Bread Bajji | Fritters!

Tired of eating vegetable bajji......... try this with bread. This has been in my drafts since years. I tried this bread bajji, we all liked and it was different.

Here goes the recipe.

IngredientsBread -4 slices(White/Brown)

Kadale maav/Besan/Chickpea flour -  1/2 cup
Corn flour - 1 tspn
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tspn(As per your taste)
Hing/Asafotida - a generous pinch
Salt - 1/4 tspn
Water - as required to make batter
Oil for deep frying.

Preparation Method
Cut the edges of the bread and cut them into triangles.
Make the semi thick batter out of  the ingredients above. It should not be too runny or too thick.
Heat a kadai/wok with oil, let it be hot.
Dip the bread slices in the batter and put slowly in the oil.
Deep fry both sides till brown.

Bread Bajji/Fritters is ready. Enjoy hot with Tomato Ketchup.

Mango Icecream| Icecandy| Popsicles!

Mango popsicles/kutchi ice I made this simple and easy for my son yesterday. It was just a beginners recipe and we all enjoyed on a sunny afternoon. Just remembered the ice cream factory near my house in Bangalore and we used to buy 1 ice cream on saturday afternoon while coming back from school:-)

Ingredients
Mango - 1no
Sugar as required
Water

Preparation Method
Wash, remove skin and seed from mango. Take only pulp, sugar and water (approx 1 cup) and blend to juice.
Strain it. Check on sugar, it should be really on higher side.
Pour in the popsicle cups and freeze to 5 to 6 hours.
Take out from the freezer and wait for few minutes or keep in normal water for easy removal.

Enjoy the Mango Popsicles.

Notes - You can also mix orange or pineapple juice or essence. I also tried mixing mango with pineapple juice, it was good.

Sending this to
 Icecream Recipes by Dr Sameena
Fruit Recipes by Radhika.
Summer Spunk by Anusha.
Cooking with made easy with Mango by Anjali

Mango Lassi | Summer Specials and Lakme!

Mango is one of the favourite fruit in the family. Now the season started and coming up, we bought these in Little India on weekend shopping. Mango Lassi is favourite drink for my hubby and MIL. Kids will also love it.

Ingredients
Ripe Mango - 1no pulp or chopped
Curds/Plain thick  yogurt - 1/2 cup
Milk  - 1/4 cup(if the curds are sour)
Sugar -1 tablespoon(As per your taste)

Preparation Method
Put all the ingredients in a mixie/juicer or blender and blend to smooth paste.

Serve chilled. Add ice cubes if required.

Mango Lassi is ready to serve. Enjoy.

This recipe is going to Cooking Made Easy Mango event by Anjali.
Mango Mania 99 by Pumpkin Farm
Kids Delight Fruits by Srivalli and Nupur.

This Summer I am going out with my family and friends to a Water Theme Park to beat the heat. Lakme has been my favourite since many years. I use there cleanser, moisturiser, nail polish, foundation, Rose powder, compact powder and I do not go out without Lakme suncreen lotion.

This entry is going to Lakme event by indiblogger

Homemade Mixed Fruit Jam | Step-by-Step Recipe Type 1!

Homemade Mixed Fruit Jam is a simple and delicious spread mix of fruits. I never thought would be making jam at home:) but when I was talking to my friend Rekha about it she told me a simple recipe for the jam. I have slightly changed the recipe, it tasted delicious. Kids will surely love!

Step by Step Pictorial Recipe

Soak agar agar strands in water.

Wash, remove skin, seeds and chop all the fruits into  chunks.

Heat a non stick pan, put the soaked agar agar with 1/2 cup water in low flame. Allow it to dissolve.

Grind all the fruits to smooth paste.

When the agar agar is fully dissolved, add the grounded fruit mixture into this and mix well.

When you feel the raw smell is gone add sugar and stir.

Mix and keep stirring

It will be in liquid consistency

 Remove the paste from sides and keep stirring till its bubbling up and thick.

Off the stove. Add the vinegar.

