Rajma Tikki - Kidney Beans Cutlet

Rajma Tikki

Certain dishes just tend to happen...without planning or thought...well not exactly ( some thought does go into it )...but almost...since this is how this tikki happened...

My original plan was to make a 3 bean salad , but one of the 3 beans (the kidney beans ) that I had pressure cooked was under done...so could not use it that day...so froze them...with plans to recook and then use another time...

Recently I had made rajma curry...and then a few days later it was rajma rice...so was not too keen to do either of  those again...wanted to do something different...

Then I remembered a recipe I had watched on the Food Channel...it was a tikki with rajma and brown rice...but did not have all the ingredients ready.....so decided to go for our traditional cutlet (tikki) recipe...with potato etc...

So that's how this all came about...and boy, was I glad I went with it...it was really and truly awesome...and so I had to share the recipe with all of you...here's hoping that you all love it too...

Ingredient :

1/2 cup rajma  - kidney beans
2 medium potatoes
1 medium onion
2 green chillies
2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
2 Tblspn of oats
1 or 2 slices of bread or bread crumbs
a few sprigs of coriander leaves.
oil for shallow frying.

 Method :

1) Soak the rajma ( kidney beans ) over night and then pressure cook it with about 1/8 tsp of salt, till done. Drain the water ( you can use it in a curry ). Mash the beans.
2) Boil and mash the potatoes after draining the water.
3) Chop the onions and chillies and coriander leaves.
4) Mix rajma, potatoes, the veggies above and the seasonings, oats, ...then if required add bread crumbs or a slice or two of bread, you need for it all to come together. The oats and bread absorb any moisture left in the cooked beans and potatoes. Do not make it too dry.
5) Form small balls the size of a lemon...flatten it slightly and then shallow fry it in a non-stick pan with a little oil. Cook on both sides till it becomes firm and browned up.
Serve hot with tomato ketchup or green chutney.
Enjoy !!!

This is good as a chaat - with beaten curds, chaat masala and roasted cumin powder sprinkled over it...you could add the green chutney and tamarind chutney too...
Or it could be had as a snack, or as a side with a meal, any which way - it is an amazing dish.

I made a few and kept the mix for the next day to make some more - had wanted to give some to my mom too to try out - she also loves trying out what ever I make...love to have her opinion on the same.
Since both T and my mom gave the thumbs up for these - guess I will be making it soon again...would be great if you try it out and let me know how you like it too....
 

Apple muffins

Apple muffin

The original recipe given to me by my friend has applesauce in it...and even when I was in the US with easy access to that product, I never used it...would generally make do with Gala apples - the red delicious apples which we would regularly stock at home...

Back here in India - I use whatever I tend to have at hand...am not sure of the names of any of the varieties - one they call Chinese, the large one sold with a mesh cover, then another small red variety and another large red types...just shows how ignorant I am....not that it matters which one but generally for these muffins if using the Chinese ones which are pretty large I use one and half - whereas if using the small red variety - I tend to use 2...

While in US, I used to make these many times, somehow here I have broadened my scope of baking and keep trying out different recipes and have not really baked these as much...but it is one of my all time favourites - the flavours, taste, smell of these are more subtle than the banana muffins which have a more intense, in your face types,  taste & smell of bananas...
The delicate taste of apples as it comes thru when you bite into it...along with the aroma of cinnamon and brown sugar is something to relish.

So when we were invited to dinner along with my visiting sis-in-law and her hubby to a cousin's place, I decided to bake these apple muffins...it was her favourite muffin and so I thought she would enjoy it...and so would our hostess and her two lovely daughters...

The dinner was amazing, we also had a delayed Raksha Bandhan since both my husband's sister and cousin had not met my husband since then...it was a fun party with lots of jokes and remembrances of past Raksha Bandhan. B ( our hostess ) is a very lively person and keeps us all in splits with her take on all matters....so thanks to all of them  for the lovely time we had...

Bajra Roti

Bajra Roti

A visit to the Salon ( Beauty parlour ) is so revitalising...both literally ( hair color takes 10 years off your age that you both look and feel younger ) and mentally ( it does relax you, a great de-stresser )....so my visit yesterday in the afternoon and all that buffing and polishing and pampering was very effective, it recharged me ....and got me going thru the list of things I had planned for this weekend...( currently I am half way thru, I think )...

Lots of baking - plan to carry some muffins to a cousin's place tomorrow ( for after dinner desert ), some cookies at my parent's place for visiting relatives, my biscotti ( baked a couple of days back ) at home, and some brownies for nephew and niece who will also be visiting...phew !!!

