Milagu seeragam podi / Pepper Jeera powder

I use this powder for Idly upma, egg omelet and for some rice varieties. I have this handy all the time. Its good to make in small batch, so the freshness and nice aroma is tightly packed with it. My mom used to send it every time i go to India, when i run out of this, thats when i make myself :)

Ingrediets:
Pepper corns  - 1/2 cup
Jeera  - 1/2 cup

Method:

My mom uses equal proportion of the two ingredients. If you like pepper more, then increase the pepper quantity.

There are several methods to make this powder.
Option 1.My mom used to keep it under the sun, until its hot and then make a dry powder in mixer.
Option 2.Since we don't get to see sun most of the time, i just dry roast them together in a pan until it becomes hot and turn off ( stir frequently to avoid getting it burnt ). Let it cool for a while and then make a powder.
Option 3.You can spread them in a microwave safe plate, microwave for 30 to 45 seconds or until it becomes slightly hot( keep an eye to avoid getting it burnt).Let it cool then make a powder.

WaterMelon Juice

Lots of Watermelon in the market and you can beat the summer with this refreshing juice. Very simple, hardly 3 ingredients and you can make it in no time.

Ingredients:

Watermelon - 1 Bowl
Brown sugar - 2 table spoon or to taste
Lemon/Lime - 1/2

Method:

Blend all together. I used the juice extractor that came with my Preethi Mixie, you can use anything that you have.

Serve immediately, if you let it sit for sometime, the water and pulp tend to get separated.

Asparagus poriyal

No one likes Asparagus in my home except me. I prefer Grilled asapragus better. I gave this poriyal a try and it was a good way of including this vegetable into our meal.

Ingredients:

Asparagus -1 small bunch

Thoor dhal - 1.5 table spoon

Grated coconut - 2 table spoon

Mustard 1/2 tsp

Urid dhal - 1/2 tsp

Oil - 2 tsp

Red chilly - 1

Method:

Pressure cook 1.5 table spoon of Thoor dhal and keep it ready. The texture of the dhal should be seen.

Heat oil in a pan, when it is hot add mustard , urid dhal and dry red chilly.

Add the chopped asparagus , sauté for a while keeping it covered. Stir frequently .

When they are 3/4 cooked, add the needed salt, cooked Thoor dhal ( with out water) and the coconut.

Sauté for couple of minuted uncovered and switch off.

Serve with rice as a side dish.

Strawberry Milkshake

We went for the strawberry picking today, as usual we always make it towards the end of the season and we ended up picking the tiny strawberries. Fresh from farm, i made this milkshake the same day and lil one enjoyed it throughly both strawberry picking and the Milkshake!

Ingredients:
strawberry - 5 small
Sugar - 1.5 table spoon or to taste
Milk - 1 cup ( I used 2%)
Ice cubes - few.

Method:

Blend all the ingredients until they are combined well.

Quick and easy Milkshake is ready in no time.

Microwave Mango Halwa / Mango Bar

I could still recollect those days where i love the Naturo Mango bar and eat them so crazy like anything back in India. When i tried this Mango halwa long time back, the texture and taste was almost close to the Mango bar. when ever i have a can of mango pulp, i toss them in the microwave and make these bars/halwa :)

If you are like mango, then try this out!

Ingredients:

Canned Mango pulp - 1 Tin
Sugar - 1/4 cup heaped
Ghee - 1 Table spoon

Method:

In a microwave safe bowl combine Mango pulp and sugar.

Microwave for 5 min covered.
Take out stir and cook for another 12 minutes uncovered (Take out and stir them every 4 minutes )
After the 12 minutes add the ghee.

Microwave another 10 minutes ( Make sure to stir every 2 minutes ).
Towards the end they would slightly change the color from yellow to a slight dark orange color and they would
have thickened a bit.

Meanwhile grease a tray lined with parchment paper with ghee/ clarified butter.
Pour them in the greased tray. Smooth the top surface.

Let it cool for a while.
cut in to desired shape and hurray its ready with no mess!

PS: Amount of sugar and ghee is purely to taste.

Mango Milkshake

Mango milkshake is one of the item which we order first when we go to the Indian restaurant . Ofcourse My lil ones favorite too...making with fresh mangoes would taste good, but I had a can of mango pulp. So I made with it.

Ingredients:
canned mango pulp - 1 cup
Milk - 1 cup ( I used 2% )
Sugar - 1 Table sp or to taste
Ice cubes - few

Method:

Blend alltogether in a blender until they are combined well.
Serve immediately and njoy!


Isn't it simple...give a try and I am sure you would like it.

Shrimp Bajji

As i told in the last post, i made shrimp Bajji, yes you read it right, its shrimp bajji!  It did sound new to me when i heard it. My lil one loved it  to the core! . I used cooked and peeled salad shrimp for this recipe.

Ingrdients:
same as the Valakkai bajji, just replace raw banana with shrimp.

Method:

Follw the same way as Valakkai bajji and njoy with a cup of coffee or tea.