Lemon Yogurt Cake

It has been a while since I posted a recipe here in this blog thanks to my laziness! I wanted to post some baked item since it has been a really long time I posted one. I have been baking once in a while, but it has mostly been the regular banana bread, cookies and puffs. I made this lemon yogurt cake last week when I saw Ria's recipe. The cake turned out really moist and perfectly sweet with a little tanginess from the lemon and the freshness of the lemon zest. I made these with lemons I had grabbed from a neighbor's garden. Yes we are fortunate to have lemon and orange trees here in Southern California!

This recipe is a keeper and I definitely will be making this again..

Ingredients

Recipe Source: Ria's Collection
Unsalted butter, softened - 180 grams or 12 tablespoons
Sugar - 1 1/4 cups
Eggs - 3 whole and 1 egg yolk
Juice and zest from 1 lemon/lime
All purpose flour/Maida - 1 cup
Whole wheat flour - 1/4 cup
Baking powder - 1 teaspoon
Baking soda - 1/2 teaspoon
Yogurt - 5 tablespoon
Salt - 1/2 teaspoon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180C or 350F.
2. Butter and flour a 9 inch baking tin.
3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients - the all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. In another mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until creamy, for about 2 minutes.
5. Add the eggs one by one and continue beating.
6. Add the lemon juice and the zest and combine.
7. Then add the prepared flour mix and beat together well until mixed thoroughly.
8. Finally add the yogurt and beat for a minute. The batter is now ready.
9. Pour the prepared batter into the prepared tin and bake for about 60 minutes. A toothpick or skewer inserted should come out clean.
10. Allow the cake to cool down before removing from the pan and slicing.

Enjoy!

Whole-grain Quinoa Adai/Crepe

Are you someone like me who hoards whole grains and other healthy ingredients in your pantry? I often get grains like steel cut oats, wheat bran, wheat berries and quinoa with an enthusiasm to cook healthy wholesome meals. But after using the ingredients in a recipe or two, the bag lies somewhere behind in my pantry, begging to be looked upon again! When I saw this adai recipe, I knew I can use up all those lurking ingredients in my pantry to make up a wholesome adai.

This adai is wholly made of wholesome ingredients and would make a great addition to a diet. It is very filling and can be had for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Ingredients
Recipe Source: Veg Inspirations

Brown Rice - 1/2 cup
Pearl Barley - 1/2 cup
Steel Cut Oats - 1/2 cup (can be replaced by rolled oats)
Quinoa - 1/2 cup
Urad dal(whole black gram dal) - 1/3 cup
Toor dal (split pigeon peas) - 1/3 cup
Mung Dal (Green gram dal) - 1/3 cup

Green chillies - 4
Dry red chillies - 4
Asafoetida/Hing - 1 pinch
Sesame oil / Any vegetable oil - to cook the adai
Salt to taste

Instructions

1. Soak the first seven ingredients in enough water for about 3 to 4 hours. Then drain the water.
2. Grind together the soaked grains with the green chillies, red chillies, asafoetida and salt in a mixie/blender into a smooth batter adding a little water if required. The batter should be in a consistency similar to the regular dosa batter.
3. In a tawa or griddle, pour a ladle full of the batter in the center and slowly spread the batter in circles.
4. Drizzle some oil around the adai and allow it to cook for about 2 minutes until it gets golden brown in color.
5. Flip with the help of a spatula and cook on the other side as well.
6. Serve warm with a chutney or podi of your choice.

Raw banana(plantain) fry/ Vazhakkai poriyal

I always pick up raw plantain during our trip to the Indian store. Our favorite way to have this raw banana is in the form of banana chips or as bajji. I occasionally make this stir fry with simple spices and this makes a great accompaniment to dal and rice and also with rotis and chapatis as a dry curry.

