Happy Deepavali

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Pesarattu-Upma

Pesarattu-Upma is one breakfast item Andhraites boast off. Go to any wedding anywhere in Andhra Pradesh, you will not miss out on this item. Pesarattu-Upma is by default a favourite among the Andhra people. The spicy crispy moong dal dosa stuffed with upma served with coconut chutney and ginger chutney for sure tickles your taste buds.

The preparation for this is very simple and friends these moong dal dosa's are healthy too. Unlike other dosa preparations, you need not wait for the batter to ferment. You can have it immediately. A perfect breakfast item on a weekend. For those who never tried or tasted this recipe, I am sure you have missed something really tasty. A must try!!!

I am sending this recipe to SWC - Andhra Pradesh event hosted by Indian Hut




Ingredients:
Moong dal - 1 cup
Rice - handful
Ginger
Green chillies - 4 small
Curry leaves - 3,4
Salt

Method:
1. Wash and soak the moong dal and rice together overnight.
2. In a blender, blend the moong dal and rice in parts to a smooth batter. While blending add ginger,green chillies and curry leaves.
3. Once blended, add salt.
4. Now, take a flat pan and when its hot pour in small quantity of the batter on the pan and gently spread the batter making rounds with the cup/soup spatula you are using to make a round till the rim of the pan.
5. Sprinkle finely chopped onions, cumin seeds and add 1tsp of oil along the edges.


6. See to it the bottom of the dosa is not burnt. Keep checking and once it turns golden brown color, turn to the other side. Repeat the same and flip again.
7. At this stage, add 2 tbsp of upma in the center of the dosa and gently without breaking the dosa, start folding the two edges to the center.


8. Repeat the same for all the dosas.

Serve hot with coconut chutney and ginger chutney.

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Award Time

Raaji has passed on this award to me.
The rules of the award are:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate 10 other blogs.
4.Add links to those blogs on yours, and leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

I am passing this award to:



Divya, Lubna, Padma, Supriya, Amulya
, Annarasa
Non-food bloggers : Swathi, Keethi, Deepthi, Chandana

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Strawberry-Banana Milkshake

It's been months since we moved to Florida and right from day 1, we have been hunting for a good farmer's market nearby. Suddenly, during the weekend on our way to the general shopping, we found this fresh farmer's market right opposite to out apartment community . All these days we were passing by the same road, but never noticed it. There is a nursery in the same market and each time I look at that place, all that strikes me is it's a nursery. But, we were so happy to have discovered this place, picked some fresh vegetables and fruits. We picked banana and strawberry. They were so fresh that I decided to make strawberry and banana milkshake. It came out really well that, I felt we should have bought more Strawberries.

I want to share this easy and quick dessert with you all. This recipe is for 2 people for 1 serving. Here goes the recipe:

Ingredients:
Banana - 1
Strawberries - 1 cup
Whipped cream/ Ice cream - 1 cup
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
Sugar - 2 spoons
Milk - 2 cups (1%,2%,whole milk, soy milk, fat free, anything that you like)

Method:
1. Wash the strawberries and remove the stem. Cut them into half.
2. Peel the Banana skin and cut it into small cubes.
3. In a blender, take the chopped Strawberry and Banana, add 1 cup milk and blend it for 20-30 secs.
4. Now, add sugar,cream/ice cream, vanilla essence,remaining milk and blend it till it becomes a smooth mixture.
5. Add more sugar to the mix, as needed.
6. Serve it with ice/cream of your choice.



NOTE : If you don't have whipping cream, you can use ice cream for the blend. Vanilla or Strawberry flavor ice cream goes well. If you use vanilla ice cream, then no need to use the Vanilla essence. Otherwise, you need to add 1 spoon of essence.

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"MEME" and Spicy Spinach Paratha

Hi All,
Raaji has tagged me with a MEME. Hope you will enjoy knowing me here :
Here are the rules: (a) List these rules on your blog. (b) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog. (c) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

1. First thing you feel when you see ME, you want to make friends with me. At least this is what most of my friends and others told me. Very friendly, jovial, fun loving at the same time very serious when it comes to important issues.
2. My Family is my first priority. Rest all comes next.
3. I simply love cooking. Cooking is something I never get bored or tired of. It's my passion. I remember watching all the cookery shows on TV , language no barrier. My love and passion for cooking started when I was 15yrs old. Thanks to my mom, for being my inspiration.
4. Quite orthodox. Traditional at heart,modern and practical in thoughts. Love to do all pooja's, festivals no matter where I am! I like to keep the tradition and custom alive in however smallest way possible.
5. Being a computer student (done my masters in computers), love to spend time with my laptop. Just cannot do without this.
6. Crazy about shopping. This is one more thing I never get bored. Poor husband. Can't help it. I have this madness about matching esp my ear rings, handbags and sandals. I have huge collection of ear rings of almost every color. Very particular about my dresses. Hmm, I can go on and on about this topic. But, want to refrain myself here.
7. A movie buff. I love movies with good sense, subject. Other than that, I always had a special interest on the technical aspect of a film. I always wanted to be a movie maker (earlier not anymore). My husband says my analysis about any movie is good. So, better luck next time.

Girls, hope you enjoyed reading about ME. I know there's nothing so gr8 or interesting to know and also I admit it's quite boring. OK. Let me spice up your taste buds. Spicy with the Spinach Parathas.


The other day I was craving for something spicy and I thought will make spinach parathas not the usual way, but more spicy and tasty. I was looking for the same in Internet and found a recipe in Manjula's Kitchen. I varied the procedure according to my own taste and spice levels..

Ingredients :
Wheat flour - 2 cups
Soy flour - 1 cup
Spinach - 1 cup
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Jeera powder - 1tsp
Crushed pepper - 1tsp ( or more if u want more spicy)
Salt
Oil
Lukewarm water - 1-2 cups

Method:
1. Take the wheat flour, soy flour in a bowl, add pinch of salt and slowly add the lukewarm water and make a smooth dough with hand. Knead well and add 2-3 drops of oil and then again knead well with your fist. Just coat with oil (very little),
cover it with a lid or a damp cloth or paper towel. Keep it aside and allow it to rest for 10-15mins.
2. Now, in a pan add very little oil and when its hot, add ginger garlic paste, coriander powder, cumin powder, chilli powder, crushed pepper , saute for 2mins and add the washed and cut spinach. Add pinch of salt. Cook it uncovered for sometime until the entire mixture becomes dry (there should be no moisture left). Keep it aside.

3. When the mixture is done, keep it aside.
4. Now take the dough and make lemon size balls. Make small balls of the spinach filling as well.


5. Now, take each ball and with your fingers make a hollow in the center, place the filling and close all the edges to a center (or) roll the dough to 1''/2'' , place the filling inside and close by folding all the edges to the center.
6. Roll these stuffed balls to desired shape ( round, triangle) parathas.
7. In a skillet, when the skillet is hot enough, put the paratha, add some ghee/oil and fry on both sides by pressing with a cloth, spatula or wooden roti presser.

8. Repeat the same for all the parathas.
9. Serve hot with raita, pickle or any subji of your choice.



Spinach Parathas served with Bhindi masala and raita.
You can check here for Bhindi Masala recipe.

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