Microwave One Minute Mug Cake

This post is for a special person,yes it's Srivalli who is the master brain for the Blogging Marathon series.
Today is her birthday and our Blogging marathoners wanted to shower her with a surprise.So we decided to share some of her recipes.
She is such a wonderful and active person blogs at Cooking4allseasons and Spicing your life
Though she doesn't eat non- vegetarian she cooks amazing non- veg recipes and shares in Cooking4allseasons.
The second blog Spicing your life is with vegetarian recipes which are kid friendly and healthy diet.Most of her recipes are simple and she is an ardent fan of chocolate,that reflects in most of her baking recipes.
Though I had bookmarked so many recipes from her blog but due to my personal work I made it so simple.
As she loves to cook in Microwave a lot I chose to share a simple one minute Microwave chocolate mug cake.This mug cake recipe is a real quick dessert for sudden cravings and it takes only one minute.She used some chocolate chips but as I ran out of it,skipped it.

                                                                   

                                                            

                                      Microwave One Minute Chocolate Mug Cake 

     

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   Basic Information

   Preparation time ~ 2-3 minutes
   Cooking time ~ 1 minute

   Makes ~ single serving

   Ingredients

  

Ingredient	Quantity
All purpose flour	2 tbs
Sugar	2 tbs
Unsweetened cocoa powder	1.5 tbs
Baking Soda	1/8 tsp
Milk	2 tbs
Oil	1.5 tsp
Icing sugar/powdered sugar	for dusting

  

    Method 

• Take all the dry ingredients in a microwavable mug and fluff together well,so that everything combined well.

• Add the milk and milk it well with no lumps,finally add the oil and mix it well.If you are using any chocolate chips add it and mix it well.

• Microwave it for a minute and let it rest for few minutes.

• Dust it with icing/powdered sugar and serve it.

Enjoy..........................

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Sambar Sadam / Restaurant Style South Indian Mini Meals

For the final day blogging marathon#61 themed under meals dishes is sambar sadam.This post with step wise picture were lying in my drafts since 3 years,could not find the main pictures in my drive.
Also I wanted to share the restaurant style mini meals and finally made it.
I am a great fan of this mini meals available in most of the South Indian Vegetarian restaurant chains.
The menu is with tomato rice,sambar rice,curd rice,fryums,raita,potato fry,pickle and kesari.
This version of sambar rice is slightly different from bisebelabath and uses sambar powder also some freshly ground spice powder.

                                                                      

                                                            

                                           Sambar Sadam/Sambar Rice

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   Basic Information

   Preparation time ~ 20 minutes
   Cooking time ~ 30 -40 minutes

   Serves ~ 3-4

   Ingredients

  

Ingredient	Quantity
Raw rice/pacharisi	1/2 cup
Toor dhal/thuvaram paruppu	1/2 cup
Shallots/chinna vengayam	10
Onion(chopped)	1(medium size)
Tomato(chopped)	1(large size)
Carrot(cubed)	1/2 cup
Beans(chopped into 1 inch)	3/4 cup
Small round eggplant/kathirikkai(cubed)	3/4 cup
Chayote/chowchow(cubed)	1 cup
Drumstick/murungaikkai(1 inch piece)	10-12
Sambar powder	1.5 tbs
Turmeric powder/manjal podi	1/2 tsp
Tamarind/puli	a big gooseberry size
Curry leaves/karivepillai	few leaves
Coriander leaves(chopped)	1-2 tbs
Cashews/mundiri	2 tbs(optional)
Oil	2 tbs
Ghee/nei	1 tbs
Mustard seeds/kadugu	1 tsp
Urad dhal/uluthamparuppu	1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds/jeergam	1/2 tsp
Asafoetida/perungayam	a pinch
Dried red chilly/varamilagai	1-2 (broken)

 
  To roast and grind

Ingredient	Quantity
Dried red chilly/varamilagi	3-4
Whole coriander seeds/dhaniya	11/2 tbs
Channa dhal/kadala paruppu	2 tsp
Desiccated coconut	11/2 tbs

    Method 

• Pressure cook the rice and dhal separately in a pressure cooker 3-4 whistles in a medium flame.Soak the tamarind in a cup of water and extract the juice and keep it aside .
• Heat few drops of oil in a pan and add the red chilly,coriander seeds and channa dhal.Fry it for couple of minutes then add desiccated coconut.Fry it till the coconut turned golden brown.Put off the flame and powder it once it becomes cool down,set it aside.

