lazy cooks mushroom manchurian and awards!

With due apologies to the actual manhcurian.........this is my version and i have it with paranthas!.......can't get anymore "fusiony" than this!
INGRDS
200 button mushrooms(cut into half)
4 tablespoons of cornflour +1 tablespoon of flour(maida)
salt and pepper to taste
1 capcicum cut into med. sized pcs
2 spring onions cut into pcs
1 tablespoon gingergarlic paste
1 tablespoon each of soya sauce,tomato sauce,red chilli sauce and green chilli sauce
1 tsp cornflour dissolved in a little water
METHOD
1.  Make a paste with the cornflour and flour,salt,pepper and water.coat the mushrooms in this batter and deep fry till done(takes about 5 mins)
2.In a wok/kahhai,heat 1 tsp of veg. oil....fry the ginger garlic paste.....now saute the onions(the bulb portion of the spring onions) and capcicum(on a high flame)..till the onions are slightly caramelised.....add the sauces and 1/2 cup of water..let it come to a boil.....taste the seasoning.......add the last bit of dissolved cornflour..........the mixture will thicken..then add the fried mushrooms and the spring onions(the green portion).

3.Serve hot.Although i like this with roti/paranthas..this makes a really good starter......and ofcourse goes well with fried rice.This recipe is adapted from the weikfield cornflour carton(they have the recipe printed on one side)Poonam frm.http://kandepoherecipes.blogspot.in/2012/02/award-time.html
Divya fromhttp://divyasculinaryjourney.blogspot.in
and Princy from/http://spicyfoood.blogspot.in/.......were sweet enough to pass on these awards to me..........thank you guys..I'm really touched!They have really nice blogs themselves so please folks do check their blogs out too.i learn so much from all my blogger buddies..............the most important fact being that i think that all you guys are great!

The rules for accepting this award are:

• Add the versatile blogger award.
• Thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.
• Share 7 completely random pieces of information about yourself.
• Include this set of rules.
• Forward this award to 15 fellow bloggers and inform them with a comment on each of their blogs.

lazy cooks manglorean fish fry

They say the ultimate female fantasy is to have two men at once!.........one washing the dishes and the other cooking!(what on earth were you thinking??????)Sunday night ,hubby dear decided to fry the fish ..his style. It's called the manglorean fish fry..but don't take my word for it....I'm sure there's another name for it..one that i'm not aware of..and one that my husband is not aware of either.......his reasoning was simple enough.".this is the only fish fry done in my house...we're manglorean's.....so manglorean fish fry!"Anyway...I never argue with the man who's making dinner!
INGRDS
1 kg fish ,cut into fillets
20 whole dried red chillis
4 tablespoons of whole coriander seeds
salt to taste
oil for deep frying.
METHOD
1.Grind the red chilli and coriander together,first dry grind then once it becomes a powder,add the water(about 3-4 tablespoons)and grind again till you have a paste.Add the salt.
2.Marinate the fish in the paste for at least 2 hours...then coat with rice flour and deep fry(I know that this is a bad word...but you have no choice..deep fry!)
3.Serve hot. My hubby normally has this with plain boiled rice and dalitoy.........and I have this as a snack with pickled onions(onions sprinkled with red chilli pdr and salt..then drenched with lemon juice)...the punjabi in me again!.I like my combination and hubby dear sticks to his....enjoy!

lazy cooks cottage pancakes

Hello people.........howz your weekend progressing?For me...(though i might crib later)I am thrilled to bits to see the sun out.....shining nice n bright,such a happy feeling!.and when I feel happy I make pancakes..... OK not true.....when I'm really happy I eat chocolate....when i'm sad I also eat chocolate!Pancakes got done coz the kids wanted to have the same for breakfast.These are not your regular pancakes..first of all I make it with whole wheat flout(atta),I add oats..and cottage cheese(paneer)These taste absolutely great with some honey. I normally just keep throwing the stuff together but today I measured everything out for you guys....here goes




INGRDS
1.3 eggs
2. 1/2 cup sugar
3. 1/2 cup milk
4. 3/4  cup wholewheat flour(atta)....you can use regular flour if you want.
5. 1/2 cup oats
6. 1 tsp vanilla essence

