Uttappam

Uttappam

Can't believe its Thanksgiving week already, this year sure seems to have flown by in a jiffy. I have this week off from work and I can't tell how much I have been waiting for this week to come. Now that it's here and a day has already passed by I am dreading that it's going to be over before I know. Looking forward to a trip with family and spending some "ME" time.

Coming to today's recipe Uttappam, it's a staple south Indian breakfast. I usually make uttappam from Idli batter which is about two to three days old.

Ingredients
2 cups Idli batter
2 tbsp rice flour
Toppings
1 cup shredded cabbage
1 cup finely diced tomato
1 cup very finely chopped red onion
2 tbsp finely chopped chilies
2 tbsp jeera
cilantro finely chopped
salt according to taste
couple of tbsp of red chilli powder

Process
1. Add rice flour, salt and jeera to idli batter and mix well.
2. Heat tawa (frying pan) allow for the pan to get hot.
3. Once hot spoon a ladle full of batter and spread to make a round.
4. Add a tspn of oil around the circumference
5. Now add your choice of topping cabbage, onion,red chilli powder, cilantro and tomato.
6. Cook for a minute covered.

7. remove the cover and turn uttappam around optionally you can add a tspn of oil around the corners.

8. Allow to cook for about minute or two turn it , remove from heat and serve.

Few chutneys that go very well with Uttappam are
Onion Chutney
Coconut Chutney
Peanut Chutney
Split Peas Chutney


Noting goes better with Uttappam then a hot cup of coffee.

Shopping with a purpose - Mora

Wanted to introduce Mora to all my readers, I am an avid shopper and love shopping especially clothes, I however love clothes that are very simple yet elegant, I can't and don't wear flashy or clothes that speak out to loud. When I saw MORA's collection I was awe stuck, her collections are gorgeous and were truly up my alley and when I read about Rithika the creator and the story behind the weaves I was even more amazed.It just made those Saree's /salwars so much more elegant and beautiful.

Few of my favorites from Mora's website below. Mora can be found on the web at Mora and on facebook











Love clothes that are meant for real people.

Update from Rithika

Mora will ship around the world please connect via FB and Ritika and her team will get back. Happy shopping.

This post was inspired byDhivya of Sound Horn Please blog.

All pictures courtesy Mora's.

Shopping is so much more fun when there is a meaning full purpose to it.

A Weekend that was --

Sunday evening sure is downer, but never the less had a fab weekend and after many a busy weekends got a chance to catch up on reading yesterday afternoon. I knew I had tons of tasks to finish but I just could not stop myself from finishing "A song of the Cuckoo bird " by one of my very favorite author Amulya Malladi.
With fall/spring like whether it was only fair that I pick up a book make my self a cuppa of coffee and cozy up to finish reading.
Well Amulya did not disappoint, she really gets the characters alive with her writing. Book is about Kokila and the choices she made and the impact of her choices and all the other characters woven around "Tella Meda" a home and a haven for needy women kind of shelter. I get so involved in the characters I read that it really takes me some time to come out of it. So many times in life we regret or thank god for the decisions we make looking back every decision made knowingly or unknowingly shape our future. Time will only decide weather decision was correct or not.
Now off to complete pending tasks which seriously are past deadline, wish me luck !!

Hot & Sour Vegetable Soup- Sanjeev Kapoor Inspired

Hot & Sour Vegetable Soup

It's amazing how much the weather has changed in the last one week , winter sure did arrive early and boy its going to be this way till March or so, gone are those days were we would go out for a walk after dinner, these days its seems like a big chore to just get out of bed let alone exercise.

Brrrrr kind of weather automatically makes me crave for comforting foods like soups, today's inspiration is from Sanjeev Kapoor, modified according to my taste and my availabilty of vegetables. its a little big on ingredients list but the end result is warm and delicious. Hope you give it a try.

Ingredients

1/4 cup Carrot grated
1/2 cup Cabbage shredded
1/4 cup red bell pepper
1/4 cup green bell pepper
1/4 cup fresh corn
1 stalk Spring onion finely
2-3 sweet red pepper
Oil 2 tablespoons
1 Onion sliced thinly
2-3 Garlic cloves
1 inch piece Ginger grated
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Green chilli sauce
Vegetable stock 4-5 cups
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp White pepper powder
3 tbsp Cornflour/ corn starch
2 tbsp Vinegar
1 tbsp Chilli oil






Process

1.Heat oil in a pan and add onion, garlic, sweet red chilies and ginger and sauté for a minute.
2.Now add carrot,bell peppers, cabbage and mix.
3.Add dark soy sauce, green chilli sauce and vegetable stock.
4.Mix and add salt, sugar and mix.
5.Add pepper powder and mix.
6.Add cornflour mixed in a little water and cook till the soup thickens slightly.
7.Add vinegar and stir.

Garnish with generous portion of spring onion , drizzle a little chilli oil and serve piping hot.

Achaari Paneer courtesy Tarla Dalal

Achaari Paneer

So Diwali came and Diwali went, house was cleaned, savories and sweets were made, new clothes and other stuff were brought, lights were hung, beautiful rangoli's were drawn,gift were exchanged,crackers were burnt, neighbourhood love felt, hearty laughter with friends experienced, family bonds strengthened, memories were created and above all thousands of calories consumed. This year it seemed more festive then ever love ,love ,love the festive season.

Today's recipe is courtesy Tarla Dalal's website, tried this a few days ago and just loved it. So here goes Mrs. Dalal's recipe

Ingredients
1 cup paneer cubes
1 tsp fennel seeds (saunf)
1/4 tsp mustard seeds ( rai / sarson)
5 to 6 fenugreek (methi) seeds
1 tsp nigella seeds (kalonji)
1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
1/2 tsp asafoetida (hing)
1 onion, sliced
1/2 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp black salt (sanchal)
3/4 cup curds (dahi)
1 tsp plain flour (maida)
3 tbsp chopped corriander (dhania)
1 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Method 1.Mix the fennel seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds, cumin seeds and asafoetida in a small bowl.
2.Heat the oil and add the seed mixture.
3.When they crackle, add the onion and saute till it turns translucent.
4.Add the paneer, turmeric, chilli powder, black salt and stir for some time.
5.Add the curds, sprinkle the plain flour and mix well.
6.Add the coriander and salt and bring to a boil.
Serve hot with Roti's or rice. Btw I just added few chopped Jalepeno it just kicks up a notch

Stay warm and may there be peace in your heart always.

Sreelu

Fall Flavors - Persimmons

Fall Flavors - Persimmons

Picked up few Persimmons at the weekend farmers market, Persimmons are something I look forward to come fall, they seems to be a cross of my two favorite tropical fruit chikoo and Tati munjulu(as called in telugu not sure what its called in English).

Hope you are enjoying the last few fall days.

Sreelu