Spring Rolls

Spring Rolls
Depending on your taste, you can either make a veg spring roll or a non-veg spring roll.

First, note the ingredients to make the wrap.

Spring Roll Wrap
Flour - 1 cup
Corn flour - 1/2 cup
Oil - as required
Salt - as required
Cold water - as required

To prepare the wrapper,
Sift the flours and salt together.
Add oil and water to knead the dough.
The end resul.t should be smooth and slightly elastic.
Keep aside, covered, for 15-30 mins.
Make small balls and roll into circles.

Heat a pan and roast the circles for 1-2 secs on each side
DSo the same for all balls and keep aside, covered with a moist cloth, while you prepare the fillings.

Non-Veg Filling for the spring rolls
Chicken - cut thinly into small strips.
Depending on the rolls. For the above measuring of wrap, you will need a cup of chicken

Onion - 1
chillies - 3-5 as per the spiciness of the chillies
Garlic - 2 cut thinly as the chicken
Ginger - optional
Pepper - as required
Salt - as required
Oil - as required

To prepare the filling,
Marinate the chicken strips with pepper, salt and little oil.
Keep aside.

Heat oil in pan.
Add in the onions and saute till soft
Add garlic and ginger. Saute till light brown.

Add in the marinated chicken strips.

Cook till ready.

Veg filling for Spring Rolls
Onion - 1
Beans - depending on the size and you liking. i'd take 5
Bean sprouts - To give that chinese taste if you like
Carrot - depending on your liking
Cabbage - if you like.
Capsicum - hmm... this one is not optional as it helps to distinguish the veggie taste.
white pepper and black pepper - as you like
Salt - as required
Sugar - as required (optional)
Soy sauce - as required
Oil - as required

Note : Actually the different veggies add different tastes and texture when you bite into the spring rolls. And hence, I strongly recommend that you choose the veggies to your liking and not strictly as stated here.

To prepare the filling,
Heat oil in a pan,
Add onion and cook till soft.
Add veggies and took till it is not raw and not overcooked.
Add the capcisum as well.
Add the peppers, salt, sugar and soy sauce.

Now there you go!

The wrapping part is tricky. I bet you will get it right from the second on onwards.
You will have to cut the circles into squares, first.
Put in the filling; not too much, not too little.
Cover from each side and the bottom and then do a roll.
Take it up with your hands and then seal the edges on the top.
To seal, you can actually use cornflour paste (1tsp cornflour dissolved in 1tsp flour).

Now you can keep this in the fridge / chiller, covered in clingfilm, till you are ready to cook.

Deep fry till golden brown and serve hot for tea/coffee with chilli / tomato sauce.

How you want to garnish is up to you :D

Chilli Cottage Cheese (Spicy Paneer)

Chilli Cottage Cheese (Spicy Paneer)

Hmm.... This is yummy! You can eat it as it is or mix it with roti's or rice or bread.
the best part is that you can add you own feel to it everytime you make it.
Cut the cottage cheese in different shapes,
Vary the amoount of sauces and sugar you use to get a different taste,
Decorate it with ingredients that are not mentioned.

Cornflour - 1.5Tbsp
Flour - same as cornflour
Salt -To taste
Cottage Cheese 150 grms
Tomato Sauce - depends on your taste, for me, I'll take 2 tbsp initially and add on for more taste, if needed
Chilli Sauce - depends on your taste and the spiciness of the chilli sauce you use. I'll take 1 tbsp
Soy Sauce - Be on the safe side and take 2 tbsp and add on if you need more color or taste
Chillies (green / red) - 3-5 depending on the spiciness of the chillies
Garlic - optional and a pinchfull
Capsium - as many as you like, don't overdo it though!
Vinegar - 1/2 tbsp
Sugar - to taste
Pepper - to taste
Water - 3-4tbsp

Mix first three ingredients together with water. This is to coat the cottage cheese. So make sure that the batter does not turn too watery or too thick.

ut the cottage cheese in shapes you like. The size should be bite sized. Coat it with the batter prepared earlier and deep fry thill golden brown.'

