I consider Cheese as a total comfort food. Cheese has this innane sublime quality to lift my spirits especially when it’s a tiring day. I was frantically hunting through my pantry stock to check what I can cook and dish out in 10 minutes flat (this is my highest saturation time when I am hungry). I found Sunfeast Pasta packet lying in the jar. I quickly picked the packet and began my cooking process. Next time around, would try to create my own sauce and cook pasta. Since I was feeling lazy this time aound, I decided to take the short cut route
Serves: 1-2 individuals
Ingredients:
Water – 2 C
Pasta pack – 100 gms
Cheese slice – 1 slice
Herbs – ¼ t
Method:
1.Unpack the pasta content in a pot of boiling water.
2.Add the tastemaker sauce and stir vigourously.
3.Caution: Do not leave the pot unattended. The stirring process
ensures that the sauce does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
4.Stir for around 8 minutes on low flame.
5.Add cheese slice and herbs and continue stirring. When the volume
decreases to half, discontinue and put off the flame and allow the pasta
to settle.
6.After a minute, transfer to serving dish.
7.Serve with bread sticks if you will. Serve when its piping hot.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Spicy Puffed Rice (Churmurey Upkari/ Charmuri Pachhadi)
During our childhood days, eating Churmurey was a grand affair. We used to help Mum with her kitchen chores for chopping onions, cilantro and relish the experience. The best I have enjoyed is the one which we get in Udupi Krishna temple premise. They garnish the snack with raw mango (Ambuli) and it tastes amazing. The person there serves it in paper cones and dabs mounds of raw mango on top of the snack while serving.
I prefer Churmuri with Hot Tea. The combination is good and also ensures that your tummy is full with a dry snack and hot tea. A beverage/ drink is always suggested with Churmurey Upkari as the tummy gets dry food alone due to dry-snack nature of Churmurey.
Serves: 1-3 individuals
Ingredients:
Puffed Rice – 6-8 C
Coconut oil – 6 T
Nayak’s Churmuri Powder or Sambhar Powder – 3 T
Red Chillie Powder – 1 t
Finely chopped Onions – 1 C
Finely chopped Cilantro leaves – 1 C
Raw Mango – 1 C (Finely chopped): optional
Salt – As per taste
Method:
1.Fry the puffed rice on kadhai on very low flame (dry without oil). My mum does this exercise before preparing Churmurey Upkari. This also ensures that puffed rice are crispy and fresh and thereby enhance the flavor of the dish. 2.Add the coconut oil, Churmuri and Red Chillie powder. Nayak’s Churmuri powder is easily available in all Mangalore stores in Bangalore and Mangalore. Mix in rigorously to avoid lumps. If one cannot find this powder, plain red chillie powder also serves the purpose.
3.Finally add in salt and chopped onions. This process ensures that onions absorb the oil. Add cilantro leaves while serving the dish.
4.Serve this dish as an evening snack with Cardamom Tea.
I prefer Churmuri with Hot Tea. The combination is good and also ensures that your tummy is full with a dry snack and hot tea. A beverage/ drink is always suggested with Churmurey Upkari as the tummy gets dry food alone due to dry-snack nature of Churmurey.
Serves: 1-3 individuals
Ingredients:
Puffed Rice – 6-8 C
Coconut oil – 6 T
Nayak’s Churmuri Powder or Sambhar Powder – 3 T
Red Chillie Powder – 1 t
Finely chopped Onions – 1 C
Finely chopped Cilantro leaves – 1 C
Raw Mango – 1 C (Finely chopped): optional
Salt – As per taste
Method:
1.Fry the puffed rice on kadhai on very low flame (dry without oil). My mum does this exercise before preparing Churmurey Upkari. This also ensures that puffed rice are crispy and fresh and thereby enhance the flavor of the dish. 2.Add the coconut oil, Churmuri and Red Chillie powder. Nayak’s Churmuri powder is easily available in all Mangalore stores in Bangalore and Mangalore. Mix in rigorously to avoid lumps. If one cannot find this powder, plain red chillie powder also serves the purpose.
3.Finally add in salt and chopped onions. This process ensures that onions absorb the oil. Add cilantro leaves while serving the dish.
4.Serve this dish as an evening snack with Cardamom Tea.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Raw Green Plantain Side Dish (Kele Upkari/ Kelichi Bhaaji)
Raw Green Plantain is a rich source of Iron and is often prescribed for women's dietary supplement. I love this vegetable a lot for the simple reason that its a rich source of Iron and Fibre. This recipe has a seasoning of Garlic which adds the extra punch. The Banana to be used for this Side Dish is unripe and bright green in color.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30-40 minutes
Serves: 2-4 individuals
Ingredients:
Plantain or Raw Banana (cubed) - 3 cups
Red Chillies – 2-3
Garlic (crushed) – 8 flakes
Coconut Oil
Salt – as per taste
Water
Method:
Peel the skin from the Raw Banana and chop them into pieces of ½ inch each. Immediately add to tap water and allow the wax to get washed away with water. Discard the water and keep the chopped pieces aside. Take utmost care while chopping the Bananas. Sometimes, the wax (deek as called in Konkani)sticks to your hand. I used hand gloves while chopping to prevent the wax from sticking to my hands.
