ffernscorner

Dry Bombay Duck and potato curry.

2010-11-19T15:14:00.003Z

Hi friends, its been long time I've not posted any thing on my blog, the reason being that I got a new job and am busy working these days :D

Todays recipe is dry bombay duck curry. I like this curry, the dried fish does have a strong or unpleasnt odour :( but when cooked it tates really good. This is the other way my mum cooks them and I always relished this curry.

7-8 dry bombay ducks,
1 potato- peeled, washedand cut in cubes,
1 tspn ginger garlic paste,
1 onion- sliced horizontally,
1 medium tomato chopped,
1-2 kokum,
chilly pwd,
turmeric pwd,
jeera pwd.

Method:-
First clean the fish,,remove any fins tail and head if any. Wash lightly and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan, add the onion and fry,, when onion is softened add the ginger garlic paste, fry. Add the spice pwds, tomato, potato add some water, cover and cook till the potatoes are 3/4 cooked. Finally add the dry bombay ducks and the kokum and cook till the potatoes and fish are done. Some more water can be added if gravy is desired.

VEGETABLE CUTLETS AND HOPE MUGS :)

2010-08-02T13:33:00.009+01:00

We received this set of HOPE mugs a couple of days back. Jerry fell in love with these cute mugs instantly and ordered them from Joel Osteen's ministries. But it took quiet a while to reach us as they had some problem with the mugs. Jerry was so impatient and could not wait to see them:) but we received them last week and the wait was finally over. Why are they called HOPE MUGS???
Well,because they display : H- Healing
O- Opportunity
P- Provision
E- Excellence
So they are named HOPE MUGS. On the back of each mug are printed verses from the Bible. This set was developed to remind us of God's goodness and blessings for us.God wants us to keep believing and trusting and to keep the HOPE alive in our lives and this set of mugs is a good way to keep reminding us of God's blessing for us.We love our HOPE mugs and we love our GOD :D

I made some vegetable cutlets the same day:) and clicked a few pics of my cutlets along with the mugs. The recipe for veg cutlets is as follows:

1 medium potato cut into small cubes,
1 medium carrot cut into small cubes,
1 cup frozen peas,
1 cup grated cabbage, chopped, (optional)
1/4 tsp turmeric pwd,
1 onion chopped,
1-2 green chilli finely chopped,
few sprigs coriander leaves, finely chopped
1 1/2 tspn ginger garlic paste,
1/2 tspn cumin pwd,
1 tspn coriander pwd,
1 tspn chilly pwd,
2 slices bread, soaked in little water and squeez,
abt 2 tspns lemon juice,
tomato sauce( optional)
salt to taste,
1 egg, beaten,
breadcrumbs to coat cutlets,(I used my homemade breadcrumbs,lightly toasted some leftover bread in the oven, in the broiler on the lowest gas point for 45 mins. kept checking in between though)

Method:
Boil the potatoes, carrot, cabbage and peas with salt and 1/4 tspn turmeric pwd and mash well. In a wide bowl add the mashed veg and all the other ingredients except egg and breadcrumbs.
Mix very well making sure there is no liquid left or it will not keep stiff shapes.
Beat the egg well in a bowl Make desired shapes of the mixture, dip in beaten egg and than roll in the breadcrumbs and shallow fry in pan. Continue till all the mixture is used.

Jazzed up baked beans

2010-07-26T17:45:00.003+01:00

I wanted to try something different with the baked beans yesterday, I usually make the open sandwich Hetal & Anuja's way. But yesterday I was not in the mood to eat it that way. So I thought of making something, other than the sandwich. So i added some onion, chilli pwd and had it with some toast and store bought hash bowns and enjoyed my breakfast.It later dawned on me that I could have added some capsicum, and how about some mushrooms as well? Mmmmmm im going to try it next time. But this was what I had yesterdayand enjoyed thouroughly all by myself:D.

1 tin- baked beans 9I used the weight watchers, as i am watching my weight;),
1 Onion- sliced lengthwise or cut in medium sized cubes,
1 green chilly- slit lengthwise,
1/2 tsp or to taste- chilly pwd,
1 tsp oil,
salt to taste.

Heatt oil in a pan, add the onon and green chilli, fry till onion is soft. Add the baked beans ans chilli pwd salt and mix wel. Serve.

British spring greens.

2010-07-21T12:01:00.003+01:00

I tried this version of spring greens and i loved it. It is very simple with few ingredients.

Ingredients:
1 packet british spring greens,washed and chopped in thin strips,
1tspn mustard seeds,
1 dry red chilly,
1 medium onion- finely chopped,
salt,
grated coconut.

Method:
Heat oil in a pan add the mustard seeds. Once the seeds start splttering, add the red chilly.Now add the onion add fry till onion softens. Now add the greens, add salt to taste, mix well. cover the pan, put water on the lid, lower the gas and cook till the greens are done. Finally add the grated coconut mix well and serve.

Spirella Cards

2010-06-16T17:39:00.004+01:00

I had been to the com'nity centre again sterday. I had no time so couldn't post the pics sterday so posting them today. I won't be going next Tuesday as tthe ladies are not meeeting at the Com'nity centre but are going out for lunch. I will miss my class next Tuesday
Please share your comments.. Thank you.

Lentil and veg curry..

2010-06-09T13:44:00.002+01:00

I found this recipe in one of the store magazines and thought I should give t a try.
Here's the recipe.

Heat oil, stir in 1/2 sliced onions and 1 crushed garlic. Cook for 3-4 mins until onion has softened. Stir in 1 tbspn medium curry powder and cook for 1 min. Pour over the 400 ml of veg stock, bring to a boil, than add 100 gms red lentils 200gms cauliflower and 1 large sliced carrot. Cover and simmer for 20 mins, stirring occasionally.
Stir in 75 gms of green beans, cover and simmer for 5 mins, than stir in 3 tbspn og greek style natural yogurt and heat through.
Serve garnished with chopped fresh coriander leaves.

