Dish it Out - Corn & Capsicum

Its been a while & i haven't become regular with my blogging.. I am getting there :)..When i started blogging a few months back and started learning about how it works ..I saw the slot open for hosting " Dish it Out'' by Vardhini.. I dono what i was thinking.. coz i did not having any clue, as how to host an event, but yet mailed her nevertheless!! She was kind enough to have me on board, though she knew i was a total novice and i for now so many months later too, cant help but feel grateful yet again.. :)

Vardhini of Cooksjoy .. hmm let me say is a 'blog' hold name in the blogging world right :).This event ' Dish it Out' is interesting coz i get to choose the ingredients and this way learn more recipes.. So my choice for ingredients for this months DIsh it out Event is ' CORN & CAPSICUM '! Both are my favourites and there are very limited items i know, which combine these two.. So put on you chef hats and whip up something using these very ingredients :))

The event runs from Dec 1st - Dec 31st.

Rules for the Event : 

1. Make a dish using "Corn & Capsicum". They form the core of the dish and we should be able to taste them in the final dish!!

2. Only vegetarian dishes. Eggs allowed for baking!

3. Would really appreciate usage of the logo.. Helps spread the word

4. Link to Vardhini's announcement page & mine is MANDATORY!

5. Archived entries are accepted as long as they are linked with both announcements

 Thanks for your overwhelming response for my previous event and i really hope for you guys to support me in this too :). Please link in your entries given below.. I am waiting!!

Event Time - Kids's Delight ' The Healthy Makeover'

I have known Valli for quite sometime now.. Been a part of her events.. remember ICC, The Blogging Marathon :).. She is such a seasoned blogger and i for one am in awe of people who have the zeal and passion to update their blogs on regular basis, despite their busy schedules..managing kids..I mean, how do they do it! I need the perfect mood.. temperament & some patience to post on a regular basis.. esp when u take a break in between right :)..Valli has been blogging for 5 years and her dedication & commitment to blog .. well, let me just say this post is not going to suffice :D..When the Kids Delight Event was open to hosting.. i just knew i had to do it..

I don't have kids myself..but the idea of a healthy makeover of dishes was something that caught my fancy.. I am super fussy like a kid about dishes..and i love all the " to be had occasionally only" items a hell lot..So, a healthy makeover of an interesting dish was what i need too!! 

What do you guys do?? How do you transform a junk item into something delicious..Lets say like make pizza using wheat flour.. or do you bake bread rolls/samosas.. Anything. Absolutely anything.. How do you work the magic on dishes?? Tell me.. share you recipes with me...Just a quick look at the rules & i can't wait to have a look at all your interesting dishes..The event ' Kids Delight - The Healthy Makover' runs for one whole month, starting tomo Oct 16th - Nov 15th 2012

Rules for the Event

1. Send in as many recipes as you want.. the more makeovers.. even better

2. Recipes submitted to other events are also perfectly fine!

3. If you want to post a recipe from you archive.. no Issues but you have to UPDATE them as current posts!

4. Only Vegetarinan recipes allowed!!

5. Sorry people.. if you don't blog, then i can't accept your recipes this time..

6. Make sure you link your recipe to my announcement as well as Valli's Kids Delight Post ' 

Quite simple right.. We would be thrilled if you have the attached logo in your posts.. helps spread the word & let me just say..am being greedier for more recipes :D

Back!

I have been away from the Blogging world for almost 4 months! The sudden loss of someone very very close shook our world and it took us quite a while to come in terms with reality..There are a few losses which can never be replaced, but the irony of life is... it just goes on..

I still am a novice at blogging and in the limited time i have spent in this blog world, i really appreciate all those people who have noticed my absence and took time to check on me :).. thanks so much..Really appreciate it (U know who u are!)

I have missed all your interesting recipes....your updates..the events.. I shall be back soon & hopefully, i get you all excited with my recipes..

For the final day of the marathon, i present my favorite from the archive.. Mysore Masala dosa.. It makes the weekend breakfast so perfect & complete.. thats my dosa love speaking :)..

Methi Puri

Both S and i are not fans of Puri.. It almost seems strange to me because i almost love all fried items.. There was a point when amma would get angry that i loved fried items so much, and would avoid all the healthy stuff.. she would just ask me to drink a glass of oil everyday,instead of eating :( :)..Puri was on fried dish which eluded me though..i have no clue why!