When its thick and finally looks shiny

Ingredients
Strawberry - 6 nos
Apple - 1no
Banana - 2nos
Guava(white) - 1 no
Brown sugar - 1 cup(As per your taste)
Vinegar - 1/2 tspn
Agar Agar/China Grass - few strandsPreparation Method
Soak agar agar strands in water.
Wash, remove skin, seeds and chop all the fruits into  chunks.
Heat a non stick pan, put the soaked agar agar with 1/2 cup water in low flame. Allow it to dissolve.
Grind all the fruits to smooth paste.
When the agar agar is fully dissolved, add the grounded fruit mixture into this and mix well. Keep stirring.
When you feel the raw smell is gone add sugar and stir. It will be in liquid consistency, keep stirring until its thick.
Remove the paste from sides and keep stirring till its bubbling up.
Off the stove. Add the vinegar.
Mix and allow it to cool.
It will become thick  jam.
Store in air tight container and use with your bread.

Delicious homemade mixed fruit jam is ready to serve.

  The next day served with Wholemeal Bread/Toast. Enjoyed.

This recipe is going to Kalyani's Event Pickles and Preserve Fest and Spring Seasonal Food Event by Sravani.

Thin Crust Cheese Pan Pizza and Sauce Ver 2 - Beginner's Recipe!

Thin Crust Pan Pizza is what I prepared for my son yesterday for dinner. I have already posted Veggie Paneer Pizza here. This one was quick enough and he thorougly enjoyed, but asked me few questions " Why pizza hut aunty won't put Paneer?" but still its yummy:)

Ingredients for Pizza base
APF/Maida - 1 cup
Dry yeast - 1/2 tspn
Warm water - 1/2 glass
Sugar - 1/2 tspn
Salt - a pinch

Toppings
Paneer - few pieces
Cauliflower florets - 1 cup
Basic Sauce - 1 cup(As required) click here for recipe.
Tomato - 1no few chopped and few rings
Tomato Ketchup/sauce - 2-3 tspns
Mozarella cheese - as required
Parmesan cheese - as required
Olive oil/any oil - 1 tspn
Spinach - 1 tspn chopped

How I made the quick sauce?
In a kadai, add 1 tspn of olive oil. Add garlic saute for few mins, then add chopped tomatoes, salt and cook for few mins.
Then add the basic sauce if you have already prepared. Otherwise add in the tomato sauce or ketchup now mix well. Add in the cauliflower and cook. Add in spinach or basil or oregano at this time.
Finally add paneer pieces and mix well.
Off the stove the quick sauce is ready.Preparation Method
Mix yeast with water, sugar and salt in a glass and allow it to sit for 10mins.
When it forth mix it with APF to a soft dough with oil.
Leave it till it raises for about an hour. Punch out the air.
Then you can make 2 small pizza base with it.
Dust the surface with flour, slowly knead like chapathi by rolling pin to thin and round shape.
Heat a skillet/tawa and put the dough and slow cook both sides till its slightly brown. Reduce flame. Remove from fire.
Spread the prepared sauce.
Top it with Mosarella cheeseand Parmesan Cheese.
Brush the tawa with oil of butter and put the pizza on a skillet/tawa, slow cook covered in low flame till the cheese is melted.

Thin Crust Cheese Pan Pizza is ready to Serve. Enjoy warm.

Veggie Pomodoro | Whole Wheat Italian Pasta Recipe!

Veggie Pomodoro is one pasta dish, we order at Pastamania and Pizzahut. Today my son wanted to eat pasta, so prepared for his lunch at home. These are my son's favourite restuarants. I have used whole wheat organic pasta.

Serves - 1 person

Ingredients

Wheat Fusilli - 2 cups (you can use any of your choice pasta)
Red chilli flakes - a pinch(As per your taste)
Parmesan cheese - 2 tablespoons
Pasta Sauce - as required
Olive Oil - 1 tablespoon
Black olives - 2 nos chopped

click on image for recipe

Preparation Method
In a vessel boil water, add 1 tspn oil and a pinch of salt. Once its boiling add pasta and allow it to cook for 3 to 5 mins. Keep checking it should not be over cooked. Cook al dente.
In a sauce pan/kadai, add olive oil, garlic, pasta sauce and let it cook for few minutes.
Add cooked pasta and mix.
Add chilli flakes, salt and mix well. Cook till all blends well for few mins.

