Ginger Cardamom tea/ Adrak Elaichi Chai

Ginger Cardamom tea/ Adrak Elaichi Chai

                                                                   

         

Who doesn’t like to sip a cup of hot tea on a cold day ⛄⛆? When it is masala chai (spiced milk tea) or ginger cardamom tea I will be on cloud nine 😊. During winter season it is a must to have at least ginger milk tea 🍵. I try to add dried ginger powder almost every time I prepare tea.  A hot cup of ginger cardamom tea after a long tired day is indeed refreshing. Ginger is having many medicinal properties so adding them to your diet is very good 😊. Cardamom the queen of spices just adds flavor to your tea that can’t be described. These spices are indeed an asset to our cooking 😃. Not only in beverages, we add them in almost every dish we prepare 😉.  Try making this simple yet healthy tea. Okay then let’s get started…..

Christmas Fruit Cake

Christmas Fruit Cake/ Non Alcoholic Fruit Cake / Kerala Plum Cake /Kerala Fruit Cake

                                                                       

Holiday season is here 🎄🎅, you all must be very busy. Yes like you all I was very busy decorating our sweet home with a lovely Christmas Tree 🎄🎊, lights, snowman and baubles. Grabbed some time to bake a super soft and super tasty non alcoholic Christmas cake. We had a small get together at home last week and I served this cake to my dear friends 😍.They all enjoyed and asked me to post the recipe ASAP. Dear friends, here is the recipe.  Christmas 🎅 is incomplete without a fruit cake 🍰. Back home in Kerala (India) we have our own plum cake. During Christmas time almost all the bakeries will be loaded with plum cakes that too Elite Plum Cake 😋.  My dad always gets me a pack of this Elite Plum Cake every year me 😍. Wish I could give him a slice of this plum cake that was baked by me 😞. For the past few years I was longing to bake this but I backed off as I thought it won’t turn out perfect without alcohol 😕. I was in no mood to add alcohol 😏. Finally I got a recipe from all recipe where they have used orange juice 😊. To give it a personal touch I replaced orange juice with grape juice and personalized the recipe here and there 😉. I have added as much dry fruits as possible. Raisins, plums and dates gives it a rich flavor 😋. Dry fruits are soaked in freshly made grape juice and I refrigerated this for two and a half days 😉. It’s better to use fresh grape juice as store brought might contain preservatives and other chemicals. Spices gives the cake extra punch that tempts us to eat it again and again 😋😋😋. Since there is no alcohol it doesn’t have much shelf life 😐. You can wrap them in aluminum foil and store it in an air tight box. It will be good for another 5-6 days but it won’t last that long 👌. The cake will be over by that time. Yes, believe me this is a super yummy cake 😃. Okay then let’s get started…..

Dil Pasand

Dil Pasand / Dil Kush / Puff Pastry With Coconut Filling

                                                                    

Dil Pasad / Dil kush! Yes it is Dil Pasad / Dil Kush 😋. As the name suggests it means your dil (heart) kush (happy) 😍. It is a very popular snack / sweet back in India 👌. You can find this in almost all bakeries 😉.  These are one of my favorites that I used to enjoy during my school days. I tried to recreate the same feeling and yes I flew back home enjoying these yummy treats 😋. As you all know these are flaky buns that are filled with a yummy sweetened combination of coconut , dry fruits, cherries 🍒 and sugar. You can omit all other fillings expect coconut and make coconut bun .  I will post that soon. You can use either puff pastry sheets or purpose flour to make this. Here I have used puff pastry sheets. These are perfect tea time snacks 👌. Okay then let’s get started !!!

Chicken Curry

Simple Chicken Curry

                                                                        

Hi dear ones 😍!!! Watts up... I was really busy so couldn’t update my blog 😞. Sorry about that. I’m back with something that is very simple and easy yet tasty 😉. It is a chicken curry 🍗. It can be a perfect treat for a lazy weekend or during a busy day 👌. It can be prepared in minutes. Who doesn’t like chicken? And if it is too easy then no need to say that…😉😉 there are tons of variations to prepare a simple chicken curry but this is my mom‘s method so it is extra special for me 😊. Along with chicken I have added potatoes  also . The spices along with chicken and potato make this very flavorful 😋. This can be served along with rice, chapathi, appam (laced pancake). Okay then let’s get started.

Mysore Pak

Mysore Pak

                                                                   

Happy Diwali dear friends 😃😃😃!!!! So all geared up to celebrate Diwali??? Yes, me too …. So I am here with another sweet, Mysore Pak 😋… who doesn’t love this 😍? Back home in India we have the very famous Mysore Pak from Sree Krishna Sweets (Bakery); you can’t miss those yummy treats at any cost 😉. It is super soft, super delicious that literally melts in your mouth 😃. I am so excited that I tried this and the Mysore Pak was so yummy that it just vanished in to the air 👌. Mysore Pak is a South Indian delicacy which originated in Mysore palace during the regime of Krishna Raja Wadiyar by a palace cook named Kaksura Madappa. He made a mixture of besan, sugar, ghee. When the king asked its name he had nothing to say and he simply called it Mysuru Pak 😀(Pak means sweet in Kannada, a south Indian language).So as the origins suggest the main ingredient of this sweet is besan (chickpea flour), sugar, ghee (clarified butter). The ratio of the ingredients used is very important to get the right texture 😊. The procedure that I have adopted here is too simple everybody can give it a try 👍.  The generous amount of ghee, sugar, flour tempts us to eat it 😃. This sweet is a must during celebration like marriages, baby shower and many festivals 👍. So as it is Deepawali I thought of posting it so you guys too can enjoy this festive season with this mouthwatering dish 😋. Last year I posted coconut ladoo as a Diwali goody, was glad to receive many responses on that 👌👌. Expecting the same this time also…👍  Okay then let’s get started….  

