IAM Food Blog

“Kesari Bath” is the authentic sweet of South India preferably Karnataka,Tamil Nadu,Andra Pradesh. It is known by many names like “Sajjigey”,”Kesari Bath” etc

I prepared “Pineapple Kesari Bath” this “Raam Navami” and it came out well..!! More recipes can be found at: http://swathipradeepkitchen.blogspot.com

Here is the Recipe:

Pineapple Kesari Bath

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rava

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp Ghee

1 cup of cut pineapple pieces

cashews,raisin as per taste

Method:

1>Add the milk,water and sugar to a frying pan and allow the milk to boil.

2>When the milk starts boiling, add rava and mix well immediately avoiding the formation of lumps

3>Keep it for 5 mins and just 30 secs before removing it from fire, add the pineapple pieces to it and then add 1 Tbsp of Ghee

4>Remove from fire and garnish with raisins and cashews

Note:

1>Rava should be added after milk boils in order to prevent formation of lumps

2>Ghee is added to give the “Authentic” Kesari Bath taste!!

Wish to devour yummy “Carrot Halwa”? Well,here is my Recipe..

For more recipes on various delicacies,visit my Blog,http://swathipradeepkitchen.blogspot.com

Carrot Halwa:

Ingredients:

2 cups of grated Carrot,

2 cups of sugar

1 cup milk,

Always remember,the ratio of carrot:sugar:milk=1:1:0.5

2 Tbsp Ghee,

Cashewnuts and Raisins as per taste

Method:

1>Add grated carrot,sugar and milk to the frying pan and mix well.

2>Allow the ingredients to become thick.

3>Add 1 Tbsp of ghee to the thick mixture,mix well and remove from fire.

4>Take a small frying pan,add 1 Tbsp of remaining ghee to it,add the cashewnuts and raisins and fry till cashews turn golden brown.

5>Mix the fried cashewnuts and raisins to the halwa prepared and serve hot

Here is my Gulab Jamoon Recipe! For more Vegtarian Recipes,visit my Blog, http://swathipradeepkitchen.blogspot.com

Gulab Jamoon:

Ingredients:

Gulab Jamoon Powder(preferably MTR)

Cups of Water and Sugar in the ratio 1:2

Method:

a>For making dough:

1>Mix the gulab jamoon powder and water in the ratio 1:0.25 in blender to make a dough.

2>Make tiny balls of the dough(make TINY balls of dough only because,if you make Larger ones,it will start breaking when you fry in oil.. Also,the tiny balls of dough will become big when you fry in oil)

3>Fry the tiny balls of dough in oil till they turn golden brown. Remove from fire and keep aside.

b>Method for preparing Sugar Syrup:

1>;Mix 1:2 cups of water and sugar in a frying pan until a thick sugary paste is formed.

c>Method for making Gulab Jamoons:

1>Add the fried balls of dough to the sugar syrup prepared and fry till the dough absorbs sugar syrup.

2>Remove from fire and serve hot.

This “Thandai” Recipe was sent in by Pallavee Amdekar.

It’s Holi time again. Holi, also called the Festival of Colors, is a popular Hindu Spring festival observed in India. It is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). Holi is one of my favorite festivals. The most vibrant and colorful festival! When it comes to Holi celebrations, nothing can beat North Indian spirit. They really rock. The dhol (drum), singing, dancing, getting drenched in colored waters. Yes! That’s holi…  Well, there are people who might disagree with me but who cares….
Holi celebrations are incomplete without a glass of thandai. It is embedded in the tradition of Holi.  This milk based thirst-quencher is tasty and cooling and perfect mood setter for playing colors. So let us get ready for a holi party with a easy to make recipe of Thandai.

Ingredients:

15 Almonds

2 Teaspoons Aniseeds

2 Teaspoons Cumin Seeds

2 Teaspoons Peppercorns

2 Teaspoons Poppy Seeds

12 Teaspoons Sugar

8 cardamoms

One pinch of Saffron

1 ½ Teaspoons Rose Water

300 ml Water

400 ml Milk

6-7 Ice cubes

Rose Petals to garnish

How to Make:

Grind all the spices and sugar together in a fine powder..

Add Almonds to the spice powder and grind.

Let the powder remain in the blender. Add  300 ml water into the powder till it becomes very smooth.

Now add the milk and ice cubes in the blender and blend further for 1-1 ½ minute.

Strain the liquid through the cheesecloth.

Add rosewater to the liquid. Crush the saffron on the palm on your hand and add it to the liquid.

Garnish it with shredded rose petals.

Nice and chilled Thandai is ready to be served.

