Bhel Puri & Inspiration Award

Bhel puri is a mixture of different savory ingredients, put together and then tart tamarind date chutney, green cilantro-mint chutney is drizzled on this mixture and served fresh. I have used ready to use haldiram's bhelpuri pack to make this snack, rather than buying all the ingredients separately. In addition to the ingredients in the packet, other fresh ingredients are put in.

Ingredients

One 200 gram packet - Haldiram's bhel puri
1/2 cup - Beaten rice
1/2 cup - Besan boondi / Masala boondi
1/2 cup - Aloo bhujia
1/2 cup - Red onion, chopped small
1 medium size - Tomato, chopped small
1/2 of a - Cucumber, chopped small
1 big - Potato, boiled and cubed
1/2 cup - Coriander leaves, chopped
1 to 2 tsp - Chaat masala powder
1/4 tsp - Garam masala powder
1 tsp - Lemon juice Salt to taste

Chutney's

Tamarind date chutney
Green chutney

Method

1 ) Lightly roast beaten rice in a pan and let it cool. Into a big mixing bowl, add haldiram's bhel puri. The packet has a masala packet, out of which you can make chutney. And also a sev packet. Empty the sev into the bowl. Then add roasted beaten rice, boondi, aloo bhujia, onion, tomato, boiled potato, cucumber, coriander leaves and lemon juice.

2 ) Sprinkle chaat masala powder, garam masala, salt to taste, toss and mix all the ingredients together. Now when ready to serve, add tamarind chutney, green chutney, the chutney that came in the packet, as to one's taste.

Serve and have it fresh.

I have received an 'Inspiration award ' from Jamie. Inspiration Award has been coined in by Jamie of ' Flavor Pantry', who has been inspired by other blogger's for their recipes, pictures and wonderful posts. Thank you so much Jamie :D

About this award...

" This is given to bloggers whose stories and recipes inspire us.Whether it’s to eat healthier, dive back into our past to conjure up something we ate as children, or just make the light bulbs in our brains go on with a new idea for a recipe."

As recipients of this award, please share with us what inspires you and then pass on the Inspiration Award to 4 other deserving bloggers. Please let them know what the award means and what to do with it.

I am inspired by...

1 ) By good chefs, who have magic in their hands and create so beautiful and delicious food.

2 ) Inspired by my mother's cooking, which now i realize is the best, served with love :D

3 ) As a teenager i would try my hand at cooking, which was appreciated by my family, which really inspired me to try more.

I would like to pass this award on to -

Kalai of - Samaithu paarkalaam

Madhavi of - Recipes From My Favorite Place - Kitchen

Sagari of - Indian Cooking

Cham of - Spice - Club

Please accept this award and congrats to you ladies :)

Strawberry Smoothie

Stores were stocked with fresh red Strawberries and i was so drawn to them. Got home to make a smoothie out of it.

Ingredients

2 cups - Strawberry, washed & chopped
1 cup - Chilled milk
1/2 cup - Medium sour yogurt
1/2 cup or more as to taste - Sugar
Few ice cubes

Method

1 ) To a blender add strawberry and grind to a smooth paste. Add sugar, ice and run to crush the ice. Then add milk and yogurt , blend to make a smooth, smoothie.

Enjoy the smoothie.

I have received a few more awards .













Good Chat blog award from Purnima. Thank you Purnima for this award and for the beautiful chats we have had.

Madhavi has presented me with a "Nice matters award" and Kalai has presented me with " rockin girl blogger" award. Thanks to both of you. I am thrilled to yet again receive these two awards.

Award & Top 10 Picture Meme

Yet again i have received a " you make my day award " from Kalai of " Samaithu paarkalaam " and from Easycrafts of " Simple Indian Food- An Easy Cooking Blog ". Thank you both for this award. Both of you have always made my day, when i get to read the lovely comments on most of my posts. Thank you for those encouraging words.
I want to pass on this award to all my readers and so much more to those who take a moment to say something in the comment section. It may be a few words, but it does really make my day and bring a smile to my face :D

I was also tagged to do the Top 10 picture MEME by Sashree of " A warm welcome to all the foodies ". Thanks sashree for this tag. So to list a few, here are some. Few among them have been tried and liked by some of the readers for which i got feedbacks.

