Ugadi Pachadi

Nandana Nama Samvatsara Ugadi Subhakankshalu :)

Early Morning, the first thing we Andhrites have on Ugadi empty stomach is a Chutney/Pachadi (unique blend of Sweet Sour Bitter Salty Spicy Flavours!)

Banana mixed with Varied Flavours just like the Different Flavours of Life, Sweet (Jaggery), Sour (Raw Mango, Tamarind), Bitter (White Neem Flowers), Salty (Salt) & Spicy (Red Chilli Powder)

The Flowers need to be separated completely from the Green Stalks, even though they are minutely small as seen in the picture which may otherwise lead to Utter Bittery Taste

We do this by rubbing the Flowers Gently on the palm of our hands

So lots of transformation in the Andhra Kitchen as new items come in like New Jaggery is used starting today in the preparations

In Guntur, the Pachadi is eaten on the Mango Leaf folded like this


Tips:
In Tamil, the Neem Flowers are called Veppam Poo
Read somewhere that Green Chillies are added instead of Red Chilli Powder here but Traditionally Powder is used

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Some Great Ideas to Plan Your Valentine's!!

Start Planning early from now on which is like a Month ahead & you can make this a great Valentine Surprise your Spouse!

Valentine Dinner:

Begin the Multi Layer Spread with Soups & Starters & End with Desserts, thing like a Warm Soup, For Main Course International a Classic though Eggless Ravioli Or in Indian Cuisine White & Pink Colored Heart Shaped Layered Pulao with Fresh Raita would be some Great Options to Woo your Partner!

Plan on Including some Pomegranate in your Meal as by the time you finish reading this Post, I am sure you will love this Fruit to the Core just as I was Amazed!

Pomegranate was supposed to be the actual Fruit of Temptation in the Garden of Eden, instead of an Apple. It is perhaps the most Celebrated, Fascinating, & Mysterious Fruits in the World. The Islamic Faith believes that Pomegranates grow in the Gardens of Paradise & the Quran mentions Pomegranates 2 Times more the Worth of All the Gifts God creats!

http://chefsanjeevkapoor.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-plan-your-valentine-meal-some.html

Strawberry Layered Cake for Me :D:)!!!!

Valentine Special- a Healthy Breakfast for the Morning after :)!!!!

Cheese & Onion Omelette:

Whisk Eggs, pinch of Salt

Add Parmesan & Parsley in the Egg Batter & Whisk

Sauté Onions till Translucent

Pour Batter on Pan, Add Onions

When done, fold in Half & Serve Fresh!

Tips:

Can fold Eggs with any filling of choice

Leave some Liquid Egg in the Batter before putting on the Pan as an Omelette cooks even on the plate, so it needs to be served right away fresh from the Pan

In case there is extra liquid left, leave it to settle on the Plate before eating

Eggs are such a good source of Protein in the Morning, is quick & easy to make & can be made either into an Omelette, Scrambled Eggs, Baked Eggs, Soufflé or Frittata

French Crepes:

Simple, Light, Easy to make but look like they took a lot of effort to make!

Nutella Spread

Banana Sliced

Mix Eggs Add some Flour & Whisk

a Free Flowing Batter is very important for this Recipe

Heat Butter in Pan

Pour the Batter

Rotate & immediately Drop back the extra Batter in the bowl straight from the Pan so that a Thin Layer of Crepe stays back on the Pan

Add Bananas, Nutella on top

Fold & Sprinkle Icing Sugar

Tips:

Can make the next Crepe with Lemon Juice & Sugar 

just the same way, one can experiment with the Toppings available in the Next Crepe

Bircher Muesli:

a Traditional Swiss Recipe which is far superior to any Breakfast

Cereal filled with loads of Nutrition for the Day ahead!

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Fresh Fruit Custard

Fresh Fruit Custard

Classic Soul Food & Old Favorites!

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

Eggs- 4 No’s

Sugar-

Milk- 300 Ml

Single Cream- 100 Ml

For the Fruit Bowl:

Bananas- Sliced

Oranges- Segmented

Pomegranate (Anar)-

Pears- Chopped

Apples- Chopped

Vanilla Essence-

Method:

Separate the Eggs Yolks from the Whites

Add the Eggs in the Double Boiler

Add Sugar in the Eggs & now start to Whisk as they heat in the boiler till it becomes Pale & Frothy

In a Sauce pan, add Milk Add Single Cream

Infuse it with Few Drops of Vanilla Essence, Crushed Cardamom Pods & Whisk

Pour the Egg Yolk Mixture into the Milk

Heat this Mixture on very Low Flame so it simmers gently

Gently stir the Custard till the Egg Yolks are cooked & the Custard thickens

If Needed let the Flame be little higher & also keep a watch on it

Take the Custard off the flame

Strain the Custard in case lumps are formed

Keep aside & let it cool

Add a touch of Vanilla Essence again

In a Bowl, Mix Bananas, Oranges, Pomegranate, Pears Chopped, Apples Chopped & keep it refrigerated till just before Serving

In the Fruits Bowl, Add the Custard through a Strainer & Combine Well

Serve in Individual Glasses like a Martini Glass etc.

Decorate it with Anar & Serve Fresh!

Tips:

Interestingly, ‘Stressed’ spelled backwards is Desserts!!

