post is due from the first week of July, when the Wimbledon finals took place. I composed this post then, but some how couldn't work with the pictures till now. Anyway better late then never.

Wimbledon has a special place in my childhood memory. Back those days I use to watch Steffi Graf win the grand slams, munching summer pineapple slices or enjoying a juicy mango. Ever since my Father introduced me to tennis I have been watching Wimbledon from my school days till college. Though I left it for the past few years, now catching it up with my husband...at least I have to watch the finals, that too when the William sisters were playing.
Thought of making it special for us as it was breakfast time and any special breakfast got to be South Indian, and that day I decide to make Andhra special "Pesarattu".

Pesarattu is Andhra's traditional authentic breakfast dish. It is a thin crape made with green gram lentils batter spread on a greased pan, garnished with finely chopped onions, cumin seeds, chopped ginger and green chillies. A good combo for pesarattu is upma apart from a array of chutneys - peanut, ginger, coconut etc.
This time I wanted to try the peanut coriander chutney which I saw on Sailu's Kitchen blog. Usually whenever I try a new dish its doesn't come out that great, but this time the peanut coriander chutney was a hit.
My husband liked it too. and we all enjoyed the famous pesarattu this this chutney as we cheered the Williams sisters in the final match of Wimbledon 2009.

Pesarattu Recipe:
Ingredients:
2 cups Dark green whole Gram (Pesara pappu/Paasi Pairru/Moong Dhal)
2 hand fulls of raw rice
2 inch ginger piece finely chopped
5-10 green chillies finely chopped
2 tbsp cumin seeds
2 large onions finely chopped
Salt to taste
Enough oil for frying the Dosas
Directions:
Soak green gram + rice in enough water for at least 3 hours.
Drain the water and grind the dhall along with little ginger, green chilly into a smooth paste, adding enough water. The batter should resemble some what like ithick dosa batter.
Add salt and keep aside for 10 to 30 mins.
Heat a iron tawa or nonstick pan, grease it with oil.
Now add a ladle full of ground green gram batter in the middle of the tawa, and spread it in circular motion away form the centre and towards the edges of the tawa...similar to dosa making. Add a few onions, ginger, green chillies and sprinkle cumin seeds on the top side of the dosa/crape
Pour enough oil on the top and edges of the dosa.
Cover with a deep bottom lid on medium flame for 2-3 minutes or till the bottom of the dosa changes color and becomes crisp.
Flip on to other side and cook for another 2 mins till the dosa and onions are cooked.
Fold and remove from heat.
Repeat the procedure for the rest of the batter.
Serve hot with chutney of choice.
Actually the garnish on the top of the dosa is enough to eat this pesarattu as it is.


Peanut and Coriander Chutney:

One of the simplest chutneys out there...with very few ingredients and less steps, a flavourful chutney is made with ease...usually I'm not so fondly of trying new twists and combo when it comes to cooking..but this chutney didn't disappointment me. Well you can't go wrong with any dish which has coriander in it - India's keeper herb.

Some other time I wish to blog the authentic coriander chutney that my grandmother use to make in my childhood.
Recipe :
Ingredients :
1/2 cup roasted peeled peanuts
1 small bunch coriander leaves,
4-5 green chillies
A big marble size Tamarind ball
Salt to taste
Oil to saute coriander and green chillies.
Directions:
Soak tamarind in just enough water to make it soft for grinding.
Remove the thick edges of coriander stems and wash it thoroughly.
Chop the coriander and keep aside.
Remove stems and slit green chillies into half
Heat a small pot add 1 tsp of oil.
Add the chopped coriander leaves and slit green chillies and saute till nice aroma comes from the roasted leaves.
Remove from heat and pour the soaking tamarind on top of it to bring the heat down quickly.
After this comes to room temperature, combine it with peanuts salt and a enough water and grind into a smooth chutney.
If you want you can add a few cumin seeds while grinding if desired. I skipped it.
Transfer to a serving container to enjoy with dosas, idly, pesarattu, vada etc.
I actually wanted to temper the chutney like how i do for regular peanut or coconut chutney. But it didn't need it..
As it is, it was delicious great tasting, made a good condiment for pesarattu.

