Chole Vada/Chole Tikki

Similar to Masala Vada we can make Chole Vada also.The only difference is using Chole(Garbenzo Beans).Tastes good and goes in the Snack menu.Actually I saw this in a TV show and came to know that it is one of the popular Prasad which is offered to Goddess Lakshmi durin Varalakshmi Vratam and made them last Friday and offered it to her.Wana Share this recipe with u all here.

Ingridents:

Garbenzo beans: 1 cup(soaked over night)

Salt:To taste

Green Chillies: 4- 5 Cut

Curry Leaves:10-15 no

Mint:1/2 bunch(chopped)

Cumin Seeds:1 spn

Ginger:1/2 inch

Onion:1/2 finely chopped(Optional I didnt use Onion as I'm making it as Prasdam)

Turmeric powder:Pinch

Besan:2 spns

Coriander Leaves:2 spn(finely chopped)

Oil:For Deep Frying

Procedure:

1.In a blender add the washed n soaked Chole,salt,ginger,chillies,Cumin Seeds and make it into a coarse paste.Add little water if necessary.Make sure that the paste should be course else it will be difficult to make vada.

2.Take the blend coarse paste into a bowl and add chopped mint,cliantro,curry leaves,turmeric powder and 2 spoons of Besan and mix well and check for the seasonings.Add onions in this step if u want to add them.

3.Heat oil in kadai for deep frying the vada,when the oil is hot take small portion of the above mixture and make them into small tikki shape.Apply little oil or water to your palms so that they will not stick to the hands,now fry these tikki in hot oil till they turn crisp and golden brown color.

4.When done take them on to a paper towel so that the excess oil is removed and then serve them wid any chutney of your taste.

I usually like to have them with Tomato Ketchup..

Above pics is my Varalakshmi Vratam Pic Of 2009.Wish that Goddess Lakshmi bless each one of us with good health and wealth.

Vankaya Pakodi Kura

Here goes one more Traditional recipe which is prepared and served in many of the functions and marriage reception as it is easy to prepare this dish in bulk quantity and tastes yummmmmy.I'm a big fan of Vankai(Brinjal/Eggplant) and a big fan to this dish too.They are few dishes which I love to eat in functions few like them are Aloo Kurma,Vankai Pakodi Kura,Brinjal n gree peas curry.Even I follow the exact recipe I couldnt never end up with the similar taste.Should try to know the secret.

Ingridents:

Brinjal(preferably Indian):10-12 no(washed,n cut into 8 pieces length wise)

Onion:1 medium(chopped)

Green Chillies:4-5(slit)

Cashewnuts:FistFul

Coriander Powder:1 spn

Salt:To taste

Chilli Powder:To Taste

Curry leaves:10 no

Oil:2 spns

For Making Pakodi:

Besan:1 cup

Rice Flour:1 spn

Salt:To taste

Green Chillies:3 (Finely Chopped)

Onion:1/2(finely chopped,exceptional)

Baking Soda: A Pinch

Curry Leaves:5-6 leaves(cut)

Oil:For Deep Frying

Procedure:

1.Take a bowl and mix all the ingridents listed below For Making pakodi ,add water and make it into medium consistency batter and put aside.

2.Heat Oil for deep frying,and when the oil is ready take the batter and put in oil in small portions to make pakodi ,fry them till they turn golden brown in color,remove them from oil and put them on paper towel so that excess oil is removed.

3.Now in the same hot oil put in the cut Brinjal and fry them till the brinjal turns smooth,remove them from oil and place them on paper napkin to remove the excess oil.

4.Put a skillet on flame,add oil when hot add oil and fry till they turn transculate,now add in the cashewnuts,slit chillies,curry leaves and fry till cashewnuts turn light golden color,by now the onion will also turn golden color,now add the fried brinjal,add salt to taste and stir well and let it fry on medium flame for 5-8 mins and add chilli powder to taste,mix well.

5.Now add the fried pakodi and sprinkle few drops of water so that pakodi becomes smooth.Cook it on medium for another 6-8 mins and finally sprinkle corainder powder.This adds extra flavor to the dish.

Serve it hot with plain white rice.

