Pineapple Jam in Microwave

    Im a Jam lover.... when my SIL introduced to eating with dosa with jam i just felt love with eating everything with Jam.I love to have jam with Dosa,idli,chappati and poori.oh i forgot and my daily toast.i love soo much and after blogging i thought of trying jam in home.So my first experiment is Strawberry Jam and already i finished it.Well for my company, my lil one shares with me.

     I bought a pineapple from costco and we are not in the mood of eating.Mostly i freeze it and use with our juice.But my hubby told me to make jam with pineapple.So i did with my microwave.oh my... i think this is great way to make jam.Its easy and messy free and you dont have to sit near the stove and keep on stirring.Do try and let me know.

Ingredients :
Pineapple Puree : 3 cups
Sugar : 1.5 cups(I used 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup light brown sugar)
Lemon Juice : 2 tbsp

If you like few pieces of chunks in your jam you can cut into small cubes and mash it with potato masher or puree the small cubes in blender to make puree.I blended them to make puree.

1.In a big wide bowl,mix puree and sugar.
2.Add the lemon Juice.
3.Pop into M/W,set for 5 mins.
4.Take out and stir.
5.Pop again and set for 20 mins and stir in between as the mixture boils overflows.
6.Keep checking and stir every 3 mins until the jam thickens.
7.When you drop the jam from a spoon,it has to come altogether.
8.Cool and store in a jar and store in fridge.

Enjoy with some toasted bread or even with chappati.

Have a nice weekend.

Sending this to PJ's MEC-Favorites and originally started by Srivalli

Also to Srivalli's 365 days of Microwave Cooking

50th Post with a Sweet!!(Gulab Jamun)

Yay!! I made to my 50th post....

First of all...i want to Thank You each and everyone who visits my blog ,go through my recipes and leaving wonderful comments. These comments are making me create more recipes. My heartest thanks to all of you.THANK YOU.

Starting a blog really did change something in me.I am a homemaker and making normal cooking in day to day to life.But after starting this blog,i started trying new recipes from other blog.Starting to make more healthy meals and i am happy with this and my family.

For this 50th post i am giving you a sweet recipe which is... Gulab Jamun.Yes most loved by all ,
Gulab Jamun... loved by elders to kids...I made this Gulab Jamun and also made a Black Forrest Cake for my lil one's Birthday last weekend.

I had planned to make a cake, my hubby asked me to make another indian sweet.Every time i make,i do with MTR Gulab Jamun mix,but this time i made fully homemade.Like i said,im trying new thing.For homemade Gulab Jamun recipe where did i go...ChefInYou.I love her blog and also those lovely picture.I found her recipe of making Khova and also Gulab Jamun,  made this yummy Gulab Jamun.It came out really good and tasted yummy too....You can find step by step picture in Chefinyou(Gulab Jamun)

Make your own khova when you are baking or doing some cooking,as this takes around 2 to 2.30 hours.You cant leave this as you need to stir contionously to become thick and finally khoya.

To Make Khova.

Ingredients:
Milk : 1.5 litres(full fat)

In a Non-stick pan,bring milk to boil.when it boils simmer to low to medium and keep stirring.Once in a while keep stirring until it becomes thick and becomes khoya.Store in refridgerater.It stays good for 1 week.I made this before night and used the next day to make Jamuns.

To Make Gulab Jamun.

Ingredients :
For Gulab Jamun:
Khova : 1.5cup
Maida/AP flour :1cup
Cooking soda : a pinch
Oil for frying

For Sugar Syrup:
Sugar : 3 cups
Water : 1 cups
Saffron : 1tsp
Cardamon Powder : 1tsp

In a Large pan bring sugar and water to boil.Once starts to boil add saffron and cardamon powder.
Meanwhile mix maida,khova and cooking soda.add little by little water to make smooth and soft dough.
Spread some ghee in your palm and make a small lemon size ball.
Deep fry them in oil till all sides are brown.
Toss it in sugar syrup till they are warm.

Enjoy !!!

Sending this to EFM-Sweets and Savories for Diwali Series... event hosted by srishkitchen

Eggless Oatmeal Raisin Cookie or a Biscuit

It was my last weekend after lunch i was in a craving for some sweet.Also on the outside it was raining and it made me crave more.So i started searching/googling for some baked goods.I thought of making cookie,and what came to my mind is eggless oatmeal raisin cookie.I found this recipe in cdkitchen and i tweaked to my comfort and made this cookie.

