Happy Belated Rakhi

As I am not able to make something new from sometimes because of my health. I don't want to miss Priti and Purva's Rakhi – Thread of Love event, so I am sending some of my family favorites dishes to this lovely event.

As we are talking about Rakshabandhan, how can I forget My Brother's favorite dish.

1. Macaroni Masala



Here's some of my family favorite.

2. American Paplu




3. Dhekra



4. Dal Dhokli



This is my entries to Priti and Purva's Rakhi – Thread of Love event.



Enjoy...

Black Bean Soup With Labna

This soup is thick, rich, and velvety in texture. Meat lovers love these beans because of the meaty taste. Black beans are very healthy. They have high fiber, cancer-fighting antioxidants, and protein. They are mostly used in Mexican cuisine. You can make cake, chili, soup, stew, patty, or even dip with black beans.

Labna is very very easy to make flavored, strained yogurt. It is also known as yogurt cheese. Usually, making labna takes 2-3 days because they strained every ounce of liquid from yogurt, and hang it wrapped in a cloth for 2 days. It then comes out very silky and smooth. The small marble-sized balls are formed and preserved in Olive oil. It goes very well with sandwich, salads, with grilled vegetables, and with soups etc. I just made instant.

This goes wonderfully well with this little sweet soup because labna will infuse a tinge of sour flavor to it. I used pickled jalapeno instead of regular one. It gives more flavor to the soup.

Ingredients:-

-- For Labna

• 2 cups Yogurt
  
• 1 tbsp Onion Flakes, dry
  
• 1/4 tsp Lemon Zest
  
• Garlic salt to taste
  
• Cheese Cloth/Muslin Cloth
  

-- For Soup

• 4 cups Black Beans, cooked
  
• 1 Onion, chopped
  
• 2 Garlic Cloves, chopped
  
• 1/4 tsp Ginger, grated
  
• 1/2 tsp Red Chili Powder
  
• 6-7 Sliced Pickled Jalapeño
  
• 1 tsp Cumin Powder
  
• 5 cups Vegetable Stock
  
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  
• 1 tsp Lemon Zest
  
• Salt to taste
  
• Black Pepper to taste
  
• Chives, chopped
  

Method:-

-- For Labna

1. In bowl, mix yogurt, lemon zest, onion flakes, and garlic salt.

2. Place cheese Cloth/Muslin Cloth in large bowl.

3. Pour yogurt mix into the cloth and pull all the cloth corners together.

4. Hang the cloth and let it drain liquid for 3-4 hours.

-- For Soup

1. Heat oil in sauce pan, add onion, garlic, ginger, and salt. Sauté for 3-4 minutes.

2. Add black beans, red chili powder, jalapeño, cumin powder, and black pepper. Sauté for 2 more minutes.

4. Add lemon zest, and vegetable stock, cover with lid, and bring it up to the boil. Turn down the heat.

5. Simmer the soup for 35-40 minutes on medium-low heat.

6. Blend the soup until smooth.

7. Pour soup back in the pan, taste and season. Heat it for 3-4 minutes.

8. Transfer the soup to a warmed serving bowls, put labna on top, and sprinkle chives.

Enjoy...


Visual Treat Event hosted by Sanyukta.



This is my entry to Original Recipes hosted by Lore




I am also sending this entry to WYC: Colour in Food Event by EC

Handi Aloo Gobi Curry

Back in India, We all use handi for our regular home cooking. Handi is famous for the slow cooking, for biryani, pulav, and curries. Handi is round, deep vessel in opening and is narrow than the base. In India, clay handis have been in use for centuries. You can find non-stick handis these days in market. If you don't have handi, one can use Dutch oven as well. If you are using Dutch oven, you can bake the subzi. Dutch oven locks moisture, aroma, and flavor inside the same as handi does.

In this dish, I marinated vegetables with yogurt, grated tomato, and other spices to give more flavor and taste to aloo gobi. This curry is very thick. Most people I know like gobi which is not mushy and has a little bite. This Handi Gobi didn't lost crunch and was perfectly cooked even after it was marinated for 3-4 hours in yogurt.