You would think with all of that going on, I would take a break and relax, but as the saying goes 'there is no rest for the weary'...though I wonder what does that mean ?!? ....why not ? guess if they are as crazy as me...it explains all...
I think what keeps me going is the pleasure I get when it turns out great and everyone enjoys what I have prepared...all the aches and pains vanishes...

Nyways so after all the above baking...(i.e at the halfway point of my list)...got sidetracked with lunch .... in mood for something different from our regular roti, went in for a more elaborate affair...bajra roti, and along with that a mixed dal (udad, tuvar, moong), baigan ka subzi ( brinjal vegetable ), and grated jaggery, chaas ( buttermilk ), mmmmhhhh....

That meal so hit the spot - pleasure in food  ( preparing and eating ) also is a good revitaliser...the rotis were just so, chaas amazing ( courtesy T ), dal, subzi, jaggery the perfect additions ....only problem...after that substantial meal - had to go in for an afternoon siesta...so after all there is rest for the weary :-)....and list is still pending....

Chocolate Almond Biscotti

Chocolate Almond Biscotti

Biscotti...the word conjures up images of travel, exotic places, romance, intrigue...makes you wish you were all dressed up in a pretty frock(with frills & lace), gloves & hat...like you see in some old British movies...and sitting down to tea ...
The origin of biscotti ( which means twice baked ) is from Italy and it is from this that the English biscuit got it's name...though here it was refered to any biscuit and not particularly those that are twice baked.

Why is it that though it is our regular fare of dal-chawaal ( lentil-rice ) or chapati-subzi (flat bread and vegetable ), and curds ?...is what satisfies us most when we have it for lunch or dinner....it is when we talk of dishes from far away lands we feel as we have had something really good....words like pasta, enchilada, risotto, spaghetti, haka noodles...they all sound so sophisticated, romantic, and grand...like something special...

So anyways when I came upon this recipe of biscotti,  I could not resist trying it out...had been bookmarked it, but kept putting it off only cause I felt the whole process would be time consuming, making of the mix, then baking, waiting for it to cool, then cut it, and bake it again...
But surprisingly it was not that bad...blanching the almonds for this dish took more time, I think :-)...next time around the almonds will go in with the skin....in fact in oldtimes that was how they baked it...and in some modifications they also added some spice...so could try that too.

I saw a couple of recipes, one from Joy of Baking, and second adapted from it..in EasyCooking Blog...both amongst my favourites sites...decided to use that ....and of course as usual I made my own changes...and it turned out FAB !!! ..... using new lingo in the hopes that it will go with the word Biscotti... ha, ha, ha, ha...rather than my usual delicious or amazing...really do have to upgrade my vocab ...since the number of blogs are increasing, am finding it increasingly difficult to come up with new words to compliment the dishes...
Of course would love it if any of my tasters ( subjects ? ) could help with the words...but today after tasting this biscotti...the expression on T's face told more than words...and he went for seconds right away...and that told me that I had a hit on my hands...

Banana smoothie

Banana Smoothie

This year the rains have a strange pattern...it comes in fits and starts...it is certainly more scanty than earlier years...not at all like Mumbai monsoon...and since it is not a sustained rainfall there has not been any appreciable cooling down of the temperatures...we have been having more of summer like  rather than monsoon like weather...

Our regular (for the summer ) cooling drink of lassi along with our meals have been carried over to this supposedly rainy season too...and today with the heat still on, thought that instead of our mid morning regular fare of fruits, it would be great to have a smoothie...a cool refreshing healthy and yummy drink.

Smoothies are something we have had quite regularly in the recent past...earlier whenever we had to make a drink with a fruit it would be more like milkshakes - e.g. banana or mango or chikoo pulsed with milk and sugar...and there you have your typical drink...
Then the concept of smoothie was introduced...though the smoothie could be made with milk as well...the more popular ingredient is yogurt, along with or without milk, & ice.
And due to health conscious folks - sugar free sweetners, or honey etc replaces regular sugar...
I also tend to add some nuts to give it that extra punch....

Many recipes call for crushed ice ....I prefer to use frozen fruit - generally when a banana has ripened and is being ignored by all and sundry - I quickly peel it and put it in a container and freeze it for further use...sometimes it is in a muffin or bread ...and as today in a smoothie...

In my quest for the perfect Nankhatai...Indian Cookie

Nankhatai

Nankhatai is one of the most popular Indian cookie, it is very light, crunchy and sweet of course, as a kid it used to be one of my favourite cookies, another was the coconut cookie, and a cookie similar to the Nankhatai was the very famous Shrewsbury biscuit which we would get when ever any one came from Pune ( which is where they were available at a bakery called Kayani's  ).

So where and why did my quest begin ? Well it all started when I came upon a recipe for Nankhatai....and I was like oh! wow, now I can make my own and that was the start of all my travails ....am wondering whether I should trouble all of you with all my troubles...but what the ????....why not...so here goes...