Garnish with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

You can also add mushrooms and green peas to it. Since I don't eat didnot add. Add in the sauce itself and cook.

Veggie Pomodoro is ready to serve. Enjoy hot.

Notes - Some like more sauce but like less sauce and more pasta. Adjust according to your like.
Another way of serving pasta, put boiled pasta on serving plate and pour the sauce over it. Garnish with cheese. Mix and eat.

Iced Watermelon!

After the refreshing watermelon juice, I had leftover watermelon tried to prepare for my son. Actually wanted to prepare watermelon sorbet but came up with this.This is simple and easy ice cream.

Ingredients
Watermelon  juice - 1 tall glass
Condensed milk - 1 tspn
Cardamom/Elachi powder - a pinch
Sugar - optional

Preparation Method
Blend all the ingredients in a blender/mixie. Strain it.
Pour it in the icecube moulds and freeze for 1 hour or till its just set.

Serve immediately.

Iced Watermelon is ready.

This can be done with Mango too.

You can also add these cubes to the Watermelon juice.
Notes - If you dont have condensed milk you can just add sugar.

Watermelon Juice ! Summer Special!

Its been quite hot in the morning and noon. Heard in India also its very hot. But in Singapore the weather is unpredictable, its just raining so heavily. Check out the other Summer Specials here.

Serves - 2 pax

IngredientsWatermelon - 1/4 no of a whole fruit or 2 cups cubed.
Sugar or honey - 1 tspn
Ice cubes - few (optional)
Water as required
Can also add a pinch of Black salt or chaat masala.

Method
In a blender/mixie add watermelon, water, sugar and grind.
Take serving glass add ice cubes and add the juice. (I have dipped in sugar on the rim)
Add a pinch of black salt or chaat masala on the top.
A few pieces of the fruit too.

Such a refreshing juice.

Watermelon Juice is ready to serve.

Crispy Paneer | Women's Day Event Announcement and a Giveaway!

This has been in my drafts since long long time and thought of posting it now. I prepared this to my MIL who eats non spicy food and for my son.

Happy Holi to all my celebrating the colourful festival!

Ingredients
Paneer cubes - 1 pkt
Kadalai Maav (Besan/Chickpea Flour) - 1 tspn
Chola Maav (Corn Flour) - 2 tspns
Arasi Maav (Rice Flour) - 4 tspns
Chilli powder - 1/2 tspn
Kesari/orange colour a pinch - Optional I have not used.
Oil for deep frying

Salt to taste

Preparation Method
Thaw the paneer and put in hot water for few mins. Remove water and keep paneer.
In a bowl make watery batter with Arasi, Chola and Kadalai maav and whisk well without forming a lumps. Add chilli powder and salt.
Add the paneer, coat it drop in oil and deep fry till brown.

Serve Crispy Paneer with Tomato Sauce.

Notes - You can deep fry directly also.
You can add ginger garlic paste to the batter.

Event Announcement

Image courtery - Google search

Tomorrow 8th March is International Women's Day, its time to think of all women in your life and say thank you.

Post any vegetarian recipe dedicated to women in your life and link it here. This event is from 7th March to 31st March 2012. Multiple entries allowed. Only fresh entries and no archived posts please.

Add of logo and this event annoucement is mandatory. Hope you see your entries.

Now coming to the giveaway

Electrolux a great resource for home applicances and product accessories. They have a wide range of kitchen, laundry support and many more. Please visit their website here to view the products.

The giveaway is a $35 gift coupon and you can shop online for Electrolux Accessories Product. No geographic restrictions. This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you Electrolux for the giveaway.

Extra chances for the giveaway
1. Follow my blog via google connect.
2. Join Sara's Corner on Facebook.
3. Subscribe in reader or email.

Those who are already following just leave me a comment and linking your entry for the event. Others also leave me a comment after doing any of the above by linking your entry.