Ingredients:-

• 1 lb Gobi, cut the florets in to bite size pieces
  
• 3 Potato, cut in to the about 1 inch pieces
  
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, cut into the bite size pieces
  
• 1 Tomato, grated
  
• 1 Onion, grated
  
• 1/2 cup Green Peas
  
• Cilantro, chopped
  

-- For Marinade

• 1-1/2 cup Yogurt, thick
  
• 1 Tomato, grated (Use with juice)
  
• 6-7 Garlic Cloves, grated
  
• 2 tsp Ginger, grated
  
• 2 Thai Green Chili, chopped
  
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
  
• 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
  
• 1 tsp Garam Masala
  
• 1/4 tsp Fenugreek Seeds
  
• 1/4 tsp Asafetida
  
• Salt to taste
  

-- For Tadka

• 2 tbsp Oil
  
• 1 tsp Ghee
  
• 1 tbsp Cumin Seeds
  
• 2-3 Red Chili, whole
  
• 5-6 Curry Leaves
  

Method:-

1. In a large bowl, pour yogurt and beat. Add all the marinade ingredients in the yogurt and mix well.

2. Add cut cauliflower, potato, and bell pepper in the yogurt. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and keep marinade in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.

3. Heat oil and ghee in the handi. Add cumin seeds.

4. When they start to brown, add curry leaves, red chili, and onion. Also, add grated tomato with juice. Sauté for 2-3 minutes on high heat.

5. Add marinated gobi, potato, red bell pepper, and green peas with marinade.

6. Add 1/2 cup water and mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning.

7. Cover handi with lid and turn down the heat on medium low.

8. Cook for 40-45 minutes.

9. Sprinkle chopped cilantro and serve hot with roti or rice.

Enjoy...



This is my entry to Curry Mela hosted by Srivalli

I am also sending Champakali



for this lovely event.

Enjoy...

Maggi Fritters

"School se jab bhi ghar pe aana ek hi bat hai dohrana Maggi Maggi Maggi, aur ma kehti hai bas 2 minutes". Remember ????? Oh it's reminds me of my childhood. I think most of us loved it when we were kids, and my hubby still loves it and me too. Whenever in need of quick snack, pop open a Maggi. This Nestle product is popular in around 10 countries. In India only, they are available in many many flavors like aata noodles, veg.chow mein (my favorite), dal noodles, sahi pulav, curry, lemon, tomato etc etc, but most popular is masala flavor.

These fritters are super-duper crunchy from outside and soft from the inside. The fried Maggi noodles gives awesome crunch, and Maggi Masala in filling give a little Maggi flavor. One can use any noodles like Top Ramen, or Marucham.

Ingredients:-

• 3 Potatoes, boiled and grated
  
• 1 cup Mixed Vegetables, finally chopped and boiled
  
• 2 Maggi noodles
  
• 2 Maggi Masala Pouch
  
• 1 Garlic Cloves, grated
  
• 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
  
• 1 tsp Pav Bhaji Masala or Garam Masala
  
• 2 tbsp Juwar Flour or Whole Wheat Flour
  
• 2 tbsp Green Onion, chopped
  
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
  
• 1 tsp Oil
  
• Salt to taste
  
• All Purpose Flour
  

Method:-

1. In bowl, mix potato, vegetable, garlic, maggi masala, red chili powder, pav bhaji masala, juwar flour, green onion, salt, oil, and lemon juice very well.

2. Cook maggi noodles in boiling water. Please do not cook the noodles completely, but make sure they don't stick together.

3. Make small balls of potato mix. Cover each ball with noodles. When you cover the balls, press a little hard so noodles stick to potato bills.

4. Coat with dry all purpose powder and fry until noodles are golden brown on medium high heat.

5. Serve hot with Maggi ketchup.

Enjoy...


This is my entry to Magic Bullet Giveaway Contest, hosted @ Fun and Food Cafe.

Irish Bread

What is better than fresh home-made bread huh ??!! This is simple and easy to make bread from Ireland. This Irish bread is also known as "Soda Bread", crusty on the outside and cake-like tender on the inside. Irish bread is served routinely at Irish meals, from breakfast to high tea. The rounded slices make them tasty partners for tea, soup, sandwich, or eggs. You can also apply them with butter, honey, or marmalade.

