Homemade Dinner Rolls (Indian Pav Buns)

Visit www.foodomania.com for the recipe & step by step pictures.
Link to this recipe - http://foodomania.com/homemade-dinner-rolls-indian-pav/

Caramelized Onion & Garlic Buns

I've learned quite a bit about the workings of yeast and the art of making bread, thanks to MasterChef Australia. I decided to put one of those tips to use. I've been thinking of making onion bread for quite sometime. But instead of adding the onion at the initial stages, I decided on caramelizing and adding after the dough has been prepared. Apparently, yeast doesn't like too much disturbance in the initial stage. Once you make the dough, you've incorporated your yeast and hence, adding any kind of spices, veggies or nuts would be okay.

Cheesy Vegetable Sandwich

One of the reasons why I get to experiment a lot with food is because I am not responsible for ensuring that everybody at home is fed on time. That's Ma's job. So, I don't mind spending an hour or 2 for every recipe. But I can fathom how some don't like to spend more time in the kitchen than what's absolutely necessary. "There isn't enough time for making dinner, and you want me to make your fancy cakes?" - said a dear relative of mine to me. :-D That's when I realized the lack of simple and quick recipes on my blog. This sandwich, is my answer to all you people who have no time for themselves. Of course, it involves cheese, mayo or béchamel sauce. That's how it becomes tasty! ;-) Feel free to skip any ingredient while you make it.

Moist Carrot Cake

Visit www.foodomania.com for the recipe & step by step pictures.
Link to this recipe - http://foodomania.com/moist-carrot-cake/

Wholewheat Stuffed Buns

Who in the world doesn’t love the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven? It’s better than any smell my nose could possibly ... uh, smell. :D And mind you, my sense of smell is really strong. I can sniff food from far away and even guess what ingredients are boiling/ broiling/ baking/ frying away! :P But nothing like a loaf of bread, heh? Remember the Stuffed Bread Loaf I made sometime back? Well, this is pretty much like that. Same method, different output.

Grissini (Italian Breadsticks)

I think yeast is starting to love me. ;-) How else would you explain every yeast experiment succeeding? (touch wood!!!) In fact, I've already made them thrice, in varying sizes. Homemade breadsticks are delicious! Plus there's an added satisfaction of consuming what you made - from scratch! Grissini, commonly known as breadsticks are Italian appetizers. They are perfect sides for a bowl of soup.

Stuffed Bread Loaf

Visit www.foodomania.com for the recipe & step by step pictures.
Link to this recipe - http://foodomania.com/stuffed-bread-loaf/

Thengai Poli | Cooking With Kin #17#

I didn't want my blog to go into a funk just because some exams were in the way. But I had to prioritize and so, cooking + blogging took a backseat. Out of an adversity, Cooking With Kin was born! :-) I have another blogger here with us today to share her recipe as a part of my CWK Series. Seriously, what would I do without these people?! :-D They are responsible for keeping my blog alive all these days. Ok, before I start getting all mushy with gratitude, I'll introduce our guest of honor - Jeyashri from Jeyashri's Kitchen! You will find so many authentic Indian recipes on her blog. And the variety of recipes is simply outstanding! What are you waiting for? Go check out Jeyashri's Kitchen. Wait. Go after seeing this post fully! ;-) Over to Jeyashri -
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Khus Khus Poori | Cooking With Kin #7#

I have been the biggest fan of Gayathri's Cook Spot forever!!! And to have Gayathri herself do a guest post for my Cooking With Kin series is so cool! :-D Her recipes are egg-free, just the way I like it. She's already worked out many egg substitutes successfully! Go on.. have a look at her recipes.

She sent me two recipes & I'm posting them separately. Watch out for the side-dish ...
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Cheesy Bread Cigars

 

I've got this amazing finger food for you! You'll laugh reading the recipe. Only because, its not exactly a recipe! :-D No exact measurements, no proper instructions! And yet, you can produce this awesomely awesome Bread Cigars in under 10 minutes. And yes, I came up with it myself! ;-)

Cucumber Bread Cups

Days when I am at home studying(?!), I constantly look for something interesting to eat. And chips or fries are not options anymore since they make me drowsy and of course, the obvious reason - they are loaded with empty calories! A quest for tasty yet somewhat healthy snack has led me to discover/invent quite a few interesting and quick recipes. Some work while some flop. This is one of those that has worked.