Parchment Card

2010-06-08T17:41:00.005+01:00

Today was my first day at the community centre where some crafty women meet ever Tuesdays and learn to make greeting cards.I was very excited to go there and learn something new. This is my first attempt in card making and I am already enjoying it.
Your views and comments will be highly appreciated.

Malwani Chicken Curry

2010-05-26T13:15:00.003+01:00

I found this recipe long time back and I prepared this curry a few times and everytime it is better than the previous time.I found the recipe while browsing the internet. If I am not mistaken the recipe is shared by Niru Gupta.I have never tasted or even seen how malwani curry is but this curry is really delicious.It is very easy and doesn't need much effort.

Ingredients:
1 chicken-cleaned washed and cut into pieces,
1 tspn cumin seeds,
1 tbspn coriander seeds,
2-3 dried red chillies,
1 cup cocunut grated,
1 cup onions grated,
2tspn ginger garlic paste,
1 tspn turmeric pwd,
tamarind pulp from 20 gms tamarind,
1 cup coconut cream,(I used dried coconut pwd dissolved in water)
salt to taste

Method:
Dry roast the cumin seeds, coriander seeds and the chillies.keep aside,I dry roasted the coconut too this time though the actual recipe doesn't say so. Take them off the pan and grind them to a paste along with the grated cocunut.
Heat oil and add the onions and ginger garlic paste. Saute till onions are brown. Add the chicken the chicken over high heat and saute till opaque.
Add the ground paste, salt and turmeric pwd and saute till fat seperates.
Add water to cover , bring to a boil, than lower the heat and cook till chicken is tender.
Add the tamarind pulp and coconut cream, simmer for a few minutes and serve.

Potato curry

2010-05-14T18:34:00.004+01:00

This is a simple recipe which almost everybody will know. My brother had once asked for this recipe and I gave it to him but I don't know if he managed to get it right.So today I am posting the recipe here just for my little brother to help him to cook this simple but yet a great potato dish whish is one of our favourites.

1 large potato,
1 medium onion finely chopped,
2 green chillies finely chopped,
1/2 medium tomato finely chopped,
mustard seeds,
cumin seeds,
few curry leaves,
2-3 garlic cloves fnely chopped,
1/4 tspn turmeric pwd,
a pinch of asafoetida(optional)
coriander leaves,
oil.

Method:
Cut the potatoes into mediem sized cubes, boil the potatoes in water with salt and the turmeric pwd.Once the potatoes are boiled keep aside along with the water.
In another pan heat oil, splutter mustard seeds,cumin seeds, add the curry leaves, garlic,asafoetida.Than add the onion and chillies when the onion is golden brown add the tomatoes.When the tomatoes are bit mushy add the potatoes along with the water. cook for few mins lightly mash the potatoes to thicken the gravy. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Tips,tips,tips

2010-05-14T18:12:00.006+01:00

Let me share some household tips which i follow at home:

1. Storing coriander leaves:
The day I buy them I remove all the strings or rubber bands and spread them on a tea towel to dry.Than I pluck off the roots and roll the leaves in kitchen paper towels, put in a plastic bag and store in the fridge. Make sure not to keep any heavy vegie on top of the c.leaves and everytime I see any black leaves remove them or they will rot the whole bunch of c.leaves.
2. Storing green chillies:
Remove the stems of the chillies and store in a ziplock bag in the fridge.(Donot wash and store).
3. Storing coconut:
Grate coconut and put it ziplock bag and keep in the freezer.Stays fresh for over a month.
4.Storing curry leaves:Seperate the leaves from their stems and put in ziplock bags and freeze them. when needed remove the desired amount of leaves and freeze the rest.Remains fresh for long.
5. Removing candle wax from clothes:
Place a paper towel on the spot where there is wax and run a hot iron on top ot it, the wax from the cloth will stick to the paper towel.

Aloo Methi/palak

2010-05-05T13:52:00.005+01:00

This is one of my favourite leafy vegie.I love methi/fenugreek leaves and palak/spinach, but back home in India i always hesitate to eat any vegetable, specially any leafy vegies even the green beans and cauliflower.I am sure I don't need to give any further explanation on why I hesitate to eat them...eeeek I don't even want to think about it...I am such a fussy eater at times.At home whenever mum used any of these vegies I would make sure I was present while cleaning them or I myself would do the cleaning bit.. But here we get vegetables so well packed and clean that I don't think twice before eating.I wish the quality of food sold would improve if not the overall condition:)
Here I have used baby spinach leaves sold in the supermarkets and use the same recipe to make aloo methi and II also tried the same recipe for British spring greens but I added a glass of water to the greens instead of putting water on lid and cooking as I alsways do...it was good ;)
The first picture is of the B.spring greens which i cooked yesterday..

1 packet of baby spinach leaves or a big bunch of fenugreek leaves,
1 potato cubed,
1 large onion chopped,
1 large tomato chopped,
1/4 tspn turmeric pwd,
1/4 tspn pepper ped,
1 tspn chilli pwd,
salt to taste,
oil.

Method:
Wash the spinach leaves under runnig tap water.If using fenugreek leaves, seperate the leaves from stems wash the leaves.Roughly chop the leaves and keep aside.
Par boil the potato cubes and keep aside.
In a pan, heat oil, fry the onions till golden brown, don't burn the onion .Add the tomato, fry till oil seperates.
Add the spice pwds and salt. Mix and add the leaves and potatoes and mix well.Cover the pan with a lid add some water on the lid, lower the flame and let it cook. Keep checking and stirring. Do not over cook, it doesn't take too long to cook the leaves.

Strawberry and Banana smoothie

2010-04-06T22:42:00.002+01:00

8-10 strawberries,
2 bananas,
1/2 glass of mango juice,
few orange segments.

