Chemeen puttu

After long time  I called up a relative . I am not chat person so its very difficult to keep pace with the few  talkative ones in the family.  Information is i am the only odd one out as i am the only one( cousin) to be a gulfie in the family.  But i never miss any getogethers. As I just wanted to ask about a recipe that my cousin  cooked for her daughter's husband(.newly weds) . It so happened that she ( my cousin)  was not keen on studies so her parents got her married off early . While the whole bunch of us were drilling up for exams she was the only one doing The Honeymoon ,The Babymoons. We all admire her for her attitude . She knew exactly what she wanted in life . No fuss no hasstles and with a pretty temper in head she settled  for one daughter in this life .. hehe..  her mother in law is fuming at this decision of having no more kids ever.  hut i must say that she is an excellent cook .. its like' hath mey jaaddu' hau types. ...simple ingredients and quick movements in the kitchen , she can make a dozen dishes  in no time.

Anyway, there were few prawns left in the pantry that I had reserved to try this recipe for dinner. However it didn’t happen for breakfast. since I had an appointment to cover . So made it for dinner .i  just wanted to post them as i got good

reviews from my family too. Aj was surprised seeing puttu for dinner..樂 .Then I thought, why not.. cause after all its oil free and healthy too.


Ingredients

250 gm prawns - deveined and cleaned well .
2 nos onions ( chopped )
1/2 inch piece ginger,  chopped
 1/2 tsp  chopped  garlic
1 teaspoon Red chilly powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon Pepper powder
2 teaspoon tomato paste
2 teaspoon cashew paste
3 Green chilly  chopped
1 small tamarind
1/4 teaspoon Ginger garlic paste
Garam masala - a pinch
200 grams Puttu podi ( Roasted rice flour )
100 grams grated coconut
150 ml.Water
30 ml.Coconut oil
Curry leaves - a few
Salt to taste

Method (STEP WISE )

Step 1

Take roasted rice flour in a bowl and add some salt. Slowly add water little by little over the rice flour and mix well. Continue this process till the flour becomes wet and smooth. Keep this aside for 10 minutes.

Step 2

De-shell and de-vein the prawns and wash well with water.

Step 3

Heat a pan, add prawns, 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp of red chilly powder, tamarind, ginger garlic paste, 50 ml of water, salt and cook this for 10 minutes on a low flame. Switch off the flame and keep aside.

Step 4

Heat coconut oil in a pan and add chopped onion, ginger, garlic, green chilly, curry leaves and saute untill onion turns brown colour.

Step 5

Add red chilly powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, pepper powder and mix well.

Step 6

Add cooked prawns, salt, tomato paste, cashew paste and mix well. Cook this on a low flame for 5 minutes. Prawns masala is ready.

Step 7

Heat Puttu maker, so that the water poured in the Pot ,starts evaporating.

Step 8

Now you can start filling the cylindrical steamer . Put 1 tbsp grated coconut and then 5 tbsp wet rice powder and 3 tbsp of prawns masala, Like this, layer the Puttu in steamer.

Step 9

Keep the steamer  on pot  and allow to steam for 8 minutes. When steam starts coming from top of the steamer, then its done and cooked well.

Step 10

Switch off the flame and take out the steamer .  By pressing behind the steamer with a long rod, take the Puttu out.

Step 11

Tasty Chemmeen Puttu is ready.

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Grilled Baba Ganoush/ Arabic cuisine

This baba ganoush is a bit different from its reknown own version. I'm hooked by the ones we get in the malls at the food counter. As friday nights is arabic day for us. We don’t mash the ingredients until smooth, we mash it roughly with a fork. Sometimes we even leave it as it is and call it Roasted Eggplant Salad,or my mom calls it kanju! But whatever, it is  almost with the same ingredients.   We either have it with lavash or pita bread or as a side dish with nothing alongside.

Previously i posted my first starter recipe and that was mini cheese bites .If you are looking for a starter recipes ,look no further, these flavorful dips are filled with a smoky eggplant spread, also with a cute name called baba ganoush.

Its the burning that's involved in this recipe which gives authenticity to the recipe ,in which  the eggplants are cooked directly on an open flame to infuse them with a smoky flavor and the red ,yellow,  green  bell peppers are chopped finely and mixed along. 

This recipe takes some time to prepare but all the steps are very easy and the baba ganoush and bell peppers can be made ahead of time.

