Brownrice pulao

Ingredients

•	Brown rice	1 1/2 cups
•	Fresh coriander leaves,chopped	1 1/2 cups
•	Fresh mint leaves,chopped	1/2 cup
•	Garlic,chopped	8 cloves
•	Green chillies,chopped	2
•	Olive oil	1 tablespoon
•	Cinnamon	1 inch stick
•	Green cardamoms	3
•	Cloves	6-8
•	Ginger,chopped	1 inch piece
•	Carrot,scraped and cubed	1 medium
•	Cauliflower	7-8 small florets
•	Salt	to taste
•	Vegetable stock	4 1/2 cups
•	French beans,1/2 inch pieces	4-5

Method

Soak brown rice in two and half cups of water for two hours. Drain and set aside.

For green chutney grind coriander leaves, mint leaves, garlic and green chillies to a fine paste.

 Heat oil in a pan. Add cinnamon, green cardamoms, cloves and ginger and sauté till fragrant. Add carrot, cauliflower and brown rice and mix well.

Add three tablespoons of green chutney and salt and stir to mix well.

Add vegetable stock and French beans and mix well.

When the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook till the rice/quinoa is done. Serve hot. 

Vegetable stock recipe:

Ingredients

1 to 2 onions
2 to 3 carrots
3 to 4 celery stalks
4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1 small bunch parsley
1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
Optionals: leeks (especially the green parts), fennel, tomatoes, mushrooms, parsnips.          Method:

Roughly Chop All The Vegetables, Cover with Water and Simmer, Cook for One Hour or So, Strain and Store also can store the leftover and freeze them to use later.

Additional Notes:
Roasting and Sweating - Two ways to add more flavor to your broth are to roast the vegetables beforehand or to let them sweat (start to soften and release their liquids) for a few minutes over the heat before adding the water.

Saving Vegetables for Broth – Pl. keep a sealable bag in the freezer where you can throw vegetable odds and ends: vegetables that have wilted beyond saving, the green parts from leeks, trimmings from carrots, and so on. Once the bag gets full, use the contents to make broth.

Paruppu Urundai Kozhambu

Want to comeback and update the blog with more recipes due to constant push by my family members.

This dish is called "Parruppe Urundai Kozhambu" this is very popular in Southern part of India. 

Ingredients needed are:

•  Toordal ---1cup
•  Chanadal—1/4 cup ( you can also take ½ cup each of chanadal & Toor dal with 1
•   tablespoon of rice which is optional as the whole sambhar gets too thick.)
•  Tamarind- - One lemon size soak and squeeze the juice.
•  Red Chillies-- 4
•  Asofeotida (Hing) -- half an inch if it is gum or half teaspoon
•  Turmeric powder --half to 3/4 teaspoon
•  Sambhar Powder—3 teaspoons
•  Til Oil – 2 Tablespoon
•  Mustard Seeds- 1 teaspoon
•  Methi seeds—1/2 teaspoon
•  Curry leaves –5-7 leaves
•   Salt to taste and little jaggery at the end mixing well.

Method: Soak the dals (Toor and Chana ) for one to two hours,grind along with chillies and hing to semirough consistency with very little water preferably,see the picture below:

Add one tablespoon of rice flour in the mixture if the consistency is watery.

If the grinded mixture is very loose, then place it in the microwave for one minute. 

Make small balls out of this dal mixture as below:

Complete the grinded mixture in round balls.     

Next step is to make the sambar liquid. 

Then place a vessel on the stove and add oil and season with Mustard and Methi (Fenugreek seeds).

Soak the lemon size tamarind in Water as above.

Squeeze the tamarind and discard the fibre as above

Then when the mustard splitters add sambhar powder,Turmeric and hing lightly fry them and then add the tamarind juice (Squeeze out the tamarind and extract the juice).Add more water and again take out the remaining juice. The tamarind juice should be of 3 cups or more) Bring to boil. When it starts boiling, add two to three dhal balls.

Finally add the jaggery and stir it mixing well with curry leaves.

