Mini Bread Pakora with a Twist & Award

And we twist, we twist, we twist
And we twist, we twist, we twist
(Song from Love Aaj Kal)...

Well first of all, sorry for being away for a while from the blogging world... this time round I have a pretty good reason for it. Last weekend I was trying to see how well I multi-task, so I was on the phone with my mother in law, washing potatoes on one side, and frying kheema (ground goat meat) on the other. Not a good idea to do when you MIL is giving you good tips on what to do for Eid, while you are working with hot water and hot OIL... guess what, as soon as I dropped the kheema in the wok where I had oil heating up.. all the oil splashed up to my hand, burning my right hand wrist... 

I felt the hot and burning sensation throughout my hand, quickly lowered the flame and mistakenly put my hand under HOT water... Ouch!!! Now keep in mind all this while I was on the phone with MIL so I wanted to make sure that she doesn't know about it... so you can't technically scream... :). Quickly turned the water into cold and let it ran through my hand, and in two minutes or so I went back to cooking. All this time I was thinking well the oil can't be that hot, 'cause I had just turned on the stove.. but boy I was wrong. For next hour or so, I continued on working/cooking/cleaning and took a shower. After the shower my wrist was all red and burning so bad... Dear Hubby, being a Doctor he is, got super mad at me for not paying attention. I go, "it's not that bad, it will heal soon".. and he goes, "Yeah, but it's your right hand, and you won't be able to cook or work for next seven days!!!"... Uh-O... The burn is about two inches long and one and half inch wide... Now everyone who sees it, asks me what happened and I tell them the entire story, and they are like, "How can you not know that it burned that bad"... Hey I just didn't okay.. this is my first burn ever, how am I suppose to know?!?!?!?"

So, anyways, it hasn't healed yet but Hubby does the dressing twice a day so I am able to work and cook.. thank God for him being a doctor... :) (only in times like this :) )

Coming back to the recipe, I made this prior to the burning incident. It came out so good and everyone loved it. You can see my regular bread pakora recipe here. 

Ingredients:

1. Two medium potatoes - peeled, cubed, and boiled.
2. A bunch of fresh coriander leaves
3. Two-three green chilies - finely chopped.
4. 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
5. One tblsp lemon juice
6. Salt per taste
7. For tempering - half tblsp cumin seeds, half tblsp mustard seeds, and two tblsp oil.
8. For Batter - Half cup chickpea flour, 1/2 tblsp red chili powder, 1/2 tblsp dhaniya powder, a pinch of turmeric powder, salt per taste, half tsp lime juice and Half cup warm water.
9. Six breads - cut diagonally in both directions making four pieces out of one bread. 
10. Oil for deep frying
11. Here is the twist - Yellow American Cheese Slices - Cut diagonally in both directions and horizontally from the middle - this should give you eight mini triangles from one slice. 

Process:

1. Mash boiled potatoes, add in coriander leaves, lemon juice, green chilies, salt and turmeric powder. Mix well, add a little bit of water (only if needed).
2. Heat oil for tempering, add in cumin and mustard seeds, let it splutter, then sprinkle over potato mixture and mix well. Keep aside.
3. The potato mixture should look like this filing that I had previously made for Aloo Paratha.
   
   
   
4. Mix all ingredients for batter - make sure there are no lumps of chickpea flour and the batter should be more towards the thicker side. Adjust water quantity as needed. Lime juice is key to this batter, what it does is when you fry the pakoras it doesn't let it absorb so much oil. 
   
   
   
5. Spread some potato mixture on the one of the diagonally cut bread, place the second bread on top, place cheese slice, and press tightly. Repeat the process for rest of the breads.
   
   
   
6. Heat oil for frying.
7. Dip the potato filled breads into the batter and deep fry till golden brown. Repeat for the rest of the sandwiches.Serve hot with some tomato ketchup.

Sending this recipe over to Ramadan Friendly Recipes event hosted by The Halal Foodie and Joy from Fasting to Feasting - V event hosted by Yummy Food. 

I would also like to Thank R. Punitha and Asmath Nawaz for passing over this award to me. 

As per the rule says,

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you.

3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.

4. Create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.

5. Go to their page and tell them.

6. Remember, no tag backs!

Question tagged by Asmath,

1.What was the inspiration behind your blog? - Nothing really, just wanted to get away from the regular routine hence started this blog. 
2.Which aspect of blogging do u find more interesting? - Comments. 
3.How many hours doyou spend on blogging in a week ? - 4 Hrs. - I would like to spend more but can't... :(
4.What is the craziest thing you've ever done? - Not that adventurous to do crazy stuff, I am pretty boring and routine... 
5. What quality do you most like in yourself and why? - Helping nature. 
6. If you were given a chance to undo one thing from your life what would it be and why?? - None, I would live the exact same way. 
7.Whats ur memorable moment/fav memory since you became a blogger? - When I got my first follower Cool Lassi(e). 
8.What is your idea of a perfect breakfast? - Warm aloo paratha with yogurt. 
9.What is your favourite pastime? - Bollywood Movies
10.Who is your favorite blogger? - Every single one of them... :)
11.If you had to describe yourself in 3 words.. what would they be?? - You tell me :)

Sending this award to: 

1. The Halal Foodie
2. A Taste of Madness
3. Amateur Perceptions
4. Creating Memories
5. Divya's Culinary Journey
6. Erivum Puliym
7. Flavours
8. Hamaree Rasoi
9. Kurry Leaves
10. Shabbu's Tasty Kitchen
11. Food For Thought

I am going to keep the same questions as Asamth... Enjoy everyone and have a great weekend!!!

