Almond Biscotti.

Almond Biscotti. I have tired baking this in India also many times but when I baked the same biscotti again here I don't know some how they taste better and they look better may be because of the different oven. My hubby surprised me by finishing it all in 2days even I ate more then 3 and it was tasting awesome. He was telling me that I have wasted so much of money buying cookies, biscuits from outside, this taste better then that and I would love to have this in my lunch box as a evening snacks... Omg I was on the could nine when he told me that because it is little hard to convince my H when it comes to food.. This yummy and crunchy biscotti which goes very well with tea or a coffee..

Ingredient's.

2 cups of plain flour

2 large eggs

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1tsp baking powder

1tsp vanilla essence

1tsp orange zest

3/4 cup roasted alomnds

1/2 cup black raisin.

Baking Method.

Pre-heat the oven 180c for 10 minutes.

In a mixing bowl add flour and baking powder and mix them nicely. roughly chop the alomonds and mix it with flour and set it aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugar beat untill light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, vanilla essence and orange zest beat for another 2 to 3minutes

Then mix in the dry ingredients and beat untill the dry ingredients are well mixed.

On a lightly floured surface roll dough into a log about 14 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. Transfer to baking tray and bake for 30-40 mins. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 mins.

Then cut into slices 1/2 inch thick diagonally and arrange evenly on baking tray. Bake for 10 mins on each side (until they are firm). Remove from oven and cool.

Store them into airtight container.

Chicken Curry Sandwich.

Chicken Curry Sandwich. This is made with left over chicken curry with fresh veggies and garlic mayo. All of sudden sandwiches have become my favourite and I just want to eat sandwich all the time they are so tasty, filling and so quick to make it. I don't know why all this time I have avoided eating them because I use to not like the way sandwich looks. But now I'm amazed the way they taste and I make it colourful so they look appealing to me.... By just adding few veggies and some meat of your choice to bread and little sauce can make a amazing food and now I know why people over here are so crazy about sandwiches..

Ingredient's.

2 slices of brown bread

1 chicken curry piece with little masala

4 thinly slices of tomato

4 thinly slices of cucumber

4 thinly slices of red bell pepper

2 big leaves of iceberg lettuce

1tsp garlic mayonnaise.

Method.

Apply the garlic mayo on the bread evenly. Shred the chicken piece and place it on the bread with a chicken masala. Then place all the other veggies on top of the chicken and top with another slice of bread.

Tasty and quick chicken curry sandwich is ready to eat.

Serve with Fresh Juice.

Hyderabadi Bagara Baingan / Baby Eggplant In Coconut Creamy Gravy.

Hyderabadi Bagara Baingan.. This rich and cream baby eggplant gravy cooked with peanuts, cashew and coconut masala paste, which goes very well with rice, naan, roti and you can make a dry version and serve as a side dish too and this gravy is must in my family when we cook briyani.. This is one gravy which I can eat many times and I won't feel bad. In my childhoods days I use to be not a big fan of eggplants but now it's opposite. My hubby likes the dry version and I like the gravy, so when ever I cook this I have to convince my H to eat the gravy but he only eat's eggplants not a gravy and that's also fine with me because I get to eat the gravy for next day's lunch.

Ingredient's.

6 purple baby eggplants (baingan)

2tbsp cashew, 2tbsp peanuts

2tbsp grated coconut

1 onion (chopped fine)

2 green chilis (whole)

2tsp ginger garlic paste

1/2tsp turmeric, 1tbsp coriander powder, 1tbsp red chilli powder

1 tsp jeera/cumin seeds

2tbsp tamarind paste

Oil and Salt to taste

Freshly chopped coriander leaves for garnish.

Cooking Method.

Dry roast the peanuts and cashew until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Then grind together with the coconut and little water to form a smooth paste.

Slit the eggplants and fry in a 1tsp oil until soft but still holds shape. Drain and set aside. In the same kadai add more oil, add cumin, when they turns brown, add onions and ginger garlic paste fry until golden. Then add the ground paste and fry for a minute.

Then add turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder and salt. Mix well and fry for another minute.

Add the tamarind and 1 cup of water, mix, then add the brinjals and cook for 5-10 mins on a medium heat. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Serve hot with Rice, Roti or Naan.

Instant Rava Idli.

Instant Rava Idli is the best and healthy breakfast. Idli use to be only breakfast dish before in my house but nowadays it has taken the place in lunch, dinner and even evening snacks too. I'm a very big fan of idlis because there is no oil or any masala and they taste great without chutney too. Here in England I'm not able to make over night idli or dosa batter because of the horrible climate, since last 4days it is continuously raining. Keeping this climate in my mind I came up with instant idea using little bit of active yeast.. I know it wont give the same taste but it's better then nothing and I'm happy with it. For this rava idli instead of yeast I have used baking soda and they were very soft and spongy. If your idli is soft and spongy then what else you want.

Ingredient's.

1 cup rava (sooji)

3/4 cup curd

1/2tsp finely chopped giner

1 small onion, 2 small green chillis (finely chopped)

2tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Pinch of baking soda

1/4cup of water

Salt to taste.

Ingredient's For Tempering

1/4tsp channa dal

1/4tsp urad dal

1/4tsp mustard

Few chopped curry leaves

1tbsp oil.

Cooking Method.

In a big mixing bowl, add rava(sooji), curd, onion, green chilli, ginger, baking soda, salt and water, mix them all together well and set it aside for 10 minutes.

In the mean time heat water in a idli steamer and make tempering using all the tempering ingredients. Then mix the tempering into the rava mixture and give quick stir, add more water if you needed to bring it to the right consistency of idli batter. Now pour the ladle full of idli batter into the idli maker trays and steam them for about 15 to 20 minutes.. Take idlis out.

Serve hot with Coconut Chutney and Sambar.

Masala Vada / Sabbasige Soppu Masala Vadai / Dill Leaves And Lentil Fritters.

Dill Leaves Madala Vada.. Dill is a unique plant, because both its leaves and seeds are used as seasoning. It is rich in vitamin A, C, B6, folates, riboflavin, calcium, iron and other important minerals. Using of dill leaves in masala vada it is very common in south India and they make different varieties of fritters with this leaves. Even I love adding this leaves in different recipes and I cook dill leaves saag with potato, when goes very well with roti.. When ever I cook this leaves at home the smell of the leaves stays for atleast 2days and I love that and I rarely cook any fried items but when ever I cook I always make it a point to add fresh green leaves.. Adding dill leaves to fritters it gives a very nice smell and unique taste and you'll end up having more.. The people who are weight concious needs to watch out when you cook this masala vadai.

Ingredient's.

1 cup channa dal

1tbsp sooji/rawa

2tbsp besan

1 Onion, 3 green chilles(finely chopped)

1/2tsp fennel seeds

2tbsp chopped coriander and mint leaves

1 spring curry leaves

1 inch piece ginger

5-6 garlic cloves

Salt as needed

Oil for deep frying.

Cooking Method.

Soak channa dal for 3-4 hours. First grind ginger, garlic and fennel coarsely.

Then drain channa dal completely and add it in two batches and grind coarsely. (Not too smooth)

In a mixing bowl add grinded channa dal, fennel mixture. Then add onion, green chilles coriander and mint, salt, sooji, besan and curry leaves.

Keep a bowl with water and wet both hands. Make equal sized balls first for uniform sized vadas. Mean while Heat oil in deep frying pan. Shape each ball to flat patties of medium thickness.

Deep fry in hot oil until golden in colour,flipping once in between. Cook in medium flame to ensure even cooking and golden colour. Drain in paper towel.

Serve hot with tea/coffee or coconut chutney as side dish for vada .