Wednesday, 13 May 2020

GULAB JAMUNS - (DOs & DONTs)

Hi friends...

Today I'm here with a Simple Sweet, Yet Special among our Favorite list...
Yes... It is None other than GULAB JAMUN....
I made these,Last week, for Mother's Day this year...



Nowadays... U get lots of choices in sweets, like Milk Sweets, Nuts sweets, Bengali Sweets,
 Baklava, Karachi sweets, North Indian, Gujarati,..etc...
But Way back in 80s & 90s, We hardly had access to such sweet shops....
In Lala Mittai kadai & Arya bhavan, We used to get sweets like Jaangri, Badhusha, Boondhi, Laddu, Mysore pak(Not the soft ones, like now....)))

So Gulab Jamuns gave its entry in 80s & every household tried to put their hands in this,
Few succeeded, Many failed Miserably....


My mom is a cooking expert,Cooks so tasty & quick too.
She used to buy litres of Fresh milk, Keep in big vessel,
Keep stirring for hours & make Khoa, All by herself....
Being in a big joint family, She usually makes a lot...
Not only for us, But also distribute among our relatives too....
Still today, No one can beat her Jamuns...







Ok... Now let's come to our  jamuns....
Today,I used MTR Gulab Jamun mix-The best always(according to me...)

METHOD:
Measure the mix in a Cup,
For 1 cup of mix,we need less than 1/4 cup of Milk(not water,as put on the pack)
Now,Slowly add the milk & slightly knead it to a soft Dough.
Dont use Water,Use MILK to make the Dough













(Never press hard with your palms,But use only your Fingers)
Keep aside just for few mins...

Making Sugar Syrup-Jeera

In a broad pan,Take 2 Cups of sugar & 1/2 Cup of water,
Keep on flame,Let the Sugar dissolves completely..
Now add 2Tsp of Milk_ To remove the Dirts in Sugar...
Adding Milk to Jeera,to remove dirts
The impurities will float like bubbles,just discard it using a ladle...Sugar syrup does not need any Consistency,like We take for other sweets...
Just a thin syrup ,will do...
Now Switch of the stove...
Few add Rose essence to the syrup,But i prefer to be natural taste.

Making of Jamuns
Lets now start making the Jamuns...
Take the dough,Roll into Small balls
If you make Big size,The Jamuns will turn out bigger,
As i prefer Small sized Jamuns, I roll small ones only...
The balls should be smooth,that there should not be any cracks on it...
Keep the rolled balls only on Greased plate.

Grease the plate to place the balls

Make even sized Balls





If the balls are not shped properly,Jamuns will crack & break later.

JAMUNS IN JEERA

Always fry the Jamuns in medium hot oil.
Drop only few balls at a time.
Dont put too many in oil, at a same time..It may break.
Either the Jamuns or Syrup(any one) can be hot...
If both are hot,It may break.
So Put hot fried Jamuns in already prepared Syrup..
You can Transfer immersed Jamuns to a container & add next batch of Jamuns.
You can garnish the Jamuns with Sliced Nuts & saffron strands.

Sunday, 3 May 2020

AAPPAM


Hello Friends,
South indian Delicacies are always special to me...
Close to my heart... Especially, Dosa varieties fancy me so much... 
 Appam is a famous Crepes, Mainly in Kerala state... 
In Tamilnadu too,We make tasty ones... 
My Version is a bit thin & crispy too... 
You can relish it with Coconut milk & Sugar - Aunthentic taste...
As we dont have a sweet tooth-
We devour it with spicy Kuruma/Kulambu,Veg Stew or Chutney...
Even a Simple Idly podi goes well with it... 


Try this & let me know your feedback too .... 
Recipe: 
Appam
Raw Rice-1 Cup
Idly Rice-1 Cup
Urad Dhal-1/4 Cup
Methi-2 Tsp
Soak all together-2 Hrs... Grind well. 
You can add Left over Rice-1 Cup & Coconut-1 Cup
Add Salt... Ferment it for 10-12 hrs/Overnight...
Make Aappam... 
You can make as Dosa in Dosa pan or pour in a Kadai & swirl to get a dome shaped authentic Appam...
 After Pouring Appam, I sprinkle 1/4 tsp Sugar & close it to cook.... 
Serve with Coconut Chutney, Kuruma, Kulambu,Coconut Milk or Stew...
EGG AAPPAM:
After pouring the batter, Pour an Egg,Sprinkle Salt & pepper- close and cook....









BANANA STEM-VAAZHATHANDU SOUP

Hello Friends
Howz life in this Lockdown period....???
Life has taken us in a Roller Coaster ride,Which none of us expected....
But instead of complaining,Lets Take life in a positive way,....
This is a great opportunity to have a Good Family time...

Homemakers are busy trying out lots of recipes for the family...

I make few items ,which are loved by my Family...
This soup is such an item...


Banana stem is too good for health, Rich in fibre, Helps in weight loss...
It eases Constipation, Excellent for digestion, Bowel movement & clearing the intestines...
It is known to prevent the formation of Kidney stones.
Also rich in Potassium & Vitamin B6....which is required to increase the haemoglobin count

Few of us, Dont like Vaazhathandu- Banana stem- Its mainly because of the way,We make...
In our South Indian Homes, We make this stem with Cooked Dhal as poriyal...
I'm sure,Even your kids will have ,if u give them as Soup...

This Soup is a Recipe shared by  Chef Venkatesh bhat in a TV show,
Which I simplified according to us...

Just simple ingredients only, U can put ur hands & try....
Its Easy,Healthy dish too....



VAZHATHANDU- BANANA STEM SOUP

Ingredients
Banana stem-1
Jeera-1 Tsp
G.Chillies-3
Turmeric-1/2Tsp
Pepper-1Tsp
Salt-To taste

Butter-2Tsp
Onion-1/2
Garlic-4
Fresh Cream/Milk-1/2Cup
Sugar-1/2Tsp
Coriander Leaves-2Tsp




Method:
In a Pressure Cooker,
Boil thandu with jeera, Salt,G.Chilly, Turmeric,Pepper...
Cook for 3 Whistles..

Strain,Cool & Grind it...

In a Pan, Take Butter...
Add Chopped Onions
Chopped Garlic, and Fry till brown..
Add Ground Paste with the  Boiled stock... Bring to boil..
Add Fresh cream, Salt,
Pepper,
Sugar....


Garnish with Coriander leaves & serve hot...