Ingredients
Raw plantain / Vazhakkai - 1
Onion - 1/2 medium sized
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
All-Purpose curry powder/Sambar powder/Red chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
Oil - 1 teaspoon
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Urad dahl - 1 teaspoon
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Salt to taste

Directions
Peel the raw plantain and chop the plantain into small cubes.
In a wide saucepan, heat the oil and do the tempering with mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves.
Once everything starts spluttering, add the chopped onions and saute until it turns translucent.
Then add the chopped raw plantain and the spice powder (all-purpose curry powder/chilli powder/sambar powder), turmeric powder and salt.
Mix everything together and add half a cup of water. Cover and cook for about two minutes.
Remove the lid and stir everything together again. Allow the plantain to roast and turn crispy and golden brown for about five minutes.
Remove from heat and serve warm with rice and any curry or dal.

Savory Bombay French Toast

I like to have eggs for breakfast. It is healthy and nutritious to have a wholesome and filling breakfast. Eggs are filled with protein and vitamins and make a great start to the day!

I usually make anaheim scramble, desi omelette, veggie egg scramble, egg salsa dosai or egg cheese sandwich. When I saw these spicy bombay toast at Siri's place, I new I had to make it. I made this french toast when I had to make breakfast just for myself. Cooking for one can be monotonous and boring. I made this toast with one slice of bread and one egg and accompanied it with a mug of chamomile tea making it a great start to the day!!

Ingredients
Bread - 1 slice
Egg - 1
Milk - 1 tablespoon
Onion - 1 tablespoon finely chopped
Hot sauce - 1/2 teaspoon
Cilantro/Parsley - 1 teaspoon chopped
Salt to taste

Instructions
In a shallow bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, chopped onions, hot sauce, cilantro and salt.

Also, cut the bread into two halves.

Heat a saucepan and drizzle with some oil. Dip the cut bread into the egg mixture so that it coats well on both sides.

Allow the bread to cook on both sides until it browns evenly.

Serve warm with ketchup or hot sauce or just by itself!

Check out my new hobby and my first project!

Crispy Fried Moong Dal Snack - Haldiram Style!

I was always a big fan of the Haldiram's Moong Dal Namkeen. A bag of those crispy fried moong dal to munch on and a book to read was all I wanted to relax on weekends! I wanted to replicate the snack at home and I almost dished out crispy moong dal that almost tasted like those of Haldiram's but mine looked a little more golden brown in color.

Ingredients
Split Yellow Moong Dal - 1 cup
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying

Instructions

1. Soak the moong dal overnight or atleast for 4 to 5 hours.
2. Drain the water and pat the dal dry with a paper towel or a dry kitchen towel.
3. In a heavy bottomed vessel, heat oil until it is piping hot.
4. Once the oil reaches its smoking point, drop in a moong dal to see if it sizzles immediately. If it sizzles immediately, then the oil is ready for deep frying.
5. Take care the oil is ready. If the oil is not at the right temperature, the dal absorbs a lot of oil. So take care the oil is at the right temperature.
6. Deep fry the moong dal in batches and remove them once they turn crispy and golden brown. It took around 20 to 30 seconds to get them done. 
7. Drain the dal in paper towels. Sprinkle salt to taste and mix well.
8. Store in airtight containers.

Note: To make things easier, I used a strain to deep fry the moong dal. I took a batch of the dal and once the oil gets hot, just dip the strain into the oil. Once the dal gets fried just lift the strain from the oil and drain the moong dal in paper towels.

This is my entry for day 7 in the 7 day blogging marathon! Check out the Blogging marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#12.

Whole green gram dal fry

This is another simple and wholesome dal recipe and another variation from the regular dal. The whole moong dal packs more nutrients. A wholesome protein source and this accompanies well with rice or rotis.

Ingredients
To pressure cook
Whole green gram/green moong dal - 1 cup
Tomato - 1 finely chopped
Green chillies - 2
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Onion - 1/2 finely chopped
Ginger garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
Red chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
Garam masala - 1 teaspoon
Oil - 1 spoon
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Urad dal - 1 teaspoon
Curry leaves 1 sprig
Coriander leaves/cilantro - for garnish
Salt to taste

Instructions

1. Soak the whole green moong dal for about 1 to 2 hours.
2. Pressure cook the dal, green chillies, turmeric powder and tomatoes with enough water for about 4 to 5 whistles.
3. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat the oil and do the tempering with the mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves.
4. Once everything starts spluttering, add the chopped onions. Saute till the onions turn translucent.
5. Then add the ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes away.
6. Add the red chilli powder and garama masala and mix well.
7. Finally add the cooked moong dal and enough water (approximately 1 cup) and bring it to a boil.
8. Simmer until the required consistency is obtained.
9. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.

