lazy cooks fried okra/karari bhindi

Hi...........deep fried okra,karari bhindi,jaipuri bhindi..so many names....in my house its known as crispy bhindi......also the only way my family has this veg!....yup..pretty unhealthy tastes these fellas have!Infact a couple of months back I baked this(put olive oil on a baking tray.and shoved it in the oven for  20-25 mins) ......anyway..at the end of the baking time,the veg was very wierd..it was dry....... and we were sitting around like a bunch of cows chewing cud..it was that chewy.The conclusion we arrived at was that we really like the deep fried version, the  baked version was not for us.

INGRDS

1/2 kg okra(washed,patted dry,topped n tailed)

1 tblsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp red chilli pdr

1 tsp ajwain(bishop seeds,carom )

salt to taste

1 tsp dhania (corriander seeds)pwdr
1/2 tsp garam masala pdr
1heaped tblsp of chickpea flour(besan)
1 tsp rice flour
veg oil for deep frying
METHOD
1.Cut the okra into thin 1 inch pcs.....take a topped n tailed okra..cut into half lenghtways,now cut each half into 3 pcs..then cut them into 1 inch pcs.
2.Sprinkle all the spices,mix in the ginger garlic paste the lemon juice ,salt..then toss in the chickpea and rice flour....toss till nicely mixed...then deep fry till golden brown....this does take time..so I would advice you to excercise patience and hang around..not go of to check your mail..because if you do that then the chances are that it might fry a little too much..I'm just saying....not that I would ever do something like this..but you know!..OK I did that and had to throw away one lot!..So people just hang around on a medium high flame just deep fry these....drain on absorbent paper...and we're done.
3.This is an excellent side dish.........have this with rice and dal......or with chichen curry roti..it tastes great.

 

On a completely different note......my son turned 14 on the 27th.He refused to have a party..and then didn't want to go out for dinner(!)...I asked him what cake he wanted..he mumbled icing cake.....so this is what I did ,when he saw the cake he mumbled  .."but mama I said ice cream cake"I must confess my first reaction was to ask him to take diction classes somewhere....but being the birthay boy and all..(and I figured another 5 years of driving me crazy)I told him that would get done later..right now cut the damn chocolate cake with truffle icing..covered with buttercream.......your "icing cake"........either he learns to speak more clearly or I need to get a hearing aid!

lazy cooks cabbage vadas

There are days when for some reason my refrigertor seems to be bursting out o its seams with cabbage.......I close my eyes and see cabbage...and this when we're not too fond of this leafy veg.Anyway..I made thoran one day,another day there was coleslaw..then bubble and squeak..momos.....and I still had cabbage in the refrigerator!!!!!!!!Now I made these vadas after years(good ol' sis-in laws version)These are the konkan version..I know of them as cabbage vadas..if there is another name..please educate me.

INGRDS

1 cup cabbage chopped fine

1/2 cup onion chopped fine

1 cup grated coconut

2 tablespoons soaked arhar dal(soaked for at least 20 mins)

1 tsp urad dal

3dry  red chillies

1 tsp corriander seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp blackpeppercorn

salt to taste

3 tblspoons of sooji(semolina)

METHOD
1.In one tsp of coconut oil...fry the cumin seeds,urad dal,corriander seeds and red chillies for a min or two.
2.Put the fried spice,along with the dal and coconut in a grinder ,grind till a fairly smooth mixture is obtained,add as little water as possible.do add the salt at this stage.
3.Now toss this mixture onto the chopped cabbage and onion,mix well..shape into vadas(patties),coat with the semolina..and shallow fry.
4.Serve hot..it can be had as a snack..I served it at lunch with some rice and chicken curry.
NOTE:The original recipe also called for a bit of jaggery.I am not too crazy about adding sweet to savoury items so i didn't add it....but you please do..if you want the authentic taste of the vadas.

lazy cooks blueberry cake

Hi.......my mom got this tub of bluberries..actually blueberry pie filling..from canada....I've been using this for making muffins,cakes,tarts.everything except pies!.......Now do not despair..you remember that gorgeous jamlazy-cooks-grape-jam...the consistency is somewhat the same so you can replace with jam(if you made it)..and if you did'nt...remedy it quick..black grapes are still available!