Blend all the ingredients together in a blender pour in a glass .
For the presentation, take about two tbspns of lemon juice and in another bowl take about two tbspns of ground sugar, I was bit lazy so i used the granulated sugar and so the "not so good presentation".Ok , now dip the glass in lemon juice first and than dip in the sugar , tap the excess sugar and there you go you have glasses with frosted tip.Garnish with strwberries and enjoy your smoothie .

CHICKEN ROAST

2010-04-05T14:20:00.004+01:00

This was the main dish of our Easter lunch yesterday and it was relished by everyone. It is usually roast lamb that many people eat on Easter sunday but we decided to have roast chicken.

1 bunch of fresh coriander ( don't cut off stems,use everything)
1 large garlic pod
1" Ginger
10 whole peppercorns
10 cloves
1" cinnamon stick
10 Indian Rocket chillies
Small ball of Tamarind or(Kokum)
2 large onions
50 ml Malt Vinegar.
Salt as required

Skinned Chicken around 1.5 kg by weight.

Method:
-Take all the ingredients and blend into a smooth paste. Add little water if required
-Skin the Chicken and rub with salt and apply all the paste.
-Take a baking tray and arrange some slices of onions and put the Chicken on it and leave it overnight or maybe even longer in the Fridge to marinate very well.
-Preheat the oven for 20 minutes on Full blast.
-Then reduce the temperature to 180 deg Celsius, and bake for about 2 hrs.
-Between the 2 hours, turn the chicken upside down, to achieve even Cooking. Slower the better and it roasts perfect.Chicken Roast
- Recipe was well appreciated by our Guests and nothing was left......

2010-04-04T22:41:00.002+01:00

These are a few pictures of the lunch we had this Easter at our place with some of our friends.We had a wonderful time .
HAVE A BLESSED EASTER...

Fried Rice

2010-03-28T16:29:00.009+01:00

This is a one method I use to make fried rice and it comes out very well every time I make it. I had made this the first time after marriage when I was completely a novice to cooking .My mum and obviously me make it as jeera rice ,minus the veggies :)
I also wanted to use up the bell peppers I had lying in my refrigerator so decided to use them in this fried rice.
I made this cooked this soya nuggets to go with the fried rice .I followed the recipe from simpleindianrecipes.com
Ingredients:
1 cup rice,
2 cups water,
1 cup sliced lengthwise, veggies(I used carrot,frozen peas,cauliflower florets,green and yellow peppers),
whole spices-1 bay leaf,1 inch piece cinnamon, 2-3 cloves,3 peppercones.
salt to taste or 1 cube of maggie veg/chicken stock
1 tspn cumin seeds,
1 onion finely chopped,
1 slit green chilly,
soya sauce.

Method:
First heat oil in a vessel, splutter the cumin seeds, add the whole spices,when they crackle add the washed rice and fry for few seconds. Now add the 2 cups of water salt/stock,onion and chilly,stir and bring to a boil than stir once and cover the vessel and cook on slow flame till rice is done .
In a separate pan saute all the veggie together except the bell peppers ,do not over cook the veggies. remove and keep aside . Saute the bell peppers in the same pan, separately.When the rice is cooked mix all the sauteed veggies, add the soya sauce .
The fried rice is ready to be devoured.

variation: 1. cooked/fried chicken pieces can be added.
2. Make an omelet with eggs and tear into pieces and add to the fried rice

Green Beans with potatoes.

2010-03-25T14:13:00.000Z

Yesterday in the afternoon I was very hungry .I didn't have my lunch. Jerry had gone to a friend's place ,he had his lunch there. When he came home he didn't tell me that he had his lunch.It was about 2:30 pm and I had not cooked anything.I was busy with the computer so I told him to cook something.At that time that friend called us and was talking with us, we invited her to come to our place for a chat.She lives two streets away from us. so when she came she brought along with her some food which she had prepared. We were very pleased , me because I was not expecting a wonderful lunch and Jerry because he didn't have to cook :).Jerry too was not expecting her to get us food as she had never done it before.This reminded us a particular verse in the bibe where it says "God will provide our needs".
Well this has nothing to do with my today's recipe hahaha.I just thought of sharing it.
Now about the recipe,
I had never cooked green beans with potatoes before.I ate this first time when my friend T had made it when we were at her place for dinner.We loved it so I decided to try it at home.I never asked T for the recipe but I just did it my own way and here is the recipe.

Ingredients:-
Green beans 250gms - cut diaganolly,
1 medium potato - cubed,
1 medium onion - finely chopped,
1 green chilly slit ,
1 tspn chiily pwd,
1/4 tspn turmeric pwd,
a pinch of asafetida/hing,
salt to taste ,
oil.
For temepering:
1/2 tspn- mustard seeds,
1/2 tspn- cumin seeds,
1 dry red chilly,
few curry leaves (optional)

Method:- Heat oil in a pan, add the mustard seeds ,cumin seeds, broken red chilly ,curry leaves in the given order.Now add the chopped onion and fry till transculent than add the hing ,mix,add the potatoes and fry for some time,keep stiring to avoid from sticking to the bottom.You dont have to cook the potatoes completely. Once the potatoes are lightly browned from the outside add the beans chilly pwd, turmeric pwd,salt.Mix well, cover the pan with a lid.Put some water on the lid and cook on slow flame,stirring ocationally to avoid sticking at the bottom, cook till the veg is cooked .

Brown chickpeas

2010-03-20T12:33:00.000Z

Yesterday I was wondering what to cook for dinner.As I was browsing my pantry I found a can of brown chicpeas which I had bought not very long ago.So I decided to cook the chickpeas but I had never prepared anything using this ing'dnt before .I remember mum cooking a tasty veg dish out of it, she makes it by grinding the whole ingredients but it was too late for me to call and ask for the recipe so I put on my thinking cap and used my imagination to cook this dish and I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome of the dish, It tasted almost the same as mum makes it.

