Rustic Baby Red Potato Fry

                                        Rustic Baby Red Potato Fry

I was amazed the first time when I saw the variety of potatoes available here in the USA.Its available in 4 different colors red,gold,brown and recently in the wholefood markets I am seeing the purple ones.This edible tuber is on my list to grow  for this summer.It is beleived that it grows fast and easy to cultivate them.I was talking to one of my co-workers ,she is from Soviet Union and she mentioned Potatos are very vital part of their meal.She said she grew up eating potatos everyday .She said they would just sautee with anything.I agree with her its such a versatile tuber that could be combo-ed with any veggies ,greens,legumes.But I cook potatos only once in two weeks or sometimes once in three weeks .Potatos as such contains good carbs but when it is deep fried or fried in oil it adds calories.In my house we love potato fry .It shows up in my kitchen once in 2 or 3 weeks.I always have a couple of them handy ,incase if I have surprise guests or sometimes on weekdays due to lack of time I will turn them in to a quick subji/curry to go with rice or rotis.Anyway coming to its versatality I remember sometime back I saw a recipe for potato kootu.The recipe I am going to present today is a simple one.You might think what is so great about this recipe that has to show up in a blog.I feel proud to put it here ,my Toddler Daughter who is a picky eater  had 3-4 of these cuties.Do you see the reason behind it :).

Ingredients:

1.Boiled Red Baby Potatos  15Nos(with skin)

2.Oil -4 tsp

To Marinate

1.Salt to taste

2.Turmeric Powder 1/2 Tsp

3.Redchili Powder 1Tsp

1.I boiled the potatos for 2 whistles in a pressure cooker.You can boil them on stove top for about 15Mins.
2. Punch the boiled potatos with a fork.This is done for the spices to get marinated well.Dont overdo.One   gentle punch is good enough.
3.Marinate the Potatos with the above ingredients for about 1/2 hour.

To season

1.Mustard Seeds 1/2Tsp

2.Chana dal 1/2 Tsp

3.Urad Dal 1/2 Tsp

4.Jeera/Cumin Seeds 1/2 Tsp

5.Asfoetida a Dash

Method

1.Heat a heavy bottom pan/kadai heat the oil and add the seasonings mustard seeds,chana dal,urad dal,jeera/cumin seeds,asfoetida

2.Add the marinated Potatos.Adjust the salt

3.Fry until the potatos turn golden brown.

4.Enjoy !!!!

Note

1.If you remove the skin the marinating time can be minimized.

2.During seasoning you can add curry leaves.

3.At the end you can chopped basil or parsley.I added few chopped basil to mine.Tasted good.

Kande Pohe

                                           Kande Pohe

Kande Pohe is a Maharastrian delicacy .This is a very easy recipe. I have made only very few times.The reason behind it is I have a Marathi Friend 'V' ,whenever I think of it she will prepare it for me.I will leave the authentic Maharashtrian  do the magic.Pohe/Aval/Flattened Rice combined with Potatoes,Onions is "kande Pohe".I guess if you let your creative juices flow you can add any veggies to it.It will taste divine.'V' had mentioned that they have this dish during fasting/to break the fast  as potatoes and Pohe are packed with good carbs and gives immense energy lost during fasting.Pohe are easily digestable form of rice.I am sure the edible tuber is the favorite veggie for most of us.Today's recipe is a courtsey from my mom ,she prepared it for our  lunch boxes(She has come to stay with us for sometime :)) .She learnt it from one of those street food wallas when she and my dad made a recent trip to Jaipur.This dish always reminds me "Simplicity is Divine"

Ingredients

1. Poha Thick  2 Cups

2.Potatoed 1Cut to Small Pieces

3.Red Onions 1 Diced

4.Green Chilies 2 Cut

5.Ginger Grated 1 Tsp

6.Peanuts 2 Tsp

To Season

1.Mustard Seeds 1/2 Tsp

2.Urad Dal 1/2 Tsp

3.Chana Dal 1/2 Tsp

4.Jeera 1/2 Tsp

5.Oil 2Tsp

Hing a Das

Salt To Taste

Cilantro To Garnish

Method

1.Rinse the Poha nicely with water to get rid of the dirt and grime .Drain the water completely and set aside.

2.Heat a Pan/kadai ,with  oil , add the seasonings mustard seeds,jeera,chanadal,urad dal,hing and the peanuts and saute it for about couple of minutes.

3.When the peanuts starts to light brown add the grated ginger,green chilies, onions and poatoes.Saute until the potatoes are cooked .The potatoes will  turn soft when its cooked.

4.Add the  pohe ,salt and mix well.Leave it on slow flame for about 5 minutes and switch off.

5.Garnish with cilantro.If you like the lemon tartness ,add some lemon juice according to your taste.For color you can add turmeric.Its heaven.