INGRDS

1 cup self raising flour

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla essence

1/2 cup bluberry pie filling

METHOD

1.Beat the butter and sugar till light and fluffy..I use an electric beater.

2.Add the eggs one by one.

3.Add the essence and the flour,beat till the flour is mixed properly.

4.Now,with a spoon mix in the bluberry/grape jam.......I wanted some buttery pcs to come through.
5.Pour in a buttered and dusted..aka..prepared cake pan.....bake at 180 degC for 30 mins...check with a skewer if the cake is done.

6.Cut into slices and enjoy with a hot cup of coffee.or with cold coffee..or with tea..or just like that!

NOTE:you can do away with the extra stuff(blueberries/jam)and just ad 1/4 cup of milk..beat well and bake..you'll get a super vanilla cake.
sending this to http://uk-rasoi.blogspot.in/2012/04/kids-delight-fruits.html and http://spicingyourlife.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/announcing-kids-delight-wholesome.html

lazy cooks spinach souffle

Hi there........first and foremost..THANK YOU....all those who wished me luck with my assignments(I really needed it)..and all those who took the time out to write a comment...I love you guys!I really... really do..........an update on my studies is that I now have to submit all the stuff in sept. and give the exam in dec...so I'm back!......I seriously wonder if I'M in my right mind(for taking on the added stress of studying).I'm no spring chicken..heck I'm going to be 40 this dec...the big four O....I studied when  was younger..honest..I was a pilot(cross my heart)..I can't get my kids to study..and here I am with books coming out of my ears! .....anyway I signed up(read...hubby had to cough up money for the course)..so I guess I got to go through with it!

Now onto the recipe...this is really easy to do..this was one of the side dishes when I had some friends over for dinner.The pic ain't pretty..but the taste is good ..trust me.

INGRDS

1 cup spinach puree...(wash a bunch of spinach leaves..300gms...put 2 cloves of garlic,a 1/2 inch pc of ginger..and shove the whole thing in the microwave for 3-4 mins..then simply let it cool down and blitz)

3 eggs
100 gms cheese(i did a 50-50 mix.....cheddar..and pizza cheese.as we don't get mozzarella here)
1 tetra pack cream(200 gms)

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp mustard paste.

METHOD

1.Beat the eggs,add the cream,cheese ,spinach puree,mustard paste,salt and pepper.....
2.Pour into an ovenproof dish....I used to bake this at 180deg for an hour..this time I put it in the microwave (at max)..for 12 mins.

3.It tastes good served..hot...or cold or at room temp.

lazy cooks jelly custard

Hi there.............this is a really easy dessert to do.and it goes down really well with the kids.actually the hubby too!On those days that I feel like a real kaamchor(lazy?..I  don't think lazy captures the essence of the word..but its somewhere there). I forgot to take the pictures of the ingrds....I did mention the k word!

INGRDS

1 packet red coloured jelly(strawberry,cherry,rasberry).I used strawberry

1 banana

1 1/2 cups milk

2 tablespoons sugar

1 heaped tablespoon custard pdr

METHOD

1.Prepare the jelly with 400 mls of water(instead of 500mls).....divide into 4 glasses.

2.Preapare the custard.Heat 1 cup of milk with the sugar.let it come to a boil..........dissolve the custard pdr in 1/2 cup of cold milk........then add to the boiled milk..and stir away.it will become nice n thick.

3.Chop up the banana and add to the custard....now divide equally in the 4 glasses....leave to set..in the refrigerator......serve cold.

