SIMPLY SHRIMP

I actually want to call this semi-home made (the famous food network show). This is again one of the non-veg dishes I made while my brother was visiting me during the thanksgiving weekend. I know its been like nearly three weeks to that, but I have actually not been doing any serious cooking lately, that is why I am posting recipes that I made some time back. Well now that the holiday season is going to begin in full swing and I will be having guests coming over, there will be lots of food and lots of fun. But about that later.

Coming back to my shrimp dish that I dished out it no more than twenty minutes (should I not call it 30 minute meal??? forget it.....). It did not require any preparation as the shrimp as well as the veggies I used were all frozen. So all I actually did, was think what sauces should go into it and with what will it taste the best.

so here goes the recipe.

You will need

• frozen garlic butter shrimp- 1 packet (I picked this up from Ralphs)
  
• frozen asian stir- fry vegetables- 1 packet (found in the frozen vegetable section of any grocery store)
  
• onion (slices)-1
• chilly sauce- 1 tbsp
  
• soy sauce- 1 tbsp
  
• tomato sauce- 1 tbsp
  
• salt and pepper - to taste
  
• sugar- a pinch
  

You have to 

1. heat a pan. To this add the frozen shrimp. do not add any oil, as the garlic butter on the shrimp will melt once heated through.
   
2. once the shrimp heats up, (about five minutes),add the sliced onions.cook for a minute.
3. add the frozen vegetables.
   
4. add salt, cover and cook for a few minutes.
   
5. now add all the sauces, along with the pepper and the sugar.
   
6. cook on low heat till the shrimp and the vegetables become soft.
   
7. the entire cooking time will take around 15-20 minutes.
   
8. check for seasoning.
9. serve hot over steamed rice.

a quick meal with proteins, carbs and lots of veggies, ready in no time.

because this meal was super simple to make, I decided to send this for Recipes for the rest of us event hosted by Ramki of one page cookbooks. 

enjoy

SPICY OMELET/FRITATA

The past few days have been crazy hectic. with my husband leaving for India in just a few days, there is so much stuff to do. shopping, packing are offcourse the main highlights of the event.

Coming so far along in RECIPE MARATHON, I don't want to give up specially in the last few days.

Though the cooking is not going to be anything fancy as the weekend is going to be spent finishing a lot of work, however I will be posting a few simple and common recipes. 

Here is one of them for RECIPE MARATHON DAY 21.

a quick fix for dinner. 

You will need

• eggs-3
  
• chopped onions-1/4th cup
  
• chopped corinader- 1 tbsp
  
• chopped green chillie-1 tbsp
  
• grated cheese- 1/2 cup
  
• salt and pepper
  
• oil- a few drops
  

you have to

1. heat a non-stick frying pan. add the oil. swirl it around to coat the base of the pan
   
2. beat the eggs till nice and fluffy.
   
3. add the salt and pepper. pour the egg batter into the frying pan.
   
4. sprinkle the onions, green chillies and coriander.
   
5. top with cheese, cover and cook till fluffy
   
6. you can fold the omelet or simply let it be
   
7. serve with toast and tomato sauce.

I called this a fritata too, coz when I covered and cooked it, it became nice and fluffy and I was able to cut it up and served it. 

enjoy.

other recipe marathon runners

1) DK 2) Siri 3) Srivalli 4) Ranji 5)PJ 6)Curry Leaf 7)Medha 8)Priya 9)Bhawna 10)Raaji 11)Ruchii 12)Anu 13)Kamala 14)Roopa 15)Divya Kudua 16)Rekha 17)Divya M 18)Lakshmi 19)Raaga 20)Lakshmi Venkatesh 21)Sripriya 22)Viji 23)Pavani 24)Kamalika25)Roochig

THE INDIAN TEA

There is nothing like a nice cup of "kadak chai"on a rainy day, on a cold winter evening or simply when with friends. Drinking tea has been something that has been around in India for years. Its a simple way to unwind, discuss politics, sports, current affairs or simply gossip........

There are tea stalls around every nook and corner of the streets in India. Some tea stalls serve it glasses whereas some serve it in "kulad" or small clay earthenwares. I still remember the early morning days of my school and college. I use to smell the cardamom in the air. The smoke coming out of the "chulla" or the coal stove around the corner, with a kettle of tea simmering on top. So simple yet so divine. And on rainy days, gathering with friends and sipping hot tea with piping hot pakodas.......Those were the days.

