Oreo Truffles

Simplest sweet... that anybody can make,with just 3 ingredients...my son luved helping me in making these beauties ..Make as many as you want n you could even wrap them in foil or colored wraps n gift them to your buddies..do try !!!

Oreo Biscuits - 1 pkt
Fresh Cream(Malai) - 2 tbsp
Sugar - 2 tbsp (optional)
Cooking Chocolate - 150gm (brown)
Cooking chocolate - 50gm(white)- optional for decoration
Dessicated coconut - 4tbsp - optional for decoration

Method : -

Take out the biscuits from packet and put it in a blender and powder them.

Put the powdered biscuits in a bowl.
Whisk 2 tbsp cream in a small bowl..and add this to the powdered biscuits.Add sugar if you wish.

 Using your hands mix them together and knead into a soft dough.

Keep the dough in fridge for half an hour.Take out after half an hour and make small balls.

Keep the balls back in fridge for 1 hour.
Later take them out and keep aside.
Melt chocolate in a microwave for 2-3 min .(or melt them using double boiling method.

Roll and coat  the balls (one at a time) using fork in the melted chocolate.

my son helping me to coat the balls

seriously doing his job :)

Spread a butter paper/foil on a tray and keep the chocolate coated balls on the tray.

Leave it on room temp. or in fridge for 15-20 min till its set.

 Melt white chocolate and put it in a piping cone and decorate the truffles ..as desired.You can even decorate them using dessicated coconut .(i used milkmaid to decorate them..as i had no white chocolate)

I made 14 balls using just 1 pkt of oreo.

Note :- if using more packets of oreo then do not forget to double the cream also.
you can either coat the truffles using dark chocolate or white..your wish :) Keep experimenting !!

Njoy!!!!!

Zucchini Curry

A simple n quick dish to go along with chapati or rice...

Recipe Source - simple indian recipes

Zucchini - 2
Onion - 1 (finely chopped)
Tomato - 2 (finely chopped or pureed)
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Green Chillies - 2 (finely chopped)
Coriander-cumin powder - 1 tsp
Red Chilli powder - 1 tsp (or as needed)
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/4 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cilantro/coriander leaves - for garnish
Salt - as needed
Hing - 1/2tsp (optional)- i used it
Oil - 2 tbsp

Method :-

Chop the zucchini into big chunks. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan and shallow fry the pieces. Keep it aside.

Remove the zucchini pieces from the pan, add a tbsp of oil and crackle the mustard,cumin seeds n hing.
Saute the onions with the green chillies for 10 minutes until they turn nice golden brown.
Add the ginger- garlic paste and fry for a minute.
Add the tomato pieces/puree and let the mixture cook for atleast 10 minutes until the  tomatoes are pulpy.
Add all the dry spice powders- chilly powder, coriander-cumin powder , turmeric powder, garam masala powder and salt.
Add the zucchini pieces and required water. Bring the gravy to a boil .
Simmer the gravy till oil floats on top.
Garnish with Cilantro/Coriander leaves.remove from fire.
Serve hot with chapati/rice....

Njoy!!!!

Note :-If desired you can even add 1/2 cup thick coconut milk ,just before removing it from fire.

Nimbu ka Achar/Lime Pickle

Thanx to my friend n neighbour Durga for teaching n introducing me to a different kind of pickle.Lime Pickle Kannur style...thnx once again dear :)

Lime - 10
Green chillies - 4
Onion - 1 (medium size,chopped)
Ginger - 1.5tbsp(thinly sliced)
Garlic - 2.5tbsp(thinly sliced)
Red chilli powder - 3 tsp(or adjust to your spice level)
Tumeric - 1 tsp
Fenugreek Powder - 1 to 1.5tsp
Hing - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Dry red chillies - 4
Oil - 1/4 cup + 5 tbsp
Vinegar - 1/2cup
Salt

Method :-

Cut limes and soak in salt water for a week.
Heat oil(1/4cup) in a pan,crackle mustard seeds,dry red chillies.
Later add green chillies,onion,ginger n garlic - saute well(say 3-4 min).
Then add tumeric,red chilli powder and limes.(drain n discard the salt water before adding lime to the pan)
Cook for 10 min,then add fenugreek powder n hing .
Check salt..if needed add more.
Atlast add cooking oil(5tbsp) and vinegar.Mix well..once the mixture starts bubbling..remove from stove..let it cool .
Store in air-tight jar.

Njoy!!!

Chow Chow/Chayote -Stir fry

Last week i was introduced to a new veggie by a gud frnd of mine,it  is called Chow Chow/Chayote/Pear Squash/Vegetable Pear - is an edible plant belonging to Gourd family.

Tried making a stir fry using this for lunch to go along with Rice n Sambar ..it tasted Yumm..

Chow chow - 2 (peeled n diced)
Green Chilli - 2 (chopped roughly)
Ginger - a small pc (chopped)
Curry Leaves - a sprig
Mustard seeds - 1/4tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Hing - a pinch
Tumeric powder- 1/2tsp
Oil
Salt
Coconut - 1 tbsp (freshly grated or can use dessicated coconut)

Method:-

Steam cook the chow chow for 5-7 min.
Heat oil in a pan,crackle mustard seeds,curry leaves .
Add urad dal n hing...when urad dal turns golden add the steamed chow chow,ginger n green chillies.
Saute for a min and add tumeric n salt.Mix well n cook for 1- 2 min.
Atlast add Coconut and mix properly,turn off the heat.

Serve with Rice,Sambar or Rasam...Njoy!!!

Easter Hols

Hey guys ...i was out on a trip to  the most Butiful Place i hav ever visited here in Tanzania -Ngorongoro Crater (click to check out more about the place),one of the 7 wonders of Africa...After shifting from India i used to live here with my hubby,the most awesome 8 months i spent there..is still fresh in my memories.. :)

Revisited Ngorongoro after 6 years..it was really a Nostalgic moment for me..showing my son where his parents lived ..telling him about our encounters with wild animals..it was all Fun!!He loved the place and njoyd each n every moment..n to his GOOD LUCK..he got a chance to spot 15 Lions on his first visit itself :)) am sharing a few pics from our recent visit..

Road to the Crater

Hyenas

Zebras

And the Lucky Moment for all of us ..specially for my son

Crater view from Sopa Lodge

Masai dancers performing

The morning view..Clouds covered Crater

Masai Village outside Crater

Hippos @ Hippo Pool inside the Crater

Baboons

@ Sunset

My son with a Buffalo skull

Hope you liked the pics....Ngorongoro Crater is a MUST VISIT place...