Garlic Bread - Partially homemade :)

Had a busy week at office though tired it was worthful and achieving.Thanks for all readers who gave suggestions for ISP......My net(BSNL) is finally back in action....meanwhile had a new connection named Tikona :) Name sounds funny?! but I was awed by their customer service......I booked the connection morning since I insisted to get the connection the same day.....they gave me the connection the same day night inspite of me giving the wrong address proof :D

Now coming to todays recipe....Garlic bread is my fav and the one from Pizzahut tastes too gud! We can have this occasionally as it involves a lot of cheese though I didnt add much ;) Bread itself is my fav so needless to say when it is garlic flavoured.The base bread is a store bought one....I'l try itat home once I start experimenting baking bread :)

Here goes the recipe..........

Ingredients :

• Bread - 2 slices [I used Golden grain - roundel breads]
• Garlic - 4 sliced thin
• Ghee - to toast
• Cheese - 1 cube [I used brittania cube cheese]
• Pepper - 2 tsp

Method :

1. First toast the bread slices with some ghee.


2. Apply cheese on one side of the bread and top it with the sliced garlic.


3. Sprinkle some pepper on top.


4. Lay the slices in dosa tawa and heat it till cheese melts. You can also grill it at 175 deg C for 4-5mins.

Sesame Rice / Ellu Sadam

Hope u'r all having a good busy week....I m here struggling to find a good internet connection. Have almost done a research in all Internet Service Providers in my city. Having heard so many good comments for Airtel I wanted to go ahead with it and the customer care totally disappointed me saying that they cant give the connection due to some cable fault...its already been 2months and I am still running back of them to get my money back. The trust and confidence that I had on airtel is totally gone....So finally found out that the one(BSNL) I have is far better than the others so am sticking with it.

Hmm coming to todays recipe I luv sesame seeds in any form either sweet or savoury. And after reading many health benefits of sesame I never miss them out when I go for my monthly grocery shopping. Bored of the usual variety rice?! try this one for a change and am sure u'l make this often.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked rice

For Tempering:

• 1 tbsp gingelly oil / nallennai
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds / jeera
• 1 tsp urad dal / ulutham paruppu
• 1 tsp channa dal / kadala paruppu
• 1 dry red chillies, halved
• A few curry leaves

For grinding:

• 1/2 cup white sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp grated coconut
• 1 dry red chillies

Method:

1. Dry roast the sesame seeds, grated coconut till the sesame seeds and coconut turn light brown. Now add red chillies and fry for 2mins.Allow it to cool and grind it to a coarse powder and set aside.


2. Heat oil add the mustard seeds let it popup, add urad, channa dals, jeera fry till they turn lighly brown.Add curry leaves and red chillies and fry for 2more mins.


3. Stir in the rice and the grinded powder. Serve with onion raita!

NOTE: Make sure jeera and sesame are not burnt, else it will give a bitter taste.

Many of u'll might have known about my win (1st runner up) in Wear ur food competition. I was pretty much excited on the win...thanks to all of those who voted and wished for me, they surely got me through!!

Hummus - A healthy bread spread!

Hummus is a healthy bread spread alternate to butter, With channa it tastes gud too....This time wheat bread was not available so had to go with white...whatever hummus was quick and with a additional tag of healthy I just luved it.

Ingredients:

• Chickpeas/Channa - 1/2 cup
• Garlic - 1 tsp minced
• Tahini - 4 tbsp [The recipe calls for tahini which I found was sesame paste so I used grinded sesame seeds]
• Lemon juice - 1/2 tbsp
• Cumin seeds/ jeera - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Wash and soak channa in water for minimum 8 hours. Then pressure cook channa until soft with sufficient water.



2. Drain the water and keep aside. Blend boiled channa in mixie until smooth, adding little water .



3. Now add remaining list of ingredients (except oil) and continue to blend until you get a smooth, creamy paste that is of spreading consistency.



4. Dont forget to mix the paste with oil before serving!

If you feel its too thick then add little of the strained water.I felt mine was too thick while spreading so added water later. I am sure this is a better alternative to butter, the creamy texture with garlic sesame flavour was tasty.

