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Friday, October 29, 2010

Fafda ( crispy savory snack)

Fafda also known as chora fari is a delectable savory  fried indian snack that is served as a teatime treat or eaten as nibbles.

Ingredients:

16oz plain Flour (maida)
4 oz gram flour ( besan)
3/4 teaspoon chilli powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon ajwain (optional)
1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
1-2 green chillies finely chopped
1/2 tablespoon freshly chopped coriander
Water for making dough
Sunflower oil for deep frying

Method:

1. Add the plain flour and gram flour to a large bowl, add the turmeric, salt, chili powder, green chillies, sesame seeds and chopped  coriander.
2. Add 1 tablespoon oil and make a soft dough adding water as required.Cover and keep the dough aside for 20 minutes.
3. Dive the dough into 8 parts, roll a thin chappati from each dough piece and cut it into thin strips roughly 3 inches by 1 inch as shown  in picture.


4. Heat the oil in frying pan when oil is hot, deep fry in batches on medium till crispy.Drain on kitchen paper and repeat for rest of dough.
5. Store in an air tight container. Will keep up to a month.

You may like:
Sago muruku

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Daring Bakers Challenge October 2010 ~ Doughnuts


The October 2010 Daring Bakers challenge was hosted by Lori of Butter Me Up. Lori chose to challenge Daring Bakers to make doughnuts. She used several sources for her recipes including Alton Brown, Nancy Silverton, Kate Neumann and Epicurious

Recipe I used was for yeast doughnuts by food network.

Glazed doughnuts,golden and crispy on the outside soft and airy inside with a delicious mouthwater chocolate glaze. A lovely indulgent treat.

Yeast Doughnuts:

Preparation time:
Hands on prep time - 25 minutes
Rising time - 1.5 hours total
Cooking time - 12 minutes

Yield: 20 to 25 doughnuts & 20 to 25 doughnut holes, depending on size

Ingredients

Milk 1.5 cup / 360 ml
Vegetable Shortening 1/3 cup / 80 ml / 70 gm / 2.5 oz (can substitute butter, margarine or lard)
Active Dry Yeast 4.5 teaspoon (2 pkgs.) / 22.5 ml / 14 gm / ½ oz
Warm Water 1/3 cup / 80 ml (95°F to 105°F / 35°C to 41°C)
Eggs, Large, beaten 2( used egg replacer in this recipe)
White Granulated Sugar ¼ cup / 60 ml / 55 gm / 2 oz
Table Salt 1.5 teaspoon / 7.5 ml / 9 gm / 1/3 oz
Nutmeg, grated 1 tsp. / 5 ml / 6 gm / ¼ oz (Omitted and used 1 teaspoon vanilla essence instead)
All Purpose Flour 4 2/3 cup / 1,120 ml / 650 gm / 23 oz + extra for dusting surface
Canola Oil DEPENDS on size of vessel you are frying in – you want THREE (3) inches of oil (can substitute any flavorless oil used for frying)


For Glazing:

Milk chocolate
White Chocolate
Sprinkles
Milk chocolate shavings
Coloured icing


Method:

1.Place the milk in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat just until warm enough to melt the shortening. (Make sure the shortening is melted so that it incorporates well into the batter.)
2.Place the shortening in a bowl and pour warmed milk over. Set aside.
3.In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let dissolve for 5 minutes. It should get foamy. After 5 minutes, pour the yeast mixture into the large bowl of a stand mixer and add the milk and shortening mixture, first making sure the milk and shortening mixture has cooled to lukewarm.
4.Add the eggs, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and half of the flour. Using the paddle attachment of your mixer (if you have one), combine the ingredients on low speed until flour is incorporated and then turn the speed up to medium and beat until well combined.
5.Add the remaining flour, combining on low speed at first, and then increase the speed to medium and beat well.
6.Change to the dough hook attachment of the mixer and beat on medium speed until the dough pulls away from the bowl and becomes smooth, approximately 3 to 4 minutes (for me this only took about two minutes). If you do not have a dough hook/stand mixer – knead until the dough is smooth and not sticky.
7.Transfer to a well-oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.


