Festive Food: Rakhi~Thread of Love Roundup

When we announce the Festive Food event, myself and Purva were very skeptical about it as we both are quite new to blogsphere but thanks to all the lovely people out there with whom support our first festive food event: Rakhi has been successful. Yes, I'll call it successful cause we were not expecting much but receive so much of love from all our fellow bloggers, we have received 33 entries from 20 participates. Thanks to everyone for taking part in Festive Food: Rakhi - Thread of Love Event.

It's been a wonderful experience of hosting an event which enlighted us with so many different ways of celebration & that was the whole theme behind the event; to know each others culture, tradition and food :)..how can we forget food here !

So Friends, here we have some lovely Rakhi, Memories and dishes. Each and every post going to take you to the wonder land so be ready for the ride.

We have separated all the entries into Food, Rakhi and Memory (writeup) category.

First comes Rakhi

As expect it was dear Priyanka's post as first entry for event, I had this feeling and it was correct. She made some lovely Rakhi with Kalash and Swastik designs and very emotional writeup about her dear brother.

Sukanya have made some very simple and beautiful Rakhi. First I thought she brought it from outside (before she posted the procedure of making it) but after reading it up I was like WOW! So simple and yet so cute.

Look at the Rakhi's made by EC and you will be amazed and confuse! Confuse to say which one is the best. She has made some simple lace rakhi, cutie cartoon one's and some beautiful beads one's which can be use as bracelets too.

Here comes Anisheetu entry for the event. Have a look and tell me if you can say they are made from foam sheets. Adorable rakhi's and wishes to her brother.

Purva made these beautiful cards & rakhi with a sweet touch for her brother. Check out her blog to find out about the sweet touch. :-)

Sireesha made these cute Rakhi as she wants to give the personal touch. Check her blog to find how did she made them.

If you need some more information about Rakhi festival then check Jaishree's blog.
She has also prepared simple & elegant Rakhi and Greeting Card for her brother.

Ramya cooks and Ramya makes some creative stuff too :-)...beautiful Rakhi made by her for her brother.

Memories ....to cherish always

Priyanka have this lovely memory about the way of Rakhi celebration in her Mayaka, and some very cute Heena Art.

Dear Purva wrote some wonderful info about Rakhi and also how Rakhi celebrated in her house.

Festive Food

Dilpasand anyone? Check out Priyanka's blog, we got some lovely heart shape capsicum and paneer dish and who can say no to paneer ?...not me of course. I'm a out and out paneer fan and this one is very tempting.

Sukanya has sent Cabbage Poriyal, always prepared by her Amma for most of the festive food. So our gal following the family tradition and prepared poriyal too :)

You don't have a brother so don't celebrate Rakhi or couldn't participate in this event? Then learn something from this bong gal Sudeshna. Check her blog for her way of Rakhi celebration and she prepared someone's favorite dish Hilsa with Steam.

Shreya has made essential part of festive food in Kerala: Avial. Try this very colourful avial with a twist of Bitter Gourd & Snake Gourd.

Tripti prepared traditional Mathura's festive food for Rakhi - Aloo Kachori with Aloo Sabji from her dear friend's recipe.

Jaishree from Ruchi made unique Pears Cherry Laddoos, looking so colorful and yummy and easy to make.

Suma made delicious looking Mal Pua for her dear brother and wishes for his well being.

Siressha made Gulab jamun, yes the real sweet for any festive and she used no khoya or mawa check her creation to find out how did she made these tasty looking jamuns.

Shreya prepared simple, healthy and colourful Chole Mur Mure Sev Chat & Gud Appam for her brother. Want to know what's Gud Appam...then check Shreya's work.

Purva made yummy traditional Gujarati dessert for all the festives - Sukhadi

One more sweet dish from Bhawna, whom made traditional U.P's Rakhi dish: Mithe Jave for her brother and shared few good tips with us too.

So you had a busy weekend and was not able to make anything for the event? Then have a look at Priyanka's blog for how to do multitasking :)..with so many things happening in the weekend our gal she manage to prepare yummy looking Malai Wale Ladoo, Sweet Rice with Strawberries & Bread Dahiwada

Festive food and no carrot halwa, how can that be? Kitchen Flavors from Yummy Food send over yummy Gajar ka Halwa entry for event.

This year Rakhi being special for Karuna she made Dal Makhani & Mutter Paneer for her dear brother. So you think what's so special about this year's rakhi? Check her blog.

Here comes authentic Narali Bhaat from Anisheetu's kitchen.