Ingredients:-
1 can of brown chickpeas drained,
1 medium onion finely chopped,
1 medium tomato finely chopped,
1/2tspn ginger-garlic paste,
1 green chilly slit lengthwise,
1tspn chlli pwd,
1/2 tspn turmeric pwd,
2tspn coriander pwd,
1/4 tspn garam masala pwd,
1/4 tspn cumin pwd,
1 tbspn grated coconut,
2 pieces of dry mango,
a pinch of sugar,
salt to taste,
oil.

Method:-
Heat oil in a vessel ,add the onions ,fry till onoins are soft than add the ginger garlic paste and continue frying for about 30 secs. Than add the tomatoes and fry till tomatoes are mushy, now add all the spice powders , mix well till oil starts seperating.Add the sugar and salt mix and add the chickpeas and the dry mango pieces mix well again and let cook for about two minutes .Finally add the coconut and mix well and serve.

Vegetable Soup with Pasta...

2010-03-09T22:55:00.000Z

A simple and yet tasty and healthy soup to keep you going.....

This is a simple soup which I learnt from my mum...It is so simple , anybody can make it.When we were kids mum used to make this soup she used to add the alphabets (if you remember)they were tiny little macaroni.It used to be like treasure hunt or i'd rather say alphabet hunt in the soup for us ,that is for me and my brother..The alphabets looked so cute floating in the soup...I cannot find them anymore ,don't know if they are even availabble now?
Anyways, I made this soup today and used shell pasta... It tasted soooo good, ate it with some garlic bread..
Sending this to pasta party

Ingredients:-
1 cup -any kind of cooked pasta,
1 small onion- choppped,
1small tomato- chopped,
vegetables (I used green beans, carrots,cauliflower florets,potato)- 1 cup all chopped rougly,
1 maggie cube,
1tbsp oil.

Method:-
1. Heat oil in a vessel,
2. Fry the onions when softened add the tomatoes.
3. than add the vegetables 2cups water, maggie cube and let cook till potatoes are soft and lastly add the cooked pasta to it ...

I am sending this to pasta party event hosted by jyoti of panchpakwan

Lady fingers (Okra) and potatoes

2010-02-23T17:18:00.001Z

I love ladies fingers and this is one of the ways I like to prepare them. My friend's mum would make this dish and I always relished it whenever she made it. She is a great cook I must say and this is one dish that always reminds me of her cooking. I used to live in this friends house during a certain period of my life and I enjoyed everything that her mum cooked.I am not sure if this is the exact recipe she follows but it does tastes as good as hers:)

1/2 kg lady fingers, cleaned ,dried and cut to pieces
2 medium potatoes ,cubed
2 small onions, finely chopped,
2 green chillies , finely chopped
2-3 kokum,
1/4tsp turmeric pwd,
1/2tsp chilly pwd,
1/2tsp coriander pwd,
1/4tsp cumin pwd,
1/2tsp ginger garlic paste
1tsp mustard seeds,
oil
salt to taste.

Method:-
Heat oil in a pan, fry the potaoes slightly remove and keep aside .Fry the ladies fingers and keep aside.Add some more oil to the pan , splutter the mustard seeds. Add the onions and chillies,fry till soft, add the ginger garlic paste and fry for some more time till the raw smells goes than add the spice powders.Mix well and add the ladies fingers , potatoes and kokum , salt . Cover the pan with some water on the lid . Cook till done ( keep stiring ocationally to avoid the veg from burning at the bottom)

Soft Rolls

2010-02-23T16:15:00.000Z

Before going on vacation , we we had made some delicious sundried tomatoes and olives bread. Just few days back while I was hunting for something in my kitchen cabinet I noticed a packet of the leftover bread flour lying behind the spices So an idea struck me ,"why not make some soft rolls for dinner?" I said to Jerry.He immediately agreed and we baked some rolls and had them for dinner with some lentil curry .

650 gms bread flour,
1/2 tsp salt,
30 gms sugar,
50 ml oil,
1 egg,
1gm dry yeast(soak in 1 glass of very lukewarm water).

Method:-
I n a bowl take the bread flour, salt,sugar.Make a well in the center and add all the liquid (oil,egg,yeast dissolved in water) knead well to make a soft dough.To check the gluten formation of the dough, take a small piece of the dough and stretch it between your fingers , it should be transperent when you stretch the dough.
Than give desired shape(we made round ones)The texture of the dough/rolls should be very smooth.Lightly cover with cling film, so the dough doesn't dry out.This is for proving (double the size) for abbout 45 mins. After 45 mins give an egg wash (1 egg, a pinch of salt and sugar each) lightly brush the top with this mixture . You can sprinkle some sesame seeds , now that's optional.
Pre heat the oven to the maximum heatfor 1/2 hour. Once the bread is prooved and given egg wash place in the oven and bake for 15 mins. To check if the rolls are ready , take a roll and tap on the bottom if the bottom/base is firm ,the rolls are ready.

2010-02-18T22:03:00.000Z

2010-02-17T13:57:00.000Z

Chicken Xacuti

2010-02-16T22:25:00.000Z

1kg chicken or mutton,cleaned and cut to pieces,
2 large potatoes cubed,
2 large onions finely chopped,

3tsps coriander seeds,
8 kashmiri chillies,
1/2tsp cumin seeds,
1tsp fenugreek seeds,
5 peppercorns,
2tsp almonds or peanuts,
1/2 coconut grated,
4 cardamoms,
6 cloves,
1/2tspn turmeric,
1" piece cinnamon,
1tbsp vinegar,
salt to taste.