As this is my first attempt in making cookie it came out as a biscuit like crispy.For the chewyness,raisin came to my help and it was good with cup of tea.Try to dip some in tea and you will be hooked.I added a tbsp of cocoa powder to give hint of chocolate flavor and it did give a flavor to the cookie.

Recipe adapted from cdkitchen

Wet Ingredients :
Butter :1/2 stick soft
Light brown sugar : 1/2 cup

Sugar :1/4 cup

Water : 1tbsp

Vinegar : 1/2 tbsp 

Vanilla essence : 1/4 tsp

Dry Ingredients:

Salt : a pinch
Quick cooking oats : 1/2 cup
Raisins,:1/4 cup 
AP Flour : 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp
Cocoa Powder : 1tbsp
Baking powder : 1 tspBaking soda : 1/2 tsp


1.In a bowl combine wet ingredients and whisk well.
2.In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients and add the raisin.
3.Combine the wet ingredients to dry flour and make dough.
4.preheat the oven for 350F.
5.Grease a Cookie sheet and make a small ball and flatten it.
6.Bake for 15mins or till the cookie is brown.
7.Leave room for each cookie as it spreads.


I didnt have vinegar in my hand and added yogurt,so it became little watery so cudnt able to roll as a dough.I kept a spoonful in cookie sheet.

The end result is crispy and tasty chocolaty biscuit.Have a hot cup of tea and enjoy!!!

Sweet Potato and Channa Curry

This is a quiet quick and easy curry made easily.Last weekend i thought of making chole bhatura and so soaked up channa in the afternoon.I made bhatura but cudnt able to make chole as i didnt have all the spices to make perfect chole.So need some spicy yet quick tasty curry to match up with bhatura.This is really tasty goes well with roti,chappati and rice.

Ingredients :
Sweet potatoes : washed,peeled and cut into cubed
Channa : soaked in water for 5 to 6 hours and pressure cooked.
Tomatoes : 1 big or 2 small
Ginger : 1/4' inch piece
Green Chilli : 1
Chilli Powder : 2tsp
Coriander Powder : 1tsp
Turmeric Powder : 1tsp
Salt : as per taste
MTR Multipurpose Curry :2tsp
Coriander Leaves for Garnish

1.Cook the channa in the pressure cooker upto 3 whistle.
2.Grind the tomato,ginger and green chilli.
3.In a pan,add 2tsp of oil and add mustard and cumin seeds.
4.When it crackles,add grounded paste and sweet potato.
5.Add all the spices and close the lid.
6.Cook in medium heat till the mixture comes to half.
7.Add salt and channa.
8.Mash some channa and also add little water to make it gravy.
9.Adjust the spices.
10.Garnish with Coriander Leaves.

Variation:
Use whatever spice you have in your pantry like pav bhaji powder.
Dont have sweet potato,use potato.

Sending this to Side Dish Showdown hosted by cinnamonspice.

Lentil Cabbage StirFry-Inspired From Champa

I got this recipe from Champa who is a wonderful cook and baker.I love all her recipes mostly cakes.When i was going through her recipe index today morning i found this stirfry.It feels like this would be a perfect sidedish for our lunch.I did tried and came out really good.With a hint of ghee and hot rice this would be my perfect combination.Thanks to Champa.

Ingredients:
Cabbage : 2 cups
Moong Dhal : 1/2 cup
Green Chilli : 2 or as per taste
Turmeric Powder :1/4 tsp
Hing : a pinch
Salt : as per taste
Coconut : 2tsp(optional)
Lemon juice (optional)
Coriander Leaves for Garnish

For Tampering:
Mustard and Cumin seeds with Curry Leaves.

1.Dry Roast the Moong dhal until lightly brown.
2.Wash and cook the moong dhal until lightly crunchy.
    Can use pressure cooker or stove top.
3.Chop the cabbage.
4.In a kadai,add oil and mustard seeds.
5.When it crackles,add cumin seeds,curry leaves and hing.
6.Add chilli,cabbage and turmeric.
7.Cook until cabbage is almost done.Sprinkle some water.
8.Add the cooked dhal,salt, coconut and cook until cabbage is done.Keep in Low heat.
9.Add Lemon Juice and Garnish with Coriander Leaves.

Sending this to MLLA # 25 hosted by Siri and started by Susan.

