Jalebi - Valentines day Special

Jalebi is a sweet popular in countries of the Indian Subcontinent such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh as well as many other countries in the Middle East and North Africa, like Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. It is made by deep-frying a wheat-flour (Maida flour) batter in circular shapes, which are then soaked in sugar syrup.
The sweets are served warm or cold. They have a somewhat chewy texture with a crystallized sugary exterior coating. Citric acid or lime juice is sometimes added to the syrup, as well as rosewater or other flavours such as kewra water.



In India, Jalebi is served as the Celebration Sweet of India, popular during national holidays like Independence Day and Republic Day, on which it is supplied in government offices, defence facilities, and other organisations. Similarly, Jalebi is one of the most popular sweets in Pakistan. It is used as a remedy for headaches in some parts of Pakistan, where it is placed in boiling milk and left to stand before eating.

Superb sweet to relish. I made this for valentines day. My mom's favorite sweet. Even my hubby liked it very much. It came out really well for my first time try.

Here it is:

Ingredients:

Maida - 1 cup

Corn flour - 2-3 tsp

Sugar - 1 1/4 cup

Curd - 2 tbsp

Yellow liquid food color or orange food color - 1/2 tsp

Water - 1 cup

Oil - for frying

Cardamom powder - 2 tsp

Saffron - optional( I did not add saffron)

 

Method:

 

• For the batter, prepare the batter the previous day before you are going to make jalebis. If you want to make jalebis on the same day, use rapid rising yeast for the batter to ferment immediately.

• While preparing the previous day, in a bowl, add the maida, corn flour, cardamom powder - 1 tsp and mix it well. add curd ,food color and water to it and mix it into a nice batter. Mix it well with a spatula without forming any lumps.

• When you fall from top it should be a thin one line pouring consistency. Keep it aside for 24 hrs for the batter to be fermented.

• Next day, mix the batter well with the spatula. Pour the batter into a piping bag or zip lock bag or even sauce bottle. I used sauce bottle ( that comes in plastic and can be squeezed easily).

• Meanwhile, prepare sugar syrup. Add the sugar and 1 cup water in a heavy bottomed vessel. We do not want any strings to be formed in the syrup. The perfect consistency is  when it is sticky. 

•  Heat oil in a pan, take the batter mixture and squeeze it from the middle of the pan. It will fry up nicely. Fry on both the sides. Take it using a skewer or chop stick.

• Put it in the sugar syrup immediately and take it out and preserve it.

 

 Hot Hot crunchy Jalebis ready. Serve it with love for your loved ones!

  Sending this to Valentine's Day Recipe Contest  @ Priya's Versatile Recipes.

Sending this to Nivedhanam's giveaway !

 

Masala Poli- My 3rd Guest post for Priya Satheesh

Hi all,

I am very happy to write a guest post for Priya Satheesh from Food lovers, its rather a chat which she had innovated along with the guest post. She is a very good friend of mine. Wishing you all the happiness Priya! Happy celebration of valentines day too..



Here is the link for you to see the post:

http://priyasmenu.blogspot.sg/2013/02/friday-chat-with-bloggers-jillu-anand.html


My entry for her guestpost was masala Poli. Its really very tasty. Do try it!

Thanks Priya for the lovely opportunity to express about myself. Keep it going! You rock!

Followingis my participation certicate:

Breadizza - ( Pizza with Mushroom, corn,capsicum Topping)

 

Breadizza is nothing but a pizza using bread as the base. Wonderful dinner to cherish. We can use any kind of vegetables, meat as topping. I have used my favorite veggies, mushroom,capsicum and corn kernels. very easy to make. 



Ingredients:


Onion - 2 finely chopped
Tomato - 1 chopped
Mushroom - 5 quartered
Capsicum - 1 chopped finely
Corn kernels - 1 small cup
Mozarella cheese - grated
Mustard sauce - required
Tomato sauce - required
Pepper powder- required.
Salt
Oil



Method:

Heat little oil in a pan, add the chopped onions, fry till it becomes transparent. 
Add tomatoes, stir them again. Add capsicum and mushroom. One by one. Cook it on low flame. 
Add required pepper powder, may be a spoon and salt. Mix it well. Allow it to cook well.
Once everything is cooked, add the corn kernels to it.Saute for a min.
Finally add tomato sauce and stir the masla well.