7. 100 gms cottage cheese crumbled(paneer)

METHOD
1.Beat the eggs and sugar together(a fork is good enough ),add the rest of the stuff(paneer...last)

2.Heat a nonstick pan(on medium heat)...ladle on the mixture...dot with some ghee(clarified butter)once the bootom looks firm enough,turn them upside down(i normally do two at one time)..cook the other side..and dish them up!This is a nice healthy breakfast option.My kids like it with honey........but a nice fruity strawberry/blueberry sauce..along with a dollop of fresh cream is pretty divine too!

lazy cooks palak chicken(chicken in spinach sauce)

Hi folks.......how are you?Its been kind a' crazy out here....i had a class(on desserts)on wednesday...i had to prepare for that,.....then my daughter insisted that we go watch" ek main aur ek tu",......I have someone coming home for lunch and we have to step out in the evening.when I write it down it doesn't seem like much.......but I'm feeling it!
I want to say one more thing .to all of you who take the time to write a comment or give me some feedback....THANK YOU...you guys mean a lot to me..it gives me great pleasure to read what you have to write..kinda' makes it all worthwhile!
Winter means the freshest possible greens..we get really good spinach..and fenugreek and some leaves i can't identify(which are unique to this region)but they taste good!
I've done palak chicken,but the chicken can be replaced by paneer,tofu,mushrooms or baby corn.
INGRDS
1.600 gms chicken(marinated for at least half an hour in 1tablespoon of ginger,garlic and green chilli paste)
2.1 bunch of spinach leaves(approx 350 gms)
3.2medium onions chopped fine
4.1 big tomato chopped fine
5.2 tablespoons of cilantro chopped fine
6.1 inch pc of cinnamon,2 moti elachi.4 green cardamom.5-6 cloves
7.salt to taste,1 tablespoon of corriander powder,1tsp of red chilli pwder.1/2 tsp of turmeric pdr and 1/2 tsp of garam masala pdr

METHOD
1.Wash the spinach thoroughly,chop it up roughly,put it into a steamer and in the microwave for 5 mins.Let it cool,then grind it..the palak puree is ready to be used.Alternately,simply put the roughly chopped spinach leaves in a pressure cooker(with no extra water)..give it one whistle..let it cool...then puree in a blender.
2.In a heavy bottomed pan(kadhai/wok),put 2 tsp of veg oil..once it heats up..add the whole spices..saute...then add the onions....and cook till the onions are a light golden brown.
3.Add the tomatoes..and all the spices.....cook till the masala comes together...add the marinated chicken and the chopped cilantro,keep the heat to medium,cover and go do something else for 10 mins.
4.After 10 mins,add the spinach puree...now cover and cook till done.
5.Serve hot with some piping hot paranthas...........or rotis.

lazy cooks grape raita and award!

Nostalgia time!.....about 22 years back ..when i was a young girl(ahem),my father was posted in Bangalore.Close to our place was an agricultural college..and those guys,then,had taken out a hybrid variety of grapes..a mix of rose and grapes.the flavour was super...i have no idea if this still exists(this grape variety)..only the Bangalore based crowd would be able to tell me.Anyway ..i decided to make the grape raita with the seedless black grapes that we get here at udhampur...it tasted nice ....BUT..the rose grape raita was def. better
INGRDS
1. 1/2 kg curd
2. 250 gms black seedless grapes..cut in half
3. 5 tsp sugar
4. 1/2 tsp salt
5. 1/2 tsp roasted and roughly pond jeera(cumin seeds)
METHOD
1. In a bowl,beat the curd with the sugar and salt...taste..adjust the seasoning according to what you like.......to tell you the truth i started with 3 tsp of sugar..but was happy only after the 5th went in.

2. Add the cut grapes..stir...garnish with the roughly ground jeera.Serve cold..........i refuse to say chilled! 
I'd like to thank Nupur ofhttp://uk-rasoi.blogspot.in/2012/02/peanut-chutney-award-shower.html and Maha of  http://mahaslovelyhome.blogspot.in/   for passing this award to me.thank you guys!

