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Pizza - I love making them at home. It is very satisfying and this way we also have a say in what goes in. For this months Home Bakers challenge, we were given a choice of 4 tempting Pizzas by Divya - with Tomato Sauce, without Tomato sauce, with Pesto and finally one with an Indian touch - the Naanizza! I chose to make mine with a whole wheat base and decided to top it with Paneer Tikka and
Tiramisu - a dream of a dessert, an Italian favourite that literally means "pick me up". Layers of delicate biscuits soaked in coffee flavoured liqueur and sweetened mascarpone with egg based custard ....YUM.I have relished this dessert but to make it from scratch was really a challenge.Making Tiramisu from scratch definitely requires time and patience. You need to make the Savoiardi fir
There is quite a lot that can happen when you have a jar of Pesto; be it the traditional 'Pesto alla Genovese' from Italy or the modern 'Pesto' that comes in many avatars. It is a handy dip /spread that you are sure to enjoy. And when I saw this variation of Pesto with easily available ingredients, I was elated.I do tend to equate food to what I know or have made. It is easier to relate to it and
Our tryst with "Yeast" at We Knead to Bake has taken us to Italy this month as we all explore these sugar crusted (yeasted) 'Twisted Cookies' from the Valle d’Aosta, (North Western Italy). Strictly speaking they are not cookies but a kind of a bread-stick with a lemony tang. The other optional flavour for a Torcetti/Torcettini would be 'anise'. These biscuits/ cookies are crunchy on the outsi
Wondering why the Stew has a yellowish tinge to it? Amma added a pinch of turmeric powder to the stew. Turmeric is a "have to be added" spice in at least one dish a day (generally it is added to the dal when it is cooked for Sambhar / Kootu); and because the Stew was the only dish cooked yesterday it has a tinge of yellow to it. As we add tomatoes in our Stew it never is "White", but is more orang
Make Hay Pickles when the Sun shines! Simple and instant pickles are a welcome addition to any meal. Summer is here and we have the perfect excuse to enjoy (read indulge) Pickles.Beware of "Dehydration". You have to drink plenty of water during summer to prevent dehydration; plus you do tend to lose salts like potassium and sodium when you are out in the sun for a long time, pl
Quite often we look to make simple and easy vegetable dishes. With the sweltering heat nobody wants to stay long in the kitchen. The need of the hour is quick and easy recipes to please our palate. Lunch/Dinner gets interesting with the various permutations and combinations of Vegetable dishes to balance our staple - Rice. Some of the Chettinad favourites are Poriyal, Masala (Kara P
Good Morning!Often I face a dilemma when I have to pack the lunch box. Pasta is a sure winner of a recipe and in goes the vegetables without any fuss. I love Lemon Rice, but it is a no-no for the lunch box. We need to sneak in the veggies, carbs and protein. And, a one pot dish is most welcome. Khichadi is great. But a little messy sometimes for the lunch-box.How about a quick and easy P
Aloo Mutter is my favourite. Easy to prepare and fuss free. I was looking for something along similar lines for lunch (around 11:00 pm yesterday) that will also please everyone's palate; and with the ingredients at home. We generally have frozen Peas for these 'emergencies' that crop in. I also had some of these tiny Soya nuggets (size of a Green Pea) from Coimbatore.These are the factors that inf
Though our staple dinner fare is Idli or Dosa, we would wait for the day when the batter will get over to have Uppuma. Be it Rice Uppuma or Wheat; we love to have it Tomato Pachadi any time of the week for dinner. It really is a mouthwatering and delicious treat - not to be missed!For Uppuma, curds is one accompaniment that Aaya (my Grandmother) loved to have. Ingredients:Wheat Rava - 1 cupWa
Baking was my first passion; now cooking is slowly taking over. In order to refresh and retain my baking skills I have joined a few wonderful groups of Bakers to keep me inspired and motivated. Another challenge as I do not eat Eggs, is to Bake without them. The role of eggs in baking is many-fold. Understanding the role it has to play we need to substitute the eggs in our recipes and proceed. Her
The Mango season is just round the corner and before the advent of the fresh produce I want to tempt you with my easy and favourite Maa (Mango)Vathal Kuzhambu! Sour mangoes are sun-dried and stored for the year, for quick and instant preparations. Other Vathal Kuzhambu's will be spicy, tangy and concentrated. Some of the Chettinad Vathal Kuzhambu's are not so. They are spicy, tangy and thin - wate