Pesaratu

Another addition to the list of items i learnt from my MIL :).. We never really made this at home.. I remember amma making it with green gram & both appa and me had a huge list of why we don't like it & we literally banned it..
Then after many many years, i tasted this and liked it.. I can't say a lot, but then its a good variation plus its so healthy.. So to a super easy recipe!

Ven Aval Pongal/ Flattened Rice Pongal

Pongal is a very famous South Indian delicacy, made with rice, moong dal & tempered with spices like pepper, cumin ! S is crazy about this & when i was i Chennai, i have seen my friends dig this too.. They love Pongal, chutney for breakfast.. Its quite a heavy dish, leaves you fuller & is nutritious too.. but i could never really understand their fascination for this dish...

Kancheepuram Idli

I have never been a great fan of Idli's.. But Darshini( Small eat outs in Blore) were always welcome..I dono whether it was the chutney which did the trick, but i can never say No to them..Not that i wouldn't eat them at home, but not one of my favorites :)..Coming to this idli, as the name suggests, it got famous from its place of origin 'Kancheepuram' - the famous place, known for its silk saris in TN, India.. This idli is mildly flavored with spices like pepper, cumin/jeera & ginger powder(Sukhu podi).

Paruppu Sevai/Lentil based Rice Noodles

Today, for the BM i have chosen Paruppu Sevai.. Sevai/Thin vermicelli is a house favorite! My patti would make it often and she would make different varieties like lemon, tamarind, coconut, jaggery, til etc..Imagine one base & so many varieties!

Poha/Avalakki bath

I am back again with Valli's BM 16 & this time with ' Show your Breakfasts - Click & Share'! Both S and I are breakfast people and i just couldn't think of not doing this  :)..We both can't have cereals & if we do.. its with a lot of frown & grumpiness :D..I like my breakfast hot and in case we don't have a proper breakfast, then whole day i am cranky :).. A good breakfast makes my day happy.. ya simply happy!

Avalakki Bisibelle Bath

Avalakki Bisibelle Bath or Bisibelle bath made of flattened rice(Avalakki) is one of the best dishes my mom makes & is something which both Appa and me absolutely love.. Bisibelle bath as most of you are aware, is a Karnataka speciality dish which means Hot lentils rice..Bisi stands for Hot, Lentils stands for Belle and rice stands for Bath!

Red Pumpkin Soup

This time for Radhika's Blog Hop, i was paired with Farah. Farah & I started blogging around the same time & do drop by to check out each others recipes, whenever possible... So, it was easy for me to find my way around her blog & choose Pumpkin Soup for the Blog Hop.. 

Panner Butter Masala

I am sure all you bloggers around would definitely know Aarthi of Yummy Tummy! A very passionate blogger with more than 500 recipes and all step wise is commendable right.. Well, the good news is she is getting married this month :)..So a group of us from BM decided we would do a virtual bridal shower for the bride to be! What would be best way to do this, than posting a recipe from her own blog :).. Wish Aarthi & Satheesh a very happy married life & here's a recipe from her blog

WTML Round up

I just want to thank Gayatri for letting me host her "Walk through Memory Lane''.. We had a total of 72 entries :).. thanks people!! Though i had narrowed the theme to be a festive event.. i have not excluded any of your entries..as the base is about traditional recipes..

Renuka of SwasthFreak has been chosen as the lucky winner & gets a giveaway from Gayatri.. So make sure, you send in your mailing address right away & many many congratulations!

Butter Tarts

This time for Gayatri's Eggless Baking, we had to bake Butter Tarts ! Last month, we tried Japanese Chocolate Cornets and this time we move to Canada :)..The original Canadian tarts has pastry shells filled with brown sugar, butter & eggs! So, this time 'Silken Tofu' was the perfect answer as the egg substitute...

Armenian Nutmeg Cake

I am back with my Daring Baker's Challenge for April 2012! Moving from the bay area, we landed in the crossroads of Western Europe & Eastern Europe.. the land of Armenia :). The Daring Bakers' April 2012 challenge, hosted by Jason at Daily Candor, were two Armenian standards : Nazook & Nutmeg Cake. Nazook is a layered yeasted dough pastry with a sweet filling and nutmeg cake is a fragrant, nutty coffee-style cake.

Shaam Savera - My first guest post !