• Heat a pan with 2 tsp of oil and saute the shallots and chopped onion,till translucent,then add in the chopped tomato and cook it for couple of minutes.Now add in all the chopped veggies and mix it well.Saute it for 2-3 minutes.

• Now add in the sambar powder,turmeric powder,salt and give it a mix.To this add the cooked dhal along with 2-3 cups of water.Let it cook till the veggies become tender.

• Once the veggies turned tender and raw smell goes off add in the tamarind water and let it cook for one boil.At this stage add in the ground spice powder and let it simmer it for 2-3 minutes.Now take a cup of sambar and keep it aside for later use if the rice become thick after cooling.

• Now add the cooked rice to the sambar and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.Stir it in between to avoid sticking in the bottom.Meanwhile in a separate pan heat the remaining oil and ghee,crackle the mustard seeds,urad dhla,cumin seeds.Add in the broken red chilly and asafoetida.Fry the cashews,and curry leaves.Add it to the rice mixture and mix it gently and put off the flame.

• Serve it hot with potato fry and pappad

• After cooling the rice may get thicken,so add the reserved sambar and mix it well.
• Here I used both shallots and onion,it can be made with shallots or onions.
• When the rice is hot it may be watery but after cooling it would thicken. 
• Here I used the frozen drumstick,that why I cooked it separately in the MW and add it when the sambar was boiling.
• Ghee is so important to give a nice taste so don't skip it.

Enjoy...........................................

Check out the blogging marathon page for the other bloggers participating in BM#61.

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Vellapoondu Vengaya Puli Kulambhu/Vengaya Kara Kulambhu/Shallots and Garlic in a Tangy tamarind Sauce/Simple Lunch Menu

Coming to day 2 of Blogging Marathon#61 under the theme Meal Ideas is a kulambhu recipe with shallots and garlic.
Kara kulambhu can be made in so many ways,but this one is with no veggies.Using shallots and garlic makes this kulmabhu finger licking.Sambar powder gives an added flavor to this kulambhu.This recipe I noted down from my aunt's family cook and wanted try since long.Finally I made it for this theme and in the original recipe no tomato is used,but I used a small tomato.
As we prefer simple and comforting meals I paired up the kulambhu with rice,vendaikkai(okra
) poriyal and keerai(spinach) masiyal,appalam along with tomato rasam.It was so filling and a comforting lunch for a rainy afternoon.Off to the recipe...

                                                                      

                                                            

                                           Vellapoondu Vengaya Puli Kulambhu

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   Basic Information

   Preparation time ~ 10 minutes
   Cooking time ~ 30 minutes

   Serves ~ 4(generously)

   Ingredients

  

Ingredient	Quantity
Shallots/chinna vengayam	10-13(halved)
Garlic/poondu	12-15 cloves
Tamarind/puli	a big gooseberry size
Salt	1.5 tsp
Curry leaves /karivepillai	few leaves
Turmeric powder/manjal podi	1/4 tsp
Mustard seeds/kadugu	1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds/vendhayam	1/8 tsp
Oil	2 tbs

 
  To saute and grind

Ingredient	Quantity
Shallots/chinna vengayam	3-4
Garlic/poondu	2-3 cloves
Tomato	1(small size)
Sambar Powder	2 tbs
Curry leaves/karivepillai	1 sprig
Cumin seeds/jeeragam	1 tsp
Fennel seeds/sombu	1 tsp
Black pepper/milagu	1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds/vendhayam	1/8 tsp
Oil	2 tsp

    Method 

• Soak the tamarind in a cup of water and extract the juice and keep it aside .Heat 2 tsp of oil in a pan and add the cumin,fennel seeds and black pepper.Fry it for a minute then add in the shallots and garlic.Saute it till the shallots turned pinkish,then goes in the sambar powder.Give it a mix till everything gets blend well.