Kanji / Conjee is a Rice Porridge, often served to invalids as it is easily digestible. With the addition of Vegetables, it becomes healthy. Add in coconut milk or curds and it turns divine!The Rice Kanji served at Isha Yoga Center is simply delicious. It is served at a specific program only. It keeps your body light and active. At home Amma likes to add Green chilli. We love having Kanji (or Frie
"When spring happens, all life flourishes." - SadhguruA celebration to usher in the Spring season. Festivities and food are so entwined in our culture. We prepare some very specific dishes for each season and Festival; it does have a lot of significance.But, today I am going to share a non-conventional sweet treat with you. Happy Holi!!!Pic courtesy - WikipediaI had a cookie craving; and
I just got to know that these tender Beans are called "Haricot Verts" and French in Origin. Literally translated it means 'Green Beans'. There is a very fine difference in taste; not noticeable and hence interchangeable. As I stated earlier, my first choice was to make this Poriyal. With the remaining beans, I made this wonderful Salad. One mouthful, and I knew that I had to share it with you
There were a few packets of vegetables hiding in a lower shelf of organic produce at my local supermarket. I find some wonderful produce. The organic cucumbers are good; and I like the baby cabbages that are sold there. To my wonder, yesterday I found some tender, thin, fresh and crisp Beans - gourmet string-less variety of baby Beans that get cooked in a jiffy. These are a great ad
Papaya is one tropical fruit that tantalises your taste buds. One bite of a perfectly ripe one is enough to hook you for life. A healthy addiction.I was never a big fan Papaya. Then I could bear to eat it with a dash of Lemon juice. Yum. Now I actively advocate eating just Papaya's for dinner for a glowing skin. Yes. it works.And for the times you want to indulge, here is a wonderful smoothie with
(Original Recipe from 65 Degrees Tangzhong “65C Bread Doctor” by Yvonne Chen, and adapted from Kirbie’s Cravings) Last month's Croissant gave me the confidence to enjoy my journey with We Knead To Bake. The opening words of Aparna's post on this month's "Hokkaido Milk Bread" was very comforting - "a relatively easy recipe to try".Apparently the Hokkaido Milk Bread is a very pop
Packing protein into your diet seamlessly - Dal Paratha!I still remember the first time I had a Moong Dal Paratha! It was in Bombay at my father's friends place. The place overwhelmed me; I was awestruck by Bombay! I was from Pondicherry - a small and peaceful town; and my one 'city' visit had been to Madras. Zeroing in to the topic ... (Back home - late 70's and early 80's) Idli and Dosa wer
Green leafy vegetables are generally a good source of Iron and Calcium. There are numerous varieties of Keerai available in India. In the Indian culture we have recognised medicinal values in each of the varieties, and have used it accordingly. My grandmother would say that if we consume greens regularly for 48 days, the internal system is taken care of. The only chore is to pick and clean them. I
A dip that doubles up as a Sandwich spread, and is wholesome is double welcome. Yes?I am sure you will agree with me that Dips with vegetables or chips make a great starter. Generally the most favourite ones are loaded with Cheese; and with the addition of fried snacks tends to be more indulgent. Want something healthy to munch on? Serve Vegetable Crudités; or toasted Pita (any Flatbread
And here is my entry for this months Magic Mingle # 15 - Green Tea and Pistachio Pop(sicle)s. At first I was wondering what to do with these two ingredients. I went back in time to my school days when we would enjoy a simple treat - Kuchi Ice / Pal Ice. I used our ice trays to set these bite sized popsicles. Ingredients:Green Tea bags - 3Hot Water - 3/4 cupMilk - 1 cupPistachios - 2
Nendram Pazham - a variety of Banana unique to Kerala. It is served steamed for breakfast. Tastes yummy with some coconut and dry fruits (an optional addition). In fact there are various ways it is used in the kitchens of Kerala.The Indian Cooking Challenge is a culinary journey that treats us with various delicacies; and is a unique experience. I have always been in awe of the blog
Basic ingredients like Onions, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Green Chillies are a must have at home. Be it breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner; it gives you the conviction that you can quickly fix a satisfying meal. 'Potatoes' make a fuss-free and a quick-fix meal. Also, Potatoes are healthy. Especially when you have them boiled or baked.Baked (OR) Jacket Potatoes as it is called in the UK, is a popular s