The rules for accepting this award are:
1. Add the Versatile Blogger Award.
2. Thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.
3. Share 7 completely random pieces of information about yourself.
4. Include this set of rules.
5. Forward this award to 15 fellow bloggers, and inform them with a comment on each of their blogs.
OK.........seven random pieces of information
1.I hate cleaning my cupboard.........just absolutely hate it..i consider it a colossal waste of time....and only get around to doing it when the clothes seem to fall out on their own.
2.I can read books for hours.to the exclusion of all other worldly matters.....i read only fiction..but i can't read a badly written book....therefore i prefer established authors from old publishing houses.I have to read a book while having my food....terrible manners i know...i'm so ashamed(not!).
3.I do not like attending parties!I'd much rather curl up in bed with a novel.
4.I love animals..at present we have dogs and an aquarium..but i really want to keep hens and birds(the husband is not ready!)..........who knows..it might happen one day.
5.I'm extremely non judgmental..my motto is to live and let live......to all except my children...if i did a live and let live with them...one would be stuck to the laptop..the other to the TV.
6.I can't make chapatis!...can make any type of parantha..but chapatis are beyond me(we always hire someone for the rotis.and that suits me just fine!)
7 I am pretty scared of the ocean.....i used to say that iwas hydrophobic till someone informed me that.that would make me rabid!(hydrophobia being associated with rabies)..so i do not know what to call this phobia.....and inc. i can swim like a fish...or a hippo or whatever!
Thats it 7 random things about me....now i'd like to pass this to


1. snehal of http://snehalscreations.blogspot.in/
2.Teena of http://teenzyummydelights.blogspot.in/
3.Anzz of http://anzzcafe.com/
4.faseela of http://faseelanoushad.blogspot.in/
5 christy of http://mykitchenflavors-bonappetit.blogspot.in/
6. sravs of  http://sravscc.blogspot.in/
7. dr.sonia of http://cardsandschoolprojects.blogspot.in/
8.sidra of http://sidra-amjed.blogspot.in/
9.julie of http://erivumpuliyumm.blogspot.in/
10 sobha of.http://sobha-goodfood.blogspot.in/
11. jay of http://tastyappetite.blogspot.in/
12 roshu of http://roshusworldoftastes.blogspot.in/
13.http://treatntrick.blogspot.in/
14.ramya of http://ramyasrecipe.blogspot.in/
15sonali of .http://onlyfishrecipes.blogspot.in/#axzz1nBOWgumu
There are more bloggers that i would like to pass this on to..but there is a limit of 15..

Chaiu ko tarkari(Nepali mushroom curry)

Dear all..........what is the matter with the weather god?Just when thing seemed to be getting a little reasonable(read-bearable cold)..........its back to being cold and wet!so...its time for shortcut recipes!This the nepalifood.com promised would be done in 15 mins.well i didn't time it out..but it was done in no time.....moral of the story...more time for you to sit with a cup of tea and curse the weather!
INGRDS
1.1packet button mushrooms(200 gms) ..washed and cut.
2. 1 medium sized onion chopped fine
3.1 tomato chopped fine
4.1 tsp garlic..(chopped fine)
5.1 tsp veg oil
6.1/4 tsp haldi(turmeric powder)..and garam masala
7. salt and red chilli pdr to taste
8. 1 small green chilli chopped fine
METHOD
1.In a heavy bottomed pan,heat the oil..add the garlic saute for a bit ..then add the onions and green chilli...fry till light golden.
2.Add the tomatoes and all the masalas....cook...when the masala comes together ..and you can see a little bit of oil on the side..add the mushrooms(there's no point in waiting till you see a lot of oil to leave the masala...because we've not added a lot of oil!)