Bread Halwa

Bread Halwa

                                                                       

                                                     

Diwali  is around the corner and you all must be ready to enjoy some lip-smacking treats 😋. So here I come with another halwa recipe 😉. This time it is with bread 🍞. Hope you guys tried my carrot, banana halwas, how was it 😉????  Bread halwa is very simple yet delicious 😊. It follows the same procedure like other halwa recipes. If you have some slices left which expires soon, bread halwa will be the best option to save those 😃. I would suggest trying this recipe with white than brown bread as it tastes good 👌. The combination of bread, ghee, milk,sugar and dry fruits tempt us to have this 👍. So why are you guys waiting, impress your loved ones with this easy and yummy halwa. Okay then let’s get started.

Bell pepper Thoran

Bell pepper Thoran / Capsicum Thoran / Bell pepper Coconut Fry

                                 

                                                                            

 Thoran (veggie coconut fry) is an inevitable dish for me and my family 😉, but daily the same veggies are boring 😑. Carrots, beans, cabbage, beets etc are the common vegetables used to prepare thoran 😜. For a change I have skipped all those veggies and used bell peppers (capsicum) to make thoran. Bell peppers are excellent source of antioxidants and vitamins 😊 . They vary in colors like red, green, yellow.  Bell pepper thoran tastes a bit different from the usual thoran taste.  Bell peppers are commonly used for sandwiches, pizzas, noodles but we don’t use it for our authentic Kerala dishes 😋. Bell pepper tastes equally good. You have to take care while cooking it, don’t overcook it. Overcooking causes the bell pepper to lose its crunchiness and soggy bell pepper doesn’t taste good 😕. You can add other vegetables also like carrots, sprouts …. Give it a try; I am sure you will love it. Okay then let’s get started...

Vegetable Hakka Noodles

Vegetable Hakka Noodles

                                                                       

 Vegetable Hakka Noodles  🍜is a very popular Indo – Chinese dish. It is  mouth-watering 😋 & flavorful dish and loved by kids 😃. It is a very popular street food 👌. The recipe is rather very simple 😃. The richness of fresh vegetables 🍄🍅 and the strong taste of soy sauce are really inviting 😋. These noodles can be your life saver during a lazy weekend 😉. This is perfect for any occasion 👌. This is a must try recipe for all Chinese food lovers 😄. The recipe is too simple , you just have to cook the noodles according to the instructions. Then you have to toss it along with vegetables and sauces. To make the noodles more juicy add sauces mixed with water. I’m sure you all will definitely love this recipe 😍. It is an easy and smart way 😉 to feed your littleones some veggies 🍅🍄. My littleone really enjoys this yummy 🍜 dish 😃. Try these and share your feedback. Okay then let’s get started.

Mojito / Non Alcoholic Strawberry Mojito

Mojito / Non Alcoholic Strawberry Mojito 

                                                                                

Mojito???? Yup it is mojito this time… a cocktail 🍸…😉 Mojito is a Cuban highball .Mojito is a cocktail that consists of five ingredients:  white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water and mint🍋 . It is a combination of sweetness, citrus and mint flavors are intended to complement the rum 😃. Here I have replaced rum with strawberry juice 🍓.So it’s a mock tail now...

Pineapple Pradhaman

Pineapple Payasam

                                                                        

Here comes Onam, with lots of colors and flavors. Onam is a major annual event for Malayalis in and outside Kerala. It is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala (India). It is a harvest festival. People of all communities celebrate Onam with joy and enthusiasm. It is celebrated for 10 days. Onam is celebrated mainly to welcome King Mahabali during his annual visit. Mahabali was a good ruler who loved his people. He was very generous at the same time egoistic.  The gods envied him because of his growing popularity and tried to pull down his regime. The gods were successful to do so as lord Vishu helped them. Due to the good deeds done by king Mahabali the god granted him with a boon that he could visit his people as they loved him. This annual visit is celebrated as Onam. People try to impress their king in all possible ways. Celebrations are elaborated over 10 days, the 10 days sequentially known as Atham, Chithira, Chothi, Vishakam,Anizham, Thriketa, Moolam,Pooradam,Uthradom and Thiruvonam, Thiruvonam being the main attraction. The celebrations are indeed a treat to our eyes. It is celebrated with major festivities like floral arrangement (pookalam), boat race (Vallam kali), tiger dance (puli kali), tug of war, kaikotti kali (dance). Apart from these attractions, you get to wear new cloths (ona koodi) and sadya (a nine course vegetarian meal served on banana leaf). The onam sadya is indispensable part of Thiruvonam. The young and old sit together and enjoy the feast. Feast includes rice, chips, small banana, pickle, thoran (vegetable stir fry), pulissery (yogurt gravy), sambar (lentil gravy) and ends with payasam (a sweet dish made of milk/ coconut milk / sugar/ jaggery). Bellepperss brings you a very special payasam. Pineapple payasam … pineapple payasam is trending these days. Celebrate this onam with bellpepperss and try all “kerala sadya recipes”.Let’s get ready to welcome our own Mahabali with this lip smacking pineapple payasam and other flavorsome recipes. Okay then let’s get started.

