Rajma oats patties

Lockdown is the new normal. Everything works as before with certain restrictions in place. Never mind, we started living and loving the new way of living life. Earth looks much greener.  Animals and birds are enjoying their share of this Earth happily. Well for us, eating only at home turns out to be a challenge and I believe every person who cooks can relate to me. Every other day I think of something new to appease the tastebuds of my family. Well other day I was going on probing the kitchen cupboards searching all possible items available to sort them out.

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?

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).

Tortilla roll ups

Days passed by, never got time to look back here into my space. How much ever I try to hold back, there is something in this space that pulls me every time to engage myself for some time here. Yes today I sit after many months, to scribble what I want on and on. My bubbly turned 5 on April 8th this year. Every year the passion in me never lets me order food from outside for my kiddo's party. It was like it has to be prepared by me however difficult it is, irrespective of the count that would be joining the party. Not keeping well for past few months couldn't let me risk myself, hence our main course was vegetable pizza from a pizzeria nearby. Still the mother in me told I must do something for her party and hence the idea was to prepare some simple starter before the main course and a dessert to follow that.
The starter was Tortilla Roll Ups. It was my first try and turned out to be delicious that I was craving for the same after the party. Hence I tried again and sharing the detail step by step pictures for a simple starter to just add that extra shimmer to your party!

Mumbai street style Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji
A delicious street food from Bombay .If at all one visits Bombay must never miss eating out this street food. Any one would love to eat them any time. And with me it is anytime of my day. Pleasure is to eat them with some great friends. A dinner it could be or a brunch anytime, anywhere. Yesterday was a dinner with friends. Our platter was only Pav bhaji and we enjoyed to the core. I enjoyed when they had an extra servings of pav and bhaji.

Easy Chakli recipe this Diwali/Maida Chakli

Diwali is around the corner and it is time to celebrate. Quite a relaxation it is, when I cook something for my family and friends. This time I tried my hands on Chakli. But usually chakli means, it involves too much effort when rice chakli is prepared. So an easy method is what I always look for. Here is a simple maida chakli recipe and I can bet that you will never go wrong with the measurements I mentioned. It is a failproof easy method.

Stuffed Capsicum/Stuffed Peppers/Stuffed Paprika

Had been a long time that I tried stuffed bell peppers and yesterday got a chance to enjoy that. It was stuffed capsicum a part of our Sunday lunch. To make it healthy, my options were using minimum oil to cook the stuff mixture. The stuff I prepared was out of soya chunks and potatoes, and just a tsp. of oil to brush the peppers from outside before baking. It is a meal in itself, or it could be a side dish or even it could be a starter. In our case it was a starter for us yesterday for lunch.

Vegetable Cutlets

Shallow frying is good or bad for health, I still don't have a right answer.(P.S. Opinions required). I usually go for deep frying, but yesterday I decided to try out a starter that would be shallow fried. I came up with an idea of vegetable cutlets. A teaspoon of oil for each cutlet I fried. By the end I was like the amount of oil used is perhaps the same, in fact poor deep frying technique is blamed much more than it really deserved. Still as all say I too hope shallow frying is a better technique with confusions in my mind. It was Mr. S b'day the other day on February 27. I wanted to prepare a full course meal at home which included, veggie cutlets as starter, chinese noodles, pulav and raita as main course and a fruit custard as dessert. This vegetable cutlet was something I wanted to have here in blog, but these days I just can't afford to pay time here and hence a little less regular blogger. Having tried late night, couldn't do any photography as it calls for natural day light else needs flash and natural food color is just suppressed, hence yesterday I have tried it out yet again and I got a thumbs up from DH and well was blessed with good day light for my humble not so great food shoot. So some good free time, food styling and photography during the afternoon.

Aloo puffs / Potato Puffs

A month passed by since I last updated, was quite busy with my German language classes and the preparations to take exams, finally yesterday was done with that and feeling quite relieved as though a big task is over. But it is yet to begin, as day after tomorrow is going to be the first day at office here in Germany. A lot of new responsibilities to be taken and dealt with from now on. Don't know how well I can manage both my career and this baby blog, but still with a hope that I will continue this blogging though the frequency may not be as before. I would love to thank all my blogger friends who were continuously pouring their lovely comments and making me feel I am still a part of this Blogging world, and not to forget the few who did ask me, when I went missing. Thanks again for all the concerns showed too. Glad to have such a lovely group of people in this Blogosphere. A snack that I used to love as a school going kid was puffs, I remember my schooling in Gujarat, I used to ride around 4-5 km to school  along with friends and on the way back we used to enjoy puffs once in a week or so. It was an awesome experience and till date I and my friend remember that. Even when I was working initially, I remember the days when we friends used to feel tired and nothing great was getting cooked in our kitchen, we just used to rush to a shop nearby just to eat the hot puffs out from the oven. I felt nostalgic when I prepared it first time at home. Just a flashback I had, of all those sweet memories, as they came out of oven. I had prepared puffs long back with puff pastry sheets that are readily available and felt it to be an easiest snack to go with tea in the evenings but never got a chance to share here. Now this is a very common snack that I love to prepare whenever I feel like. Here I share how I did them

