Once a week, I make today's dish (Sprouted Moong Dal Chilla) as our breakfast especially for that extra protein kick from the sprouted legumes. A simple chutney on the side and we are not hungry again till lunch; it is such a filling snack too! Also, today is the last day for the book giveaways I planned for 12 lucky readers of this blog. Time flew and still can't believe it is end of the week. There are two more books up for grabs today and scroll down to participate. I will randomly choose and announce the winners on 30th September morning. Two more days to leave a comment on the respective posts. Lady Luck might favor you. Enter today!
If there is always one accompaniment while having breakfast at my mum's place, it is definitely this Under 15 minute Easy South Indian Coconut Chutney. I have been eating it with my idilis and dosas for as long as I remember and now I thought it is a perfect time to share the recipe with you all. All you need is fresh coconut and a handful of ingredients. Every south indian breakfast deserves a simple to make chutney as a side and after trying this version, I guarantee you will instantly fall in love, never to look back again! And while you are at it, don't forget to leave a comment on this post to mark your participation for the TWO book giveaways (Day 3) Scroll down for more details. If you haven't tried your luck already, do leave a comment on Day 1 and Day 2 giveaway blogposts as well. Good Luck!
Today's recipe is a simple, tangy and fulfilling snack that is so versatile to add anything you fancy and forgiving enough when it comes to ingredient amounts - Peanut Chaat. Not just during monsoons, this can be enjoyed as an appetizer on a papad canape maybe? or as a healthy salad anytime and any season. And while you are at it, don't forget to leave a comment on this post to mark your participation for the TWO book giveaways (Day 2) Scroll down to the end for more details. If you haven't tried your luck already, do leave a comment in yesterday's post as well. Good Luck! Click here to access all book giveaways on a SINGLE page.
Like many of you out there I am a HUGE lover (read as hoarder) of cookbooks and books based on food writing. I don't need any reason in particular to buy one. Sometimes it's the theme of the cookbook; sometimes the author; sometimes the reviews are so great that I can't stop myself from ordering a copy; sometimes it is as silly as the book cover. Whatever may be the reason, now I have a selection of books that I seldom use and book giveaways to few lucky readers was something I wanted to do since a long time. I handpicked 12 such books that I simply loved for each day of this week. Winners as usual will be randomly picked and there are few more simple ways to increase your chances. Scroll down at the end of the post for more details.
Also, since it's VeganMoFo week, a vegan friendly recipe is a must. Today, I made Mark Bittman's Crispy Noodle Cake Recipe. It makes a fantastic side dish, snack, or base for a stir-fry, where it soaks up all of the savory juices. You don’t need much else to call this a meal, though a beer alongside wouldn’t hurt.
Learn how to make an easy vegan appetizer recipe that is sure to please your friends and family. 'Hara Bhara' literally translates to 'All things Green'. Though traditionally it is spinach that is used for this recipe, feel free to replace with any firm greens on hand. Taste will slightly vary and I recommend blanching them lightly before using in the patty mixture. As an accompaniment, try this killer no-cook coriander chutney (from BongMom's cookbook ). :-)
"There is only one thing more exasperating than a wife who can cook and won't, and that's a wife who can't cook and will". This cheeky quote by Robert Frost always manage to bring a smile on my face. It just shows how perseverance can will help and play an important role in the kitchen and elsewhere.
Learning and experimenting on my own in a tiny kitchen (Why do I end up with tiny kitchens, always! Sigh.), I learnt many tips and tricks. Most of them were a 'trial and error' process, except for my mother's recipes which I follow to the tee even today. Sometimes I swooned at a bread that came out perfectly and at times completely dismissed a recipe which I have been working for a few hours. I believe that a fair & square attempt is all it needs to get anything right.
Just when I thought that food memoirs are getting one-dimensional (read as boring), I stumbled upon Sandeepa's new book which she penned based on her childhood memories of being a bong. In her introduction page she says - "This is my story, but it might well be yours and may be even yours". That's so true to its every word.
That's exactly how the weather is here in Hyderabad right now. Temperatures are dropping rapidly day after day, a clear indication that the winter has already arrived and its here to stay for few more months to come! It is always the case with me that when cold settles in, I need to make some thick, hot soup to warm up myself, from deep within - perfect to brighten up rather a dull, morose winter's day. Today's recipe of Tomato & Carrot Soup is one such hale and hearty dish. Its filled with goodness of vegetables & herbs with tingling ginger note at the background and a light sprinkling of red chilli flakes at the very end, for some heat.
I highly recommend to make this soup, wrap up warm and with a book in hand enjoy with a buttery, crusty bread to keep the chill out.
2 cups of chopped tomatoes
1 cup of chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, peeled, minced
4 cups of water
1 tsp olive oil
3-4 pieces of roughly chopped ginger
1/4 cup coriander leaves
1/2 cup milk
salt - to taste
1/2 tsp or more black pepper
few pieces of bread & butter
red chilli flakes + beaten yogurt for topping
Preparation:
1) Boil 4 cups of water. Add chopped carrots, coriander leaves and ginger. Cover and let it simmer for 15-20 mins. Discard 2 pieces of ginger from the stock.
2) Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a pan and add garlic & onions. Saute for 3-4 mins until light golden brown. Add tomatoes. Cook until mushy on low-medium heat for 15-20 mins. Add boiled carrots along with stock, coriander leaves and ginger. Season with salt & pepper. Mix well and Let it cool a bit.
3) Blend everything into a smooth soup-like consistency. Add milk and bring the soup to a simmer again and water or stock if desired.
4) Melt a bit of butter in a pan. Place few pieces of bread and cook until golden brown.
5) Top with few red chilli flakes + beaten yogurt and serve soup with toasted bread on the side.
It is Holiday Season and best time to spread some happy cheer all around. Its time to give-away something special to my lovely readers who support me all along the way. Two lucky winners (**not applicable for Indian readers. Check this Canon Powershot Camera giveaway and enter there) will be chosen for an opportunity win these two exciting give-aways:
Here is what you need to do to win either of these give-aways
1. Leave a comment on this post. As simple as that.
To increase your chances in the random drawing, do one or more of the following and leave a comment once you did so. 2. Follow Cooking With Siri on Facebook and/or Follow me on Twitter. - @sirime
4. Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the below text - {Holiday #Giveaway} #Enter for a chance to #win $25 @Amazon and @Olivegarden #giftcards at @sirime's blog. Details - http://tinyurl.com/giftcardsgiveaway
If you are already liked me on facebook, following on twitter or subscribed to RSS feed, just leave a comment letting me know and you are entered in the giveaway automatically! You don't have to be a blogger to win these give-way(s). Last date for participation is November 30th 2012 midnight IST and two winners randomly chosen will be announced on December 1st 2012. ***********************************************************************************************************************************
Just pinch me Will ya? I can't believe its been 5 years since I started this little blog of mine. 5? Are you kidding me? that is like half-a-decade!. Every single moment, every single recipe and every single thought I put in here is so worthwhile and so exhilarating & relaxing at the same time. How can such feelings co-exist? Well, I am still figuring that out. :-)
Right now as I look back, its not the numbers that matter to me but the evolution and the experience itself. I got to know an amazing bunch of people through blogging. They inspire me. teach me and be there during my happy times and also at the times of despair. Some live in various parts of the world, many whom I never met but they are just a phone call or an email away!. Wow, can such virtual relationships sustain over time? Apparently yes. I am eternally grateful to God for sending them to me. You know who you are and Thank you for your love and for just being a part of my life.
A birthday is never complete without a cake. Isn't it? But, for today I made few quickJalapeno Corn Bread Muffins served with Vegetarian Chilli. It is a combination I very much miss since we moved back to India, so I thought what better occasion do I need to feature these two recipes on the blog. As a way to say Thank you for your affection and support over all these years, I planned a few exciting giveaways for you all. Enjoy!
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (atta)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup tightly packed herbs - mint & coriander/cilantro
2 tbsp chopped jalapeno peppers
1 egg
2 tbsp olive oil
3/4 cup milk (or buttermilk)
Preparation:
Step 1: Pulse cornmeal until smooth texture. In a mixing bowl, add cornmeal, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix.
Step 2: Add herbs and jalapenos to it.
Step 3: In an another bowl, beat together - egg, olive oil and milk.
Step 4: Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and gently mix everything.
Step 5: Preheat oven to 180 C or 350 F. Grease ramekins with olive oil and pour 3/4ths with batter. Top with some chopped jalapenos if desired. Bake for 18-20 mins until a toothpick or skewer when inserted in the center comes out clean. Rest for 10 mins.
Step 6: Run a knife around the edges and carefully unmold. Serve as a side accompaniment with soups, stew or chilli (recipe below). Wrap the rest of the muffins in a plastic cling to prevent from drying out. Microwave for few seconds and they are as good as fresh.
I won this set of ramekins as a giveaway from Divya's blog. :-)
{Recipe} Easy Vegetarian Bean Chilli
Ingredients:
3 cups boiled beans - I used chickpeas, black eyed peas, pinto beans and soya beans.
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 cups water
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
grated cheese, for topping
Preparation:
1. In a big pot, heat olive oil and saute onion and garlic for few minutes. Add carrot and peppers. Cook until soft.
2. Stir tomatoes and beans. On a low heat, cook for 3-4 minutes. Season with salt, chilli and cumin powder and pepper. Add water and continue cooking by stirring once or twice in the middle for 30-40 minutes.
3. Top with grated cheese and Serve hot with cornbread. Save left overs in refrigerator or freeze.
Now for the fun part. To celebrate the blog-o-anniversary, I have some goodies for you all. Just like before, there are two giveaways. One for Indian readers and other for rest of the world.
New York Times ran an article last year - "Are Apps Making Cookbooks Obsolete?", which created quite a stir among foodies. In the article it is said -
"Cookbooks have long offered their own kind of enriched content, in the form of scribbles left in the margins by cooks who found they liked a little extra cinnamon, or a higher oven temperature."
