NALABAGHAM

I ain't good at drawing but I can say with confidence that I can cook quite well and make everyone happy, with a good meal. Cooking is an art and with passion & Love for it we can create so many wonderful dishes....Loving it everytime...

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Spicy Tomato Chutney

Chutney's are always a hit in every South Indian household where idlis and dosas adn kichdies and upmas are  a normal part of breakfast or dinner...
Most of the time we end up with no idea of what chutney to make. This is a slight variation to the regular tomato chutney.

Ingredients:-

Red onion - cut in cubes - 1 big one
Garlic - 5pods (chopped)
Tomatoes ripe - cut in cubes - 1 cup
Coconut - 1/4 to 1/2 cup
Red chili powder -as per spice required
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Tamarind - 1.5 inch piece
Curry leaves - 10 - 15 leaves
Cilantro - a few
Olive oil or cooking oil - 2 tbsp

For Seasoning:-

Coconut oil - a few drops
Mustard Seeds
Urad dhal
Hing / Asafoetida
Curry leaves a few chopped

Method:-

In a kadai heat the cooking oil and when hot add the curry leaves and cubed onions and fry till it turns pink and soft.
Add the chopped garlic pods in it along with the tamarind.
Add the tomatoes, chili powder, turmeric powder and salt and let it cook till the raw smell goes
Add the coconut and fry it till the oil seperates and once done remove from the stove top and add the chopped cilantro and mix and keep.
When cool grind into a fine paste by adding water only if required.
For seasoning, in a tempering small pan add the coconut oil and when hot add the  mustard seeds, urad dhal, hing and curry leaves and when the spluttering stops add it to the ground chutney and serve with hot dosas and idlis. I also eat it with rotis.


Apple Topping

Since I am just starting now after so long decided to write up a recipe which is easy and sweet.
A friend of mine a few months back had told me about this warm topping for icecreams and it did taste great...
Once you try this you will not need to add syrups to your icecream ever...

You will need:-

Any sweet apple - skinned and chopped fine - 5 cups
Brown sugar - 2 cups (or as per ur sweet tooth demands)
Nutmeg powder - a few pinch
Dry toasted coconut flakes small sized - 1/4 cup optional
Butter - 1/4 cup


Method:

In a non stick pan  melt the butter and add the chopped apples and let them cook on medium flame till almost tender.
Add the brown sugar and let it mix well and melt. Make sure the heat is maintained at medium or low only.
Once the water evaporates and it starts to soften well add the nutmeg powder and mix and remove from heat.
You can add the toasted coconut flakes on top when it cools down.
Serve it warm on any icecream that you love.
It goes well with toasted bread too....

I will add a picture for it once I make a second batch of it sometime...

Bon Apetite and don't blame me if you get cavities after eating this, as you are not gonna stop with just a small spoon of it. Have fun...



Been So Long....Where do I begin??


Been So Long.....
Time Time that is one thing that doesn't wait for us. So true, I haven't been on this little blogging page of mine for more than a year. Though feel bad about it, I know that I had my priorities set with my kids and family taking most of my time. No regrets about it, but to not get time to do stuff that I love the most feels like losing a part of me itself.
So I have decided for starters that I am gonna try and do at least one post every week and then move on...Its been a while since I have created or tried any new recipes either, its time for me to put on the apron and start to work on those recipes again.

I am not sure from where I am gonna start but am sure I just gotta turn my head in the right directions....
I did miss all of you for sure...