 

Pizza Pinwheels

With every new dish you learn something new. And what did I learn this time? Always buy your YEAST fresh. Since I didn't have an oven for the past 4 months, I didn't use yeast at all. And today when I used it- well, it deceived me. The dough didn't rise at all! I knew there wasn't any problem with my yeast-proofing. (let me take a moment to boast here and say, I'm a pro when it comes to yeast :-D) But I didn't realize that the dry yeast that I bought in January this year wouldn't work its magic. But I went ahead and baked it anyway. Since the dough didn't rise, I could only make 4 pinwheels instead of the estimated 8. Next time, I'm gonna try it with fresh yeast.
Of course, I could have used assorted vegetables for the filling, but since my mood was deflated by yeast, I only used tomato ketchup, cheese, garlic & onions. The final dish looked and tasted really great. All my fears were put to a rest. :-)

 

Double Decker Pizza

Here’s a dish I came up with sitting on the upper deck of a double-decker bus in Mumbai. Hence the name: Double-Decker Pizza. It’s funny how the mind comes up with ideas when you least expect it to. But that’s how it is, heh? :) Once again, with Pizza, you never have to follow the recipe to the *T*. Play with the spices & include the veggies you love!

2 in 1: Tofu Open Sandwich & Tofu Bread Rolls

When do you realize that an interest has become a passion?
The answer is when you start creating recipes in your head when you are in a lecture with the professor teaching something really important for the exam! :-D Okay, I'm not so proud of not paying attention in class, but I'm totally proud of what I've managed to create today. :P And rest assured, today will be the last time I day-dream about food. I've got an exam to clear!

Pav Bhaji | Mixed Veg Curry with Burger Buns

Hi folks!
Yet another Blog Hop Wednesday... And I found myself hopping over to Nirmala's Kitchen. And to my delight, what did I find? PAV BHAJI! (paa-oh bhaa-jee) Since the time I sprouted teeth, I remember eating Pav Bhaji every time we went to a restaurant - every-single-time without fail! Pav Bhaji is one of my most favorite dishes ever. Just thinking about it makes me drool! :-D And who makes the best Pav Bhaji (besides Sadguru Hotel in Mumbai)?? My Momma! :-D Yes, I love the hotel Pav Bhaji. But they make you feel heavy right away! My mom's Pav Bhaji is light & I can keep gobbling more & more! :-D So, following the basics of Nirmala's recipe, I finally learnt my Amma's magic! :-)

A little about Pav Bhaji -
Its pretty much a mixed vegetable curry eaten with Pav. Pav is similar to your Burger Buns (although not quite) You can eat the curry with any form of bread, tortillas, rice etc. I eat the curry in bucket-loads! :-) Of course, if you don't have the cpcity to bear the spice, you're dead! :-D But nothing that can't be adjusted with a little sugar & little less of the red-chili powder & other spices.

B&W doesn't give the effect, does it? :-|

Now- there are different ways of making the curry. But I settled for my mother's method because it seems like the easiest one. She used the Pressure Cooker method.
Ingredients -
For the Curry:
Potato - 2 medium sides cut into small cubes
Bell Pepper / Capsicum - 1 chopped finely
Carrot - 1, cut into small pieces
Cauliflower - 1/2 cup
Tomato - 3-4, chopped
Onion - 2 medium sliced finely
Peas - 1/2 cup, boiled (i skipped coz I didn't have)
Garlic - 2 cloves, minced
Ginger - 1 teaspoon grated
Green chilies - 2, chopped 
Red Chili Powder - 1 teaspoon (more or less)
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Pav Bhaji Masala / Garam Masala - 1 tablespoon
Salt  - to taste; 1-2 teaspoons
Sugar - 1/4th of a teaspoon
Oil - 2 tablespoons
For Garnish:
Butter - 1 teaspoon
Pav Bhaji Masala / Garam Masala - 1 tablespoon
Coriander / Cilantro leaves - to decorate