..yes I own cookbooks for the same reason as I can scribble what I think about a certain recipe as I make it. Though I don't normally end up cooking from all the books I own, they have an old-school-charm to it. Only when one experiences it, they would know the warm feeling for cooking from a book rather from an app.
After 5 years of her first cookbook, Ruta Kahate (5 Spices 50 Dishes fame) brings us a new edition with about 125 easy indian recipes that can be made in 30 mins or less. It starts with a "Shortcut Shelf" which has recipes for read-to-use pastes/condiments that can be stored or refrigerated for later use. Drawing inspiration for Thai Red Curry and Green Curry pastes, she has Red Masala and Green Masala that can be made quite easily and these are handy to spruce up almost anything - from meat to veggies to sandwiches and even pastas.
Similarly there are some funky names for other categories as well such as "Brisk Breakfasts", "Mains in Minutes", "Curries in a hurry", "Swift Soups", "Zippy Snacks" etc. Some of the recipes are quite intriguing like "Tomato Water" and her "Maa's Sheera", but I have a feeling that an experienced cook will find these recipes quite basic.
When it comes to a cookbook, I love ogling at a photograph of the finished recipe as it gives a good idea on what to expect. Quick Fix Indian has a very small number of photographs, often just the ingreidients and not of the recipe featured which is a little disappointing for me, personally speaking.
Nevertheless, Ruta demystifies Indian food and makes sure there is something for everybody and every occasion in her book. It gives a modern twist to few of our classic recipes without compromising on taste. Do try to grab a copy today.
I bookmarked quite a few recipes from every section and since it was raining & quite gloomy in our neck of woods, I chose to make some Indian Tater Tots today - a quick snack with a cuppa of tea did work its wonders on me. :-)
Enjoy!
How to enter Quick Fix Indian Cookbook giveaway
1. Leave a comment on this post with your favorite quick fix recipe (indian or non-indian) - No need of links, just the name will do. Note: Quick fix recipe is something you make when you are darn hungry and short of time.
2. Mention your location - US or India so that you are entered for the corresponding drawing.
To increase your chances in the random drawing, do one or more of the following and leave a comment once you did so. 3. Follow Cooking With Siri on Facebook.
6. Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the below text - Share your favorite quick fix recipe for a chance to win Quick Fix Indian Cookbook giveaway on @sirime's blog. http://www.tinyurl.com/quickfixindiangiveaway
If you are already liked me on facebook, following on twitter or subscribed to RSS feed, just leave a comment letting me know and you are entered in the giveaway automatically! This giveaway is open for everybody, You don't have to be a blogger to win the cookbook. The giveaway will end on July 31st 2012 and two winners randomly picked - one from US and another from India will be announced on August 1st 2012. .
Another fresh year is here.. Another year to live..
To banish worry, doubt and fear.. To love, laugh and give. This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . . To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs!
~ Original quote by William Arthur Ward
I love this poem so much that I am mentioned it twice before. It instills hope and makes me look forward for the year ahead. Nobody know what's in store for all of us. that is the magic of unknown but a retrospect of the year that just whizzed by is necessary, so that one can relive and cherish those moments again, one last time. :-).
So, will you all time-travel with me and reminisce my favourite recipes of the year 2011?, just like lastyear, each month gets a moment for itself.
One of the many time-consuming recipes of Hyderabadi cuisine is 'Bagara Baingan'. Now, I have a demystified recipe which needs a little forward planning and when craving for some, can be made it in a jiffy.
This is a month of love and there is nothing best than some chocolate truffles. Isn't it? Here is a recipe for Decadent Diary-Free Chocolate Truffles for your loved ones.
Almost all of my friends and readers are well aware of my love for Eggs. I can eat them in any form or shape. Here are my top 5 reasons and recipe for Spicy Egg Masala. Yum!
It was time to move back to India. But before that, we made a 10-day trip to Hawaii, which was nothing less than amazing. :-) One of my favourite-comfort-meals is my mom's Khara Pongal (or) Ghee Pongal.
Mads came up with a new concept of 'Free Spirit Blogging', this month and my first ever recipe posted was - Mysore Bonda, a breakfast cum snack I have been eating all my childhood and even now.
It always feels good to be invited and taste food before its even released into the market. I still remember the taste of Keri Pop with the goodness of aam panna and jaljeera. good stuff!
Slowly and steadily I started to incorporate and resurrect our very old breakfast items like idli and dosa with wholegrains like brown rice. Couple of attempts, I got the perfect proportions which I follow to this day and work like a charm, every single time.
My mom strikes again! with her secret spice powder. Many of my friends and readers have tried this and enjoyed it immensely. Check it out, if you haven't already and make some today.
It was definitely love at first sip. Ginger. Honey, Lemon in Iced Tea. I am sure the very mention of the combination of flavours will instantly quench your thirst.
Kamakshi wins a full-year subscription of BBC Good Food India magazine
and
Nish is the winner of the 75th Anniversary Edition of the 'Joy of Cooking' cookbook.
Hearty Congratulations to both of you and Thank you for participating in the giveaway. Please send me your addresses to - info[dot]siri[at]gmail[dot]com at the very earliest.
Wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. May 2012 bring you loads of joy, happiness and good health.