So continuing with my story.....I came upon this while browsing some other recipes on the net ( this is one of my favourite pasttimes....I know...I know...it seems like I have lots of time on my hands..not quite so...but nyways )....and  decided to try it out.

This recipe had all-purpose flour and desi ghee in it...and of course sugar...sounded yumm...so got out my ingredients, bowls...fired up the oven ...tried to follow the recipe as mentioned, but the end  product looked no where liked the picture in the recipe...tasted good, but was a bit crumbly...

Some more research ...( basically googling )....and got another recipe with butter this time...so tried that ...very different flavour and texture...but felt something was still missing...it was more salty ( mainly cause I used salted butter instead of using the unsalted one and adding salt as per the recipe called for ) and it was a bit dry...

Then lightbulb moment...decided to try with a slight modification ( a combination of first and second ) and voila...a much better version....I felt like shouting "Euraka" and dancing around ( though a more censored version than Archimedes's)....

Beetroot Salad - Beetroot Kosambari

Beetroot Salad

When you read newspapers or magazines re. what to eat, what is good for you, you get so confused ....every day there is a new diet, new idea, a new fad....lots of confusion...should you follow it....or continue with the way things are?

A long time ago...( sounds like the start of a fairy tale, but is not so )...I too had  joined up along with a friend....a lady was conducting some classes - re. nutrition and healthy eating...would rather not mention the actual name of that organisation...do not wish to create any controversy....not sure how I feel about their ideas now....but at the time I was very convinced about their philosophy and thoughts etc...and followed it in totality....
Their concept was that in the morning our systems are busy with the cleansing process and so should be given energy to do their job !?!....and hence we should not eat a heavy breakfast...it should be just fruits...tons of it ( supposed to be energy givers )....
Lunch at around 12...the heaviest meal of the day...should definitely contain sprouts, and salads ( better if raw )...less or none oil in our meals...
Dinner light meal...
Milk to be avoided, yogurt good, nuts yes, along with fruits or salads.

There is a lot more in the same vein and as I mentioned ...that I had been a convert for a while...until regular life intruded and it became quite difficult to continue with that scheme of diet.

But certain points still remain with me...I try to reduce oil in my cooking...have as much as fruits as possible...and add nuts in salads for taste...whether it is fruits ( with walnuts ) or the above beets with peanuts....it adds a crunch to the dish and you do not miss the oil...a simple salt, pepper, lemon and you have an dish out of this world.

Sheera - Rava Halwa

We got good news today in the morning - my nephew ( brother's son ) had got admission in the college of his choice for engineering...and also got the stream he was looking for..electronics.

Nowadays the competition is so stiff with re. to schools, colleges, jobs...etc...regardless of how hard you work - you still have the stress when applying...and along with the kids, so do the parents, aunts ( in my case ), uncles, grandparents ( Mom & Dad )....well you get the picture !!!

So when we were all relieved of our nail-biting ( ?) tension, we decided ( me & Mom ...I was at her place at the time ) to celebrate with something sweet...( this was after our hugs and kisses )....

The first thing I could think of was sheera...actually not true I thought of a lot of other stuff - but either they required a lot of pre planning or preparation...or ingredients that I did not have on hand...so the easiest and quickest sweet that I could immediately whip up was sheera...

This is a dish which we all love, it is made many a time as a prasad when it is a festive occasion...sometimes we make it just to have as dessert after a special occasion meal...and sometimes just because... and sometimes cuz we want to have something sweet to eat...or like today to celebrate ...
We used to have it at times in breakfast instead of powa or dosa or upma - it would make a sweet change :-)
Whatever the reason or occasion - it is a quick and easy recipe and the results are awesome...

Pesarattu Dosa - Green Gram Dosa

Pesarattu
Green gram dosa

A few days back it was raksha bandhan / balev...and I wanted to make some sweet for the occasion - decided to make puran poli / vedmi...though that is not the ideal sweet for decorating the rakhi thali...but it has been some time since we had made it and it is a particular favourite of Mom's ( which is another odd thing...you would have thought that I would have probably made something my brother liked...but he is not that fussy about sweets - so it was ok ...I guess ...I hope...I think I had better ask?!?). Regardless it was a good raksha bandhan.....got calls from my sister-in-laws too wishing me...thank you To & Ru....

So nyways thought I would post that down - but the past few days was too busy, besides which I had not taken any pictures of the process or the end product....and now it is all eaten and done with...so maybe the next time I make it....

I had missed blogging the past week...and so when I made dosa yesterday, immediately got out my camera - took pictures before, after and during...and here I am...pictures and post all set to go...