B'day Sponge Cake with Peanut Butter frosting and Marshmallow Fondant

Marshmallow Fondant is a perfect one for decorating the cakes and cupcakes. For my Hubby's B'day, made Marshmallow fondant first time. Usually, we like to have the cakes with lite creme, custard milk or with Ice Cream. Me and my Hubby don't like the heavy creams, even if we bought the cakes with cream we remove all those cream first and then only we will have that. We like all kinds of cakes esp Sponge cake and cheese cake like it very much. For my DH b'day baked Sponge cake with Smooth Peanut Butter frosting and Marshmallow fondant. Today am sharing my MM fondant cake with you all. Marshmallow fondant is easy to make and finishing looks perfect, only 10 mts of fighting with the marshmallow will feel bit tired but then we will get the perfect flexible fondant.

Marshmallow Fondant:

1.Marshmallows - 1 packet
2.Powdered Sugar - 2 cups
3.Microwave safe bowl
4.Wooden spatula
5.1 tsp water
6.Crisco or margerine

Preparation:

1. Before starting the process, clean the kitchen board surface and grease it with crisco and dust with powder sugar.
2.I used only pink colour Marshmallows from the packet, put it in the deep microwave safe bowl ( cos it will raise while in microwave so use deep bowl) and sprinkle just a little bit ( 1 tsp) of water and microwave it to 20 secs and take it out mix it well with spatula and again microwave it for 20 secs and take it out mix it well with spatula, do the same process to 2mts.
3.After 2 mts of microwaving the MM ( marshmallow), pour the mixture in the greased n sugar dusted surface.
4.Now grease your hands with crisco or with oil and sugar, try to incorporate the MM like our soft roti dough.
5.It's bit messy work for 10 mts and then the beautiful fondant will come to use.
6.After this wrap the fondant in plastic shrink wraper and put it inside the fridge.
7.For me after taking out the fondant from the fridge while using it turned bit hard, i couldn't roll it so i just microwave the fondant placed in the plate for 10 secs and checked if not came out right again i put it for 10 secs to make it flexible.
8.I tried the MM fondant cake and covered the fondant to the cake with the help of videos from here.

Sponge Cake :

1.Self-Raising flour - 1 1/2 cups
2.Margerine - 3/4  cup
3.Castor Sugar - 1 cup
4.Large eggs - 2
5. Bi-carb - 2 tsp
6.salt - a pinch
7.Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp
8.Warm milk if needed.

Preparation:

1.Preheat the oven to 375deg F and grease the baking pan.
2.Sift the self-raising flour,salt and bi carb in one bowl.
3.Beat the margerine and sugar in high to get creamy texture and then add the eggs and essence beat it in low speed until it turns fluffy.
3.Now fold gently the egg mixture with the dry ingredients, the consistency should be like drop from a spatula.
4.If not like that means add the little bit of warm milk and mix it gently.
5.Now pour it to the greased baking pan.( for both of us small cake is fine so i didnt baked 2 layers).
6.Bake it in the center of the oven for 25 mts or until turns golden brown on top.
7.Don't open the oven in between or atleast for 20 mts, cos the cold air will goes inside the oven.
8.After 25 mts, Check the cake with the toothpick at the centre of the cake. Cool it in the wire racks for a while meanwhile can make the frosting.

Smooth Peanut butter Frosting:

1.Smooth Peanut butter - 1/2 cup
2.Milk - 1/4 cup
3.Powdered Sugar - 1 cup
4.Crushed peanuts - 3 tbsp
5.Vanilla Essence - 1/2 tsp

Preparation:

1.Beat the smooth peanut butter until it turns fluffy.
2.Now add the sugar,essence, crushed nuts and Milk, beat it gently for a while.
3.Now the peanut butter cream is ready, Use immediately don't store it in the fridge.

Frosting the Cake:

1.For 2 of us baked only one layer of cake and cut in the centre part and done the frosting, Spread the smooth peanut butter cream on the surface of the cake and to all sides of the cake.
2.Now close it with second part of the cake layer.
3.Keep it aside in the aluminium foiled cake plate.