Carrot Thoran

 Carrot Thoran / Carrot Coconut Fry

                                                                  

Carrot thoran? You guys may be wondering, why to post such an easy recipe 😕. Right …. Here I have made it a little easier. Even bachelors can try a hand at this 👍. Thoran is also a predominant dish in sadya / feast.  Thoran can be made with a variety of vegetables like carrot , beans, cabbage, spinach etc … I have posted broccoli thoran ealier. Unlike my broccoli thoran, carrot thoran is way too easy 😉.  Coconut is a must for thoran; here instead of using fresh grated coconut I have used desiccated coconut powder 😃. Have you ever tried thoran with desiccated coconut? When you are out of fresh coconut you can try this for sure 😉.  Please do try this recipe and tell me how it is … Okay then let’s get started.

Chicken Thoran

Chicken Thoran / Chicken Coconut fry
                                                                   

Back again with another chicken recipe 🍗, who doesn’t love chicken 😍 … popular posts in my blog are all non- vegetarian recipes.  This time it’s a thoran (stir fry with coconut). It is super simple, super easy and above all super scrumptious 👌. Broccoli thoran that I posted long ago was liked by all, same way you will love this thoran too 😍. I love to eat thoran but as the main ingredient is coconut I don’t like to make it here. Coconuts are costly here in US 😞.  But once in a while you can go for it. Chicken thoran is similar to our usual veggie thoran. Boneless chicken 🍗 would be preferred over the usual ones. Boneless chicken tastes better 😋.  It will be a prodigious task with chicken with bones 😓. You will have to separate the flesh from the bones and then use it. It will be a good combo along with moru curry (yogurt gravy) or rasam (tamarind gravy) 👌👌. Give it a try and share your feedback .Okay then let’s get started.

Black Forest Cake

BLACK FOREST CAKE

                                                                     

Back with a Bang with Black Forest ……  sorry for not updating my blog for the past one month 😞. My little one was having summer vacation and she was with me 24x7.  I was fully occupied playing, coloring, dancing and what not 😕….. Now it’s back to school time and can’t believe my little princess has reached kindergarten 😐. Time just flies …. I am missing her a lot 😢  but the thing is she has to go and that can’t be stopped 😑. How are you guys doing?  I received many messages like why there is no blog update?  Thank you dear friends for all those constant support and encouragement 👍. It was really overwhelming 😊. Again I would like to thank my dear friend Annie for her continuous support 😍. Really blessed to have such friends around 😊. This post is also dedicated to her. She celebrated her anniversary last Monday as she is a chocoholic, surprised her with a black forest cake 🍰.    Hope she liked the surprise as well as the cake 😉. Moving on to the recipe, this is an eggless cake. Have posted white forest cake, both recipes are same expect here you use a chocolate sponge cake. Black forest cake is a very famous German dessert. The cake consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries. Again whipped cream, cherries and chocolate shavings are used for the decoration 🍫. Traditionally kirschwasser a clear spirit made from sour cherries is added to the cake. But I usually prefer an alcohol free cake and hence I haven’t used it here. The dessert is not named after black forest mountain range in Germany but from the specialty liquor of that region known as Schwarzwalder Kirsch distilled from tart cherries 🍒. This ingredient gives the dessert its flavor... As mentioned this is an eggless cake you can follow the same recipe to bake an eggless sponge cake. Just avoid the icing and filling. This cake is loved by all as it is perfect for any occasion 👌 ..
Okay then let’s get started.

Blackberry Muffin

Blackberry Muffin

                                                                             

When you have fresh farm picked berries…. What else you want….😊😊Yup we went blackberry picking few days back.  It was fun, going out with friends is always fun 😃. We had gone for apple🍎 and strawberry picking 🍓 before, but this was our first black berry picking experience . 

Chicken Biriyani

Chicken Biriyani

                  

Happy birthday Bellpepperss 🎈🎉🎊!!!! Yes my bellpepperss is 1 year now… Exactly on this day July 10 2016 I hit the publish button on my blog post. Can’t believe it’s a year since I stepped into the world of blogging 😃. It almost seems like yesterday that I was sitting and drafting my very first post Orange Cake.So far the journey was wonderful and amazing 😄. I absolutely wasn’t sure whether anyone would be interested in this, but was pretty sure that there are many like me who is really interested in cooking 😉. When I shared my first post I received so many comments and messages that were truly inspiring and encouraging 👍. Am thankful to all  for your encouragement and support. First and foremost I would like to thank my hubby 😍 who was always encouraging me to write one since I started cooking some real nice recipes, but I was not sure whether I will be able to continue or not ,so was delaying it every now and then 😉. Then my dear friend Annie Joseph John too encouraged me to do the same 😍. When I discussed this with my sisters they too encouraged me to the core 😘. Then without looking back I started one, thus Bellpepperss became a reality 😊.  From "baking"to"beverages", from "biriyanis" to "breakfast" , from "snacks" to "sweets (dessert )" I started posting everything that was tired and tasted in my own kitchen 👌👍. Once again I would like to thank every one of you out there for your continuous support and feedback 👍. Just amazing I couldn’t have hoped for more 😃. With every post I write I do hope to bring you something new and different, though it is not possible always 😀.  I would like to thank my blog bellpepperss too with each passing day I see myself getting evolved as a better photographer and a better chef 😊.

