Friday, July 27, 2012

My First Throw Pillow

Few days back I was googling to find some pillow ideas. I went across lot of websites and finally came with my own idea of this pillow. I wanted to make a pillow with the materials that I already have in hand. I had this table cloth and some embroidaery floss and decided to do with these. I dint even know what the final product will look like. Once I started to work, lot of ideas popped up but what to do cant do everything in one. However I was happy with this outcome.. Have to try more once we settle somewhere..



I have used French knot and single chain stitch for the flowers here..


Holy Mary with Baby Jesus statue that we bought from Basillica of  the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at Washington D.C.



Thursday, July 26, 2012

My Try with Kasuti Work

My first try with Kasuti work.



My First Cross Stitch Kit


My new work at home for the past few weeks...
Saw a cross stitch kit in a Walmart near our home, having interest in sewing I bought it. Very happy that it came out to be a very beautiful decor in our home.


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Healthy Apple and Dates Smoothie

“Apple and dates improves our red blood count” Is it true? Whatever may be, we know that fruits are always healthy. So lets try to have this drink which is easy to make and be healthy.
You get 1 cup of drink with the following recipe.


Ingredients
Apple (small sized) 1No.
Dates 4 Nos.
Milk 1/2 cup
Honey 1tsp.
Procedure
Put all the ingredients into the blender and grind until it becomes smooth.
Have it fresh, else apple may may change the color of the smoothie.
Now its ready… Have it fresh and be healthySmile.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Spicy Fish & Rice

Hey friends…Thanks for visiting my blog. This dish tastes like biriyani, so you can call it Fish Biriyani too or whatever you want. But only thing I know is that it tasted too good. This is a simple and easy lunch recipe that you can prepare on a busy weekday morning. You can even cook the plain rice the previous day and refrigerate it, that makes your job much easier. ok lets see the recipe now

Servings : 2
Ingredients

For fish

Fish 2 medium fish steaks
Shallots 2 nos.
Black pepper powder 1 tsp.
Cumin powder 1/4 tsp.
Red chilli powder 1/2 tsp
Salt as required
Oil 3 tsp.
Grind all the above ingredients except fish and oil. Apply this paste to the fish and marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.

For Rice

Basmathi rice 1/2 cup
Tomato 1/2 no. or 1 small
Onion 1 small
Mint leaves 5 leaves
Green chili 2 nos. Split lengthwise
Coriander powder 1 tsp.
Garam masala 1/2 tsp.
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp.
Red chili powder 1/2 tsp. optional
Ginger paste 1/2 tsp.
Garlic paste 1/2 tsp.
Salt as required
Raisins 10 nos.
Oil 1 tbsp.
Procedure

  • Apply 1 tsp. of oil over the marinated fish.
  • Heat a flat pan. When its hot apply 2 tsp. of oil.
  • Now place the fish pieces on the pan.
  • After few minutes turn the fish to cook the other side. If needed add one more tsp. of oil.
  • Do this until both sides are well cooked
  • Note: Keep the stove in low flame until the fish is cooked on both sides. After that you can increase it to medium flame to get a crispy taste.
  • Now let us see how to prepare rice.
  • Wash the rice thoroughly and cook it with 1 and 1/2 cup of water and 1 tsp. of salt. Once the rice is cooked drain the water and spread the rice in a plate.
  • In a pan add 2 tbsp. of oil and heat it. Add thinly sliced onions and sauté until it becomes brown.
  • Now add ginger and garlic paste and saute  for few seconds.
  • Add tomato ,mint leaves and split green chilies, saute them. Once the tomato becomes soft add the raisins, garam masala, coriander powder, turmeric powder and red chili powder and saute for few seconds. Add a tbsp. of water (and salt if required) to get a paste like consistency.
  • Now add the cooked rice and mix well. Turn to a very low flame and close the pan with the lid. Add the fish to the rice.Let it stay for 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the rice and collapse the fish.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Bun Stuffed with Mushroom and Green Peas Masala

I saw this stuffed bun in one of the food blogs few months ago and I wanted to give a try. Finally last Saturday I made it and  followed this recipe for the bun and my own masala stuffing. We were on Easter lent, so there is no option for chicken or any other non-veg stuffing and  soI decided to use mushroom. Here goes the recipe fo the vegetable stuffing that I used.

Ingredients:
Onion 1 no.
Mushroom
1 pack (15 to 20mushrooms)
Green peas 1 tbs.(optional)
Coriander powder 1 tsp.
Cumin powder 1/4 tsp.
salt as required
Green chilli 2 small
Ginger 1/2 tsp.
Garlic 1/2 tsp.
Garam masala 1/2 tsp
Red chilli powder 1/4 tsp or less.
oil 2 to 3 tsp.



Procedure:
1. Clean the mushrooms and slice them small.
2.Similarly slice the onion and green chilli into small pieces.
3. Make a paste with ginger and garlic or slice them small as much as you can.
4. Heat 3 tsp of oil in a pan. Put ginger and garlic into the oil and saute them for 1 minute.
5. Now add onion, green chilli and salt required to the pan and saute them until the onion becomes soft.
6. Add coriander powder, cumin powder, chilli powder and garam masala to this and saute for few seconds.
7.Finally add green peas (I used cooked frozen green peas) and mushroom and saute until mushroom is well cooked.
Allow this mushroom masala to cool down before stuffing in the bun.
Enjoy it with a cup of coffee or tea.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Plain Butter Cake


Ingredients

All purpose four (Maida)      1 cup
Egg                                       4 nos.
Butter                                  2 sticks (1 cup)
Sugar                                   1 cup
Baking powder                    1 tsp.
Vanilla Essence                    1/2tsp.
Raisins                                  10 nos





Procedure
  • Powder 1 cup of sugar in a blender(mixie).
  • In a big vessel mix 1 cup of butter with the powdered sugar. Mix well to get a paste like consistency.
  • Beat 4 eggs well using the blender(mixie).
  • Add this egg to the butter and sugar mixture and  mix well.
  • Add 1tsp. of baking powder, raisins and 1/2 tsp. of vanilla essence  with the above and mix well.
  • Add all purpose flour little by little and mix well until it becomes smooth.
  • Transfer the mix to the baking pan.
  • Meanwhile set the oven to 350 F.
  • After 10 minutes keep the pan into the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
  • Note: Do not open the oven now and then. Check only after 40 minutes.
  • Allow it to cool and then serve.

Enjoy the cake…. Do let me know if you tried my recipe….

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Idiyappam


Ingredients

Rice flour   1 cup
Water         1 and 1/2 cup
salt              1/2 tsp.




Procedure

  • Roast 1 cup of rice flour in a pan (keep low flame) for 5 minutes.
  • Note: Don’t roast until it becomes brown color.
  • Boil 1 and a half cup of water in a vessel with 1/2 tsp. of salt.
  • When it comes to a boil, switch off the flame and add the flour and mix with a spoon.
  • Allow it to cool down. When it is hot enough to touch knead the flour to get soft dough.
  • Insert a portion of the dough into the idiyappam maker (It gives dough in the form of noodles).
  • Press the dough into the idli moulds. Sprinkle some grated coconut. Again prees the dough using idiyappam maker on the grated coconut.
  • Similarly fill all the moulds.
  • Steam cook the idiyappam for 10 minutes.
 Serve with kadala curry or chicken curry.