Every part of the Banana Plant is useful - the stem, leaves, flower and fruit. There are quite a few varieties in the Banana family. While most varieties of the fruit need no introduction, there is one that is more used as a vegetable. Vazhakkai Poriyal is one of the 'must' serve vegetables for important functions at home. The flower and stems (tender) are used to prepare various delicacies
Wishing the "Baking Eggless" Group all the success in the years to come. Gayathri has completed one year of challenges and is stepping into the second with a wonderful and easy Chocolate Cake to celebrate.I have to thank Gayatri (Gaju's Kitchen) for sharing this recipe with the Baking Eggless group. A Simple, Easy and Perfect Chocolatey Cake. Trust me, you will find it very hard to find
Doing a victory dance (in my head) as I write this post. Yummmmmy.I gladly joined this group of Bakers in order to overcome my fear of Yeast. Knowing Aparna, and her eye for detail, gave me enough confidence. I got quite hesitant when I saw what was in store for the month of February. I was tempted and a little apprehensive by the perfect Croissant pictures doing their rounds in Facebook. And
Hi! I take pleasure in welcoming you to Chettinad - the home of Nattukkottai Nagarathars. Traditionally, this small community in Tamilnadu have been traders and bankers by profession. History says that they lived in Kaveripoompattinam under the Chola Kingdom. They travelled overseas to set up businesses. After a mighty Tsunami, it is said that they requested the then King and migrat
'Aarshe Saak' is a Spinach and Lemon Soup with meatballs and eggs. It is a standard fare throughout the Middle East. This recipe called out to me from a magazine and I have made it totally Vegetarian. The verdict - AMAZING. It is light and hearty. A very nourishing soup. Just take my word for it and try - a keeper of a recipe.I tried two substitutions for the Meatballs. One was making tiny Vada. I
Paneer, sautee'd in oil.Thoughts of "Paneer" makes every Indian drool and I am no exception. Be it Paneer Tikka or Paneer Manchurian or any other specialty / regular dish at the restaurant I will be prepared to wait to savour it; even when the Waiter warns me that it would take a good 40 minutes.My attempts at making fresh Paneer at home has always been a disappointment. Paneer made at home would
Thanni (Watery) Kuzhambu is typically Chettinad. Our Sambhar / Gravies are quite watery, yet yummy. One the one side we have gravies with a lot of masala and on the other is this "Thanni" - thinner variety. Kosumalli, Summa Kuzhambu, Thaneer Kuzhambu, - to name some. The gravy will be spicy and tasty; but very thin and watery - slightly thicker than the Rasam in consistency. The Masala kind o
Dal Poori - I have been searching for that recipe lingering in my memory from my childhood days. Each recipe that I have tried I have enjoyed. But it is still not that one from "La Pattiserrie" that was in Pondicherry. I came across this recipe and was excited. I had it bookomarked. Now, when the ingredient was for Magic Mingle was Urad Dal I had no excuse to delay further.This aloo reci
I do tend to take long breaks and disappear. My resolution in December was to break it in 2013! I have missed a couple of Eggless Baking posts and other lovely events. As I was looking through the "Events and Roundups" page, this one caught my eye. I have sent in a menu for an event at Rak's Kitchen and I could not resist 'Tried and Tested' this month as Raji's 'Rak's Kitchen' is a wonderful
Pillayar Nombu falls on the 21st day after Thiru Karthigai, when 'Sashti' thithi coincides with 'Sadhayam' (star - Nakshatram). There are various stories told by elders about this festival, celebrated all over the world by Nagarathar's. Being traders by profession, we celebrate this Nombu in the evening. In foreign countries, and now in cities like Chennai, Nagarathaar's get together at their
I know! This post sure does not reflect the fact that I had participated in Aparna's Photography Workshop! She took us through the various aspects of photography and was a mine of information. Whatever I had read in her blog made more sense now. I enjoyed every minute, and was happy to meet so many blogger friends in person. We left Kettle Tea House with a Goodie Bag from Urban Dazzle. Thank You A
Thovayal / Thuvayal is an integral part of the Chettinad Cuisine. While side dishes like Sambhar, Kurma, etc were made especially for entertaining guests; everyday fare would be "Thovyal" to go with our staples, ground without much water in an 'Ammi Kal'. Milagai Thovayal is the famous one associated with our cuisine. There are other less familiar ones; some use coconut while others do not. All he
Happy Deepavali!After the traditional festive fervour with Kaunarisi, Vada, and other Chettinad delicacies, I had to try something different. This one I had bookmarked. A sweet and spicy dish - simply Kerala! Easy and Tasty. Another variation with the all-time favoutrite vegetable - Beetroot.Ingredients:Beetroot - 1Coconut - 1/2 (about 1 cup)Small Onions - 4Dry Red Chilli - 5Cumin Seeds