• Add in the chopped tomato and curry leaves,saute it till the tomato becomes mushy.If it is too dry sprinkle few drops of water.Put off the flame and grind it to a smooth paste once it becomes cold.Mix the ground paste with the tamarind water and set it aside.

• Heat the pan with oil and crackle the mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds.Add in the shallots and saute it fora minute.Then add the garlic and fry it till translucent.The add the tamarind mixture.

• Add around 1/2 cup of water,salt and turmeric powder.Let it boil for 5 minutes,then simmer it for 10-12 minutes or the oil till the oil floats on the top.

• Serve it along with rice and poriyal.

• Use shallots to get a nice taste..
• Here I used fat cloves of garlic,if you are using the smaller size then use up to 20 cloves.
• The kulambhu tastes even better on the next day. 

Enjoy......................

Check out the blogging marathon page for the other bloggers participating in BM#61.

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Vegetable Pulao/Simple Lunch with Vegetable Pulao,Roti,Dal and Soya chunks Curry

We are entering the final week of Blogging Marathon and I opted to share Lunch dishes.Today's recipe is a flavorful vegetable pulao, made in a pressure cooker.
So many variations can be made,but here I deep fried the marinated cauliflowers florets and added to the pulao.This attempt I tried after having chicken 65 biriyani,couple of times in a restaurant.Lets move on to the recipe....

                                                                      

                                                            
                                              Vegetable Pulao/Veggie Pulao

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   Basic Information

   Preparation time ~ 20 minutes
   Soaking time ~ 15 minutes

   Cooking time ~ 40 -45 minutes

   Serves ~ 3(generously)

   

  Ingredients

  

Ingredient	Quantity
Basmathi rice	11/2 cups
Onion(thinly sliced)	2 medium size
Carrot (chopped into 1 inch piece)	1
Beans((chopped into 1 inch piece)	10-13
Green peas/pacha pattani	1/4 cup(fresh or frozen)
Ginger&garlic paste	1.25 tbs
Green chilly/pachamilagai	4-5 (slit lengthy)
Mint leaves/pudina	a fistful(chopped)
Coriander leaves/kothamalli	as needed(finely chopped)
Garm masala powder	1/4 tsp
Lemon juice	2 tsp
Salt	1.5tsp
Oil	2 tbs
Ghee/nei	1 tbs
Hot water	2.5 cups

  For the tempering

Ingredient	Quantity
Clove/lavangam	4-5
Cinnamon/pattai	2 inch piece
Bay leaf	1
Star anise	2
Green cardamom	1
Fennel/sombu	1/4 tsp

  

  For the Cauliflower Fry

Ingredient	Quantity
Cauliflower florets	1.5 cups
Ginger& Garlic paste	1.5 tsp
Gram flour/kadala maavu	2 tbs
Rice Flour/arisi maavu	1 tbs
All purpose flour/maida	1 tbs
Red chilly powder/milagi podi	1/2 tsp
Coriander leaves(finely chopped)	1 tsp
Lemon juice	1 tsp
Salt	1/2 tsp
Oil	for frying

  

  Method 

• Soak the basmathi rice in water,meanwhile heat a pressure pan or cooker with oil and ghee,do the tempering with the given ingredients.Add the sliced onion and green chilly along with a pinch of salt.Saute it for a minute,then goes in the chopped coriander and mint leaves.Continue sauteing until the onion turns transparent. 