Ingredients

2 large eggplants
3 tablespoon thahina (sesame paste)
2 garlic cloves
1 yellow capsicum
1 red capsicum
2 green capsicum
Juice of one lime.
3 tablespoons oilive oil.
Chopped parsley for garnish ( optional)

Method

1.Preheat oven to 375F (190C).
2.Prick the eggplants randomly in a few places using a fork .
3.Roast them till chared on all sides. I personally prefer stove top roasted by placing it on a grill..though it can be  messy
4.When the eggplants get tender enough, take them out. The duration of roasting might differ depending on the type of eggplant you are using. So check yours after 40 minutes using a knife or fork. If a knife can easily be inserted, it’s soft enough and ready to be removed from oven.
5. Mash the eggplants roughly . I love to have few chunk pieces in my Ganoush. 
6. Now add all the chopped  garlic cloves. capsicum , thahina, lime juice along with smashed eggplants eggplants . Finally add the olive oil and mix well.
7. Garnish with parsley and serve .

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Pomegranate lime juice

Opening this year, I have decided to be more regular where  blogging is concerned.Oh goodness how many times have i writen this line and 'poof ' i disappear..... i have been planning out as much as i can even though I still have loads in my drafts to complete, I am going to take it straight out . Last year i started updating my blog  I have been wanting to do many recipes  but it hasn’t happened. But somehow i never felt like giving up . Hope this year will open new doors for me inshahaallah ....

I am starting off 2019 with this recipe RESOLUTION  Now as far as resolutions are concerned i have not made one as  I am likely to forget... not that i have tried and failed at it... so this year my biggest aim is to maxim my blog .. first priority. I know some of my friends who are so adamant to keeping up with the   resolutions nor do they speak about it aloud.  All they say they have goals to achieve this year !  Mashallah...i personally believe stick to yourself .. develop the soul , do a good deed everyday... very minut details do matter.. and very important... pamper yourself ....
And here'sa lovely recipe for the kick start .. enjoy.. and Readers please do leave a commnt below .. 

Ingredients:

2 cups Pomegranate Seeds  + more for serving
3/4 cup Sugar
2 Lemon Juice
Soda Water as needed

Method:

Blend the pomegranate seeds and sugar 

Strain well and add lemon juice 

Mix well 

Next add some seeds at the bottom and add the juice 

Just before serving add soda and serve it cold.

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White chocolate mocha

Today was a hectic day. I decided to spend time at home.  As i had some cleaning chores to complete , i decided to take the day off. But no sooner than lunch break came, i get the call to go to office for an emergency case ,  .. i groaned at Aj for such situations. When husbands are boss its a  difficult situation . I love my work but i really miss my cooking , being with kids and the reason why I just love harthals and sundays . Its a huge relaxation time for Me and Aj on weekends and we try to be recreational most of the time . But there are days when weekends are just dozzing in beds. Anyways me and zame had lunch together and that was a relief for me . Anyways  zame was complaining its been long since i  had lunch together . With that fulfilled i was content and rushed to work. Sometimes  everything is complicated nowadays. But  i always fight it out and tell my kids if your Imaan is strong then there is nothing to worry as long as we are doing it the right way. 

Actually i am not a chocolate fan. the main reason is baking too much in chocolate cakes make me dizzy by just the smell of it.But my kids love it . recently i had few bars left behind and it wouldn't last for any dessert  . I gave to zamee and he made recipe right away .  

Ingredients

• Milk - 1 cup
• 50 grams Good Quality White Chocolate 
• 1 tablespoon Coffee Granules 
• 1.5 teaspoon  sugar 
• Hot water as needed.

Method

Heat milk in  pan to boiling point  and cook till it is reduced .

Let it simmer for 5 mins.

Add in white chocolate  whisking gently till  melts.

In the serving glass pour the coffee and the granules with hot water

Add while chocolate mix and whisk well

Serve hot.

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Manakeesh,| ARABIC DISHES

I just wish to  jump into a pool. I love swimming . It simply let's you go of everything that just brainstorming.  I have been on  stress, my usual time partner and anxiety that always has a way with me.We are given the best by our master and still we are not able to understand its value . The stress really churns us upsides down in tummy and we end up leaving everything we put be to do further. For me my only  stress reliever is my kitchen and cooking .
I love baking and always have enjoyed it ever since i was young . While I posted chicken mandi recipe  , I had an array of dishes to make for this  month . So far, the process has been slow but steady. I am slowly wakening to try a few new and old dishes that are not yet on my space .  Very dearly you will find a couple of arabian dishes featuring on the blog  in the coming posts . 

