Green Chutney - With Spinach/Palak

I already have the recipe for Mint Chutney on my blog, however when I came across this recipe, I had to try. It was a lovely chutney and tasted Yum.



Ingredients
Coriander Leaves - 1 Cup
Spinach or Palak - 1/2 Cup
Mint leaves - 1/2 Cup
Green Chillies - 5 to 6
Lemon Juice - 2 Tablespoon
Bread Slices - 2 ( I did not add this, as I did not have them)
Salt - To taste

Method

• Place all the ingredients in a blender and grind into a smooth paste.
• If rquired add little water for grinding.
• Store it in a air tight container and store in refrigerator.

Chocolate Fruit Cake

 I have always told about how much everyone in my house likes Fruit cake, This recipe is my another take on this gorgeous cake, yes it is Chocolate fruit cake. For Other Variants of Fruit Cake, Click here.

Ingredients

Maida or APF - 1.5 Cups
Sugar -1 Cup
Cinnamon powder - 1 Teaspoon
Vanilla Essence - 1 Teaspoon
Buttermilk - 3/4 Cup
Cocoa powder - 1/4 Cup
Mixed Fruits and Nuts - 1.5 Cups (Mix with 1/4 Cups of Maida)
Baking Powder - 1 Teaspoon
Eggs - 2 (Large)
Butter - 3/4 Cup

Method

• Grease and dust a baking pan and keep it ready.
• Pre - Heat the Oven at 160 C.
• In a mixing bowl, Cream the sugar and butter well using a whisk.
• Add Vanilla essence to this and mix well.
• Add egg one by one and whisk it well.
• To this add the Buttermilk and whisk it in.
• Meanwhile, sift Maida, Cocoa Powder, Cinnamon Powder, Baking Powder twice and keep it aside.
• Now add the sifted Ingredients little by little into the Whisked ingredients and fold it in.
• To this, add the Mixed Fruits and Nuts and fold it in.
• Now pour this into the greased Baking tin and bake at 160C for 40 Minutes or till it is done.
• Cool this completely before serving.

Lunch Menu 22- Rice with Senai Karamani Kuzhambhu ( Yam- Cow Peas Curry ), Keerai Masiyal ( Greens) and Vazhapoo Poriyal  (BananaFlower Dry)

This Lunch menu is very healthy with Greens, Yam and Banaflower.

Click on the links below for the recipe

• Senai Karamani Kuzhambhu ( Yam- Cow Peas Curry )
• Vazhapoo Poriyal  (BananaFlower Dry) - Coming Soon 
• Keerai Masiyal ( Greens) (I have replaced Palak with Amaranth Leaves, You can use any Country Greens) 

Samai Kozhukattai (Little Millet)

One more recipe from my Mom's repertoire. After the millets started to be in rage, I ask her for recipes using these Millets and she immediately gives me a yummy and easy recipe.

Samai - 1 Cup
Yellow Moong Dal - 2 Tablespoon
Black peppercorns - 1 Teaspoon
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Grated Coconut - 1/4 Cup (Optional)
Oil - 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 Teaspoon
Dry Red Chilly - 2
Gram Dal - 1/2 Teaspoon
Hing or Asafoetida - A generous Pinch
Salt - To Taste
Water - 3 Cups

Method

• In a mixer, add the Moong Dal, Samai, Cumin Seeds and Peppercorns and pulse it so it is all coarsely grounded.
• Place a Kadhai in stove and add oil and once the oil is hot, add the Mustard seeds and once it splutters add the red Chilly, Gram Dal and Saute for 10 seconds.
• Add the Asafoetida and add the water and Salt.
• Once the water starts boiling, add the mixture in the mixer and stir well.
• Check for seasoning and cover with a lid and cook till it is done or all water is gone.
• Once it is cooked, add the coconut and stir it well and switch off the flame.
• Once the mixture is warm enough for your hands to handle, take little portion of the mixture and shape into Kozhukattais. (Keep them in same size so they can get cooked evenly)
• Meanwhile, pour water into the idli pot and grease the Idly plates.
• Place the prepared Kozhukattais in the greased idly plates and steam them for 5-7 Minutes.

Notes

• It tasted good as such, if you want you can make Chutney or Sambhar.
• My mom said that once you cook the Samai , it should be kept covered throughout , while shaping them and after steaming them. After cooking, there were hardly any to keep as it was so tasty and healthy.

Ginger Rasam 

I use lots of Ginger and Asafoetida in my daily cooking as it aids in easy digestion. This Rasam recipe is something that I learnt from my mom. I love rasam , so she will make different varieties of Rasam. My Favorite is Paruppu Rasam, i will post the recipe for that soon. Now about this recipe, It has Ginger, Garlic etc that aids digestion.

 However, my mom always used to say, Ginger should be used in Moderation or else it could do harm to your health.

So I googled and found that we can consume 4 grams of Ginger /per day and it will work in favor, anything way beyond 4 Grams will cause harm to us. So I am sharing the recipe that I learnt from my mom to aid digestion.

I have also explained the method when to add Tamarind Pulp and water while Making Rasam. Try that Method and it will definitely enhance the Taste and Flavour.

Ingredients

Ginger - 2-3 Inch Piece (Peeled)
Garlic - 6 Pods (Peeled)
Red Dry Chillies - 2
Black pepper Corns - 1 Tablespoon (Adjust to Taste, I have made it spicy)
Cumin Seeds - 1 Teaspoon
Tamarind - Gooseberry Sized Soaked in a cup of Water.
Curry leaves - Few Leaves
Coriander Leaves - Few Sprigs
Tomato - 2 (Medium, Chopped)
Asafoetida and Turmeric Powder  - A generous Pinch
Salt - To Taste
Oil - To taste
Jaggery or Sugar  - a small piece (Very little, may be little less than 1/4 inch or else Rasam will be sweet)/ If adding Sugar add 1/4 teaspoon

Method

• Using a motor and Pestle, crush the following ingredients, Pepper Corns, Cumin Seeds, Ginger, Garlic, Red Chillies, alternatively you can grind it in a mixie. 
• I use motor and pestle as it gives a earthy Flavor.
• Keep a pot on stove and add a teaspoon of oil, once the oil is heated add the Mustard seeds and allow it to splutter.
• Then add the curry leaves and the grounded masala and saute for a minute and then add the Tomatoes.
• Then add the salt and cook till the Tomatoes is all mushy. 
• Meanwhile, extract tamarind Pulp from the Soaked tamarind.
• Once the Tomato is all cooked, add the Tamarind Pulp and add little less than required amount of water
• May be 2-3 Cups of Water depending on the Tanginess of Tomato and Tamarind etc
• Retain 1/2 cup of Water from the required amount of water. 
• To this add Sugar/Jaggery, Asafoetida and Turmeric Powder and allow it to Boil.
• Let it boil till the raw Flavor is gone.
• Once the raw flavour is gone, add the 1/2 Cup of water and mix well.
• Switch off as soon as you see the water bubbling (Don't Over Boil it)
• Add lots of chopped Coriander Leaves and immediately cover with a lid
• Enjoy with Rice. 

Note

• Adding Jaggery/Sugar add depth of Flavor to the rasam.
• Always add Chopped Coriander after switching off the stove and immediately cover it with a lid to pack the flavors.
• Usually I make Rasam using the above method where I do not add all the Water required for the Rasam during cooking. I add the Tamarind and Half of required amount of water and boil it till the Raw Flavor is gone, then towards the end of the cooking add the remaining water and just cook till it starts to boil and then switch off.
• This way of cooking, enhances the Tastes and Flavor of rasam, try this method once and you will stick to this method only.