Method
1. Wash the cauliflower well & boil it in salt water. Flowers tend to have worms in between so it is important to do this - apparently. Drain excess water

2. Keep the other veggies ready.

3. Heat 2 TB of oil in a pressure cooker & add the onions

3. Then add green chilis & ginger, garlic. Sauté for 1 minute

4. Add the turmeric powder & saute

5. Next, add salt

6. Then, add potatoes & Sauté well

7. Add carrots & capsicum & mix well.

8. Add a pinch of sugar (to balance the flavors)

9. Add red chili powder 

10. Garam Masala / Pav Bhaji Masala & mix

11. Add the boiled cauliflowers & mix well.

12. Let the veggies cook for about 2 minutes. Then add the tomatoes & mix

13. Finally add enough water to cover the entire vegetables-mix

That's it. Now let it cook in the pressure cooker (until about 5-6 whistles) (takes about 15-20 minutes)
14. Switch off the flame. Once you can open the cooker, take a large spoon or a vegetable-masher & mash the entire mix.

(I over-mashed it. Don't mash it to the int that it looks like pulp)

15. Then add the boiled peas & mix. (I skipped)

16. This is what my mum does for extra flavor. > Heat butter & add 1 TB of Pav Bhaji / Garam Masala  mix well

17. Add this to the mashed veggies & mix well again.

18. Garnish with some Coriander leaves & onion slices.

Serve with toasted Pav / Bread / Buns / Tortillas / Rice etc.

Best eat with Pav.

~~~~~~Slurp~~~~~~

One of the famous Mumbai Street foods. If prepared at home with care, it can be a very healthy lunch option too. 

Linking it to Radhika's BHW & also linking this one to the Healthy Lunch Challenge hosted by Edible Entertainment (started by Smita) & Pari's Only Curries

Phulka | Chapati | Wheat Tortilla (Puffed Indian Bread)

This idea isn't mine. I had seen a similar presentation somewhere & decided to go for it.

Phulka (Full-Kaa) or a Chapati is the basic Indian tortilla made with wheat flour. Its the staple food in almost all North Indian homes. Its typically a disk shaped tortilla that puffs due to the steam while cooking on the stove. You can make a zillion healthy snack rolls with this. Just make a healthy stuffing, roll it up with the Phulka & munch! Pretty Cool huh?! ;)

For me, the greatest challenge is to get the perfect round shape. When I was in school, I used to roll out the dough & using a round vessel, I used to cut out the perfect shape! :) I still don't get the perfect round shape like my Maa. But I think its a lot better now! I've got to learn the secret of it. If you guys know, do tell me! :-D

RECIPE --
Source: Mom's Corner

Ingredients (to make 4 Phulkas)
Wheat Flour - 2 cups
Cooking Oil - 1 teaspoon
Salt - to taste - 1 teaspoon - optional
Water - to knead the dough- 1 cup

Method
STEP 1: In a mixing bowl, mix all the dry ingredients

STEP 2: Slowly add water & use your hands to knead a soft dough. The water shouldn't be too less or more. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

STEP 3: Let it rest for about an hour or more. Keep it covered with a damp cloth.
STEP 4: Make medium sized balls out of the dough.

STEP 5: Take a ball of dough on a falt surface. Dust some some wheat flour on it.

STEP 6: Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough evenly into a thin, round shape.

* After every 2 or 3 rolls, turn the Chapati by a 45 degree angle. It helps to get a decent shape! :-D
STEP 7: Heat a Tawa / flat pan.
STEP 8: Place the Phulka / Tortilla on the pan.

STEP 9: Let it cook on one side for about 20 seconds. (Until the dough is no longer sticky and you can actually move the phulka freely on the pan) Flip over & do the same for the next 20-30 seconds.

STEP 10: Take the phulka & place it directly on the flame. It will puff up beautifully! don't place it on the flame for more than 5 seconds on each side or it'll burn.

There you go- Enjoy with pickles, jam, side dish like Kadai Paneer, Sprouts Sabzi, Potato Curry etc! :-)