Wheat & Oats Chappati

I got this idea from priya's blog.She makes healthy and tasty recipes and blog about it everyday.So i thought of giving a try.It came out really good.To make it more healthy i added sweet potato and mint leaves.It tasted really good and healthy too.

Ingredients :

Wheat Flour : 2 cup

Oats Flour : 1 cup

Sweet Potato : half(boiled and peeled the skin)

Tomato : 1small 

Mint Leaves : a handful

Chilli Powder : 1tsp

Garam Masala : 1tsp

Salt : as needed

Ghee : 1tsp

Water : as needed

Oil : 1tsp

Dont have Oats flour.Dry roast instant oats in kadai for 5mins and grind into fine powder.

Smash the boil sweet potato.

Grind the mint leaves with tomato.

1.In a bowl,add wheat flour,oats flour,potato,spices,ghee and salt.

2.Sieve the flour to combine the sweet potato and spices altogether.

3.Add the ground paste and mix.

4.Add little by little water to make a smooth dough.

5.Add oil and cover,rest for 15mins.

6.Take a small lemon size ball and roll in to a chappati.

7.Heat a griddle,cook the chappati on both sides.

8.Brush with ghee and enjoy with raita or some curry.

Notes:

Can use Green chilli too.Make spicy by adding more chilli powder.

Thai Eggplant in Tamarind Sauce

When i saw this little Thai Eggplant,it reminded me of one we get in my native place Udupi.So i just picked some from indian stores and made sambar and made this gojju.It really doesnt take much time.In fact it takes  less time than writing this post.

My Mom and also MIL both makes this as a side dish with rasam and rice.Its like a little accompany with rice.
Tradionally this was done by directly showing in fire in stove top and peeling the skin and combined with tamarind sauce.It gives a smokey taste to the eggplant.
I have a electric stop(coil type) so i boiled and peeled the skin and made this dish.If you have a stove top,try by showing in fire,as it will burn and peel the skin.

Ingredients:
Thai Green Eggplant : 3
Lime size tamarind : soaked in warm water.
Green Chilli : 3
Salt : as needed.
Jaggery : 1tsp

For Tampering :
Mustard and Cumin seeds with curry leaves.

For Garnish :
Coriander Leaves.

1.Cut and boil the eggplant in water till it gets cooked.
2.Cool and remove the skin and smash the eggplant.
3.In a bowl,extract the pulp from tamarind.
4.Add green chilli,eggplant,jaggery and salt and smash well
5.Tamper with seeds and curry leaves and add to the dish.
6.Garish with Coriander Leaves.
7.Enjoy with hot rice.

Notes:
Adjust the green chilli as per your taste.
This taste really good by making 1 hour before,as tamarind and green chilli leaves their taste.

Vegetable Sandwich

This is my all time favorite and quite easy too.I love sandwich and this is my version when i am out of time.This has lots of veggies and with a spread of coriander chutney and cheese.yummy...I always have coriander chutney in my hand so i can use as a dip or a spread.The measurement for veggies is eyeballed so play with your veggies.

Ingredients:
1.Wheat Bread : 4 piece(can use white bread)
2.Coriander Chutney : 4tbsp
3.Cheese : 4 slice
4.Carrot : 2 Grated
5.Small Potato : 1(chopped small pieces)
6.Beans :1/4 cup(chopped small pieces)
7.Capsicum : 1/4 cup(chopped small pieces)
8.Tomato : a handful
Salt and pepper as taste

In a skillet,add a tsp of oil and add cumin seeds.
When crackles,add potato,beans and capsicum.
Fry a little,then sprinkle some water to get the veggies cooked.
Add the carrot and keep frying.
Add salt and pepper as per taste.Remove from heat.

Quick Coriander Chutney.
Cut the end part in coriander leaves and grind along with green chilli and salt.
In a pan with 2tsp of oil,fry for 5mins or till turns dark green color.

Now for sandwich:
Spread the chutney in one slice of bread and top with seasoned veggies.
In a another bread,lay a cheese slice and cover.
Toast the bread in  toaster and enjoy with some ketchup.

Dont want cheese,add shredded cheese a little.
Want more spicy,add pepperjack cheese.

On its way to Healing Foods-Carrots hosted by VeggiePlatter and brain child of Siri.