8.On a well-floured surface, roll out dough to 3/8-inch (9 mm)thick. (Make sure the surface really is well-floured otherwise your doughnuts will stick to the counter).
9.Cut out dough using a 2 1/2-inch (65 mm) doughnut cutter or pastry ring or drinking glass and using a 7/8-inch (22 mm) ring for the center whole. Set on floured baking sheet, cover lightly with a tea towel, and let rise for 30 minutes.
10.Preheat the oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 365 °F/185°C.
11.Gently place the doughnuts into the oil, 3 to 4 at a time. Cook for 1 minute per side or until golden brown (my doughnuts only took about 30 seconds on each side at this temperature).
12.Transfer to a cooling rack placed in baking pan. Allow to cool for 15 to 20 minutes prior to glazing, if desired.
For Glazing:

13. In a double boiler melt the white chocolate  and milk chocolate separately.
14. Dip some of  the doughnuts in melted milk chocolate and sprinkle with sweet sprinkles. Leave to set.
15. Dip some of  doughnuts in white chocolate and sprinkle with milk chocolate shavings.Leave to set.
16. To make plain sugar coated just sprinkle suger over the doughnuts.

NB- Doughnuts can be decorated in any way you desire ,just let your imagination run.

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Orange Tian

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Fruit and Vegetable carving.

I started fruit and vegetable carving classes in September and  I am really enjoying them tremendously. It needs a lot of patience and concentration as the work is very intricate but the results are very satisfying.
I started off with carving carrot and cucumber leaves in week one. Controlling the knife which believe me is very sharp and  one that has a mind of its own needs a lot of skill and manual dexterity!!!My  cut fingers will vouch for this, having invested in a whole box of bandaids.

Week two and three progressed to carrot flowers , which came in all shapes and sizes.I am yet to master the perfectly shaped flower.

Week four and I am onto carving turnips, these being larger are I guess easier to manipulate as there is more surface area.Although I must say taming the knife is yet a challenge.

Now on to week five and along came the melon. My knife skills are improving and have only used two plasters all week. :)
I hope to continue for a few more lessons, I will update my progress if my fingers are still intact!!lolz.

Here are some clicks of my amateur carvings.

Carrot Flowers and Carrot Leaves


Turnips


Cantaloupe Melon

Submitting to:
Mindful Meanderings-artsy craftsy December 10

Artsy-Craftsy Challenge


Friday, October 22, 2010

Award time again.


Award time again  and I am proud to accept this award from Harini of Tamalapaku and Mina of authentic vegetarian recipes . Chaitrali of I am not a chef .Thankyou ladies for sharing this lovely award with simply.food and thinking us worthy of it.
I pass this award to all by blogger friends and visitors old and new. Please pick up this award and  feel free to showcase it on your blogs and also share it with all your friends too.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Meetha Bhaat (Sweet Rice)


Sweet rice with nuts and coconut can be eaten as dessert or as part of a main meal

Ingredients:

6 oz Idli rice
3 oz jaggery
1 teaspoon cardamom powder
3 oz mixed chopped nuts (Almonds, pistachio and cashew)
1 tablespoon desiccated coconut
1 tablespoon flaked almonds (coloured red.)
1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
Few strands saffron


Method:

1. Wash and soak the rice for 1 hour.
2. Drain the rice and add to a large microwaveable bowl with lid. Add 18 floz water and cover and cook the rice on high for 20 minutes.
3. After 20 minutes take the rice out of the microwave and add the jaggery. Mix the rice, the heat from the hot rice will melt the jaggery.
4. Return the rice back to the microwave for 10 more minutes.
5. Take the rice out of the microwave. It should be well cooked and slightly glutinous.
6. Leave the rice to cool for few minutes.
7. Add the saffron and cardamom and the ghee and mix thoroughly.
8. Add the nuts and the desiccated coconut and mix well.
9. Transfer the rice to a serving dish and garnish with the coloured flaked almonds.

Serve slightly warm with a swirl of cream on the top.


NB -To colour the flaked almonds place them in a plastic sandwich bag and add few drops of red food colouring shake the bag till all the almonds are stained red.
Spread the almonds out on kitchen paper in a single layer and allow to dry. Use these for garnish as and when required.

You may like  Kheer

Submitting to:
 "only festive food" event , event by Pari of Foodelicious hosted by Pretti of Khaugari
Complete my thali -rice event, event by Jagruti of joy of cooking hosted by Priya of priyas Easy N Tasty


 

Friday, October 15, 2010

Punjabi Kadhi with Pakoras ~ ICC Cooking Challenge


Punjabi Kadhi with pakoras - Fenugreek pakoras in tangy yoghurt based kadhi which is seasoned with a blend of aromatic spices .

This challenge is set for the  ICC event by srivalli of spicing up your life.
The recipe was provided by Simran of bombay foodie.

Only changes I made to the recipe were that I replaced the onions with fresh fenugreek as it is navratri and I didn't want to cook with onions.I added fresh ginger and green chilli and omitted the amchur powder and  as my curd was very sour and I replaced the  garam masala with fresh ginger paste.