Gobi 65 Dry / Cauliflower 65 Dry

I had promised my better half something deep fried last Sunday and forgot to prepare, he reminded me yesterday. I felt bad for having not prepared something for him. Though he wouldn't mind, I could not stop myself from preparing something for him. (P.S. deep frying happens only twice a month to treat my family, not more than that unless it is for some parties or get together) I had a large cauliflower with me and planned for a royal treat, Gobi 65 dry, though I love the wet version too, his liking is dry. I hence decided to prepare Gobi 65/Cauliflower 65 dry version.
I must also not miss telling you all that hardly could I get to eat 2-3 and rest were in his tummy and he was doing a happy dance. It was real delicious, little on a spicier side. I couldn't hence manage clicking more pics. Somehow managed clicking in the middle of frying else I would have had to click his photo and told 'Please locate gobi 65 is in his tummy!'. So not bothering you all much let's move on to the recipe.

Chanadal Masala Vadai / Kadalebele Masala Vade/ Easy version of Chattambade/ Parippu vada

Chattambade or masala vade is something which I loved since childhood, being born and raised in Kerala, had got many a times chance to eat Parippu vada. My mom's sister, my chikkamma used to excel in the preparation of chattambade/parippu vada. I still remember having eaten many a times at her place and also during the train journey with friends to South Kerala to attend Entrance coaching. It was fun eating this vadai. I had many a times wished to try them out but with my mixer not in a good condition to grind dals with less or no water, I had to always leave my plans to prepare them. Recently a friend of mine, my neighbour here, suggested me to prepare them in a way which is much easier than the authentic method. I found it equally tasty and delicious and way too simple. Here goes the recipe of Chattambade or Parippu vada easified.

Bhelpuri

Now that I'm back from a short vacation, just started to go through the blog left unattended for few days. Still I must say, no great cooking happening here, so off to my drafts and here comes a lovely chat. Simple and loved chat is Bhelpuri. This post was pending from long and got a chance today to share it. These holidays made me lazy I believe, the weather and climate too to be blamed for. Nowadays I don't feel like preparing anything good to be posted, just because the weather gets so dull and I get only a small duration when we get good daylight sun to photograph. This is a recipe that I prepared long back in Summer and here I share it during peak winter time, the pics are now tempting me to prepare Bhelpuri all over again.

Baked Onion Samosa

Am I health conscious is the question that keeps arising in my mind when I fry certain appetizers. But can't afford to miss enjoying them. Now I have an alternative so that I could be guilt free even after eating a whole lot. Samosas are something that I love to munch any time, these baked ones are perfect for weather and health, it will be more healthy if I skip all purpose flour and use wheat flour I believe.
I had no potatoes in my pantry hence first gave a try to baked version of Onion Samosa, fried version of Onion Samosa I had shared long back in the space. It tastes heavenly for sure, but this baked version too is not bad, I would say definitely it cannot reach the level fried ones in terms of taste but yes, as it serves our purpose of keeping us healthy and still allowing us to enjoy, is something I loved about the baked version. Enjoy this Christmas with these Baked Onion Samosas. Here goes the simple recipe.

Aloo Bun and the round up of the giveaway 'New Year Special'

Sorry for the delay to publish the result of the giveaway, better late than never. I am up today with the simple Aloo Bun Recipe. I am not much crazy about baking but yes definitely at times I love to. It gives me lot of happiness. I was trying this the first time, so was little skeptical and hence only tried just 4 and the outcome was perfect bun as we get in bakeries, I was not much satisfied with the aloo/potato mixture inside as I didn't add any seasoning/tadka when I prepared the potato filling inside. But my first attempt on bun was just perfect. I was very happy. It was a blind attempt with my own measurements and well happy that it came out just perfect. I just jotted down the recipe once I did it, just because I didn't want to forget the measure when I update the post.

Matra/Matar/Dry Peas/Hara Vatana Chat

It started snowing here, the first snow of the season and you can imagine the temperature here. It is going down day by day, making us difficult to move out of the house. It is fun to watch snowing outside and enjoy something hot, spicy and tangy that tickle our tastebuds. Today evening it was a Healthy Chat that we enjoyed with a cup of tea spiced with ginger and cardamom.
Wondering what that healthy chat is? It was Matra/Matar Chat, made out of cooked dry peas/vatana.Yes, it is indeed healthy with no oil used except for the thin nylon sev that is sprinkled on top, which could be rather skipped if not desired.
Simple recipe to be followed is as here.