Winner will be chosen on 2nd April.


Happy Women's Day and I am happy to be a women.

Got this in mail on Women from a friend so sharing
Can u bleed for a week & survive???
Can u squeeze a 14 inch baby from a 10 cm hole???
Can u carry a 7 pound baby in ur stomach for 9 months??
Can u tk care of d child, cook, clean & talk on d phone @ one tym???
Can u carry a 108 lb shopping bag???
Can u go a week eating only salads???
Can u face heart-break???
Can u watch d love of ur lyf b wid someone else???
Can u burn ur forehead wid a curling iron n not complain???
Can u walk all day in a 5 inch heels???
Can u cry all night & wake up next morning like everythings ok???
I REALLY DONT THINK SO!!!!!!!!
CHEERS TO US
HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY my dear friends.

Do mail me if any questions to simplysara07@gmail.com

Cheers.
Saraswathi Iyer

Eggless Bakwan!

Bakwan is an Chinese starter available in Singapore. I wanted to eat many times but has eggs. My friend did for me without egg and brought it. So, this snack recipe is from my friend. Thanks Alika:-) My son loved it, as this is not spicy.

Ingredients
Sweet Corn - 1 can/tin
Carrot - 1/4 cup grated
Cabbage - 1 cup grated
Onion - 1 no thin slices
APF - 1/2 cup ( as required)
Garlic - 1 no
Spring onion - 1/2 cup
White pepper - 1/2 tspn(As per your taste)
Salt
Oil for deep frying
Corn flour - 2 tspns(My edition for crispness)

Preparation Method
Heat oil in low flame for deep frying.
In a bowl, add all vegetables, add salt and flour. Mix well. Sprinkle little water and mix well. Add white pepper.
Take small portions flat it by hand and slowly drop in oil and deep fry till golden brown.
Remove on a tissue paper.

Eggless Bakwan is ready to serve. Serve hot with Tomato Ketchup.

This recipe is going to an event Flavours of Singapore by Nayna.

Ribbon | Thattu Pakoda | Diwali Savoury Recipe!!!

Ribbon|Thattu Pakoda is another savoury, popular down South India. This is very easy and tasty snack. Perfect for the festive season.

These flower candles were gifted by my dear friend Rekha. Thank you.

Ingredients
Kadalai Maav/ Besan - 4 cups
Arasi Maav/ Rice flour - 1 tspn
Milagai Podi /Red chilli powder - 1/2 tspn(As per your taste)
Peringayam/Hing - 1/4 tspn
Vennai/Butter - 2 tspns (at room temperature)
Salt
Water as required

Preparation Method
In wide vessel, add kadalai maavu, arasi maavu salt, hing and mix dry.
Take butter and mix in the flour by hand, then sprinkle water and make a soft dough.
Leave it for 10mins by that time heat oil in kadai for deep frying in low flame.
Make equal portions of the dough, take one small portion and put in the murukku nazhi/press. Use double rectangle plate.(It will be like pasta fettuchini)
Press slowly in the hot oil in circle. Be careful.
Slow cook on the both sides till brown.
Repeat the same process with rest of the dough.
Allow it to cool, then crush into small pieces and then store in air tight container.

Ribbon Pakoda is ready to serve. This crunchy savoury can be served with Hot Coffee.

This recipe is going to My Diwali my way by Kushi and Diwali Festival of Lights by Anu.

Cauli Brocolli Crisps/Pakoras

Cauli Brocolli crisps /pakoras are very tasty and different. Usually we make cauliflower bajji or pakoras. Adding brocolli made my son eat this veggie too and glad he liked it.

Ingredients
Cauli Flower florets - 4 cups
Brocolli florets - 2 cups
Kadalai Maav/Besan/Chickpea Flour- 2 tspns
Chola Maav /Corn Flour- 2 tspns
Arasi Maav /Rice Flour- 2 tspns
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tspn (As per taste)
Oil for deep frying
Salt to taste
Kesari/Orange colour a pinch - Optional. Preparation Method

Make small florets of the veggie. Put them in boiling water with little salt and a pinch of turmeric for 10minutes. Close with a lid. leave it for sometime. Drain/Strain fully so no water is left.
Transfer it to a wide bowl. Sprinkle Arasi, Chola and Kadalai maav all over and mix well. Add chilli powder and salt. Sprinkle very little water and mix well.
Deep fry in oil until brown and crispy.