In a pot, heat oil and add the crushed garlic and sauté till the color of garlic changes to reddish brown. Add the chopped Banana and fry till the garlic gets evenly distributed and mixes well with the chopped bananas. Once mixing is done, break the Red Chillies into bits with your hands and add to the pot. Add enough water and cover for cooking. Since Bananas are hard, water would serve as a catalyst for the banana pieces to cook. Turn over the heat to low flame. Simmer on low flame for 10-15 minutes or till the vegetable is completely cooked. Garnish with grated coconut and serve warm.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30-40 minutes
Serves: 2-4 individuals
Ingredients:
Plantain or Raw Banana (cubed) - 3 cups
Red Chillies – 2-3
Garlic (crushed) – 8 flakes
Coconut Oil
Salt – as per taste
Water
Method:
Peel the skin from the Raw Banana and chop them into pieces of ½ inch each. Immediately add to tap water and allow the wax to get washed away with water. Discard the water and keep the chopped pieces aside. Take utmost care while chopping the Bananas. Sometimes, the wax (deek as called in Konkani)sticks to your hand. I used hand gloves while chopping to prevent the wax from sticking to my hands.
In a pot, heat oil and add the crushed garlic and sauté till the color of garlic changes to reddish brown. Add the chopped Banana and fry till the garlic gets evenly distributed and mixes well with the chopped bananas. Once mixing is done, break the Red Chillies into bits with your hands and add to the pot. Add enough water and cover for cooking. Since Bananas are hard, water would serve as a catalyst for the banana pieces to cook. Turn over the heat to low flame. Simmer on low flame for 10-15 minutes or till the vegetable is completely cooked. Garnish with grated coconut and serve warm.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Hot Chocolate
It gets very chilly in my area nowadays. Especially during twilight and night time, the temperature drops all of a sudden. I began feeling thirsty and wanted some warm drink.Found a chocolate bar lying in the fridge. Presto! Thought of preparing Hot Chocolate drink. Went through lot of recipes online and then finally thought of preparing something of my own.So here's a simple drink to keep you warm during the chilly days!!
Serves: 1 individual
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Warm Milk – 1 C
Cocoa powder – 1 T OR Chocolate bar – grated (2 cubes of Dairy milk)
Sugar – 2 t
Fresh Cream - 1 t
Cinnamon powder – 1/8 t or one pinch (optional)
Method:
1.Add sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon if desired to one serving of warm cup on milk.
2.Please note that milk should be warm and not hot. You will not be able to enjoy the taste if the milk is very hot.
3.Cinnamon gives that extra dash of spicy feel to the drink and cream adds the much required milky flavour to it. Enjoy your drink!!
Serves: 1 individual
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Warm Milk – 1 C
Cocoa powder – 1 T OR Chocolate bar – grated (2 cubes of Dairy milk)
Sugar – 2 t
Fresh Cream - 1 t
Cinnamon powder – 1/8 t or one pinch (optional)
Method:
1.Add sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon if desired to one serving of warm cup on milk.
2.Please note that milk should be warm and not hot. You will not be able to enjoy the taste if the milk is very hot.
3.Cinnamon gives that extra dash of spicy feel to the drink and cream adds the much required milky flavour to it. Enjoy your drink!!
Blanched Bittergourd In Coconut (Karaathey Gojju)
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Processing time: 10 minutes
Serves: 1-2 individuals
Ingredients:
Bittergourd (chopped into 1" pieces) - 2 cups
Grated coconut: 1/2 cup
Green Chillies: 2-3
Tamarind: 1/2 t easpoon
Cilantro leaves: 5-6 strands (chopped)
Coconut oil
Water
Salt
Method:
Blanch and mash the Karela gently. Preferably mash till the pieces get diced to almost 1 inch size. In a kadhai, pour coconut oil and crush green chillies alongwith grated coconut. Mash and mix and add tamarind thereafter. Pour in enough water to bring about a fine brothy consistency. Add salt as desired. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve as an accompaniement for Paej.
Processing time: 10 minutes
Serves: 1-2 individuals
Ingredients:
Bittergourd (chopped into 1" pieces) - 2 cups
Grated coconut: 1/2 cup
Green Chillies: 2-3
Tamarind: 1/2 t easpoon
Cilantro leaves: 5-6 strands (chopped)
Coconut oil
Water
Salt
Method:
Blanch and mash the Karela gently. Preferably mash till the pieces get diced to almost 1 inch size. In a kadhai, pour coconut oil and crush green chillies alongwith grated coconut. Mash and mix and add tamarind thereafter. Pour in enough water to bring about a fine brothy consistency. Add salt as desired. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve as an accompaniement for Paej.