Method:-
1.Dry roast the coriander, Kchillies,cumin,fenugreek,peppercorns,peanuts/almonds and coconut on a pan ,
2 Add the tumeric, cardamoms,cloves and cinnamon and grind together with the above roasted ingredients using some water to form a fine paste,
3 In a vessel ,heat some ghee add the chopped onions and fry till golden brown than add the ground masala/paste and fry till oil seperates,
4 Add the chicken and potatoes , mix well to coat the chicken pieces add some water .cover and cook till done .
5 Once ready add the vinegar and cook for few mins.

Bread and Butter Pudding

2010-02-16T21:46:00.000Z

Bread and Butter Pudding
Ingredients:
Bread Slices 3 nos
Milk Full Fat 300 ml (1.5 Cup)
Eggs 4 nos
Vanilla pod 1 no
Saffron few strands
Sugar 60 gms
Butter 50 gms

Glass Pyrex Dish 1

For Caramel
Sugar 150 gms
Water 50 ml

Method:
1. Take a non stick pan on gas and when the pan is hot enough, add little sugar at a time, stirring with a wooden spatula continuously until all the sugar melts.
2. While stirring, add little water at a time and the consistency should be thick sugar syrup(Similar syrup like when you buy canned peaches)
3. Pour around the Glass Pyrex bottom and let it cool for some time
4. Butter the Bread slices and cut it diagonally and again diagonally, getting small triangles(Keep the crust on or cut it off as your preference )
5. For the Egg custard: Take the milk with vanilla pod and sugar and take off once the milk boils. Whisk the eggs and pour hot milk mixture- slowly , until mixed properly
Strain and keep aside.
6. Arrange the first layer of triangle bread slices and pour some of the hot egg custard. Wait till it absorbs the liquid and then again arrange bread slices and pour all the hot egg custard.
7. Make sure all the bread slices absorb the liquid and press with spoon. Sprinkle some nuts/Saffron as required.
8. Preheat the oven at 150 deg Celsius. Take a deep baking tray and half fill with lukewarm water and then put the Pyrex Bread and Butter pudding for baking for 80 minutes. Check the centre of the pudding with a knife to check baked.No liquid should be seen.
9. When the Pudding is baked, make a second caramel and pour over the pudding.
10. Serve hot with warm custard or serve cold which every way, the taste is always the best.

Fish(mackeral) salad

2010-02-09T13:33:00.000Z

I just love this salad...Go ahead try it ..

1 tin- mackerals in brine
1 onion- finely chopped,
1 green chilli - finely chopped,
1 tomato- finely chopped,
few sprigs -coriander leaves,
lemon juice,
salt to taste.

In a bowl mix all the ingredients together and it is ready to be served..How simple is that?
You can also use freh fish instead of the tinned ones.. Boil the fish in water with some salt , tumeric pwd, a small piece of ginger , 2-3 cloves of garlic. once boiled , remove from gas and let it cool . than shred the mackeral and use for the salad

Oysters ( kalvan sukhe)

2010-02-09T12:58:00.000Z

Hi friends, its been a long time since my last post ..I had a wonderful vacation and am back. Its nearly a month since we returned , but was just feeling too lazy to blog ;P.. But i finally got over my laziness and decided to resume blogging. So here I am back in action..
Today I am going to share a recipe which my mum prepared so often this time when we were at home because J loved it and wanted to have it every other day..Its oysters curry or mum calls it kalvan sukhe in konkani...

5 cloves
10 peppercorns
1/4 tspn cumin seeds
1/4 tspn turmeric
1/2 tspn chilli pwd
1/4 inch cinnamon stick
6 small garlic cloves
(grind/powder all the above ingredients in a mortar & pestle and keep aside)

2 small onions- finely chopped,
2 slit green chillies,
1tspn ginger garlic paste,
1 kokum,
a pinch of sugar,
2tbspn grated coconut.

Heat oil in a pan .Add the onions and green chillies.When the onions are soft add the ginger garlic paste and fry for few seconds. Than add the oysters and cook for a min or two.Add the ground masala and mix well also add the kokum and a pinch of sugar. Cover the pan and let cook. Once it is ready add the grated coconut,mix and turn off the gas.

Seed Pearl Tapioca Pudding

2009-11-18T22:31:00.000Z

Anybody with a sweet tooth???

Here's a recipe for you ..
This is J's one of the favourite sweet dish .He say's this sweet reminds him of his childhood days as this was made very often by his mum ...
okay okay ,now I have a good news here ... the most awaited day has finally arrived, we are flying to India tomorrow..yay..
So this might probably be my last post for this year...

Now here's the recipe ..

50 gms pearl seed tapioca,
600mlsemi-skimmed milk,
1 tin (395ml) condensed milk
1 Vanilla pod/essence, saffron strands,

Heat a saucepan, add the tapioca and milk together in the pan and bring to a boil, stirring continously. Simmer gently for 15 mins or until thick and creamy..Add the flavourings (You could also add some powdered cardamoms)..
Now remove the pan from the heat and add the condense milk and stir well ...
That's it , this is so simple yet so delicious sweet dish...

Bye now I will see you'll next year
Wish u all a Merry Crristmas and a Happy New Year..

Crispy Dry Bombay Ducks..

2009-11-10T18:25:00.000Z

Bombay ducks are one of my favoutite fish..fresh or dry they are great either way.
Last time before returning to UK, my mum packed a large plastic container (bottle) of these dried bombay ducks which I treasure :). I occationally prepare them this way or sometimes stuff them with goan reshad masala. I don't get to make them very often because J doesn't fancy dried fish :(

7 dry bombay ducks-
red chilli powder
turmeric powder
pepper powder
garam masala
ginger garlic paste
vinegar salt
clean the bombay ducks , remove fins and heads.lightly clean in cold water.
Mix all the other ingredients well with the vinegar .do not add any water . Mix the bombay ducks with this mixture and marinate for one hour. Shallow fry the bombay ducks till crispy..
If there is any marinade left than add to the pan and simmer along with the bombay ducks..