Easy Breezy Pumpkin Ginger Pachdi

                               Easy Breezy Pumpkin Ginger Pachdi

We generally like to have variety at the  table especially lunch during weekends.Another reason there will be extra dishes becoz only during weekends I will have time to think and do an elobrate cooking.During weekdays anything under 30-60 minutes .Usually weekdays will be a keerai kootu,one veggie and rasam or roti and subji  or a thogayal,veggie and rasam or a salad,soup and rasam.Invariably I will make rasam all days since rasam is my last resort to make my daughter have her dinner if she doesn't lik the other ones.But I will give up to rasam only after few efforts.Anyway today's recipe  "Pumpkin  Ginger Pachdi" is a very easy and simple recipe you can make it in 10 minutes with few regular ingredients in hand.Here I go to the recipe.

                                Easy Breezy Pumpkin Ginger Pachdi

Ingredients

1.Yellow Pumpkin 1 Cup Grated

2.Ginger 1Tsp Grated

3.Cocount Oil/Oil 1/2 Tsp

4. Mustard Seeds 1/2 Tsp

5.Redchilies 2

6.Chana dal 1/2Tsp

7.Urad Dal 1/2 Tsp

8.Hing a Dash

9.Yogurt 2Tbsp

Salt to Taste

Method

1.In a kadai/pan heat the Coconut oil/oil and add the seasonings Mustard seeds, Rechiles,Chana dal,Urad dal,Hing .

2.Add the Grated Yellow Pumpkin ,Grated Ginger and Salt

3.Let it cook for about 5 minutes .The cooked sign is when the pumpkin starts turning soft.

4.once the pumpkin is cooked switch off the flame and add the Yogurt.Yep thats all your pachdi is ready.I added 1/2 Tsp raw EV coconut oil at the end ,it added extra flavor.

5.It can be a side dish or we like to have it with hot rice and ghee.

Notes

1.During seasoning you can add curry leaves.

2.Coconut oil adds flavor to any yogurt dishes.You can opt for any oil.

Easy Pepper and Potato Curry in Coconut Sauce

             Easy Pepper and Potato Curry in Coconut Sauce

I have always believed coconut/coconut oil contained no good fats only saturated fats that leads to cholesterol not until before three years back I started reading good facts about Coconut .When I started researching I see in all health forums,websites and in handouts in wholefood/organic stores encourages to use fresh coconut or extra virgin coconut oil for daily cooking.It states that the fat contained in fresh coconut and EV Coconut oil are good fats .But Coconut is good consumed only fresh or EV ,if its transformed to processed forms it contains Saturated fats.EV coconut oil contains 62% MCT which means medium chain triglycerides which are fatty acids , digested  by the body easily than other fats.

I never used coconut milk until recently for curries or subjis after being inspired by many blogs out there and reading the good facts about coconut I stocked my pantry with 3-4 Lite Organic Coconut milk.This curry is very simple and requires easily available ingredients.Here I go to the recipe

Easy Pepper and Potato Curry in Coconut Sauce

Ingredients


1.Green Bell Pepper  1 Diced

2.Potato Boiled 1 Diced

3.Red Onion 1Chopped

4.Tomatoes 2 Chopped

5.Green Chilies 2 Minced

6.Ginger Grated 1/2 Tsp

7.Garlic 2 Minced

8.Garam Masala 2Tsp

9.Turmeric Powder 1/2 Tsp

10.Lite Organic Coconut milk 1 can (I used Whole Foods Brand)

11.Cilantro Chopped to Garnish

12.Jeera/Cumin Seeds 1 Tsp

13. Dry fruits Roasted in Oil to Garnish (optional)

14.Salt to Taste

15.Oil 1Tsp

Method

1. Heat a Saute pan/kadai with the oil and add the jeera,garlic,green chilies,ginger,tomatoes and red onions.Saute until onions are golden brown

2.Add the green peppers ,salt  and saute the veggies until the peppers become tender and add the potatoes.

3.Add the Garam masala,turmeric and the coconut milk .Let it simmer for sometime.Switch off the flame it reaches your desired consistency

4.Garnish with cilantro and chopped dry fruits.We had it with rotis.It was so yummy.Actually I added some fresh grated ginger at the end .It had a Thai flavor.Enjoy!!!!

Simple Dal Tadka

                                          Simple Dal Tadka

The  dal tadka is all time favorite in my family.We have it with hot rice or just as soup or just as a wholesomemeal by itself with a salad.When I make dal tadka I don't stick to one dal.Sometimes I use just toor dal or moong dal or jmasoor dal or mix of all the three.Today's recipe contains moong dal .This is a very simple,easy recipe yet delicious,healthy one.

Ingredients

1.Moong Dal 1cup

2.Red Onion 1chopped

3.Tomatoes 2

4.Greenchilies 3 Chopped

5.Ginger 1Tsp Grated

7. Garlic 1/2 Tsp Minced

6.Turmeric 1/2Tsp

To Season/tadka

1.1/2 Tsp Mustard Seeds

2. 1 Tsp jeera

3.Hing/Asfoetida  A dash

4.Oil 1/2Tsp

5.Salt To taste

6.Cilantro to Garnish

Method

1.wash and Cook the dal along with the Tomatoes to 4 whistles.Once cooled down mash the tomatoes and dal using a ladle and keep it aside.

