Banana Chips

 A Kerala Sadya (Malayalam: സദ്യ) means banquet in Malayalam. It is a typical feast of the people of Kerala. Sadya is traditionally a vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf. 

At my home i prepare sadya only on 2 occasions -Vishu n Onam.Away from home i always missed the Crispy Banana chips on my leaf..so this year i finally prepared it..its  prepared from Plantain-type of banana found in d south part of india..am lucky that v get it here in Africa too..:)


Raw plantain(Ethekka Pazham)- about 1 or 2 kgs
Coconut Oil - 1/2 ltr
Salt - to taste
Water - a little
Haldi - 1/2tsp


Method:-

1. Wash bananas and leave to dry.
2. Take a small katori(bowl) and mix haldi,salt with water to preapre a solution.
3. Heat Oil in a kadai on a medium flame.
4. Using a slicer,slice bananas directly into the oil.(reduce the flame before doing it)
5. When chips are crispy put  1 tsp/2tsp of haldi solution into d oil.(be careful while doing so).
6. When the sizzling stops,take out the chips on a kitchen tissue.

 
Keep it in an air-tight container...Njoy!!!

Tomato Dosa(Instant)

"Wat to Cook today for breakfast ??"-a daily question popping up in our minds.. wondering d same ,i started lukg for sumthg new on all my fav. blogs..n finally got a dosa with a Twist on Jay's blog.

Raw rice -1.5cups
Tomato -3 to 4
Jeera pwdr - 1/2tsp
RCP(red chilli pwdr) - 1/2tsp
Hing - 1/4tsp
Oil - 2tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4tsp
Jeera - 1/4tsp
Urad dal - 1/2tbsp
Curry Leaves - (chopped) a few
Fresh Coriander leaves -(chopped) 1 tbsp
Salt
Oil - for greasing d pan

Method:-

• Wash n soak rice for 3 to 4 hrs.
• Grind along with tomatoes to fine batter.(i used only the pulp of tomato-no skin)
• Add salt n little water(use less water as tomato has gud amount of water in it).
• The batter should hav loose consistency.
• Add jeera pwdr,rcp and hing.
• Heat oil in a small kadai,prepare tempering with mustard seeds,jeera,curry leaves n urad dal.
• Pour over and mix with the dosa batter.
• Add fresh coriander leaves.Combine well.
• Prepare dosa's using little oil .

Serve with coconut chutney or any other chutney of ur choice.

A vry healthy n light Breakfast. :)) njoy!!

Simple White Cake

A Yummy-Soft- Vanilla cake. If you wish to make cupcakes out of this batter then, its possible to make 12 cupcakes.

Maida - 1 1/2cups
White Sugar - 1 cup
Eggs - 2
Baking powder - 1 3/4tsp
Milk - 1/2cup
Vanilla essence - 2tsp
Butter - 1/2cup ( i replaced butter with ghee)

Method:-

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, beat sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla essence. 
3.  Combine flour and baking powder(sieve it 2 times for even mixing), add to the creamed mixture and mix well. 
4. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
5. For cake -Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. 

For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. 
Cake is done when it springs back to the touch or try the toothpick method.

Njoy!! :) :D

Original recipe  from - www.allrecipes.com 

Soya Chunks Pulav

A vry Yummy n Healthy Pulav..best for growing Kids..my son never liked soya chunks(even i don't)..but wen i made dis pulav,he thought its chicken pieces and he finished up his fud..i was so happy to c that..well credit goes to JAY's Blog -Tasty Appetite.