Finally'Paruppu Urundai Kozhambu' is ready to eat with Rice Enjoy!

Some Home Remedies (Patti Vaideyam).

    Spices from Indian Origin to cure Diseases

                                  Home Remedies to cure foll.

   COLDS

   Mix a gram of dalchini/cinnamon powder with a teaspoon of honey to
   cure cold. Prepare a cup of tea to which you should add ginger, clove, bay
   leaf and black pepper.. This should be consumed twice a day. Reduce the
   intake as the cold disappears.

   GINGER FOR COLDS.

   Ginger tea is very good to cure cold. Preparation of tea: cut ginger
   into small pieces and boil it with water, boil it a few times and then
   add sugar to sweeten and milk to taste, and drink it hot.

   DRY COUGHS.

   Add a gram of turmeric (haldi) powder to a teaspoon of honey for
   curing dry cough.. Also chew a cardamom for a long time.

   BLOCKED NOSE.

   For blocked nose or to relieve congestion, take a table spoon of
   crushed carom seeds (ajwain) and tie it in a cloth and inhale it.

   SORE THROAT.

   Add a tea spoon of cumin seeds (jeera) and a few small pieces of dry
   ginger to a glass of boiling water. Simmer it for a few minutes, and
  then let it cool. Drink it twice daily. This will cure cold as well as
  sour throat.

   AJWAIN/AJMO FOR ASTHMA.
   Boil ajwain in water and inhale the steam.

   CURE FOR BACKACHE..

  Rub ginger paste on the backache to get relief.

  GARLIC FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

  Have 1-2 pod garlic (lasan) first thing in the morning with water

  HONEY AND GINGER FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

  Mix 1 table spoon and 1 table spoon ginger (adrak) juice, 1 table
  spoon of crushed cumin seeds (jeera), and have it twice daily.

   MIGRAINE.

   For the cure of migraine or acute cold in the head; boil a tablespoon
   of pepper powder, and a pinch of turmeric in a cup of milk, and have it
   daily for a few couple of days.

   BITTER GOURD/KARELA IS GOOD..

   A tablespoon of amla juice mixed with a cup of fresh bitter gourd
   (karela) juice and taken daily for 2 months reduces blood sugar.

   TURMERIC/ ARAD CURE FOR INJURIES

   For any cut or wound, apply turmeric powder to the injured portion to
   stop the bleeding. It also works as an antiseptic. You can tie a
   bandage after applying haldi/turmeric.


   CRAMPS

   You must do a self-massage using mustard oil every morning. Just take
   a little oil between your palms and rub it all over your body. Then take
   a shower. This is especially beneficial during winter. You could also
   mix a little mustard powder with water to make a paste and apply this on
   your palms and soles of your feet.

   HEADACHES.

   If you have a regular migraine problem, include five almonds along
   with hot milk in your daily diet. You could also have a gram of black
   pepper along with honey or milk, twice or thrice a day. Make an almond paste
   by rubbing wet almonds against a stone. This can be applied to forehead.

   Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see
   its wonderful effects. OR When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon
   works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in
   water and apply it all over your forehead

   TURMERIC

   FOR ARTHRITIS.

   Turmeric can be used in treating arthritis due to its
   anti-inflammatory property.. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes
   to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per
   cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local
   action.


   GOOD FOR THE HEART

   Turmeric lower cholesterol and by preventing the formation of the
   internal blood clots improves circulation and prevents heart disease
   and stroke. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes
   to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup
   of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

   GOOD FOR INDIGESTION

   Turmeric can be used to relieve digestive problems like ulcers,
   dysentery. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to
   dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per
   cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local
   action.


   HONEY IS A GOOD CURE FOR ALL DISEASES

   Mix 1 teaspoon honey with ? teaspoon cinnamon powder and have at night.


   HICCUPS

   Take a warm slice of lemon and sprinkle salt, sugar and black pepper
   on it.. The lemon should be eaten until the hiccups stop.

   HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL

   In 1 glass of water, add 2 tbsps of coriander/dhania seeds and bring
   to a boil. Let the decoction cool for some time and then strain. Drink
   this mixture two times in a day. OR Sunflower seeds are extremely
   beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol
   deposits on the walls of arteries.

   PILES

   Radish juice should be taken twice a day, once in the morning and
   then later in the night.. Initially drink about ? cup of radish juice and
   then gradually increase it to ? cup. OR Soak 3-4 figs in a glass of water.
   Keep it overnight. Consume the figs on an empty stomach, the next day
   in the morning

   VOMITING

   Take 2 cardamoms/elachi and roast them on a dry pan (tava). Powder the
   cardamoms and thereafter add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it
   frequently. It serves as a fabulous home remedy for vomiting. OR In
   the mixture of 1 tsp of mint juice and 1 tsp limejuice, add ? tsp of
   ginger juice and 1 tsp honey. Drink this mixture to prevent vomiting. OR
   Limejuice is an effective remedy for vomiting. Take a glass of chilled
   limejuice and sip slowly. To prevent vomiting, drink ginger tea. OR In
   1 glass water, add some honey and drink sip by sip.

   WARTS

   Apply castor oil daily over the problematic area. Continue for
   several months. OR Apply milky juice of fresh and barely-ripe figs a number of
   times a day. Continue for two weeks. OR Rub cut raw potatoes on the
   affected area several times daily. Continue for at least two weeks. OR
   Rub cut onions on the warts to stimulate the circulation of blood.. OR
   Apply milk from the cut end of dandelion over the warts 2-3 times a
   day. OR Apply oil extracted from the shell of the cashew nut over the
   warts. OR Apply Papaya juice OR Apply Pineapple juice.

   URINARY TRACT INFECTION

   In 8 oz of water, put ? tsp of baking soda and drink it. OR Drink
   plenty of water, as it aids in flushing out the waste products from the body.
   OR Drink Cranberry juice. You can also add some apple juice for taste.

   SINUSITIS

   Mango serves as an effective home remedy for preventing the frequent
   attacks of sinus, as it is packed with loads of vitamin A. OR Another
   beneficial remedy consists of consuming pungent foods like onion and
   garlic, as a part of your daily meals.. OR Fenugreek/methi leaves are
   considered valuable in curing sinusitis. In 250 ml water, boil 1 tsp
   of Fenugreek seeds and reduce it to half. This will help you to perspire,
   dispel toxicity and reduce the fever period. OR Tie a tsp of black
   cumin seeds in a thin cotton cloth and inhale.

   TONSILLITIS

   Take a fresh lemon and squeeze it in a glass of water. Add 4 tsp of
   honey and ? tsp of salt in it. Drink it slowly sip by sip. OR Milk has
   proved beneficial in treating tonsillitis.. In 1 glass of pure boiled
   milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder and pepper powder. Drink it every
   night for about 3 days.

   Shared this home remedies from a friend of mine

Mushroom Curry Tandoori Style.

It is a snowy day and I am working from home. Just took a break during lunch time and decided to update my blog with a new recipe. Anu and Shyam are visiting us tomorrow from NY and I want to surprise them with a new recipe and hope they enjoy.

Menu for the day  was Methi Paratha, Tandoori Mashroom, Avarakai (Flat bean)Curry & Capsicum Raitha. I will be just posting Mushroom curry for now.

1.       Tandoori  Mushroom (Naaykodi Curry)



When you start stir frying (1st Stage)




When the cornflour,milk mixture along with mushroom boils (2nd Stage)



Just decorated with Onion rings and Coriander (Final)

Closeup of Mushroom Tandoori Style

Ingredients
400 gms Gourmet Mushrooms
1 tsp of cornflour mixed with low-fat milk or to add more flavor use milk cream
1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves(Kasuri Methi)
1/4 tsp orange food color
1 tbsp olive or corn oil
Salt to taste

Following spice to be ground to paste:4 whole red chillies
4 large sized cloves of garlic 
1 inch piece of Ginger
2-- 21/2 tsp coriander-cuminseeds powder

Method
Wash the mushroom thoroughly cutting it in half pieces.
In a pan add one tablespoon of oil and start with sautéing the kasturi Methi, grounded spices
After about few minutes or when you get the smell (do not overfry till it becomes dark)
Add the mushroom and stir fry adding salt
Next add the cornflour mixed in milk and sauté it till the mixture coats with mushroom
Remove from fire and garnish with Onion rings and coriander serve with Roti or
Thepla (Methi Paratha).