Ingredients

For Pakoras:

1/2 cup Besan / Chickpea Flour
1 cup Fresh Fenugreek
Salt to taste
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
1 green chilli
½ teaspoon ginger paste
Water
Sunflower oil for deep frying

For Kadhi

1 cup Yogurt
1/3 cup Besan/ chickpea flour
3 cups water
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 teaspoon Ajwain/ Carom Seeds
1 teaspoon Methi / Fenugreek seeds
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 green chilli
½ teaspoon ginger paste (instead of garam masala in original recipe)
Salt to taste
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
½ teaspoon Amchur/ Dried Mango powder (I didn’t add this curd was very sour)
4-5 curry leaves.

Method :

For the Pakoras

1. In a bowl, take the chickpea flour, add salt, red chilli powder, ginger paste and chopped chilli. Make a batter with water to get a semi thick consistency. Add the chopped fenugreek and mix.
2. Heat a kadai with oil. When the oil is hot, drop small spoonfuls of batter gently into the hot oil deep fry pakoras till crispy.
3. Drain on kitchen paper and repeat for all batter. Keep pakoras aside.

For the kadhi

1. Make a paste with yogurt and besan, then mix with water to make a very thin batter.
2. Heat a tablespoon of oil. Add curry leaves, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, carom seeds and methi. Let splutter for a few seconds.
3. Pour in the yogurt/besan batter; add turmeric powder, salt and red chilli powder and ginger paste and green chilli.
4. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and let simmer for at least half an hour.
5. Keep stirring occasionally still kadhi thickens and rawness of besan is gone.
6. When you feel it is pretty thick, add the reserved pakoras, bring to boil.
Serve with plain boiled rice.

You may like:

Sago muruku ICC challenge March 2010

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Pickles

Carrot Pickle
 
 
Mango Pickle
 
Reposting Pickles for "Complete My Thali( CMT ) - PICKLE" event by Jagruti of Joy of cooking and hosted by Nivedeta of Nivedita's Kitchen


You may like:
 Achar Masala-Pickle masala



Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Kothu Roti


A fast and easy stirfry using up left over rotis and a handful of mixed vegetables. A delicious snack ready in minutes.

Ingredients:

6 left over cold  rotis
1 cup mixed vegetables( carrots, peas, sweetcorn  and diced potato.)
1 small onion finely diced
2 green chillies finely chopped
4 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon tomato puree
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2  teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon chilli powder
10 curry leaves
2 red dried chillies.
1 tablespon fresh chopped coriander.

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a pan , when hot add the curry leaves followed by the red dry chillies and onions.
2. Saute onions till translucent. Add the mixed vegetables and stir fry till vegetables are cooked.
3. Once vegetables are tender mix the tomato puree with 4 tablespoons  of water and add it to the cooked vegetables with the salt, chiili powder and turmeric powder.
4. Cook till the spices are well infused with the vegetables and tomato  paste.
5. Shread the rotis in to 5mm thin strips and shake them to separate  the strips.
6. Add to the vegetable mixture and stir fry  till the roti strips and vegetables are well  blended and evenly coated with the spices and gravy.
7. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with green chillies and fresh  chopped coriander.

Serve immediately with Yoghurt.


This recipe was shared by a friend of mine Jana .I have adapted it by using rotis although her recipe was originally made with parathas.

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Masala Panirayams

Sunday, October 3, 2010

September 2010 ~ News letter.

simply.food

The month of September has again  been a busy month for simply food. It brings end of summer holidays,change in weather ,dark evenings, colds and coughs and back to school.Updating the blog and visiting fellow bloggers space regularly has been a little challenging.I hope to be back to form soon and will catch up with missed visits soon.

Here are the recap of recipes that were created in September:


Cauliflower curry- a simple side dish that is healthy and delicious.
Chutneys reposting- A Selection of chutneys reposted to tickle and tantalise your tastebuds.
Mini Vegetable pies- Mini vegetable pies bitesize and perfect for parties.
Potato stacks with peanut and coriander sauce.-A mouth watering appetiser for any meal.
Chocolate cereal crispies- Kids heaven for that wet rainy afternoon to keep them amused in the kitchen.Healthy too.
Mexican Vegetable tart.- Paprica nad mexican veg make this tart light nad delicious perfect for lunch.
Daring bakers challenge  Sept 2010 -Decorated sugar cookies- Cute and adorable little cookies iced to a theme.
 
Chilli Mogo- A wonderful fusion of indo chinese flavours in this mouth watering starter.