Covering the Marshmallow fondant:

1.Now take out the fondant from the fridge and if not flexible to roll microwave it for 10 secs and roll it with the rolling pin according to the cake size.
2.For me faced bit tough with rolling the fondant cos it stick in the surface, so i spread the aluminium foil sheet on the surface and greased it with margerine then i rolled the fondant over the sheet. Just taken the foil sheet with rolled fondant and covered it over the cake.
3.Cut the edges with the knife. After seeing the video i was making these fondant cake, Use this video for the assistance to make and cover the fondant to the cake.Decorate the cake with jelly candies.

For making the quick Mini Rose and Petals:

I made this mini rose and petals after seeing this , it is very easy and quick one. For the b'day wishes words, i used the black currant jam, just put it in blender for 2 rounds and pour it in the mehendi cone and done the bday wishes words. I am not good in decorating the cakes, so i just made simple and easy decorations.

Hope you liked my Sponge Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Marshmallow Fondant, i baked and finishing the cake with what i got at that time, i didn't bought specially nothing for this. Even for decoration on the borders i used only red berry and blue berry jelly candies. Making fondant is very simple and easy one, do try this by yourself and enjoy with your family.

Schezwan Fried Rice

Schezwan Fried Rice:

Ingredients:

1.Cooked Basmathi Rice - 2 cups
2.Sliced Baby Corn - 1/2 punnet
3.Frozen Green Peas - 1/2 cupi
4.Sliced Green n Red Bell Peppers - 1/2 of each
5.Sliced Mushroom - 1/2 punnet
6.Bokchoy ( chinese cabbage) -2 small size
7.Chopped Red Onions - 1/2 cup
8.Finely Chopped Green chillies - 1
9.Chopped carrots - 1 big
10.Eggs - 2 large
11.Ginger n Garlic Paste - 3 tsp
12.Finely Chopped Spring Onions - 1/2 bunch
13.Schezwan Sauce - 2 tbsp ( store bought)
14.Light Soy Sauce - 1 tbsp
15.Black pepper powder - 2 tsp
16.Salt - to taste
17.Canola Oil - 2 - 3 tbsp

Preparation:

1.Cook the Basmathi rice with fluffy and the rice should separate.
2.Heat oil in the pot, Saute the red onions , Ginger n Garlic Paste n Green Chillies till the raw smell of ginger garlic paste goes off saute in the medium flame.
3.Then add the Sliced n Chopped veggies first with baby corn, carrots, mushroom, Green peas, Bell Peppers and Bokchoy ( the leaves should be just wilted).
4.All the vegetables should be in crisp , Just saute all the veggies just for 2 to 5 mts.
5.Now make room for eggs in the pot and add the eggs , black pepper powder. Scramble the eggs nicely and mix it with the veggies.
6.Now add the salt ( if we add the salt while sauteeing the veggies means it leaves water),Schezwan sauce and Soy Sauce.
7.Now mix it gently to incorporate the sauces with veggies and then add the cooked Basmathi rice to this mixture.
8.Mix it well and sprinkle the chopped spring onions and again mix it nicely.
9.Now Schezwan fried rice is ready, Serve hot the Schezwan Fried rice with Manchow Soup and Veggie Spring Roll.
10.My Hubby enjoyed this Schezwan fried rice, he liked it very much very mild and good in taste.

Note:

I didn't added not much sauce cos my Hubby don't like to much of spicy.You can add according to your taste. My Hubby like egg in all fried rice dishes, so i added eggs if you don't like can avoid adding in fried rice.

Awards from blogger Frenz

Awards from Nithu , Prani and Ammu

I received Loving blogger award and Honest Scrap award from Nithu and Prani . The Sun shine award from Ammu. Nithu sent those awards before, am posting delayed. Sorry, dear for the delayed posting.Thanks Nithu, Prani and Ammu for reminding me and for your's lovely awards.

This Loving blog and Honest scrap award comes with a set of rules:

a) I must brag about it.

b) I have to display the badge on my blog and link to the one who tagged me to prove that I didn't tag myself (how pathetic that would be!)

c) Share 10 things about myself.

d) Pass the award to other fellow bloggers by visiting their site.

Few Words about me:

1.My Hubby is my best friend,guide and Great Gift from god to me.

2.I like sweets very much esp motichoor laddus, i cant control myself for laddus the same to biryani and chaats.

3.I am sincere devotee of Lord Muruga, sometimes do silly fight with him.

4.Mouna Raagam is my all time faav movie,,always watch that movie like first time watching.