Remembrance Sunday

2009-11-08T15:44:00.000Z

Here's a picture of a poppy flower and beside it is a small christmas gift i received from our church today and i love it .. It is a small prayer rock...

Today is ....
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY.
In the United Kingdom , 11th of November commemorates those who died fighting in the world war 1, world war 2 and other wars. Remembrance Sunday is the second Sunday or the Sunday nearest to the 11th November,i.e, Remembrance Day. It is also known as Poppy Day.

This day marks the anniversary of the armistice (truce) that ended the First World War in 1918. Many people wear a red flower or poppies in memory of those who died..The poppy emblem was chosen because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields during World War I, their red colour being an appropriate symbol for the bloodshed during the wars.

Although this is not an official feast , this special day is set aside to remember those men and women who died in the two world wars and other conflicts...

Mackeral Cutlets

2009-11-01T21:05:00.000Z

Me and my brother love these cutlets ..They are so delicious..They can be served as appetisers or as a side dish.i remember whenver they were made at home we just stuffed them in between bread with onion and tomato rings with some sauce and relished them...yummmmm
Few days ago we had some guests (T) was one of them and I had made these cute looking cutlets...They were an instant hit and disappeared in no time...T and her daughter (A) loved them ...A asked me what they were and I told her they were fish cutlets.. She asked me "shouldn't cutlets be round?" I usually give the cutlets oval shapes ...
I had promised to send her some cutlets the next time I make them...
A few weeks later I had some fish sitting in the freezer so decided to make them . As I was making them for A, I thought of making round cutlets:)
Just try it, u will love them... here's the recipe...

4 small mackerals
4-5 cloves of garlic
1/2 inch piece of ginger
1 1/2 tspn turmeric powder
salt
water
Boil the mackerals with all the above mentioned ingredients.Let it cool for sometime and shred the mackerals and keep aside...

2 green chillies- finely chopped
1 large onion - finely chopped
1/2 tspn - ginger garlic paste
chilli powder
turmeric powder
pepper powder
cumin powder
lemon juice, tomato ketchup, chilli sauce
2 slices of bread
Coriander leaves - finely chopped
salt to taste
Semolina to coat the cutlets

Take the shredded mackerals in a bowl and mix all the remaining ingredients . Slightly soak the bread slices in some water and squeeze all the excess water and add to the mixture..Mix very well using hand.Give desired shape, roll in semolina and shallow fry the cutlets...Lovely cutlets ready to be eaten....

chicken mayo sandwich

2009-10-24T23:52:00.000+01:00

This is another sandwich i make very often , it is very creamy, yummy and delicious.
Here goes the recipe:

2 chicken breast fillets
a pinch of pepper powder
a pinch of turmeric powder

1 onion finely chopped
1 cup capsicum (green,red,yellow) chopped
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Bread slices
butter,
mayonaise

Method:
First boil the chicken with the ground pepper and turmeric. Once the chicken is cooked/boiled shred it and keep aside. Heat a pan , add a tbspn of oil than add the onion and fry till softened a bit than add the capsicums mix .Next add the garlic and mix, finally add the salt and pepper. Add the shredded chicken to the pan and mix well.
When the mixture cools add mayonaise and set aside.

Apply butter on two slices of bread , fill the mixture on one side cover with the other slice, enjoy these yummy sandwiches...

Chicken manchurian (dry)

2009-10-17T18:28:00.000+01:00

2- chicken breast fillets
2 spring onion greens,
1 medium onion , chopped
1 green chilli , finely chopped (optional)
1 cup green, red, yellow capsicum, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed

soya sauce,
tomato sauce,
chilly sauce,
vinegar

1/2 cup - plain flour
salt and pepper to taste
sparkling water

Method:-
Clean and cut the chicken. into bite size pieces.
In a bowl mix the plain flour , salt , pepper with the sparkling water just to make a batter.
Dip the chicken pieces into the prepared batter and deep fry in oil .Drain on a paper towel and keep aside.
Heat a pan , add a tbspn of oil. Add the crushed garlic saute for 30 sec and add the chopped onions .Fry till onions softenes a bit and add the capsicums . stir for few secs . Than add all the sauces and vinegar, mix well . than add the chicken pieces and mix well again . Add little water if it is too dry.. Garnish with spring onion greens .

chilly mackeral

2009-10-17T17:31:00.001+01:00

I was taught this dish by one of my friend (T). She is from sri lanka.
She is very sweet and fun person to be with . She can talk and talk all day long , I often wonder if she ever gets tired of talking.
She often boasts of her sri lankan cuisine and I keep trying my best to convince her that our Indian cuisine is far much better than theirs :) and ofcourse it is ...
There are a couple of recipes which she has shared with me which I will post later on. This is not a sri lankan dish though.... I guess it was invented by (T) since we do not get fresh fish of our choice in this place where we live..
For now, u can try this one...

1 tinned mackeral in brine
1/2 tspn cumin seeds
1/2 onion finely chopped
1/2 tspn garlic paste
1/2 crushed red chilly
few curry leaves
tomato sauce and any spicy sauce

METHOD

drain the water from mackeral and keep aside.
Heat 1 tbspn of oil in a pan add cumin seeds when it crackles add the curry leaves and the chopped onion and cook till it is softened.Add the garlic paste than add the crushed chilly, stir for some time, Add the saucers and mix well, than finally add the mackeral. mix well and enjoy as a side dish with rice.it tastes good even with bread.