ENJOY!!!

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Chili-Garlic Bread/Toast

Hello all beautiful people out there... 

It has been crazy busy with the tax season. I get home at 7-7:30 leave at 8:30 in the morning. Working Saturdays and Sundays!! But, it is much more peaceful, since I am working for myself now! Yes! I am my own boss and it feels so good! Now I always think, why I didn't do this earlier. But anyways, its never too late!

Coming to my quick and easy snack, yes I need a lot of these kind of recipes for the busy season. This is one of the best tea time snack, I have came up with so far. You have to try it to believe me... 

Ingredients:
1. Three slices of bread, sides removed.
2. Two tblsp (each)- green, red, and yellow pepper - finely chopped
3. Three cloves of garlic - finely chopped
4. Two tblsp - butter at room temperature
5. Red chili flakes - per your desire (optional)

Process:
1. Mix together all the ingredients from #2 to #5 above.
2. Spread it on the three bread slices.
3. Toast in it mini oven for 5-6 minutes.

 

 

ENJOY!!! 

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India ka Rs. 8 Wala Pizza



I cannot tell you how I had felt almost 15 years ago, when I first tasted a pizza in India. Yes, 15 years ago... (I feel old :( :( ) I had a pizza with my cousins in Law Garden of Ahmedabad. It tasted like a hard naan, with ketchup, veggies, and cheese. Then a year later, I came to US and tasted the regular cheese pizza, soft crust, pizza sauce, and "melted" cheese. At that time, I liked Indian Pizza better than US Pizza.

Then I stayed here in US for 14 years and started to develop a taste American Pizza and started liking this over Indian Pizza, but my recent trip to India changed it all over again. I know I sound like I am all over the place... but I have this thing with Pizza, I only like certain types, certain combos, etc...

So, what's up with Rs 8 in my post title. Well this time when I went to India, I kept tell my hubby's sister (didi) that I want to eat "Rs. 8 wala Pizza" and she kept telling me that there is no such pizza. I told her that I had it in Law Garden 15 years ago, so she took me there but all pizzas over there now had melted cheese and they all had started using a mini oven to make pizzas. I kept describing it to her that the cheese should not be melted and crust has to be kinda hard. We went to almost five different vendors at different places with no success in finding my Rs. 8 wala Pizza.

So, then one day, we went shopping and we were shopping for over 5 hours and we both started to feel hungry. She took me to a small cart in the shopping area which served sandwiches, chaat, and lots of other stuff. The cart menu (on the cart itself) said that they served Pizza as well. I was going to come back to US in less than a week. So I told her I will get a Pizza, she insisted that I get something else otherwise I will be disheartened again. I said no I will have a Pizza. And GUESS what, it was my Rs. 8 wala Pizza. When the guy came with the plate, I jumped with so much excitement that he thought I have lost it and kept staring at me instead of serving me :)...

I told Didi that this is what I have been looking for. She gave me the strangest expression and goes, "THIS pizza". I go, "Yeah". She goes, "Oh this we get it at all these carts, not at a regular food place, you should have told me earlier; and you kept saying Rs. 8, Rs. 8, this Pizza is now Rs. 40". My Oh My.. time did change Big TIME!!!!

So here is to old memories and new ones that I will be making with this dear Pizza of mine...

Ingredients:

1. 7 inch Pizza Crust (available at any super market)
2. One tblsp Ketchup
3. Two tblsp Salsa
4. Three tblsp - chopped onions, coriander, green bell peppers
5. Shredded Pizza Cheese (your choice & amount)
6. Chat Masala - One tsp

Process:

1. Spread ketchup and salsa over pizza crust.
2. Add onions, coriander, and greed bell peppers.
3. Heat mini oven and bake for 5-7 minutes on 350 F.
4. Take out Pizza and sprinkle shredded cheese as much as you like.
5. Sprinkle chaat masala over it.
6. Serve hot.

This was loved by all at home and I am sure you will love it too. Whenever I eat this, I get a feeling for India or Nostalgic Feeling :)

ENJOY!!!

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Moli De Parathe

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas…

Moli de Parathe. I have never tried these parathas before, but dear hubby loves Moli. He likes to eat it with Pulao or Sabzi Roti that I normally make as an everyday food. He also likes Moli ki Bhaji. I haven’t developed a taste bud for the bhaji yet but he loves it. Back home the Moli that we get are so tiny, but here they are all processed and hybrid, as a result they are giant Molis. Given that I am not a fan of Moli and dear hubby can only eat so much of it, I had a whole bunch of it left and I had no idea what to do with it.

One Sunday morning, I was fasting, so I made these parathas for dear hubby, and he loved it. So I thought of sharing the recipe with you. It is simple, easy, and healthy!

Ingredients:
1. Two cups Moli – finely chopped
2. Three cups wheat flour (atta)
3. Three to four green chilies – finely chopped
4. Three tblsp oil
5. One cup warm water
6. One tblsp cumin seeds – crushed
7. Salt per taste.

Process:
1. Mix together all the ingredients above and make soft dough.
2. Let it sit for five minutes. Divide the mixture into five golf size balls.
3. With the help of rolling pin, roll the balls into parathas.
4. Cook both sides on a frying pan with little oil.
5. Once cooked on both sides, remove on a serving dish and put a dollop of ghee.
6. Serve hot with cold sweet yogurt.

ENJOY!!!

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