Aratikaya Vulli Masala

Summer is around,this is the right time to spend our weekends visiting places and hanging out in beach or park with our dear ones Isn't it???Like this we were busy roaming here and there having good time pass at water theme parks,beach and other theme parks...and on weekdays my hubby is busy with his office work and couldnt spend much time in shopping atleast for groceries...after all the fun on weekends then comes the blue Mondays...boring...dont feel like cooking and left with no veggies.Last monday I found a Plantain lying in my fridge,just 1 small plantain and that will not be sufficient for two people so I made a gravy type Aratikaya Vulli Masala..similar to egg masala I just gave a try in my own version,I liked it very much and just wanted to share it with u all,this made a gud amount of curry for our lunch.

Ingridents:

Raw Plantain:1 no(peeled n cut into thin circles)

Onion:1 big(finely chopped)

Ginger Garlic Paste:1 spn

Tomato:1 medium(chopped)

Chillies:4 no(cut length wise)

Salt:To Taste

Garam Masala Powder:1/2 spn

Oil:5-6 spn(to shallow fry the Plantain and later we'll remove the oil from the pan)

Cumin Seeds:1/2 spn

Curry Leaves:8-10no

Procedure:

1.Put a pan on flame,add oil when hot put in the Plantain circles and shallow fry them evenly on all the sides and fry them till they turn golden color,when done take them to a plate and put them aside.

2.Leave just 1 spn of oil in the pan and take away the excess oil and now add the cumin seeds,when they splatter add the finely chopped onions and try them till they turn golden brown,now add the ginger garlic paste and try till the raw flavor ir removed,now add in the curry leaves and slit green chilles fry them.

3.Now add salt mix well and add the chopped tomates,sprinkle few drops of water and cover it with a lid.After 3-4 mins tomatoes will turn smooth this is when u need to add garam masala powder,stir well and now add the shallow fried Plantain circles,mix well and cook it covered on medium flame for another 5 mins.

4.When done garnish with coriander leaves.Serve it hot with plain white rice.

Hope you will like this curry.Usually I just make a stir fry with Plantain as its my hubby's favourite but after making this curry he even liked this also so planning to make it in the coming days too till we r bored with it :D

Dondakaya Jeelakarra Karam

Tindora called as Dondakaya is a favourite veggie for few and many dont like to eat Tindora,and there is a saying that when we eat tindora it decreases our memory so many kids hesistate to eat Tindora,but I dont know how far is it correct but I love Tindora.I usually make tindora fry along with some onions to it,sometimes I make traditional dondakaya pacchadi.I got this recipe from my mom.Dondakaya Jeelakarra Karam its very similar to normal tindora fry but the only variation is we add few roasted cumin seeds powder,it gives a different taste.Here goes the recipe.
Ingridents:

Tindora:400 gms(washed and cut into desired shapes,I cut them into lengthwise and cut them in middle,pressure cook for 3 whistles)

Oil:3 spns

Ground to Powder:

Cumin Seeds:2 spns

Red Dry Chillies:4-5(adjust to ur taste)

Salt:To taste

Procedure:

1.Put a pan on flame,add a spn of oil and when hot add cumin seeds and when thet splatter add dry red chillies and fry till done,switch off the flame and let this mixture cool,once it is cooled add salt to taste and make it to a coarse powder.

2.Put a pan on flame add 2 spns of oil,when hot put in the cooked(I pressure cooked them u can even cook them in microwave or on stove top) tindora and fry them for 8-10 mins,mix in a while.

3.When the tindora turns golden brown then add the coarse dround cumin powder,stir well and fry for another 4-5 mins.Check for the seasonings,adjust if necessary.

4.Serve it hot with plain white rice taste simply superb....

I rearly get fresh Tindora in our place,but whenever I see them I pick them when I dont have them I use Frozen but fresh veggies always taste good then the frozen food.

Cake Decoration

I already told in my previous posts that I have joined Wilton Cake Decoration Classes at Michales.I really enjoyed baking,icing and decorating the cakes.I took Course 1,last week I completed my Course 1 made a cake and decorated it.I realley loved the cake that I did for my last class.I got a certificate on completetion of my Course 1 and I have enrolled for course 2 in August and I'm eagerly waiting to learn more techeniques in cake decoration.

