PUMPKIN CURRY AND SPECIAL CARDS

This is one of my favorite vegetables. It has slightly sweet coupled with spicy and tangy taste. Since the skin is very tough, I just scrap it lightly without removing the peel. You have to take care not to boil the pumpkin for a long time since it turns soft quite fast. Absolutely delicious, great to serve with rice, chapati or naan.

SESAME AND OAT COOKIES AND BEAUTIFUL CARDS

Since we are nearing the end of the week, baked this melt in the mouth cookies which is not so sweet and tasted great. Added rolled oat and black sesame seed for this recipe, really perfect combo, contains goodness of oat and sesame seed.

The dough is too soft to handle but managed to roll them into small ball. You can refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to make it firmer.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup rolled oat
5 tablespoons black sesame

METHOD

* Sift flour and baking powder, add rolled oat and sesame seed, mix well.

* Cream butter and sugar until creamy, add vanilla essence.

* Now add butter mixture with flour and form into pliable dough.

* Shape the dough into small ball then flatten and place onto baking pan. Preheat oven @ 170 C.

* Bake for 10-15 minutes . Remove from pan after 5 minutes and cool on wire rack.

* Store in an airtight container once it is completely cool.

CARD

My blogger friend, Priya Prashanth has sent this beautiful card to mark her 250th post. Thanks for sharing this with me. Keep posting dear..



Thanks to Sanyukta Gour for sharing this on completing her first month of blogging, really admire your creativity!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BEAUTY PRODUCTS AND SPECIAL CARDS

We spend a enormous amount of money on beauty products just to look pretty. How many of us know that there are simple homemade solutions that are available from your own kitchen. Give it a try religiously but one can't expect changes just by trying it out once but definitely you will see miracles if you apply it daily.

The most significant advantages of using the homemade products are that they are inexpensive, easily obtainable from your kitchen and allergy free, made from natural resources, totally no chemical is used and fresh, no worries about the shelf life of the product. There are several commercially-made beauty products that often do more harm than good, causing allergic reaction.

You'll find more details about how to make your own beauty products from this video. Will share a lot more beauty secrets in my next entry. If you want to know more about candle nut, check out this link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candle_nut

CARD

Happy Mother's Day to all and have a great weekend to celebrate this special occasion. Thanks to ELLY for sending this beautiful card for Mother's Day.



Another one received from Love2Cook, thanks dear..

Hookin Up With HoH 46
Fantabulous Friday
Friday Flair
Show And Share Day
FFA Friday
You Like Me

CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING AND A CARD

Of late my son seems to have lost interest in taking bread with his usual spread, it's a pity to see the loaf lying untouched in the pantry. To save this from wastage I have baked this eggless pudding using the bread slices and it turns out amazing and is a hit with my family.

INGREDIENTS

8 slices bread shredded
1 cup water
1 cup evaporated milk
7 tablespoons fine sugar
2 tablespoons cornflour
1 heaped tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup raisin

METHOD

* Soak the bread in water for 15 minutes. Preheat oven @ 180 C.

* Combine together milk, sugar, cornflour, cocoa, raisin and essence until well combined.

* Pour the mixture onto bread, mix well. Pour into 7 inches greased pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

* The pudding could be taken warm or cold.

CARD

Thanks to Azatie for sending me this beautiful card.



Foodie Friday
Sweet Tooth Friday
Show And Tell
Recipe Linky
Fabulous Friday
Feature Yourself Friday
Its Hodgepodge Friday
Fresh Clean And Pure Friday
Frugalicious Friday
Friday Potluck
Food On Fridays
Flaunt It Friday
Made By You
Craft-O-Maniac Monday 

SAMBAR RICE AND A CARD

Today my sons are not eating at home since they have an outdoor assignment. It would be great to cook what I loved most. Sambar (tangy lentil and vegetable curry) is my all time favorite food. The same thing I'm going to prepare, it is a marriage of two different dishes, tomato rice and sambar and this is how it is created and done in my style, you could use other vegetables too. The result? Truly amazing taste, wonderful one pot meal. Fantastic!!! Give a try and you would know what I mean.


INGREDIENTS

1 and 1/2 cup basmati rice (soak for 30 minutes then drain)
1/2 cup cooked garbanzo bean
1 carrot cubed
1 potato cubed
1/4 cup green peas
1/4 cup whole kernel corn
2 onions chopped
2 tomatoes chopped
1 and 1/2 tablespoons sambar powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 sprig curry leaves
1 tablespoon tamarind mix with 1/2 cup water
pinch of asafoetida
3 cloves garlic minced
salt to taste
3 tablespoons ghee or oil
water


METHOD


* Heat the oil, splutter the mustard seeds, add onion and curry leaves, fry until light brown. Add garlic, stir for a few minutes, add tomato and salt. Cook until tomato turns soft.

* Now add chili powder, sambar powder, turmeric, asafoetida and some water, fry until fragrant.

* Add the vegetables and tamarind juice, cover the pot, cook until vegetable turns soft.

* Pour in the rice and sufficient water to cook the rice, add salt.

* Once the water is evaporated, cover pot and continue to cook for 10 minutes using slow heat.

* Dish out onto serving plate and enjoy your delicious sambar rice.


CARD

My blogger pal, E-na Zarina, Nagoya has sent the following beautiful card which is snapped by her. Thanks for your kind thought hope our friendship will  last forever.

DATES AND OAT BREAD AND A CARD

After I have seen Irish Freckle Bread at Vanillastrawberryspringfields, really tempted to try out but when checked my pantry most of the ingredients are not in hand so just settled down with this one. Made the right choice not only it turns out delicious, a hit with my kids and of course healthy. Would be making this bread again with other fruit.



INGREDIENTS

1 and 1/2 cups wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup pitted dates
1 cup strong tea
1 teaspoon soda bicarbonate
1/4 cup rolled oat
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter

METHOD

1. Preheat oven @ 175 C. Soak dates in hot tea for 15 minutes.

2. While still warm add in the soda bicarbonate, butter and sugar.

3. Blend in flour and oat with dates mixture.

4. Transfer batter to 8 x 4 inches greased loaf pan, bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

5. Cool on pan for 5 minutes before removing.

6. Slice when completely cool. Enjoy...

Pennywise Platter Thursday
Ultimate Recipe Swap
Tip Day Thursday
Thrilling Thursday
Strut Your Stuff
Making It With Allie
Show Off Your Stuff
Its A Keeper Thursday
Sat Nite Special 67
Show And Tell
Decidedly Healthy Or Horridly Decadent
Saturday Soiree 37
Saturday Is Crafty Day
Feature Yourself Friday
Foodie Friday
GCC Recipe Swap

POSTCARD


My blogger friend, Fimere has sent me this beautiful card. Thanks so much sweetie for your kind thought..
.