Milk Peda

 On my second try I was able to successfully make this peda! Here we go..

• Add less than quarter cup ghee to tava, warm it
• Turn it to low flame, then start adding..
• half cup milk, 2 cups milk powder (Deep - Milk Mawa Powder)
• Quarter cup sugar and mix all well without lumps
• Keep cooking in low flame until it starts to thicken
• It wont become like a dough, turn off the gas when it is almost a dough
• Add cardamom powder mix well, Let it cool
• Make shapes and place on a plate lined with parchment paper
• Cool it in fridge or serve as is

Note: the more you cook, it will start to turn color even on a low flame, so turn off as soon as you see the color changing a bit

Eggless Banana Bread

 Recently I have been trying out few eggless recipes and this one turned out well...

• Over ripe bananas (US size 😆) - 3 - mashed well
• Seive together 2 cups maida (all purpose flour) or 1 cup maida, one cup wheat flour, one teaspoon baking soda, one teaspoon baking powder
• In a mixing bowl, add 2/3rd cup oil, half cup turbinado raw sugar, one spoon vanilla extract, 1/4 cup curd/yoghurt
• Stir well with whisk and then add banana and mix well
• Add the flour little by little in cut and fold method, do not over stir
• Add chopped walnuts and give a gentle mix and move to baking tray
• Turn on oven at 325 to 350'F and bake for 45 to 55 mins depending on your pan
• Yummy eggless banana bread is ready

Thenkuzhal / Murrukku (Raagi too)

 Atlast decided to save this recipe in my blog, loved making and eating them..very tasty and crispy!

• Soak one cup white whole urad for an hour
• Pressure cook, let it cool for atleast 2 hours
• Grind in mixie with water to fine paste, quick it grinds 
• Add 5 cups rice flour, one tablespoon or little more salt
• Add hot oil one Karandi , make the dough 
• And make these shapes...tastes yum yum 
• Alternatively - you can do 2 raagi flour : 3 rice flour, sesame seeds, etc

Enjoy making them!!!

Zucchini Bread

Similar to my dates bread, banana bread...I did this one, here we go for the simple recipe

• 3 large eggs, 1/3rd cup oil and one cup turbinado raw sugar - beat well
• Add 2.25 cups of buttermilk pancake mix or any baking mix you have
• Add 2 cups of grated Zucchini and mix all of the above well
• Preheat oven at 350f and bake for 45 to 55mins, check if it is done
• Cool well and then cut into slices

Almond Flour Cookies

Atlast made it on my third attempt, tried to follow youtube video, but kept melting and merging like a flat bread. So decided to post the recipe in my blog on what helped me to get to this shape :-)

• Butter - 200gms + few gms is ok too if the bar weighs more
• Add to a bowl, bring to room temperature and whisk manually for few mins
• Add one cup powdered sugar and mix it well
• Add one full egg and one spoon vanilla extract, mix well
• Use a flat spoon or spatula and start adding the flour in four batches (using the seive)
• 4 cups almond flour and 3 cups of buttermilk baking mix (pancake mix)
• Finally mix well and move the dough into a ziploc bag 
• Put in Fridge overnight
• Next day make small rounds and flatten little and slit using knife (slightly), no deep cuts
• Place in a plate, wrap with plastic wrap - put it in freezer for 10mins
• Preheat oven at 350f and place the cookies in a tray or baking sheet
• Bake for 15 to 20mins, keeping an eye.
• When almost brown, turn off and cool it well before U touch!!!
• Yum yum cookies are ready

Mushroom Peas Masala

Have been wanting to make a gravy out of it earlier, now that I have both these veggies.....lets do it. Loved the flavor! For those of you in the US, please check out English Peas fresh in the vegetable section (not frozen) in Trader Joes. It tastes really good, not sweet.

Recipe:

* Wash peas and save in bowl. Remove mushroom skin and wash, chop into big chunks
* Do your usual onion, garlic, tomato, ginger masala, let is cool, grind into paste
* I added cinnamon, bay leaves, clove to saute/grinding stuff, as I ran out of garam masala
* Add oil to tava, add the ground masala
* Add turmeric, chilli powder, channa masala powder, little sambar powder if U like
    and then add salt too
* Let the masala cook for 5mins and then add the veggies
* Let it cook in medium for 15 to 20mins, then turn off
* Top with fresh Cilantro and serve with rotis/rice/dosas...I like with anything 😍😍

Mint Rice

Recently heard this recipe thru my hiking buddy and decided to try sooner!
Thanks to Raji for the homegrown Mint 😍😍

Recipe
* Saute in oil - one spoon jeera, little ginger, garlic, 3 g.chillies
* Add a bowl full of cilantro and another bowl full of mint - all washed
* Add a tiny tamarind peice and saute for just 2 or 3 mins
* Let it cool and grind well with half cup water
* Cook basmati rice one cup with 2.75 cups water in rice cooker and let it cool
* Add oil to tava - season with mustard, channa dhaal, one red chilli
* Add cashews - roast well, then add roasted peanuts, ground green paste
* I added green onions as well and then in few mins, add cooked rice carefully
* Dont mash it, mix gently, so the texture of the rice is retained
* Serve with Onion Raita! Yummy yummy it was.

Mochai Masala - DVK Style!

U can try in 2 different styles! 

Version 1:
* Soak one cup mochai overnight and pressure cook with salt
* Grind raw - Cinnamon, cloves, pottu kadalai, coconut, one tomato, big jeera, ginger, garlic, turmeric, chilli powder, channa masala powder
* Saute in oil - Onion, tomato, curry leaves
* Add the ground masala, cook for 10mins
* Then add the cooked mochai and stir well and cook for 10 or 15mins
* Tastes really YUMYUM! Goes well with idli, dosa, curd rice, rotis.

Version 2:
* Soak one cup mochai overnight and pressure cook with salt
* Add oil to tava, season with mustard, urad, big jeera, curry leaves
* Add chopped onion, tomatoes
* Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, sambar powder and little channa masala powder
* Add salt for the suated stuff and then cook well for 10mins
* Then add the cooked mochai and stir in one or 2 spoon kadalai maavu mixed water.
* Cook well for another 10mins and top it with cilantro!

Salad Dressing (Yoghurt based)

Posting after a break!

Homemade dressing 
* Grind - a handful of mint, little chaat masala, lemon juice, one green chili, cummin, salt
* Then mix with Greek yoghurt or curd.

Salad
* Chopped into dices - Lettuce, orange, yellow Bell peppers, Cucumbers
* Add Cherry tomotoes

Optional - you can add parruppu vadai, goes well with this salad and dressing...similar to falafels!