2.In a kadai/saute pan add the oil and when its ready for seasoning add the Mustard seeds,Hing ,Jeera,Greenchilies,Garlic,Ginger  and add the chopped onions and saute it until golden brown and keep it on a low flame.

3.Add  the mashed dal and tomatoes to the kadai/Saute pan .If the consistency is too thick add a cup of water.

4.Add the salt ,turmeric and let it simmer for few minutes.When it starts to thicken switch off the flame.

5.garnish it with cilantro/coriander and enjoy it as such.

Notes

In the picture I have served it with yet another simple recipe,jeera rice.The method is wash 1cup of basmati rice and In a pressure cooker add the basmati rice,1 tsp jeera,salt to taste and 1/2 tsp ghee and just add 1cup of water and switch off the flame for just 1 whistle.The water and rice proportion is 1:1 as the cooked rice should stay seperated from each other.Thats about it with jeera rice.You can cook the same way in rice cooker .

This goes to Mahimaa's Cooking Basics event

Jalepeno/Onion Chutney

                                Jalapeño/Onion Chutney

In my maternal house when we refer to chutney it is a side dish accompaniment. We will not have it with rice, the one we have it with rice is called Thogayal.There is no thogayal concept in my In-laws place. During the courtship period, I should say virtual courtship since my husband was in the US and me in India. My MIL would invite to their place almost every weekend for dinner/lunch (So Sweet of her) and I will be curious to know the menu and would pose the question "what's on the Menu' soon after the first few minutes of my arrivalJ, of course in a very subtle manner. On the list she would mention Pudina chutney to go with rice. I was confused initially how chutney can be a combo for rice. Then slowly I got the concept that Chutney is what Thogayal we call it. I guess for me when it comes to food I am used to the names from my mother's kitchen. In my kitchen I go by the names I grew up with .For example we call "Parupu Usili" and in my In-laws place they call it "Paruppu Arachu Kalaral"(which means grinding the Lentil Mixture) the process of making it is given the name. Anyways enough of my ranting let me go to the recipe. Today's recipe is chutney in terms of mine a side dish which goes very well with dosa/idli/adai/upma. It contains Jalapeno peppers. It tasted spicy and twists to our regular onion chutney.Generally peppers are meant good for our digestive system. Once in a while our food being hot is good for digestion.

Recipe Courtsey: My BIL

Jalapeno/Onion Chutney

Ingredients

1. Jalapeno Peppers -3

2. Onion -1

3. Green Chilies -2

4. Tamrind /Paste to Taste

5. Salt to taste

6. Oil 1/2 Tsp

Method

1. Peel and dice the onions. Dice the Jalapeno Peppers.

2. In a pan heat 1/2Tsp of oil, sauté the Onions and Jalapeno peppers together until the onions turn golden brown

3. In a blender add the sautéed onions, jalapeño peppers, green chilies, tamrind/paste, and salt and give it a whir.

4. The chutney is ready to accompany.

Notes

1. Generally Jalapeno peppers are not hot. If they taste hot in your area reduce the green chilies.

2.2 Green chilies were on the highs for us in terms of heat.

Tips for Sore Throat/Cold/Cough

Tips for Sore Throat/Cold/Cough

I know most of you with the snow over the weekend  would have cooked  like a storm.I was down with a viral fever and almost thought I caught up the flu.Good Lord it was just viral.The torture was I had a very bad sore throat  and body ache that I  couldn't drink even water.I almost lost like 6lbs(good for me) ,though I would want to loose the healthier way  not like this.Last weekend in east coast(NJ-PA area) we had like 8inches of snow and was anticipated much earlier.Knowing about the inclement weather prior and about the fact that we are  stuck in the house I had planned  a bunch of recipes bookmarked to do trial and error .But viral infection played the bad part.Anyway I am now recovering and able to sit and type some tips that helped me thru this tough time.

Sore Throat

1.Boil water to rolling boil and have it sip by sip,its is really soothing to the throat and helps fight the bacteria.Sore throat is mainly caused by bacteria

2.Boil water to a bearable point that you can hold it in your mouth ,add 2 Tsp of salt and gargle.The salt helps fight against the bacteria

Fever

1.Drink lot of liquids

2.Drink lot of  juice at room temperature.

3.Have Hot rice with Rasam.

4.Actually I had my DD's stock of Pedialyte, it helped me give instant energy with no food intake .Pedialyte is
Pedialyte Solution is a carbohydrate and electrolyte combination. It works by replacing electrolytes and carbohydrates in the body to prevent dehydration.Pedialyte
Cold/Cough

1.Boil water to a rolling boil add 1Tsp Vicks Vaporub and take steam bath covering your face,nose area.It helps relieve congestion

2.Fill the bath tub with warm water and add some  Vicks Vaporub and soak for some time don't overdo with the time as the Vicks may irritate your skin.Probably 10mins .


If your counterpart is well versed in kitchen ,he/she can make you this Kashayam

See you all soon with some recipes from my kitchen .:):)