Note: The green moong dal thickens once the dal cools down. If planning to serve after a while, stir in some hot water or add some water and heat before serving.

This is my entry for day 6 in the 7 day blogging marathon! Check out the Blogging marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#12.

Paruppu Thuvaiyal / Lentil Chutney or Dip

This is a spicy south indian chutney made with toor dal. It is so so easy to make in a matter of minutes and pairs very well with rice and a dollop of ghee or a drizzle of sesame oil. You can make it with minimal ingredients and as spicy as you like. Just enjoy!

Have you checked out the raffle for the fund drive I am supporting?

Ingredients
Toor dal - 1/2 cup
Red chillies - 3
Garlic pods - 3
Grated coconut - 2 tablespoons
Oil - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt to taste

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, heat the oil and add the toor dal and red chillies.
2. Roast for about 2 to 3 minutes until the dal turns fragrant and golden brown.
3. Grind together the roasted dal, red chillies, garlic, coconut and salt into a coarse paste sprinkling a teaspoon of water while grinding.
4. Serve over rice and a dollop of ghee or a drizzle of sesame oil.

This is my entry for day 5 in the 7 day blogging marathon! Check out the Blogging marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#12.

This is my entry to My Legume Love Affair #43 started by Susan and hosted this time at Chez Cayenne and Love for Lentils hosted by Sudha

Giveaway - Supporting the fund drive for Vaidehi Ashram of destitute girls

"Love heals people-- both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it." -Karl Menninger


I was so moved when I happened to read Siri's post about her visit to the Vaidehi Ashram of Destitute Girls in Hyderabad, India.Reading the post made me realize how I take things for granted and how I fortunate I am. Vaidehi Ashram is home for about 108 girls (from 3 to 22 years of age) who have no parents or a single parent who can no longer take care of them. 


To read more about the Ashram check out Siri's posts here.

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.

In an attempt to do a little help to these little girls, Siri has planned a fund raiser starting the 26th of January. I am helping her raise money by contributing to the list of wonderful prizes in the raffle. 

I will be giving away a Rachel Ray's Whistling Tea Kettle (available in colors - orange, blue and red) to a winner in the raffle. The item is labeled as RU11 in the list of prizes.

There are over 40 exciting prizes to win. You can check out the list of prizes here and more details on how to participate in the raffle here.

1 raffle ticket = $10 or 500 rupees

1. You can contribute your donations via PayPal or Credit Card. Each $10 donated will buy you one raffle ticket towards a raffle prize of your choice. You can donate any amount.You can click the ChipIn! button below to donate or you can do it on Siri's site. 

2. Once you have donated and receive your payment confirmation message, please forward the confirmation message to info(dot)siri(at)gmail.com, specifying which raffle prize(s) you are interested in.

3. Within 24 hours, your name and amount will be added to the 'Fund Drive Supporter List'. If you want to stay anonymous, please let Siri know.

4. A random drawing will be conducted by the children of the Ashram and the winners of each of the raffle prizes will be announced on February 27th, 2012.

If you would like to win the Rachel Ray's Whistling Tea Kettle choose RU11 in the list of raffle prizes.

I hope we could help Siri in this wonderful cause and help bring a smile in the little girls' faces.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

-William James

Moong dal khichdi and giveaway winner!

Here is yet another comfort food that can be made in a matter of minutes in a pressure cooker. Such one pot meals are always great when cooking for one. The husband has lunch at office and I need to find some inspiration to cook lunch for me. I tend to stay with one pot meals or easy fix lunches like sandwiches and soups. This is one such lunch I made for myself.

I have used the split green moong dal for this recipe. This can be substituted with the yellow split moong dal or the whole green moong dal as well. if using whole green moong dal, make sure to soak it for an hour in advance before cooking it with the rice.