5.I like cooking new recipes and Gardening.

6.I won't easily stick with others, if i like one person means i will be very close and friendly to them.

7.I like my mom's cooking very much and now am fan of my Hubby's cooking.
8.I like to travel and try new recipes from restaurants.

I would like to pass the Loving blogger and Honest scrap awards with few of my blogger Friends :

1.Uma

2.Sushma

3.Ammu

4.Siddhi

5.Valar

6.Sara

7.B

8.Madhuri

Thank you very much for all my friends encouraged me with your valuable comments on my recipes and for your lovely awards for my blog. I am looking forward your valuable comments and your visiting to my blog always.

My Hubby's B'day Blast with Candle Light Dinner

26th of March, Yesterday was my Hubby's bday celebrated with Candle Light dinner. Usually, I have invite all of our friends on his b'day, but this time we decided this month candle light dinner on this day. Every month for Candle light dinner , the recipes and cuisines will change. This month on my Hubby's B'day, i decided to make a menu depends on his favourite recipes. He has fond of Chinese, Malay and non-spicy foods, then i made a list of 5 recipe names in each criteria for 4 course meals. Finally, he selected Thai food recipes.

  Thai food recipes takes only few minutes to cook only thing is cutting takes little bit time that too not hard, i finished quick, quick. For me cooking vegeterian food takes time it's a big hazard ,but for non-veg woooow!!!!! finish earlier than veggies and easily. Since after our marriage i order his B'day cake to cut. But, this time baked his B'day cake myself and done Marshmallow fondant.It came out right, but not that much perfect like our pastry shop cakes finishing.Anyway, My Hubby was very happy on his B'day cake baked with full of my love.

Before he comes from work, i finished all my cooking and set the table for candle light dinner with recipes in serving bowls.We usually start the dinner at 7 pm on candle light dinner day, but on yesterday it was very dark early at 6 pm cos of winter is coming. In summer, till 8 pm the brightness will be here like daytime. We enjoyed  my Hubby's B'day with Candle light dinner.

The Menu for my hubby's b'day and for our Candle light dinner as follows,

1.Veggie Spring roll
2.Manchow Soup
3.Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Butter Sauce
4.Thai Red Curry with Rice
5.Pad Thai Chicken Noodles
6.Schezwan Fried Rice
7.Shop Bought Ice Cream and B'day cake with cream for Dessert

This time was less recipe menu than before, but all recipes are my Hubby's favourite. My Hubby enjoyed all the foods and he also gave the rank to the recipes, the first rank goes to Schezwan fried rice.We enjoyed together his B'day and Candle light dinner with lots of fun.

Veggie Spring Roll and Manchow Soup

Manchow Soup is my Hubby's favourite Chinese Soup.Yesterday, for his B'day made this soup for him. I haven't tried this soup on myself only in restaurants we tasted, this was the first time cooked myself. It came out very nice and tasty and my Hubby enjoyed a lot with chewy noodles and veggies. First, in my list of recipes for my hubby's b'day got tom yam soup. But, my Hubby didn't want shrimps for his b'day menu. Then, i decided to make Manchow Soup from Siddhi's blog. Siddhi is my favourite blogger friend with a cute smile, She got a more colourful and Vibrant blog with superb spicy food recipes and tempting desserts. I like all food from her blog, especially manchow soup and all dessert items. Here is the recipe follows for you,

For Manchow Soup:

Ingredients:

1.Shredded Cabbage - 1 cup
2.Finely chopped Carrots - 5 tbsp
3.Chopped Mushroom - 1/2 cup
4.Chopped Green Bell Peppers - 1/4 cup
5.Chopped Red Onions - 5 tbsp
6.Finely Chopped Spring onions - 3 tbsp
7.Finely Chopped Ginger - 1 tbsp
8.Finely Chopped Garlic - 1 tbsp ( Garlic os not much hot like Indian Garlic, use according to it)
9.Finely Chopped Green Chillies - 1
10.Lemon juice - 2 tsp
11.Chicken stock - 4 cups ( i used 2 cubes)
12.Dark Soy Sauce - 1 tbsp
13.Chilli sauce - 2 tbsp ( i used garlic chilli sauce)
14.Black Pepper powder - 1 tsp
15.Corn Flour - 1 tbsp ( use according to your desired soup consistency)
16.Cooked Noodles - 1 cup ( i used my pad thai rice noodles)
17.Salt - to taste