Beans Foogath

2009-10-12T23:16:00.001+01:00

1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1-2 dry red chillies
few curry leaves
250 grms green beans- cut french style
1 medium onion -chopped
1 green chilli-slit
2 tbspn fresh grated coconut
salt to taste

Method:- heat oil in a vessel, splutter the mustard seeds ,than add cumin seeds , curry leaves, red chilli.Than add the chopped onion and green chilli, fry till onions are soft than add the green beans and salt , mix well, do not add any water . cover the vessel , put some water on the lid and let the veg cook in the steam ..on low flame .stir in between .The beans should have a crunch .... when cooked add the coconut and mix ... switch off the gas...

2009-10-12T21:19:00.000+01:00

wise people speak because they have something to say ;fools , because they have to say something .....Plato

2009-09-25T20:15:00.001+01:00

Brinjal & potatoes

2009-09-24T22:12:00.001+01:00

1 large brinjal- cut in cubes
1 large potato-cut in cubes
1 tsp - coriander powder
1/2 tsp - chilly powder
1/4 tsp -turmeric powder
1/4 tsp - pepper powder
1 pinch - cumin powder
1/2 tsp - garam masala
1 onion - chopped finely
1 tomato- chopped finely
1/2 tsp - ginger garlic paste...

Method:- Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Temper with mustard seeds, curry leaves, add onion and fry till it is slightly brown. Than add the chopped tomato and fry till mushy.Now add all the spice powders,salt, fry for few seconds till oil seperates . Add the brinjal and potatoes , mix well add a tbspn of water and pressure cook for 2 whistles. turn off the gas and wait till all the pressure releases before opening..garnish with chopped coriander...

2009-09-24T14:45:00.001+01:00

BOND GIRL 007

2009-09-10T14:50:00.000+01:00

I wanted to buy this perfume in 2008 around June- July, but for some reason could not . Than in Nov before going to India on our vacation I decided to buy it . One of my coleagues advised me to buy it in a promotion pack which was £16.00 for 50ml bottle of perfume, a pro-to-go lipstick and a compact mirror, all in a small black bag...The perfume itself sells for £16 so I thought it was a good deal and went ahead and bought it.

I was very impressed by the gorgeous bottle it came in...The bottle is clear glass shape, almost the shape of a female body with a curve in the middle like a waist.There isn't any actual lid to it which can be removed but it does have a metal tiered thing , sort of a ring, with "bond girl 007" engraved at the bottom... The cap/lid (i'll call it a lid) is styled in such a way that it gives the bottle the look of an explosive gadget ...and therefore matches the bond theme...

The top notes are -white peach and orange blossom,
The middle notes are jasmine,exotic calypso, orchid and freesia,
The bottom notes are amber,cashmere wood, patchouli and musks....

It is very smart ,glamorous and extremely femenine...
I think it is suitable for wearing during day or night . It doesn't last long as other expensive designer perfumes, but for the price I think it is a good value for money.....

2009-09-10T14:46:00.001+01:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER

2009-09-08T22:11:00.000+01:00

The nativity or birth of mother Mary is celebrated on 8th of september every year.Every September the feast of St.Mary is celebrrated on the Sunday following the 8th of September,ie, the birthday of Mother Mary.
This is a week long celebration known as Bandra Fair and is visited by thousands of people every year..
The basilica of Our Lady of the Mount or the Mount Mary church is a roman catholic church, in the city of Mumbai.
The shrine attracts people of all faiths who pray for thanksgiving or requesting of favours..
During the Bandra Fair the whole area is decorated and stalls are set up which sell sticky goan sweets , wax figures of the Virgin Mary and many assorted candles.
I spent most of my childhood and half of my teenage in mumbai , i remember those days when my family and friends would go to the bandra fair . We used to enjoy a lot, but now we are grown up and things have changed .We moved to my native place ie, karwar and it was not possible for us to go to Mumbai every year for the fair..
Well let me talk about today , since it is a feast day today I decided to cook some chicken kebabs or reshmi kebabs as Hetal and Anuja call it . I requested J to make some egg biryani which he makes and it really comes out good every time..... muahhh...... so sweet of him he made it ..
This was the first time I was going to try making kebabs that too in the oven .. I put the kebabs on skewers and placed them in the oven . Than I signed into yahoo just to check and to my surprise I found my brother and cousin both were online.. I was so excited I forgot all about the kebabs and when I remembered it was too late... the kebabs were burnt....Thankfully I had not used all of the chicken so of what was left I cooked on the stove top... Well it was very delicious ..you can find the recipe for this here.

2009-09-06T23:01:00.000+01:00

hey Divija here's the picture of the capsicum curry which i made following your recipe..

Ghost The Fragrance

2009-09-06T21:04:00.000+01:00

I was never so passionate about perfumes before marriage . But ever since i've married and living in UK i have developed this passion for perfumes. The reason behind this is probably that we never bought perfumes because we always received perfumes from uncles,aunties , cousins when they came down from abroad . A compartment of chest would always be full of perfume bottles so we actually never bought perfumes . Now I am very particular about my perfumes , I don't like permumes with strong smell , it just gives me headache.

Today i am going to share my opinion regarding this frangrance by ghost.
It comes in a lovely curved glass bottle. It is an hour glass shape rather like a woman's body.The bottle is very tall and slender , narrowing at the middle with a bit of waistline, giving it the impression of a tall elegant lady.The glass is frosted and pale blue in colour.The smell last for a long time. It is one of 'THE BEST' perfumes I have had.

The top notes are of hibiscus, rose petals and ambrette grains.
The middle notes are jasmine, spicy sandalwood and warm frankinsence and
the bottom notes are vanilla , musk,ambergris and apricots.

I would recommend this fragrance for casual wear..This perfume makes me feel sparkly for the rest of the day. This is one of the perfumes which has captured my heart...

All about fragrances!!!

2009-09-06T20:13:00.000+01:00

It is said that "First impression is the last impression"...well perfumes can be a great way to make that first impression.Your perfume may be the first to make an imprssion even before you enter a room.The right perfume acts as a great confidence booster.
Most perfumes have three notes which are top note, middle/heart note and bottom/base notes that evaporate one by one.There are four different concentrations of perfume and each is different from the other they are Perfume, EDT/Eau de toilette,EDP/Eau de perfume and EDC/ Eau de colonge.