Strawberry Jam- T&T from Veg Inspiration

When i was going through various blog i found this Strawberry jam.It urged me to try and i did.WOW...Loved it and already finished half of the bottle.I loved it soo much.It takes 50 mins to make this jam.Its easy and im sure you all love the taste.Use fresh  Strawberry to make this.I followed the recipe from VegInspiration. Thanks to her.

I'm going to make this again or try different type when i finish this one.

All you need is:
Strawberry : 1lb
Sugar : 2 cups
Lemon Juice : 2tbsp

1.Wash and blend the strawberry into smooth paste.If you like pieces in you jam add some small cubed strawberries.
2.In a heavy bottom vessel,add strawberry puree with sugar and lemon juice.
3.Bring to boil in medium heat.
4.Rest yourself in a chair near the stove and keep stirring in between.
5.After sometime,the puree will get tired and it will start to calm down.
6.You know when its done,if you take a spoonful it wont fall of quickly and sticks together.
7.Switch off and cool down and tranfer to glass jar.
Enjoy with toasted bread and butter.Yummy.....

Bubbling.....strawberry & sugar(happy)

Now they are tired...

totally tired...

and ready to taste.

Enjoy and happy weekend.

Sending this to T&T-Veg Inspiration event hosted by Taste Space.

Fruit and Nut Milkshake

This is a milkshake you got to have.Its healthy as contains all the fruits and also the nuts.I make this everyday in the evening.Perfect for anytime.Quick and easy to make and healthy too.

Dont have time to cut.Use frozen fruits.Fruits like peaches,nectarine,apricot,raspberry,blackberry,mango goes really well with this milkshake.

Ingredients:
1.Apple-1 (peel the skin and cut into small pieces)
2.Strawberry-5 washed
3.Banana-1
4.blueberry-1 cup (fresh or frozen)
5.Peach-1(peel the skin and cut into small pieces)
5.Almond-a handful
6.Walnut-a handful
6.Milk-1 cup

Cut the fruits in to small pieces.
In a blender,blend all the fruits with nuts and milk.Add some water to make to blend well.
Serve chilled.

Don't want milk,add orange juice and Enjoy!!

Gujarati Osaman Dal

When i made Jeera Rice i need some dal to serve with.I am a big fan of ChefInYou and she got quite a lot of recipes.I was going through her recipes and find this yummy Osaman dal which came really good and its a perfect match to Jeera rice.

This is made with masoor dal which is red in color.With a spoon of tamarind paste and jaggery and with all those tampering this tasted really yummy and tasty and quite easy too.

Though i served with Jeera Rice,can be served with Roti,Chappati or paratha.

Ingredients:

Masoor Dhal : 1 cup

Tamarind :a lemon size(soak in warm water)

Turmeric Powder : 1/2tsp

Jaggery : 2tbsp

Peanuts : a handful

Salt : as needed

For Tampering:

Mustard Seeds : 1tsp

Jeera/Cumin seeds : 2tsp

asafoetida : 1/8spoon

Curry Leaves : a few

Green Chilli : 1(slit longwise)

Coriander Leaves : a few

Dry Roast a handful of peanuts in kadai till sides are brown.Grind a little to give a crunchy powder.

Wash the masoor dal till the water is clear.

Boil the dal with 3 cups of water.

When it half boil add tamarind paste,jaggery,turmeric powder and salt.

When it fully boils add peanut.

In a another skillet,with a tsp of oil tamper with all those spices and fry a little and add to dal.

Make it spicy by adding extra green chilli.

Serve with Rice or roti and enjoy!!

Sending this MLLA#25 hosted by Siri and started by Susan. 

Jeera Rice

Rice cooker comes really handy when you dont have time to cook or not in a mood to cook or should i say planning dinner for friends comeover.

I made this jeera rice with dal, Aloo paratha and mutter paneer when some friends came here last weekend.This is quite simple and healthy and easy one.


Ingredients:
Basmati Rice : 1 cup(Soak the rice in water for 30 mins)
Jeera : 2tsp
Cinnamon : 1'inch piece
Cloves : 2
Bay leaves :2
Green Chilli :1
Pepper : 1tsp
Salt :as needed

In a skillet,add 1tsp of ghee and oil,add all the spices and fry for a minute.
Drain and add the basmati rice and fry till the rice sticks to the bottom.
Transfer to rice cooker with 2 cups of water and salt.
Cook till nice and fluffy.
Garnish with Coriander Leaves.