Ingredients
Rice - 1 cup ( I used sona masoori rice)
Split green moong dal - 1/2 cup
Tomato - 1/2 roughly chopped
Salt to taste

For the tempering
Oil/ghee - 1 spoon
Jeera/Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Garlic - 1 clove finely chopped
Ginger - 1/2 inch - finely chopped
Green chilly - 1
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Instructions

1. Wash the rice and dal with water and drain the water.
2. In a pressure cooker combine the rice, dal, tomato and salt and add about 3 to 3.5 cups of water. Pressure cook until you get 5 to 6 whistles.
3. Once the pressure gets released, mash the rice and dal well with a potato masher or a wooden ladle. It should be very mushy.
4. In a saucepan, do the tempering with the ghee, jeera, garlic, ginger, green chillies and curry leaves and pour it over the cooked rice and dal.
5. Mix and serve it with pickle and papads.

Ultimate comfort food ready in minutes!

This is my entry for day 4 in the 7 day blogging marathon! Check out the Blogging marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#12.

The winner of the blog anniversary giveaway is Mythreyi of Yum! Yum! Yum! Thanks to everyone of you who participated in the giveaway and left your lovely comments :)

Low fat Ulundha Vadai / Urad dal fritters

If you are looking for an authentic ulundha vadai / urad dal fritters, this is not the place! I was craving for some ulundha vadai and I did not want to give up my healthy eating by deep frying something. So I made these vadais using my kuzhi paniyaram making pan. They tasted equally delicious and this can be made in a matter of minutes if you have the batter ready. Makes a great accompaniment with your evening chai.

I followed the same ingredient list I use to make the regular ulundha vadais, except for the deep frying method and the hole in the center. I served the vadais with red bell pepper chutney instead of the coconut chutney.

Ingredients
Urad dal - 1 cup
Green chilly - 1 (grated or thinly sliced)
Coriander leaves - 1 sprig
Grated ginger - 1/2 teaspoon
Chopped onion - 2 tablespoons
Salt to taste

Instructions
Soak the urad dal in water for about 3 hours.
Drain the water and in a mixer/grinder, grind the urad dal into a very fine paste. Add very little water (1 to 2 tablespoons) if required while grinding.
When the batter is ready, mix in the other ingredients - green chillies, ginger, chopped onions and salt.
Heat the kuzhi paniyaram pan, and drizzle 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon of oil in each hole. Fill with a spoonful of batter in each hole.
After a minute, using a spoon flip the vadais over to cook on the other side.
When the vadais start turning brown, remove them from the pan and serve with chutney of your choice.

You can check out the regular ulunda vadai/ medhu vadai recipe here..

This is my entry for day 3 in the 7 day blogging marathon! Check out the Blogging marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#12.

This is my entry to My Legume Love Affair #43 started by Susan and hosted this time at Chez Cayenne and Love for Lentils hosted by Sudha

Yellow Moong Dal Tadka

This is a basic dal recipe. It is so simple yet so comforting. It can be made in a matter of minutes and is so versatile. You can pair it with rotis and subji or ladle of rice drizzled with ghee! Tastes best anyways. I paired this simple dal with ladies finger poriyal and raw plaintain fry and this was our weekend lunch.

Ingredients
Yellow split moong dal - 1 cup
Water 3 cups
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Green chilli - 2
Tomato - 1
Salt to taste

For the tadka/tempering
Oil/ghee - 1 spoon
Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Urad dal - 1/2 teaspoon
Curry leaves - 1 spring
Red chilli - 1
Onion - 2 tablespoons finely chopped (optional)
Hing/Asafoetida - 1 pinch

Instructions
In a pressure cooker, cook the moong dal along with the turmeric powder, green chilli, tomato and 3 cups of water for about 4 whistles. Alternately, you could cook the moong dal in a stockpot or a heavy bootomed pan, covered for about 20 to 30 minutes, until the dal turns soft. The dal could also be cooked in the microwave.
Once the dal gets cooked, add the salt and mash the dal well.
In a saucepan, do the tempering with ghee, mustard seeds, urad, dal, hing, curry leaves, onions and red chillies.
Pour the seasoning over the cooked dal and serve with rice and your favorite vegetable curry.