Pallavee Amdekar is a foodie and a cooking enthusiast who blogs frequently at http://www.india-intro.com/0ur-blogs/festival-foods-with-pallavee

Pizza Maniac?? Wish to prepare Pizza at home but did not know the recipe?

Pradeep(my husband) and I love cooking and we keep trying out new recipes at home often. You can check out more recipes at my Cuisine Blog,http://swathipradeepkitchen.blogspot.com

Pradeep today prepared Pizza at home right from the beginning! He even prepared the Pizza Crust at home! Pizza tasted Yummy!!

If you wish to prepare “Home Made Pizzas”, here is my husband’s recipe:

Home made Veggie Pizza

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups of all purpose flour(maida),

2 cups warm water,

1 packet(2 teaspoons) of dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar,

1 to 1 1/2 teaspoon salt,

2 Tbsp Olive oil,

1 cup Pizza sauce,

1 cup shredded cheese(mozzarella)

Method for preparing dough:

Pizza Dough

1>Add sugar and dry yeast to warm water and set it aside for 5 mins to allow it to bubble.

2>Add flour,salt,oil and the mixture(prepared in step 1) to the Food Processor. Mix the ingredients and prepare a soft dough.

If you do not possess a Food Processor,use your hand to knead the dough for 15-20 minutes.

3>Smear olive oil in a bowl and place the dough in it.

4>Roll the dough in that bowl for oil to be spread evenly.

5>Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and keep aside for 1 hour 30 mins in a warm place such that the dough doubles itself

6>Punch down the dough and divide the dough into 2 balls.

7>Keep the dough balls seperate bowls for 10 minutes.

8>Place the Pizza Stone and preheat the oven for 450 degrees for at least 30 minutes

Method for preparing Pizza Crust:

1>Take the dough and press and pat it to make a circular base about 10 -12 inches wide and thickness about 1/2 an inch.

2>Take a cutting board and sprinkle some “corn meal” on it. Transfer the Pizza base on it

3>Apply olive oil on the Pizza base.

4>Add 2-3 Tbsp of Pizza sauce, 1/3 cup of cheese and cut vegetables on the crust.

5>Again sprinkle some “Corn meal” on the Preheated Pizza Stone,place this pizza crust on it and bake for 15 minutes.

Preparing Pizza Crust

Pizza laden with Toppings

Pizza Straight out from the oven!

Pizza ready to be Devoured!

I prepared “Gobi Parantha” for lunch today. For recipes of other dishes, you can visit my Blog, http://swathipradeepkitchen.blogspot.com

Gobi Parantha

Here is My Recipe.

Ingredients:[Makes 6 parathas]

1 cup of cleaned and grated cauliflower

2 onions,finely chopped

3-4 green chillies,

4 cups of wheat flour/atta

1 tbsp of finely chopped coriender leaves

1/2 tbsp of cumin seeds

Salt to taste

Oil to fry

Method:

A>Preparing Parathas-

Take 4 cups of wheat flour and add a pinch of salt and 1 tbsp of oil to it . Add 2 cups water to the mixture and prepare the dough.

B>Preparing the Filling-

Heat 2 tbsp of oil in the frying pan.Toss the cumin seeds. Add chopped green chillies,onions,coriander/cilantro leaves to it.

Add grated cauliflower to it and stir until the raw smell goes away.Add salt to it and mix well and allow the mixture to form a paste. Remove from fire.

C>Preparing the Gobi (Cauliflower) Parathas-

Roll out the parathas about 5 inches diameter. Place one spoon of filling prepared in it and close the parathas.

Roll out again. Fry the parathas . Serve with curd.

Well,here is my recipe for ‘Green Peas Soup’! For more recipes, feel free to visit my ‘Cuisine Blog’, http://swathipradeepkitchen.blogspot.com

The extremely chilling weather in Memphis beckoned me to prepare something “Hot”. So, I tried preparing ‘Green Peas Soup’ at home.

Here is the Recipe:

Green Peas Soup

Ingredients:(Serves 3 to 4 )

1/2 Onion,finely chopped,

1 Cube,Vegetable Bouillon,

2 cups(or 500 ml) water,

1 cup Green Peas,

Salt to taste

Pepper

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Method for preparing Soup:

1>Heat the oil in a frying pan.

2>Add the chopped onions to the oil and fry till golden brown

3>Add 2 cups of water and the Bouillon to the frying pan and allow it to boil.

4>Add 1 cup of Green peas to the frying pan and cook for about a minute or two.

5>Add salt and pepper.

6>Remove from fire and blend it to a smooth paste in a blender.

