LINKS TO MY MOST FAVORITE RECIPES

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

DAHI RAITA

HYDERABADI CHICKEN DUM BIRYANI

HYDERABADI MIRCHI KA SALAN

Best Refrigerators for kitchen

GE’s sleek, top-of-the-line French door model comes with enough space to handle the largest dinner party, while allowing for additional flexibility with tall and wide shelves that can be adjusted on the fly to fit large or unwieldy containers. The freezer and fresh-food sections allow for different climates that work to keep your food at its freshest, including two crispers and a full-width drawer with adjustable humidity — all of which can be easily controlled at the touch of a finger with the door-mounted LCD panel. The temperature control is top-notch, rarely wavering from your preferred settings, while managing to deliver cooling with minimal energy use. The LCD panel can also be used to serve up cold or hot water, as well as ice, and can display photos uploaded with a flash drive. There’s almost nothing here to criticize, other than the price tag. But as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. It rings true here for GE.

Despite its un-flashy design, Frigidaire’s Gallery FGHS2655PF proves that minimalism can go a long way in a home appliance. The smudge-proof, stainless-steel refrigerator is one of the best side-by-side models in terms of price, and moreover, offers ample interior space and ramp-up LED lighting to ensure its contents are always visible. The humidity-controlled crisper drawers work to keep your fruits and vegetables fresh, while the replaceable air and water filters help remove unwanted impurities that would otherwise go unnoticed. The sliding shelves let you customize the fridge in more than 100 distinct ways, while the standout quick freeze function lets you rapidly cool room-temperature items with the simple press of a button. The energy-efficient appliance operates a bit noisier than most, but it’s sturdy as a rock and comes with the typical hallmarks of a feature-packed appliance: automatic alerts, an ice dispenser, and energy-saver technology.

Color options aside, there’s a good deal to love about the Samsung RS25H5000BC. The large side-by-side refrigerator can house a whopping 25 grocery bags worth of food within its 36-inch frame, while providing ample light and additional space in the form of energy-efficient LED lighting. Dual humidity-controlled crisper drawers help prevent the unwanted wilting and rotting of your fruits and vegetables, as well. Like most modern refrigerators, Samsung’s offering features a built-in dispenser on the exterior door for quickly accessible filtered water and cubed ice. The boxy device also has a simple digital display above the water dispenser for precisely adjusting the fridge’s interior temperature, along with Power Freeze and Power Cool components designed to help quickly chill newly-added food. The biggest drawback to the RS25H5000BC remains its loud operation, yet, the same can be said about most modern refrigerators in the sub-$1,500 category.

If you were to assume Whirlpool’s WRT104TFDT doesn’t offer much in the way of features considering it’s shoestring price, well, you’d be absolutely right. It’s a refrigerator that revels in a basic simplicity, one that provides you with a 28-inch wide freezer and two humidity-controller crisper drawers in addition to a string of wire and glass shelves and an optional ice maker. Dial-based, analog controls allow you to adjust the temperature level of cool air in either compartment, too, while the model’s improved design grants it a quieter operation and greater energy efficiency than past models. Other fridge components you might expect — i.e. magnetic doors, an integrated dairy center, a sole freezer shelf — also come standard, though the fridge sadly lacks more modern touches such as a built-in water dispenser and touchscreen display. Nonetheless, you can ask for much more given the $650 price tag.

Like the aforementioned WRT104TFDT, LG’s jet-black LTCS42223B basks in the bare essential — even if it is nearly twice the price. The top-mount fridge features the largest capacity in the 33-inch wide category, offering 24-cubic-feet of storage space between the fridge and accompanying freezer. A trio of humidity-controlled drawers also help extend the life of your fruits and vegetables, and for those looking for additional organization, the device comes outfitted with a full-width pantry drawer designed for varied cheeses and meats. The bright LED panels provide a sufficient light as well, and though it’s not the most stylish offering on our list, the fridge’s subtle contours and hidden hinges allow it to blend in with most kitchens. The included ice maker and electronic controls add to the convenience, especially when coupled with the dead-silent operation with which the model has become synonymous.

