My 3 yr old son waiting for the photo session to end!

October has been crazy for us. A very very busy month. 2 appointments with HDB in 2 weeks – for buying and selling of our new and old home, 2 birthdays – my son and my hubby celebrate their birthdays 4 days apart, and packing, recycling and discarding the unwanted things in our old home and finally- the most important thing – dreaming, redesigning, renovating, furnishing and lot of other projects in our my new home …

And on top of all this the Gulab Jamun Challenge. Before this perfect recipe i tried gulab jamuns from 4 other sites – all different recipes. All turned out hard small balls after frying… i waited and waited for it to be  soft in the sugar syrup but no.. all were the same, it didnt become soft in the syrup..

I finally gave up and was about to email Srivalli that im out of the challenge, then luckily i came across this site Show Me The Curry The quantity of the recipe was small so i thought why not give a last try. I followed thr recipe exactly. And it turned out perfect.. I’m jumping with joy now!!

I feel so sad for wasting a lot of things during my tril period but i think you should try try again for the perfect one!!

Here goes my perfect recipe for the Indian Cooking Challenge – this was a challenge for me Srivalli

Ingredients:

Instant Dry Milk (Milk Powder) – 1/2 cup (I used fernleaf full cream milk powder)

All Purpose Flour – 2 tbsp (i used Prima Plain Flour)

Yogurt – 2 tbsp (i used home made in room temparature)

Clarified Butter – 1 tbsp (i used QBB)

Baking Soda – 1/4 tsp

Water – 2 cups

Sugar – 2 cups

Rose Essence – few drops, optional

Cardamom Powder – 1/2 tsp or to taste

Saffron – few strands, optional

Oil – for deep frying

Method:

1. Make the syrup in a pan by adding Water, Sugar, Rose Syrup, Cardamom Powder and Saffron.

2. Put the pot on the flame and bring to boil. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer.

3. Meanwhile, get the oil for deep-frying ready. Heat up the oil on low-to-medium heat.

4. For the dumpling, in a mixing bowl , add in all dry ingredients i.e Instant Dry Milk , All Purpose Flour, Baking Soda.

5. Mix well and add in the Clarified Butter and after that slowly start mixing in the yogurt. Make into a dough.

6. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes. Make desired size balls, make sure they are smooth and do not have any creases.

7. Test the oil by dropping a small piece of dough, if it sits at the bottom of the pan for a minute before coming to the surface, the oil is ready.

8. Carefully drop 3-4 dumplings in the oil and keep rotating them for an even color.

9. Once the dumplings are a dark golden brown, take them out into a paper towel.

10. Bring the syrup to another quick boil and drop in the dumplings.

11. Turn off the flame and cover the Gulab Jamuns and let them soak in the syrup for 45 minutes to an hour.

12. Gulab jamuns can be served hot or cold. This recipe makes about 10-15 Gulab Jamuns.

Tips:

1. The one thing we cannot emphasis enough is the temperature of the oil for frying…it is the key to making good gulab jamuns. It has to be on low-to-medium heat.

2. The dough is a little on the crumbly side…so use a little oil on your hands and make the ball and flatten it out and then roll it to a ball…this will help smoothening out the cracks

This post also goes to First Cooked Food Event

Luckily my kids have most of my foodie habits! (masha allah) we all are big fans of paratas  - veggie or non veg, any type – any color SO twhen ever i say parata? both of them are ready to eat. The only demand is they want yogurt with it.

Spinach is their favorite veggie and i make it at least 3-4 times a week. Here is a simple parata easy to make and good to eat. This recipe will be going for the Kids Cooking Event – Wheat

Palak/Spinach Paratas

makes 9 medium sized paratas

1 bunch of spinach leaves (only leaves discard the stems)

1 3/4 – 2 cups wheat flour

1/4 tsp cumin and ajwain

salt to taste.

Grind the spinach to a fine paste with very little water. It should be around 1 cup of paste. Mix the rest of the ingredients and knead into a dough.

I make this as normal phulkas. It puffs up and become very soft.  Adding ghee on top of the parata after cooked gives a different taste. But my kids dont like it so i use less ghee  in my cooking.

Green Peas Curry

1 and half cup green peas socked overnight

1 cup each finely sliced onions and tomatoes

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

3-4 tsps of coriander pwdr

1-2 tsp of red chilli pwdr

1/2 tsp turmeric pwdr

1/2 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp ajwain

corriander,curry and mint leaves – a small bunch

oil for frying

2-3 cups of water

Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add onions to it. Once it is browned add the ginger garlic paste and keep on stirring for 1-2 mts. Then add tomatoes ot it. Once the tomatoes are cooked and well mixed to the onions add the dry masalas, ajwain and mix well. Add sufficient water to it (i added around 3 cups) and pressure cooked for 20 mts. Garnish with the green leaves.

(the water needed and cooking time might vary from pressure cooker and the peas you are using. I dont think mine was a good quality peas and also my pressure cooker has already shown signs or retiring!)

One of my express breakfasts – very nutritious and loved by my kids. I like to make whole grain breakfasts with calcium and proteins that will give them all the energy for a busy day. As most of the Kerala breakfasts are made of rice and rice products i usually make them only during weekends or holidays.

All you need is 1/2 cup daliya soaked overnight

2 cups milk

a pinch of salt

sugar to taste – i add around 1/2 tsp to 2 cups of milk.

