TOMATO TULIPS

This is a simple and easy carving. You can decorate your tables with this when you entertain your friends. 

Things Required :

Tomatoes -- 2 or as needed

Satay sticks 

Spring onions (for making stems)

Carving knives 

How to make:

1. Select long and evenly shaped tomatoes.

2. Using a carving knife cutout an oblong shaped pieces tapering in the edges on 4 sides of the tomato. (see the video for detailed procedure)

3. Next cut the top part joining the 4 slits to make petals.

4. Round off the tips of the petals.

5. Scoop out the seeds and pulp carefully.

6. Take a long green part of the spring onion.

7. Insert the satay stick into it.

8. Pierce it into the tomato to make a stem.

9. Tulip is ready. Now make as many as you require in the same way.

10. Decorate them in a vase along with some more greens of the spring onions.

Watch the video to see the procedure 

You can decorate your dinner / breakfast tray with a single tulip 

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Papaya Boat 

Tomato Rose

Capsicum leaves

TRIPURI CHICKEN SALAD / TOHAN MOSDENG / NORTH-EAST INDIAN RECIPES

Tohan Mosdeng is a tribal style chicken salad from Tripura. It is like onion kachumber with the addition of chicken and is very spicy. The charred green chillies give this salad the rustic smoky flavour. It can be had as a side dish with meals or even as a filling for the sandwiches, wraps or kathi rolls.

This recipe is part of the "Shhhhhh Cooking Secretly" challenge. We get 2 secret ingredients from our partner each month and we cook the dish of the chosen theme. My partner of the month is Renu Agarwal Dongre. She gave me "Onion" and "Green Chiliies" 

Renu Blogs at "Cook with Renu" . Do visit her space and check out her delicious recipes. The 2 secret ingredients that I gave her are "Red Chillies" and "Garlic". She made a spicy and delicious Tomato Chutney .. Check it out HERE

Ingredients:
Chicken ... 200 gms
Onion ....... 1 (sliced)
Green chillies ..5-6
Ginger ........... 1 " piece
Garlic .......... 3-4 cloves (crushed)
Coriander leaves .... 1 cup
Salt ..................... to taste
Oil .................... 2 tbsps (to fry the chicken)

Method:
1. Marinate the chicken fillet with salt and garlic.
2. Heat oil and pan fry the chicken until done. You can also grill it instead.
3. In a metal colander char the green chillies on the gas flame.
4. Crush them along with the ginger in a pestle and mortar.
5. Shred the chicken into thin strips.
6. Wash the coriander leaves and chop them.
7. Slice the onion.
8. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl crushing them nicely with your hand. This brings out all the flavours.
9. Enjoy the chicken salad.

You can also see the detailed video of this recipe:

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Spicy Thai Green Papaya Salad

Carrot and Beetroot Sambharo / Gujarati Warm Salad

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JALAPENO POPPERS

Here is a delicious and cheesy party snack for you. I had these Jalapeno poppers in USA for the first time while visiting my children. I fell in love with these as they were to my liking... spicy !!!

Ever since I had been planning to make them. 

 Finally I got an opportunity when it was the turn to make a dish with alphabet "J" in our group --- A-Z Recipe Challenge. wherein we bloggers come together and choose  key ingredients alphabetically to make and post a dish every alternate month.

Ingredients:

Jalapeno chillies - 5-6 

Cheese ................ 1 cup (or as needed)

Bacon ................. few strips (optional)

Bread crumbs ...... as needed for coating

APF / maida ......... as needed for coating

Milk ................... 1 cup 

Garlic granules ... 1 tbsps (optional)

Salt ..................... to taste

Oil ..................... to fry 

Method:

1. Wash the Jalapeno chillies or peppers well. Make a slit and discard the seeds.

2. Put them in a pot and cook for just one boil adding salt.

3. Drain and set aside.

4. Grate the cheese and set aside.

5. Fry the bacon strips until brown and crispy. Cut them into tiny pieces. Mix them with the grated cheese.

6. Take the flour in a flat plate and mix little salt.

7. Put the bread crumbs in a flat plate and mix the garlic granules.

8. Wipe the blanched chillies and stuff them with cheese and bacon mixture.

9. Dip them in the milk and roll them in the flour until well coated. Repeat this step twice and refrigerate for 10 mins.

10. Now dip them in the milk again and roll them in the bread crumbs until well coated. Refrigerate for few minutes and repeat this step again until the chillies are well coated. 

11. Refrigerate them again for 10 more minutes. This makes the coating nice and firm.

12. Heat some oil in a frying pan and fry the Stuffed and coated Jalapeno peppers until crisp and golden brown.

13. Serve immediately.

See the Recipe Video of making the Jalapeno Poppers 

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Notes:

Use any cheese of your choice. You may also use cream cheese if you like.