Keep aside

In a seperate pan, heat oil (as required) and fry the chillies and the garlic. Toss in the capsicum.

Add a pich of salt, pepper and sugar. Top it up with the sauces and vinegar.

Add in the cottage cheese to mix with the sauces.

Add in some coriander leaves for the color and the aroma.

Serve hot.

Pasta Frenzy : With tomato sauce

Pasta Frenzy : With tomato sauce

3 cups boiled Penne - Depending on your choice, you can choose other pasta. I personally prefer penne :D

Tomato puree - 1 cup
Capsicum - 2-3 thinly sliced (optional)
Milk - 1 cup
Cream - 1/2 cup
Garlic -crushed, 2-3tsp
Pepper - as you require
Oregano - Depending on taste. I'd suggest you add about a tsp.
Salt - To taste
Oil - as required (do not add too much, a few tsps should be enough)

Heat oil in a non stick pan and add 1/s tsp of garlic. Saute and add the boiled pasta. Saute for 2-3 minuts and add some pepper and about 1/2 tsp Oregano.
Mix well and when you see that the pasta is well covered, remove from heat and keep in a seperate plate.

Heat oil. Add remaining garlic. Saute and add tomato puree and cook till the oil seperates and add remaining pepper, oregano and salt.

Mix well and add the pasta that you kept aside earlier.

This is almost done. When you are ready to serve, add in the capsicum, milk and cream and heat till you see the milk boiling. If you feel that the milk and cream had shrunk and is thick, you may stirr in some water to losen it.

There you have it... The pasta Frenzy !

Baked Vegetables

I just checked my weight today and all is not looking too good. I have gained so much in so little time that I have to blame all the fast food restaurants that are near and dear to my workplace. Since there are not so much Halal healthy choices available, I am left with no choice either. Well, overtime, I should start getting used to waking up early and cooking my own healthy food if I need to get back in shape. Now here is a healthy enough recipe for you...

Baked Vegetables

Sauce
Butter - 2tbsp (margarine if you prefer)
Maida (plain flour) - 2 tbsp
Salt - as required
Black pepper / crushed peppercorns - as you prefer
Milk - 2 cups
Coriander - finely chopped as required

Veggies
1.5 cup mixed veggie (if you are able to mix the veg ourselves, the better. Otherwise, get the frozen mixed veggies sold in the supermarkets.)
0.5 cup grated cheese. (There are so many available that you can make some healthy choices over here too)
Some peppercorns(crushed) - iF you prefer ground black pepper, it should be fine too.
Chilli Flakes (as required) - if you have those packs of chilli flakes, leftover from the pizza party, use them.

Melt the butter in a non stick pan. Add flour and coriander and stir for a while.
Remove. but do not turn off the stove.
Add milk to the pan and beat continuously for a while. Heat again.
Boil the milk mixture and add the salt and pepper. The sauce is ready when it gives a smooth and consistent look.
Add 1/2 of the cheese and mix.

Boil the mixed veg with salt and stain the water. Return to the pan with the sauce. Mix and add to a baking pan.

Sprinkle the cheese, chilli flakes and pepper to lift the texture as well as to make it more spicy and cheesy.

Pre-heat oven for 18- deg anf bake for 20-25mins. The end produt should be crispy golden and cheezy.

Uppma - Semolina dish

Uppma - Semolina

Spicy and filling. You can consider this as a side dish as well as a main dish. Cooking time is hardly more than 5 minutes. This is healthy for a breakfast and will keep you full till lunchtime.
This is a South Indian disha nd is vey famous in Kerala for a morning breakfast.

