EGGLESS CARAMEL ICECREAM

Recipe Source: www.Cookingchanneltv.com
You can find the recipe here
Ingredients

1. Milk- 1 1/2 cup
2. Light cream- 1 cup
3. Cornflour- 3 tbsp
4. Sugar- 1/2 cup
5. Vanilla pod- 1  or  vanilla essence - 1 tsp
6. Dulce de leche-1 to 2  tbsp ( see note)
7. Salt- 1 pinch

Method

• Mix cornflour with 1/4 cup milk and keep aside.
• In a saucepan add rest of the milk,cream ,sugar and salt .If you are using vanilla pod,cut it into two, lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the milk mixture along with the pod.Cook this over medium low heat until it begins to steam.
• Now remove the vanilla pod and add the cornflour mixture,stirring well as you do so.
• Bring this to just under a boil,stirring continuously.
• Now reduce the flame to low and cook for 5 minutes or until  the milk mixture thickens.
• If you are using vanilla extract ,add it and mix well.
• Transfer the mixture to a wide container .Allow it to cool well.
• Cover and place the container in the refrigerator to chill for 30-40 minutes.
• Take the container out ,now it should have just started freezing from the outside edges.
• Using a wooden spatula or a sturdy whisk( a hand blender works really well),beat the mixture well to make it smooth once again.Put it in the freezer.
• Continue to check every 30- 40 minutes ,stirring well as it is freezing .( repeat this process 3 to 4 times)
• After the final mixing ,once the mixture is soft,add the dulce de leche 1 tsp at a time and fold in lightly for just two or three times.Put it back in the freezer until it is firm.

Note:
Adjust the quantity of sugar according to your taste.
Check this link to see 5 different ways to make homemade Dulce De Leche.

Schezwan Vegetable Pasta

This dish is very similar to schezwan fried rice. Just added pasta intead of rice. I always love to add lot of vegetables in quantity to my pasta or noodles dishes. They looks colorful and also taste good.

Ingredients :

Macaroni pasta - 1 cup
Mixed Vegetable - 1 cup (I used carrot, beans, broccoli and peas)
Capsicum - 1/4 cup, chopped
Onion - 1/2 cup, chopped
Garlic - 1 tbsp, finelychopped
Tomato sauce - 1 and 1/2 tbsp
Hot chilli sauce - 1 tsp
Schezwan sauce - 2 tbsp
Schezwan masala - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method :

Cook the pasta as per the instructions given in the packet by adding enough salt and a tsp of oil to this. Chop the veggies.

When the pasta got cooked, switch off the flame and before draining the water add the chopped veggies to this and let this sit for 5 minutes. 

Now drain the water and add a tsp of oil and toss this nicely.

In a pan, add oil and add finely chopped garlic when gets aroma then add onion and capsicum, saute for few minutes by adding a pinch of salt to this. 

Now add all sauces and mix well. Add the cooked pasta and veggies.

Let this mix well nicely and the sauce gets infused into the pasta.

Switch off the flame & Serve hot with sauce. 

Sending this to Indrani's "Spotlight - Valentines Treat" hosted by me, Nivedhanam's "Mission-Breakfast" event, Seduce Your Tastebud's "Kids Delights - Healthy lunch Box" event and Farmergirls kitchen's "Breakfast Club" event 

Banana Milkshake / Breakfast Milkshake

              I am not a fan for banana but i love having them when my tummy feels really hungry. when i was piled with bananas at home i had two choices - banana bread or milkshakes. Temperatures are running in minus so no time for milkshakes in between the day so i had to alternate my hubbies breakfast with these shakes. He is not a milkshake guy but when i made this for breakfast in his rush to office he was happy that he didnt fight with spoon or forks in the morning rather just sipped a cup and felt a filled tummy.

Ingredients:

Banana (Your palm size lengthy & well riped) - 2 no's
Milk (Boiled & Cooled) - 1 cup
Water - 1/4 cup
Sugar (Optional) - 1 teaspoon

Method:

• Add Banana,Milk,Water,Sugar to your blender.
• Run your mixer at high speed for 2 minutes or until the shake is soft with no banana pieces left.
• Serve for your breakfast or snack.

• Remember the shake will be half white colour might change its colour if its exposed to air for very long time.