I am sorry to go astray from my recipe. Its a very simple recipe of making tea, but I guess to get that cup of "kadak chai" or strong tea, one needs to add the ingredients in the correct order.

here it is

You will need- for two cups of tea

• water- 1 1/2 cups
• milk- 1/2 cup
• cardamom- 1-2 pods crushed
• tea leaves- 2 tbsp, I use red label. You could use the dip tea bags too.
• tea masala (optional)- 1/2 tsp
• sugar- 3- 4 tsp

You have to

1. in a sauce pan put the water to heat.
2. once the water begins to boil,add the tea leaves.(or the tea bags) to the water.
3. let the tea leaves boil with the water.
4. now add the crushed cardamom and the sugar.
5. add the milk. once it comes to a full boil, lower the heat.
6. let it simmer till you get a nice colour. now add the tea masala. stir it.
7. strain it into cups
8. and enjoy with any savoury items.

note: usually in winters or when someone is suffering from cold, a little bit of crushed ginger is added along with the cardamom.

This is my first entry to the RECIPE MARATHON. These are my fellow runners

1) DK 2) Siri 3) Srivalli 4) Ranji 5)PJ 6)Curry Leaf 7)Medha 8)Priya 9)Bhawna 10)Raaji 11)Ruchii 12)Anu 13)Kamala 14)Roopa 15)Divya Kudua 16)Rekha 17)Divya M 18)Lakshmi 19)Raaga 20)Lakshmi Venkatesh 21)Sripriya 22)Viji 23)Pavani

RAKHI SPECIAL

After nearly four years, my brother and I were together for rakhi. he came here to the US, in march for his studies. We could meet, cause he is in Los Angeles, and I am in San Diego. both of these are just two hours apart.
So, it was really special. Had a good lunch of dal makhani and mutter paneer. went out to the beach later in the evening and caught up a movie. it was nice.
I thought it would be a good idea to send in these recipes to the Festive Food Event, Rakhi – Thread of Love, hosted by preeti and purva



for DAL MAKHANI



You need

• black dal- 1/2 cup
• rajhma (kidney beans)- 1/2 cup
• garlic pods- 3
• ginger and chilly paste- 1 tsp
• onions finely chopped- 1 big
• tomato chopped- 1 big
• tomato puree- 1/4th cup
• garam masala- 1 tsp
• red chilly powder- 1/2 tsp
• rajhma masala (optional)- 1 tsp
• salt- to taste
• jeera dhania powder- 1/2 tsp
• ghee or butter- 2 tbsp.
• cream-1/2 cup

You will have to

1. Soak the black dal and the rajhma together for at least 5-6 hours or overnight.
2. rinse the dals, and pressure cook it with the garlic pods for 2 whistles.
3. in a kadai, heat ghee or butter.
4. add the ginger chilly paste, along with the onions. saute till onions turn brown.
5. add the shopped tomato and the puree. saute again.
6. now add all the spices and cook everything till the oil begins to separate out.
7. add the pressure cooked dal to this along with some water.
8. cover and cook till the dal begins to thicken.
9. add the cream and let it simmer for a few minutes. check for salt.
10. serve garnished with chopped coriander leaves.

For the MUTTER PANEER

You will need

• frozen or fresh peas- 2 cups
• paneer- 1 lb cut into squares
• tomato chopped- 1
• onion chopped- 1
• tomato sauce- 1 tbsp
• ginger chilly paste- 1 tsp
• salt- to taste
• oil-1 tbsp
• turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
• red chilly powder- 1/2 tsp
• garam masala- 1 tsp

You will have to

1. in a pan heat oil.
2. saute the ginger chilly paste and then the chopped onions. brown the onions.
3. add the chopped tomatoes. saute
4. add the peas along with all the spices and the tomato sauce. let all this cook till the oil begins to separate.
5. add all the paneer pieces with little water. cover and cook till peas soften.
6. serve hot with with tandoori roti.

I am also sending this to srivalli's curry mela.

will be continuing my series on indian cooking tomorrow
till then
enjoy and happy eating