Spicy Ham Egg Omelet with Indian fusion

Indian food is all about spice and flavour. Be it vegetarian or non-veg, there's got to be lot of flavour and this omelet is no exception. Cheese and ham omelet is quiet familiar in this part in the western world and a spicy omelet with lots of onions and green chillies is quiet common in South India..So this Spicy Egg Ham Omelet is the fusion of both.

This is so simple to make. Be it for a breakfast/brunch/snack or dinner, for a meaty full feeling you have the ham and for the goodness of veggies, herbs and spice we have the onions, green chillies, curry leaves, coriander leaves and the seasoning of salt and ground black pepper.I actually don't like the smoky smell of the ham...so the best way to cover this is to add the flavour from onions, green chillies, curry leaves and coriander..the aroma of the end product is exceptionally good.

Ingredients :
2 Eggs ( 1 whole + 1 white) - U can use 2 whole too. or use Egg substitute
1 Thick slice cut from a Smoked Processed Ham (I usually use black forest seasoned ham..but any variety will do) - either cut into small cubes or thin 1 inch length slices
1/2 inch wide cheddar cheese cut into cubes ( I usually don't use..I prefer mine w/o cheese)
1/2 onion cut breath-wise almost like semi circles
2 - 3 green chillies slit and cut into pieces
6-8 curry leaves
1/ tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp oil
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
salt to taste

Directions:
Beat the eggs till lathery, add the cut ham, onions, green chillies, curry leaves, coriander leaves, salt, pepper and cheese if you are using.
Mix together.
Apply oil or spray on a heated non-stick pan.
Spread the Egg ham mixture evenly on the surface of the pan and cover with a lid.
Cook on medium till one side is slightly brown.
Flip to the other side and cook till the onions are cooked and then remove from heat.
Enjoy it with a piece of whole wheat toast for breakfast or if you are having it for dinner with a cup of tempered chickpeas/kidney beans/white beans for a whole meal.

Usually I don't go near processed foods...but sometimes if I buy Ham on sale this the best way I enjoy it. Another best combo for ham is cranberry sauce...I can never eat ham just like it in a bland way...Little spice & flavour is always good. And my friends out there who eat ham..try out this indianized version of Ham omelet..and trust me,you will not be disappointed.

Bulgur or Cracked Wheat Porridge

If there is one term that tops the healthy diet list with good carbs and good fats that is none other than "Bulgur" Bulgur wheat or cracked wheat is so rich in fibre and has lesser carbs than in white or brown rice...You read any health article this is one grain that you can readily see in the healthy carbs list...

Bulgar, cracked wheat, cous cous, qiunoa are a few terms in the world of diet and health which are talking there place instead of rice.

Bulgur is differentiated with cracked wheat, which is crushed wheat grain that has not been parboiled. Although traditionally de-branned, whole-grain, high-fiber bulgur and cracked wheat can be found in natural food stores. Bulgur is a common ingredient in Turkish, Middle Eastern, Indian and Mediterranean dishes. It has light, nutty flavor.

Its high nutritional value makes it a good substitute for rice or couscous.

Bulgur has low glycemic index of 46 than compared with rice at 83

Bulgur can be used in pilafs, soups, bakery goods, or as stuffing. It is also a main ingredient in some salads. In Indian cuisine, bulgur or daliya is also used as a cereal with milk and sugar, which is what I'm posting here.

I had this cereal once in a restaurant in Delhi, North India...Usually I'm bad at trying new foods..But this porridge didn't disappoint me.

I have yet to discover the other versions of this wheat where it can act as a substitute to rice. I remember my aunt used to make upma with this...But the cracked wheat which I got from Indian groceries is a larger grain and more firm and hard. So I don't know the ratio of water to be added to it for upma or to cook rice.

For now I'm happy consuming this as a porridge to benefit from its goodness.

Ingredients :
This is one filling porridge, packed with fibre and protein and has a nuty chewy texture which is perfect for me...

