Spinach and corn fritters

I had a big packet of corn meal lying in my pantry from long time.Corn meal is new to me and I had no clue what to cook.Finally,I found few ways to use my corn meal stock.One of them is these Spinach - corn fritters.To make these fritters,I used

Ingredients:

! cup cleaned washed and chopped spinach

1/2 cup sweet corn kernels

1 medium onion chopped fine

2-3 cilantro sprigs chopped fine

1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger

1/2 tsp red chilly powder

pinch of garam masala powder

salt to taste

pinch of baking soda

1 tbsp yogurt

1 .5 cup corn meal

1/2 cup all purpose flour

Method:

• Mix all dry ingredients - flours,salt,chilly powder,masala,baking soda.
• Add chopped veggies - ginger,spinach,onion,corn
• Add yogurt - stir
• Add needed water to make dough thick enough to drop into hot oil with a spoon.
• Heat oil about 1 cup or enough to deep fry
• Add small balls of batter with a spoon.Deep fry till golden brown on both sides.
• Drain onto a paper towel and serve hot or warm

Spicy onion paste stuffed in baby eggplants

Ingredients:

1/2 medium onion chopped roughly

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp red chilly powder

salt to taste(about 1/4 tsp)

1 tbsp oil

5-6 baby eggplants

Method:

• Grind chopped onion along with salt,cumin,red chilly powder to a paste.
• Slit baby brinjals in'+' Shape keeping the stalk intact.
• stuff the slit part with the onion paste.
• Heat a pan with 1 tbsp oil,add stuffed eggplants,cover and cook till eggplants are soft on a low flame and keep stirring in between.
• Serve with cooked rice

Garlic Rice

About two months back when we were moving to a new house ,one of my friend Ashwini has made this garlic rice for us and sent it home.I liked it and made this with my own adaptations.My frined did not add coconut paste and grated carrot.This rice can be made even with left over rice.To make this rice,

Ingredients:

Grind to a paste:

2 tsps grated coconut

1/4 tsp cumin

2 green chillies

For popu/tempering:

5-6 cashew pieces

3 or 4 garlic flakes finely chopped

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/4 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp urad dal

Other ingredients:

1 cup cooked rice

1 baby carrot grated

Method:

• In a pan,add and fry all the popu/tempering ingredients till garlic,cashew and dal are golden brown.
• Add ground paste and fry for a minute.
• Add grated carrot and stir.
• Add cooked rice and stir.
• Season with salt and serve with yogurt.

I am sending this as my entry for "Think Spice - Think Garlic" event hosted by Sunita.

Vankaya Bangaladumpa kura(Brinjal -Potato Curry)

Back in my home,my Mom used to make these kind of thick curries very often for our everyday meals. These kind of curries are quick to make,tasty and the best part ,use very less oil compared to stir fires .Stir-fries were just not so often .It is just the same even now in my Mom's place.

To make this curry,

• In a pan add and toast popu.
• Add peeled and cubed medium sized potato and about 6 baby brinjals - washed,wipe dried and chopped onto chunks.
• Add salt to taste and a pinch of turmeric.Stir and let cook for 2 Min's.
• Now,add 1/2 cup of tamarind juice. Alternately,add thick tamarind paste after the brinjal and potato are cooked tender.
• Crush together 1/4 Th tsp of grated ginger and 2 green chillies finely chopped.
• Add this paste to the cooked veggies.
• Stir and let the curry remain on heat for 2 Min's on low flame
• Remove from heat and serve hot with rice.

Majjiga Pulusu(Bottlegourd and tomato in Spiced Buttermilk)

Majjiga Pulusu or Buttermilk stew is a kind of stew where vegetables or greens are cooked in buttermilk,seasoned and then thickened a little bit.My favorite is always the one with greens.My mom makes this with buttermilk or even with fresh coconut milk.Given a chance,I would prefer the coconut milk one.For today,I am posting here a different version of this majjiga pulusu which my mother-in law and my sis-in law make usually.Today I used bottle gourd and tomato to make in my majjiga pulusu.This is one is equally tasty.So,here we go down the recipe.

Ingrdients:

Grind to a paste:

1 tbsp grated coconut

1/4 tsp grated ginger

3 green chiliies

1/4 tsp coriander seeds

1/4 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp rice+ 1 tsp chana dal(soaked in water for atleast 30 mins and water drained out)

for the stew:

1 cup thick beaten curd

choice of veggies/greens .

Salt to season

Popu ->1/2 tsp mustard,cumin and 2 red chillies fried in a tsp of oil with a dash of asfoetida for flavor.

Method:

1.Boil veggies in salted water.

2.Add beaten curd.

3.Add ground paste.

4.Boil for 2 Min's

Add popu,stir and serve with rice.

Desi Style Oven Roasted Veggies

I tried my own version of roasted veggies to make a combo for phulkas today.And they came out more than delicious and very tasty . I chose veggies like zucchini,potato,carrot,beans,bell pepper,tomato and onion. I made it desi by adding our very own authentic spice powders like pav bhaji masala and garam masala unlike the regular orgenao and rosemary to season the veggies.Peel and chop carrots and potato into chunks.Slice onion .Trim and chop beans and zucchini.Chop tomato and bell pepper.In a bowl,add 1 tsp olive oil,salt,red chilly flakes,1 pinch pav bhaji masala,1 flake garlic finely chopped,1 pinch garam masala.Mix everything and stir in all the the veggies and toss them gently until masala coats them.Preheat oven at 400F and bake for 20 Min's or till done stirring in between.I liked the nice aroma that came as soon as I took them off from oven. It was a great healthy combo for phulkas.

Funny cake

I made this cake for new year's eve for my daughter who loves to cut cakes. I wanted to make a 3-D teddy bear cake but finally it turned out to be a funny pink snowman. Better luck next time.But my daughter liked the cake and she enjoyed cutting it. I wish and hope you all have a great year ahead.