Mango Juice

Mango Juice 

Summer is here again  so it brings many seasonal fruits with it. You see mangoes all around. There are many varieties of mango . I haven't tried many only few I have tried. How about you guys?  Mango can be included in almost all dishes sweet or spicy. Lassi, ice cream , pudding , juice, milk shake are few sweet dishes. Pickle, Pachadi, Pulissery  (Yogurt Curry) are few other dishes that we can make . I am here with a simple summer recipe " Mango Juice ".Try this recipe to quench your thirst.

Ash gourd Curry

 Simple Ash gourd  Curry/ Kumbalanga Curry

We all are busy almost all the days. Not having enough time to take care of the family . We even don't have enough time to cook. Healthy food is almost away from our daily routine. I am here with yet another simple and easy recipe. This is a perfect combo with rice . It will take hardly 5 min to prepare this . A pressure cooker recipe with ash gourd (winter melon). Mix all the ingredients and cook that's it. Okay , then let's get started.... 

Fish Fry

Kerala Fish Fry / Meen  Varuthathu

                                                                 

No meal is complete without a fish fry 🐟 for we Keralites. Almost every day we have this for lunch.  This fish fry is tasty 😋 and easy to make 👍. It goes as an appetizer and also as a side dish 😉. Any kind of fish 🐟🐠 can be used to make this but Sardine, Mackerel, Pomfret and Pearl spot taste best.  Here I have used Golden Pompano.  You have to prepare a marinate for marination and then fry. Coconut oil is the best choice to fry 👌. Okay then let’s get started....

Wine

 Grape Wine 

                                                                                         

It is  Christmas 🎄🎅. The whole place is filled with red and green colors . Each house is decorated with beautiful lights . Snowman, snowflakes, Santa is everywhere 🎅.  You all must be wrapping up the Christmas preparations. The kitchen must be smelling fruit cakes 🍰🍪 and cookies. I am here with yet another Christmas recipe … yup!! You guessed it right. It is wine 🍷…. Actually I started preparing this a year ago and was waiting for this time of the year to post it 😉. It is an easy recipe with minimum ingredients 👍. I have used grapes 🍇, sugar, yeast and water. After juicing the grapes, you mix everything and keep covered in a dark place for at least 3 weeks. Delicious wine 🍷 is ready 😀.  Okay then let’s get started….

Dates Cake

 Dates Cake

                                                                                       

Jingle bells, jingle bells 😃 … Jingle all the way … oh what fun it is to ride … in a one-horse open sledge...... 😃. Christmas 🎅 is around the corner and no Christmas 🎄 celebration is complete without baking a cake 🍰. Last year I had posted Christmas fruit cake the feedback I got from you all was overwhelming 😍😍. Thank you dear friends, so glad that you all liked the cake. This time I am here with dates cake. This cake is super soft, super fluffy and super yummy 😋. A simple, healthy eggless cake. Come on friends! Let’s celebrate this Christmas 🎅 with this yummy dates cake. Okay then let’s get started….

Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer/ Spinach Cottage Cheese Gravy
                                                               

Palak Paneer is a famous North Indian delicacy 😋.  A Vegetarian dish made with paneer and palak  🌿is indeed a power food.  Rich combo of spinach and cottage cheese is very nutritive and healthy 💪.  The recipe is quite simple. Blanch the spinach and puree it along with sautéed onion  and tomatoes 🍅. After cooking it low flame finally we add paneer. That’s it, yummy palak paneer is ready 😃.  Okay then let’s get started….

Peach Mango Lemonade

Peach Mango Lemonade
                                                                         

Hello!!!! Summer is here again 🌞…. So it’s time to make some really cool summer refreshments 🍹. I love summer only for this one reason you get plenty of vivid varieties of fruits 🍉🍑🍒🍎🍊. Peach, mango, blackberry, blueberry, plums, cherries, honeydews, cantaloupe and what not… I am here with a simple and refreshing lemonade. Peach 🍑, mango  and lemon 🍋 blends together to give a refreshing flavor. Try this cool and refreshing drink 😉😉. Okay then let’s get started…..