This is the cake I made in Class 3 in which I learnt making drop flowers using 2D tip.Practiced drop lovers on Parchment papers and later used them on cake.The last step in course 1,making roses with butter cream icing.We need to make the roses on a flower nail and them place them on the cake. They teach us to make rose in 3 different steps.As a 1st step we'll learn to make the base for the rose in class 2,n then in class 3 e'll be taught to make a petal on a base which is important and this gives the elagent look to the rose.Finally in class 4 they tell us how to make petals for the rose.I made 7 petal rose.Using self color on the cake made the cake to look like a simple and rich Wedding cake.Isn't it looking good????

I was very happy to see my cakes and was a bit surprised to believe that I can also make lovely cakes.Will come back with different cakes in my course 2 classes in August.

Cheesy Palak Bites

Another Tasty Snack item without deep frying...Actually I saw thi recipe in a TV show there they deep fried the bread dumpling but to make it health I baked them in oven and to make them tasty I added little cheese so that kids will love it.

Ingridents:

Bread Slice:4 no(cut the edges)

Spinach:1/2 bunch(Finely Chopped)

Carrot:1/2 Grated

Oil:1 spn

Grated Cheese: 3 spns

CornFlour:1 spn

Grind To Coarse Paste:

Chillies:4(adjust to Taste)

Cumin Seeds:1 spn

Salt:To Taste

Procedure:

1.Grind the ingridents that are mentioned under grind to coarse paste and put aside.

2.Put a pan on flame and add 1 spn of oil and put in the finely chopped spinach and fry for 2 mins,now add the ground paste and grated carrot.stir well and fry for another 2 mins.Turn off the flame and let the mixture cool down.

3.Dip the 4 bread slices in water and squeeze out the excess water and place them in a bowl and mash them to a smooth paste.

4.To this bread add the cooked spinach mixture and a spoon of cheese and cornflour(for binding),mix well and now the mixture is ready to make the spinach bites.

5.In a muffin tray place the cup-cake cups and fill them with the above mixed bread mixture and finally top them with remaining 2 spns of cheese.

6.Preheat the oven at 350 degrees and put the muffin tray in the oven and bake them tfor 35-40 mins till cheese melts and the bites turn golden color.When they are ready remove them from oven and carefully peel off the cups serve the Cheesy Palak Bites hot with any sauce.I served them with my favourite Garlic Ketchup(saute finely chopped garlic and mix them to Tomato ketchup).

Cheesy Capsicum Baskets

Cheesy Cpasicum Baskets is very similar to veg puffs but the only thing is its shape.Most of the snacks include deep frying,when it comes without deep frying puffs come to our mind.Isnt it???Here goes the recipe..
Ingridents:

1.Puff Pastry Sheets:3 no(Thawed)

2.Capsicum:2 no(color is ur choice I used Green N Red,finely chopped)

3.Potato:1/2(Finely Chopped)

4.Grated Cheese:3 spns

5.Salt:To Taste

6.Tomato Ketchup:2 spns

7.Chilli Sauce:To taste

8.Garlic Salt:A Pinch

9.Oil 2 spns

Procedure:

1.Add oil to pan,when hot add the finely chopped potato and capsicum,fry for 3-4 mins till the potato and capsicum turn crunchy.

2.Now add the salt,garlic salt and mix well.add tomato ketchup and chilli sauce,mix well and cook for another 3-4 mins on medium flame.Turm off the flame and let the mixture cool down.When

the mixture is cool mix in the grated cheese and now the filling is ready.

3.Mean while cut rounds using any lid from pastry sheets to the size that fits the muffin tray.

4.Grease the muffin tray with 2 drops of oil and place the cut pastry rounds in the muffin tray and place a spoon full of capsicum cheese mixture on the pastry sheet.

5.Cut strips from pastry sheets and use them to make handles for the baskets.Use little milk/water to seal the edges of the strips to make the baskets.

6.Place the muffin tray in the preheated oven at 375 degrees for 15-18 mins or till they turn golden brown and cripsy.By now the cheese melts and gives a good taste.Remove from the oven and serve hot with any sauce of ur choice.

I have tried this recipe to send to a online contest,but didnt send it as Cheesy Palak Bites was my entry.Will post that recipe soon.