Few Techniques to keep in mind while making Fresh Custard are:

Preventing Oxidation

Using a Double Boiler

Cooking the Delicate Eggs

So the Double Boilers are good to have gentle heat & to have control over the heat

One of the Great Custard always has Fresh Scooped Vanilla Pods

Put a heat Diffuser Mat (Metal) under the Pan to avoid Overcooking/Burnt Custard

If the Custard is a bit Thinner in its consistency, just make some Flour-Custard Semi Liquid Mix & add it in the Custard so that it starts to Thicken

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Jump Start Your Day with a Healthy Breakfast!

Jump Start Your Day with a Healthy Breakfast!

Cereal with Indian Touch:

In a Bowl, Add a Packet of Cereal with Kesar Pista Flavoured Syrup, Add Nestle Low Fat Blue Packet Milk & Consume Fresh

Dragon Fruit & Yoghurt Smoothie
Dragon Fruit- 1,
Fresh Apricots- 2
Sugar Free Drops- 2
Hung Yoghurt- 2 Tbsp.
Milk- 1/2 Cup
Ice Cubes- 6 -7
Corn Cereal- 3 Tbsp.


Peel & Cut the Dragon Fruit into Chunks
Deseed & dice up the Apricots & put in a blender along with the Dragon Fruit
Put the Sugar Drops, Yoghurt & Milk
Blend Nicely
Add Ice Cubes to cool it rapidly
Add the Corn Flakes & Blend to smooth & silky texture
Serve it in a Tall Smoothie Glass with Cereal as Garnish!

Melon & Kiwi Fruit Smoothie:

In a Blender, Add Nice Pulpy Fruits like Papaya (Good for Weight Loss), Kiwi (Great Source of Vitamin C), Melon Fruits like Cantaloupe/ Honey Dew, Black/Green Grapes, Plums, Milk, Natural Sweetener Syrup & Any Plain Breakfast Cereal & Blend till Smooth

Pour In Glass/Bowl & Serve Fresh!

Tip:

Early Morning Fibre is great for the Digestive System & it also lowers Heart Diseases

Mixed Nut & Oatmeal Muffin:

Whisk Castor Sugar 140 Grams & Soft Butter 140 Grams together till Creamy

Add 4 Eggs & gradually Whisk them one at a time

Add Baking Powder 1 Tsp., All Purpose Flour & Fold Gently

Add Half of the Toasted Nuts (Walnuts Almonds Cashew Nuts)

Keep the other Half of the Nuts for Sprinkling on top of the Muffin Batter just Before Baking

With a Spoon, Fill the Paper Muffin Cups in a Silicon Mould, Sprinkle Oatmeal on Top & Keep to Bake in Oven for   Minutes at   Degrees C

When done, Remove & Serve Warm!

Tip:

Can add Dried Fruits like Cranberries, Raisins, Chocolate Rocks etc. Instead of Nuts in the Muffins

Sweet Banana & Cranberry Pancake:

In Flour 225 Grams, Add Sugar 25 Grams, Sugarfree 35 grams (as good as Sugar1/10 ^th Calories of Sugar)

Melt Butter in Microwave (this is optional but the Pancakes do turn Buttery Soft with this step!)

Add 2 Eggs in the Flour Mixture, a Big Pinch of Baking Powder & Whisk

Add Melted Butter, Milk 300 Ml Gradually & Whisk

Add Dried Cranberries (this gives the Sweet & Sour Taste with Lots of Energy, Vitamins & Minerals) & Whisk Well

Add a Pinch of Salt & Whisk

Keep the Batter Aside in Fridge

Pour the Batter in the Pan

Add the Sliced Banana on top of the Pancake

Turn the Pancakes when Golden Brown on one side

Add Butter in the Pancake

Serve Warm with Fresh Kiwi Fruit & Papaya Slices!

Tip:

Pancakes are also called Flapjacks in the US as there is Race in many parts of USA where the Runner with the Highest Flips wins these Pancake Races!! 

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Banana Pudding with Caramel Sauce

International Dessert Special

Banana Pudding with Caramel Sauce

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

Ripe Bananas- 3 No’s

Soft Butter- 175 Grams (6 Ounces)

Brown Sugar-

Castor Sugar- ½ Cup

Self Raising Flour- 2 Cups

Baking Powder- ½ Tsp.

Eggs- 3 No’s

For Caramel Sauce:

Single Cream- 1- ½ Cup

Brown Sugar- 3- ½ Cup

Method:

Mash Ripe Bananas in a Bowl with a Fork

In a Mixer, Add Soft Butter, Brown Sugar, Castor Sugar

Add Self Raising Flour, Baking Powder, Eggs & Whisk till Nicely Combined or for about a Minute or so

In a Lined Rectangular Aluminium Baking Tin, Spray Cooking Butter

Adjust & Fold the Butter Paper hanging out length wise on both sides

Pour the Mixture, Smoothen it & Give it a Shake so it settles down

Keep it to Bake in a 120 C Oven till done (Check with a Skewer to see if it comes out clean)

For Caramel Sauce:

In a Thick Bottomed Sauce Pan, Mix Single Cream, Brown Sugar & Let it Simmer till the Mixture turns Sauce like & thickens

Pour this Hot Liquid Caramel over the Pudding

Cut in Slices & Serve Warm!

Tip:

Brown Sugar adds a Nice Caramel flavour to this Dish

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