Veggie Burger

Veggie Burger

                                                                                     

                                                         

Inspired from Burger King’s vegetable burger, I too tried that 😊. We just love and crave to eat it whenever we stay away from home 😍. The recipe is pretty  simple and easy. A healthy and scrumptious snack 😋. 

Unnakaya

Unnakaya / Stuffed Banana Roll

                                                                                        

Here is the recipe for unnakaya (stuffed banana roll) 😃.  A spindle shaped snack where the main ingredient is banana 🍌 or plantain (Nenthrapazham).  The plantains are steamed, mashed and filled with coconut dry fruits mixture. Then it is fried in coconut oil. This snack is a favorite among many and is perfect for any parties 👌. This is the main snack of Malabar region (Kerala /India). The recipe varies from region to region. The variations are mainly made in the stuffing. Coconut, dry fruits, sugar and cardamom powder are the main ingredients used as stuffing. Sometimes scrambled eggs are added to the stuffing. Sometimes coconuts are completely avoided.  Plantains are used as dough. Unnakaya is loved by all 😋😋. It is a perfect snack box item. It is too easy to prepare but care should be taken while selecting the plantains 😊. Over ripened plantains should be completely avoided. Plantain should be neither under ripe nor over ripe. Another important thing to be considered is while steaming the plantain it shouldn’t be over steamed 😉. If you over steam it the dough will be sticky and you will not be able to roll the banana to shapes. Steaming should be done properly . Keeping these points in mind will help you make tasty and crispy – soft unnakaya 👍👍 . Crispy from outside, soft from inside.  Okay then let’s get started...

Mango Pineapple Smoothie

Mango Pineapple Smoothie

                                                                  

Wanna try a smoothie that tastes like a tropical vacation….. Then here it is Mango Pineapple smoothie 🍍. A perfect thirst quencher to try during summer. It can also be served as a breakfast smoothie or as an evening snack 😉.  A lip smacking drink that can be prepared in minutes with just three ingredients 😋.   A healthy and tasty drink is ready with just few ingredients: pineapple, mango and honey.  Blend them until smooth and creamy, your smoothie is ready. Add your own twist you can add strawberries, apples, bananas etc…. Okay then let’s get started.

Garlic pickle

Garlic Pickle/ Velluthulli Achar/ Lahsun ka Achar
                                                               

Pickles are an extremely well liked complement in all Indian delicacies 😊. You can’t imagine a thali (Indian style meal served in a big plate) without pickles. Though the taste differs from region to region. It is totally different from pickled cucumbers and olives that are available here in US. Lots of spices and oil are added to get an extra flavor. Back home in India we prepare pickles with almost all available items like mangos, gooseberry, lemon, tomatoes , ginger, garlic,  mixed vegetables, sea foods, meat etc…🍋🐟🍅 the list goes on. Usually it depends upon the seasonal items that are available. In summer we prepare mango pickles to enjoy those till the next mango season. Same is with gooseberry, lemon etc …. The method of preparation also varies sometimes ;they are sun dried 🌞 sometimes ,they are fried and sometimes they are pickled in salt solution and then spices are added directly. My mom is a specialist in making mango pickle 👌. Miss her and her mango pickle 😢. Here I have tried making garlic pickle 😋.  I have tried pickling mangoes, prawns, mixed vegetables and even strawberries !!!  Among all garlic and mangoes are my favorite 😋. Don’t be alarmed by the amount of chili powder used, Indian pickles are indeed very potent and flavorful 😊😊. The extra spices, salt oil help them to preserve for longer periods. Try making this quick and easy garlic pickle 👍. Okay then let’s get started.

Methi Paneer

 Methi Paneer / Fenugreek leaves Cottage Cheese Gravy

                                                                               

I’m here with another North Indian dish. Yes its Methi paneer.  A must try combo of fenugreek leaves and Indian cottage cheese is indeed a treat to your taste buds 😋.  I like all paneer recipes and if it is cooked with fresh methi leaves its simply out of this world 😃….. Yeah here I have used fresh methi leaves straight from my patio garden 😄.

Jalebi

 Jalebi/ Imarati
                                                                                        

           

It’s my 50^th post 😃!! It’s an occasion to celebrate. Kickstarting the celebration I’m posting jelabi / imarti . A perfect delicacy for any occasion 👌.  It is a popular Indian sweet. Though it is known by different names in different parts. Towards the south we call it as Jelabi or jangari; in North India we call it as Imarti. We make this with urad dal (lentil). This is a juicy-soft sweet that melts in our mouth. It is a deep fried snack. Back in India it is a must in all bakeries. This is my favorite sweet 😍.  Since childhood this is my favorite among all sweets 😊. We hardly get to eat this here. So tried making it.  After couple of failed attempts finally got the shapes correct. Always it tasted good but the shape was a flop. But this time the shapes came out perfect 👌. The recipe is pretty simple 😊. First you have to prepare a batter, fry it and then immerse it in prepared sugar syrup.  Batter should be very thick. Water should be used in minimal quantity while grinding.   Do try it and share your feedback 👍. Okay then let’s get started.

