Cauliflower saute'- the healthy way to life!

 
                           


This is an attempt to switch to healthy recipes. I have been truly inspired by one of my friend who’s an ardent believer of health foods and the healthy way of life. With normal ingredients available you can create a dish which will be exceptional in terms of taste and innovation too. The application of herbs not only enhances the taste of the dish but also fulfills some health purposes. Stevia has been used in this dish which not only acts as a sweetener but also helps in reducing weight loss, blood pressure, uric acid level and effectively woks in case of heartburn. This recipe 'Cauliflower Sauté' could be prepared in minutes with no trace of oil and absolutely healthy ingredients. Let me share the recipe with all my readers.

Ingredients: (for four people servings)

Cauliflower (one medium sized one),

Chili flakes (2 teaspoons),

Stevia (1 tablet),

Pectin (1 teaspoon),

Chopped celery leaves,

Salt as per taste.



Procedure: Boil the cauliflower in water for 5 minutes. Drain the excess water. Mix 1 tablet of Stevia (sweetening agent mix ) with chili flakes, pectin (thickening agent) and salt. Mix the ingredients well till it makes a slightly thickened semi liquid. Pour over the cauliflower and toss the entire mixture in a bowl. Add salt according to your taste and sprinkle the already chopped celery leaves.

People who are on diet /prefer to have low carbohydrate food will surely love this I guarantee. This low calorific dish will definitely prove to be a boon towards your health. You will love the sweet n hot taste. It’s great to experiment with healthy foods.

'Chilly Paneer gravy'- nice experimenting with paneer!

Paneer (Cottage cheese) is a magic item as I have already said earlier. Whenever I feel like experimenting with paneer, I try various permutation combinations with ingredients. This time I felt like trying paneer without any spice but just with the combination of selected vegetables and sauces tossed in a little oil. I ended up in a wonderful dish ‘Chilly paneer gravy’ which tastes truly ‘wow’. Let me share the entire procedure with all of my readers.


Ingredients :( for 4-6 people)

Tomatoes (4 medium sized chopped nicely),
Onions (3 medium sized chopped nicely),
Capsicum (2 medium sized chopped into medium pieces),
Garlic paste (1/2 teaspoon),
Tomato sauce (3 tablespoon), 
Chili sauce (2 tablespoon),
Salt as per taste,
Paneer (350 gms cut sliced into medium chunks),
Oil for frying,
Corn flour (1 teaspoon mixed with half cup of water) [for maintaining the consistency of the gravy].



Procedure: Heat two teaspoon of oil in a container. Dash the vegetables into it and cook till it gets soft and releases water. You may add one pinch of aji no moto (monosodium glutamate) to it for the ultimate taste of the dish but that purely depends on oneself. (P.S. use of aji no moto should be done in stipulated amount and very judiciously). Add the garlic paste to it. Add the paneer chunks to the vegetables and mix very well with the help of a spatula. Mix the tomato and chili sauce to it and see that it blends well with the entire vegetable content. Add salt for taste. Prepare a mixture of corn flour and water in stipulated amounts as already mentioned above and pour over the entire mixture. Cook it for 1 minute and remove the content to a serving bowl.

This is an ideal combination with hakka vegetable fried rice/chapattis. Whenever you are running short of time yet want to prepare something awesome and moth watering, perhaps this recipe will be of a great help to you.

Vegetable Pie: the yummy, crunchy , cheesy n veggy bite at your doorsteps

The yummy, cheesy , cruncy treat;simply great!

Thinking of what to prepare for evening snacks today? Bored n tired of making the same stuff day by day? Want to try something new for the family? I believe that you are on the right track. Children are often fussy and hate to eat vegetables. But there is always a smart way for the ‘smarty mummy’ to make the children eat. This article is dedicated to all those smarty mummies. So choose all those vegetables which are nutritious, vitamin rich and your child tries to avoid. Let me share the secret of this recipe ‘Vegetable pie’ with all my readers.


Ingredients: (for preparation of a medium sized pie)


Self raising white flour (200gms.),
Potato (3 medium pieces),
Carrot (2 medium pieces),
Capsicum (1 big sized, grated),
Tomato (2 medium sized grated),
Onions (2 medium sized grated),
Tomato sauce (2 teaspoons),
Chili sauce (1 teaspoon) [optional, in case you are fond of the hot flavor],
Oregano (just a pinch),
Sesame seeds ( just a pinch),
Salt as per taste,
Cheese (a combination of mozzarella, Gouda, cheddar and Swiss cheese) [the choice of cheese depends upon you, but this combination will always give the best result].



Procedure: The procedure is a slightly lengthy one but once you start following it meticulously and judiciously it will be the simplest stuff to try on earth. The process is represented schematically with the help of diagrams.

Step 1: Boil the vegetables (potatoes, carrots) together and mash together. Chop the capsicum, tomatoes, and onions into smaller pieces. Put it on fire with 1/2 teaspoon oil till the vegetables become soft and mixes well with the potatoes, carrots. Add the tomato and chili sauces.