Tasty Cauli Brocolli crisps are ready. This can be had at tea/coffee time at home or office.

Babycorn Pakoras

I usually make Golden fried Babycorns, but this time my son did not eat found difficult in biting. So quickly I changed and immediately prepared this and he enjoyed. I was happy making him eat babycorn and my parents enjoyed too:-)

Pls bear with the photo as it is from my BB, my camera is back on Monday.

Ingredients
Babycorn - 5 nos(1pkt)
Onion - 2 nos
Besan - 1 cup or less (to cover the corn and onion)
Corn flour - 1 tspn
Rice flour  2 tspns
Curry leaves -  1 tspn
Coriander leaves - 2 tspns
Green Chilli - 2nos or Red Chilli Powder
Salt
Oil for deep frying.

Preparation Method
Chop into small pieces babycorn, onion, curry leaves coriander and green chilli. Put in a bowl.
Now add rest of the ingredients and mix with little water. The mix should not be too thin nor too thick.
Heat oil in kadai, take about a tspn of the mix and drop them in oil and deep fry both sides.

Serve with chutney or tomato ketchup.

Mango Kulfi!!!

Ingredients
Milk - 1/2 litre
Condensed Milk - 1/2 tin (As per your taste)
Sugar - If required
Ripe Mango - 1cup(Pureed) (Peel skin cut into cubes and make a paste in mixie/blender)
Cardamom/Elachi powder - a pinch(Optional)
Water - Optional(I added 1 cup of water to milk)
 Preparation Method
Boil milk in a thick bottom vessel.
When its come to boiling point reduce flame and add condensed milk.
Stir well. Allow it to reduce to half the quantity.
Keep it in low flame and stir.
You will know by the colour and quantity. Once its reduced taste and check for sugar as kulfi will be on slightly sweeter side.
Add the mango puree and mix well and allow it to cool.
Once cooled pour it in the ice cream mould or jelly mould and freeze to 4-6 hours. If ice crystal are formed mix well and again freeze it.
Before serving keep the cups in water for 2mins for easy removal and Serve immediately.


Enjoy Mango Kulfi, its very refreshing.


Notes - I prepared it at nite and served next day afternoon. Too much freezing also forms ice. So just freeze it to 4-6 hours and Serve.


This recipe is going to Celebrate Sweets Icecream by Reshmi and Nivedita and to Healing Foods Mango by Revathi and Siri.

Kodbale/Crispy Rice Rings!!!

Kodbale is a crispy rice flour rings. Its favourite for kids and my son loved it. Checkout my another version of  Kodbale here.

Ingredeints
Rice flour – 1 cup
Maida - 1/2 cup
Red Chilli powder -  1/4 tspn
Asafotida – 1 pinch
Hot oil - 2 tspn
Dalda/vanaspati – 1 tspn
White Sesame Seeds - 1/2 tspn
Oil for deep frying
Salt

Preparation Method

In a thick bottom Kadai, put rice flour, maida and fry it for sometime till it becomes warm in medium-low flame. Fry continuously.
Transfer it to a bowl. Allow it to cool.
Add vanaspati/dalda.
Add red chilli powder, salt, Sesame seeds and asafotida. Mix well.
In a Kadai, add oil and heat for 2mins. Add hot oil to the flour.
Sprinkle little water and make soft dough.
Take lemon size ball and roll out into thin line and roll in to form a circle.(see video)
Heat oil in a kadai and drop these rolls and deep fry till brown in low flame on both sides.

Banana Appams for Karthigai

Appam is my family favourite sweet. This time for Karthigai, I prepared with bananas and its tasted great. Then next day sent to my hubby's office for his colleagues and it was a great hit. It has an amazing flavour. My son loves the mini version too.

