Lemon rasam and a Thank You note!

You must all be wondering where I disappeared for ages! It took me sometime to come back to normal after our visit to India. I had the chance to learn many new dishes from my mom and my mother-in-law during my trip. Hopefully I will be trying them all soon and posting them here. The weather in California has been cold during the past week which is quite abnormal during this time of the year.. This lemon rasam is perfect for such a weather and it is quite simple and easy to make..It is an ultimate comfort food and can be whipped up in minutes.

Ingredients

Cooked Toor Dhall - 1/2 cup
Tomato - 1 finely chopped
Green chillies - 2
Ginger - 1 inch
Lemon juice - from 1 medium sized lemon
Salt or to taste
Few sprigs of coriander leaves

For the tempering

Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Pepper powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Ghee - 1 teaspoon

Directions

Chop tomatoes finely, also chop green chillies and ginger.

In a heavy bottomed pan, on medium heat, add 2 cups of water, chopped tomatoes, green chillies and ginger. Allow it to boil for about 5 minutes or till the tomatoes turn tender. Add turmeric, pepper powder and salt. Add coriander leaves. Finally add the cooked dhall and let it simmer for about 3 minutes.

Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice and mix well. Take care not to add the lemon juice while the rasam is still on heat. This makes the rasam turn bitter.

In a small pan do the tempering with ghee, mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Add the tempering to the rasam and stir well.

Serve hot with rice and curry of your choice.

This rasam is a simple dish to make on lazy nights for dinner. Hence I am sending this to Recipes for the rest of us - Dinner hosted at dear Siri's Place and started by Ramki

And coming to the thank you note, I know it is too late to thank my dear friend Siri for sending me this valuable gift for winning MBP:Cheese. It was a pleasant surprise to get the gift when i received all my mails after our return from India. It was an amazing book - "The Well Decorated Cake' by Toba Garrett. Thanks a lot Siri and thanks again to all my dear blogger friends who voted for me!

Carrot Rice

This is a rice I newly experimented and it turned out to be a great hit at home..I had a bag of carrots in my refridgerator waiting to be used up soon..So I decided to make rice with carrots..I was wondering if the carrots would make the rice too sweet but it turned out good thanks to the wonderful spices..It is a one pot meal and makes a quick meal too..

                             

Ingredients

Rice - 2 cups
Carrots - 1 cup grated
Onion - 1 medium sized chopped
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Green chillies - 3 or as per spice level
Ginger- garlic paste - 1 tablespoon
Oil/ butter - 3 spoons
Coriander leaves for garnishing

Directions

Heat oil in a pressure cooker and ass the cumin seeds..Once they start spluttering add the chopped onion and saute well till they turn translucent..Add the ginger garlic paste and chopped green chillies and saute for a minute till the raw smell disappears..Add the grated carrots and again saute for a minute.Add the rice (preferrably basmati) and mix it along with all the ingredients..Add required amount of salt and water(for 2 cups basmati rice:4 cups water) and cook until rice is done..garnish with coriander leaves..

                                

Recipe Marathon Day 5 menu

Dhivya - Fried Herb mozarella
Siri - Hash brown melts
Swati - Aloo Gobhi
Arundati - Bell pepper curry
Lakshmi - Mango fool with Nutmeg
Ranji - Banana chips
Srivalli - Andhra mutton pepper fry
Bhags - Spanakopitta

My dear friend Swati from Chatkor has passed on this award to me..AM really feeling so happy Swati..And you Rock Girl..

                              

Am passing this on to these friends who rock with their wonderful recipes

Kamala, Uma, Dhivya, Cham, Madhuram, Suma, Madhavi, Shubha

This goes off to Srivalli's Rice Mela

Vegetable Puffs and Awards

Whenever I think about these vegetable puffs, I turn nostalgic and think of the days my dad used to get hot hot puffs from the bakery and we would be waiting for it..They were mostly got from the bakery and not prepared at home..But now that we get the puff pastries here it is an easy process to prepare these wonderful puffs filled with our favorite veggies..They serve as a perfect evening snack and we enjoyed it with tea..They serve as a perfect appetizer in any party..This is my entry for Recipe Marathon Day 2.But this is a very late entry I know, but my net connection was off yesterday so am posting this today..But felt it is better late than never..

                          

Ingredients ( For 2 puffs)

Puff pastry (thawed) - 1
Potato - 1 small sized
Carrot - 1
Green peas - 1/4 cup
Onion - 1/4 chopped
Garlic - 1 pod
Chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Garam masala - 1/2  teaspoon
Cumin - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Oil - 1 teaspoon

The ingredients are only for 2 puffs..Multiply it according to your requirements.

Directions

Boil the vegetables with enough water and salt until they turn soft and mushy.
In a pan heat the oil,add cumin,onions,garlic and saute for a while.Add the vegetables and saute until the water evaporates.Add the chilli powder,garam masala and required salt.
Allow the contents to cool completely.
Meanwhile allow the puff pastry to thaw according to the package instructions.
Preheat oven to 400 degree F.
Place the puff pastry over a slightly floured counter and thin it out a little with the help of a rolling pin.Cut the pastry into the size required for a puff and place a spoonful of the vegetable mixture and close the puff pastry from one end to the other and seal with the help of little water.
Apply some oil over the top of the pastry..This gives a nice golden colour to the puffs.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
Enjoy with any ketchup and tea..