1 ) Almond Macaroons - Amaretti Cookies

2 ) Eggless Banana Cake with Raisins, Dates & Nuts


3 ) Butter Cookies


4 ) Ela Ada - Steamed Sweet Dumpling


5 ) Egg Pakoda


6 ) Potato Bonda


7 ) Shammi Kababs / Kheema Kababs

8 ) Aloo Paratha


9 ) Ras Malai


10 ) Potato Ishtoo / Stew

Hope you all like this post and do let me know your thoughts...

A Yummy Award !

My blog have been bestowed with an award and this time it's an yummy blog award by Kalai of 'Samaithu paarkalaam' and also by Jamie of 'Flavor Pantry'. Thanks to both of you for considering my blog worthy of this award.

Roopa of Kitchen Treats who started this yummy blog award said that the "Yummy Blog Award is the award given to the blog with the most yummy recipes/photos”.

As for the rules for this award -

Upon receiving this award, the person who receives the award should display the "Yummy Blog !" logo on their blog and also the meaning of the award which is "Yummy blog award is the award given to the blog with most yummy recipes/photos". The receiver should also quote their favorite yummy-licious :) dessert(s) that they have ever prepared/eaten. Don’t restrict yourself to any dessert, chocolate bars also welcome. Also the receiver should pass on the award to four other blogger whose blog they find "yummy" and let them know about the rules.

I really don't have a sweet tooth, but at time enjoy something sweet. Since i have to tell you all about the yummiest desserts that I have prepared or tasted, here are few i enjoy at times.

Black forest cake
Plum cake
Jelebi, the yellow one you get in kerala
Payasams, mostly ones made with jaggery

Passing on this award to four yummy food blogger, who blogs so very yummy recipes with captivating pictures.

Shn of Mishmash

Happy Cook of 'My Kitchen Treasures'

Padmaja of 'Spicyandhra'

Nags of 'For The Cook In Me'


Congratulations to each one of you !

Kadala Fry and "E For Excellent" Blog Award

This is a dry preparation with black chickpeas /kadala. This is a usual side dish, we have with kanji.

Ingredients

3 cups - Cooked kadala / black chickpeas

Seasoning

1 tsp - Mustard seeds

2 sprigs - Curry leaves

6 big flakes - Garlic, crushed

2 tsp - Red chili flakes

1/2 tsp - Turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Sesame oil

Method

1 ) Black chickpeas is soaked over night and then pressure cooked in enough water with little turmeric powder and salt to taste.

2 ) Heat a pan with oil, add mustard and pop. Then add curry leaves, garlic and fry on low heat. Just fry garlic till lightly brown, don't make it dark brown. Add chili flakes, turmeric powder and fry for second in the oil.

3 ) Add the cooked kadala and little gravy from the boiled kadala. Add salt to taste, close with a lid and cook on low heat. Once the kadala is cooked for few minutes in this masala, open the lid and cook till dry.

Serve as a side dish.

Now this is really flattering to get one after another awards and this time its from Kalai of "Samaithu paarkalaam", who has been generous with words and says " Her gorgeous pics would tempt a vegetarian to want to eat non-veg! I get the urge to try all of her recipes as soon as I read them...." these are very complimentary words, kalai. Thank you so much for this award.

This Blog is Rated "E" For Excellent

I admire the work of many fellow bloggers, for the excellent posts, pictures, information and also for their sense of humor. This award is to all the bloggers out there, but since i can select only a few of you, i am passing this award on to five blogger buddies - Asha of " Foodie's Hope", Kribha of " En samayal Pakkam", Richa of " As Dear As Salt", Sia of "Monsoon Spice", Sunita of "Sunita's World".

Pal Khova - Peda

Relatively an easy way to make pal khova / Peda, from the tedious way of stirring milk for a long time to reduce and thicken the milk. The taste is so delightful and makes a great sweet treat !