Banana Cutlet

Banana Cutlet / Banana Croquette
                                           

Have you guys tried this before???  If you have left over bread 🍞and ripe bananas 🍌🍌 at home try this. The best part is it is ready in no time and also a best way to use those breads and bananas that you are about to throw in trash bin. I got this recipe from a TV show. Kids will love it 😋😋.  You can make this quick snack healthy by adding nuts 🍕 and raisins . You can use any banana like plantain (ripe), baby bananas and normal bananas. Unlike the savory cutlets the labor needed here is too less 😉😉.  There is no sauteing or cooking just you have to fry the cutlets.  You can use ghee (clarified butter) for frying 👌.  There is no need to add egg  or all purpose flour (maida) the moisture in the banana will hold it together. This is simple and easy recipe if you have unexpected guest at home you can serve this with a cup of tea/ coffee  if you don’t have any other snack at home. Try this simple and yummy snack and give me your feedback 😊😊. Okay then let’s get started.....

Homemade Chocolates

Homemade Chocolates

                                                                    

Who doesn’t like chocolates 🍫🍫? I bet every one of you just adore every single bite of those 😋😋😋.  If you can prepare those yummy treats at home it simply doubles the happiness 😃. I never knew that making chocolates are as simple as eating them 😉. It‘s just a matter of mixing and freezing. Tomorrow it’s Saint Valentine’s day or Feast of Saint Valentine or Valentine‘s day. You can call it whatever you like 😄.  It is the day of Love 💓💕. So it is a must to treat your loved ones💖 on this day and if you make some homemade goodies then it is your day. Try this easy –peasy chocolate at home and celebrate your 😍 Valentine’s day in style 😉. Okay then let’s get started!!!

Uzhunnu Vada

Uzhunnu Vada / Urad Vada / Medu vada / Lentil Fritter  

                                                                      

Helllllo 😊!!! Hope you guys tried my Mutton Biriyani recipe… How was it?  Please do share your feedback. These feed backs are so very encouraging and inspiring, it motivates me to  try and share yummy recipes 😊😊. Today  I am here with an extremely popular tea time snack 👌. It is loved by all 😍, Yes!!! It is Uzhunnu vada or Medu Vada. Back home in Kerala a good amount of space is occupied by these vadas in all tea shops 😉😉.   This is usually served as a tea time 🍵 snack but you also serve this during breakfast as a combo along with dosa (rice pancake) or pongal (rice / lentil dish). Uzhunnu vada is made with urad dal (a type of lentil) and it resembles a doughnut 🍩 in appearance. They have a crispy exterior and soft interior 😋.  The lentils are soaked in water for a minimum of 2 hours. Then they are ground to a coarse paste. I used mixer grinder for grinding ,extreme care should be taken while grinding. Add water just enough to make it to a coarse paste. It shouldn’t be very coarse 😉.  Then they are beaten well to incorporate air in to it, this is very important as this gives a soft and fluffy vada.  Later on spices like pepper (I used pepper powder), green chilies, ginger, curry leaves and shallots (I used onion) are added 👌👌 . Then it is shaped like doughnuts and it is dropped in to hot piping oil and it is fried. Tasty vadas are ready in minutes 😋😋. It is a perfect tea time snack especially during this chilly weather 😃. Okay then let’s get started….

Mutton Biriyani

 Mutton Biriyani / Easy Pressure Cooker Mutton Biriyani 

                                                                            

Biriyani !!! This needs no intro ... everyone loves Biriyani 😋😋 .This is my fourth post on biriyani and first on lamb/ mutton 😊. Whenever we buy mutton we usually make curry/ gravy with it but this time I tried biriyani 😃. This recipe is super easy as I have tried making this in pressure cooker 👌. Pressure cooker biriyani is irresistible as they are super tasty 👌👌. The pressure cooker gives the biriyani a “dum effect”. A one pot meal is so tempting that you can’t stop yourself from trying it again 😋. The method is pretty simple 👌. At first we marinate the meat with the spices then cook it till three- fourth. Later on this is cooked along with the rice. Tasty and flavorful biriyani is ready in no time 😉😉.  This lip smacking biriyani is a perfect meal at anytime 😃. Okay then let’s get started….

Cheese Sandwich

Cheese Sandwich

                                                                     

I am always puzzled 😕 when it is time to pack lunch box  🍱for my little one. How about you guys?  If so here comes a simple and easy recipe 😉. It’s a favorite among kids 😊. It is nothing but Cheese sandwich 😋. If you are really late in the morning this recipe is a life saver 😃. It will be ready in minutes 👍. This sandwich is loaded with fatty ingredients so you can sit back and relax as it will keep your little one full and filling 😊. You just need three ingredients to make this lip-smacking sandwich - butter, bread and cheese slice 🍞. You can skip butter and dry toast it if needed. Okay then let’s get started……

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.