There's one more thing...in one brain dead moment in december....I signed up for further studies(shudder...shudder)..I'm doing a post graduate course in psychology and another in guidance and counselling.........why?.I did mention brain dead!Now the thing is....that these fellows are not just handing out the degrees I have to actually study(boo hoo) and submit assignments!..which means that I am going to be missing for a bit now,I'm going to "not" access the net till I submit those horrid little assignments....only because I have absolutely no will power....I kind'o log on in the morning...and before you know it ....its lunch time.....time flies when you're having fun!.so guys I'll see you in a few days...take care.

lazy cooks penne with mushrooms and sausages

Hi everyone.......a very good morning to all.this is a quick post on a quick,one dish meal.The vegetarians can leave out the sausages(obviously)

INGRDS

penne-1 packet(200gms)

8-9 cloves of garlic..pound together with 1 green chilli

1 big onion chopped fine

3 med sized tomatoes chopped fine

1 packet of button mushrooms ..chopped

1 medium sized capcicum chopped

1 tablespoon of worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon of oregano
1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 packet of ready cooked sausages.....cut into pcs.

salt and pepper to taste

some grated cheese(optional)

METHOD

1.In a kadhai(heavy bottomed wok),add the olive oil...the the garlic green chilli paste.....fry for a min...then add the onions and fry till golden brown.

2.Now add the tomatoes,salt and pepper.fry this well..till the oil leaves the mix.

3.Put the mushrooms...and the capcicum in(I also added some chopped cilantro here),add the worcestershire sauce,cover and cook till the mushrooms are done.....dry up the residual liquid.Add the sausages.

4.Side by side put a big pan of water to boil..when it gets to a rolling boil,add the penne......cook for about 6-7 mins...drain the hot water..rinse in cold water.

5.Toss the penne in this ...serve hot.I would normally have avoided adding cheese to this..but my daughter loves cheese and hates mushrooms.........i figured the cheese would disguise the mushrooms(did not ..i might add..she still gagged when she got mushroom in her mouth!)In all fairness though the cheese did help the flavours along and upped the taste(in my very humble opinion!)

lazy cooks eggless grape mousse



Hello all!..........I missed you all sooooooo very  much.I've been MIA for about 3 weeks now due to unavoidable circumstances...for almost a week we had no net   

my parents..40th wedding anniversary

connection(so?..what else is new!)..then I pushed off to delhi to meet up with my parents who were down from canada for 3weeks..to celebrate their 40th  wedding anniversary.......Also I was the small town rat who goes to the city and is completely bowled over by everything(look at the buildings!...look at the cars..omg..so many people !)..just kidding..I spent all my time in the mall..shopping..shopping ..and more shopping!After I got back to my little mountainous abode,I got busy doing the winter summer changeover...you know putting the winter stuff away and taking out the summer stuff....pretty time consuming esp if along with the viral you get struck down by lazities(a form of being lazy where you just read a novel and ignore the mess around you)..anway all done..my cupboards are set..I should take their picture..my cupboards will never look so neat for the rest of the season!I did realise one thing ..I need to enroll in the 12 stepshopping de addiction programme..I'm a shpoholic..but I promise to change..........no more shopping for anything!...well....if its really really nice..only then!

I have missed a lot from all my fellow food bloggers...I will get to all your blogs..slowly but surely!

Onto the recipe...........this is from my mom's handwritten recipes from the 70's.....tried it out and it turned out great.Black grapes are still available..so do try this out........ ..   and since it now comes from my kitchen ..you can be sure that its easy
INGRDS
250 gms black grapes
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tin condensed milk
200 gms cream(1 tetra pack)
2 heaped tsp gelatine
FOR THE GLAZE
1/2 cup grapes
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp gelatine
METHOD
1.Cook the grapes in 1 1/4 cups of water with the sugar for 15 mins....cool...blitz in a mixer and strain the puree.
2.Add the condensed milk and cream ...mix well.
3.Dissolve the gelatine in 1/2 cup water(heat it till it dissolves)..add to the grape mix.Set in the fridge.
FOR THE GLAZE

1.Heat the grapes ,sugar and water for 10 mins....cool,blend and sieve.

2.Dissolve the gelatine in 1/4 cup of water..add to the grape mix........pour the glaze in the set base....back in the refrigerator for at least an hour.





Serve .........n........enjoy this gorgeous purple dessert.