1/2 to 3/4 cup Bulgur or Cracked Wheat
1 + 2 cups low-fat or 1% milk
1 cup or more water
4 Tbsp Brown sugar or 4 sachets of Sugar free or Splenda
A Pinch of salt
A few saffron strands
Raisins (Completely optional, omit if your on a diet, I just used them here for presentation)
Thinly crated nuts like cashew, almonds or pista (I didn't use nuts either)
Few drops of Almond and/or Rose Essence ( This is optional again, I used it to flavour my porridge, instead of having a bland one or to balance the wheaty flavour)
1 pinch of Cinnamon or All spice or Nut meg powder if you want to spice it up more. ( I preferred without these spices)

Procedure:
Read the instructions on the Wheat package to boil or pressure cook wheat with 2 cups of milk and 1 cup water along with salt
If using cracked wheat variety it will take longer time to cook.
Soak the saffron strands in the rest of the 1 cup milk
When almost cooked add brown sugar, rose or almond essence, spices (if using) and cook till wheat is soft.
Once fully cooked add the remaining 1 cup saffron milk and remove from heat.
Serve hot in bowl garnished with crated nuts, raisins(if using) and a saffron strand.
The above measures make around 3 to 4 cups of porridge.

Rava Upma

I'm sure this is one staple breakfast or tiffin all my friends from back home(especially from south India) would have had atleast once a week..

Rava upma is so widely popular in south India...Every home, restaurant or special gatherings like weddings, picnic have this in their breakfast menu...Upma has its high and low experiences...On the low side if it is not well done this could be one tasting so awful. Honestly this is one breakfast I would never wished to see in any special occasions...and on the high side if one is able to get it right this is one awesome tasty breakfast along with some chutney like coconut, ginger or mint and sambar(optional). Upma is also accompanied by one Andhra special pan crapes called "pesarrattu" and that is a famous combo breakfasts. Hope to blog about pesarattu sometime.

I too have mixed experiences with upma...I seldom used to like the upma my mom made..the slippery version...on the contrary use to love my grandma and aunt's versions with addition of small potato cubes and roasted ground nuts or cashew nuts , which used to have a smooth texture but not slippery.

Upma can be made in a number of ways....Addition of ghee enhances the flavour and the taste of upma...but in today's world we are not so fortunate to add it so generously for health reasons.

To some extent my upma has not been so bad in my ten years experience.

This weekend especially it really turned out so good that I'm forced to post it in my space here...BTW my hubby and two boys always enjoyed my upma..

Let see the recipe now...

Ingredients:
To Roast
2 cups fine Rava/Suji/Semolina
2 Tbsp ghee 0r oil

For Tempering
2 Tbsp ghee 0r oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp Channa dhall
12 -15 curry leaves
1 small piece ginger cut into small cubes with skin on
1 medium onion sliced
4 green chillies slit length wise
4 cups of water...increase 1/2 a cup depending upon the quality of rava
Salt to taste

Optional:
1 medium potato cut into small cubes
1 medium tomato cut into small cubes
a handful of cashew or peanuts
1 more Tbsp ghee or oil
Finely chopped coriander leaves.

Procedure:
Heat up a deep tawa, add 2 tbsp ghee or oil and roast rava/semolina till the color changes slightly with nice aroma. Take care not to burn the rava. Empty the rava into a container and keep it separate.
Now add another 2 tbsp ghee or oil to the heated vessel and allow mustard to splutter , add the channa dhall and roast and then add the nuts and roast and finally add all the other seasoning/tempering/optional ingredients and fry them till onion, tomato and potato are cooked.
Now add 4 cups of water, salt to taste and bring this to boil.
Now simmer, and slowly fold in the roasted rava into this and keep stirring thoroughly seeing that no lumps of rava are formed.
Cover and allow to cook for 3 - 5 mins
Remove lid and add the remaining 1 tbsp of ghee or oil and mix it thoroughly.
Add finely chopped coriander if desired...
Remove from heat and let stand for 10 mints or till the heat is manageable to eat.

Enjoy with your favorite home made chutney and sambar... Check my mint chutney coming next.