Preparation :

1.First prepare the chicken stock and keep it aside.
2.Heat oil in the pot, add the chopped ginger,garlic,green chillies,spring onions and red onions. Saute for a while till the raw smell of ginger n garlic goes off in medium flame.
3.Then add the mushroom saute for 2 mts and then add other chopped Veggies cook for 2 mts.( veggies should be in crisp)
4.Now add the chicken stock, salt and let it boil , then add the soy sauce, chilli sauce, salt and black pepper powder.
5.Close the pot with the lid to cook for 5 mts, meanwhile mix the cornflour with enough water add it to the pot.
6.Stir it well and close the pot with lid to cook in medium flame
7.Heat separate pan and fry the noodles with little bit of oil to bit crisp.
8.Now the Hot Soup is ready to serve with fried noodles.

I didn't taken the picture the soup with fried noodles, i added the fried noodles before serving.

For Veggie Spring Roll:

Ingredients:

1.Spring roll Wrappers - 6
2.Canola oil for deep frying
3.Mix 1tbsp of cornflour with little bit of water in separate bowl for wet the edges of Spring roll.


For Sauteeing:

1.Oil - 2 tsp
2.Shredded Cabbage - 1 bowl
3.Thinly sliced carrots - 4 tbsp
4.Thinly Sliced Mushroom - 4 tbsp
5.Chopped Green Bell Pepper - 3 tbsp
6.Thinly Sliced Bamboo shoots - 2 tbsp
7.Bean Sprouts - 2 tbsp
8.Salt - to taste
9.Light Soya Sauce - 1 tbsp

Preparation:

1.Heat oil in a pan, saute all the veggies lightly ( should be in crispy). Don't cook fully and add the soy sauce and salt.
2.Saute it nicely in medium flame till the sauce get sticks to the veggies.
3.Now spread the sauteed veggies in the plate  to cool.
4.After 15 to 20 mts, heat oil in the kadai for deep frying. Meanwhile, wrap the spring roll with veggies.
5.Deep fry the rolls till it turns golden brown and drain it in the kitchen towels.
6.Then serve hot with ketchup.

Pancakes with Maple Syrup

Pancakes are easy to make with fresh ingredients like eggs, butter, milk and flour, it doesn't take too long time to mix the batter. Pancakes are great Weekend Breakfast with maple syrup and also a good pudding. I like the Maple syrup topping on Cheese cake with blueberries.This is the first time am trying Pancake at home myself or else we use to order in coffee shops with Cheese cake. For my Hubby Pancake is nothing but a rich maida dosai, he always do fun comments on Pancakes and on Me. Yesterday, i tried with little amount of ingredients and it came out very nice. Here, am sharing the Pancake recipe with you .

Ingredients:

1.All Purpose flour/ Cake flour - 1 cup
2.Baking Powder - a big pinch
3.Salt - a pinch
4.Egg - 1 large
5.Milk - 1/2 cup
6.Sugar - 1 tsp
7.Canola Oil - 2 tsp
8.Unsalted butter - 2 tsp
9.Castor sugar - for garnishing
10.Glazed cherries - 2 no's for garnishing

Preparation:

1.Take 2 two bowls, in one bowl sift the flour,salt,sugar and baking powder. Keep it aside.
2.In another bowl, whisk the egg nicely and then add the milk.
3.Add the milk and egg mixture to the flour bowl, mix it nicely till it incorporate.
4.Mix it with the fork, the consistency should be like a cream.
5.Heat a non-stick pan, melt the butter and add it to the Pancake batter mix it nicely.
6.In the same non-stick pan, Pour about 3 tbsp of batter like our uthappam.
7.Leave it for a while and flip it to cook on other side to light golden brown.
8.Now the Pancake is ready to serve hot with Maple Syrup.
9.You can also try the batter with little more salt and no sugar, it tastes good with Our Curries. I like the Pancake tasted Yummy with Veg curry.
10.Now roll the pancake or you can place it as like that in the serving plate and top with maple syrup if you like can also add dollop of butter.
11.Sprinkle some castor sugar and top it with glazed cherries, Hmmmm really it tasted great and yummy with maple syrup.

This delicious Pancake with Maple syrup is going to be a part of:

 Pancakes Event hosted by Priya.

Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken fried rice is my Hubby's fav one, he cooks nicely the Chinese foods Chow mein , Chow faan and rolls. I tried to cook fried rice lot of times like him, but the taste won't comes out nicely like his cooking. He got some magic in his hands, he will put the ingredients just by eye measuring but it comes out very perfect and tasty.This weekend was our long weekend, both of us enjoyed a lot by visiting lot of places and long drives.Yesterday was our resting day, then my Hubby planned to cook Chicken fried rice for me. Immediately nodded my head and just craving for fried rice by my Hubby's cooking. Here is the recipe for you.

Ingredients:

1.Cooked Basmathi Rice - 2 cups
2.Finely Chopped Green bell peppers - 1 medium size
3.Green peas - 3 tbsp
4.Eggs - 2
5.Fried onions - 1 tbsp
6.Shredded chicken - 1/2 cup
7.Grated carrots - 4 tbsp
8.Finely Chopped Spring onions - 3 tbsp
9.Soy Sauce - 2 tsp
10.Canola Oil - 2 tbsp
11.Salt - to taste

Preparation:

1.Slice and Cook the 100 gms of chicken breast with ginger garlic paste, salt and chilli powder for 10 mts. Drain out the stock with collander ( don't pour the chicken stock away can use it for chicken soup) and shred the chicken pieces in blender just for 1 round ( use juice mode). Keep it aside.
2.Heat oil in the wok in medium flame and add the chopped bell peppers ,green peas, grated carrot and chopped spring onions. Fry for a while ( veggies should be in crispy not to be fully cooked).
3.In a separate pan scramble the eggs with little bit of  oil and salt, if you try to scramble the eggs with veggies means we can't make it nicely.( the veggies will get mash)
4.Then add the finely scrambled egg with the veggies, now add the shredded chicken, soy sauce and mix it well. ( I like the fried rice in white colour , so my Hubby didn't added much of soy sauce or else he will add bit more).
5.Before adding the rice to the mixture add the fried onions, Salt for rice and then add the cooked Basmathi rice.
6.Mix it gently in medium flame for 5 mts and close the wok with the lid.
7.After 5 mts open the lid you can smell the nice fresh Fried rice with chicken. My hubby made the soup out of the chicken stock.
8.Now the Hot chicken fried rice is ready to serve with Soup. We enjoyed this Simple and Easy Chicken fried rice with chicken soup for our yesterday's dinner.


SUNSHINE AWARD : Shama  and Ruchi has passed this wonderful award .Thank you dear for remembering me and awarding me .

Winners has to do the following,

---- Use the logo within your post .
---- Pass on to atleast 12 bloggers .
----- Link the nominees in your post
----- Let the nominees know of their award
---- Share the love and link to the friend, who has passed this award to you.

I would love to share this award with


Sushma, Uma, Mriganayani, Gulmohar and Nostalgia, Priya, Love2cook,Siddhi, Priya Raj, Nithu, Mary, Cool Lassi(e),Krishnaveni and Swathi.

Easy Cheesy Baked Penne with Veggies

Ingredients:

1.Cooked Penne Pasta - 2 cups
2.Sweet chilli sauce - 1 tbsp
3.Tabasco sauce - 1 tsp
4.Black Pepper powder - 2 tsp
5.Thinly sliced onions - 1 big
6.Sliced peppers - ( 1/2 yellow pepper n 1/2 red pepper)
7.Cream Style sweet corn - 300g
8.Italian mixed herbs - 1 tsp
9.Salt - to taste
10.Canola oil - 1 tbsp
11.Grated White cheddar and Parmesian cheese - 3 tbsp

For White Sauce:

1.Milk - 1 cup
2.All purpose flour - 2 tbsp
3.Grated white cheddar cheese - 2 tbsp
4.Unsalted Butter or margerine - 1 tbsp
5.Salt - a pinch

Preparation:

Cook the penne according to the package instructions and drain in the collander. Keep it aside.

For White Sauce :

1.Melt the butter in the pan in medium flame, add the all purpose flour and stir it gently for 2 minutes ( dont allow it to turn brown).
2.Lift the pan from the fire and now add a cup of milk, stir it gently till it blend nicely to the flour mixture in medium fire. After 2 mts add the grated cheese to this mixture.
3.Add a pinch of salt to the white sauce, cook it in medium flame from the beginning.
4.With the help of the spoon try to blend it gently until smooth and thickened.
5.If you like the white sauce in thin consistency, add more little bit of milk and reduce the flour amount.
6.Keep it aside.

