Methi matar malai

A bunch of methi (fresh fenugreek leaves) at Indian stores here, I was like I must try something special out of this. Many things started running in my mind but a curry using these leaves had an edge as I scanned through the list of items that had queued up. My kid loves chapathi/roti (Indian flat bread) and it is for sure not a daily preparation at our place as I tend to keep rice often for curries as it is kind of easy stuff to be prepared. Well, but in a week I manage once or twice to prepare rotis.

Chilli Paneer/Paneer Chilli

Long time it has been having entered my blog space. When one is conscious of the food intake, automatically one tends to get healthy, as all say it is 70% your diet that matters. Now I try at times things that include more of protein and fats. My craving this winter is for an Indochinese snack, well to be honest, it could even be my brunch or lunch (actually anytime I can snack on this). I tried out a version of paneer chilli which did not involve flour in any form following a recipe from internet. Isn't that interesting?

Banana Apple Whole Wheat Flour Cake with Coconut Sugar

Holiday is at times exhausting but well kids are kids, they tend to feel bored often unless they are engaged in some summer camp or so. I did want to spend some quality time with my kid this summer, so took a few days off just to be with her chattering around. But then I never knew that it turns out hard, as at times we run out of the different types games we could play together, I kept planning one after other and finally yesterday it was cake baking, our agenda for the day, and we baked a delicious moist bundt cake and that too egg less 😊!

Now when it comes to cooking or baking, off late I try out something that is healthy. The coconut sugar that I

Coriander Coconut Chutney

A chutney is a must when idlis or dosas are prepared at home. Every time it is a dilemma that I go through when I must make a choice. A simple and easy chutney is what I always prefer. Now for idli a simple chutney I could think of is Coriander Coconut Chutney. Just few simple ingredients that are common in our pantry, and tadaa.. chutney is ready.

Oats Vegetable Idlies/ Oats Vegetable Steamed Savory Cake

Idlis are common as a part of South Indian breakfast. Many variations are available. One must keep trying something or the other that brings out a new taste to please the family's taste buds. I tried at first similar to the way I used to prepare my rava idli mixture except that this included oats and vegetables too. Often soda or fruit salt is used to make it fluffy, I avoided using baking soda here.

Copper Bowl-Into the rich food culture of Dravidian Land

Copper Bowl in Esslingen in Baden Württemberg offers you a ride to the rich food culture of deep south India. Dravidians' staple being rice, most of the dishes prepared involve rice, followed by millet, wheat and barley. Being a Dravidian and a vegetarian, I have an affinity to vegetarian south Indian food. It was one of my friend who suggested me to drop in here once to relish the authentic south Indian pure vegetarian cuisine. I love to try and so did I find an opportunity to go. Best thing I found here is the juncture of the delicate south Indian flavors to tantalize the German palate. Another notion that touched me is

Indian Cooking Workshop on 20.03.2018 at my workplace

Workplace must be fun and should be a place we love to go, bringing around most of our day time, strictly calculating on an average most of the people spend 8 hours sleeping, another 6-7 hours with family and another 8-9 hours with colleagues at workplace. If that is fun filled, one would love to be there and feels contented. Working in different teams never gives us a chance to spend good quality time with people from other teams. A casual talk over the lunch with colleagues 2 weeks back about cooking and the plan of a workshop popped up. And yes I came up with a plan of 3 menus, posted them in doodle and votes were counted. It was decided that we would do a menu that included Vegetable Cutlets as starters, Pav Bhaji as main course and Vermicelli Payasam as dessert.

Baked Samosa with Aloo/Potatoes

Baking is something that I occasionally do, but for me to ensure my newly built kitchen is up and running this was something I had to try, I mean, to be frank I wanted to check my oven (As how it works) Now for me I get wild thoughts and a list of food items flash in my mind and my brain scans them, when I try to get creative. Well it was DH's birthday and ways to surprise him in simple things gave me immense pleasure. I tried this time something baked for him to carry to his colleagues. Yes, baked version of our very own Aloo Samosa. It's real taste is when it is deep fried. I  am pretty much sure it couldn't be reached for sure but not a bad idea to have them baked says my inner mind (deep there arises my health consciousness).

Masala Chai / Spiced Indian Milk Tea

However the life goes, whatever the hurdle is, the only thing that just makes me forget everything is this one thing which is very close to my heart, is this hot beverage with subtle flavor of various aromatic spices. I can say no to anything but not to Chai. Anyone can lure me with this drink 😉.
Thank God I get to drink even at my workplace Indian tea, thanks to the thermos being carried by me and my Indian colleague here. We just love tea.

Groundnut/Peanut Chutney

More than a year passed by, 2017 was a difficult one for me, with my DH moving to a different work location and managing the household with a growing school going daughter was not that easy. It so happened that in 6-7 months of time we decided that this could not continue long and to be home together I had to think of a new job and I made a move in August 2017, moved all the way in December 2017 to south of Germany, a new city, new life, new home, new work environment. Getting settled down slowly and my kitchen took its shape last month and I decided to start my blog all over again, hoping to keep this up for the years to come, to make sure that this blog is still alive!
Well, no long speeches to hold you on, today I tried something new in my kitchen.

Whenever we have dosas (Indian Crepes) at home, we make sure that there is a coconut chutney that accompanies it, but unfortunately I couldn't do that as I had not coconut at home😐. Crazy isn't it.