My Wishlist : All-Clad 600822 SS Copper Core 5-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Cookware Set, 10-Piece, Silver

All-Clad 600822 SS Copper Core 5-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Cookware Set, 10-Piece, Silver

5-Ply bonded layers of stainless-steel, aluminum and copper allow pieces to heat quickly and evenly
Stainless-steel interior will not react with foods
Set includes - 8-Inch and 10-Inch fry pans, 2 and 3-quart saucepans, 3-quart saute pan, 8-quart stockpot and 4 lids
Hand washing recommended
Lifetime warranty against defects

It has 5 star reviews and seems like good buy. Essential for healthy cooking.

Hyderabadi Mirchi Ka Salan

HYDERABADI MIRCHI KA SALAN 

Yummy!!!! is what you say when u look at this salan ( curry or gravy is called salan ). Spicy, flavorful and mouthwatering. Perfect for winters. Goes well with Biryani, Zeera rice, Pulao and plain rice or roti as well. 

People think it might be very difficult to make. But not really. Here are step by step instructions to make it easy for you. 

INGREDIENTS

Big sized chillies : 7-8 numbers

( Big sized chillies are bland not much hot and perfect for this gravy. Peppers like Anaheim , poivron and pablano can be used. I have used Anaheim pepper) 

 peanuts (skinout) : 3 tablespoon

onion : 1 chopped

sesame seeds : 2 tablespoon

dry coconut sliced : 1/4 cup

poppy seeds : 1/2 teaspoon

red chilli powder: 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder: 1/4 teaspoon

Coriander powder : 1/2 teaspoon

salt to taste

tamarind pulp : 1 tablespoon

Garam Masala : 1/4 teaspoon

Ginger garlic paste : 11/2  tablespoon

zeera cumin seeds: 1 teaspoon

Curry leaves : 10-12

Whole pepper corns : 

vegetable oil 

METHOD 

1. ROAST peanuts, dry coconut, sesame seeds, poppy seeds and onion one by one in a pan using 1 tablespoon oil. cool.

2. Grind the above roasted ingredients in mixer using no or not more than 2 tablespoon water. 

3. Add tamarind pulp and powder masalas  and grind again to form paste.

4. Slit peppers from center and fill in the ground paste. Keep remaining paste as is for later use. 

5. In a wide bottom pan heat about 3 tablespoon oil and add cumin seeds and roast for a minute. add ginger garlic paste and roast another minute while stirring. Add about 7-8 curry leaves.

6. Gently place the chillies with masala paste side by side in pan on medium heat  and roast on one side for 3 minutes flip around  gently and roast the other side for 3 minutes . 

I have cut my chillies in halves . It should actually be kept whole .

7. Now add remaining masala paste and 1/4 cup water. Cover lid tightly so no air escapes and cook on lowest heat for 20 minutes. This is called DUM. Turn off the stove and enjoy !!! 

Cranberry Orange Cake

CRANBERRY ORANGE CAKE

Perfect for Christmas and winters. This Cranberries orange loaf is beautiful bread, both in taste and aesthetic.Its stealthily addictive. 

INGREDIENTS : 

2 CUPS all-purpose flour

11/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

11/2 cups fresh cranberries

1/2 cup pecans chopped

1/4 cup melted butter 

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup orange juice

METHOD:

-.

1. Preheat the oven 350 degreesF . 

2. Grease nd flour 9x5 inch loaf pan. 

3. Take Cranberries in large mixing bowl.

4. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in orange zest, cranberries and pecans. 

5.  In a large bowl , cream together margarine, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in orange juice. 

Beat in flour mixtureuntil moist. 

6. Pour in prepared pan and bake for 1 hour  in preheated oven . Cool on wire rack. 

Sprouted Chana Masala : sprouted garbanzo with potatoes

SPROUTED Chana Masala Recipe

INGREDIENTS 

Garbanzo  beans   chana 2 cups

Potatoes : 2 small

Onion : 1 

tomato paste : 3 tablespoon

cumin seeds zeera : 1 teaspoon

Curry leaves : 7-8

salt 

Red chilli powder : 1/4 teaspoon

Black pepper powder : 3 teaspoon

Turmeric powder : 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander powder : 2 teaspoon

Garam Masala powder : 1/2 teaspoon

aam chur  powder : 1 teaspoon

METHOD

Making chana sprouts 

1. Soak chana overnight in plain water. 

2 . Throw water in morning and pack chana in air tight zip lock box and leave at room temperature  in warm place.