Indian Egg Scramble W/ Breakfast Sausages and Toast

Continuing the series of Breakfast combos with a little twist.

This is again a weekend breakfast combo.

In an attempt to spice up and add flavour to the western breakfast styles this Egg scramble made in Indian style is tailored.

Most of the time I have the breakfast sausages readily in my freezer. So just bring them to the room temperature in the microwave and pan roast and remove excess oil through a tissue.

Toast some slices whole wheat bread and cut an orange and boil some hot water in a kettle for a hot cup of tea or coffee and we are ready to roll.

To prepare Scrambled egg in Indian style:
(for 3-4 servings)
1 tsp oil
4 Eggs
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
2 Medium sizes Onions cut length and breath wise
4 green chillies
6-8 Curry leaves
1/4 tsp black pepper powder
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves finely chopped for garnish

Method:
In a Wok or Skillet add oil after hot.
Once the oil is hot allow mustard to splutter and then add onions, green chillies, curry leaves and saute' till onions just start to change color.
Now add salt and then break the eggs onto the hot pan and scramble them mixing with the other ingredients.
Keep stirring continuously till all the egg is cooked talking care not the burn it.
Add Black pepper powder
Garnish with finely chopped coriander and remove from heat.
Serve with the roasted sausages, toast and fruit.
This also goes well with chapatis.

Breakfast Special - Peameal Bacon with Yam fries Combo

I think I would have already mentioned in my blog that I'm not a restaurant freak. But I would like to imitate those foods served at the restaurants. For those of who go for a traditional weekend breakfast in a Restaurant " Toast+Eggs+Bacon+Home fries+Orange" is not new. Often times I too make the same breakfast combo at home either with "sunny side up" or scrambled eggs.

But there are times when I want a little twist from the regular menu combo. This is definitely healthier than the regular version. The fatty Bacon is replaced by Peameal Bacon which has very less fat, the bland Egg scramble replaced by Indian style spicy egg scramble with onions,green chillies and herbs(Recipe will be published in my upcoming posts) and at last replacing the carby potato home fries with Yam fries rich in fibre which I'm going to blog today. And don't forget to replace the oranges with Grape fruit, which is really good for people on diet.

This post is more of the concept than writing recipe.

Ingredients & Method of preparation:
For Yam Fries:
1 - Big size Yam(approx 1 lb)
2 Tbsp - Vegetable Oil/Olive oil/Pam for frying
1/2 tsp - Red chilly Powder or Kashmiri chilly powder.
Salt to taste

Optional:(if u want to spice it up more to a desi taste)
1/4 tsp Garam masala
1/4 tsp Chat Masala
1/8 tsp Amchur powder
1 tsp Kasturi methi

Garnish:
Finely chopped coriander leaves

Method:
Peel skin and cut Yam into small cubes.
Heat up a wide heavy bottom frying pan, allow oil to become hot on medium high heat and then add the yam pieces and salt and fry till done, regularly stirring to see that they don't stick to the bottom of the pan.
When almost done add chilly powder and other optional masalas if desired.
Stir nicely to coat the yam pieces with all the seasonings.
Sprinkle with finely chopped coriander and remove from heat.

For Eggs:
I just made an sunny side up and broke the yoke so that the yellow can flow on the white (That's the way i like)and seasoned it with salt and black pepper or red chilly powder.

For Toast:
Apply butter or margarine or desi ghee on both sides of the whole wheat bread slices and pan toast them.

For Peameal Bacon:
I've never heard of this back home. But here in Canada from the time I've tasted this I really like it a lot. Most of the Grocery stores carry this. Look for the package with Yellow edges of cornmeal around the meat slices in the frozen cured/processed food section.

To know more about this Peameal bacon please click here here here and here

The method to cook this is very simple. Defrost a few slices and pan roast them till done. More receipes can be found here too

Now serve all the items in a plate and garnish with a thick slice of Grape Fruit.

This is more of a brunch than breakfast cause its so full and complete with a hot cup of French Vanilla coffee or a cup of Orange Tea. So we can skip lunch and straight head to early dinner. A typical saturday life style for me.