Potato Cauliflower Masala
We had way too much Potato and Cauliflower stocked in the fridge. Mom prepared this dish as a surprise for me and I truely loved it. Once treating myself with the curry and hot rotis I immediately noted the recipe lest Mommie forgets the tasty delight she dished out. This dish is best suggested when you have very less time on hand and have to dish out a quick one.
Serves: 2-4 individuals
Ingredients -
Cauliflower florets - 20 pieces (10 C - pre boiled in hot water)
Boiled Potatoes(Cubed) - 4 C
Chilli powder - 1 t
Turmeric powder - 1/2 t
Pepper powder - 1 t
Coriander powder - 1 t
Cumin powder - 1 t
Garam Masala - 1/2 t
Salt - As per taste
Method -
1. Heat ghee in a kadhai.
2. Add potatoes in the kadhai and roast till the edges turn brown.
3. Saute for a while and then add the Cauliflower.
4. Add the masala one by one and mix thoroughly till the masala gets evenly spread.
5. Serve hot with Chapathi or as a side dish for lunch on dinner.
Serves: 2-4 individuals
Ingredients -
Cauliflower florets - 20 pieces (10 C - pre boiled in hot water)
Boiled Potatoes(Cubed) - 4 C
Chilli powder - 1 t
Turmeric powder - 1/2 t
Pepper powder - 1 t
Coriander powder - 1 t
Cumin powder - 1 t
Garam Masala - 1/2 t
Salt - As per taste
Method -
1. Heat ghee in a kadhai.
2. Add potatoes in the kadhai and roast till the edges turn brown.
3. Saute for a while and then add the Cauliflower.
4. Add the masala one by one and mix thoroughly till the masala gets evenly spread.
5. Serve hot with Chapathi or as a side dish for lunch on dinner.
Chocolate Cake (Eggless)
I prepared my first ever chocolate cake over the weekend. Needless to say was pretty pleased with the results. My brave effort finally culminated in a sinful chocolate mass which I devoured completely with family and friends.
The recipe was as suggested by Shilpa (www.aayisrecipes.com). Thanks Shilpa. It turned out into a quite a yummie delight.
Serves: 2-3 individuals
Equipment: Microwave with an OTG (Oven-Toaster-Griller) option
Ingrdients:
Maida - 1 and 3/4th C
Cocoa powder - 2 t
Vegetable oil - 1/4 C
Sugar (powdered) - 1/2 C
Vanilla essence - 1/2 t
Baking powder - 1/2 t
Milk - 1/2 C
Ghee - 1/2 t
Method:
1. Mix the dry ingrdients separately except sugar. Mix to form an even wholesome mixture.
2. Parallely, mix together the dry ingredients and add the dry ingredients to the wet ones slowly.
3. Be careful to avoid any lumps while stirring. Once the batter is ready, check for one thread consistency. If you get that, your batter is perfect and ready for baking purpose. Grease the deep dish baking container with ghee. Once can also cover the deep dish with butter paper and then pour the batter. This prevents the cake mixtured from sticking against the walls of the container.I preferred ghee to oil for the simple reason that I did not want a oily flavour on the surface.
4. Preheat the oven for atleast 5 minutes. Pour the batter in the container. Place the deep dish container in the oven and cook for 5 minutes on 100% of the oven power.
5. Once done, check with a toothpick by inserting it in the cake. If the tootpick comes out evenly the cake is done.
6. Once done, the cake needs to be refrigerated and then consumed for better results. I decided to volate the rules and tuck into the sumptuous mass waiting for me!!
Enjoy your sinful fare!!!
The recipe was as suggested by Shilpa (www.aayisrecipes.com). Thanks Shilpa. It turned out into a quite a yummie delight.
Serves: 2-3 individuals
Equipment: Microwave with an OTG (Oven-Toaster-Griller) option
Ingrdients:
Maida - 1 and 3/4th C
Cocoa powder - 2 t
Vegetable oil - 1/4 C
Sugar (powdered) - 1/2 C
Vanilla essence - 1/2 t
Baking powder - 1/2 t
Milk - 1/2 C
Ghee - 1/2 t
Method:
1. Mix the dry ingrdients separately except sugar. Mix to form an even wholesome mixture.
2. Parallely, mix together the dry ingredients and add the dry ingredients to the wet ones slowly.
3. Be careful to avoid any lumps while stirring. Once the batter is ready, check for one thread consistency. If you get that, your batter is perfect and ready for baking purpose. Grease the deep dish baking container with ghee. Once can also cover the deep dish with butter paper and then pour the batter. This prevents the cake mixtured from sticking against the walls of the container.I preferred ghee to oil for the simple reason that I did not want a oily flavour on the surface.
4. Preheat the oven for atleast 5 minutes. Pour the batter in the container. Place the deep dish container in the oven and cook for 5 minutes on 100% of the oven power.
5. Once done, check with a toothpick by inserting it in the cake. If the tootpick comes out evenly the cake is done.
6. Once done, the cake needs to be refrigerated and then consumed for better results. I decided to volate the rules and tuck into the sumptuous mass waiting for me!!
Enjoy your sinful fare!!!