A Note of Thanks!

Appa a.k.a Kuzhi Paniyaram a.k.a Paddu, call it what you may, but it sure was on my 'to make' list for a while. Okay, so let me describe it for you - something comforting that Doddamma (my granny) used to make for us. It is (I think) made from a batter very similar to Dosa/Idly. Well, if you ask me, I'd probably say it is made with Dosa batter. You kitchen goddesses out there, please enlighten me :) Anyways, it's looks like a dumpling, is kind of crisp on the outside and soft 'n' fluffy inside. It can be made both sweet and savoury. Believe me, it tastes much better than my rather boring description of it. Spiced up with loads of chopped onion, chillies and coriander, served with a dollop of ghee/butter and some fresh green chutney...finger lickin' good! The sweet version is great too. If I remember correctly, I think Doddamma used to make it with cucumber and jaggery. Unusual combination did you say? Well, you should try it.

So then, I was saying, I'd been wanting to make it in my cozy little kitchen here in Sydney. Husby had also expressed his greed for it a couple of times. But sad thing was I didn't have the special griddle for it. And then on my recent trip to Bangalore, my dear Chikkamma (mum's little sister) gave it to me as a present. Now, wasn't that a stroke of luck? That was one thing I refused to leave behind, even though my baggage was dangerously tipping towards E.X.C.E.S.S! Here's a picture of it - 

Back in Sydney, I unpacked my very own 'appa kallu' (okay, I'm not making it up! That's what it's called) in glee. I made some appas or kuzhi paniyarams the very next day. However, I don't have a recipe for it as such 'cos I made them using a store bought Dosa mix. I simply prepared the batter as per instructions, added lots of chopped onion, green chillies and fresh coriander and cooked them with (very little) spray oil. Thay turned out so good that between Husby darling & me, we easily devoured 25 something of the yummy little rascals! I did say they were little, didn't I? Lest you think what gluttons we are, hehehe. I made Tomato-Onion Chutney to go with it. Yum-mmy!


So that was a little story of our craving being satisfied. All thanks to Jathu Chikkamma :)

Basil and Spinach Risotto with Parmesan

 In a little Italian restaurant in La Jolla, on our holiday in the States last year, I had the best risotto. It could have been the slightly elated feeling of being on a holiday, the beautiful weather and the interesting surroundings or just the hunger! Anyways, I've been wanting to recreate something similar at home, well not the weather or anything, the recipe. Of course you knew that, tsk! So I scoured the internet for simple risotto recipes. I had some fresh basil and spinach but no mushrooms. I had a small bag of arborio rice but no white wine. Finally, I came up with my own easy version. It was quick and easy and tasted great! Here's the recipe-

1. 1 cup arborio rice
2. 2 cups vegetable stock
3. 1/2 cup chopped spinach
4. 1/4 cup chopped basil
5. 1/4 cup grated parmesan
6. 1 tbspn olive oil/butter
7. salt & pepper to taste

• Wash the rice and drain.
• Heat oil in a saucepan/pot and add the rice.
• Stir around for a bit and then add in the spinach and basil.
• Pour in the vegetable stock, bring to the boil and reduce to a simmer. 
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• When almost all the broth is absorbed, sprinkle some parmesan and cover and cook until the rice is well cooked.
• Serve hot with a generous garnish of the remaining parmesan.

 You can add mushroom or zucchini to this recipe. A word of caution though, be wary of the salt you add as parmesan does have some in it already.

Bruschetta, Risotto and frozen Tiramisu from the supermarket - An Italian feast at home!Easy-peasy :)

Inspired Italian Cooking: Bruschetta

Back from a holiday in India, I slowly felt the kitchen induced lethargy. All the inevitable cooking, the endless pots 'n' pans - some in the sink, some in the dishwasher, the wilting veggies in my fridge, made me want to scream in frustration! Then, as if a storm was gone, the calm settled in, giving me a renewed sense of enthusiasm. I wanted to make something nice for dinner, really! Both husby & I were bored of the routine and wanted something else. So, I decided to try some Italian cuisine. Nothing fancy, thought I'd start with Bruschetta. Awfully simple to make but one heck of a classy, timeless and highly satisfying appetiser/starter/snack!