"Super yum credit"
when you have the last sip saved for you from your loved one : )

Am sending this to :

Besan Badami laddoo / Almond-Gram flour Roll

                One simple mithai you can try anytime from home ingredients is this Besan Badami Laddoo. Using Badam is completely optional. Having north indian friends along Besan Badami Laddoo was a every day treat in our lunch boxes during our school days :). i got this recipe from our neighbour. its super simple and tasty.

Ingredients:

Gram Flour            -         2 cups
Ghee                      -         3/4 cup
Badam                   -         15 to 20 no's
Cardamon             -          3 no's
Sugar(Powdered)  -         1-1/2 cups

Method:

• Heat Ghee in a kadai.
• Add Gram flour and roast until aroma comes out.
• Add crushed cardamon, Keep mixing without letting it stick to the kadai and gram flour looses its rawness.
• Switch off the stove and transfer the contents to a mixing bowl. Allow to cool.
• Now add crushed badam, powdered sugar and mix well.
• Make them to small round balls.
• Besan Badami Laddoo is smiling to serve.

Heat ghee in a kadai.

Add gram flour and roast until aroma comes out.

Add crushed cardamon, Keep mixing without letting it stick to the kadai and gram flour looses its rawness.

Switch off the stove and transfer the contents to a mixing bowl. Allow to cool.

Now add crushed badam, powdered sugar and mix well.

SUKHIYAN | MUNG BEAN FRITTERS

Ingredients

1. Green gram / cherupayar / mung beans -cooked- 1 cup
2. Jaggery-grated-1/2 cup
3. Water-2 to 3 tbsp
4. Grated coconut- 1/2 cup
5. Cardamom powder- 1/2 to 3/4 tsp
6. Ginger powder- 1 pinch
7. Cumin powder- 1 pinch ( optional)
8. Oil-For deep frying

 For batter

1. All purpose flour-1/4 cup
2. Rice powder- 1/4 cup
3. Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp (optional)
4. Water -as required
5. Salt- 1 pinch

Method

• In a heavy bottomed pan, add jaggery and 2 tbsp water.Cook until it is thick, over medium low flame.
• Now add grated coconut,mix well and cook for a minute on low flame.
• Next add cooked green gram and saute for about 5 minutes or until it is almost dry.Switch off the stove.
• Add cardamom,ginger and cumin powder and mix thoroughly .Allow it to cool slightly.Roll this into lemon sized balls.
• Combine all the ingredients listed under "for batter" to form a thick batter.
• Heat oil in a pan.Dip each balls into the batter to coat it evenly and deep fry until golden brown.

NOTE

Do not over cook mung bean.

You can roll the filling into slightly larger balls ,if desired.

AVAL VILAYICHATHU | AVAL VARATTIYATHU

Ingredients

1. Jaggery -cut into small pieces- 1 cup ( or to taste)
2. Water- 1/2 cup
3. Aval/Poha/flattened rice flakes- 2 1/2 cup
4. Grated coconut- 1 cup
5. Cardamom powder- 1 tsp
6. Ginger powder /Chukku- 1/4 tsp( optional)
7. Ghee- 1 tsp  & more for frying
8. Chana Dal /Kadala parippu- 1 1/2 tbsp
9. Cashew nuts and raisins- 8 to 10 nos

Method

• Heat ghee in a pan and  fry chana dal ,cashew nuts and raisins separately  until it turns golden brown.Drain and keep aside.
• In a heavy bottomed pan ,add jaggery with  1/2 cup  water and cook over low flame until it begins to thicken .(or until you get one thread consistency)
• Now add grated coconut and mix well.Cook for few minutes over low flame until it is thick.
• Add aval and mix well until combined.Switch off the stove.
• Now sprinkle cardamom and ginger powder followed by fried chana dal and cashew nuts.
• Finally drizzle 1 tsp ghee ( if using) and mix everything thoroughly.

NOTE
You can also add a pinch of roasted cumin powder ,if desired.
Strain the melted jaggery ,to remove impurities,if any.

Malai Koftha Curry / Paneer Koftha curry / Healthy version of Malai Koftha

              I never knew Malai koftha is one such easy recipe until my friend reetu shared her way of preparing it. The stuffing is completely optional. we can add from vegetables to meat(am yet to try the meat version). i love making paneer at home, so when i had only some frozen peas,canned corn and potatoes i decided to prepare paneer and make koftha gravy for my husband's lunch. It seems to be lengthy process but this is a super easy and healthy method. i didn't deep fry the koftha's. i toasted them in paniyarakal like my mom does for vadakari. i am happy that i could serve the recipe with same taste without deep frying the koftha's.