Nothing to beat the comfort of Tea (Tea time) or Soup (Lunch/Dinner) with some spicy bites during the rainy season. Deep fried delights that abound in our cuisine. Bajji, Gol Bhaje, Kola Urundai, etc, are just perfect for this weather with a cup of tea - sweet and savory treats, hot from the Kadai. :-)Potatoes generally form the base of quick bites. I learnt that Raw Banana (vegetab
What do you do after you buy a cook book? I drool over the pictures, check out those recipes first; then look for some favourites - name-wise or ingredient-wise. Decide which one to make first, make sure the ingredients are at home, and finally get it done. First part over. The next is to capture a picture to convey all that you have loved about the dish. If it gets done immediately, it does not s
Tuesdays as I have said earlier is no-rice day. So we get to make other delights. This week it was from Tarla Dalal's 'Wraps'. I changed it to suit what was available at home. Her suggestion was to include Nachos chips and Lettuce (that I have left out). I thought the Salsa was perfect enough for the wraps and it was a HIT. Made a great Lunch Box Treat!!!Ingredients:For Corn & Cheese Balls:Cor
The day begins with an early morning oil bath, wearing new clothes, bursting of crackers, and visiting temples. It is customary to share Diwali / Deepavali 'Palagaram's' with your neighbours. These are the tradition of the day. Sweets and Savory are made and offered to God before sharing with neighbours and loved ones. The assorted treats from each home would delight us. E
Toasts are so versatile, so versatile that the possibilities are endless. Ever since I tasted these Jam-Cheese confections, I like to end a sandwich/toast spree with a sweet one. My son was so hungry after college and I made some 'Tomato Cheese Toast' and the finale was this 'Caramel Apple Toast' A quick fix for the sweet tooth. A mix of caramel toffee and chocolate bar (or a 5 Star bar) chopped w
Kizhangu (Aloo Bhaji) is always a favourite at home as an accompaniment to Poori's. I also love the Aloo sabji served at railway stations up North. Yum. There are a couple of new favourites to compete with the ubiquitous Kizhangu. Here is one winner of a recipe from Tarla Dalal that has found its way into our hearts. I would say that it was the picture in the book that tipped the scale in its favo
An open toastie is the next best thing to having a Pizza. The cheesy top with crisp bread and vegetables if you chose to add, sure satiates you. Various savory combinations are possible with whatever is available on hand. It can be an elaborate one or as simple as the one I chose to serve at tea time today. This picture sure is tempting and reminded me of the simple and tasty snacks. I have s
Gulab Jamun is the most popular dessert in the Indian sub-continent. Hot Jamuns with a scoop of Vanilla Ice cream is to die for! Festivities and celebrations are quite incomplete without these spongy creations. It has become quite easy to make Gulab Jamuns as mixes abound in the market*. They are good too. But nothing to compare with the ones made from scratch; or with the freshest khoa (available
Butter cake is a basic cake and an easy one to attempt for novice baker. I was happy to see Gayatri's choice for Baking Eggless this month. I thought it would be quite easy and straightforward and I wanted to experiment with buttermilk as a substitute. I did my research and was quite confident. The first test - batter was tasty and light (happy me). Good!After 20 minutes of baking time (given
Ellu - Sesame seeds is a common source of nutrition. "Elaichavanukku Ellu" is a Tamil saying; meaning 'Sesame for the Skinny' as it nourishes. Sesame seeds and oil play an important role in our cuisine. Sesame oil has a long shelf life and is very healthy with a high level of natural anti-oxidants, leading to the Tamil name - "Nalla Ennai" (Nalla is Healthy or Good and Ennai is Oil). His
One more to join the list of Toasts - Dosa Toast! The undeniable truth is that French Toast is easy to make and a true favourite. Ayya taught me to substitute spices for sugar in the French Toast - the Bombay Toast. Years ago, Amma chanced upon this recipe that resulted in the making of a completely vegetarian version of the Toast. (I am sure Pancake batter too would work well in place of Dosa bat
Kootu or Kootucurry - a dal+vegetable side-dish served for Lunch as an accompaniment to fiery Kuzhambu (Gravy). The Southern states boast of regional specialties and this is the Chettinad style. Sometimes seasoned and sometimes not; it is tasty and healthy.Vazhaithandu is the tender stem of the Banana plant. It is a potassium rich food with a lot of health benefits. It has a high fibre content; a
