lazy cooks mustard fish

Hi there!.....has this ever happened to you?a song or tune gets stuck in your head,keeps going round and round and you can do nothing about it!it might be something that you might not even like!..but  it remains stuck like a bad tape recorder...the jingle that remained stuck in my head was.....hold your breath...tobu cyles!if you were a wee thing in the 80's or early 90's you won't even remember it....there was a bunch of kids on their ..what else?..tobu cycles..and the jingle playing at the back.If this was something that I really loved,it was a different thing....but I don't even like the jingle..why on earth is it going on in my head??

Along with "tobu cycles" playing in my head..I made mustard fish.I have no bengali blood in my veins...and am  not related to any bengali either...but I make this pretty often..learnt this from my mom,the only touch that I added was the crushed garlic(mom doesn't add any)

INGRDS

1 kg of boneless fish(you can def use fish with bones..I just find it extremely painful!)

1 full pod of garlic(crushed)
1 green chilli
3 big tomatoes chopped fine

some cilantro chopped fine

soak and then grind-1 tablespoon of khus khus(poppy seeds)+1 1/2 tsps of mustard seeds
1 tsp nigella seeds

salt to taste,1/2 tsp turmeric pdr,1/2 tsp chilli pdr,1 tablespoon corriander seeds powder...make a paste of this with water(about 1/2 cup water) 

mustard oil-as required

METHOD

1.Marinate the fish in a little salt+turmeric pdr+chilli pdr,at least for half an hour.
2.Heat mustard oil in a wok/kadhai.....deep fry the marinated pcs.Drain on an absorbent towel.
3.In another wok/kadhai,add about a tablespoon of  mustard oil...once it heats up..addthe nigella seeds,the garlic and green chilli.....fry for a few mins..then add the chopped tomatoes.now add the spices(which we've made a paste of in water).cook this till you see oil leaving the masala.(about 7 mins or so).Add 1 cup of water,let it come to a boil.
4.Once the gravy has bubbled away,add the khus khus-mustard seeds paste.I add the cilantro at this stage too,reserving a little for the garnish.Taste the seasoning.
5.Add the fried fish to this.Serve hot with plain bolied rice.Its yum!I just realised something....have you noticed how bengali girls are so beautiful...its because they eat fish...all those omega 3's working! 
sending this to Akila's event.

lazy coooks banana walnut cupcakes

 Hello there people....I had a real fun evening yesterday..A whole bunch of friends ,my kitty party crowd (ahem)  had come over for tea...well I had invited them,it was my turn to host the party and it was great...girl bonding rocks!.I had the tea..savoury stuff catered (shame on me!!!!!!being a food blogger and all..you can't see me but I've hung my head in shame!)..that left the sweet stuff for me.I did a dark chocolate cake..and these cupcakes.These are really good and get done in a jiffy.

ze ladies in udhampur mess



INGRDS

2 cups APF(maida)
2 tsp baking pdr
50gms butter(melted)
1/4 tsp sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 over ripe banana
1 tsp vanilla essence
For the topping
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon powder.
METHOD
1.Mix the topping ingrds together.
2.Sieve the flour with the baking pdr.
3.Put the banana,egg,milk and melted butter and essence in the blender..and blitz for a few seconds..DO NOT make a shake..it just needs a few seconds....
4.Pour the banana mix onto the flour..mix.
5.Add 1/2 the topping mix...mix again..and fill up the cupcake wrappers till 2/3.
6.Now add 1 tsp of the leftover topping on all these beauties...bake at 180degC for 15-20 mins.
7.Serve...no other beautification necessary.Cheers...girls..looking forward to many more evenings together.
sending this toshowcase-desserts.

  

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.  

lazy cooks grape jam

Hello!I love making preserves..........as you can check out the apple and fig jam..here.. and the gajar,gobi shalgam ka achar..here..........so when I saw.la@foodslice's.....purple grape jam...in all its purple glory..I just knew I had to make it  ASAP!She had made a very nice loaf with it too.I got the grapes, guarded them with my life(I have grape thieves around)..and made the jam on the stormy Sunday morning!Its a really easy recipe...and the jam is simply superb........thank you so much..la@foodslice...THANK YOU.....I simply loved the recipe.....and the whole family freaked out on the jam.....its being had on toast,on roti..or simply in a spoon! 
INGRDS
1 kg seedless black grapes......washed..and removed from the stem
2 cups sugar
METHOD
1.Put the grapes in a blender and blitz for a few seconds(you do not want complete mush..a few pieces here and there is good)
2.Into a heavy bottomed pan on medium high heat ,heat till bubbles appear on the side.then put the sugar in .....stir.
3.Let this bubble away for about 25 mins,stir once in a while...with a wooden spoon.....,.then after 25 mins....check for doneness.......simply take the spoon out of the purple madness..and draw a line in the back of the spoon (use your finger)...if the two halves don't make any attempt to get together..then the jam is done!

4.On toasted bread.its beyond divine............yum...yum.

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..

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