This is one of my special posts for 2 reasons.. One because its a guest post..I mean its hardly been 2-3 months of blogging and to think i could blog for someone else was quite overwhelming :).. Secondly i have posted one of my favorite recipe :)..

I quite liked the Master Chef India Season 2 because they bought in a lot of Chefs for judging rather than celebrities.. We have grown up seeing shows of Sanjeev Kapoor ( though as a kid, i would change channels) , Tarla Dalal... and Neeta Gupta books were gifted during weddings :).. They were a savior and the perfect recipe would have everyone praising your skills & i would be silently thanking her :D.. During one such episode of MC2 - Sanjeev Kapoor challenge, the contestants had to prepare his signature dish within 60 minutes, along with him..& i was hooked...

When i made this at home, i just knew why its his signature dish :)..Shaam Savera is basically a spinach dumpling with Paneer/Cotage cheese stuffing with a tangy tomato gravy as the base.. So here i am sharing the same favorite with Kavi at Edible Entertainment... Go ahead & read it and let me know what you guys think about it.. Would so love to hear from you all !

Kollu Podi/ Horsegram Powder

Today for the final day of BM, i choose Kollu/ Horsegram Podi.. I had previously done a post on Horsegram and had used them to make Kollu Rasam. This is known for its medicinal properties!

Coconut Chutney & its varieties

Today for the fifth day of BM, i choose Coconut Chutney.. Almost all of us know the recipe for this chutney right.. Then why i am i posting this?? The reason being everyone does this chutney & its indispensable part of our households, yet each house has a different taste to it..isnt it? The ones at home taste different, from the ones in hotel .. the ones at wedding is again a different one..so today i thought i would share the recipe of what we love at home & make often :)

Cauliflower - Onion Karamedu/Curry

Today for the fourth day of BM, i choose Cauliflower-Onion Curry... I know this is quite common as curry but one of the house favorites ! Amma never made Gobi at home..maybe due to the worms i guess.. So i never developed a taste for it! I started having it only, when Manchurians become popular in Blore.. So for years together this was the only form in which i consumed Gobi...

Thegai Podi/ Coconut Podi

Today for the third day of BM, i choose Thengai Podi/ Coconut Powder..I love coconut :).. I love its versatility and the way it enhances the taste of the dishes..One such powder which i have a stock of at home is this.. Easy to make & comes in so handy! 

Kovakkai Podi Karamedu/ Gherkins Spiced Fry

Kovakkai Or Gherkins is one veggie we both like :)..Yesterday i had posted the Curry powder & today i thought i would extend its use to a veggie and choose this as a part of BM 15. Its not necessary to add this powder to the veggie, but its different & a variation is always good right :)

Curry Powder/Karamedu Powder

I have always been a fussy 'vegetable' eater.. There were very few veggies which i liked and didn't grumble when i had them like potatoes, carrots, cucumbers..cabbage! & then there was a huge list of veggies which i didn't like.. i felt they looked weird..made me feel uneasy..hated the taste :)....Amma would wonder where & how did i come up with all these reasons & she couldn't understand how i could not like them :D..Both appa & amma..in fact everyone in my family, eat everything & they don't complain or fuss.. I was the exception!

Pudina Thogayal/Mint Paste

Today i start Valli's BM #15 & this time its going to be 7 days of Accompaniments! For the very first day i choose Pudina or Mint Thogayal...I am just thinking how can i best describe a Thogayal :).. A thicker version of chutney maybe???..Hmmm..not exactly doesn't taste like chutney really! Thick as a dip..true! The base of a thogayal (pronounced as Tho-ga-yal) is mainly lentils & chillies.. 

Chenna Poda/Paneer Cake & Awards

This time for Valli's Indian Cooking Challenge, we were given a sweet dish from Orissa..This was super new to me! Little did i know there existed a Paneer cake & chenna is another name for Paneer :)...I am a big fan of Paneer and i knew i had to make this!

Soya Burger

This time for Blog Hop, my partner was Deeksha! She is a versatile blogger, been blogging for some years now & does it in two languages too..There were a couple of things i narrowed down on but then finally choose Soya burger.. I had a packet of Soya & have been waiting to use them but somehow been delaying it.. I am not a big fan of Soya but S loves it & thought this would be a good time to make some healthy snack & we all love burgers don't we :)

Drumstick/Murungakkai Sambhar

I remember posting this when i started blogging.. One of our fav Sunday Special Sambhar's :).. I have been planning to update the post with pics but strangely its been a long time since i made this at home! So when we picked up a packet of frozen drumsticks, i thought i shouldn't postpone writing this..