Nannari Sarbath

  Nannari Sarbath

                                                                               

Summer is here 🌞!!! Roll up your picnic blankets; it’s time to party outside. A much awaited time of the year. The days are pretty longer, you get to spend a lot of time outside. It’s also time to make something cool and refreshing 🍹.  Quenching your thirst is the main task you do during summer 🌞. So something fresh and cool energizes you. Here I have something special for you. “Nannari sarbath “. Since childhood these colorful syrup always fascinated me. I’m sure you all love it. It is a perfect summer drink. Me and my sisters were very fond of this 😍. So is my hubby; last Jan when we went to Palakkad we didn’t forget to have this 😉.  Lucky me I got a full bottle of nannari syrup and I carried it to here. I was waiting for the mercury to rise a bit so that I can enjoy this after a tiring day outside in the hot sun. Last week I made this. Unlike other summer drinks, Nannari sarbath has medicinal value also . We use roots of Hemidesmus indicus ( Naruneendi /Nannari) to make this. The roots are washed, crushed and boiled along with water to get the syrup. Then this extract is used as refreshing syrup with sugar and lemon . Apart from that the extracts are also used for medicinal and other purposes like soap making. I got the syrup so I have directly used the syrup here 😃. Beat the heat with this healthy and stimulating drink 👍. Okay then let’s get started.

Popsicle

Popsicle

                                                           

Popsicle is a perfect treat during these summer days 🌞. Popsicle is also called ice pop, freezer pop or ice lolly . It is made by freezing flavored or fresh fruit juice. This brought back my childhood memories ...remember how we used to wait for the 'Icewala" for this Summer delicacy😊😊😊 All brightly colored pops were a treat to our sight 😍.  Grape, orange, pineapple and milk were the common flavors available 😋. Here I have tried making a healthy Popsicle 💪. A healthy orange Popsicle. Juice the oranges 🍊🍊 and then mix it with sugar.  Pour the juice on to the moulds. Freeze it. Healthy popsicles are ready in no time.  Cool down this summer with a simple, healthy and frozen snack. Summer vacations are around the corner; surprise your kids with delectable – fun filled snack 😉. A warm weather favorite of all. Okay then let’s get started.

Spinach Vada

Spinach Vada/ Cheera Vada/ Spinach- Lentil Fritters

                                                                                                                                                                  

Parippu vada (lentil fritters) is everybody’s favorite 😍.  Since childhood I love them a lot …so ll you 😋… it is a tasty snack, which is available in almost every place. Tea and parippu vada is a superb evening snack which can’t be missed 😋. It is made with chana dal/ kadala parippu (a type of lentil). Along with dal you add onion, ginger and chili.  Including spinach to  this combo adds  a healthy twist 💪 and you have spinach vada!!! This healthy snack is worth trying 👍. They are a guilt free snack.  Okay then let’s get started.

White Forest Cake

White Forest Cake                                                    

Baking for someone you love is always special 😊. Last week my little one celebrated her birthday and I baked a special white forest cake for her 😍. She was too excited while cutting the cake 😘, and of course I was thrilled too 😃. Seeing her all excited made me super excited. She told she doesn’t need a cake from outside, "Amma you bake me a cake". I was totally confused what to bake.  As she is fond of white chocolates I baked a white forest for her 😍. The cake turned out exceptionally well. Unlike black forest here we don’t use dark chocolates instead we use white chocolates. Whipped cream, white chocolate and sponge cake are the main ingredients for a white forest cake. Here first I have baked two sponge cakes (vanilla), and then this is layered one above the other. The layers are filled with melted chocolate and whipped cream. Finally it is frosted with whipped cream and decorated with white chocolate shavings and cherry. The cake literally melts in your mouth 😋. I have used sugar syrup to make the cake super soft. Pls don’t skip this step it makes the cake real moist .So get ready to surprise your loved ones with this super soft white forest cake 😍. Okay then let’s get started.

Chicken Tikka

Chicken Tikka              

It’s been a while since we met and it’s been a while since I posted a non vegetarian recipe 😉. So here we go a perfect starter for any party; it’s chicken tikka 😋. Chicken tikka is a north Indian cuisine and is popular all over the world 😊. Small pieces of boneless chicken are marinated and baked using skewers.  Just the marination and baking is the only thing you have to do . For best results overnight marination is preferred.This helps the chicken to absorb the spices and makes the chicken juicy and tender. Cooking the chicken in oven is easier than on stove top 😉.  In oven you cook the chicken evenly 🍗.  Last 5 minutes you can opt for broil to give that charred effect. It is served with chopped onions, lemon wedges or green chutney 😋. Okay then let’s get started.