3. Small sprouts grow by Next day. 

Chana Masala

1. Add oil in sauce pan. Add zeera and wait for it to splutter.

2. Add chopped onion and fry till golden brown. 

3. Add curry leaves and red chilli powder, coriander powder, black pepper powder, turmeric powder  and fry for 2 minutes. 

4. Add tomato paste and fry till oil separates. 

5. Add potatoes cut in cubes and sprouted garbanzo beans.  Add 1/2 cup water and boil on low flame with lid covered tll beans and potato soften. 

6. Add Garam Masala powder and aam chur powder and salt and stir for 10 minutes more.

Turn off stove and enjoy !!!

How to cut pomegranates easily

People freak out when they have to cut a pomegranate. Its juicy, its complicated. It has many health benefits. 

when i was a little girl i had watched a pomegranate vendor cut pomegranate in front of me while my mom purchased it. It was in Bangalore , where pomegranate vendors carry pomegranates on their bicycles in a basket . They cut it in shape of flower to display their fruits.

STEP 1: use a knife and on top of pomegranate head draw a plus sign digging deep in center ( only).Dont extend tothin skin yet.

STEP 2 : Now extend the cut till the other end slicing only the thinner peel ( do not dig deeperinto seeds. cut only the thin peel)in straight lines along the plus u cut.

by now our pomegranate is divided in four sections.

STEP 4 : Gently pull out each section one by one outward. 

STEP 5: Pomegranate opens up like flower blooming and all seeds are visible. 

Gently drizzle out the seeds with finger tips in a box and enjoy!!

Potato Gold Coins : potato cutlets

Sweet Potato Pudding : Rataaloo kheer

SWEET POTATO PUDDING : RATAALOO KHEER

A perfect winter dessert. Healthy , Nutritious and easy to make. 

INGREDIENTS

Sweet potatoes : 1.5 lb

whole milk : 1/2 cup

Pure desi Ghee ( Clarified butter ) : 2 tablespoon

cardamom : 2 pods crushed

Almonds and cashews : roasted (optional) for garnishing . (I skipped this as i have preschooler )

Condensed milk : 1/2 can 

(I have used no sugar as i used sweetened condensed milk).

METHOD

1. Boil sweet potatoes in pan (or pressure cook) till soft and can mash on touching. 

2. Peel the boiled sweet potatoes ( rataaloo)

3. Heat ghee in a pan and add crushed cardamom ( ilaichi ) fry one minute. Then add half cup milk and boil. 

4. Add mashed sweet potatoes in milk and stir for 3 minutes. Then add condensed milk and cook till desired consistency is achieved. About 10 minutes usually, while stirring continuously.

Yummy kheer ready to relish!!!

Chicken White Soup

CHICKEN WHITE SOUP

Best and warm soup for winters. Last week my baby and i were down with severe cough, cold, and fever. Flu and were in bad pain. Just one bowl of this soup got us big relief and we got fine in 2 days. I made little extra and we ate it for lunch and dinner till we got well. Its just one pot recipe and so so easy. 

I have used basic pressure cooker to make this. You can try it same way in slow cooker , crock pot or even open sauce pan . 

Also check 

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP recipe

INGREDIENTS

Chicken pieces : 1/2 pound

Celery : 1 stick finely chopped

Onion : 1 finely chopped

Tomato : 1 chopped

carrots : 2 chopped or diced

seasoning 

salt and blackpepper as per taste

1 cup milk

11/2 cup water

3 tablespoon cornstarch

METHOD

1. Add chicken pieces with vegetables in pressure cooker and 11/2 cup or 2 cups of water . close the lid. And pressure cook for 12-15 minutes. 