Step 2: The self raising white flour should be kneaded into perfect dough with small water and oil. Make smaller balls and roll with the help of a rolling pin to obtain a rounded structure.

Step 3: Take a little of the dough in hand and press in between your palms so that it becomes an elongated structure as shown in the picture above. Make sure that the structures are prepared as thin as possible because these structures will be required to put on the top of the pie once prepared. Keep them aside.

Step 4: Put the mashed vegetable inside the dough placed in a baking tray. Spread evenly with the help of a spoon.

Step 5: Spread shredded cheese (Gouda, mozzarella, cheddar and Swiss) over the mashed vegetable. Spread a pinch of oregano over the toppings.

Step 6: Spread the elongated thin dough over the cheese toppings. Place it in a criss -cross fashion so that the pie gets a netted appearance. Pre-heat the oven at 240 degrees for 10 minutes and then place the vegetable pie in the oven at 220 degrees for 20 minutes. Check in between from the glass of the oven and see the color change. Then you are sure that the pie is ready to be served.

Step 7: When the pie is ready remove it from the oven and get ready to serve it.


When some little guests steps in your house, you might be wandering what to preapre. This is a perfect vegetarian recipe and you can add your innovative skills to it by altering the ingredients. Experimentation can always be a fun- you see. So, rejuvante yourself by experimenting and creating signature dishes . Enjoy the spice of life.

Home made' dim sums';Kudos to your culinary skills!

Have you ever thought of preparing dim sums at home? Have you ever noticed the passion in the eyes of a Chinese Master Chef while preparing dim sums at his legendary kitchen? This inculpable culinary art was inculcated within him as a ‘rarely inherited skill’. But with a little dedication and lots of devotion you may inherit this art and prepare dim sums straight from your kitchen. With all modern amenities in my kitchen, I tried to prepare dim sums which became truly fabulous. Let me share the process with all my readers.


Ingredients: (for preparation of 30 pieces)

White flour (300 gms.)

Onions (4 medium sized nicely chopped)

Capsicum (4 medium sized nicely chopped)

Tomatoes (3 medium sized nicely chopped)

Cabbage (1/2 portion of a smaller sized one, nicely chopped)

Tomato sauce (3 teaspoons)

Chili sauce (3 teaspoons)

Garlic sauce (2 teaspoons)

Half a teaspoon of vinegar.

Procedure: Put all the vegetables in a container and cook it under medium heat. Cook till the vegetables become soft and then add the garlic sauce, ½ teaspoon vinegar, tomato sauce and chili sauce. Keep it aside. Prepare dough from white flour, small amount of salt, oil and water. The preparation of dim sums is represented in a schematic way in the following pictorial diagram.

Step 1: Prepare the filling and keep in a bowl.

Step 2: Make a roll with the rolling pin.

Step 3: With the help of a spoon place the fillings at the centre of the dough.

Prepared dimsums ready to be steamed

                                      

Preparing the fold

                

Step 4: With the help of your fingers press the edge of the dough slightly against each other and give it the shape of a crown. The prepared structure will be that of a sack with a crown on the top.

Step 5: Transfer the prepared structures to a microwave proof idly stand and put it in ‘microwave mode’ for 5 minutes inside .You may grease the idly mould with slight oil so as to avoid sticking of the same.

Step 6: You homemade dim sums are ready to serve. Place it in a plate and serve it with sauce of your choice.

So, really dim sums are not only a chef’s delight. You can even practice at home and end up in preparing awesome dim sums which will enthrall your family n friends.

'Twinkling stars'- creativity on cookies for your little darling!

Preparing cookies is truly exciting. It’s been shown in other posts how to prepare the basic unit of cookies. Now, bringing a little permutation- combination in the ingredients will result in a fantastic, innovative structure which is very much praise-worthy as well as a testimonial of your creative skills. ‘Twinkling stars’ is the name of the recipe which is not only an exciting taste but the multicolored spreads will trigger your sensation and leave you spellbound. This can be the best gift for a child on a very special occasion. Let’s share the process of preparing this innovative item.

Ingredients: (for preparation of 40 cookies)

Self raising white flour (350 gms.),

Sugar ( 200 gms.),

Margarine/unsalted butter (250 gms.),

Multicolored gems (decorative items)

Procedure: The entire procedure is represented schematically in a step wise manner. The steps if followed meticulously and methodically will lead to an excellent recipe which very nicely prepared.

Step 1: Batter margarine/unsalted butter with sugar in a container. Beat till the sugar dissolves inside the margarine. Add self raising white flour with it and leave for 15 minutes. Press with hand in case the dough rises.

Step 2: Prepare smaller dough with your hand and keep in a tray as shown in the picture. Give shape to it. Add the decorative gems to give a final shape.

Step 3: Preheat the oven at 180 degree Celsius for 15 minutes. Then keep the baking tray at 100 degree Celsius for 30 minutes. Remove it from the oven and allow cooling for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Remove the cookies to a serving plate and serve it to your kids and your guests.

