Chicken Majestic

OMG!!! This is the best chicken curry I have ever made. Simply majestic I must say. Marination is the key ingredient in this dish.

Ingredients :

Chicken : 1 kg
Garlic : 10- 15 pods (Peeled and Crushed)
Green Chilli : 4 -5
Curry Leaves : 1 sprig
Pudina Leaves / Mint Leaves : 1 cup

Spice Powders :
Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
Chilli Powder : 2 tsp
Coriander Powder : 1 tsp
Cumin Powder :1/2 tsp

Oil : 3 tbsp + 2tbsp
Yoghurt : 1 cup (whisked)
Coriander Leaves : to garnish
Lemon Juice : 1 tsp
Salt according to taste


Marination 1:
Buttermilk : 1/2 cup
Salt according to Taste

Marination 2 :
Corn Flour : 1/2 cup
Ginger Garlic paste : 2 tbsp


Procedure :
1. Marinate the chicken with marination 1 and refrigerate for 4 hours ( Prick the chicken with fork so that it is marinated really well).
2. Now marinate it will marination 2 and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Now heat tbsp oil in a pan and cook the chicken with 3 tbsp oil. Cook for 10- 15 min till the pink color is disappeared and meat is properly cooked.
4. Now in another pan heat 2 tbsp oil, add crushed garlic and fry till it turns brown.
5. Now add green chilli, curry leaves, pudina and add spice powders immediately.
6. Now add whisked yogurt, add cooked chicken and salt.
7. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes and cook till the chicken pieces are well coated the spiced yogurt gravy.
8. Garnish with coriander leaves and a dash of lemon juice.

Marination 1

Marination 2

Cook with 3  tbsp

Potato Dosa

People laugh at me when I say I made potato dosa. They think I am talking about masala dosa. But its made out of boiled potatoes. The only problem with this dosa is that it sticks to the tawa. The batter should be thick as well as watery at the same time. At the same time try to make it mini dosa instead of making big one's as the batter does not spread. The batter sticks to the tawa until cooked. Just add a ladle full of batter on the tawa and let it turn crispy brown. And cook for a little longer time than normal dosa.

You won't get it right the first time you make it. Give it a 3rd and 4th try.

Ingredients :
Boiled potato : 1 cup ( I took one large potato)
Rice Powder : 1 cup
Green Chilli : 2 to 3
Coriander leaves : 5 to 6 strands
Jeera : 1/4 tsp
Yoghurt : 3 tbsp
Asafoetida a pinch
Salt according to taste
Oil for Roasting the Dosa

Procedure :
1. Grind all the ingredients other than rice powder.

2. Mix with the rice powder and add water; mix well till the lumps are removed.
3. Spread the ladle full of batter on the tawa and try not to spread it.

4. Add a little oil and cook for a little longer than normal dosa.

5. Flip and cook on the other side.

6. Serve with honey or murabba.

Batter Consistency : somewhere between idli and dosa batter

Batter Consistency

Oven Chicken Biryani

I am not a very good cook when it comes to making a Biryani. My husband's friend is an awesome cook. His biryani is something people look forward to eat here. So I called him home one day and learnt the art of making Biryani. It takes an overall cooking time of 2 and half hours (Other than the time for marinating). I know its a very long time. But "Kuch khaane ke liye, kuch khona padtha hai".

Ingredients :
Chicken : 1 kg
Rice : 5 cups

For Rice :

Butter : 2 cups
Cinnamon : 3 to 4
Cloves : 4
Star Anise : 3
Bay Leaf : 3 to 4

Onion : 2 (Cut vertically)
Green Chilli : 15
Tomatoes : 3
Pudina : 2 cups
Shaan Bombay Biryani Masala : 1 packet

Marination :
Chilli Powder : 2 tbsp
Coriander Powder : 1.5 tbsp
Ginger Garlic Paste : 2 tbsp
Curd/ Yoghurt : 1 cup
Cardamom Pods : 4
Pepper Corn : 1.5 tbsp
Cinnamon Stick : 6-8 (1" stick)
Star anise : 4
Lemon Juice : 2 tbsp
Salt according to Taste

Procedure :
1. Marinate the chicken with the ingredients under marination and refridgerate for 4 to 5 hours (If time is short just for 30 minutes).
2. In a pan melt 1 cup butter and add the marinated chicken and cook for 45 minutes till the quantity of chicken is reduced by 1/4th. (Try  taking a bite of this cooked chicken, it tastes like heaven)
3. In another pan heat 1 cup of butter add all the spice mentioned under for rice.
4. Followed by onion and cook till they turn pink, add green chilli, tomatoes and pudina and cook for 3 to 4 min.
5. Now add Rice, biryani masala, salt and water (1:2 = Rice : Water)
6. Once the rice 80% cooked take out a huge baking tray (which fits layers of rice and chicken).
7. On the baking tray spread a layer of rice and chicken and rice again. (As many layer as you prefer)
8. Preheat the oven to 400 degree Farenheit.
9. Cover the tray with aluminium foil and bake for 40 minutes.

Bhenda ani Batata Talasani

I really love Talasani. Talasani is a typical konkani dish where you add a seasoning of crushed garlic along with other veggies. In this particular variety I have used Lady's Finger and Potato.

