Pine - Apple Rava Kesari

Ingredients

Rava -- 1 cup
Sugar -- 1 cup
Water -- 1 cup
Milk -- 1 cup
Ghee -- 1 cup or( 1/2 ghee & 1/2 oil) (health watchers can reduce to 1/2)
Cardamom powder -- a pinch
Cashew nuts -- 10 - 12 pieces halved
Kesari Colour -- a pinch or 2 (for pine apple kesari- pista color, for regular - orange color )
Pine apple pieces -- little bit, cut into tiny squares
Salt -- a pinch

METHOD

Step 1 : In a non stick kadai, pour some ghee & fry cashews till golden brown,take off heat & spread it on a plate. In the same kadai dry fry the rava for a few seconds & spread on a plate.

Step 2 : In the same kadai , add the water , milk, & sugar & after sugar dissolves, add the ghee &oil mixer & allow it to boil. Now reduce heat little bit & add colour, pine apple pieces, Rava & cardamom & mix well. Garnish with cashew nuts.

TIP 1 : while adding rava, take care by stirring continuously , so no lumps are formed.
TIP 2 : do not add too many pieces of pine apple..
 TIP 3 : For the regular kesari, dont add pine-apple pieces.

Hotel Saravana bhavan type kesari ready.

Tomato Soup

Ingredients

Tomato -- 5 nos (red & juicy )
Potato -- 1 small
Bay leaf -- 1
Garlic -- 2-3 pods
Cream or Butter -- 2 tsp ( optional )
Salt -- 2-3 pinch
Sugar -- 1/2 tsp

METHOD

Step 1 : Boil some water, drop the tomatoes for a minute with small incisions on top,so that the skin peels off easily. Peel off skin , cut the tomatoes & remove seeds & grind to make puree.

Step 2 : In a pressure cooker combine the tomato puree , garlic pods , potato (skin peeled & cut),bay leaf , salt & sugar & cook for 2 whistles or 7 Min's.

Step 3 : Remove from heat & remove & discard bay leaves & blend it . then sieve & add cream or butter before serving.

Garnish with cream & crispy bread croutons .

Caramel Pudding in Automatic & Pressure Cooker

Its simple & non messy

Ingredients

Milk -- 500 ml
Vanilla Essence -- 1 tsp
Eggs -- 3 nos
Sugar for Caramel -- 3 tbs
Sugar -- 15 tsps or add more , according to taste.


METHOD 1
To Make Out Of Automatic Cooker
Step 1 : For Caramel : Place 3 tbs sugar in a pudding mould ( 4 cups capacity) & sprinkle 2 tsp water over it. Place the mould on a low flame till the sugar melts & turns to a rich brown colour. Remove from fire & keep aside.

Step 2 : In another bowl,beat eggs well & keep aside .
             Next mix milk,sugar & vanilla essence together & after sugar dissolves completely pour the
beaten eggs into it & mix well. Strain this mixture into the pudding mould.
Place the cooking plate in the cooker pan & pour enough water to fill up to 1/2 the level of the mould. Now place the mould in the cooker after covering with a lid. Cover the cooker.

Step 3 : Switch on to "COOKING" mode. When the water in the pan begins to boil steadily, push the switch manually to the "KEEP WARM" position & let the custard cook for 25-30 Min's.Switch off.
 Remove from the cooker & allow it to cool. Chill in the fridge & turn in to a serving plate.


TIPS :(A) If eggs r taken from fridge,thaw them before using.
           (B) Use warm, not hot milk.

TIP 1 : It is IMPORTANT to push the switch in Automatic cooker to "KEEP WARM" position when the water in the cooker begins to boil, failing which the custard may curdle. Use an aluminium mould only..

METHOD 2 :

To Cook In Pressure Cooker:

Follow the same ingredients & step1 & step 2 instructions only ,for making in pressure cooker . But  do not put WEIGHT in pressure cooker & also do not put off stove after water starts to boil. Close the vessel with silver foil (best) or a plate . Check with wet tooth pick after 20 Min's..

Its a very nutritious pudding & Kids will love it..

Cooker Cake

Ingredients

Flour -- 1 cup
Sugar -- 1 cup ( white or dermarera sugar (brown)
Oil -- 1/2 cup
Vanilla Essence -- 2 tsp
Egg -- 2
Baking powder -- 1/2 tsp

METHOD

Step 1 :Mix all wet ingredients & sugar first.Sieve flour & baking powder together & add with the wet ingredients. In a vessel (pref , aluminium ) rub with oil & pour the cake batter & keep aside.