Rakhi's regular meal is Chole in Priyanka's house, so she following the same tradition and send us over some chole too but this time make it instant! Have a look at her recipe to find how to make instant chole.

Dear LG made tasty and healthy Hesarubele Payasa (Moongdal Payasam) from her mother-in-law's recipe and also written some handy tips.

Jayashree made Poli for the first time and did turn up very good I guess, cause its looks yummy and perfect.

Did you guys notice so far no seviyan (semiya) entry? It's so true rite everyone of us make seviyan one or other time during any special occasion or festival. Well, then we do have Dudh is Seviyan this time too and this has been generously sent by Nidhi.

Here comes Madhavi's entries for the event, in spite of not being well our courageous gal sent her family favorite recipes for the event. Thanks dear and get well soon.

First comes her brother favorite Macaroni Masala which she made for his birthday, how sweet :-)

Next our Queen Victoria sent us American Paplu, wondering what's that? Check our dear gal recipe then and this post is Tribute to her Pa, lovely writeup..check urself.

Next comes Dhekra, it's a south Gujarat special and Madhavi is more than happy to share with us the wonderful recipe.

And here comes the traditional Gujarati Dal Dhokli. The yummy, delicious, simple Dal Dhokli; whomever never eaten dal dhokli do try this and you'll fall in love with this wonderful dish. I love dal dhokli too, but we make it very plan way than Madhavi' s version.

Coming over to me..I have prepared Radga/Papdi Chat with Chocolate Milkshake for Rakhi. I know you guys want to ask chat for Rakhi ?? But yes, chat for Rakhi :-)...

Thanks again to everyone for sending these wonderful entries, if I have missed out any entry please let me know I'll makes the amendments.

Prawn Masala

First non-vegetarian dish in my blog :-). Prawn Masala made by my sister and BIL together, photo taken by them, I'm just blogging the recipe :)

They both make some wonderful prawn masala, it just taste yummy. I'll not hold you all anymore, over to prawn masala now:

Ingredients:

To Marinate
Prawn - 1kg
Ginger-garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
Salt - 1 tsp

For Curry
Oil - 6-7 tbsp
Onion - 5 large chopped
Tomato - 3 large chopped
Ginger-garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric - 1/2 tps
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Cinnamon Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cloves Powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - few
Salt - to taste
Water - 1 cup
Coriander chopped -  5 tbsp to garnish

Method:

1. Clean prawns remove the shell and marinate with all the ingredients listed under 'To Marinate' and keep aside for 1/2 hour to 1 hour or more if you have time.

2. Heat oil in a pan, add chopped onion and saute it until light pink.  Add curry leaves, ginger-garlic paste and fry until golden brown.

3. Add all the powder masalas, tomato cook till tomato gets mashed and oil start leaving the edges in slow flame with stirring in intervals.

4. Add the marinated prawns, mix well and cook for 5-7  mins with lid on on medium to slow flame.

5. Add the water, salt to taste  mix everything and cook with lid on until gravy becomes very thick and oil comes on top.

6. Serve with paratha/rice or pulav.

Try hot or warm with steamed rice

Note

• For more spicy version add another 1 tsp of red chili powder while cooking curry.
• For tangy version add 1 cup beaten curd once gravy becomes thick and simmer for 5 mins in slow flame.
• You can also soak 1 tbsp tamarind in 1/4 cup water and extract thick pulp and add to curry once it starts to become thick and simmer for 5-8 mins in slow flame.

Happy Rakshabandhan ~ Chat & Milkshake

Wishing everyone Happy Rakshabandhan, hope everyone is celebrating with much fun fare and joy.

It's been few years since I tied Rakhi to my brother and this year I'm hosting the Rakhi-Thread of Love event, I'm missing much more my brother this time :( so here wishing my brother very Happy Rakhi.

I wanted to prepare something sweet for today but later I changed my mind and made Radga Chat or Papadi Chat. Whenever I visit Delhi, having all the chats and pakodis are must for me. I find Delhi chats very different from what we get in Chennai, Bangalore or Hyderabad. I had ragda chat first time in Delhi and got hooked to it. This is my first attempt to make the same, it came okie but there is lot of room for improvement I guess :).

