lauki ka raita

Here the recipe ....

Ingredients:
1/2 C grated bottle gourd (lauki)
2 C yogurt
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
1 tsp jeera(cumin) powder
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
salt to taste

Method:

1) In a microwave safe bowl, mix half a cup of water and grated lauki. Microwave for 4-5 minutes until the lauki becomes tender as shown below.


2) In a serving bowl, mix the cooked lauki and rest of the ingredients and serve chilled.


Serves 4

Mirchi ka achar

This is a very simple recipe for mirchi achar. Usually our mothers and grandmothers are expert at making pickles and we leave that task at them. But this recipe is so simple that even novice cooks and brand new wives can make it and enjoy the taste of homemade achar ! So without wasting any time, here it is..

Ingredients:

250 gms green chillies
2 tablespoons white mustard seeds
2 tablespoons saunf
1 tablespoon methi dana (fenugreek seeds)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 tablespoons salt
sarson ka tel (mustard oil)

Method:

1) Wash the green chillies and dry them in sun. Chop the green chillies.

2) In a dry pan, roast saunf and fenugreek seeds until you can smell the aroma of spices. Cool them and in a mixer, grind this masala with mustard seeds.

3) In a glass jar mix this mixture with chopped green chillies, add salt, turmeric powder and oil until the green chillies are submerged in oil.

4) keep this achar in a dry place for a week until it is ready to eat.

spicy green chillies and peanut chutney

I am writing after a long long time and that is because i was busy with my masters. Finally its done and i am waiting for my convocation. During this time, i got to know a lot of simple recipes which made my student life easier. This recipe is one of them. Believe it or not , i got this recipe from my brother who lives alone and loves to cook!! here it goes.

Ingredients:

1 bunch cilantro
1/2 cup peanuts
6-7 green chillies
salt to taste
a pinch of sugar
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 teaspoon oil

Method:

1) spread the oil on a flat top or pour in a pan.

2) Roast the peanuts and green chillies together until the peanuts become brown and green chillies are roasted. Let them cool for about 20-25 minutes. This step is important because this leaves the peanuts crunchy in the chutney rather than becoming soggy because of the steam.

3) Add peanuts and green chillies and rest of the ingredients into a blender to form a fine paste.

4) You can modify the amount of green chillies according to your spice level. I usually use the green chillies grown at home which are not that spicy.


Serving size: 2 tablespoons
Serves 4

Banana Nut Muffin

This is a recipe which did not get to me in the first time ....took me around 3-4 tries to make it perfect :) Anyway , Banana Nut Muffin is my husband's favorite and i made it for his office party and it turned out really well, everybody appreciated it. So i decide to put it on the blog..

Ingredients:

3 medium bananas
1/2 C walnuts, chopped
2 C all purpose flour
1 C sugar or 1/2 C splenda
3/4 C butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
11/2 teaspoon baking soda

Method:

1) Mash 1 banana coarsely and keep aside.

2) slice the other 2 bananas in a big mixing bowl and add sugar . Mix with a hand mixer for good 4-5 minutes until a smooth paste is formed.

3) Add eggs , vanilla , melted butter, salt , baking soda and mix well .

4) Slowly add the all purpose flour part by part so that no lumps are formed and keep mixing with the mixer.

5) Fold in chopped walnuts and the coarsely mashed bananas into the batter with a spatula.

6) Grease a muffin tin with melted butter and fill half of each cup with batter so that it doesn't fall off when it swells.

7) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and bake the muffins for about 20 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean.

Serves: 12(one each)