For Veggies:

1.Heat 2 tsp of canola oil in the pan, saute the bell peppers and sliced onions for 5 mts ( don't cook fully) and add the sweet chilli sauce, tabasco sauce, 1 tsp of salt and Black pepper powder.
2.Saute it gently in medium flame.After 10 mts take out  from the fire and leave it aside.

For Mixing:

Now mix the sauted veggies, cooked penne pasta into the white sauce and Combine it well. Pour the half of the veggie pasta mixture into the well greased Baking Dish and pour the half of the cream style sweet corn on it.Then again pour the remaining veggie penne mixture and remaining cream style corn.It's like a Lasagna layer arrangement.

Then sprinkle the mixed herbs and mixed grated cheese on top and bake at 400 deg F for 15 to 20 mts till golden brown on top.

Enjoy the Easy Cheesy Baked Penne with Veggies with Garlic Bread and Hot n Sour Soup.


Note:

You can also bake with other varieties of pastas and add with different veggies like mushrooms,brocoli,mashed potatoes and also with chicken breasts,,,, Add more or less tabasco sauce according to your preference.

Malai Kofta

Malai kofta is the rich and creamy gravy with loads of cream and paneer, is famous in India. I tried this gravy in restaurants and here in our friends house, but i haven't tried myself before. I thought it would be a long process to do this gravy and koftas, but i came to know very smooth and easy to cook in 30 minutes from my friends Mriganayani and in Gulmohar  Nostalgia's  page. This is the first time am trying the Malai Kofta and it came out perfect.

I would like to tell something about Mriganayani, She is having the special quality of good hands in cooking. She is the first one gave me an award for my blog to appreciate the new bloggers. It was great surprise for me on that day and also felt very happy for her appreciation. Gulmohar and Nostalgia are my good friends, they are very sweet persons and friendly.They got nice blog with eye candy pictures of recipes. After i started to blogging got my dearest and best friends in my life, am feeling soo happy on this.

Here is the Recipe for you:

Ingredients:

For Kofta:

1.Boiled and skinned Potato - 1 big
2.Finely chopped carrot - 5 tbsp
3.Finely chopped Beans - 5 tbsp
4.Green Peas - 3 tbsp
5.Paneer - 2 tbsp
6.Salt - to taste
7.Garam Masala - 1 tsp
8.Canola oil for deep frying
9.All purpose flour for rolling if necessary

For Gravy:

1.Sliced Onions - 2 medium
2.Chopped Tomatoes - 2 no's
3.Ginger - 1 tbsp
4.Garlic - 5 pods
5.Cashew nuts - 6 whole nuts
6.Poppy seeds - 1 tbsp
7.Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
8.Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
9.Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
10.Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
11.Salt - to taste
12.Oil - 1 tbsp
13.Low Fat Cream - 1/2 cup

Preparation :

First Soak the Poppy seeds and Cashew nuts in the water and then start your cooking process.

For Kofta:

1.Boil and peel the potatoes in one bowl, mash it with the help of fork.
2.Boil the green peas, finely chop the carrot and beans and fry the 3 veggies in little bit of oil in the pan to get rid of the moisture in the veggies.
3.Meanwhile make the paneer out of the milk (Out of  250 ml of milk i got 2 tbsp of paneer, thats enough for my kofta) If you think need more means you can use extra milk.
4.It's an easy process just make the milk to boil and add little bit of lemon juice instantly milk starts to curdle squeeze the water out with the help of cheese or cotton clothes.
5.Now add all the veggies, garam masala, salt, and paneer into the mashed Potato and mix it well.Make small balls out of it and keep it aside in the plate.
6.Heat oil in the pan and deep fry those balls till golden brown no need to wait for long time.
7.If the balls get spread out in the oil means just roll the balls in the cake flour or all purpose flour and then deep fry it.
8.Now drain the oil in the kitchen towel and keep it aside.