Ingredients:-

• 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
  
• 2 cups Wheat Flour
  
• 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
  
• 1 tsp Salt
  
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
  
• 2 tbsp Butter, room temperature
  
• 1-1/4 cup Buttermilk
  
• 1 tbsp Milk
  

Method:-

1. Preheat oven on 375 degrees.

2. In large bowl, mix all-purpose flour, wheat flour, brown sugar, salt, and baking soda.

3. Add room temperature butter. The mixture should resemble the coarse crumbs.

4. Add buttermilk and stir, only enough to moisten dry ingredients.

5. With floured hands, shape dough into a flat ball about 2 inches high.

6. Put on greased baking sheet and apply milk with pastry brush on top of the bread.

7. Take sharp knife and shallow an X in the top of the loaf, spreading across the whole way.

8. Bake for 40 minutes or until bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

9. Let it cool a little bit and cut into thick slices.

10. Serve warm or room temperature.

Enjoy...

Toasted Garbanzo

This is Rachael Ray's awesome snack. This is very easy to make with just a few ingredients. I and my DH love this so much because of cheesy flavor of the beans. I think this is perfect for a movie night snack. Instead of popcorn or any other common snack, serve this nutty and spicy garbanzo with drinks. I usually add garlic for more flavor, the entire house smells awesome for some time while cheese is melting and garlic is toasting. Try this snack, I am sure you will like it and after all, who doesn't love a little crunch in their snack!!!!!!

Ingredients:-

• 3 cups Garbanzo Beans, cooked
  
• 2 Garlic Cloves, grated
  
• 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated
  
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  
• Red Chili Flakes to taste
  
• Salt to taste
  

Method:-

1. Preheat non-stick pan for 10 minutes on medium-low heat.

2. Drain garbanzo beans very well. Add them into the pan and let it toast for 10-12 minutes. Stir occasionally.

3. Add grated garlic, oil, salt, and red chili flakes. Toast for 1o minutes.

4. Add Parmesan cheese and mix well. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and is covering beans.

5. Let it cool just a little and serve with a little extra cheese sprinkle.

Enjoy...

Tips:

1. Drain garbanzo complete before putting them into pan, otherwise they won't be as crunchy as they should be.

2. Be gentle on salt. Parmesan cheese will infuse salty flavor any way.


Awards

Now it is time for Awards................. I received six awards in last few days. At this time imagine me standing on the podium with all 6 awards close to my heart and here comes the speech: I would thank my mom, my dad, my hubby etc. etc.etc.. and above all thank you blogger.com for creating a free site.....hehehehe....

Jokes apart, I am very very happy about each and every award and want to thank all the gals for your kindness and generosity. Here is the list of awards and who I would like to pass them onto:

Sireesha and Suma Rajesh passed me this Yum Yum award. Thank you so much gals :))



Ranji and Uma found me worthy of "Friendship Award". Thank you so much my dear friends :))



Vaidahi passed this "Rocking Girl Blogger" Award. Thank you so much :))



Indranee awarded "Giant Bear Hug" award. Big hug back to you as well :))




Hetal sent me "Make My Day" award and made my day special :))



Sripriya passed me " Nice Matter Award". Thank you so much for the award :))



You all are my friends, and I am inspired by each and everyone of you. I want to pass all these awards to all of you. All of you deserve them for sheer hard work, dedication, and keeping this blogger community alive and kicking. Please accept the awards. Love you all and keep rocking!!!

Lauki (Bottle Gourd) Bites

Bottle Gourd (Lauki) is very good for your stomach because it’s a cold vegetable and it helps with acidity.

This is very easy recipe and a perfect party snack or a side dish.

Ingredients:-

• 3 cups Lauki, grated
  
• 4 tbsp Gram Flour
  
• 3 tbsp Rice Flour
  
• 2 tbsp Juwar Flour (Jowar Flour)
  
• 5 Garlic Cloves, chopped
  
• 1-1/2 tsp Ginger, grated
  
• 1/4 tsp Asafetida
  
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric
  
• 1 tbsp Dhania-Jeera Powder
  
• 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
  
• 1 tsp Garam Masala
  
• 2 tsp Chat Masala
  
• 3 tbsp Cilantro, chopped
  
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
  
• 1 tsp Oil, plus extra for shallow fry
  
• Salt to taste
  

Method:-

1. Mix all ingredients into the bowl and mix well.

2. Heat oil in the pan. Shape the mixture in quarter-size circles about half-inch thick.

3. Cook both sides on low heat until its cooked and golden brown.

4. Serve hot with cool raita or ranch.

Enjoy...

This is my entry to Pooja’s VoTW - Bottle Gourd Event.




I am also sending Potato In Bottle Gourd Curry for the event.




Enjoy...