              I used only 3 vegetables for preparation but we can make changes using any vegetable to the stuffing like beans,carrot,cauliflower,spinach or anything.


Ingredients:

For making Koftha's:
Grated Paneer - 1 cup
Potato(diced) - 2/3 cup
Green Peas - 1/4 cup
Sweet Corn - 1/4 cup
(Boil Potato,Peas & Corn until they are soft and cooked. keep the boiled water after straining for using  while making gravy)
Chilli powder - 2-1/2 teaspoons
Coriander powder - 3 teaspoons
Cumin powder - 1 teaspoon
Ajwain - 1/4 teaspoon
Asafoetida / Hing - 1/4 teaspoon
Fennel seeds - 1 teaspoon
Raisins - 1 tablespoon
Cashew nut - 5 no's
Badam / Almond - 5 no's
(Crush Cashew and badam to gether to coarse powder. final product will be 1 tablespoon)
Garam masala - 1 teaspoon
Salt - as needed
Oil - to deep fry
(i toasted them in paniyarakal. deep frying koftha's are choice)

For making Gravy:
Onion (diced) - 3 cups
Tomato (diced) - 1-2/3 cups
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tablespoon
Chilli powder - 1-1/2 teaspoons
Coriander powder - 2 tablespoons
Cumin powder - 1 tablespoon
Fennel seeds - 1 teaspoon
Oil - 4 tablespoon
Cream - 1/4 cup (or) Milk - 2/3 cup
Garam masala - 1/2 teaspoon
Water(Vegetable boiled water if u saved) - 2/3 cup
Salt - as needed

Method:

To prepare Koftha's:

• Drain the water from boiled vegetables(keep the boiled water to use while making gravy). Take a bowl,add Paneer,Boiled Vegetalbes and all other ingredients mentioned above(except oil) from the list "For making koftha's". Mash them together and check salt(add if needed).

• Make small round balls or any shape out of the koftha mash. Take a paniyarakal and add some drops of oil and toast them both sides until they are golden brown (or) Take a pan, heat oil in medium flame and deep fry the koftha's until they are golden brown.

To prepare Gravy:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a kadai. Saute onions until they are golden brown. now add Ginger garlic paste,saute for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and saute for 5 minutes.

• Switch off the stove when they are soft and cooked. Take a mixer and grind the sauted onions&tomatoes to a fine paste.

• Heat oil in a kadai,add fennel seeds and let it splatter. now add the ground paste,chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and saute until the oil oozes out (8 to 10 minutes on medium flame).

• Now add Water and mix well. then add cream, when it starts to boil(Foam forms on the top) add Garam masala and mix well. allow to boil for 2 minutes and switch off. Add koftha's only while serving.

• Malai Koftha is ready to serve with Chappati/Naan/Paratha.

Am happy to send this recipe to:

Tri Color Sandwich ~ Republic Day Special

Sare Jahan se accha Hindustan hamara

Hum Bulbulai hai is ki, yeh gulsitan hamara, hamara...

Jay Hind Jay Bharat!!

Wishing all my Indian  bloggers friends  a very Happy Republic Day. Let the year ahead be in peace and harmony.

Ingredients:

White Bread (Can use any kind of bread) : 3 slices

For green chutney ~

Pudina (Mint Leaves) : 1 bunch

Coriander : 1 bunch

Green chillies : 4 or 5

Salt : as per taste 

Oil : 1 tsp

For Red Chutney ~

Tomato sauce or Ketchup : 2 tbsp

Pepper powder : as per taste

Salt : as per taste

For White Part ~

Mashed Potato - 1 cup

Preparation:

To prepare Green Chutney ~

Wash the leaves of pudina and corianders.

Heat 1 tsp of oil in a saucepan, and add pudina, coriander and green chillies to it.

Fry until they are nicely cooked.

Finally add salt and blend into smooth paste after the ingredients get cooled.

Method :

Take 3 bread slices each per sandwich and gently cut the sides.

Now take first slice of bread and pour tomato ketchup on it and spread nicely and close it with another slice of bread.

On top of that slice spread the green chutney mixture.

Take another piece of bread spread mashed potato in middle.

Now your tri colored 3 slice sandwich is ready.

Trust me it will be very tasty and colorful too!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sending this to jagruti's "Celebrated Makar Sankranti and Republic day of india" event, Nivedhanam's "Mission- Breakfast" event and Sudeshna's " Holi – The Festival of Colors" event