 Baking can be a fun. You may store in an air tight container for future use.It  can be even a very nice tiffin item for your kid. Enjoy innovation in every step of your life.



Chocolate cookies- the yummy treat for your kids!!

Preparing cookies at home is not a very impossible achievement provided that you make up your mind to get the best of the taste right from your kitchen. A little innovativeness with ingredients will lead you to create a combination of innumerous delicious n fantastic stuffs. This is really not cooking but called 'kitchen chemistry'. Let me share how I landed up in creating a very delicious Chocolate cookies recipe.

Ingredients: (for preparing 40 cookies)

Self raising white flour (250 gms.),

Unsalted butter/Margarine (200gms.),

Sugar (200 gms.),

Drinking chocolate powder (100gms.).

Procedure: The process of baking cookies is schematically represented in a pictorial basis.

Step 1: Take margarine/unsalted butter with sugar in a container and beat till both of the ingredients take a very even mixture. Mix self raising white flour to it.Keep it standing for about 20 minutes. When the dough rises press it with your hands.

 

Step 2: Please make two separate half of the doughs and mix drinking chocolate powder with it and make two elongated structures and keep side by side. 

Step 3:  Mix the two separate doughs and make a twist so that thay make an even mixture.

Step 4: Make a roll with polythene wrapper.

Step 5: Make a net roll with the polythene bag and keep the dough in refrigerated condition for 20 minutes so that it becomes a hard structure.

Step 6: When the structure is hard enough then cut it into pieces as shown in the picture above.

Step 7: Place the cut structures in oven . The oven should be either greased with edible oil or butter paper should be applied. 

Step 8: The oven should be pre heated at 100 degree celsius for 10 minutes. Put the tray filled with doughs for 20 minutes at 180 degree celsius. Care should be taken that the cookies should not get burnt else reduce the heat and you may keep it for a longer time.

Step 9: Remove the cookies from the oven and display in a plate for serving. You may store it in an air tight container.

Perhaps this can be the best treat for your child's birthday or as his tiffin item. Cookies can be enjoyed with coffee. So, try experimentation with ingredients and innovate your own creative cookies in your own style. Just enjoy the Culinary art and claim yourself to be an artist.

Puli Pithey- the iconic savory of Bengal!




Delicious pithey Puli

 

Bengal has it's own culture of hand crafted sweets and savories which is a popular culinary art practised by the ladies during the winter. A festival called " Pous Sankranti" which marks the end of the winter season is the ideal  time when these sort of sweets are prepared in every households. A special jaggery called 'khejur gur' or the extract from date trees are obtained to add the ultimate flavour to the specially prepared savory called 'Pithey Puli'. I feel very proud to share the secret of this preparation with my readers, for every Bengalee is very much fond of this dish. With the mark of 21st century when ladies get the spend the least time in kitchen and tech savvy generation seeks towards a short cut method of preparing food  these types of sweet preparation is  almost a lost culture but can be regained done with a bit of  dedictaion and lots of devotion in mind.

Ingredients: ( for preparation of 20 pieces )

White flour or Maida (250 gms.),

Rice flour ( 150 gms.)

Grated coconut ( 150 gms.),

Sugar ( 200 gms.),

Mawa / Milk powder ( 50 gms.),

Milk (2 lts.),

Khejur gur (one packet, might  be 100 gms. in weight).

Procedure: To be followed meticulously, the process is not very difficult but needs to be accomplished in various steps shown hereby in a schematic way.

Step 1: Make a dough with grated coconut, sugar and mawa/ milk powder under low flame in a container. Stirr till it solidifies and then remove and wait till it cools down.

 

Step 2: Make a dough with white flour ( maida) ,rice flour,  little oil and water. Make conical shapes like the way shown in the figure above. The combination of rice flour with white flour will make the structure flexible but will prevent from unnecessary breakage of the prepared stuff.

Step 3: Fill the conical shaped doughs with the prepared coconut mixture. Carefully put in between the rounded structure and press with the help of your fingures so that it takes a semi circular shape and the ends are tightly closed tom prevent spilling of the coconut fillings.

Step 4: Prepared semi circular structures like the figure displayed above. You may use a little water to prevent spliitting of the closed ends.

Step 5: Boil the milk at low temperature for long time till it thickens. Add the jaggery or 'khejur gur' to it. Stirr for longer time till the gur mixes well and the syrup finally acquires a good texture.

 

Step 6: Release the already prepared semicircular structures made of coconut fillings very carefully into the boiled milk. See that the structures should be cooked in the boiling milk but should not split out. 

 

Step 7: Remove from the oven , allow it to cool and serve in a bowl.

Serve it to your guests and see them being simply spellbound by your excellent culinary skills. This dish will make any Bengalee totally homesick and will smell the odours of age old traditional Bengalee cuisine. Achieve the moments of being a complete woman by experimentaing with various dishes. Bon Apetit !