I was introduced to Manakeesh by our Egyptian friend  . Actually i didnt like it at first . It was too salty for me .  That was when the bread festival at cornish bakes happened and I got my first bite of this dish. Mashallah it was so delicious  I ended up eating  and bought a whole bunch for dinner that night . That little portion that our friend gave us was a little mistake of overdose of salt . Realized myself then  From then, I had been wanting to make this at home and i found  manakeesh and cheese combo are my favorite. 

Ingredients

• 3 and 1/2 cups all purpose  flour 
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• A pinch salt 
• 1 teaspoon  yeast
• 2 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 and 1/2 cup lukewarm water
• Zatar paste
• 1/2 cup olive oil 
• 1/2 cup zatar

Method 

• Add all the dry ingredients into a bowl and mix  well . 
• Add olive oil and water and knead well  to smooth dough . Cover for one hour . 
• Mix zatar and olive to paste. Keep aside.
• After it has risen to  double the size, make small patties gently with hand, size of the inner palm .
• Add a tablespoon of zatar paste to one flattened dough . And spread grated cheese to the other . 
• I made 10 zatar and 10 cheese manakeesh each. 
• Bake for 5 to 10 minutes at 200 degree c.

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Instant white sauce pasta

This year is nearing its end. And my kids are enjoying planning their  coming vacation. And three of them want to go three different places . They are  in their own world of joy.  And as parents we are constantly calculating , changing and .... getting old.  Why am i feeling old  all of a sudden.... well the other day i was on my way to the office . I travel mostly by bus.. Actually I love it . Aj doesn't like it . Only when he is busy i get to travel by bus. . 
Usually the bus is a suffocating crowd and amidst all that its when the conductor calls me 'Amma . .. u may please move aside. !! ' ohh goodness.   First it was sister and now its amma ?!!. I gave him a look that made the poor thing shrink . The whole day i kept looking at the pouch mirror and .. quizing myself.   Am i old .. do i look old.. or was the guy just mistaken someone for me . .. 樂
My family is in full swing after listening to this hilarious story..
My Faizi .. youngest .. he remarked "umma dont get old otherwise you have to wear a nightgown like umama ( grandmom) and you wont look good in it. My heart melted when he said that . Young children always tell their innocent stories honestly.

Ingredients

2 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoon   Plain flour
1 cup Milk
A pinch of Salt
2 chopped garlic
1/4 teaspoon Oregano
 2 cups Pasta (i  used shells)
1/2 cup cream
2 cubes cheese ( cheddar)
1/2 cube maggie.
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon Chilli flakes.

Method

Cook macaroni in salted water as per package directions
Heat butter in a pan, add garlic and saute for a min.
Add in oregano and mix well.
Add flour and mix well.Add milk and cook till it starts to thicken.
Add the cream , cheese and maggi stock.
Add salt to taste.
Add cooked macaroni and mix well.
Serve

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Overnight oats

I must say this  is very old post backed up in my drafts and let me present you a full on, tummy filling recipe.  As much as i love  baking cooking has always inspired me   and it is evident with the amount of failure i had on my blogging experience i jump right back and start again with more recipe  which will be  included in it. My first and only big break was while moving to India. But i was extremely busy and excited too. The joy was all in the umpty no. of recipes i can  get hold of . Kannur is a food land . A place for just never ending snacks  and  bakes and this time i was this one, who was in a hurry to reach back  . But i love the Arab land i always have a feeling I will return next day back as though i am born to be there.  It's during my stay that i started having simple meals.  Especially living in flats and and a almost no- fun life ...we usually don't cook much . This was a runner recipe for me . I loved it on my first trials itself  As far as I am concerned, it was that tempting!

Oats and fruits  are  a beautiful combo.. i used honey . As i hate sugar in my oats anyway. . Normally i don't add sugar in anything like tea or coffee.  Somehow, I hate the taste of it and so...oats and fruits and honey . That's it.  I feel they are just too artificial! If we add sugar  .. My mom always says have sugarless u will know the real world and also how bland food really taste wonderful.
I thought she was being just scientific but it's true. 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup full fat milk
½ cup old fashioned oats
1 tbsp honey
I cup dry fruits of choice.
Few chopped strawberries.
Pistachio almonds and raisins to top

INSTRUCTIONS

Whisk the milk and oats in a glass bottle. Keep closed in the refrigerator overnight.Next day morning, top with fruits honey, pistachio and raisins and enjoy!
That simple isn't it .

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