Step 2 : In a pressure cooker, place the vessel with cake batter directly  & cook in slow fire. Do not pour water at the bottom of the cooker or place the cooker plate. After 20 mins check with wet tooth pick to see if the cake's ready. Keep checking periodically till the tooth pick comes out clean.

Easy Tea Cake Ready.

Jeera Rice

Jnt's easy Jeera Rice

Ingredients

Basmati Rice -- 1 cup
Cardamom -- 3
Cinamon -- 1 long piece
Cloves -- 3-4
Saunf -- 1/2 tsp
Jeera -- 1 tbs
Big Onion -- 1
Green chilly -- 2 slit
Green peas -- 3 tbs (optional)
Water -- 2 cups


METHOD

In pressure cooker , pour some ghee & oil ,add cardamom,cinnamon sticks,cloves,saunf,& jeera & let it fry for sometime.Add onion, slit green chilly & saute well. Then add rice & pour 2 cups water & salt & close cooker. After steam comes, put weight & take off heat in 4 mins or one whistle,whichever comes first.

Goes well with chicken kurma, mutton kurma or best with Dhal Tadka.

Sura Puttu OR Shark Puttu

My Fav.

Ingredients

Paal Sura -- 300 gms
Small onion -- A handful ( a lot )
Garlic -- 1 full ( peeled & cut into tiny bits)
Ginger -- 3 inch piece julienned
Jeera -- 1,1/2 tsp
Coconut scrappings -- 1 tsp ( optional )
Chilly Powder -- 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder -- a pinch

METHOD

Step 1 : cook the sura meen with salt & turmeric powder in just about enough water. Remove the skin & with finger tips or a fork ,make it to bits & keep it aside.

Step 2 : In a kadai, pour little oil, add jeera,after it splutters add ginger garlic ,green chillies, curry leaves,small onion & saute for some time,add turmeric powder & chilly powder & saute well & then add the fish & coconut ( optional ) mix well for couple of minutes & take off heat & garnish with coriander leaves.

Karela ( Bitter gourd ) Prawn Bharwan

Ingredients

Karela ( Bitter Gourd ) -- 4-5
Prawns (tiny deveined ) -- 1 cup
Turmeric powder -- 1,3/4 tsp
Chilly powder -- 1 tsp
Coriander Powder -- 1 tbs
Ginger -- 2 inch piece julienned
Big Onion -- 3
Mustard oil -- 2 tsp ( alternate with any other veg oil)
Red Chilly -- 2 pieces
Jeera -- 1 tsp
Green Chilly -- 2 - 3
Coriander leaves --3 tsp

METHOD

Step 1 : Cut karela into thin slices & soak in water with lots of salt & turmeric powder for half an hour.Then wash wih water & drain in seive.

Step 2 : In a non-stick kadai, pour oil, jeera seeds, green chilly julienned, onion & saute for a while.Then add julienned ginger & saute till color of onion turns golden brown.Now add karela, saute , chilly powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder & allow the karela to cook sprinkling little water. Then add the tiny deveined prawns & cook. ( prawns will cook in no time). Let it cook & become dry.Finally add salt to taste & remove from fire & garnish with lots of coriander leaves.

Mutton Keema Cutlet 2

Ingredients
Minced Meat -- 200 gms
Jeera -- 1 1/2 tsp
Ginger 7 garlic paste -- 2 tsp
Green chilly -- 2 nos
Small onion -- 10
Turmeric powder -- 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder -- 1 tsp
Potato -- 2 big
Coriander leaves -- a lot
Oil -- 2tsp
Tomato -- 1 ( optional)
Pottu kadalai maavu -- 2 tsp ( optional )
Bread crumbs -- as required.

METHOD

Step 1 : Grind the minced meat & Pressure cook adding Ginger garlic paste, chilly powder, turmeric powder,salt.Also keep the potato in the same mixture to cook. Cook for 10 mins after putting weight. Remove potato & mash well & keep aside.

Step 2 : In a kadai, pour oil, add jeera, small onions finely sliced,green chilly finely sliced & saute till onion color turns to brown, add tomato ( optional), potato & keema & mix well . allow it to cool little & add one egg to the mixture. Add coriander leaves.

Step 3 : Make desired shapes, roll in bread crumbs & shallow fry in non stick kadai with little oil.

TIP 1: If the mixture is too wet , add pottu kadalai maavu ( roasted chana dhal powder ).It will absorb all water..

TIP 2 : Along with bread crumbs , oats can be ground & mixed as well.