Ingredients

Semolina -1 pack
Chilli - as required. If you need more spice, add more. If not 2-3 should be enough. Go for the small chillies as they tend to be tatier and spicier.
Tomato - optional
Curry leaves - 1-2 tbsp
Kaduku (Mustard Seeds) - 2-3 tsp
Uluva (Fenugreek seed) - 1 tsp
Ghee (clarified would be a better option) - 3-4 tbsp
Onions (I prefer shallots) - 1/2 big or 3 shallots
Cashewnut (Optional) - 4-5 pieces chopped
Carrot (baby) (optional) - 4-5 cut in cubes
Hot water - 2 cups

Procedure

Heat Ghee in a non-stick pan.
Add Mustard seeds and curry leaves.
Add chillies and onions and saute till soft.
Add carrots and 1/2 of the chopped cashewnuts and fry till golden.
Add hot water and let it come to boil.
As the water boils, lower the heat to medium and add in the semolina, while stirring constantly.
This makes sure that you will not get any lumps.
How much semolina to add will depend on the situation.
You need to add as much as the water could take.
The consistency should be smooth (not watery and not too hard).
Always ensure that you are stirring constantly.
Off the stove and stirr well.

Granish with the remaining cashew nuts andserve hot.

You will not need any curry to go along with this. A hot cup of tea or coffee would end the meal perfectly.

Orange Refresher

Orange Refresher

As the name suggests, this dessert would refresh every sense in your body!

Orange Jelly - 1 Cup
Whipped Cream (sugar should be sufficient in this. If not add to your preference)- 1 1/2 cup
Orange chunks - 1 cup (peeled and cut into small cubes)
Orange Juice - 1 cup
Choco chips - As required

In a non stick pan, melt the orange jelly in a cup of water.
Add the orange juice and off the stove.

Pour into a glass bowl and let it set in the refrigerator for an hour or so.
Ensure that the jelly is semi-set.

Now break the jelly and add in the whipped cream and mix well.
Add in the choco chips and blend in.
Now add the orange chunks and mix well.

The mixture would be of smooth consistency. Chill the mixture.
Serve cold in a cup with some dressing. Suggestion would be to sprinkle some choco chips and stack some orange chunks at the sides. Also, add in a tsp of orange juice for color.

Gobi Prata (Cauliflower Prata)

Gobi Prata (Cauliflower Prata)

This is one of my favorites and I am sure you will like it too... It is uite simple to make and is also vey filling. You may find making Gobi Prata a little diffivult for the first time, if you have never made any Rotis before. Otherwise, this should be pretty simple.

Ingredients:
Gobi - (Cauliflower) - depending on how many rotis you are making for.
I would suggest taking a cup of cauliflower
Cut them into tiny pieces and keep aside. Make sure you was the cauliflower well.

Now, make the roti.
You will need about 200-300 grm Maida (plain flour) /Atta (Wholemeal flour)
Sieve it with a little salt.
Knead using warm water (hot, if you can handle it - this would make the roti's softer). Then add a little bit of Oil (about 1 tbsp or as you prefer) and knead again.
Ensure that the dough is now soft to touch and is easy to seperate into balls.
Keep aside to settle.

Now, prepare the filling.

Amchur - 1 tsp (add more if the taste is not coming as yet as different brands will have different effect)
Jeera (Cumin seeds) - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder - A pinch
Chilli Powder - 1/2 - 1 tsp
Pepper - if you want
Salt - as required
Lemon Juice - if you prefer a more tangy taste to you filling - 1/2 tsp

In a heated pan, add oil, add jeera and fry till fragrant (usually ready in the instant. Now, add the masalas. This consistes of Turmeric powder, chilli powder, pepper and amchur. Now add in the cauliflower that you had prepared earlier.

Cook for a while and then add in the extras; that would be salt and lemon. Cook well. Taste to see if the cauliflower is cooked. Then keep aside.

Now, roll out the dough. The balls should approximately fit into you palm. Then roll out into small circle. Roll anouther ball, about the same size. Now, add the filling into the first circle and cover with the second circle. Seal the ends well, with your fingers. There is no need to wet the dough.
Now, roll out the dough with the filling slowly. If the sides come apart, keep sealing them and roll out. Roll till you have a nice circle. Ensure that the dough do not stick to you rolling pin or the rolling pad. Put some flowr onto the board before rolling.

Now heat a pan and cook both sides well. Add some ghee if you like the taste of it. Add hot.

You may serve this as it is or assis it with some yoghurt.