Ingredients :

Lady's Finger : 20 (Julienne cut)

Potatoes : 2 (Julienne cut)

Garlic : 10 to 15 pods ( Peeled and crushed)

Chilli Powder : 2 tsp

Amchur Powder : 1 tsp

Salt according to taste

Oil : 2 tbsp

Procedure :

1. In a pan add oil followed by crushed garlic and cook till it turns brown. 

2. Add the chilli powder and before it burns add potatoes. 

3. Once cooked add chopped lady's finger followed by salt and amchur powder.

4. Simmer the flame and cook till the stickiness of lady's finger disappears.  

Simple Egg Curry

I cook this egg curry whenever I have no idea what to cook. This is the most simple curry ever.

Ingredients :
Eggs : 4 ( Peeled and Boiled)
Onion : 1 ( Cut vertically)
Tomatoes : 2 (Cut vertically)
Ginger Garlic Paste : 1 tbsp
Mustard Seeds : 1 tsp
Curry Leaves : 1 sprig
Oil : 1 tbsp
Red Chilli Powder : 1 tsp
Coriander Powder : 1 tsp
Chicken Masala : 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
Salt according to Taste
Coriander leaves : 1 tbsp

Procedure :
1. In a non stick heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and once they splutter add curry leaves.
2. Add finely chopped onions and fry till they turn brown.
3. Add ginger garlic paste and cook for another 2 minutes.
4. Add chopped tomatoes and once they are smashed add all the spice powders along with half cup water
5. Cut the boiled egg into half and add it in the masala.
6. And boil for 3 to 4 minutes.
7. Add salt according to taste and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

5 minute Chocolate Eggless Cake

This cake is made in 5 min in microwave.
Plus this cake is eggless. Any unannounced guest can be surprised with this yummy, spongy cake.

Ingredients :
All Purpose Flour : 1.5 cups
Baking Powder : 1/2 tsp
Baking Soda : 1/2 tsp
Cocoa Powder : 3 tbsp
Milk : 1 cup
Sugar : 1 cup
Oil : 1/2 cup
Vanilla Essence : 2 tsp
Lemon Juice : 2 tsp

Procedure :
1. Stir the sugar in milk and add oil, vanilla essence and mix well.
2. Sieve and Mix all the dry ingredients maida, baking soda, baking powder and cocoa powder.
3. Mix the dry ingredients with the milk.
4. Finally squeeze lemon juice at last and mix well.
5. Cool down and apply the frosting on top.

Cucumber Dosa/ Taushalli

I love neer dosa. This variation in neer dosa brings a freshness to it. Just add some cucumber slice while grinding the batter.

Ingredients :

Sona Masuri Rice : 1 Cup

Shredded Coconut : 1/3 cup

Cucumber : 1 small cucumber

Salt according to Taste

Procedure:

1. Grind all the ingredients together. (Water content is more in this dosa, the consistency should be watery)

2. On a tawa spread the batter (This is unlike the other batter you cannot spread it).

3. Rotate the tawa and spread the batter evenly.

4. Unlike other dosa's you need not flip and cook on both sides.

5. Serve with ghee/ Jaggery syrup/ Honey.

Soya and Brocolli Cutlets

This is the best protein filled combination. A best snack for kids when they come from school.

Ingredients:
Soya Chunks : 1 cup
Brocolli : 1/2 kg (Cut the stem and crush them)
Potato : 2 (Boiled and Peeled)

Spice Rack :
Red Chilli Powder : 1 tsp
Garam Masala : 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder : 1/2 tsp
Fennel Seeds : 1 tsp
Turmeric : 1/4 tsp
Cumin Powder : 1/4 tsp

Ginger Garlic Paste : 1 tsp
Milk : 1 tsp
Bread Crumbs : 1/2 cup (to coat)
Corn flour/ Egg Whites : to coat
Oil : to deep Fry
Salt according to taste

Procedure:
1. In pan heat water and milk; boil 2 times so that the smell is removed.
2. Drain Soya chunks, squeeze and grind them in a mixer.
3. Mix Crushed soya Chunks, crushed Brocolli, Potatoes, ginger-garlic paste and all the ingredients under spice rack.
4. Now roll them into small rounds and roll them into the binder (egg white/ corn flour paste) and coat with bread crumbs.
5. Deep fry them and serve with chutney.

Square Pattern

I fell in love with this pattern shared on a Facebook Crochet group and I tried it immediately.  I am very happy with the result.

Vatani Ambat

Ingredients:
Green Peas (soaked overnight)- 1 cup
Grated Coconut- 1/2 cup
Red chilies- 10-12
Tamarind- a small ball (Gooseberry Size)
Garlic- 5-6 Pods
Salt to Taste
Oil- 2 Tbsp

Procedure:
1. Boil the soaked Green peas for 4 whistles and lower the flame and keep it for 5 min.
2. Grind the coconut with chilies and tamarind.
3. Bring the peas to a boil by adding salt and later add the grinded masala from step 2 to the boiled peas.
4. In the seasoning pan heat oil and add the garlic pods (crush the garlic pods).
5. Add the seasoning to the boiled Peas curry.

Goes well with Idli, dosa and rice.

Gala Granny

Loved this one too :)

Clover motif

The size of the needle should be small. My pattern did not come out that well.

Adrienne Square

Another beautiful pattern :). I used dual colors.

Eight Petal Flower

Can be used as coffee coaster.

Picots

Tried and tested :)

Lacy Wheel Pattern

Tested and tried :)

Dogwood Motif

A few that I have tried :) I loved this motif.