Ingredients:
Vada - 8-10 nos (urad dal vada)
Papadi - 10-15 nos
Green Chutney - 1/2 cup
Sweet Chutney - 1/4 cup
Potato - 1 big (boiled and cut in cubes)
Curd - 1/2 cup
Chat masala powder - 2tbs
Cumin powder - 2tbs
Redchilli powder - 1/4 tps
Salt - to taste
Method:
1. Soak vada in hot water for 30mins to 1hr. Drain the excess water and keep aside.
2. Cut the potato in cubes add little salt, 1/4tps redchilli powder, 1/2 tps chat masala.
3. Beat curd with 4 tps cumin powder and salt
4. In a severing plate place 2 vada mashed a bit, 2-3 papadi broken in large pieces, potato pieces few. Top up with 3-4 tbs of curd, 2tbs of both chutney, a pinch of cumin powder, chat masala.
5. Repeat step 4 for the rest.
6. Delicious ragda or papdi chat is ready.

And Chat & Milkshake is for Rakhi-Thread of Love event.

Also, prepared Chocolate Milkshake.

Method:

1. In a blender add 2up milk, 5tbs of chocolate powder, 1/2tps coffee powder, 4tbs suger, few ice cubes.
2. Blend for 3-4mins and server.

PS: Do send your entries soon, last date for the Rakhi-Thread of Love event is 20th Aug '08

Happy Independence Day & Happy Varalakshmi Puja

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to All. Yes, it's important day for all of us and we are so happy about it. We have so many wonderful bloggers whom have written so many good and interesting thing about Independence Day and so many wonderful, creative recipes.

So on a lighter note, back in India, during this time all the channels will be playing all Desh Bhakti songs and movies. And I have too many songs & movies as my favorite... talking about songs the first song comes to my mind is Mere Desh ki Dharti....., Ae Mere Vatan ke logo…., Vande Maataram…. , some of the movies are Karma, Most of Manoj Kumar's movies, recent good movies are Rang De Basanti, Chak De India etc.

So what's your favorite Desh Bhakti or Patriotic song or movie??

Also, Happy Varalakshmi Puja to everyone.

...

Fusilli with Eggplant

Ya I know it's kind of raining eggplant in my blog :). Here is one more, Pasta with eggplant.

Things required:

Pasta - 2 cups (any type, used here is fusilli)
Tomato Sauce - 1/2 bottle which is almost (you can make your own sauce too)
Rosemary herbs - 1/2tps (optional)
Eggplant - 1/2 large one
Capsicum - 1/2 cut in strips
Onion - 1 medium sliced
Redchilli powder - 1tps
Olive oil - 3tbs
Garlic - 4-5 pods crushed
Salt - to taste
Pepper - 2tps crushed
Mozzarella Cheese - 1/2 cup (optional)
Water - to boil

Method:

I used Brilla's pasta and Prego's tomato sauce.

1. Boil pasta in water with 2tps of oil and little salt & drain the water from boiled pasta. Wash the boiled pasta with running water and keep aside.

2. Cut eggplant in circles and marinate with salt, red chili powder & pepper for 5mins (Marinating is optional)

3. In a pan heat oil, add garlic and fry until golden brown. Add onion, capsicum & sauté.

4. Add tomato puree and mix well. Add rosemary, salt, pepper and cook for 4-5mins.

5. Add the boiled pasta mix everything and cook for 5 mins.

6. Grease a baking dish with oil or butter and place half of the pasta and eggplant pieces, again place the remaining pasta and top it up with eggplant.

7. Garnish with cheese (I didn't use any cheese as there was none at home !)

8. Bake for 10-15mins, serve the main course hot with coke/juice/wine and some chips/garlic bread.

Mix Vegetables-Karwar Style & Award

This month theme is Karnataka Cuisine hosted by Anisheetu in SWC event which originally started by Dear Lakshmi. I wanted to participate in this event as I have missed SWC:Maharashtra , so I did some googling and settle for Capsicum-Karwar Style. I didn't know what exactly karwar style meant and how the dish look like as there was no picture in the website. But somehow I liked the recipe cause it's simple and very few ingredients.

I did few alteration, first thing, I added eggplant and cauliflower along with capsicum and added 1tps of redchili powder to suite our taste bud. I like the recipe so much, cause for a change there was no onion, green chili and tomato :)...what a relief! And lucky all the other ingredients I had at home.