Alu Bhujiya Sev

Diwali is a festival celebrated with full enthu in India, I miss the fun and enjoyment we have when we are together with families during such occasions. But well to compensate that I started preparations for Diwali here and having together those delicacies with family and friends is something I enjoy. With many to do lists in my hand and I find it extremely difficult to blog, not because I feel lazy but due to the fact that as days have gone, with improved blogging and other few inevitable commitments are just pulling me down from writing up a post. Have loads and loads of recipes in drafts, but somehow when I sit to write I end up with some other work leaving my baby blog unattended. Well yesterday I prepared Alu Bhujiya Sev and the best part was as I was going to prepare Mr.S was like 'why you are straining yourself?' and later he ended up eating a bowl. I was determined as I had already boiled potatoes. If not I would have felt lazy and left the idea of preparing them. Well felt satisfied after piling up 2 big plates full of Alu Bhujiya Sev. Without any further delay I share the recipe for the same

Moong Dal mini Samosa

Last year same time I had prepared around 6-7 sweets and savouries for our Diwali here in Germany. Best part which I loved was 5 days before I had started with my preparations and on the day of Diwali I distributed among so many families and many many bachelors here those sweets, that gave me an inner feeling of satisfaction and happiness having give everyone a plate full of these. But at that time I din't have this blog. Hence din't bother to click photos. Hope this time I'll click all those which I missed and update here with pictures all the recipes. Today I share a new recipe which I learnt from Nishamadhulika that is moong dal mini samosa. I have altered the basic recipe a bit with minor addition of cashewnuts and dry grapes in the filling. They are so delicious that you can't just stop munching one.  Almost similar to Haldirams mini Samosa. Or I would say much more as it is homemade. Here goes the recipe without much delay.

Bread Upma

I can say after coming to Germany, bread has become a staple food for us. Early morning with tea it so happens that even if I have a dosa/crepes batter ready Mr. S will be like 'give me bread'. He says 'I'll eat dosas when I come in the evening from office'. I feel it is only in my case. Are there anyone like me? May not all follow same. He says early morning he doesn't feel like eating a plate full of hot dosas or similar heavy breakfast. Rather he prefers either a toast or two or even milk bread or sandwich bread with jam. A land where the bread dominates, it is no surprise seeing varieties of bread available in the market here. Some have exotic fillings, Some are plain yet tasty. I had recently brought big packs of sandwich bread and they had to be cleared up soon. Thought for a while as what to do and hit Google. Vahchef whom I simply adore gave me a brilliant idea through his bread upma video. Hence the post. It was a hit in my family. I bet that instead of preparing this bread upma to clear the pile of bread in the rack you would start to get sandwich bread exclusively to prepare this stuff. Here goes the simple recipe.

Kodubale

Just passed the festival of Krishna Janmashtami, very soon many more festivals are queued up for the year. Coming next is Ganesh Chaturthi. India is a land of festivals, no wonder in that as it is a Secular Country housing main four religions with each religion having sets of festivals throughout the year and are celebrated with immense fervor. Not only in India even abroad the Indians try their best to celebrate these festivals. Well as promised I had to put up the recipe of Kodubale today.
Kodubale as the name goes is a savory snack from the state of Karnataka. As the name suggests 'Kodu' means Horn and 'bale' means Bangle. Though not sure why the dish is named so. This recipe calls for patience and effort. Here goes the recipe.

Bread Potato Roll/ Aloo Bread Roll

The continuous change in weather here with alternate cold and hot days is badly affecting our health. My kid who started to go to daycare, plays everyday and comes sweating at times. So she is getting cold and throat pain very often. Now that she has got it is very obvious that a mom who spends whole day with the kid will also get flu from her. I was getting cautious and took all medication little well in advance when I feared of catching flu from her. Even she is getting better.
Yesterday I enjoyed my dinner as it was my better half special with sambar and rice. He prepares awesome sambar I must say. He used ghee to give tadka/seasoning and mind blowing it was to enjoy that spicy hot sambar with hot rice. He is not ready to reveal his secret recipe to me it seems. Well no matter whenever I wish to have them I would expect him to do that. My one job will be less, isn't it? I was so happy to get a platter full of hot rice and steaming sambar with roasted raw jackfruit papads. Well I'm happy that he obliged when I asked if I could take a pic of that cute plate and put it up here in my space. So thought would share a recipe which I had written 2 days back, on Sunday we and friends enjoyed at tea time this savory bread potato roll. Here I take you all straight to the recipe.