Ela Ada

Vishu Ada / Ela Ada/  Elayappam / Steamed Jaggery Rice Cake
                                                                                                                                                                         

Vishu ada or ella ada is prepared in the morning as breakfast for vishu. This can be served as an evening snack also. It is perfect combo for tea or coffee. It is prepared in banana leaf. It smells like heaven when it is getting cooked. The smell of jaggery and banana leaf makes us tempting to eat it. It is a steamed delicacy. I love eating this. We hardly prepare this here; the usage of banana leaf is a must. We hardly get banana leaves so it’s difficult to try this. Still I tried these with aluminum foil but that heavenly taste of banana leaves were missing. When I went to India this January my mom made this special delicacy for me. Without fail I clicked some pics. This was done by me and my mom. "Thank you amma ". Due to unpredictable weather change, Cassia fistula (kanikonna) was in full bloom, that golden shower was a real treat to my eyes and I clicked those. Okay then let’s get started.

Parippu Pradhaman

Parippu Pradhaman / Lentil Pudding

                                         

                                

Yes… it is Vishu. In Kerala when the sun enters in to Sidereal Aries it is called Vishu. Vishu symbolizes the beginning of spring. It is celebrated as a harvest festival and  is called by many different names like Ugadi, Bihu in different states.The harvest festival is known as Vishu in Kerala. The main specialty of Vishu day is that there will be equal number hours of day and night. The festival is dedicated to lord Krishna / Vishnu.

Aviyal

 Aviyal / Mixed Vegetables in Coconut - Yogurt Sauce
                                                                         

Aviyal is a thick mixture of vegetables, coconut and coconut oil 😋. It is considered as an essential side dish in Kerala sadya/ feast. It is a mainly a South Indian dish, originated from Kerala. It is pretty easy to prepare this 😃. As I said it is a delightful mix of all vegetables 😃. You can use almost all veggies to prepare this. The mainly used vegetables are carrot, beans, drumsticks, raw plantain, yam, white pumpkin, cucumber, broad beans and snake gourd. You cut these veggies and mix it with coconut paste and yogurt. Only the cutting part consumes time 😤, you can finish the recipe in a few minutes 👍. Apart from sadhya I usually prepare during this during the weekend when you have all veggies left in the refrigerator but it’s not that enough to prepare one single dish in bulk.  This is also very healthy as you have all possible vegetables 💪. A sadya/ feast can’t be served without this healthy- tasty side dish 👌. You can serve this a side dish for rice and chapatti / roti 😉. Okay then let’s get started.

Fish Cutlet

Fish Cutlet/ Fish Croquette

                                                           

 I am a crazy lover of sea foods 😋. I like to eat it in any form though crabs are an exception. Fish cutlets are my favorite. I used to spend all my vacations with my sister  in Bangalore.Among all snacks mutton and fish cutlets were my favorites.  Thank u Sis 😘😍…. For introducing me to all such stuffs. Our dad doesn’t like getting food from outside 😞. He always favors home made goodies. So when I was at Palakkad (my home town) I hardly get to eat these kinds of stuffs. Coming back to cutlets, here I have used canned tuna.It is too easy to make.These golden treats are always a winner 😊. This is perfect for any occasion 👍. It can be served as an apptizer or as a snack 😉. Enjoy this mouthwatering snack with a hot cup of tea. Okay then let’s get started.

Sambar

Sambar/ Lentil Gravy

                                                                    

A sadya/ feast is incomplete without Sambar… this is THE MAIN DISH. Sambar is nothing but gravy made of lentils, tamarind, vegetables and spices.  Here I have prepared typical a Kerala Sambar (Sothern state of India). The specialty of Kerala Sambar is that you make use of two or more vegetables. The mainly used veggies are potato, ash guard, egg plant, drumstick, carrot etc… you make sambar with or without coconut. When we use coconut it is called “Varthuarcha Sambar”/ Sambar with roasted coconut. Sambar made with freshly ground sambar powder is a real treat to your taste buds. Last week I have shared fresh sambar powder, I’m using the same powder here to make sambar. Tamarind is a must to make sambar, and also the seasoning that you add in the end. Sambar can be serves not only as a side dish for rice but also for idli (rice cake) or dosa (rice pancake).  Do give it a try I’m sure you all will like it...Okay then let’s get started…

Pachadi

Pachadi  / Beetroot Pachadi

                                                               

                                                       

Here comes a very tasty  sadya / feast dish … its pachadi. Pachadi is another dish which is made with yogurt. Other than yogurt you add coconut, cumin seeds and any fruit 🍍  or vegetable . The fruits mainly used in pachadi are pineapple, grapes and banana; if fruits are used then pachadi is called madhura pachadi. Commonly used veggies to make pachadi are cucumber, carrot, raw mango and beetroot. Here I have used beetroot to make pachadi. It is more or less similar to salad / raita except you add seasoning and coconut 😊. This gorgeous looking beetroot pachadi is an indispensable dish for sadya / feast 😊. It is super easy 😉 and super yummy 😋. Okay then let’s get started…

Erisserry

Erisserry/ Elissery / Pumpkin & Redgram Gravy

                                                                

 Here comes another sadhya / feast recipe … erissery or elissery.  It is an essential dish during festival feasts 😃. It is a combination of pumpkin, red beans and coconut.  It is usually prepared thick. You can also use yam and raw plantain. It is too easy to prepare this 😉. Unlike other sadya dishes you don’t add yogurt here. Coconut is a must for this curry. You add coconut paste and also you add it while seasoning the curry.  The seasoned coconut adds extra flavor to the curry 😋. Okay then let’s get started.