3.Cover and cook for about 5-7 mins.........check the mushrooms would have shrunk like crazy....taste the seasoning...and serve.Pretty simple to do and tastes nice...although for the life of me i can't pronounce the name!
sending it tohttp://uk-rasoi.blogspot.in/2012/01/flavours-of-nepal.html andhttp://www.simplysensationalfood.com/p/simplyfood-events.html

lazy cooks eggs in white sauce

Hi guys....how are you doing?Here's another "eggy" recipe.practically a staple in my house.Now i do not hate butter(quite the opposite actually..i can't imagine a world without butter.),i figure where i can introduce olive oil without compromising on the taste...i do!.and i use whole wheat flour instead of regular flour.
INGRDS
1.Boiled eggs-5(shelled)
2.1 tablespoon olive oil
3. 1 tablespoon wholewheat flour
4. salt and pepper to taste
5.1 cup milk
METHOD
1.In a heavy bottomed pan,heat the olive oil..add the flour and stir for 2 mins....add the milk...while stirring continously(you could also take the pan off the heat..add the milk..stir well and put it back on the heat)...the mix will get thick..add the salt and pepper.

2.Cut the eggs in half,arrange on the serving platter,pour the sauce on top and serve.
3.I put eggs into the white sauce,you can put in boiled veg,or pasta....or chicken(cooked and deboned)..........have fun.  
sending this tohttp://ramyasrecipe.blogspot.in/2012/02/abc-series-egg-recipes.html

lazy cooks sun dried tomatoes

Its nice to have sun dried tomatoes sitting in your pantry....for those times when only sun dried tomatoes are required..which can happen quite a lot in Italian food.These are pretty expensive to buy...in places where you have access to shops selling this sort of stuff.There are no shops selling these here..so i had to make my own!This was the first time i attempted these and i had no idea how much they would shrink!..oh well ..live and learn.
Before i progress further i would like to clarify something...the stuff that i teach in my cookery classes..i will not be putting on my blog...i would'nt do that to you guys(my (ahem)students).......now that we're clear on that...onto the sun dried tomatoes.
INGRDS
1. tomatoes
2. salt(recommended sea salt.i used regular iodised salt)
3. garlic
4. extra virgin olive oil
5. clean and dry glass bottle.
METHOD
1.Cut tomatoes into quarters and take out the seeds.
2. Sprinkle with salt.
3.Put in direct sunlight for 3-4 days(get it in at night and cover lightly with some cloth)
4. Put in a bottle with garlic and EVO.
5.Store in your pantry till required.

this is what the sun does!

t

sending this tohttp://sobha-goodfood.blogspot.in/2012/02/event-announcement-just-4-fun.html

lazy cooks victoria sandwich cake in a hurry

Hi there!Maybe not the actual victoria sandwich......i will do that in a few days and post it as the original victoria sandwich.This is a recipe of a hot milk sponge cake i got from my sister(from the cooking manual of the toshiba oven).its a really nice cake to do in a hurry.and it takes just a tablespoon of butter!how nice is that?Though ,you'll realise as we progress further into the recipe..i'm hardly counting calories!(i should i know..but what to do?)
INGRDS
1.I cup flour sifted with
2. 1 tsp baking pdr
3. 1 cup sugar
4. 1 tablespoon butter
5. 2 eggs
6.1/2 cup milk
8. 1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
METHOD
1.Pre heat the oven.Prepare the cake tin(butter it first..then lightly dust it with flour)
2.Heat the milk..add the butter to it .
3.Into the blender,put the sugar,eggs ,essence..blend....put the milk in blend again.
4. Pour this onto the flour,mix well and pour into the prepared baking pan.
5.Into the oven at 200degC FOR 10mins then reduce it to 180degC for another 15-20 mins....put a skewer in ..if it comes out clean..the cake is don.(i normally put a knife in!)

6.Once it cols down ...you can cut and serve it....however..you can also slice the cake in half....beat up some jam..spread generously...put the top back on(of the cake..of the cake)...dust with icing sugar and we're done!  NOW cut and serve slices.so much better!
sending this tohttp://anjali-cooklog.blogspot.in/2012/02/announcing-my-first-event-cakes-cookies.htmland tohttp://sravscc.blogspot.in/2012/01/announcing-cooking-concepts-7-dish-for.htmland tohttp://sumeesculinary.blogspot.in/2012/01/announcing-bon-vivant-moments-1-sweet.htmland tohttp://vardhiniskitchen.blogspot.in/2012/02/zesty-palette-series-4-sweet-luv-event.htmland tohttp://anzzcafe.com/event-valentines-special/and tohttp://teenzyummydelights.blogspot.in/2012/01/sending-lil-valentine-love-your-way.html