A Request and AFAM - Apple round up

Hi all,
As you can see, my posts are less frequent now days.The good news behind this is that we are expecting our second baby this winter.So right now, suffering from all the wonders(?) of being pregnant...yeap..food aversion,nausea, etcetc..you name it ..i have it.I am not able to enter kitchen at all.All the cooking is done by H and got help from dear friends also.I couldn't participate in this month AFAM 'coz of the same reason.One day i love biryani, another day couldn't stand the smell of garam masala..weird isn't it?.Anyway coming back to the main request.I am heading for two monthes vacation to india.So i would like your help to host AFAM event during this time.Please let me know if you could do it for the monthes of MAY,JUNE and JULY.

Here we go ..the delicious entries for AFAM-Apple

Apple gojju by Ramya of Mane Adige

Apple pakoras by Swapna of Swad of India

Spicy Apple pancakes by Sukanya of Hot and Sweet bowl

Apple Cashew nut cake by Soumya of Foodlovers

Apple Chutney by Viji of Vcuisine

Apple Muffins by Viji of Vcuisine

Apple Carrot chutney by Asha of Aromahope

Applesauce oatmeal raisin cake by Bee of Jugalbandi

Sweet and Sour apple by Deepa of Recipes n' more

Chatpat fruit chat by Sridevi of Sreelu's Tasty Travels

Apple yogurt muffins by Swapna of Susarla's Kitchen

Apple Crumble n' spicy toast by Reena of Spice of Kerala

Apple ginger crescent rolls by Sharmi of Neivedyam

Apple salsa by Sigma of Live To Eat

Caramalised apples with vanilla by Coffee of The Spice cafe

Thanks once again to all of you for these delicious entries...

Mutton Biryani II

This yet another delicious n' mouthwatering mutton biryani recipe which i got from my sweet cousin sis.Was really worth all the work and wait..:)).Do enjoy this dish on a weekend , so that you could have as much as you like and take proper rest...D.
This is my entry for LakshmiK of Veggiecuisine's RCI - Tamilnadu Cuisine

Ingredients

Basmati - 2-3 cups
Mutton - 2lbs
Ginger garlic paste- 2 tbsp
Onion - 1
Small onion - 12-13
Green chillies -8
Tomatoes - 1
Coconut milk - 2 cup (made with 2 cups of water + 2tbsp of Maggie's Coconut milk powder)
Curd / plain yogurt - 2tsp
Lime juice - 1/2tsp
Oil - as needed
Ghee - as needed

Dry fry and powder the following

Cinnamon - 1 inch
Cloves -4
Cardamom - 2
Pepper corns -1/2tsp
Jeera - 1/2tsp
Fenel seeds - 1tsp
Kaskas/Poppy seeds - 1tsMethod
Put 1tsp of oil,1 tsp ghee in a hot pressure cooker.Once the oil+ghee mix hot enough, add biryani leaf,star spice(optional), chopped onions, chopped small onion and green chillies.Fry till onions are slightly browned.Then add gg paste, powdered masala and tomatoes.Fry till tomatoes are almost cooked.Now add the mutton and 1/2 of the coconut milk and curd.Cook it till mutton is 3/4 done (About 4-5 whistles).Now add the remaining coconut milk and washed rice,chilli powder,salt and lime juice.Cook it one medium flame for about 8 min.s or cook it for upto 1 whistle and switch off the heat.Open the pressure cooker only after all pressure is gone.Enjoy this delicious biryani with raita and boiled egg.

Only 2 cups of liquid , in this case coconut milk is required for upto 3 cups of rice, as mutton releases its own juice.Feel free to adjust the amout of liquid as per your measurement.

Carrot rice

Carrot rice, this family fav. variety rice is easy to make.And you can grind and store the powdered masala in large quantity.I use the same masala for mango rice as well.

Ingredients

Carrot - 1 cup (grated)
Rice - 1 cup ( boiled)
Oil - 2tsp
Mustard seeds - 1tsp
Urad dal-1/2tsp
Jeera - 1tsp
Green chilly - 1 (chopped)
Turmeric powder - 1/2tsp
Salt - as needed

Fry and grind

Red chillies - 5
Coriander seeds - 2tsp
Peanuts - 2tbsp


Method

Cook 1 cup of rice separately.In a pan heat oil and fry mustard seeds, urad dal,jeera and finally add green chilly.Now add the grated carrot, turmeric powder and salt.Saute well till carrot is cooked well.Finally add the powdered masala and fry for another 3 min.s.You can adjust the amount of powdered masala according to your spice level.Add this carrot mixture into the cooked rice and mix well using a fork and careful not to mash up the rice.Garnish with coriander leaves.Serve it hot with any pickle or chutney.

AFAM- April

First of all , Thanks to all of you for making AFAM , an event worth waiting for every month.

Apple, is the theme for this month's AFAM.Waiting for, all your unique n' extra delicious entries.

