Another try for another paratha..

Mooli Parathas

Ingredients:

For Dough:
Wheat flour - 1 cup
Water - needed to make smooth fluffy dough
Salt to taste
Oil - to knead dough
Butter - to make parathas

For Filling:
Mooli/Radish (peeled/shredded) - 6 to 8 small
Onion (finely chopped) - 1
Green Chillies (finely chopped) - 4/5
Ginger (finely chopped) - 1" piece
Chilli powder - 3 tsp
Coriander powder - 11/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Garam Masala powder - 2 tsp
Coriander leaves - few sprigs
Salt to taste
Oil

Method

• Knead the dough with wheat flour, salt, oil and water. The oil can be plain vegetable oil or sesame oil, don't use coconut oil. (same for any chappathi/paratha)
  
• Peel and grate the radish. Squeeze and drain all the water from it.
  
• Heat oil in a pan, fry onion, green chillies, ginger, radish, and all the powders, one by one. Finally, add the coriander leaves. Allow it to cool.
• Divide the filling mixture into equal parts and shape them into lime-sized balls.
  
• Similary, divide the dough into equal parts and make balls little larger than the balls made of the potato-mixture.
  
• Make saucer-like shapes from each dough ball with both the hands and keep the filling inside it. Cover the filling with the dough, making the dough ball cover the filling from all sides.
  
• Roll out the dough ball (containing the filling) like chappathi but not that thin. Use sufficient flour so that the dough does not stick to your rolling pin.
• Roast the paratha on a hot pan both sides until golden brown (as in the picture). Use appropriate amount of butter for greasing the paratha.
• Serve hot with curd and pickle.

Reality Hurts!!!

I got a forward mail from one of my friends, found it really interesting and to the matter of fact.. hope u guys also enjoy it with me..

ONE BEDROOM FLAT
Author: A Software Engineer

As the biggest dream of most parents, I had acquired a degree in Software Engineering and had joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the US, it was as if a dream had come true. Here atlast, I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.

My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat. I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate, getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally, I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying shopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home, I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter, I was forced to select one candidate.

In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA. My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the Almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.

Every year I decide to go to India. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried, but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.

After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA. My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years. Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and y son was happy living in USA. I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.

Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode. Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.

I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me. Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them. But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?' I am still searching for an answer!!!


Really touching, but i feel its the truth...

Bored of Chappathi.. try out a paratha..

Alu Parathas

Ingredients

For Dough:
Wheat flour - 1 cup
Water - needed to make smooth fluffy dough
Salt to taste
Oil - to knead dough
Butter - to make parathas

For Filling:
Potato (boiled,mashed) - 3/4
Onion (finely chopped) - 1
Green Chillies (finely chopped) - 4/5
Ginger (finely chopped) - 1" piece
Chilli powder - 3 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Garam Masala powder - 2 tsp
Coriander leaves - few sprigs
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Lemon juice - 2 tsp
Salt to taste

Method

• Knead the dough with wheat flour, salt, oil and water. The oil can be plain vegetable oil or sesame oil, don't use coconut oil.
• Boil and mash the potatoes. Make a mixture of all other ingredients of the filling with the mashed potatoes. Divide the mixture into equal parts and make a lime-sized ball of each part. Keep aside.
• Similary, divide the dough into equal parts and make balls little larger than the balls made of the potato-mixture.
  
• Make saucer-like shapes from each dough ball with both the hands and keep the filling inside it. Cover the filling with the dough, making the dough ball cover the filling from all sides.
  
• Roll out the dough ball (containing the filling) like chappathi but not that thin. Use sufficient flour so that the dough does not stick to your rolling pin.
• Roast the paratha on a hot pan both sides until golden brown (as in the picture). Use appropriate amount of butter for greasing the paratha.
• Serve hot with curd and pickle.
  

Broccoli Salad

I am an ardent fan of Sweet Tomatoes and I make it a point to go there often. The food is not only awesome to the taste, but also nutritious. Being a vegetarian, or rather, eggitarian, I treasure going there. You have so many varieties of salads, soups, fruits and bakery items in store in the buffet, that your belly would rather tell you - "NEXT TIME PLEASE" or "GIVE ME AN INTERMISSION".. haha

I found their Broccoli Salad really marvelous. It has a touch of sweetness, good crunch, is fresh and vibrant. In fact, it contains bacon, which I used to filter while having, so my recipe too refrains from using bacon pieces. Quoting the recipe for you my friends...

Joan's Broccoli Madness Salad

Ingredients

Dressing:
Mayonnaise - 1 cup
Sugar -1 tbsp
Apple Cider vinegar -2 tbsp

Salad:
Broccoli (florets) - 1/2 stems
Cashews - 1/2 cups
Raisins - 1/2 cup
Onion (red - chopped) - 1/4 cup

Method

• Wash broccoli and cut into florets. Chop off hard stems.
  
• In a bowl, add broccoli florets, cashews, raisins and onion.
  
• Mix the ingredients of dressing in another bowl.
• Toss the salad mixture with the dressing.
  
• Cool in fridge for few minutes before serving. Serve.
  

Ellu Urundai

I made this simple recipe on my birthday !!!

Ingredients:

Black sesame seeds (ellu) - 200g
Jaggery - 100g

Method:

1. Wash the sesame seeds and roast them in a dry pan until they splutter.
2. In another pan, make a syrup out of jaggery, by heating it with little water.
3. Check the completion of the syrup formation by dropping a bit of the syrup into a bowl of water; it should become solid instantly. If so, remove the syrup from heat.
4. Add sesame seeds into this syrup and make small lime-sized balls out of it. Better if done when the syrup is not yet cooled. Grease the hands with butter before doing this.
5. Serve hot or cold as a simple, but elegant dessert.

Soup time!!!

Spicy Green Peas Soup

I thought one day, that it would be nice to have a warm soothing soup.. on investigating on several websites, I formulated a new recipe and that was just superb for me.. try it out friends..

Ingredients

Green peas (boiled) - 500 grams
Ginger (1" piece) - 2
Garlic - 8-10 cloves
Green chillies - 2
Butter - 3 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Onion (finely chopped) - 1
Bay leaves - 2
Salt to taste
Fresh cream (garnish)

Method

1. Boil green peas and blend it to make a smooth puree.
2. Grind ginger, garlic and green chillies to make a paste.
3. Heat butter in a pan, add cumin seeds and bay leaves.
4. Add onion and sauté till light pink.
5. Add ginger-garlic-green chilli paste. Sauté for 1 or 2 minutes.
6. Add peas puree. Stir continuously and cook for five minutes. Add water if needed to bring the soup into your consistency.
7. Salten the soup, remove bay leaves and simmer for 5 more minutes.
8. Garnish with cream, serve hot.

This soup is good when in thick consistency, however its all up to you.

Palak Aloo - type 2

I tried another way about for this recipe, after referring many websites. This also came out quite well. Maybe you guys can also give a try.

Ingredients

Black Sesame seeds (roasted) - 1 tbsp
Spinach (chopped/boiled) - 2 cups
Potato (boiled) - 2 large
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Green chillies - 4
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Yogurt - 2 tbsp
Oil
Salt to taste

Method

Cook the spinach by sprinkling little water and salt. Cook the potatoes too and cut them without removing the peel.
Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and when they splutter, add asafoetida, green chillies and potatoes. Stir and add salt. Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Add turmeric powder, again cover it. Add spinach and stir. Cook for few minutes. Add coriander powder, cumin power and yogurt. Remove from heat and add roasted sesame seeds.

This also goes well with Chappathi/parathas. This curry would be li'l more dry than the earlier type.