Ingredients
Raw Rice/Idli rice - 1 cup
Vellam/Jaggery - 1 cup (If you like more sweet can add little extra)
Ripe Banana - 1 no(If you dont have riped one can used normal one too)
Cardamom Powder - a pinch
Oil as required

Preparation Method
Wash and soak rice in water for 3-4 hours.
Grind rice for 1-2 rounds in mixie, then add jaggery, banana and grind to smooth paste.
Transfer it to a bowl and leave it for 5-7 hours.(I left it overnight)
Add cardamom powder and mix well.
Heat a non stick Appam Chetti or Kuzhipaniyaram Chetti, with 1 tspn oil each.
Pour batter to 3/4th of the chetti. Reduce flame to medium low otherwise it becomes black.
Cook and turn the overside and cook till its dark brown.

I used Tikka sticks. You can also use fork to turn them.

Super soft Banana Appam is ready to serve.

Notes - If you want, can make mini appams by just pouring half the Kuzhi. It will be loved by Kids.

This recipe is going off to Aipi's -Veggie/Fruit a Month - Ripe Banana Event started by Priya.

Veg. Bread Spring Roll

Veg. Bread Spring Roll is prepared with bread and vegetables. Kids will love it. Its a good starter and snack.

Ingredients
Bread slice - 4nos
Oil - Deep frying

Stuffing
Cabbage - 1cup(Grated)
Carrot - 1 cup (Grated)
Onion - (optional)
Garam Masala - 1/2 tspn
Red Chilli powder - a pinch
Turmeric - a pinch
Oil - 1/2 tspn
Salt

Preparation Method
In a pan, put oil cabbage, carrot, garam masala, red chilli powder, turmeric and salt. Cook til its half done. Dont cook fully. Off the stove.

Take a bread piece, cut off the edges and stuff a tspn of the veggie and roll it. Seal the edges with water or maida paste. Coat them in maida paste.

Heat oil in a kadai/wok and deep fry these till brown.

Veg. Bread Spring Roll is ready to serve. Serve it with Tomato Ketchup or as it is.

If you have not sent in your entries to AWED Brazil event do send it today as it ends on 31st Oct.

Potato Cutlet

Potato Cutlet is very simple and very tasty with tea/coffee. Its also kids favourite. I would like to thank my FIL for teaching me this recipe.

Ingredients
Potatoes/Papas/Uralaikizhangu/Aloogadde - 2 nos
Maida/APF - 2 tspns
Bread crums - 1/2 cup
Red chilli powder - a pinch
Salt
Oil for deep frying
Onion and Curry leaves (Optional)

Preparation Method
Cook potatoes in pressure cooker for 4 whistles. Peel skin and mash it.
Add maida, salt, red chilli powder and make medium size balls.
Take in your palm just spread a bit and coat maida paste.
Coat bread crums on both sides.
Heat oil in a kadai and deep fry it.

Serve hot with tomato ketchup or enjoy as it is.
This recipe is going to Party Treats by me and Meeta and Kids Delight by Pari.

Golden Fried Babycorns

Golden Fried Babycorns is a tasty starter or snack. I had this long time when was in Bangalore at a office Party. Just saw a packet of babycorn in our Little India shop. So just grabed it, since the pack had only 6 corns thought of giving a try.

This has been pending in my drafts since very long time.

Ingredients
Baby corn - 1 pkt(6nos)
Kadalai Maav/Besan/Chickpea Flour -4 tspns
Corn Flour - 2 tspns
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tspn
Maida - 1 tspn
Salt
Oil for deep frying

Preperation Method

In a wide bowl, mix all ingredients with water except maida. The batter should be like dosa batter form. Not too thin or thick.
Heat oil in a Kadai/wok.
Wash the babycorn, roll in maida and then dip in the batter.
Drop slowly one by one and deep fry till golden brown.
Remove it on a tissue. It will be crispy.

Serve with Tomato Ketchup or as it is. This can also be a tea time snack or for Kids.

This is going to my MM Party Treats by me and Meeta.

Kids Delight by Pari