Following the amazing success of Flavours of gujarat we continue with the next event in series
 "Flavours of "

Announcing new event

Flavours of Gujarat round up.- simply.food's first event and an an amazing 73 entries were received. Here we have a fantastic round up of mouthwatering  entries, definately worth book marking.

As a Thankyou simply.food would like to share this participation award with every one who took the time and effort to send entries to this wonderful event and made it so successful.


Monthly Homeobuzz post sept 2010
simply. food writes monthly recipes for homeobuzz magazine, the recipe for the month of September was Banana chocolate pancakes

During the month of June simply.food had participated in Asian breakfast at Helen's Fuss free flavours. A blog dedicated to Vegan recipes and healthy eating. It was long forgotten so it was a great surprise to hear that simply.food's Bajra ni puri has been chosen as the winner.The prize was a fantastic hamper of vegan sushi kit and many other vegan and natural products donated by Clearspring. For more details of clearspring products please visit their website .It was even more exciting when Richard at Clearspring and Helen came to my home to present me with the awesome gift. I am looking forward to trying out some vegetarian sushi as this will definately be a new experiance for me.

This is the Hamper that I received.




Helen and my self with the lovely hamper.

2010 has also opened up many new opportunities for simply.food. I have signed a book contract for three vegetarian cook books that hopefully will be published later this year. Working on the book recipes has been very exciting.

simply.food is steadily growing, I would like to welcome all new followers and hope they enjoy their culinary experiance when visiting simply.food. Recently I have  included  a contact me page , if you have any queries,questions,suggestions, feedback or simply want to say "hi" please visit here.

Finally if you enjoyed reading this news letter please do subscribe to it so that you can get regular updates.You may do this via this newsletter or link on side bar on simply.food home page.

You can also find simply.food at:

Facebook

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Saturday, October 2, 2010

Flavours of Gujarat round up - Part 2

Flavours of Gujarat round up part 2


Ragini from happyhealthyfuncooking sent:
Dudhi chana nu shaak and Bhinda ane dahi ni Kadhi
Stuffed eggplant n potatoes-Aakhu Shaak

                                                                                                               
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 Preeti of  Khaugiri sent :
 Methi na Thepla and Handvo








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Deepa of :Hamaree Rasoi
Sukhadi / Golpapdi




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Jagruti of joy of cooking sent this aromatic shrikand recipe.
Pineapple Basundi and Rose and Maple Syrup Jelly Basundi,
Shrikhand , Khaman Dhokla

                                              






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Jyoti from The Veggie Hut
sent this Dhokla










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Madhavi of Vegetarian Medley sent this
Spinach and Fenugreek Steamed Dumplings (Palak Methi Na Muthia)










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Priya of Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes sent:
Dudhi Chana Nu Shaak ,Gujarati Tuvar Dal ,
Khaman Dhokla




 
 

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Nivedita's Kitchen sent :
Gujarathi Kichadi and Khaman Dhokla


 
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Sushma.of savi ruchi sent:
Lapsi , Gujarati Khichdi



 





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Sonu from palate corner sent:
kutchi dabeli


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Satyasree of  Super Yummy Recipes sent:
Gujarati Kichadi  and kadhi


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Sruti  of yummy4Tummy  sent:
Masalaidar tasty Puri










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Aparna Mallya of :Apy Cooking! sent:
Shrikhand





 
 
 
 

 
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Indrani of recipe Junction sent:
Gujrati Potato, Broccoli n Brinjal Curry











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Rachana of Sizzle N Spice sent:
Doodhi Methi Muthiya/ Bottle Gourd Fenugreek Dumplings




 
 
 
 
 
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Denny of  Oh Taste n See sent
Mooli Thepla







 
 
 
 
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PJ of Seduce Your Tastebuds sent:

Gujarati Methi Theplas



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Sonal Agarwal of palate corner sent:
dal dhokli










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Satyasree of Super Yummy Recipes sent:
 Batata Nu Shaak Doodhi Thepla







 

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Jayasri of samayalarai-cookingisdivine sent:
Lasaniya batata , Bharwa Baighan
Sukhdi, Lilva Pulao
















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Santosh Bangar of santoshbangar.blogspot.com sent:
Khandvi


 









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Kiran of SUMADHURA sent:
Raiwala Marcha














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The support for this event has been tremendous .Many many thanks to every one who participated.
If I have missed anyones entries please do let me know I will add it to this round up.

All participants please accept this participation award.



The next event is Flavours of Punjab   1st October to 30th November.
It is guest hosted by Pari of cooking good food. Please do participate and support this event in the same way. Click here for more details.
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