Turn off the stove and let pressure out on its own.

2. In a cup of room temperature milk add three tablespoon of cornstarch (cornflour) and mix well and break lumps to form smooth solution. 

3. Pick out the chicken pieces from your soup using spoon and shred them and add back in soup. Throw away bones. 

4. Keep cooker without lid on stove on low flame and start adding the milk (with corn starch) slowly and stirring well as u do so. 

5. Keep stirring and cook on low temperature for 10 minutes more. 

6. Season with salt and pepper. 

Yummy hot healing comforting chicken soup ready to enjoy ! 

Meatloaf : The Basic Simple Meat loaf

BASIC MEATLOAF

This is a very easy recipe. It wont take long to make. Very nutritious and perfect for winters.

INGREDIENTS

11/2 lbs ground meat

1egg

1 onion chopped

1 cup milk

1 cup dried bread crumbs ( or powdered crackers )

salt and black pepper to taste

METHOD

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9x5  bread pan. I used 9x13 baking dish.

2. wash minced meat ( kheema) . 

3. In a large mixing bowl combine kheema, egg, onion , milk and bread crumbs ( i used chrushed crackers in this recipe) .  Season with salt and pepper and mix well.

4. Transfer the minced meat mix in baking pan or bread panand bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.

All done! enjoyy!!! 

Chicken Tahari : Easy one pot Biryani

CHICKEN TAHARI

My family loves biryani so muvh that i make it at least thrice every fortnightly or more. Making the usual lengthy Hyderabadi Dum Biryani ( DAHI RAITA
HYDERABADI CHICKEN DUM BIRYANI     ) so often is big hassle. Hence i usually make this short cut biryani called Tahari and make the special biryani on special occasions or when i have lot of time and energy. Masalas used are same as biryani, Hence flavors and taste is same. But easier to make and quicker. 

Chicken pieces : 2 pounds

Basmati Rice : 21/2 cups or 3 cups. Washed and soaked for 20 minutes in water.

Potatoes : 2 medium peeled and cut in 3 horizontal pieces (optional- I put for my kid coz he doesnt eat rice)

Yogurt : 11/2 cups

Tomatoes : 2 chopped(optional,i usually skip these)

Onion : 2 chopped.

Powder Masalas

Red chilli powder: 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder : 1/2 teaspoon

Garam Masala powder : 1/2 teaspoon

Black pepper powder: 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander powder : 1/2 teaspoon

Zeera cumin seeds : 1 teaspoon

whole black pepper corns : 1 teaspoon

Cloves : 3

cardamom : 2-4

cinnamon stick : 1 inch

Ginger and garlic paste : 2 tablespoon

lime juice : 1 tablespoon

saffron soaked in water : 1/2 teaspoon in 1/4 cup water.

Kasuri Methi : 1 teaspoon

Desi ghee : 2 tablespoon

vegetable oil 

Note: Adding green chillies and cilantro and mint leaves is essential. But coz of personal dislike i have not used these ingredients in most of my recipes. 

you can add it in last step . or After cooking. Adding it in earlier steps turns your recipes black and bad colored and bitter. 

1. Marinate  chicken with all powder masalas and yogurt and 1 teaspoon kasuri methi and 2 teaspoon Ginger garlic paste. Usually i marinate at night and leave in refrigerator all night. 

2. Heat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in pan . Add Cloves, cinnamon,cardamom , zeera, pepper corns and stir and fry for 2 minutes. Now add onion and fry till golden brown. Add remaining ginger garlic paste in onion and fry 2 minutes more.

3. Add tomatoes and fry for 5 minutes . Add chicken pieces from marinade and fry for 10 minutes. Now add remaining marinade mix and 2 cups water and cook till chicken is 75% done. 

4. Drain soaked rice and add Ghee, lemon juice, saffron water all around rice from top. 

Next pour over the chicken biryani masala over the rice directly and adjust water . 

5. Cover with air tight lid and cook in between low to medium heat till rice is done. 

Serve hot with DAHI RAITA or Hyderabadi Mirchi Ka Salan. 