Baked Rice with Hot dog chunks

Baked Rice with Hot dog chunks

Butter - 1/2 cup
shallots - 8 or as requiredm finely chopped
Salt - as required
Pepper - as required
Seasoning - chicken - as required
Rice - long grain or as you like - 1 cup
Water - 2 cups
Celery / mint leaves / any fragrant leaves - finely chopped


Melt the butter over low heat.
Add the shallots, celery and rice to the melted butter and saute till the rice is coated light brownish

Prepare soup while the rice is ready.
Add the seasoning, pepper and salt to boiling water.

Pour the cooked rice in a casserole, add cut hot dog chunks and pour the soup over it. Without stirring, cover with an aluminium foil and and bake in the over. Pre-heat the oven at 350 deg and once the over is ready, place the dish into the ovwen and cook for 30-45 minutes. Ensure that the water is absorbed fully by the rice; but not such that it gets too sticky.

Serve hot.

Okra Fries (ladies finger fries)

Okra Fries

You can consider this as a healthy snack item for tea or as a veg item for lunch or dinner.

Okra (ladies finger) - 10 pieces (depending on how much you want)
Slit the okra into two halves. (If the okra is long, cut into two and then slit)
Keep aside.

The ingredients to marinate the okra are as follows.
Cumin powder - 1 tbsp
Chilli powder - 1 tbsp
Pepper - as required
Am chur (dried mango powder) - 1 tbsp
coriander powder - 1/tbsp
Besan powder - 2 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Fenugreek powder - 1/2 tbsp

Mix all the ingredients together well. Make sure you have enough masala at the end enough to marinate the okra well. You can add more ingredients to make your own okra chips. Some suggestions would be a little lime juice, chilli / tomato sauce, white pepper etc.

Ensure that the okra is all covered well and then leave it aside for an hour or so (as deemed fit) before cooking.

After the okra is set, you can deep fry in oil till golden brown. and serve it hot.

Cheezy Sticks (Chicken)

This menu is for kids and is a snack item. Best served in the evening or packed to go for a quick bite during a tiring outing!

You will need cubes of chicken, cubes of cheese and tootthpicks (washed and dried).

Grind 2 bread pieces to fine crumbs and keep aside.

To marinate, you will need,

shallots / onions (cut into small pieces / ground)
ginger / garlic (optional)
Chilli (optional)
Chilli / tomato sauce (as required by taste)
Pepper (as required by taste)
salt (as required by taste)
one small egg (beaten well)


Mix all ingredients for marinate and knead well. add cubes of chicken and leave aside for 2-5 mins.

Afterwhich, take a toothpick and poke in one cube of chicken, followed by a cube of cheese, followed buy a cube of chicken. You can continue doing so depending of how long your toothpick is.

Now, you will need to roll the ,toothpick on the ground breadcrumbs. Make sure all parts are fully covered.

You will need oil (use sunflower oil for better taste), enough for deep frying.

Heat the Oil for a few mins before placing the cheezy sticks. Deep fry on low heat till golden brown and till the chiken is cooked till tended.

Serve with mayo / tartar / chilli / tomato sauce.

Coffee Pudding

Coffee Pudding

Ingredients
Coffee powder (Instant) - 5 Tbsp
Egg white - 5
Egg Yolk - 5
Condensed Milk - 2 Tin
Milk - 1 1/2 cup
Vanilla Essense - 1 Tbsp

Beat the egg white till fluffy. Keep aside.

In a seperate bowl, beat the egg yolk for 2 mins. Keep aside.

In a glass, mix the coffee powder in a cup of cold water.

In a seperate bowl, mix the egg yolk, condensed milk, milk and the coffee with a beater. Just enough to mix the four ingredients together.

Add the vanilla essense and mix well, slowly.

Grease the cake tin and pour the mixture into the tin.
Add the egg white on top of the mixture, slowly.

Pre-heat the oven 180deg and bake the pudding for 40 mins.

Once done, let the pudding cool and then keep in the refrigerator for 2 hrs or more before serving.