This is my entry for day 2 in the 7 day blogging marathon! Check out the Blogging marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#12.

This is my entry to My Legume Love Affair #43 started by Susan and hosted this time at Chez Cayenne and Love for Lentils hosted by Sudha

Tomorrow is the last day to submit your entries for the giveaway being hosted at Dil Se.. Do check it out :)

Sambar

While I was compiling a recent post to mark 4 years of blogging, I was astonished to see that I had never blogged about sambar! Sambar is a staple at my house. I make it almost every week or every other week to accompany our dosas and idlies for breakfast and dinner and also with rice and poriyals for lunch. It is a versatile dish to be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I try to make different versions by rotating the vegetables I use. This is my mom's recipe for sambar. It sounds like a difficult procedure, but it is so easy to make.

Ingredients
Toor dal - 1 cup
Vegetables - 1 cup chopped (potatoes, drumstick, cauliflower, brinjal, radish, beans, peas, carrots etc. can be used) I use 3 to 4 of the above veggies mentioned
Tamarind extract - from the size of 1 lemon or 1 teaspoon tamarind paste
Sambar powder - 2 teaspoons
All-purpose curry powder/Kuzhambu milagai thool (or chilli powder) - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon
Onion - 1/4 cup chopped
Tomato - 2 chopped roughly
Green chillies - 2
Cilantro/coriander leaves - for garnish
Salt to taste

For the tempering
Oil - 2 spoons
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Urad dhal - 1 teaspoon
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Hing/Asafoetida - 1 pinch

Instructions

1. In a pressure cooker, cook the toor dal with about 3 cups of water and turmeric powder until you get 4 whistles. Alternatively, you can cook it in a stockpot for about 30 minutes, until the dal turns soft.
2. With the help of a wooden spoon or a potato masher, mash the dal to make it into a smooth paste.
3. In a saucepan/kadai, heat the oil and do the tempering with mustard seeds, urad dhal, curry leaves and hing.
4. Once everything splutters, add the chopped onions and saute until it turns translucent. Then add the chopped tomatoes and allow it to cook for a minute.
5. Now add the chopped vegetables and saute until the raw smell goes away.
6. To this add the sambar powder, curry/chilli powder, salt and the tamarind extract and bring it to a boil.
7. Simmer for about 5 to 6 minutes until the veggies cook well.
8. Now add the dal to this and mix thoroughly.
9. Add some chopped coriander/cilantro, cover and cook for about 10 minutes until you get the required consistency.

Alternate quicker method
After step 6, pour all the contents in the kadai into the pressure cooker with the dal. Add about 1 cup of water and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Delicious sambar is ready.

I am participating in a blogging marathon hosted by Srivalli for 7 days and I will be posting under the theme - "Seven Days of Delicious Dals"

Check out the Blogging marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#12

This is my entry to My Legume Love Affair #43 started by Susan and hosted this time at Chez Cayenne and Love for Lentils hosted by Sudha

Manathakkali Vathal Kuzhambu

This is a tangy and delicious curry made with manathakkali vathal known as black nightshade in english. It is of high medicinal value and tastes great in this curry. It is so easy to make and is a staple in south indian households. I remember having vathal kuzhambu once a week for lunch in our hostel mess in college. I never used to like it at that time, but this kuzhambu has become a recent favorite. I served this with rice along with seppankizhagu roast and some papads.

The manathakkali vathal can be replaced with sundakkai vathal or any vegetable.

Ingredients
Manathakkali Vathal - 2 tablespoons
Tamarind extract - from a lemon sized ball
Tomato puree - 1/2 cup
Sambar powder/Vathal kuzhambu powder - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Asafoetida/Hing - 1 pinch
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Urad dhal - 1 teaspoon
Methi/Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Oil - 2 teaspoons
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Salt to taste

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, fry the vathal in 1 spoon of oil for a minute and remove from the pan.
2. In the same saucepan, heat the remaining oil and do the tempering with the mustard seeds, methi seeds, urad dhal, hing and curry leaves.
3. Once everything starts spluttering, add the sambar powder or vathal kuzhambu powder and turmeric powder and roast on a low flame for about a minute.
4. Slowly add the tomato puree and the tamarind extract and salt. Add half a cup of water and bring it to a boil. Add more water if needed to get the required gravy consistency.
5. Finally add the fried manathakkali vathal and simmer for about 3 minutes until the kuzhambu turns thick.