Spicy lentil Doughnuts in Seasoned Yogurt

AKA - Dahi Vada(Hindi)/Perugu Garelu(Telugu)/Thair Vadai(Tamil)

With the food blog event 'Frozen Yogurt' going on for this month which is hosted by Siri's Corner and with all the goodness of the Yogurt for us to enjoy, I can't but post this recipe.

This is popular for Breakfast/Tiffin or Snack in Tamil Nadu and Andhra. In my house whenever I'm able to make it, it becomes a meal. My two kiddos enjoy it. It's made in no time too.


You can make the vada from scratch or use the store bought ones. To make vada at home, soak required amount of Urad dhall(White Lentils) in water for about 1 to 2 hours, grind it into a smooth paste adding very less water..the batter should be very thick not loose. Add chopped onions, chillies, finely chopped ginger, a few curry leaves, black pepper balls and salt to taste to the ground lentil paste mix well and deep fry them in doughnut shapes. You can ignore adding all other ingredients except salt if you desire a lighter version. Usually in dahi vada is plain version.

Method for Thair Vadai or Perugu Garelu
This is say for about 6-8 vadas :
Just whip a cup of Yogurt, then add 1 cup water, to make the mixture like thick butter milk.
Add salt to taste.
Microwave vadai for 1 minute to make them soft.
Add to the above Yogurt mixture and soak well. Keep aside.
For seasoning, add a tea spoon of oil, after the oil is hot, add 1/4 spoon of mustard, 1/2 tea spoon urad dhall, 2 red chillies broken into pieces, 6-8 curry leaves, a pinch of Hing,
After browning add to Yogurt & vada mixture.
Garnish with Coriander leaves.
Wow!!!!!!!! It tastes good.

The recipe for Dahi vada has a deviation. As I mentioned the plain version of the vada are soaked in little sweetened Yogurt and the above seasonings are not used.
Instead the sweet tamarind sauce is spread on the Yogurt and Vada mixture and garnished with chat masala, cumin powder and a pinch of red chilly powder and coriander leaves.

I planned to write up on the good qualities of Yogurt but you can find that in this post at Siri's Corner.

A Simple South Indian Omelette

Egg Omellete which is the theme of Married to Desi, and created by Nandita of Saffron trail, ended up with the simple version of South Indian Omelette.

This weekend I had plans of making the omelette that my Grand Mother always use to do it so specially. Those days when the egg beaters where not so popular in India, my GM use to beat the egg white on a plate holding in a slanting position, with a fork for atleast 15 minutes, to make the lather come and we children use to enjoy seeing the transformation of the sticky colorless translucent liquid being transformed into a big heap of white lather. Although I use to try to imitate her I never could get so much lather. Then she added the yolk and the onions, chillies, coriander leaves and give it a nice mix adding chilly powder and salt and then spread it on the heated oil on the tawa. Once the bottom side of the Egg is cooked she just used to wrap the egg from both sides, turn it upside down to make a bed of it, then cut it into three peices and remove from heat. This way only the outside of the omelette is hard and the inside remains soft. So thats my grandma's version.

But I really didn't have time to get it done. This weekend I was so tired I didn't mind giving up food to escape from cooking. So the Emergency Cook, yes my stand by, you guessed it right my D.husband, made this omelette for us so that we can have it with some salad. So I felt may be this is the Omelette that I can send for my entry.

Yes, eggs always come to our rescue when we are in a hurry to cook, or don't want to invest much time in cooking. This is the beauty of egg especially in the form of Omelette that it is so versatile. And my, how many ways an Omelette can be made!!! With so many of my fellow bloggers coming up with such fascinating versions of bean Omelette, Noodles Omelette, Potatoe Omelette, I don't think my simple one will even stand before these entries.

And this even does'nt need any recipe writing.

Just crack an egg and beat it lightly, throw in some cut onions, green chillies and cilantro. A pinch of salt. The mixture is ready to go on a heated tawa coated with oil. Leave it for 1 or 2 mins and turn for another 1 min and you are ready to go.