Beetroot Biryani

I am sure the name is such a turnoff..I mean, we all love Biryani don't we.. and to think of it as red color dish..with beets is almost unimaginable right!?! Well, at least i would have scoffed at the very thought of it :).. I changed my opinion & fell in love with it when i had this for the first time in my in laws place!

Chocolate Cornets

This time for Gayatri's Eggless Baking we had to make Chocolate Cornets! This desert is something which i love & have been gorging on it, without knowing what the name was :).. Really!! For me its been the long cone dessert with the filling! S gets these from a bakery near his office & they are heavenly. You get to enjoy it with two fillings.. one chocolate & the other one being a cream filling.. 

WTML- Festival Special Event Announcement & Giveaway

I am happy to announce that i will be hosting Gayatri's Walk Through Memory Lane this month :)..You all know what a fantastic blogger Gayatri is.. in case you don't, then the first thing you need to do is go & check her amazing blog right away!!

Chila Sandwich

Today for the last of the Marathon i choose Chila Sandwich..I am sure most of you have heard of Chila..I didn't know about this until a year back! Chila is basically a dosa variety made of Chickpea flour/Besan and is the closest replica of an omlette :)..As i write this post, i have to narrate the incident how i learnt about this recipe!! 

Uttappam

Today for the sixth day of the dosa marathon.. i choose Uttapam!! As i have stated in my previous post.. i love dosa in any form .. This one has a special place, as i love this crispy dosa.. In my place, my patti and amma would never add any veggies, just plain mustard seeds & red chillies.. Since i loved it crisp, my grandma needless to say, would add extra oil too :D..

Jini Dosa

Today for the fifth day of the marathon, i have chosen Jini Dosa :)..This is a speciality dosa which is an integral part of Mumbai street food!! I love street food.. be it the chats or noodles or kufi's..i am always game for it. Fortunately, i have a gang of friends who love it equally.. sometimes, i wonder whether its our love for food which really binds us together :)

Dutch Crunch Bread

Sara and Erica of Baking JDs were our March 2012 Daring Baker hostesses! Sara & Erica challenged us to make Dutch Crunch bread, a delicious sandwich bread with a unique, crunchy topping. Sara and Erica also challenged us to create a one of a kind sandwich with our bread! 

Menthya Dosa

Today for the fourth day of the Marathon, i choose a very simple dosa called Menthya dosa.. This dosa doesn't look exceptional, looks almost like a sada dosa...What makes it different is, its batter..& to quote my MIL ' Indha dosa pancjhu mari soft aa irrukum' ( this dosa is as soft as cotton :) )..

Tavala Dosa

Today for the third day of BM, i have chosen Tavala Dosa.. This dosa is not very common and not everybody has a taste for it too!.. They have never made this in my house, at least i can't remember having it, but during a conversation with my sister she insisted Rajiamma (my grandma) would make it :)..In fact i was surprised as this was not made at home, my grandma would make a lot of traditional dishes at home! 

Rava Masala Dosa

Its almost the end of the second day & here i am posting the dosa recipe, before the next day starts :).. So, i am going to keep my rambles short today.. Amma makes Rava dosa at home, is one of my fav dosa's. I feel there would be a little difference between rava dosa & karachi maavu dosa.. but i have always found the Rava dosa in hotels very different!! 

Set Dosa

I begin the second leg of the Blogging marathon today & this time i am going to..well, at least try to come up with 7 different types of Dosa's.. Dosa's are such an integral part of our household & i love dosa..I can have dosa every single day & as a kid when we went out, i would choose this over idli :)..Always the same old paper plain dosa.. I used to be fascinated seeing the long dosa.. though i could never complete it, i would insist on that :)...

Mini Kozhukattai/Rice Dumplings

Today, marks the last day of the BM#14 Marathon & i am the last one to post, as usual :).. So for this day, i choose Mini Kozhukattai.. Apart from the fact they look super cute, they are easy to make, tastes good & is super healthy..This is generally done on Polaiyar ( Ganesha) Chaturthi. I think this is good snack option, a  break from the routine.. So, here it goes!