Perfume:- is the most concentrated and smoothest of the four types.It is made up of 20-40%concentrationof scented compounds It can lastfor atleast 8 hrs and is the most expensive to buy.
EDP:- is lighter than perfume with 8-15% perfume concentration and lasts for 4 to 6 hrs.
EDT:- is made up of 4-8% concentration of scented coumpound and last for 3 hrs.
EDC:- is made up of 2-4%perfume essence and last for atleast 2 hrs

TIPS FOR FRAGRANCES
1. keep your perfumes away from heat and light
2. spray a few squirts of your favourite perfume into your shampoo for that added fragrance smell
3. use fragrances in layers like, use your body gel, body lotion/cream and top off with perfume of the same scent for long lasting aroma
4. spray your favourite perume on your hair brush .yor hair will smell wonderful
5. spray perfumes on your pulse points from your ankles, behind the knees,inside the elbows,neck etc.

2009-09-04T20:41:00.000+01:00

VINEGAR

The earliest method of making vinegar was to leave wine or beer in an open container and wait for it to turn sour.
The French word 'Vinegar' means sour wine.The French developed a more sophisticated way for producing quality vinegar, which was to leave wine in wooden casks for two to six months until it slowly turned into wine.This was than filterd into other casks and left to mature for months or years. This technique is known as the Orleans method.
As with Red and White wines, red wine vinegar is left to mature for a longer time than white wine vinegar.
Main Tyes Of Vinegar
1. malt vinegar
2.spirit vinegar
3.wine vinegar
4.red wine vinegar
a.cabernet sauvignon wine vinegar
b.merlot wine vinegar
c.pinot noir wine vinegar
d.rasberry red wine vinegar
5.white wine vinegar
a.chardonnay wine vinegar
b.Zinfandel wine vinegar
6.champagne vinegar
7.cider vnegar
8.herb vinegar
9.rice vinegar
a.white rice vinegar
b. black rice vinear
c. red rice vinegar
d.seasoned rice vinegar
10.Sherry vinegar
11.Balsamic vinegar
12.Fruit vinegar
13.Umeboshi vinegar
14.Cane vinegar
15.Coconut vinegar
16.Date vinegar
17.Corn sugar vinegar

SOME USES OF VINEGAR

Peeling hard boiled eggs :-
Its easier to peel hard boiled eggs if you add a teaspoon of vinegar an a tablespoon of salt to the water they cook in...

Removing fish scales :-
Scale fish more easily by rubbing with vinegarfive minutes before scaling

Prolonging the lives of flowers :-
Pour a mixture of vinegar and water over household plants and bouquets to prolong their life span.

Cleaning chopping boards:-
Wipe down cutting boards with full lenght vinegar. Itwill clean them, cut grease and absorb odours.

Microwave cleaner:-
To clean a microwave oven put a couple of tbspns of vinegar in a bowl with a cup of water .
Microwave on high for 45 sec to 1 min (depending on your particular model) carefully take the bowl out and wipe out the oven. Any baked-on splaters will be softened and easily removed....

2009-09-02T23:39:00.000+01:00

2009-08-31T22:30:00.000+01:00

Everybody thinks of changing the world but nobody thinks of changing himself......Leo Tolstoy

2009-08-31T22:02:00.000+01:00

Avacado Milkshake

1 avacado,
1 banana (optional)
2 scoops vanila icecream
2tspns sugar ,
1/2 cup milk.

Method: Put all the above ingredients in a blender and blend well, pour in glass and serve straightaway....Enjoy.

2009-08-30T21:29:00.000+01:00

2009-08-30T21:16:00.000+01:00

Here i will post some of my hubby's creaton.. He is a pastry chef by profession , i believe that it takes a lot of patience and hard work to decorate each plate.. I really admire what he does and want to show him my appreciation for the same by posting the pictures here...

2009-08-30T21:07:00.000+01:00

If you judge people ,you have no time to love them....MOTHER TERESSA....

Tuna Mayo sandwich

2009-08-30T14:44:00.000+01:00

hello!
let me start with a very simple sandwich recipe. I always keep a few tins/cans of tuna in my pantry these days and they really come to my rescue whenever i am hungry and need something very quick .so here goes the recipe:

Tuna mayo salad sandwich

1 can/tin- tuna chunks
4-6 slices - bread
1 small- onion
1 small- tomato
1 small -cucumber
few lettuce leaves
butter & mayonnaise
salt & pepper

method:

first chop all the veggies (onion, tomato, lettuce & cucumber) . mix in a bowl the tuna chunks , the chopped veggies, salt , pepper and mayonnaise. mix well. now apply butter on the bread slices and put some of the tuna mayo mixture and make sandwiches and cut into triangles.

2009-08-30T14:40:00.001+01:00

These are the pictures of the cake which my dear husband had made on our second wedding anniversary.The base was a chocolate brownie with almond flakes, lemon sponge raspberry jam and mango jelly on top and fresh cream on the sides. It tasted as good as it looks , in fact much better than it looks:D after all it was made by someone with love:)

Hi!!

2009-08-30T14:03:00.000+01:00

Hi my name is Fiona, I live in the UK with my hubby.I love to cook I actually like experimenting with different ingredients, I also love to eat and make others eat what I cook ,ofcourse sometimes it's a hit sometimes a disaster :)I have always had the passion for cooking,when I was a spinster it was my dear little brother whome I tried my dishes on and now its my husband ,I sometimes pity them, lol
This is my second attempt in blogging.The first time i had started blogging , my posts were not visible to others, so i gave up...This time one of my friend Divija has tempted me to start blogging again , so here i go.... Thanks divija...