Ingredients

15 oz (425 g) - Ricotta cheese

1/2 cup - Blanched almond

1 cup - Milk powder

3/4 cup - Brown sugar

Method

1 ) Powder almond to a fine powder and set a side.

2 ) To a non stick saucepan, add ricotta cheese. Keep the pan on a low heat, let the ricotta cheese loosen up and when the bubbles start forming, add almond powder. Cook ricotta and almond. When it is half cooked, add milk powder, stir and mix well. Stir and cook till it starts leaving the sides of the pan and start balling up.You get to see a change in the color .

3 ) Add brown sugar, stir and let the sugar melt. Stir well till it starts leaving the sides and balls up. Take off the stove. When it cools done a bit, take a small amount and roll into round balls.

Serve as a dessert.

From sweet peda to a "Nice matters award" that has been presented to me by the lovely and ever so nice Sig of " Live to Eat ". I feel so touched and happy to receive this award, sig. Thank you so much!

“Nice Matters Award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world.”

Now i would really like to pass this award to all the blog buddies whom i have come to know, but then this can be passed on to only a few and some of you have already got this award. So i would like to pass this award to those of you, who haven't.

Mallugirl of "Malabar Spices", RP of "My Workshop", Bhags of "Crazy Curry", Seena of " Simple and Delicious", Seema of "Everyday cooking recipes from my kitchen", Easy crafts of " An Easy Cooking blog" Purnima of " Fantasy Cooking"

Fish in coconut milk gravy

This is a coconut milk based fish curry with kodampuli and tomato to give it a tangy taste. I have seasoned the curry with sea salt instead of the normal salt and have used cherry tomatoes, which i felt gave a better taste.

Ingredients

1.5 lb - Fish , clean & cut to medium size pieces
1.5 to 2 tsp - Red chili powder
1/2 tsp - Turmeric powder
1 tsp - Coriander powder
1 medium size - tomato Or 5 - cherry tomatoes, chopped
4 - Kodampuli , wash
2 to 3 sprigs - Curry leaves

Coarsely crush

1 inch piece - ginger
2 to 3 - Green chili
3 flakes - Garlic

3 - Shallots

Coconut milk from half of a coconut.

• 1/2 cup - Thick 1st extracted coconut milk


• 1 cup - Second extracted coconut milk

Sea salt to taste and coconut oil

Method

1 ) Dilute red chili, turmeric and coriander powder in little water. In microwave safe bowl, cook kodampuli in 1/2 a cup of water for one minute.

2 ) In a manchatti (earthen pot used to cook fish curry in kerala ) or in a kadai heat coconut oil, add crushed ingredients, curry leaves, stir and fry for a minute. Add tomatoes, stir and fry well.

3 ) Add diluted powders, stir and fry till oil comes out. Add kodampuli with the water and the fish pieces. Add little more water, if necessary for the fish to cook. Add salt to taste.

4 ) When the fish is half cooked, add the second extracted milk. Cover with a lid and cook on low flame till the fish is fully cooked and the gravy has thickened.

5 ) Finally pour in the thick coconut milk, bring to a boil and take off the stove. Garnish with some fresh curry leaves.

Serve hot with rice and pappad.

I am all smiles to receive the "Rocking girl blogger award" from three fellow blogger friends. Richa of As dear as salt, Viji of Malabar Ruchi and by Kribha of En Samayal Pakkam .

Viji also passed on "The Power of Schmooze Award" to me. I feel humbled and thank you ladies for considering me.

It looks like most of the foodie blogger friends i know, already have received these awards. None the less i am sure it will always be a pleasure to be nominated once, twice or thrice again. Right :D ??
As per the tradition of passing on these awards, I would like to pass on Rockin' Girl Blogger Award to:

Seema of Recipe Junction
Sukanya of Hot N'Sweet Bowl
Rahin of Lazzat
Viji of Vcuisine
Bhags of Crazy Curry
Jyothsna of Currybazaar
Hima of SnackORama

The Power of Schmooze Award is for bloggers who “effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

The Power of Schmooze Award to :

Asha of Aroma
Shn of Mishmash
Sia of Spice Corner
Sig of Live to eat
Sharmi of Neivedyam