It echoes, the laughters shared, the tales told. A place in memory, yet not a day old.

Our hearts have their reasons,regardless of the day or the seasons.

Frangipani

My morning's promise, my summer flower. Whose music delights, my lyrical shower! Call it frangipani, call it champa, would intoxicate as much wherever they are! Some write their stories with words while others with their fragrance.

Karail

To make Karail which is another traditional north Indian dish you need Moong dal (split green gram)and spices. It has a lot of nutritional value and makes for a simple and tasty meal as a main dish.

Ingredients required for the same are:
Moong dal (split green gram)250 gms
A pinch of asafoetida
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp coriander powder
2 tsp garam masala powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
half a tsp red chilli powder
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Method:
Soak the Moong dal (split green gram) in water for two to three hours. Drain and grind to a paste.
Add asafoetida and salt to taste. Keep aside 2 tbsp of the Moong dal (split green gram) paste.
With the remaining Moong dal (split green gram) paste make small pakodis (round patties or balls).
In a kadhai (pan / skillet) heat oil and deep fry these pakodis (round patties or balls)till golden. In the oil that remains in the skillet add cumin seeds and put the 2 tbsp Moong dal (split green gram) that we kept aside in the beginning and cook till slightly brown. Now add the coriander powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder , garam masala and salt to taste. Cook some more. Add water to form gravy. Keep in mind that the gravy should not be too thick. Slowly add the pakodis (round patties or balls) of Moong dal (split green gram)into the gravy.
Serve hot with rice or rotis.

Nimona ( Green Gram / Peas dish)

So the dish that I wanna discuss today is a traditional North Indian dish that uses no garlic or onion in cooking and is simple to make and very homely to taste besides of course having a lot of nutritional value.All you need for it is hara chana or matar(green chickpeas /peas) potatoes and spices.

Ingredients:
Hara chana or matar(green chickpeas /peas)250 gms.
4 boiled potatoes cubed
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
a pinch of asafoetida
2 tsp garam masala
half tsp chilli powder
salt to taste

Process:
Grind the hara chana or matar(green chickpeas /peas)in a mixer to a paste.
Take oil in a pan, add asafoetida,cumin seeds and the hara chana or matar(green chickpeas /peas) paste.
Cook till just slightly brown.
Add the potatoes and cook some more.
Thereafter add coriander powder,turmeric powder ,red chilli powder and garam masala. Cook till the spices are well blended with the hara chana or matar(green chickpeas /peas) and potatoes.
Add salt and enough water to cook the mixture to the consistency of a thick gravy.
Serve either with rice or rotis.

It's evening; that time of the day when we make peace with the cares of the world to engage in an enchanting almost silent symphony orchestrated by the stars and the moon! Not to forget the twinkling fireflies!
my poetic instincts articulated after that handsome hunk in the sky ,looked me in the eye, with his bewitching smile, and asked me for a dance!

Summer is here and so are it's pretty blooms!

Kebabs

Kebabs are an integral part of the Awadhi cusine of Lucknow the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India.(it's where I come from). Though primarily a non vegetarian delicacy, kebabs have over the years been transformed into veggie delights as well. One such form that I have been enjoying since my childhood days is the 'Masoor dal' (red lentil)kebabs. They are rich in protein and easy to prepare. Let me take you through the recipe. Hope you enjoy it as much I do. Happy eating! :)


Ingredients:

Masoor dal ( red lentil) 250 gms.
4 garlic cloves
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
1 onion chopped
Salt to taste

For garnish:
Lemon rings
chopped onions
coriander leaves


Method:
Boil the dal alongwith all the other ingredients on low flame (sim) till 3 to 4 whistles. Take it out in a bowl and allow it to cool. Grease your palms with a little oil and mash to a soft pulp.Now, form round patties and fry them either on a tawa or a non stick frying pan in very little oil.

Garnish with lemon rings, chopped onions and coriander leaves.Serve either as a starter , snack or as part of the main course with rotis ( type of Indian bread).

I am sharing another recipe for kebabs. These too are veggie. I am vegetarian so. :) Okay so here goes the way:

Ingredients:

Boiled and mashed peas, potatoes,raw banana,carrots,cauliflower. 1 Cup each of the veggies and 1 banana
Half cup onion and garlic paste.
Chilli as per taste. Since I love chillies I added both the red chilli powder as well as green. The green ones I blended alonwith the onion and garlic.
2 tsp garam masala
3 tsp coriander powder
a little turmeric
a little hing or Asafoetida
a little lemon jiuce
salt to taste
Oil for frying


Mix together all the ingredients. Grease your palms and make small patties out of the vegetable mixture. Fry them either on a tawa or a non stick frying pan in very little oil.

Garnish with lemon rings, chopped onions and coriander leaves.Serve either as a starter , snack or as part of the main course with rotis ( type of Indian bread).

Strawberry yogurt cake..

Lately, I have been trying out new recipes for desserts and so when I came across one for strawberry cake I said to myself why not even though it required using yougurt which I have till date not tried in any of my cakes and wasnt sure if the result would be as lovely to look at and as ta

sty as a good strawberry cake should be or for that matter any cake should be or any food should be! It turned out quite well though..

Recipe
2 cups Flour
1 and a half cups Sugar
half cup yougurt
1 tea spoon baking powder
1 tea spoon soda bicarb
1 cup chopped strawberries
1 tbsp strawberry jam
half cup butter
half cup vegetable oil
1 egg

For the icing
1 cup butter or cream
1 tbsp milk
1 cup icicng sugar
2 tbsp strawberry jam

Beat the egg. Sift the flour, sugar baking powder,soda bicarb, add in the egg,butter or cream ,yogurt, vegetable oil,strawberry jam and chopped strawberries. Pour out into a greased baking dish and bake at 180 C in a preheated oven till the needle / tester comes out clean when inserted into the cake.