Bruschetta for two -


4 thick slices of bread - the classic recipe calls for a baguette, but I think any bread will work for a quick fix. (I cut my square slices in half)


1 firm tomato, finely chopped


1 small red onion, finely chopped


2 tbspns fresh basil, finely chopped


3 tbspns grated parmesan


salt & pepper to taste


some minced garlic in olive oil to brush on the slices of bread

1. Mix finely chopped onion, tomato, basil, cheese and salt & pepper in a bowl.
2. Brush the slices of bread with the garlic and olive oil.
3. Grill/toast the slices until crunchy and light brown.
4. Spread a spoonful of the prepared mixture and serve immediately.
5. Top with more grated cheese just before serving.

Fresh bruschetta, a bottle of good wine and endless conversation...now that's something I needed to calm down!

My own version of 'Indian-Chinese-Fried rice'

A lot of us Indians living overseas would've definitely craved for the notoriously famous Indian-Chinese at least a few times. The spicy 'n' crispy Gobi Manchurian, the colourful and tangy Fried Rice and the delightful Sweet 'n' Sour Soup, they make our mouths water. There are a couple of restaurants here in Sydney that brag about serving Indian Chinese specialties, but we've never actually ventured. So what does one do? Make it at home, of course! Here's my version of a quick, throw-n-toss-together version of fried rice, Indian-Chinese style :)

2 cups cooked rice - straight out of the fridge (left over rice works best)

3 tbspns sesame oil

1/2 onion, finely sliced
1/2 tspn ginger paste
1/2 tspn garlic paste
1 green chilli, finely sliced

2 tbspns finely shredded cabbage
2 tbspns finely chopped carrot
2 msuhrooms, diced
2 tbspns finely diced capsicum/bell pepper
1tbspn corn
1 tbspn peas
2 tbspns finely chopped spring onion


soy sauce - to taste
vinegar - to taste
chilli sauce - to taste
a dash of tomato sauce/ketchup
salt & pepper - to taste
a pinch of sugar

1. Heat oil in a large wok and add all the ingredients in group one and toss for a couple of minutes.
2. Next, in go all the veggies (except spring onion). Saute for a couple of minutes until slightly cooked but still a little crunchy.
3. Now add all the taste makers in group three and mix.
4. Throw in the rice and toss around until well amalgamated.
5. Garnish with spring onion.

This is so easy 'n' quick and tastes great. You could even add an egg or two if you wish to make it egg fried rice :)

Not many posts, but have been eating well!

Hi there, I have a craft stall coming up real soon and have been very, very busy preparing. I've also, however, been taking the time to cook and have been cooking up some recipes I'd love to share. I'll get back to posting them soon, once I'm free.

Happy cooking!

Oh the crimson beauties!

I'd never bought red radish before. But I've been inspired (read my previous post) and bought a bunch of fresh, beautiful radishes to make a salad. Aren't they just lovely? ( I hate taking indoor pictures at night...the flash ruins everything!)

Here's the recipe as it appears in the book - 


200g small radishes
1 tbspn oil
1/4 tspn cumin seeds
1/4 tspn mustard seeds
pinch of asafotieda
1/4 tspn ground turmeric
1/4 tspn salt
1 tbspn lemon juice
100g (2/3 cup) roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

Wash the radishes and top and tail them. (*how cute! especially because M said they look like little red mice!*) Cut each radish into four or eight pieces. (*I chose to slice them thinly instead*)
Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, add cumin and mustard seeds, then cover and shake the pan until the seeds start to pop.
Add the asafotieda, turmeric and salt to the pan, then remove from the heat, and add lemon juice and leave to cool. Just before serving, arrange the radishes and peanuts in a bowl, pour the dressing over the top and mix thoroughly.

 

Great idea for a healthy quick fix accompaniment at meal times.

My New Book - Lots of Inspiration!

Have I told you about my fetish for books? Well, I'm easily smitten by craft books or food books that have these beautiful, colourful photographs. How I love flipping through the pages and marvelling at the colours and composition! I admire beautiful things - pretty stationery, interesting home decor, books, shoes...
I have quite a large collection of craft books as it once used to be my fancy. I would simply buy anything that made my eyes twinkle with admiration (and make M's eyes roll in exasperation!). I'm still that excited girl when I'm in a book store and M knows me now :) And that's exactly why he smiled and said 'okay' when I held up a book at him and gave him that familiar 'can I please?' smile. It's a book on Indian food and has gorgeous, gorgeous pictures, I love it! (I'd seen it at my cousin's before and had it in mind). Anyways, it's called 'the food of india' and is by Murdoch Books. Here, take a lil peek at it - 

 

It has a really good collection of recipes and most importantly, awesome food photography...

 

  

  

There are also some interesting and quaint little shots of people and places all over India. I'm surely gonna try most of the recipes and will be back soon with some to share with you :)