I call this the station omelette. In South Indian, if you get a chance to travel in a train(not the local trains), you can find these vendors selling the bread Omelette right there on the train platforms. They are always in a mad rush with people flooding them to get there parcel of bread omelette. So this fast and simple version helps them. And this tastes good too. I say this is the only hygene food that you can pick up on the station platforms, cause it is made right in front of you and sandwiched into the toasted bread. That was a small tour of the Indian train platforms. Good old memories!!!

So this Simple South Indian Omelette is my entry for Kanchan's WBB.

Tips with making good omelettes: Eggs when cooked in an omelette form take very very less time to cook. But if we want the onions added to them also to cook we have to leave them on the tawa for more time, which will make them hard, and even sometimes charred which will take away all the nutritional value also. The best way to overcome is to pan fry the onions and chillies along with the chilly powder and salt. By adding the chilly powder to the onions also avoids the lumps that can be formed when you add it directly to the beaten egg. After the onions and chillies are almost cooked then add them to the beaten egg and make the omelette. This way once you know that the egg is cooked you can remove it from the tawa at once. Also this Omelette tastes even better.

Enjoy the Omelette round up.

Peach Mango Kesar Shake - My Trio

With all these Food blog events on the roll, I'm forced to break my schedule of publishing only one post per week.

Saffron is the Spice of this month for the Think Spice Event created by Sunitha
Though I tasted so many desserts spiced with saffron, I never used it in my cooking even once in my life. With this blog event I got a chance to do that. And boy this spice is so rich in flavour that the sweet fragance of it when used really gives a feel of soothing.

I have a sweet tooth and luv wet sweets in which this spice is always accompanied. So using this spice gave me the feeing of eating my fav sweets, which other wise I eat very rarely because they are filled with sugar and calories.

Also, coming to the Blog event AFAM hosted by Mansi, for which this month fruit is Peach,though I voted for it, I had no clue what delicacy to make with Peaches cause I never adventured with them except eating them as fresh fruits.

So this weekend while I was doing my groceries picked up both fresh and canned peaches. I searched for the small box of Saffron(Kesar) which I had purchased long long time ago. Luckily I was able to locate it. Then I remembered I had this can of Kesar Mango Pulp in my Pantry too. Suddenly this phrase struck my head, "Peach Mango Kesar Shake" . I thought not a bad idea. Lets try. And amazingly it turn out so good. And before I could realize I hit a hatrick, because I could send this drink as an entry for What's Your Favourite(WYF) - diet food created by SnackOrama,
cause this drink can be substituted for a breakfast or a healthy dessert.

Although I did google with the key words of this drink, I ended up with my own recipe. Well, this is the power of Food Blogging - It upgrades us from a Cook to a "Chef ".

Before I could round up this I have to share the tradegy of shooting these pictures. Here I was all happy with my new recipe and clicked a number of clicks before my hubby and kids could finish it up, that with a single button click on my camera I did the mistake of deleting all the pictures. I was so in depair and wouldn't accept any comforting words from my husband. Luckily I saved the last glass of it for a daylight shoot. So I managed to redo it all again.

Here is the detailed round up:

Saffron Spice:
Read what google says about this Spice: Saffron is much more than just a herb for cooking this will explain about saffron and it's natural healing ability.

Saffron originated in Arabia, but the plant was brought to Spain in the eighth century.

Today, Spain in the major exporter of the spice. Saffron is costly, it can be bought for as much as $ 50.00 per ounce.

Saffron is well worth the price, it has been contributed with promoting lower rates of heart disease.

Saffron is used to alleviate fatigue and exhaustion, because it works to strengthen the heart and nervous system.

It also aids in digestion by increasing the appetite. Saffron is also high in thiamin and riboflavin, to minerals that are known to promote a healthy heart.

Saffron can be made into milk, which offers preventive care for people with slight cardiac problems. To prepare take one-cup milk and bring to a boil, add a pinch of saffron.
Reduce heat and simmer the mixture for two minutes. It can be sweeten with honey or sugar. Then drink once per day.