                          

Sending this to Monthly Mingle - Appetizers and Hors'Doeuvres hosted this month by Mansi desai and started by Meeta

                                         

Recipe Marathon Day 2 Menu

Siri - Kosambri
Lakshmi - Coconut Dosa
Srivalli - Home made Sambhar Powder
Raaga - Chickpea Sundal
Dhivya - Peas Pulao
Swati - Bread Upma
Bhags - Coffee Cake
Arundati - Pierogies


I am really elated to receive the following award from my dear blogger friends Uma..Thanks a lot Uma

                                              
                     “Nice Matters Award is for those bloggers who are nice people;
                 good blog friends and those who inspire good   feelings and inspiration.
                     Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world.”


Thanks to Uma,Swati, Kamala,Madhavi for showering me with the following award..Am really overwhelmed and you made me feel so special.

                                               

I would like to pass on this award to each and everyone who has spent time reading my blog and dropping your valuable comments..All your encouragement has helped me increase my passion for cooking and blogging..You all make my Day!!

An Award and two Meme's

I was really excited to see my second award from Divya when I opened my inbox today..Thanks a lot Divya..You made me feel very special..This award has been started by Roopa of My Kitchen treats who says :

 "Yummy blog award is the award given to the blog with most yummy recipes/photos"

                                         

As per the rules I have to list my favourite yummy-licious desserts that I have prepared or eaten and pass the award to four of my fellow bloggers..
Here are my most favorite desserts

Baklava
Aval Payasam
Kaju Katli
Black Forest Cake
Rasgullas

I had to pass this award to four yummy blogs..Selecting four blogs from numerous yummy blogs was a bit tough job..

Asha, Ashwini, Madhavi, Kamala
Congrats dear friends!

Rules for the ‘Yummy Blog’ award Receiver:
The person who receives the award should display the "Yummy Blog !" logo on their blog and also the meaning of the award which is "Yummy blog award is the award given to the blog with most yummy recipes/photos".

The receiver should also quote their favorite yummy-licious :) dessert(s) that they have ever prepared/eaten. Don’t restrict yourself to any dessert, chocolate bars also welcome.

 Also the receiver should pass on the award to four other bloggers whose blog they find "yummy" and let them know about the rules.

I have been tagged by Farida for a Meme called Top ten pics..Though am not too good in photography,I have listed my 10 best shots in my blog...It might be helpful for those who have missed seeing them..So here I go..You can just click the pictures to view the recipes..

Sweet Coconut Puffs


         
Baklava



Bell Pepper Curry



Corn Peas Cheese Pulao



Kondakadalai / Garbanzo Bean sundal



Gobi Manchurian



Aval payasam



Palak Tofu



Pear -Walnut cake



Vegetable Biryani



Now I would like to tag the following friends who have wonderful pics in their blogs to list their 10 best shots..

Dhivya, Uma, Cham, Swati Jain, Sukanya
Do it only if u are interested..

Coming to my next Meme's..I was tagged by Uma for the following Meme which was really fun..

1) LAST MOVIE U SAW IN A THEATRE?
The Spiderwick Chronicles

2) WHAT BOOK ARE U READING??
Seizure by Michael Crichton 

3) FAVOURITE BOARD GAME?
Scrabble,Chinese Checkers 

4) FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?
Readers Digest,Anandha vikatan 

5) FAVOURITE SMELLS?
Petrol, smell of rain,roses,coffee and yummy food! 

6) FAVOURITE SOUNDS?
Good music 

7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Whwn someone whom you trust betrays you 

8) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN U WAKE?
Nothing specific..about the day ahead 

9) FAVOURITE FASTFOOD PLACE?
Panda express,Pizza Hut,Taco Bell 

10) FUTURE CHILDS NAME?
Havent thought of.. 

11) FINISH THIS STATEMENT—’IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’D’
Travel around the world.. 

12) DO U DRIVE FAST?
Never.. 

13) DO U SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
No.. 

14) STORMS–COOL OR SCARY?
Always Scary..

15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
We had a maruti.. 

16) FAVOURITE DRINK?
Coffee, Lemonade, Mango juice,Orange juice

17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD…
Blog! 

18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?
Yes I would.. 

19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?
Streaks of brown may be.. 

20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS U HAVE LIVED IN?
Tuticorin, Chennai, Los Angeles 

21) FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Cricket , Tennis, Basketball

22) ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
A friendly person who makes wonderful chutneys!

23) WHATS UNDER YOUR BED?
My Ironing table

24) WOULD U LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN??
Of course 

25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Night owl.. 

26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP?
Over Easy always

27) FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX?
Home Sweet Home, Beach 

28) FAVOURITE PIE?
Anything that is sweet..

29) FAVOURITE ICECREAM FLAVOUR?
Chocolate and strawberry 

30) OF ALL THE PEOPLE U HAVE TAGGED, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
No idea..

I would like to tag the following friends..Do this meme only if your interested..

Pearlsofeast,  Swati Raman, Kalai, Anjali, Farida

Yippeee...My First Award !!!

This award came as a pleasant surprise to me this morning from Uma..I do not know if I am worth to receive this award when I see many beautiful blogs around..Thanks a lot Uma..You made me feel special and encourages me to blog more..I also extend my thanks to my fellow bloggers who have extended their support by their valuable comments..
 
                                  
I would like to pass on this Excellent Blog award to my friends who were a source of Inspiration to me in blogging..

Asha of Foodies Hope
Dhivya of Dhivya's Cuisine
Ashwini of Food for thought
Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen
Coco of Ambrosia