Moong Dhal Kheer / Paasi Paruppu Payasam

Wishing all a very happy tamil new year in advance....Quick and tasty moong dhal payasam here for you. Check out for ulunthu vadai recipe here

Ingredients:

• Moong Dal (Paasi Paruppu) - 1 cup
• Jaggery dissolved in water - 1/2 cup or according to sweetness
• Milk - 1/2 cup
• Cardamom - 1 tsp
• Coconut Milk - 3 tbsp
• Cashews broken and roasted in ghee - 2 tsp

Method:

1. Pressure cook moong dal (with 1/2 cup of water) for 4 whistles and keep aside, It should be mashy enough. Just mash it once if each dhal is seperated.



2. Heat jaggery water for 5-7mins till syrup consistency and switch off. Now take a wide bottomed pan add cooked moong daal, then add this jaggery syrup and milk. Let it cook for 5mins then add coconut milk and cardamom powder one at a time to the dhal.



3. Stir well and bring it to one boil, bubbles will start coming and thats when you have to switch off. Add ghee roasted cashews and serve hot/cold!

NOTE: After coconut milk is added dont cook for more than 5 mins.

Methi Thepla / Methi Paratha / Methi Roti

I couldnt settle down in one recipe for Methi thepla so referred here and there....the result was this healthy soft rotis! The theplas were very soft, with the spices added in it needs no side dish at all....Perfect for on the go snacky/breakfast.

Most of you have asked so have updated it : The side dish I served is store bought onion pickle

Ingredients:

• Wheat flour - 1 cup
• Fresh Methi leaves chopped - 3/4 cup
• Oil -

  2 tbsp
• Curd - 2 tbsp
• Besan flour - 2 tbsp
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp coriander seeds powder
• 1 tsp cumin seeds powder
• Salt to taste
• Water - as required to knead the dough

Method:

1. Saute the methi leaves for 3mins and keep aside. Sauting the methi leaves avoids bitterness.


2. In a bowl, mix together methi leaves, salt, coriander powder, red chili powder, cumin powder and turmeric powder. Add in oil,curd, besan flour and mix well till the mixture is oily.Now add in wheat flour and combine well.


3. Add in required water to knead to a soft dough.The dough should have the consistency similar to a roti dough.Cover and leave aside for 15-30 mins.


4. After 15 mins, make lemon sized balls and roll into thin rotis. Cook theplas on both sides in medium heat.
   Serve them hot with onion raita/pickle.

My Notes:

• These rotis are very soft, they dont get spoiled soon so ideal for travel. It can be had as such or with any pickle.


• Sauting the methi leaves avoids bitterness in rotis. You can use buttermilk also instead of curd which makes the rotis even more softer.

Macroni in Milk Peppery Sauce in 15mins!!

A month ago happened to taste this macroni at office, they served it as a evening snack. So the next day when the cook came to serve the snacks.....I asked him the recipe and this is the 1st time I am remembering a recipe without jotting down and it came out as it should. Thats just becos its so simple, with less ingredients and it takes only 15mins (this is the main hightlight for me to try this) altogether...hmm my kind of recipe it is! Isnt that very quick....Hmm come lets get on to the recipe:

Ingredients:

• Macroni - 1 packet [I used Bambino shell type]
• Milk - 1 cup
• Pepper - 3 tsp
• Onion - 1 Sliced lengthwise
• Ginger garlic paste - 2 tsp
• Oil - 2 tsp
• Green Chilli - 1 finely chopped

Method :

1. Add 2 cups of water, let it boil now add the macroni cook for 5 mins in medium flame.Strain water and keep aside.


2. Heat oil, add ginger garlic paste, onions.....saute till onions turn light brown, then add green chillies saute.Add the cooked macroni, milk and mix well till all is combined and should look creamy...this will take another 5 mins.


3. Sprinkle pepper, stir for 5more minutes....hmm ur peppery milk macroni is ready to serve.

So did I keep up the promise.....?! Yes its done in 15mins...Try it out for urself and see!!

NOTE : The milk tends to get absorbed soon so serve it straight from the stove.

And I am sending this to Creative saga's Pasta event