Serve with a poriyal and papad over rice.

Also, do check out the giveaway to celebrate 4th year blogiversary!

Celebrating 4th year blogiversary with a GIVEAWAY!

Dil Se.. turns 4!

(image source: vetragames)

I started writing this blog one day without much thought! I just wanted to record all my culinary experiments being a newbie to cooking. Blogging has introduced me to several new friends, people from all parts of the world and also to various cuisines. Blogging also introduced me to food photography and I believe I have come a long way since I started to blog! Blogging gave me the courage to venture into baking! I also had the opportunity to master traditional and authentic recipes. I was able to contribute to several events and contests. I was able to host a few events of my own as well.

Thanks to my dear husband who is always a good critic and gives feedback and also waits patiently at the dining table until I finish my food photography :) I also thank all the lovely bloggers out there who have encouraged me all the way with their valuable comments and feedback!

My very first recipe in this blog - Sweet Pongal

The first thing I ever baked - Sweet Coconut Puffs

The bread I first baked!

My first cake..

First Icecream! - Watermelon Yogurt Icecream

First Jamming - Plum Jam

My non-food blog - Divya Times!

M heartfelt gratitude to each and every reader of this blog! I would like to celebrate this milestone by hosting a little giveaway! Yes, I a giving away one lucky reader a Pure Komachi 2 series Chef Knife

For a chance to win this knife, do any one or all of the following. 

Each earns a separate entry. Leave a separate comment for each entry. I will ship worldwide.

1. Leave a comment telling what is your favorite recipe in my blog and what sort of posts would you like to see more in the future.
2. Follow Dil Se.. on Google+
3. Like Dil Se.. on Facebook!
4. Subscribe to my posts by email or reader..
5. Tweet the following - Blogiversary giveaway at Dil Se.. @athisayadivyas http://tiny.cc/bs6zc

Giveaway ends on January 25th, 2012!

Thanks again for all your support and helping me reach this milestone!

Brussels Sprouts Poriyal

I love indianizing recipes. Some recipes include this broccoli poriyal, broccoli dal and indian style pasta. Similarly, I wanted to make something indian with the miniature version of cabbage - brussels sprouts. I settled with this brussel sprouts recipe and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We had it with sambar and rice.

Ingredients
Brussels sprouts - 1/2 kg or 1 lb
Moong dal - 3 tablespoons
Onion - 1/4 chopped
Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
Tamarind extract - 1/2 teaspoon or juice from 1/2 the size of a lemon
All purpose curry powder/Kuzhambi milagai thool - 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste

For the tempering
Oil - 1 teaspoon
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Urad dal - 1 teaspoon
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Instructions

1. Soak the moong dal in water for about half an hour.
2. Meanwhile cube the onions and chop the brussels sprouts into bite sized pieces.
3. In a saucepan/kadai, heat the oil and do the tempering with the mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves. Once it starts spluttering, add the chopped onions and saute till it turns translucent.
4. Add the chopped brussels sprouts, soaked moong dal, salt, all-purpose curry powder and the tamarind extract. 
5. Stir everything together, add about half a cup of water, cover and cook for about five minutes until the brussels sprouts turns soft and all the water evaporates.
6. Add the grated coconut and stir well and switch off the heat.

Serve warm with rice, rotis and any gravy/curry.

Keerai Poriyal / Spinach stirfry

We love spinach and I love to cook different versions of spinach. I usually make salads, smoothies, spinach rice, spinach dal, pesto, kootu, masiyal etc. with spinach. This poriyal is another easy and delicious side dish I make with spinach and it pairs very well with rice and dal or any curry.