Sambar Powder

      Sambar Powder/ Sambar Podi
                                                     

Who doesn’t like homemade goodies? 😋I love them...😍 I’m sure you all love the same. Yes ….today I have something similar … homemade sambar powder .We have many brands of sambar powder available in stores, but nothing can beat the taste of homemade powder👍. It is too easy to prepare. Sambar is nothing but lentil gravy with added vegetables and tamarind and flavored with spices and seasonings. These spices mainly include coriander powder, chili powder and turmeric powder. Sambar powder is a combination of these powders in appropriate quantities. Here I have added a drop of coconut oil to the powder so you can’t store it for long. It is better to use it in a week or two if stored properly.  Will post a sambar powder with longer shelf life soon 😊. Vishu is around the corner so roll up your selves and get ready to prepare this homemade goodie 😉. You can serve your loved ones something special as sambar is an inevitable part of “Vishu Sadhya “(feast).  Okay then let’s get started.

Nenthra Pazham Pulissery

                Ethapazham Pulissery/ Banana Yogurt Gravy

Yahoo!!! The spring has sprung … no more mittens, scarves and jackets.  The winter is over. Hope not to see you next year. The last snow shower of the season was two weeks back and I clicked some pics…

Chicken Fry

                                                     Simple Chicken Fry
                                                     

                                                             

 Non –veg recipes the simplest ones compared to vegetarian ones as you can avoid cutting. Easy chicken fry is very – very easy 😉. You can finish cooking in minutes. You can serve this fry as an appetizer also. It’s an awesome combination with rice along with Mooru Curry (yogurt gravy) 😋😋!!!. My little just enjoys that combination. You can marinate the chicken and store it in the freezer for days together. You can take the needed amount, thaw it and fry it as and when required. Okay then let’s get started…..

Garlic Lemon Fish / Baked Fish

                      Garlic Lemon Fish / Baked Fish
                                                             
                                                               

As mentioned in my previous blog here is the recipe for Garlic Lemon Fish🐟🐟. As a seafood lover I just love this recipe. Not only that it is too easy to make. If you have fish fillets try this recipe you will love it😍. This is one simple recipe that is way tooooo delicious 😋😋. You can use any kind of fish fillet though the white ones are the best like tilapia, catfish, cod fish etc…You add garlic for an extra flvor.You can either sauté the garlic along with the butter and cilantro or you can add as such as I did, both ways taste good👌. Lemon gives a tangy taste to the fillets which can’t be missed 😊. You can bake or grill this till the fish flakes can be easily pulled apart with a fork. It is indeed a light but healthy meal 💪. Other than cilantro you can add more herbs if you want, the herbs compliment the flavor of the fish .When paired with mashed potatoes it becomes a complete meal 😃. Do give it a try. Okay then let’s get started.

Mashed Potato

                                                       Mashed Potato
                                                           

Here is the recipe for an easy, fluffy, creamy and buttery mashed potato 😋😋. I am not that fond of this recipe.  I like our traditional potato stew, fry and chips. This is my hubby’s favorite recipe, he often suggests this recipe on weekends but as I don’t like I would suggest something else.  Only a very few ingredients are needed to make this super soft potatoes. Mashed potatoes are so velvety and soft that it melts in your mouth. Initially while making this recipe I had a doubt what kind of potatoes are to be choseen for this, after doing a bit of online research I came to a conclusion that Russet potatoes are the best  👌👌. You can also use gold and white potatoes.  The recipe is too simple - boil, peel, mash and add other ingredients, you have a warm creamy bowl of mashed potatoes ready!!! It is slightly different from our Indian style of cooking as we use coconut milk for most of our recipes but here we add milk. Give it a try, who doesn’t like a change 😉. The best combos are baked fish, grilled or baked chicken, stir fried veggies 😊😊. Okay then let’s get started……

Vegetable Fried Rice

                                                        Vegetable Fried Rice

                                                                    

Its been a while we had some rice varities to the list 😉  I made vegetable biriyani a couple of times but I forget to click pictures always 😞. Couple of weeks back I made vegetable fried rice and without fail I clicked pictures also. So here it is.... I like all fried rice varieties ... egg, chicken, pineapple. After coming  to the US hubby took me to a dinner date to a Thai Restaurant ,that was the first time I tried pineapple fried rice. I loved it 😍. Haven’t tried pineapple fried rice yet, will try and post soon. Vegetable fried rice is a very simple and easy recipe to try. You just have to assemble all ingredients and have to add one by one. Give it a try and share your feedback 👍. Okay then let’s get started.