Ingredients:

1/2 capsicums - cut in long strips
1/2 cup Cauliflower - cut in medium floerts
1 big Eggplant - cut in medium size
1/4 cup peanuts - roasted and skinned
1 stalk curry leaves
3-4 pinches asafoetida
1 tbsp - jaggery grated
2 tbsp - oil
1 tsp - mustard seeds
2 - whole red chillies
1tps - Red chilli powder
1/2 tps - Turmeric Powder
2 strips - tamarind Soak in water

Grind to a paste:
1/2 cup - coconut grated and roasted
2 tsp - split bengal gram
1 tbsp - split black gram
2 tsp - sesame seeds
1/2 tsp - coriander seeds

Method:

1. Cut all the veggies.

2. Roast all ingredients for paste and grind with little water (except tamarind).

3. Heat oil in pan, add asafoetida, mustard seeds, whole chillies, allow to splutter.

4. Add curry leaves, all the veggies and fry until golden brown.

5. Add masala paste and cook until rawness fades.

5. Add jaggery, salt, turmeric powder and peanuts, mix everything and cook for 1-2mins.

6. Get the purp from soaked tamarind, and add into pan and mix well.

7. Add 1/4 cup water, boil and simmer for 7-8 minutes.

8. Gravy must be thick.

9. Serve hot with roti or rice.

Mix veggies karwar style was really tasty and I'm going to prepare it few more times with different veggie :-). And Thanks to LG, now I know Karwar it's a place name in Karnataka so the veggie is karwar style. Try this curry and I'm sure everyone will love this as I did too.

Boro Sabji or Longbean Curry, a Award & MeMe

Longbean are a good source of protein, vitamin A, iron, phosphorus, and potassium, and a very good source for vitamin C, magnesium, and manganese. In spite of all these benefits longbean or Boro is one of those vegetable which doesn't get much space in our fridge.

There is lot of difference between Indian Longbean and the one's we get in Singapore, the first thing you will notice is the size and texture. Indian longbeans are smaller and softer compare to what we get here but neither the less we buy longbean once in a while and most of the time I prepare the same thing. This longbean sabji taste good with Roti or Dal Chawal. Over to recipe now.

Ingredient:

Longbean - 1 bunch (or depending on requirment)
Onion - 2-3 medium chopped
Green Chilli - 4-5 chopped
Tomato - 1 big chopped
Redchilli powder - 3tps
Tumeric - 1/2 tps
Coriander powder - 1tps
Jeera/cumin seed - 1/2 tps
Garlic - 2-3pods crushed
Oil - 4-5 tbs
Water - 1/2 cup
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Wash & cut longbean in to small pieces.

2. In a pan heat oil add cumin seeds, once cumin turns brown add crushed garlic fry for 30secs.
3. Add chopped onion and green chili and saute it until golden brown.

4. Add chopped longbean, mix and fry until longbean gets soft. Add all the masala powders and fry for 2 more mins.

5. Add the chopped tomato and cook until tomato gets done and oil starts leaving the edges.

6. Add salt and mix well everything. Add water 1/2cup and cook for 5mins. The curry is not wet or dry but just perfect to eat with roti or chawal dal.

Grilled Spicy Eggplant & Award

One fine Saturday did this experiment and which become hit :). Simple, fast and tasty baigan.

Ingredients:
Eggplant - 1 big
Yogurt - 3-4 tbs
Chicken masala - 1 tbs
Salt - to taste
Oil/butter - 1tbs

Method:

1. Cut the eggplant in circles.
2. Mix all the ingredients except oil or butter and marinated with eggplant slices for 10-15mins.
3. Preheat oven, place eggplant pieces in the griller and brush eggplant pieces with apply oil or butter .
4. Grill for 10 mins. Turn the eggplant pieces brush with oil again and grill for 10 more mins.
5. If eggplant is not cooked then grill for 10-15 more mins.
6. Tasty, yummy, spicy eggplant is ready to serve.
It's okie if there is no oven or griller, use tawa for the same.

Announcing ~ Festive Food Event

India, the land of varied cultures and traditions is a land of festivals and fairs. It is a land of festivity - religious as well as folkloristic. Whether you go to the East or the West, North or the South you would be able to enjoy every month a festival or a fair.

Every day of the year there is a festival celebrated in some part of the country. Be it cultural or religious, it gives everyone an opportunity to enjoy and join the festivity. Festival is the time to rejoice and have fun.

Lokmanya Tilak started Sarvajanik Ganesh Mahotsav during our fight for Independence. The purpose behind Sarvajanik Mahotsav was to bring people together and soliciting unity & integrity among Indians, thus helping India to get independence.

People come alive, one can see vibrant colours, music, dance, rich food are integral part of these festive seasons.

Purva and Priti, two strangers met on this blogosphere. Two people facing geographical hindrance, however our similarities of enjoying every moment of life have bought us together.
Being away from Homeland, and missing 'India' especially during festive time, has inspired us for ''Festive Food'' (FF) Event

Through 'Festive Food' we will celebrate all festivals, not only India, but even other festivals celebrated around the globe which we are aware of. The purpose of 'Festive Food' is to bring people together and spread the happiness of the festival season.