Tomato pacchadi

This simple thakkali/tomato pacchadi is my entry for this month's JFI - Tomatoes hosted by RP
Ingredients

Tomato - 3
Onion - 1
Coconut - 1/4cup
Jeera - 1tsp
Garlic - 1 pod
Curry leaves - a few
Turmeric powder - 1/2tsp
Red chilli powder - 1tsp
Oil -2tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 1/2tsp

Method

Grind coconut,jeera,garlic and curry leaves into a fine paste.Slice onions and tomatoes.In a pan , heat oil and fry mustard seeds,urad dal and curry leaves.Add sliced onions and fry till they are soft.Now add the grinded coconut paste,red chilli powder,turmeric powder and fry till raw smell goes away.Finally add sliced tomatoes ,salt and saute for a while.Add water if needed.Cook till tomatoes are soft.Serve hot with rice.

AFAM -(March) Pineapple Round up

Here it is...the roundup of delicious recipes by you all.Mind blowing entries...Thanks to all you for participating on this and a warm welcome to all the newcomers.Now if have some extra pineapple left, just check on this page to make good use of it.Feel free to comment on your suggestion for next month's AFAM.

CAKES

Pineapple upside down cake by Deepz of Letzcook

Pineapple coconut mini bundt cakes by Asha of Aromahope

Pineapple wonder by sukhanya of Hot and Sweet bowl

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake by SJ of A Pinch Of Spice

Pecan-Pineapple Upside down cake by Trupti of The Spice who loved me

DESSERTS

Pineapple Flower cups by Sharmi of Neivedhyam

Pineapple with mint sugar by Coffee of My Khazana of Recipes

Broiled pineapple bites by @ of Yum yum mum mum

Pan fried Pineapple by MenuToday

Pineapple basundi by Viji of Vcuisine

Pineaaple Pudding by Maheswari of Beyond The Usual

Pinapple Excotica by Sushma of Sunkiran's Recipe Source

DRINKS

Pina colada by Jyotsna of Curry bazaar

Pineapple wine by Shn of Kitchen Mishmash

Ginger Flavored Roasted Pineapple Sorbet by Sigma of Live to Eat

AUTHENTIC

Pineapple Menaskai by supriya of Spice corner

Pineapple Rasam by Viji of Vcuisine

Pineapple chutney by Sandeepa of Bongmom's cookbook

Pineapple rasam by Jai and Bee of Jugalbandi

SALSAS

Pineapple salsa by Padamja of My Cookbook

Pineapple salsa by Soumya of FoodLovers

Pineapple salsa by Priya of Aahaar vihaar

RICE

Pineapple Fried rice by Roopa of My chow chow bath

JAM

Instant Pineapple Jam by Richa of As Dear As Salt

RAITA

Pineapple Raita by Swapna of Swad of India

Mutton vindaloo

Mutton vindaloo, another one my fav. , which i order on my most visits to the restaurants.This is my first time to re create this dish at home and came out very well.

Ingredients

Mutton -250 gms
Potatoes - 100 gms
Tomato puree - 75 ml
Cardamom - 2
Cloves - 2
Cinnamon - a small piece
Onion - 1
Oil - as needed

For grinding

Ginger - a small piece
Garlic - a few
Red chillies - 2
Cumin - a pinch
Cinnamon - a small piece
Vinegar - 20 ml

Coriander leaves - for garnishing

Method

In a pan heat 1tsp of oil and fry chopped onion well.Cool it and grind it into fine paste.Grind all the other ingredients listed under "For grinding".Apply this paste over the cleaned mutton and keep it aside.In a pan heat oil,add cardamom, cloves and cinnamon.Now add grounded onion and saute for few min.s.Now add mutton and fry.add water if needed.when mutton is 3/4 th done, add prepared potatoes and cook.add tomato puree and salt.Heat until both meat and potatoes are cooked well.Serve hot with rice/roti.

Chicken Cutlets

Ingredients

Grounded chicken - 1 lb
Onion - 1/2 (large sized, chopped)
Potatoes - 2 (boiled and mashed)
Green chillies - 3 (chopped)
Ginger garlic paste - 1tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2tsp
Garam masala - 1/2tsp
Egg - 1 (separated)
Bread crumbs - as needed
Oil - As needed

Method

Wash grounded chicken by placing it the running water.Drain the water.In pan , saute this grounded chicken with little salt and turmeric powder.Saute well till the chiken is cooked through.In the mean time, boil and mash the poatatoes well.In another pan, heat 1 tbsp oil and fry onions, green chillies until onions are soft.Add gg paste to this and saute till raw smell goes.Add mashed potatoes to this and add garam masala,salt and chicken.Switch off the heat when the raw smell is gone.Mix everything very well and add egg yolk to it.Let the mixture cool a bit.After cooling down, shape it into hearts using a cookie cutter.Take each cutlet and roll it in the beated egg white and then roll it in the bread crumbs.Shallow fry these in hot oil.You can also bake them in the oven at 450 degrees for about 10-12 min.s or until golden brown.






Zucchini Thepla

This is my entry for Coffee's MBP - Let's roll.I tried this delicious and little spicy thepla's from Trupti's The Spice who loved me.Came out very good and a big thanks to Trupti's for sharing this.I served these thepla's with spicy mango pickle.