Cheese Cake

                                                             No Bake Cheese Cake
                                                               

A cake without baking… omg!!!!!!! . What else you need to surprise your dear ones. Yes it is a perfect treat for your loved ones on Valentine's day💓💓 . Valentine's day is celebrated all over the world as feast of Saint Valentine. Most commonly observed Valentine’s Day tradition and custom is expressing ones love with  exchange of cards, flowers and gifts. It is the celebration of love. People take opportunity on this day to wish “Happy Valentine’s Day “to anyone they love 😍...be it Father, Mother, Brother, sister, Grandparents or Friends. Yes as I said you too can surprise your loved ones with this simple, yummy no bake cheese cake. This cake is too easy to make but the tough part is you have to refrigerate it for 4-6 hrs or overnight. Cheese cake consists of two or more layers. The bottom part is a crust made with crushed cookies/ graham crackers. The thickest layer consists of cream cheese (soft, mild tasting cheese made with milk and cream), sugar, cream and eggs. As a topping you can add fresh or canned fruits, fruit puree, chocolate or any other topping as you like. The first cheese cake I had was strawberry cheese cake from cheesecake factory restaurant😋😋😋😋 … I loved it (Though I am posting a different cheese cake).  For this cheese cake a spring form pan is a must if you want it to look like a cake or else you can use any dessert cups. Make sure you put rest of the cake back in the refrigerator as soon as you eat it or else it just melts and becomes a pudding.  Okay then let’s get started….

Netholi Peera

                                                         Anchovies with coconut

                                                                  

Anchovies in spicy coconut sauce…oh it's yum....😋. It takes back me to my childhood days where we used to enjoy these kinds of delicacies. Netholi / anchovy is a very small fish even its tiny bones are also edible.  They are cooked in spicy coconut sauce along with gambooge /kudam puli. The flavor is so inviting that we end up having a heavy meal 😃. Usually we make this recipe with fresh Netholi /Anchovy, but here it is too hard 😕 to get those fresh ones so I have tried this with dried ones. You can serve this with rice, dosa or even bread 😉.Give it a try . Okay then let’s get started……

Pineapple Jam

                                Pineapple Jam
                                                   

Who doesn’t like jam 😉😉😉 …. Bread and Jam will be loved by all mommies including me and if it is homemade jam without any preservatives means it will be double okay. I thought preparing jams are a tedious process but it is not so … it is too simple. I prepared strawberry jam 🍓 when we went strawberry picking 🍓🍓 last year. I have followed the same procedure here to make pineapple jam. Some of us will be remembering our “HAPPY “jam brand. I loved their 🍍 pineapple jam 😋 . Those bottles were too cute to look at and it was too delicious. My sisters hated pineapple jam and as always majority wins I had to settle down with mixed fruit jam. As a sweet craver I loved all sweet goodies so that was not a problem 👍. Pineapple jam is my all time favorite 😍.  As I said jams can be made easily at home.  Unlike commercially available jams you don’t have to add preservatives. It stays well for 3-4 weeks if it is properly refrigerated. Try this super easy and super tasty 🍍🍍 jam. If kids hate to eat fruits this is the easiest way to make them eat 😊 . Okay then let’s get started.

Carrot Halwa

                      Carrot Pudding / Gajar Ka Halwa
                                             

                                                       

             

From my childhood I was always eager to eat this dessert . Don’t know why … may be due that old advertisement on Hawkins contura pressure cooker  where the lady makes carrot halwa, hope you guys remember. I always tell my mom to make this but she never did 😞.  As a part of my post graduation internship I had to stay in a hostel at Mysore, there as an evening treat I got to taste this delicious halwa for the first time. Omg!!!! After a long wait I got to eat this super tasting halwa 😃. After coming to US I often make this as carrots are too cheap here ;-) I got a chance to treat my mom too with this. She enjoyed this very much 😍.  It is too easy to make. With a very few ingredients a delicious sweet is ready. It is bit time consuming but if you make this pressure cooker that part also becomes easy. We had a baby shower this Saturday and I made this halwa as a treat for her. I had a very nice time with my friends.  Its winter here , we hardly meet our friends as it is very difficult to step out .We had so much fun playing games and eating many special goodies. Thanks to all of you 😊. Coming back to carrot halwa it is very easy and quick to make. The carrots are cooked along with milk, sugar and ghee. You can also nuts and dry fruits to make it more rich and tasty.  You can also add condensed milk and khoya (less moisture dairy product similar to ricotta cheese).It is mainly prepared during festive season like diwali (festival of lights), Raksha Badhan (love between brothers and sisters). If you want to impress somebody carrot halwa will be your right choice 😉.  Okay then lets get started.

Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji
                                                                           

                                                                                             

Pav Bhaji is a popular North Indian fast food. It is one of the most popular Mumbai street foods. It is served in almost all restaurants around the globe.  It is a delicious whole some meal. The rich and tasty vegetable curry (bhaji) is served with butter toasted bread (pav). You can use any vegetable of your choice to make the bhaji like potatoes, peas, cauliflower, bell peppers, radish, eggplant, carrot and green beans.  These vegetables are cooked and mashed and cooked along with ginger, garlic, oinion , tomatoes and spices. Usually we add pav baji masala but I din’t add pav bhaji masala instead I used household spice powders.  It a easy way to make your kids eat veggies as the taste of butter dominates both the pav and baaji 😉. It can be served as a snack or as a meal. It is also a great party snack.  You can make the bhaji in advance. There are many variations in pav baji like fried pav baji with pav tossed in bhaji, cheese bhaji , with cheese on top of the  bhaji the list goes on … here I have made the usual pav bhaji.  Try out this easy and quick recipe and surprise your friends and family 😍😍. Okay then let’s get started.