Baked Irani Samosa

I have tasted this snack just once in my life & i loved every bit of it... I had been to Hyd for just 2 days to attend an interview & my attai(aunt) was sweet enough to show me around.. Ya one crazy day, with an interview scheduled the next day, i was out shopping in Charminar for bangles, stone decorated sandals , Narayanpet saree.. 

Girmit

Opposite my house in Blore, there is a small eatery known for Uttar Karnataka speciality foods..He started out with one small room & would get food prepared by his mom & sell it there.. Nothing fancy but simple home food like jolada roti, chapati & with that you would have any two varieties of gravies like sprouts curry , ennaie badnekayi ( brinjal).. In the evenings, we would get a snack called Girmit..on the lines of bhel but not exactly..We would love this..everytime anyone came home, they wanted to buy a packet of Girmit..that s different he would give very less for 10 bucks ;)

Baked Bread Rolls

This one will be a definite hit with Kids..Ya, for once i can be super sure :).. For day 4 of BM 14 , i choose Baked Bread Rolls! Bread rolls are always so tasty.. that's a different thing, they are fried..Undoubtedly, high calorie dish are super tasty and win hands down..but then this one, as a baked dish tastes great! 

Minestrone Soup with Cheese Balls

We absolutely love soups, both S and I.. I guess its something which has been a staple in both our household .. Amma would make different soups.. nothing fancy, but simple ones like tomato carrot soup, green soup with all veggies, doodhi soup, pumpkin one & so does my MIL... I make soups often at home and in fact i weekends are Soup times for us..

Frankie/Rolls/Wraps

Its almost ironical that i am posting about wraps/rolls... Well, the irony lies in the fact that they happen to be 'Chappati' wraps/rolls!! As a kid, i hated chapati.. I guess partly because of its bland taste and i would complain i feel like a cow chewing it for soo long!!! 

Tikki Puri

Today marks the beginning of Valli's BM#14 and i must be the last one posting for Day 1 :).. After days, i had a busy day with people coming over and finally i sit down with my blog! This time my theme is quite challenging..Its Kids's Delight, so snacks that can be quickly prepared within 30 minutes.. whats challenging you ask??? Well, it needs to be kid approved :D.. I have never cooked anything for kids & something they love..hmmm!

Sarvapindi/Ginappa

This is my second blog post for the day & i promise i am in no blog frenzy :)..I posted about Karadayan Nombu, bcoz yesterday was the festival and a later update just wouldn't make sense..right??! Now, the second post is for Valli's Indian Cooking Challenge!!

Karadayan Nombu

Yesterday was Karadayan Nombu, a simple & small festival celebrated by the south indian brahmin community, where the ladies pray for the longevity of their husbands...No, this not restricted only to married people, even unmarried women & girls pray to find a good husband..something in the lines of Karvachauth :)..(I am sure that rings a bell, how many movies & serials we have seen, where the preparation of that starts months..oops! episodes before :D )

Cantaloupe/Musk Melon Juice

This time for Blog Hop-Wednesday#15 , i am paired with Kokila of Foodies Nest.. There are many interesting dishes out there and i zeroed down on two things.. One was a date & nuts burfi and the other was this juice..Every time we buy musk melon, we chop them into small pieces, add sugar & refrigerate and then enjoy the fruit..But, i have never tasted it as a juice..so thought i should do this!

Sagu/Sagoo

Another lazy weekend just went by & i have been in the same mode, so no blogging at all.. if you noticed ;)..I hardly cooked anything elaborate and just made something very basic & we happen to have dinner out :D.. So here i am back with a very simple but tasty dish.
I learnt this dish from my sister & in fact everyone at home calls it Shanthi's Sagu/Sagoo :D..

Peanut Sesame Rice

This dish is an easy, flavorful variety rice. Ideal for days when you don't want to whip up anything elaborate or need a break from the usual routine. S loves peanuts so this dish is something, he doesn't mind for his lunch.. So both of us are happy, me bcoz i get more time for my beauty sleep ;)

Corn Potli

This time for Magic Mingle #3, the magic ingredients we got were Whole wheat & Corn..Quite a different combo & i was thinking what to prepare, using the magic ingredients!! I didn't want to bake anything..already done with corn muffins..corn paratha's was my back up option..I wanted to do something different & its been on the back of my mind..

Paruppu Thogayal / Yellow Lentils Chutney

Its been a very busy day for me today..it doesn't really happen often off late, so i won't be complaining! Just missed blogging & thought will post a easy breezy one before i call it a day!