Saffron is also used to improve the mood and clear the brain, where you can think well. This mixture if taking properly will help in clearing your thoughts. You will need

A pinch of saffron threads and 3 ounces 100- proof alcohol. Place both ingredients in a covered jar. Let stand for two weeks.

Then store the jar in a cool, dry place. Drink 1/4 cup to help clear mind or as a mood booster.

When buying saffron chose strands over powder, the strands contain a better flavor. When storing saffron keep in airtight container in a cool dry place.
Check more detials of this Spice Saffron.

Peaches

Peaches - sensual, soft, rich in nutrients and so lush with juice that it runs over our fingers and drips down our chins, cooling us with their sweet.
Native to China, the peach is the fruit of a tree discovered in Persia by Westerners during the conquest of Alexander the Great. Believing it to be native to that region, due to its abundance, they named it ‘perscia.’ The Chinese have cultivated the peach since earliest antiquity. This sensual fruit so fascinated them that it spawned legends…from being the key to immortality to being a powerful aphrodisiac.

A close relative of the plum, apricot, cherry and almond, peaches come from trees that can grow to 16 to 26 feet in height. With deciduous leaves, peach trees blossom with magnificent pink flowers that bloom in the spring even before the leaves mature…just a tease for the yummy fruit the tree will bear when summer warms.


The sensual flesh of the peach can be a light golden, a creamy white or a pale greenish white, the latter being rare in the United States, but having the sweetest flavor. No matter the color, the flesh of the peach is juicy, fragrant, sweet, firm and the most seductive of all fruit.

Not only yummy, peaches are a powerhouse of nutrients much needed during the heat of summer…potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, vitamin C, A and niacin…all nutrients that we lose with perspiration. Peaches contain a compound that is said to be a mild diuretic…so no puffy eyes and swollen fingers during hot, humid days.
Peaches are delicate little gems…so handle them carefully as they will spoil rapidly if bruised. Do not pack them too closely as they’ll cause each other to rot quickly. Unripe peaches are best left at room temperature to ripen, but once ripe, keep them in the refrigerator and use them quickly….they’ll only keep for a couple of days. A tip…let peaches come to room temperature before eating, as the flavor is more intensely sweet than when ice cold.



Eaten out of hand, in fruit salads, cobblers, pies, compotes peaches also lend themselves beautifully to canning, drying and freezing. But my favorite summer recipe combines savory flavors with the sweet sensuality of peaches, intensifying their yumminess.
(Text : Courtesy Christina Cooks)

Click here for Nutritional facts on Peaches

So here is the combo of these two ingredients:



Ingredients:
Peaches fresh or Canned - 3 to 4 (If using canned add the juice also, say 1/2-1 cup)
Mango Pulp - 1- 2 cups ( Increase or Decrease depending upon what flavour you want more, peach or mango)
Saffron or Kesar - 1/2 tsp soaked in 2 Tbsps warm evapourated milk

Yogurt Peach flavour or Natural Plain- 1/2 cup (add more for thick base)
Honey -1 Tbsp
Milk - 1/2 cup (1% for healhty diet)
Sugar - 2 Tbsp (Can be omitted if desired a healthy diet or increased for more sweetness)

To garnish
A Slice and 1 cup cubes of Fresh Peaches.

The above measures make atleast 4 servings.

My Version:
This is too complicated, follow the steps carelfully.
In a blendor add all ingredients and beat them well.

Garnish with fresh fruit.


This really turned out to be a delicious drink. I was extremely happy by the results. My husband was all ready to gulp it before I can click these pictures. I like the fact that this can be used as an breakfast booster drink and also a Healthy Dinner dessert if it made thick or just a snack.


Verdict:
Sugar deleted this is one health drink, with each serving containing
Vitamins and Fibre from 2 servings of Fruits(Add fresh fruit for more benefits)
So this goes to A Fruit A Month - Peaches
Calcuim and Protien from the Yogurt and Milk.

The goodness of Saffron Spice - So this also goes to Think Spice - Saffron,


And this can be my favorite diet drink,desert or snack, with all the benefits mentioned above. Hence it also goes to What's Your Favorite (WYF)- Diet Food.


Click here for the health nutrition chart