So here comes first Festive Food Event: Rakhi - Thread of Love and I have the opportunity to host the first event.

Rakhi or Rakshabandhan is a Hindu festival, its emotional bonding between brother and sister. A sacred thread or Rakhi is tied by sister on his brother’s wrist. Brother this way is bonded to protect his sister under all circumstances. In return brother gives sister a gift or a token of love.

So let’s celebrate Rakhi with enthusiasm and zeal by participating in this event.

Guidelines for Celebrating Rakhi - Thread of Love

1. Rakhi is celebrated in all parts of India in different ways and by preparing special goodies on this occasion. Here’s a chance to revive olden days.

Prepare a dish, which as a custom is prepared in your house. It can be anything sweet dish, any main dish, savoury snack……list goes on. Share with us how Rakhi is celebrated in your region or house and also any special memories you have associated with Rakhi. One can post hand made Rakhi or even any special Rakhi you have purchased from the market.

2. The last date for sending your entry is 20^th August 2008. We don’t want participants to prepare dishes for this event specially. Our idea is participants should send entries with the dishes, which they have actually prepared on Rakhshabandhan and share with us their experience and enjoy the festival to the fullest.

3. Bloggers can add a link back to this event announcement. We would be glad if you can include Rakhi colourful Logo. There are no restrictions on the number of entries.

4. Send in your entries at [email protected] with below mentioned information:

• Name:

• Dish Name:

• Blog’s Name:

• Blog URL:

• Post URL:

No need for attaching the picture, we will take it from your post.

5. Non Bloggers no need to get upset, email your recipe along with the picture. We will post it on your name and include it in the round up.

6. Old post are accepted, provided they are republished by linking back this event announcement along with the logo.

So all sisters gear up to make your brothers happy and if modern age brothers want to make something for your sisters you are more than welcome.

Egg Biryani with Rajma

This post is pending for a very long time. Last month one fine Sunday we didn't know what to prepare and didn't had much things at home. As we didn't had much things at home I was wondering what else to prepare as side dish and finally found one tin of kidney bean . I'm not so fan of all can food but this one was really gud that we have got few more cans of kidney bean now :)

So here is the recipe for Rajma which is very fast to prepare and delicious.

Ingredients:

Kidney beans/Rajma - 1 can
Onion - 1 chopped
Green chilli - 2-3 chopped
Tomato - 1 chopped
Redchilli powder - 2tps
Tumeric - 1/2 tps
Garam masala powder - 1tps
Coriander leaves - few chopped
Water - 1 cup
Oil - 2-3 tbs
Salt - to taste

Method:

In a pan heat oil, add onion and saute it. Now add green chilli and fry.
Add all the powder masalas and cook for 2-3 mins. Include the chopped tomato and cook until oil start coming out.

Open the can and remove the water from the beans (if possible wash the beans in running water)

Add the beans in to the masala, mix well and cook for 2mins with lid on, add salt.

Add water and cook for 5-7 mins with lid on to get a thick gravy.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and yummy rajma is ready.

Also prepared raitha with curd, chopped onion, greenchilli and salt.


For Biryani, I will blog soon with better pics :)

Note: Updated the Birthday post, if anyone wants to read please check it out.

Happy Birthday

This post to wish Happy Birthday to Kedar (my nephew)...I'll update the post again the pictures etc as I don't have the pictures now with me.

I have baked a cake as surprise and wake him up at midnight to cut the cake and to check the presents. But my cake was as usual ...so so...need to improve a lot...:(:(..

But here again Wishing U very Happy Brithday Kedar....
Tum jiyo hajaro saal ...saal ke din ho pachas hajar ........


Wait for the remaining post.....(will be in a day or two ;) )

the story continues .........

Ok so he cut the cake in the midnight & was more interested to open the presents specially his car !! On 1st brought cake from Swensen's, We suppose to go out for dinner but Kedar wanted to buy back the food and eat at home with candle light ( I have no clue from where he got this idea!! Kids now a days !! ) so sis brought food, snacks from outside. In the evening he cut the cake again (the cake which he likes!!) we all had snacks, tea. He started playing with his car and later we had dinner.

We suppose to go to Zoo on Saturday or Sunday but didn't make it due to work at home :-( So this was the birthday story. Sorry guys I did lot of editing ...I know you all are expecting big big writeup but am kinda not in mood for that nor has the time :(....here is the link for the photos.....


And the most important thing is Thanks a lot for your wishes (from me) :-). And Kedar also want to say Thanks U All for wishing, he was very happy reading all the messages from everyone.