Soya Chunks(Nuggets) - 1cup
Normal rice/Basmati rice  1 1/2cup
Onion(sliced) - 2
Tomato(sliced) - 2
GGP* - 1 tsp
Mint Leaves and Coriander Leaves - 1 tbsp each
Cloves - 4
Cinnamon sticks - 1" pc
Bay Leaves - 1 big
Jeera - 1tsp
Oil - 2tbsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp
RCP** - 1tsp
Garam Masala - 1tsp
Salt
Pulav Masala/Biryani Masla - 1 tsp (its not there in d original recipe but i added)

Method:-

1. Soak soya chunks in lukewarm water for 15mins.
2. Wash and keep aside the rice for  5 mins.
3. Heat oil plus ghee in a pressure cooker .Add jeera,cloves,cinnamon ,bay leaves.
4. Saute ggp n onion till onion is light brown in color.
5. Add tomatoes.Cook for 5 mins,then add all the masalas.
6. Squeeze out excess water from the soya chunks and add chunks to the above mix.
7. Add rice and mix properly.
8. Now add salt ,mint leaves and water(3 cups).
9. Bring to full pressure (1 whistle) and then keep it on Low flame for 5-7 min
10. Wait till the pressure goes away ,open and garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve this yummy pulav with Onion raita or any raita of ur choice.

* GGP - ginger garlic paste
**RCP - red chilli pwdr

Egg Biryani

Boiled eggs - 4
Basmati rice - 4 cups
Onion - 3 medium(sliced)
Tomato -2 medium(sliced)
Ginger - 1 tsp(chopped)
Biryani Masala - 2tbsp
Cashew nuts - 5 to 6 pcs
Raisins - 6
Bay leaves - 2
Cloves -4
Cardamom - 3
Coriander Leaves - 2tbsp
Ghee - 4 tbsp
Salt

Method:-

• Heat Ghee in a kadai,roast cashews and raisins.
• Add bay leaves,cardamom and cloves.
• Saute ginger and onions,till onions are golden brown.
• Add Biryani masala and salt.Mix well.
• Add the tomatoes and saute for 5 min.
• Later add washed Basmati rice and enough water(3 cups).
• Put the flame on high.Reduce it when water starts boiling.
• Add boiled eggs now.
• Put on the lid again on the kadai and cook till the rice is cooked.
• Atlast garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve it hot with Boondi raita n Papadam.

Chicken Stew

Chicken - 1kg(cut into medium size pieces)
White Vinegar - 4tsp
Potato(cubed) - 1
Onion(chopped) - 1
Garlic(chopped) - 1tsp
Ginger(chopped) -1tsp
Green Chillies(chopped) -2
Cardamom - 2
Cloves - 4
Cinnamon - 1" stick
Coconut Milk - 2 cups(thin milk) and 1/2 cups(thick)
Curry Leaves
Oil
Salt

Method:-

• Boil chicken in pressure cooker along with salt,potato,vinegar and water(just enough to cover the chicken pcs).
• Keep it aside after 1 whistle.
• heat 3 tsp of oil in a pan.
• Saute the Onions,garlic,ginger and green chillies -till the onion turns transparent.
• Lightly pound the cardamoms,cloves and cinnamon using Chapati roller.
• Add the above masala to the onions.
• Add the boiled chicken along with coconut milk(thin).
• Cook well till the chicken is tender.
• Remove from fire,add thick coconut milk.Mix properly.
• Garnish with tadka of curry leaves.

I added 1tsp of chicken masala also for that extra spicy taste. (Add if u wish)

Njoy with Appam ,Chapati...orrrrrrrrr Fried rice.

Green Peas Stew

Green Peas - 100gm
Carrot - 50gm
Potato -50gm
Green chilly -3
Ginger - 1" pc
Onion -50gm
Haldi -1/2tsp
Black pepper powder -1tsp
Fresh Coconut milk - 1 coconut full.(i used coconut milk powder to prepare 1.5cups thin milk and 1/4 cup thick milk)
Salt
Oil
Mustrad seeds-1/2tsp
Curry Leaves

Method:-

1. If you are using fresh Coconut then ,extract milk from coconut(thin and thick).
2. Take a pressure cooker and cook all veggies in the thin milk(2 whistles).
3. Wait for the pressure to release.Add haldi and salt-cook for 5-10 mins more(without lid).
4. Add thick milk and black pepper -mix well.
5. Remove from fire.
6. Heat oil in a pan ,splutter mustard seeds n curry leaves -pour over the stew.

Serve hot with Appam ,Dosa or Chapati.