You can skip adding bacon and add chicken instead... or skip adding any of them if you are a vegetarian.

You can prepare and store the coated Jalapenos in the refrigerator a day ahead also if you are having a party.

Recipe adapted from - HERE

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Stuffed Green Chilli Fritters / Mirchi Bajji / Mirchi ke Pakode

Baby Corn Fritters

Stuffed Spinach Roll Fritters / Palak ke Pakode

.

EMOJI COOKIES / KIDS PARTY SPECIAL

This is a very simple and easy to make cookie recipe, perfect for kids party. These are made by my grand daughter Maya.

Ingredients:

(All ingredients at room temperature)
All purpose flour - 3 cups
Sugar ................ 1 cup
Eggs ................. 2
Butter ............... 1 cup
Vanilla extract ... 1 tsp
Salt .................... 1/2 tsp
Baking powder ... 1/2 tsp
Baking soda ........ 1/4 tsp

Method:
 1. Mix the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and butter until it starts to clump together.
 2. Add the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract.
 3. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 - 40 mins.
 4. Roll out and cut into desired shapes.
 5. Bake at 400 F for 6-8 mins.
 6. Remove and cool them on a rack.

Ingredients for frosting:
Icing sugar..... 1 and 1/2 cups
Melted butter ... 2 tbsps
Vanilla extract .... 1 tsp
Lemon juice ...... 1/2 tsp
Milk ................. 1 or 2 tbsps
Food colouring ... 2-3 drops

Method:
 1. Combine all the ingredients and beat until smooth.
 2. If frosting is thick add little more milk, if it is thin add icing sugar to adjust.
 3. Add the colour and mix well.
Spread it on the cookies evenly and decorate them in any way you like.

You can also watch the detailed Video of this recipe:

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Nankatai / Cardamom Flavoured Cookies

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JEERE TAMATE MEI MEHA / SINDHI STYLE TINDE KI SABZI TAMATAR WALI / APPLE GOURD CURRY

This is a simple Sindhi style tinda curry made in tomato gravy with cumin seed tempering. It comes out so delicious even with minimum spices and no addition of ginger, garlic or onions. Select small and tender tindas as they have no seeds.

Ingredients:
Meha / tinda ............ 250 gms
Tomatoes ................ 3-4
Cumin seeds .......... 1/2 tsp
Salt ...................... to taste
Turmeric powder .. 1/4 tsp
Cumin powder ..... 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder ... 1 tsp
Red chili powder ... 1/4 tsp
Coriander leaves .... handful
Oil ................... 2-33 tbsps

Method:

Wash the meha well.

Peel them and make criss-cross slits half way through.

Heat oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds.

When they crackle add the tomatoes. Saute and simmer until they are soft and mushy.

Add the salt and turmeric powder.  Saute and simmer until they are soft and mushy.

Next add the chilli powder, cumin powder and coriander powder. Stir everything together.

Tip in the meha and saute for a minute.

Stir fry them until the oil is separated.

Add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer to cook.
After 10-12 minutes check it out and add more water if required.

Simmer until done. It takes about 30 - 40 minutes on low flame. Finally add the coriander leaves and serve.

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Swanjre ji Bhaji / Drumstick Flower Curry

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MULTIGRAIN FLOUR AND QUINOA WAFFLES

Here is a recipe of healthy multigrain savoury waffles with quinoa. You can make them with a lot of variations by adding different things like veggies, boiled chicken, ham, sausages, or boiled macaroni  in the batter. Kids will love them.
Today I have added quinoa which is a super food. Multigrain flour is available in the stores these days. You can even mix various flours like whole wheat, soya, ragi, jowar, bajra, gram flour, semolina etc etc.. .. whatever is available in your kitchen in equal proportion.

Ingredients:
Multigrain flour - 1 cup
Boiled quinoa .... 1/2 cup
Yogurt .............. 2 tbsps (optional)
Onions ............ 2 tbsps (finely chopped)
Green chillies .. 1-2 (finely chopped)
Coriander leaves .. 2 tbsps (finely chopped)
Salt ................. to taste
Turmeric powder .. 2 pinches
Roasted and crushed cumin seeds .. 1/2 tsp
Oil ............. to brush on the waffle maker.

Method:

Soak 1/4 cup quinoa for 1 hour. Drain the water and boil it with half cup water adding little salt. It cooks perfectly and no need of draining the water as the nutrients will be lost. Let it cool.

Now mix together all the ingredients mentioned in the list.except oil and make a thick batter adding little water as needed.

Brush the waffle maker with oil on both sides.
Spoon the batter into it and spread it.

Close it and switch it on. It should be done in 4-5 minutes. (the light indicates when done)

Remove them.

 Serve hot with any sauce or chutney.









Note : This portion makes 2 big or 4 small waffles depending on the size of your waffle maker.

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Idli Waffles