Ingredients

Fresh spinach - 1 bunch (you can also substitute with the frozen variety)

Moong dal - 3 tablespoons

Chopped onions - 1/4 cup

Turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon

Grated coconut - 1/4 cup

Salt to taste

For the tempering

Oil - 1 spoon

Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon

Urad dal - 1 teaspoon

Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Red chillies - 2

Instructions

Wash the spinach well with water and chop the leaves roughly. If using frozen spinach just skip this step.

Cook the moong dal with little water for about 4 to 5 minutes. Alternatively, you could microwave the dal with little water for about 3 minutes.

In a kadai or saucepan, heat the oil and do the tadka with mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, curry leaves and red chillies. 

Once everything starts spluttering, add the choppied onions and saute till they turn translucent.

Then add the chopped spinach, turmeric powder and salt and saute everything for about two minutes until the spinach starts wilting.

Add the cooked moong dal and the grated coconut, cover and cook for two minutes.

Serve warm with rice and dal/curry.

Trader Joe's Finds: Fig Butter & Pumpkin Butter

I had recently proclaimed my love for Trader Joes here! Living just a block away from TJ's,  I visit the store very often and I love trying out different products. You never know what you might find there! They keep changing the stuff they carry every season and I always end up buying something new each time I go. The prices are great too! And hence, here is my new series called "TJ Finds"

I picked up these two fruit butters - Fig Butter and Pumpkin Butter during my last trip. Here is my review..

Fig Butter
Don't get confused by the name. The fig butter has no butter in it. This is what the bottle says: "To be a butter, a spread must contain more fruit than sugar.." This results in a wonderful very concentrated fig flavor. They taste delicious almost with anything. We had it on toasts, with crackers, with cheese and crackers, mixed into yogurt. I liked it with buttered toast the best!

Pumpkin Butter
I think pumpkin butter is a seasonal item in TJ's. I have found them on the shelves only during Fall. I try to stock them when I find them, because I absolutely adore these. They are not too sweet like jams and perfect on toasts, the way I like them. These can be used as a pastry filling, ice-cream topping!, mixed with yogurt, or mixed into cream cheese to make a very unique spread. The bottle also suggests, adding pumpkin butter to soups. I haven't tried this though.

You can find these fruit butters in the jam and preserves aisle. They cost $3.99 a bottle.

Have you tried pumpkin butter and fig butter? What is your favorite?

On another note, here is the review of the book, I just finished - "In the Convent of Little Flowers" by Indu Sundaresan. You should read it if you like short stories.

Sweet Paniyaram/ Jaggery Paniyaram

Happy New Year to all my friends! Hope everyone has a very prosperous and healthy year ahead!

Let us start the new year on a sweet note.. I made these sweet and delicious sweet paniyarams one evening and we enjoyed them as an evening snack. They are healthy since they are made with very little oil/ghee and contain jaggery instead of sugar. Jaggery is unrefined, wholesome sugar which has the goodness of minerals and vitamins.

Ingredients
Raw rice - 1/2 cup
Boiled rice - 1/2 cup
Fenugreek seeds/ venthayam - 1/2 teaspoon
Urad dhal - 2 tablespoons
Grated or powdered Jaggery - 1 cup or about 150 grams
Cardamom powder/ Elaichi - 1 pinch
Grated coconut - 1/4 cup

Instructions

1. Soak the raw rice, boiled rice, urad dhal and the fenugreek seeds overnight or atleast for 4 hours.
2. Grind everything together into a thick batter adding a little water if needed.
3. In heavy bottomed vessel, add the jaggery and cardamom powder and about 2 spoons of water and bring it to a boil. 
4. The jaggery would melt and turn into a hot syrup.
5. Filter the syrup to remove any residue and add it to the prepared batter.
6. Also stir in the grated coconut and mix well.
7. To make the paniyarams, heat the paniyraram pan and drizzle very little oil in each hole.
8. Fill 3/4ths of the hole with the prepared batter.
9. Cook on medium heat for about a minute. 
10. With the help of a wooden skewer or a small spoon, flip the paniyarams and cook the other side for a minute.
11. Remove from the pan and serve warm. Tastes great by itself.