Pineapple Pudding

Pineapple Pudding, an easy to make dessert which my lil' one loves to dig in.Try making it with different flavoured jello and fruits.I am sure your kids will love it..hmmm..even the bigger ones..:)This is my entry for this month's AFAM - Pineapple.





Ingredients

Jello - 1 packet (Pineapple or orange flavoured)
Pineapple chunks - 1 can (i used Dole brand)
Cool Whip - 4 ounce
Condensed milk - 1/2 can
Cream Cheese - 2 ounce (optional)

Method

Keep aside few pieces of pineapple chunks for garnishing.Blend pineapple chunks into a smooth mixture.Do not add the juice,keep it aside.Make jello as per packet instructions.(You can use the pineapple juice from the dole can instead of cold water for making jello).When the jello powder completely dissolved,add pineapple mixture,condensed milk and cool whip and whisk it well.Everything should be in cooperated very well.Pour this jello mix into molds or small containers.Refrigerate for at least 4-5 hrs before serving.Garnish with pineapple chunks.If you are using molds, then just before serving place them in a bed of warm water, which helps the pudding to come out easily.I used a small glass bowl as the mold this time.

Mutter Paneer Masala

Mutter paneer masala, my most fav. north indian dish.I served this with Avacado parathas.I made Mutter gobi also, the same way.


Ingredients

Paneer - 1/2 lb
Mutter - 1 1/2 cups
Onion - 2 (sliced)
Ginger garlic paste - 1tbsp
Red chilli powder - 2tsp
Dania powder - 1tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2tsp
Tomato - 1
Half n' half - 1/4cup
Kaskas- 1/2tsp
Water - 1/4 cup
Kasoori methi - 1tsp
Jeera - 1tsp
Oil -2tbsp

Method

In a pan, heat oil and fry sliced onions till its color changes.Add gg paste and fry for 3 more mins.Put this into a blender along with red chilli powder,dania powder,turmeric powder,tomato,kaskas and grind well.In a pan add 1tsp of oil and fry jeera.Add the grounded paste into this and fry till oil separates.Add frozen peas and water into this and lt it boil.Once the peas are almost cooked,reduce the heat and add half n' half into this.Add paneer pieces into this and cover and cook for about 5 min.s.Now open and add kasoori methi and cook for another 2 -3 min.s.Serve hot with roti/rice.

Spicy Rava/Sooji Kichadi

This was my fav. "on the go" breakfast item from a small food stall at Besant nagar,Chennai, that i used grab on my way to work.They had wonderful menu for all breakfst items.Though it was very small stall, they were always busy and you won't get your fav. item if you go little late.So here is my attempt on my fav. rava kichadi.

Ingredients

Rava - 2 C (fine)
Onion - 1 (chopped)
Tomato - 1(chopped)
Green peas - 1/2 C
Carrot - 1/4 C (grated)
Ghee - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4tsp
Salt - as needed
Mustard seeds - 1tsp
Curry leaves- as needed
Oil - 2 tsp
Cashews - as needed (opional)

To grind

Garlic - 2 pods
Cinnamon - 1 piece
Cloves - 2
Cardamom - 1
Fennel seeds/Perunjeeragam - 1/2tsp
Green chillies - 3

Method

In a pan, heat 1 tsp of ghee and fry rava in that till nice aroma comes.Keep it aside and let it cool down.In a kadai, heat oil and ghee.Fry mustard seeds,curryleaves.Fry Onions and tomatoes.Add green peas, carrot,turmeric powder and the grounded paste and fry well till raw smell goes.Now add 5 cups of water and salt to this and let it come to boil.Now add rava to this and mix well.Once it is getting to boil, cover the lid and keep it in low flame for about 8-10mts.I served it hot with coconut- mint chutney.

Chocalate Icecream with Pecans

This is my first attempt on making homemade ice cream.Made this double chocalate icecream with pecans.Recipe adapted from here.

Ingredients

Bittersweet chocolate chips - 1/2 c

Dark chocolate chips - 1/2 c

Granulated sugar - 1/2 c

Whole milk - 1 Cup

heavy cream - 2 cups

Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

Pecans - 1/2 c


Method

Begin by heating the milk in a small saucepan just until bubbles start to form around the edges. Do not let the milk get too hot or it will scald.In your blender, combine the two types of chocolate chips and the granulated sugar and process until the mixture is very well chopped. Pour the hot milk into the blender and process until smooth and creamy.Pour into a medium sized bowl and let the mixture cool completely. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla. Cover and put the entire mixture into the freezer for 2 hours.Pour your chocolate mixture into blender and blend it until its smooth textured.Pour this into the freezer container and stir inthe pecans also.Freeze for about 2 hours or until firm.I served it in the store brought ice cream cones.

AFAM-March

Hey all, sorry for the delay in announcing March's fruit.Got caughtup in little household work..yeap you guessed right..laundry..(?).Now letz get into AFAM.

This Month's Fruit is PINEAPPLE.Pinapple, a delicious tropical fruit full flavour and juice.Letz get started shall we....cook it for dessert or cook it with meat.






The last date for submitting entires is extended because of the delay in announcement.Date For submitting will be MARCH 24TH,2007.
For more info on AFAM Click on the Logo.