For making Breadizza:

I use a cooker since it would be heavy bottomed.
Heat cooker on medium fame, meanwhile prepare the breads, apply mustard sauce on the bread and place the vegetables mixture on top of it.
Place the grated cheese on top of it.
Placethis bread inside the cooker and close it with a plate.
Open and see if it is done. It is doone when the cheese is melted on top.
Take it and serve it hot.

 Super soft ,crunchy Breadizza ready.

 Sending this to Valentine's Day Recipe Contest  @ Priya's Versatile Recipes.

Sending to Samayal diary event and  JUSTEAT.

Chilly Chicken

Chilly Chicken is a super yummy dish. A good touch of chinese cuisine. Its really easy to make and relish its taste. Happy Chinese New year to one and all with this Chinese recipe.


Ingredients:

For marination:

• Chicken - 400 gms boneless
• Corn flour - 3 tbsp
• Maida - 1 tsp
• Salt
• Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp

Other ingredients:

• Capsicum - 1
• Spring onion - one bunch chopped
• Garlic chopped - 1 tbsp
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Chilli garlic sauce - 1 tbsp
• Tomato Sauce - 2 tbsp
• Green chilly - 2
• Chilly powder - 1 tsp
• Salt
• Water

Method:

• Marinate the Chicken for half hour 
• Heat oil in apn and fry it on medium flame till it is half cooked. Do not fry till golden brown. Keep it aside.
• For masala, heat oil in a pan, add chopped garlic and green chilly. Saute well.
•  Add ginger garlic paste. Fry till raw smell vanishes.
• Add the capsicum and spring onions. Add chilly garlic sauce, tomato sauce, chilly powder and salt. Mix them well.
• When the capsicum is cooked, add the fried Chicken and saute well.
• Finally garnish with spring onions. 

 


  Sending this to Valentine's Day Recipe Contest  @ Priya's Versatile Recipes.

Pineapple Kesari / Pineapple Sheera - 400th post

 Its a celebration month for me.... Today is my parent's wedding anniversary! Wishing them a very happy 33rd wedding anniversary!Kesari is always my favorie sweet. Pineapple kesari is double the treat! This is my 400th post in my blog. Thanks everyone for all of your support and guidance!

 Ingredients:

• Ghee - 1/2 cup
• Pineapple - 3 slices finely chopped
• White Rava - 1 cup
• Sugar - 11/4 cups
• Water - 3 cups
• Fried nuts - 2 tsp( Optional)
• Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
• Yellow food colour - a pinch
•  

Method:

• Dry Roast Rava.
• Boil water. Add pineapple pieces and the food color to it,  .Stir well.
• Add sugar. Mix well. Let it dissolve.
• Add the rava and allow it to boil.
• After the rava is cooked well ,add Ghee. Cook till ghee comes out.
• Add the cardamom powder and fried nuts. Mix well.

Garnish with chopped almonds!

Note:
If you dont have fresh pineapple, you can add pineapple essence.

Sending this to Nivedhanam's giveaway !

 

 Sending this to Valentine's Day Recipe Contest  @ Priya's Versatile Recipes.

Cauliflower Fry / Gobhi Fry

 One of the authentic fries I have ever tasted. Super yummy one. I regularly watch cookery shows in TV.  This recipe is the recent one from the celebrity chef . Mr. Venkatesh Bhat made in a TV program.  Try it out. I have altered it by one ingredient. In the original recipe mint leaves must be added. I couldnt get Mint leaves, so I didnt add it. 