Mutton Keema Cutlet 1

Jnt's easy mutton keema cutlet recipe

Ingredients

Mutton Keema Or Minced Meat -- 2oo gms
Jeera                                         -- 1,1/2 tsp
Ginger garlic paste                   -- 3 tsp
Big Onion                                   -- 1
Turmeric Powder                         -- 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves                                  -- 1 sprig
Coriander leaves                               -- a lot
Green chilly                                    -- 2 finely chopped
Salt                                                   -- to taste
Potato                                               -- 2 big

METHOD

Step 1 : Pressure cook or steam cook  all the above ingredients along with 2 potatoes for 10 Mins after putting weight..Remove the potatoes & mash well & keep aside

Step 2 : Remove keema & if there is some water left in it,re-light stove & keep it till all water disappears & mixture becomes dry. Take off fire & allow it to cool for a while. Then grind (pulse) in mixie adding one egg to the mixture. Then add mashed potatoes & make desired shapes & fry in a pan in oil.

Goes well with sambar, pulikuzhambu or even as patties for burger etc etc.

TIP 1 : if there is too much water in any cutlet batter, add pottu kadalai maavu ( roasted chana dhal powder)..It will absorb all the water .

French PanCake

Jnt's French Pancake

Ingredients ( serves 4-5 people )

Maida -- 6 big tbs ( adults can alternate with wheat or multigrain atta )
Eggs -- 2
Sugar -- 18 tsp
Milk -- keep adding till dosai mavu consistency is reached
Vanilla Essence  -- 1/4 tsp

METHOD

Step 1 : Mix maida & sugar in a separate bowl with a whisker, then add to mixture the separately beaten egg & milk & essence .Now Batter is ready.

Step 2 : After heating a tawa ,pour batter & spread it like dosa & cook on both sides .Take off heat & keep it aside on a plate.

Step 3 : Now,Fold it once, Spread Nutella on the visible half side & fold it once more. Tasty & Healthy pancake ready in a jiffy.

Kids will love to have this for breakfast or as after school snack..

Fish Moilee

Kerala Style

Ingredients

Seer Fish            - 300 gms ( vanjiram )
Lemon juice       - squeezed out of 1 lemon
Ginger                - 1 tsp
Green Chillies     - 3 nos or according to taste
Big onion            - 1 big
Tomato               - 1
Curry leaves        - 4 sprigs
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder    - 1/2 tsp
Salt                      - to taste
Coconut milk        - thin 1 cup & thick 1 cup

METHOD

Step 1 : Marinate fish in 1/4 tsp turmeric powder,salt & lemon juice for half an hour

Step 2 : In a kadai, add vegetable oil (i prefer-coconut oil or sesame oil) , big onion ( sliced thinly length wise ),after
it turns translucent,add curry leaves, green chillies, ginger & saute for some time.Then add fish & thin coconut milk first (3rd milk), the remaining turmeric powder,pepper powder & salt & cook till fish cooks 3/4th . Finally add the thick coconut milk & tomato pieces & close & leave to simmer for few seconds in medium heat. Then take off heat & garnish again with curry leaves .

TIPS : Do not allow the thick coconut milk to boil & Tomato should be added only in the end, otherwise the acidity in the tomato will curdle the coconut milk.

Goes well with Malabar paratha, appam , idiappam etc. it is a very light dish.

Dragon Chicken

This one for Lucas & Tomas . All my kids' friends love this..Simple & Yummy dish

Ingredients

For Marinade:

Chicken breast - 300 gms ( cut into strips or cubes)

Soy sauce - 2 tsp 

Corn Flour - 2tbs

Egg white - 1

Pepper powder - 2tsp

Salt - to taste
Rice powder -- 2tsp ( optional, for crispiness )

For The Sauce

Chilly flakes - 1tsp

Garlic - 2 tbs , cut into tiny pieces

Worcestershire sauce - 2 tsp ( optional)
Sweet Red Chilly Sauce -- 2 tsp

Tomato ketchup - 2 tsp

Sugar - 2 pinch

Spring onion - 3tbs

Cashew nut - a handful

Miscellaneous

Capsicum,Carrot,broccoli,beans - 1/4 cup (all optional )

METHOD

Step 1 : Marinate chicken with the given ingredients for 1/2 hr to 1 hr in fridge. Then in hot oil fry chicken pieces till golden brown & keep aside

Step 2 : In a pan, add oil, garlic pieces, chilly flakes, cashew nuts & saute well then add spring onion bulb part & little leaves, capsicum carrot broccoli & beans & let it cook for sometime ,now add the sauces & chicken pieces & saute for few seconds till all combine well. Take off heat & garnish with spring onion leaf part.......

Goes well with fried rice or noodles