Nuts, berries and raisins – optional

Pressure cook the soaked  daliya till soft. In a skillet simmer the milk add the cooked daliya, salt and sugar to it. Cook till it becomes thick or till the consistency you want. I make it thick like porridge.  Add nuts and raisins and serve warm.

You can give a ghee and shallot tadka if you like. BUt mine is usually plain, no oils in the morning. I eat it with lots of walnuts and almonds, sometimes berries too.. but my kids prefer just plain.

Sometimes i cook the daliya in advance and refrigerate it and just mix with milk in the morning. it makes cooking easier!

This recipe is for Cooking for kids Event – Wheat

This is one of my first cooked food. im so glad it came out really really good even my kids loved it. Im a big fan of spring rolls. When ever we go out we always buy spring rolls, chicken wraps and curry chicken O’s from Old Chang kee which is a famous chain in Singapore.

So i thought why not try the spring rolls? The one thing i liked about the recipe is it is so easy to prepare and the ingredients you’ll always have in with you.. well almost all the time.

The ingredients : 1/2 cup each of onions, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms (i used canned ones), frozen peas.

salt and pepper pwdr to taste

Pastry sheets

olive oil for frying

Chop all veggies finely except peas or run through the food processor.

In a skillet heat olive oil and when its hot add all the ingredients till half cooked.

When the veggie mix is cooled, Add 1 tbsp to the pastry sheet and roll them as shown in the picture. Deep fry each roll. Its easy to prepare and good to eat!

This post goes to First Cooked Food Event

A lazy lazy day and your groceries are almost empty! So what do you feed your family? Well my first choice will be Salads!!! Mix everything you have a there you go.. a very healthy nourishing salad.  :)

All you have to do is mix lettuce, pumpkin seeds, cherry tomatoes, olives, avocados, zucchini  mushrooms, chickpeas, drizzle olive oil on top and serve!

I dont add salt in any of my salads you may add if you like.

This Salad goes to Light Meal event and Healthy snacking event

I got this idea from a magazine.. it really came out so good and for the kids i added little bit of strawberry syrup and topped with soy ice cream.. they loved it!

3 ounces firm silken tofu

1/4 cup each fat-free soy milk

1/2  cup each chopped banana and strawberries

1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate.

strawberry syrup – optional

soy ice cream optional

In a blender, mix tofu, soy milk, banana and strawberries, and orange juice concentrate. Blend until smooth.

This shake goes to the Light Meal event and Healthy Snacking event!

Half of an Apple, Beetroot,Carrot

1 baby cucumber or half of a cucumber

1 celery stalk

1 glass of water

Blend everything and enjoy!

If you want you may add honey and ice cubes. My friend who gave me the recipe said that if you make this in a juicer it tastes great!  As i dont have a juicer, i just blend everything. I dont strain the juice just drink everything first thing in the morning. My hubby gave up his coffee/tea since i started making this.

My friend Sapna who gave me this recipe said that this is an anti cancerous drink and this will make you glow! Thanks Sapna for this wonderful juice!

This juice is for the Light Meal event

1 chicken breast

pepper – 1 tsp

salt to taste

fat free mayonnaise - to taste

whole meal bread – 4 slices

cook chicken with salt and pepper and shred it. When its cooled add mayo as per you need and mix well. Apply on one side of bread, close with other slice.. Enjoy your instant meal!

You can freeze the left over chicken and thaw it when ever you need. Mix the Mayo only when you are ready to eat. Do not freeze the chicken mixed with mayo.  You can also add lettuce, tomatoes or any other veggies to this. I was so lazy today that i just did a simple sandwich!

Another recipe for the Light Meal Event!

My kids love this with rice and yogurt. This is another easy breezy lunch i make when i dont have time!

Beans – 250 grms cut into small pieces

jeera/cumin – 1/4 tsp

turmeric – 1/4 tsp

chilli pwdr – 1/4 tsp

curry leaves – 1 spring

salt to taste

Exra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp

In a heaqvy bottom vessel heat olive oil and add cumin. Once it splutters add the dry powders and stir for 2 seconds.. Be careful not to burn the powders. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir for few more mts. If you want to cook the beans close the lid and let it cook for 3-5 mts. Or else keep on stirring for 3-4 mts. Serve with rice or rotis.

im Sending my recipe for Light Meal Event

When ever i make a light meal i always make something sweet to accompany it. It makes everyone happy especially my hubby who has a very very sweet tooth!

Basmati rice – 1/3 rd cup

Milk – 4-5 glasses

Sugar – 3/4cup add more as your taste

cardamom powder– 1/4 tsp

Finely sliced Pistachios, Almonds, cashew nuts – for garnish

water – 4 glasses

Pressure cook the rice with water until it is very soft. Mash the rice well and transfer it to a heavy bottom vessel or non stick vessel. Add milk and sugar and cardamom. Keep on stirring on ad off. Make sure there are no lumps and the should be cooked in a very low flame. If you want you can add more milk. Keep on stirring for at least 15 mts.  Turn off the stove and add the dry fruits. After the kheer comes to normal room temperature refridgerate it if you like cool desserts. My family like cooled ones so i cool almost al the sweets!

Im sending my Kheer for the Sweet series event.