My first Post

Hi Everyone--

Wish you all A Happy New Year & Happy Pongal. One of my resolutions for 2011 was to start my blog with easy recipes. My daughter Anu would call frequently for recipes and has been the inspiration for my blog.

On the occasion of Pongal this post contains the recipes of :
1. Ven Pongal
2. Chakara Pongal
3. Eggplant Gotsu.

Ven Pongal

Ingredients:
rice…………………………………. 2 cups
roasted moong dhal (payatham parippu)……. 1 cup
black pepper………………………..1 tsp
pepper powder………………………1 tsp
ghee/butter…………………………..4 tbsp
cashew nuts………………………….10 to 15
curry leaves………………………….few
Jeera(cuminseeds)…………………..1 tsp
Green chillies…………………………2
Ginger(chopped)………………………1 tsp

Method

Wash rice, roasted dhal , few scrapping of ginger and cook in pressure cooker (3 times water) with salt . Heat a pan with ghee add curry leaves, cashew nuts,  chillies (cut into very small pieces, ginger and jeera/pepper powder. When the cashew becomes red add to the cooked rice and dhal. Mix well and little more ghee. Serve with chutney/ gotsu.

Note: Grind jeera and pepper into powder and store in container for future use.

Chakara Pongal

Ingredients:

1 cups raw rice

1 cup milk

4 tablespoon green gram dal roasted (mung dal)
2 cups powdered jaggery
6 tablespoons ghee or clarified butter

1 tbl spoon Cashew and Raisins fried in Ghee.
a pinch of edible  (Pachai Kalpooram) Borneal Flakes is english meaning of Pachai Karpooram. ..

Method:
cook the rice and roasted dal with 2 cups water in the pressure cooker.
Wait till you hear four whistles of the cooker and remove.
keep 1 cup of milk  in a non stick pan and add the cooked rice & dal.
Add the jaggery when you see the mixture thickening mash it thoroughly while stirring.
keep stirring well till the mixture becomes thick.

Add the ghee as and when required.
Add a pinch of karpooram, fried cashews & raisin  and then remove from fire.

Eggplant(Chidambaram Gotsu)

Ingredients:
Brinjal(Eggplant)
Eggplant( big )…………….. 1
Big onion(chopped)……………1
Tamarind extract (pulp ) ………1/2 to 3/4 tsp
Mustard seeds………………….1 tsp
Curry leaves……………………..few
Hing………………………………1/2 tsp
Gotsu curry powder…………………..2 tbsp
Jaggery powder 2 tsp
Salt to taste


Method

Keep the brinjal on the gas stove and burn it. (Apply little oil on the brinjal (Kathirikkai)Turn the sides and make it burn). Cool it and peel the skin. Alternatively take Eggplant/brinjal and bake them in the oven at 250 degrees for 30 minutes.. Mash the eggplant into pieces.Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds crackle add onions (optional) and fry. Then add tamarind water, mashed eggplant, turmeric powder, hing, jaggery powder, Gotsu curry powder and salt. Let it boil for 5 minutes. Add curry leaves . Eat this gotsu with ven pongal.

Gotsu Curry powder

Dry roast Coriander seeds, Chanadal , Red chillies & Hing (asofetida) in large quantity and store in container. For every four  tablespoons of coriander seeds  add four chillies one table spoon of chanadal and piece of hing or teaspoon of hing powder.

Tomatoes(more) can be substituted instead of the eggplant for a tomato- onion gotsu. Add more chillies.This gotsu can be eaten with rice and pappad. It can be the side dish for Pongal and idli.