Click below links for DAHI RAITA steps and  for authentic HYDERABADI DUM BIRYANI RECIPE. 

DAHI RAITA

HYDERABADI CHICKEN DUM BIRYANI

HYDERABADI MIRCHI KA SALAN

Gulab Jamoon recipe

Gulab jamoons are most popular dessert of India . Favorite of everyone.  Here is simple recipe for yummy and perfect jamoons. I have used milk powder in my rceipe as khoya which is original ingredient is not available here in USA.

Gulab is pure rose essence which is added in syrup . And jamoon shape is oblong like fruit jamoon of India. Hence the name Gulab Jamoon.  I mean atleast thats what my mom used to tell us while we watched her make this dessert.  Ofcourseshehad lot of knowledge as she was literature lecturer.

INGREDIENTS :

* 1 Cup nonfat milk powder

* 1/4 Cup all-purpose flour

*  1/4 teaspoon baking powder

* 1/2 cup heavy cream

* 5 ground cardamom

syrup :

2 cups water
2 cups sugar

oil for deep frying.

Sugar SYRUP

In a large wide botton pan add sugar and water and boil . Stir to disolve sugar. after sugar is fully dissolved keep heating for 5-10 minutes etc. Turn off stove .

GULAB JAMOON

1. In a large mixing bowl add milk powder, all-purpose flour,  baking powder and cardamom and cream and knead gently to form soft dough.  Use some milk if dry and knead more. If very fluidy add some flour.

2.  grease your palm with desi ghee or oil and make small even sized balls and oblong shaped jamoons.

3. Heat oil in a pan / wok / kadai. Add these jamoon balls gently and fry on medium heat till dark brown.  Gulab jamoons will be more than double the size after frying.

4. You should start making sugar syrup before frying jamoons  so that you can tranfer these jamoons immediately in luke warm syrup.

5. Jamuns need to soak in syrup atleast for 30 minutes before serving.

BERRY DELICIOUS : CRANBERRY AND PEAR CRISP

BERRY DELICIOUS: CRANBERRY AND PEAR CRISP

With lots of Cranberries around you might be bored of seeing cranberry sauces and cranberry chutneys. Here is  a new twist. Cranberry pear crisp. This recipe requires perfectly ripe pears which squish out when pressed at neck.

INGREDIENTS

8 medium sized ripe Barlett or Anjou pears, cored and chopped, with peel intact.

3/4 cup fresh cranberries

1 tablespoon  fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon corn starch

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 cup chilled salted butter cut in to pieces 

2 tablespoon canola oil

1/4 cup chopped nuts

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheatovento350degreesF

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. In a large bowl combine pears and cranberries.

3. Add lemonjuice, cornstarch, and 1/4 cup brown sugar to cranberries and pears.

4. Mix and pour into  baking tray sprayed with oil.

5. Topping : In a medium bowl , mix oats , wheat germ, flour, remaining brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg. combine this mix with butter and oil using fork till it resembles coarse meal. gently stir in nuts.

6. Sprinkle topping over fruits in baking baking tray.

7. Bake until golden brown. About 50 to 60 minutes. Serve warm with your favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt. 

Baked Spicy Potatoes : Aloo Lababdaar

BAKED SPICY POTATOES : ALOO LABABDAAR

Here is a very yummy easy peasy two minute recipe of making most delicious baked potatoes .

INGREDIENTS

Potatoes : 8 numbers

yogurt : 3 tablespoon

Red Chillipowder : 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder: 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder : 1/2 teaspoon

black pepper : 1/4 teaspoon

salt

carrom seeds : a pinch

Garam Masala : a pinch

 METHOD

1. wash and peel and cut potatoes. using fork prick each  around a few times.

2. Mix all masalas in yogurt . 

3. Rub masala all over potatoes and marinate in fridge for minimum 30 minutes. Two hours marination yeilds best results. 

4. spray cookie tray with oil and arrange potatoes and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees F . after 25 minutes flip potatoes and bake 20 minutes more. 

5. Remove from oven sprinkle with lime juice and mix and serve with favorite salad and enjoy.