For Gravy:

1.Dry roast the cumin seeds and coriander seeds in the frying pan till the aroma comes out  and grind it to fine powder.
2.Heat 1 tsp of oil in the same pan, Saute the sliced onions, ginger and garlic.
3.Then add the chopped tomatoes and salt, Braise it well till it turns pulpy.
4.Follow with turmeric powder and red chilli powder, leave it to cook.
5.Allow the mixture to cool and grind it nicley to fine paste.
6.Heat 1 tbsp of oil in the same pan and pour the grinded paste, allow it to cook in medium flame till the oil separates around the edges.
7.Meanwhile grind the poppy seeds and cashew nuts to fine paste.
8.Now add the roasted cumin n coriander powder to the gravy. After 5 mts add the cashew paste and mix it well.
9.After the oil separates around the edges take off the pan from the fire and add the low fat or heavy cream to the gravy.
10.Transfer the gravy to the serving bowl and before serving add the fried koftas.
11.Now the delicious and Yummy Malai Kofta is ready to serve with rotis or with Pulao.
12.We enjoyed this yummy and creamy Malai Kofta with peas pulao for our yesterday's dinner.

Note:

1.The gravy should be in thick consistency, if you like to add little bit of hot water it is fine but don't add the koftas into the gravy it will turns soggy immediately.
2.Try to add the koftas just before serving then only it will be crispy or else it will turns soggy.
3.By adding the roasted cumin and coriander seeds powder into the gravy it  gives nice aroma.
4.I used only low fat cream for the gravy.

Ven pongal ( வெண் பொங்கல் )

Ingredients:

1.Raw or Basmathi Rice - 2 cups
2.Moong Dhal - 1 cup
3.Black pepper(cracked) - 1 tbsp
4.Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
5.Ginger (Finely crushed) - 2 tbsp
6.Asafoetida(Hing) - a pinch
7.Cashew Nuts - 1 tbsp
8.Curry Leaves - few
9.Ghee - 2 tbsp
10.Salt - as reqd
11.Canola Oil - 2 tsp

Preparation:


1.Lightly dry roast the Rice and Dhal in the pressure pan till light golden brown. Wash the rice and dhal and keep it aside.
2.Heat little bit of oil  in the pressure pan, fry the rice and dhal for 2 minutes.
3.Then add the hot water into the pan according to your rice variety. I used Basmathi rice (1:1) , for ven pongal added extra 1 cup of water to get mash.
4.Add the crushed ginger,asafoetida,salt ,crushed pepper corns, curry leaves,cumin seeds with this rice .
5.Cook it in medium flame and leave it to boil, after the first boil stir the rice and dhal mixture from the bottom.
5.Close the lid and allow to cook for 3 whistles. After the steam got down open the lid and mash it well with the backside of the spatula.
6.Now in separate pan heat ghee and fry the cashew nuts.Pour the roasted cashew nuts into the cooked rice - dhal mixture and mix it well.
6.Serve Hot the ven pongal with coconut chutney and Sambar.
7.We enjoyed this Soft Ven Pongal with coconut chutney for our yesterday's dinner.

This delicious Ven Pongal  is going to be a part of:

Jihva- Break fast  guest hosted by Veggie platter of suma started by Indira of Mahanandi

Mixed Dhal Dosai - Adai Dosai ( அடை தோசை )

Ingredients :
1.Raw Rice : 1 cup
2.Bengal Gram (KadalaiParuppu) - 1/4 cup
3.Red and Green gram ( Thuvaram paruppu and Paasi paruppu ) - 1/4 cup
4.Onion - 2 nos ( medium).
5.Red Chillies - 5 - 7 nos
6.Garlic Flakes - 3 nos
7.Asafoetida ( Hing) - 1/2 tsp
8.Curry leaves - as reqd finely chopped
9.Coriander Leaves - as reqd finely chopped
10.Oil and Salt - as reqd

Method:
1.Soak the Rice and Dhals for about 3 - 4 hrs.
2.Grind Coarsely the Rice and Dhals with Red Chillies,Curry leaves,1 Onion,Grated Coconut,Garlic Flakes.
3.Mix the Chopped coriander leaves,Hing,Chopped Onions,Salt with the Batter.
4.Make the Nice and Crispy Adai Dosai with Ghee or Oil.
5.Serve the Adai Dosa with Coconut Chutney.

[Note: You can also add the small diced coconut with the dosa batter,it will tastes good.]