7>Serve the soup garnished with Croutons (specified in the steps below).

Method for preparing Croutons:

1>Take 2 slices of bread and cut them into small cubes. Drizzle them with oil.

2>Pre heat oven at 300 deg F

3>Place the bread cubes for 25 mins on a baking tray inside the oven (or until they turn golden brown)

Croutons

This recipe was sent in by Avnisha Patel,Memphis,TN. Thanks for the recipe,Avnisha!

Ingredients: 2 cup half/half
1 cup cream
1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoon peach preserves
2 drops vanilla extract.
Method:

Step 1: Take some peach halves.

Step 2: Broil them for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Let the Broiled peach cool down completely and mix it with
2cups half/half, 1cup cream, 1/2 cup sugar, 4 tbl spoon peach
preserves, 2 drops vanilla extract and again let this mixture cool
down in the refrigerator  for approximately 1 hour.

Step 4 : After 1 hour take out the mixture from the fridge and churn
the mix in an icecream maker

Step 5: Churn the mixture till it gets thick,ice-cream like
consistency .(It might take 30 minutes depending on your ice-cream
maker)

First of all,I would love to thank the IAM Committee for trusting in me and providing me the ‘admin’ responsibility to take care of IAM Food Blog from here on!! Thank You, IAM Committee!! You Guys R.O.C.K!!

I am Swathi Pradeep and Blogging is my Passion. Few recipes can be found on my ‘Cuisine Blog’: http://swathipradeepkitchen.blogspot.com

Today,I will divulge the recipe for baking ‘Eggless Chocolate Cake’.

On Pradeep’s Birthday,last year, I planned to surprise him by preparing “Eggless Chocolate Cake” at home,as he is an adherent fan of chocolate cakes.

This was the First time I had ever prepared Cake in my life! It was Worth the effort that I put in!

Tired of eating a cake with egg in it? Think it is inevitable? Wish you could devour a cake without egg?Well.. Here s the recipe! and all you need is a Vinegar(as substitute for Egg) and Conventional Oven for baking the cake !

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sugar 1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/4 cup cocoa

3/8 cup oil

1/2 t. vanilla

1 T. vinegar(This is used as a Substitute to Egg)

1 cup water

Method:

1>Mix the ingredients well. I beat it in the blender for 1 minute

2>Take a 9×11 inch pan, grease it and sprinkle some flour on it (to prevent the cake from sticking to the pan)

3>Pour the mixture into the 9X11-inch pan.

4>Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20-25 minutes.

5>Test with a toothpick to make sure it is done right.

I later cut the cake into two halves,placed one half over another by sandwiching some icing in between the halves.

This made the cake more fluffy and soft.

Decorate the cake with icing and yippee!! Your ‘EGGLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE’ is ready!!!

This post was sent in by Swathi Pradeep, an avid blogger who posts regularly on her food blog at : http://swathipradeepkitchen.blogspot.com/

Being Vegetarians,we usually order for Veg Food like Bean Chalupa,Bean Burrito and triple layer Nachos at Mexican Restaurant.
For a change, I ordered “Veg Chimichanga”. Its a cross between a Veg Puff and Veg Roll.

Since,I loved the dish,Pradeep recently prepared Awesome “Veg Chimchanga”(without Mushroom) at home from the scratch. Here is the picture of Veg Chimichanga prepared by Pradeep:

mmm...that looks good!

Ingredients:

2 Flour tortilla – 12 inches atleast (can use store bought)
1 onion – sliced
1 bell pepper/capsicum – sliced
1 tomato – cubed
Any other vegetables you like
taco seasoning/ masala(powder)
salt as per taste
flour – 1 cups
warm water – 1/3 cup
baking powder 1 tsp
oil for frying
Cheese(Mozzarella) – 2 tbsp

Method:

Tortilla:
1 Make a soft dough using flour, 1 tsp oil, salt ,baking powder and warm water.
2 Roll out 2 tortillas (12 inches diameter) .
3 Heat a tava and cook the tortilla ( with only a few brown spots/ do not cook as much as a chapati).

Filling:
1 Grill all the vegetables for about 2-3 minutes on a hot tava.
2 Add salt and seasoning/masala.

- Put 3-4 spoonfulls of the filling on a tortilla and fold it like an envelope(fold four sides).
- With the folded side down fry the roll in about 1 inch of oil.(you could also smear some oil and bake it in an oven for 10-15 minutes at 400 F).
- Granish(while hot) it with 1 tbsp of shreaded cheese( microwave it for aout 30 seconds if you need to melt the cheese).