Happy Holi 2012 !!!!

Holi - the festival of colors - is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of Hindu festival. It's an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colors!

The main day, Holi, also known as Dhuli Vandana in Sanskrit, also Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in South India. (Source Wikipedia)

To celebrate this holi i made gujia .. To know the recipe click here

Potato And Green Peas Gravy (Pressure Cooker Version)

This year has been very lucky to me, because i have been travelling alot to attend weddings. This is not the end i have one more wedding coming up in April and i don't no how many will come up in future. It feels good when you meet alot of people and do more and more shopping but i feel pity for my husband :) On 18th of feb he went to London for a week and the next day we went to faizabad to attend my SIL wedding. The wedding was very very grand and beautiful that was the first wedding i attended in north India. Usually people says north Indian wedding are very grand and beautiful.. YES they are right. These days were tiring but very enjoyable...

Ingredient's
2 cup green peas
3 potato cut into medium sized pieces
2 onion, 3 tomato, 3 green chillies
2tbs red chilly powder, 1/2tbs turmeric
1tbs garam masala, 1tbs coriander powder
1tbsp ginger garlic paste
1tbs cumin seeds
Oil and Salt as per taste
Copped coriander leafs for garnishing

Cooking Method
In a pressure cooker, add oil, when it is hot add cumin seeds, when they splutter, add onion, and green chillies fry it to golden brown. Then add all the masala powder and ginger garlic paste and fry for 5 to 6 minutes, then add tomato's and fry till it starts leaving oil. Now add green peas, potato and salt, mix them all together nicely and add 3 cup of water, close the lid and cook for 3 whistle (1 in high flame 2 in low flame) Garnish with chopped coriander leafs and Serve hot with Rice and Roti.

Khus Syrup With Lemon Cooler

Citrus khus cooler, chilled drinks are definitely cool, but they may not necessarily be cooling! on hot summer days, especially if you are going to be serving spicy food at your party, it would be ideal to have cooling drinks such as this one, this combination of khus, kewra and falooda seeds makes a delicious drink with cooling properties. Always serve in a tall glass with lots of crushed ice..

Ingredient's
4tbsp khus syrup
2tbsp lemon juice
1tbsp basil seeds (Soked overnight)
1 large mug cold water
few eyes cubes

Method

Combine the khus syrup, cold water, lemon juice and crushed ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Then transfer it to mug and add basil seeds. Pour the drink into 4 individual tall glasses and serve garnished with Lemon and Mint.

Palak Dal Fry.. (Spinach With Lentil Curry)

Palak dal fry very healthy and easy dish. Few days back i got lot of spinach from market and wanted to finish every thing with in 2 or 3days and i had no option what to cook except few dishes from spinach. Then i though lets make palak dal with little bit of twist and it was tasty but different from palak dal. Usually i cook thick palak dal, but this time i added little more water to make it watery and it was going very well with plain rice and papad...

Ingredient's
Toor Dal 1/2 cup, Palak (4 Cups) 3 bunches
2 onion, 1 tomato, 2 green chillies, finely chopped
1/2tsp turmeric, 1/2tsp red chilly powder
1/2tsp coriander powder, 1tsp ginger garlic paste
1/2tsp cumin seeds, 1/2tsp mustard seeds
10 curry leafs
Oil and Salt to taste

Cooking Method
Wash and cut palak to a very fine consistency. and keep it aside separately. In a pressure cooker add dal, palak, tomato, ginger garlic paste, all masala powder, salt and with 2 cup of water. Close the lid and cook for 3 to 4 whistle in a medium flame.
In the mean time you prepare tarka. In a deep fry pan, add oil, When the oil is hot add cumin, mustard seeds and curry leafs, when they splutter, add onion and green chilies fry to golden brown and keep it aside to cool it down. When the dal is cooked open the lid and add the prepared tarka to it and simmer dal for another 4 to 5 minutes. Palak dal fry is ready to serve.
Serve hot with plain rice and papad..

Palak Biryani (Spinach Rice) Pressure cooker version

I'm back from my long holidays!!! After so many days i'm writing my blog again and i'm not having any idea what should i write, this happens with me every time when ever i give a long gap in my blog writing then i will not know only what to write. After a long holiday i'm feeling lazzy to cook some different dishes except dal and rice. I had this recipe in my waiting list from a long time, i think now the time has come to post this Palak Briyani recipe. Since i'm not cooking any other dishes..

Ingredient's
3 cups of shredded spinach
1 cup basmati rice
1/2cup mutter, 1/2cup chopped beans
1 large onion, 2 green chillies, 1 large tomato (sliced thin)
1tsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp coriander powder, 2tsp ginger garlic paste
2 bay leafs, 1 green cardamom, 2 dry red chillies
Oil and Salt to taste

Cooking Method

Wash and keep the rice aside with 2 cup of water. In a pressure cooker add oil, when the oil is hot add bay lefas, dry red chillies and cardamom, when they turn brown, add onion and green chillies and fry to golden brown, then add all the masala powder, ginger garlic paste and tomato, cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Now add the green peas, beans, spinach, rice and salt. mix them all together and add 2cup of water. and close the lid and cook for 3 whistle (1 in high flame 2 in low flame)
Serve hot with Raita.