• Add in the ginger& garlic paste,fry it till the raw smell disappears.Add the chopped veggies and green peas,mix it well.Add in salt and garam masala powder.Now completely drain the water from the soaked rice and add it.Give it a mix till everything gets blend well.

• Now add the hot water and let it boil.Add the lemon juice and some chopped coriander leaves.Cover it with the lid and cook it for 2 whistles in a medium flame and put off the flame.

• When the pulao is getting cooked,take the ingredients given for cauliflower fry,except cauliflower and oil.Mix it with a tbs of water to a paste.To this add the cauliflower florets and mix it well.

• Heat oil in a pan and once it becomes hot,sprinkle the cauliflower and fry it until golden.Remove it from the oil and add it to the cooked pulao.Mix it well and cover it with the lid for 5 minutes.

• Serve it along with raita and chips or curry of your choice.

• Instead of cauliflower,paneer can be fried and added
• The amount of water depends on the quality of rice.
• Roasted cashews can be also be added for extra rich taste.
• Do not cook for more than two whistles,otherwise the rice will turn out mushy.

Enjoy........................................

Check out the blogging marathon page for the other bloggers participating in BM#61.

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Kaja/Madatha Kaja

For the final day of Blogging Marathon #61 under the theme Indian Mithai is Madatha kaja.This sweet is popular In Andhra Pradesh.This  sweet is quiet similar to badusha,popular in Tamilnadu.
After a rich creamy dessert for second day of the theme,I wanted to make it simple.

This sweet has been in my to do list since long.I have seen,my friend making this sweet couple of times.But never tried on my own.For the first I tried and taste was good,but not happy with the layers.I felt the layers have come out slightly thicker.So keep an eye to roll the dough to very thin sheet to get a nice crispy kajas.Try this simple and easy to make sweet and enjoy.....

                                                                      

                                                            
                                            Madatha Kaja/Kaja

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   Basic Information

   Preparation time ~ 10 minutes
   Resting time ~ 10 minutes

   Cooking time ~ 30 minutes

   Makes ~ 18-20 small size kajas

   Ingredients

  

Ingredient	Quantity
All purpose flour/maida	1 cup
Ghee/nei	3 tbs
Baking soda	a pinch
Salt	1/4 tsp
Sugar/sakkarai	3/4 cup
Cardamom powder/ellakai podi	a generous pinch
Water	1/2 cup
Oil	for deep frying

 
  For the paste (to apply)

Ingredient	Quantity
All purpose flour/maida	1 tbs
Ghee/nei	2 tbs

  

    Method 

• In a bowl take the all purpose flour,salt,baking soda and ghee.Mix it well,now it looks crumbly.To this slowly sprinkle a tbs of water and knead it to a stiff dough.Let it rest for 10 minutes.

• Meanwhile in a pan add the sugar along with water and allow it to boil.Slowly reduce the flame and cook it till reaches a single string consistency.Add the cardamom powder and put off the flame.In a small bowl mix the all purpose flour and ghee to paste and set it aside. Now take the dough and roll it to a thin circle.Apply the paste evenly on the rolled thin circle.

• Roll it from one side to form a tight log.Cut the edges and slice the log to 1/2-3/4 inch thickness pieces.

• Gently press the sliced pieces ,so that it won't separate while frying.Heat the oil in a pan in a medium flame and drop 4-5 kajas at a time and fry it until golden brown.Remove it from the oil.

• After a minutes drop the kajas in the prepared sugar syrup.Let it soak for a minute then remove it and let it dry.

• After it dried completely store it in an airtight container.

• Roll the dough as thin as possible to get crispy kajas
• Apply the ghee-all purpose flour paste evenly.
• After slicing the kajas,press it gently otherwise the layers may get smashed.
• If you are making in large quantities ,then make smaller sized disc and stack 2-3 disc.Apply the paste in each layer.

Enjoy................

Check out the blogging marathon page for the other bloggers participating in BM#61.

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