Here it is :

Ingredients:

• Cauliflower - florets - one cup
• Oil - to fry
• Salt
• Turmeric powder
• Water
• Besan flour - 3 tsp ( alter accordingly to mix , but equal proportions of corn,besan and rice flour)
• Corn flour - 3 tsp ( alter accordingly to mix , but equal proportions of corn,besan and rice flour)
• Rice flour - 3 tsp ( alter accordingly to mix , but equal proportions of corn,besan and rice flour)

To Grind:

• Coriander leaves - one handful ( Mint leaves - one handful to be added)
• Curry leaves - 5
• Green chilly - 2-3
• Garlic cloves - 4

 

Method:

•  Soak the  cauliflower in turmeric water for 15 mins.
• Drain it, need not add in warm water. 
• Grind the To grind ingredients into paste using water.
• Add the paste to the cauliflower.Add salt to it.
• Mix it nicely. Cauliflower should be well coated with the masala.
• Finally add all the powders to it for the paste to be coated well on top of it. 
• Keep this aside for 15 mins.
• Heat oil in a pan, fry the cauliflower in medium flame.
• Drain the excess oil in a strainer or place on the tissue.

 
Super soft Crunchy Gobhi Fry ready. It just melts in mouth.



 Sending this to Valentine's Day Recipe Contest  @ Priya's Versatile Recipes.

 

Beetroot Semiya Kheer

Today is my Grandma's 81st Birthday. Wishing her a great birthday!  The main person who drove me interest in cooking! Good one for valentines Special tooo....




So I decided to make this special kheer. It was really tasty. A simple and perfect sweet for any celebration. It is healthy too.. The flavor of beetroot was so good. Do try this special kheer. 



Ingredients:

• Beetroot - grated 1 cup
• Milk - 2 cups
• Semiya - little 3-4 tsp
• Sugar - 1 cup
• Cardamom powder
• Nuts - optional

Method:

• In a vessel , add the milk and grated beetroot and allow it to boil for 5 mins. Close the vessel and cook.
• Meanwhile, roast the semiya. When the beetroot is boiled, add the semiya to it.
• Add the sugar. Stir it well. Allow it to boil for 5-7 mins.
• Add the cardamom powder. Stir it.
• If you are adding nuts, fry and add. I did not add any.

Yummy Kheer!

Sending this to Nivedhanam's giveaway !

 

 Sending this to Valentine's Day Recipe Contest  @ Priya's Versatile Recipes.

Sending to Samayal diary event and  JUSTEAT.

Russian Salad

Russian Salad is a wonderful dish. Its for the mayonnaise lovers. It can be done using mixed fruits, mixed vegetables. I have mixed fruit and vegetables. Its a very healthy and fillling salad. We can have it anytime. Try this simple salad !



Ingredients:

• Pineapple -3 slices - cut into cubes
• Beans - 6 chopped finely
• Carrot - half chopped finely
• Capsicum - half chopped finely
• Salt
• Sugar - 1 tsp
• Mayonnaise - required
• Black pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
• Celery - few 

Method:

• Boil the vegetables one by one separately in water and drain it. 
• In a bowl, mix the chopped pineapple, boiled beans, boiled carrot , boiled capsicum and celery. Add mayonnaise, pepper powder, salt and sugar.
• Mix it well.
• Finally garnish little celery to it.
• Refrigerate it and serve it chilled. 

 

Crunchy , tasty Salad !

 Sending this to Valentine's Day Recipe Contest  @ Priya's Versatile Recipes.

Sending to Samayal diary event and  JUSTEAT.

Bitter gourd fry

Bitter gourd is one of my favorite vegetable. This is a super simple fry.




Ingredients:

• Bitter gourd - 150 gms

• Sambar powder
• Salt
• Oil
• Curd - 3 tsp
• Mustard seeds
• Curry leaves
• Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp

Method:

• Cut and grate the bitter gourd into round slices.
• Heat oil in a pan, splutter mustard seeds and curry leaves.
• Add the bitter gourd, sambar powder, pepper powder, curd and salt. 
• Sprinkle little water and close and cook for 5 mins.
• Keep in simmer and open and cook for 10 mins.
• Keep on stirring it and fry till its getting roasted nicely.

Perfect with any rice or as a starter.

 Sending this to Valentine's Day Recipe Contest  @ Priya's Versatile Recipes.

Sending to Samayal diary event and  JUSTEAT.