Serve with simple tadka dal and its a fullfilling meal.Enjoy!!

Mango Strawberry Icecream

Last month i had problem with my laptop,so cudnt able to blog often.so what i did??i tried some recipes which i never thought i could do.Thanks to those lovely comments.

Here are some recipes i tried..

Strawberry Jam(coming laterb)

Wheat Ladoo

Coriander Leaves Chutney

Mango Icecream

This is the time to enjoy all those juicy magoes.aahhh its yummy,tasty,delicious.For me i got full of mango fans.Cut into pieces,chill and serve,that all my hubby and lil one needed.I had half a can of condensed milk,after making cake and i used one mango to make this icecream.First im not sure how this will turn out and after tasting it it was sooo yummy and tasty.I added strawberry for extra flavor.Im going to try new flavor in near future.

Its simple and easy to make all you need is wait to set

You need:

Mango:2

Strawberry:6 

Half Can of Condensed Milk

Heavy Whipping Cream 8 fl oz

Peel the skin from mango and make a pulp with strawberry.

Whisk together Pulp,Condensed milk and Cream.

Set in freezer in a steel container for 2 hours.

Take out whisk again and set in again.

After 2 hours take again and whisk.

Do this process like 3 times and set for 8 hours or overnite.

Scoop out and Enjoy!!!
 Top with Nuts,Blueberry or Chopped Strawberry.

Vegetable Pulav

Rice cooker comes really handy when you want to cook something simple and easy or in a hurry.You can saute the veggies and rice with spices and transfer to rice cooker and that will do the rest of the work.Here comes the veg pulav which i make quite often with my rice cooker.

This dish is quite simple and easy to make.Every one have their own version of making Veg Pulav.This one is mine which i go when im not in the mood to cook(like weekends) or to make something quick.This is served with raita or some curry.I go with cucumber or tomato raita.

I like to add lot of veggies in this so when it cooks with rice,the veggies gives a nice flavor. My lil one likes to eat this pulav with those veggies.

Ingredients:
1.Basmati Rice-1 cup(Soak in water for 30mins)

Vegetables:
2.Carrot-1cup(cut into small round shape)
3.Cauliflower florets-1cup
4.Peas-1/2cup
5.Capsicum-1/2cup
6.Potato-1cup(cut into large cube)
7.Beans-1/2cup(cut into small round shape)
8.Paneer-1cup

These vegetables can be added to pulav,you can go with whatever you have in hand.

Spices:
1.Bay Leaves:2
2.Cinnamon:1" piece
3.Cloves:2
4.Cardamom:2
5.Star anise:1
6.Pepper:1/2 tsp
7.Chilli Powder:1tsp
8.Coriander Powder:1tsp

Grind Together
1.Mint Leaves:a handful
2.Coriander Leaves:a handful
3.Ginger:1tsp(shredded)
4.Green Chilli:1

1.In a skillet add 2tsp of oil,and add jeera/cumin.
2.When it crackles,add all the spices except chilli and coriander powder.
3.Fry for few seconds and add the veggies one by one excpet paneer.
4.Add the grinded paste with salt.
5.Add 2tbsp of curd with chilli and coriander powder.
6.Drain the water and add the basmati rice and fry till the rice sticks to the bottom.
7.Add 2 cups of water and adjust the salt.
8.Tranfer this to rice cooker and that will do rest of the work.
9.Fry the paneer cubes with little oil or ghee till golden brown and put in cold water.
10.Once the rice 3/4 done, drain and add paneer pieces to the rice.
11.Once done,Garnish with coriander leaves.

You can increase the spice level by 2 to 3 green chilli as i limit to one.
This goes well with raita or dal.


Im smiling when i type this,looks like my lil one is joining me in blogging..One day i was cooking she came to me asked me to come..i went with her and she kept all her letter in patio told me to take photo of those letter.
i did and she is doing more often.i will showcase those whenever i get.

Peach Watermelon Smoothie

Yay!!! i got my laptop back.It had a problem ,went to store and came back fully charged.Its like i was missing something.

This one is quite simple and easy smoothie to make and also to cool you in summer.The peaches gives a nice texture to the juice.Adding sugar is optional.

Ingredients:

Watermelon :3 cups

Peach : 2cups

In a blender,blend watermelon and peach and serve chilled.

Easy and healthy.

Sending this to Sizzling Summer event going in SpicyTasty