This delicious Adai is going to be a part of:

Jihva- Break fast  guest hosted by Veggie platter of suma started by Indira of Mahanandi

Ugadi Celebrations

Happy Ugadi Wishes to all my Blogger Friends.

The New year festival (Ugadi) celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Gudi padwa in Maharashtra. Ugadi festival comes in spring season, it is the first season Ugadi is the New Year and New Beginnings of all New Business on this Auspicious day. It is the season for mangoes and Sugarcanes, with these seasonal fruits we make "Ugadi Pachadi" with raw mangoes ,neem flowers and jaggery from sugar cane on this auspicious day. Ugadi Pachadi  is the combination of sweet , bitter and sour, it symbolises the true life. We get fresh mangoes from our field and my Mom makes tongue tinkling Mango Pickles in this season.

My mom use to begin the preparations a week ahead . On that day, we wake up early in the morning and take oil bathe, decorate our house with mango leaves ( Mavilai thoranam) and decorate the pooja room with jasmine flowers. She prepares the sweets a day before itself like Bobbatlu ( Opputtu) and Athirasam.

On Ugadi day, We use to fast in the morning after the prayer have our lunch with Ugadi Bhojanam ( Ugadi Feast). She cooks lot of recipes for our lunch Rice, White Pumpkin Sambar, Tomato rasam, yellow Pumpkin curry with beans,Pulihora,Udhu Vadai ( Methu Vadai), Aval Paal Payasam,Appalam and Mango Pickle.

Here, on yesterday we celebrated our Ugadi festival as in the same way. In the evening we have done our prayer after my hubby came from work. Our dinner with Ugadi Bhojanam Rice, Brinjal sambar, Tomato rasam, Potato fry,Masala Vadai, Rice n Moong dal Paal Payasam, Appalam . My hubby came early on yesterday,Once i finished all the cooking preparations we offered the food to the God and then had our dinner.

Chicken Biryani

Ingredients:

1.Basmathi rice - 2 cups
2.Canola Oil - 2 tbsp
3.Ghee - 3 tsp
4.Whole Spices - ( cinnamon sticks - 1",cloves - 3,cardamom pods - 3,bay leaves - 3,whole peppercorns - 1 tsp)
5.Curry leaves - few
6.Chopped tomatoes - 2 no's big
7.Sliced onions - 1 big
8.Slitted Green chillies - 1
9.Chopped mint leaves - 1/2 bunch
10.Chopped Coriander leaves - 1 small bunch

For Marination:

1.Chicken Drumticks - 4 pcs
2.Yoghurt - 1 cup
3.Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
4.Kashmiri red chilli powder - 2 tsp
5.Coriander powder - 4 tsp
6.Garam Masala - 2 tsp
7.Add the Salt include for rice
8.Ginger Garlic Paste - 3 tsp
9.Fried onions - 2 tbsp

Preparation:

1.First marinate the chicken pieces with the marination items, (poke the holes in drumsticks with fork then only masalas easily goes inside) for about 1 hrs. I use fried onions in the marination part itself.
2.Heat oil and ghee in the pressure pan, season the whole spices and then curry leaves.
3.Follow with slitted green chilies and sliced onions. Fry for a while till onions turns translcent.Then add the chopped coriander and mint leaves, saute for a while then add the chopped tomatoes.
4.Close the pressure pan with the lid to cook tomatoes to mash in a medium fire.
5.After the tomatoes get mashed and the oil separates on the surface, now add the marinated chicken mixture to the pan.
6.Turn it well and cook in a medium flame ,close the pan with the lid (Don't put the weight to the pan).
7.Cook till the raw smell of the masalas goes out and the oil separates on the surface.
8.Chicken itself leaves water while cooking , so don't need to add water at this stage.
9.Meanwhile wash the basmathi rice nicely and soak in water for 10 mts.
10.The water measurement for basmathi rice is (1:1), but for this we already got little bit of water in the masala try to add the water depends upon the water in the pan.
11.Add the washed basmathi rice to the masala mixture and turn it gently , now put the fire in high till it bubbles.
12.After the boiling starts put the fire to medium turn the rice mixture from the bottom of the pan and close it with the lid, cook the biryani without the whistles for 20 minutes.
13.After the Biryani cooked well open the lid for 10 mts and then try to turn it gently.
14.Now the delicious biryani is ready to serve. We enjoyed this Chicken Biryani with Shahi Paneer.