Rasam powder

Ingredients:

• Coriander seeds- 600gms
• Toor dal - 200gms
• Peppercorns - 200gms
• Gram dal - 100gms
• Cumin - 100gms
• Turmeric (Virali) - 6 pieces (or less )
• Red chillies - 600gms
• Dried curry leaves - 2 tsps
• Asafoetida - 1 tsp

Preparation:

• Dry roast all the above ingredients.
• Grind it into fine powder.
• Add 2 tsp of this for making rasam.

Onion rice

This is a recipe i do when i have left out rice and have less time to prepare a dish.This is easy and comes out very tasty.

Ingredients:

• Boiled rice - 2 cups
• Onion chopped - 1 cup
• Bay leaves - 2
• Cardamom - 1
• Cloves - 2
• Cumin seeds
• Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
• Chilli powder - 1 tsp
• Salt
• Butter - 2 tsps

Preparation:

• In a deep pan heat butter and add cloves.cardamom,bay leaves and cumin seeds and saute until the aroma comes.
• Add onion to it and saute it until golden brown.
• Add garam masala and chili powder and salt to it.
• Add rice to it and mix well.
• Turn off.
• Serve hot with brinjal fry or kuruma..

Pineapple rasam

Ingredients:

• Pineapple - 1 large slice(finely diced)
• Tomato - 1 large finely diced
• Tamarind - half size of a lemon(make tamarind juice out of it)
• Rasam powder -2 tsp
• Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
• Toor dal - 3 tbsp
• Asafoetida - 2 pinches
• Cilantro - few sprigs
• Salt to taste
• Oil
• Mustard- 1 tsp
• Cumin - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 3-4
• Urad dal - 1 tsp

Preparation:

• Pressure cook toor dal and mash it .
• In a deep pan,add tamarind juice,salt,asafoetida, rasam powder,a cup of water and allow it start boiling .
• Add diced tomato ,pepper powder and pineapple to it and allow it to cook.
• Add toor dal and cilantro to it and wait until it starts foaming.
• Turn of the heat and remove .
• In a kadai,heat oil and add mustard,urad dal,curry leaves,cumin seeds and season it.
• Add it to the rasam.
• Add few cilantro leaves to it to garish and keep it covered until serving to maintain the aroma.
• Serve hot with rice and potato roast.

Rasgulla

Ingredients:

• Milk - 4 1/2 cups
• Lemon juice -2 tbsp
• Water - 4 1/2 cups
• Sugar - 1 1/2 cups

Preparation:

• Bring milk to boil and add the lemon juice diluted with 1 tbsp water into it little by little stirring continuously.
• Wait for the cheese to separate from the milk.
• Drain it through the muslin cloth and show it under cold water to remove the taste of lemon juice from it .
• Then bundle it up and squeeze the water out it until no water is left in it.
• In the meanwhile,add the water and sugar in a pressure cooker and boil it uncovered.
• To check if the cheese is just right, rub a little on the palm and form a ball out of it.
• It comes out perfect,then the cheese is in right consistency.
• Split it into equal parts of small balls (they double in size after cooked).
• Make sure you press it hard while rolling it so that it doesn't break while cooking.
• Add these balls to the cooker and close it with the lid and add weight .
• Wait for the pressure to form and then allow it to cook on medium flame for 7-8 mins and turn off.
• Once the pressure is released, transform it to a container (take care not to break it).
• Refrigerate and serve cold.
• Add a little shaved pistachios on it. Enjoy !!!

Chocolate frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup Cocoa powder(do not add more as it will make it a little bitter)
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

• Melt butter.
• Stir in cocoa.
• Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
• Add small amount additional milk, if required.
• Stir in vanilla.
• About 2 cups frosting is ready.

Chocolate cake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Preparation:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
• Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
• Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes.
• Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin).
• Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks.
• Cool completely.
• Frost with CHOCOLATE FROSTING (recipe given above).
• Serve with whipped cream ,wafers and vanilla ice cream.

Pitlai kuzhambu

Ingredients:

• Tamarind - lemon size
• Salt
• Coconut oil - 1 tsp
• Mustard -1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida - 2 pinches
• Curry leaves -3-4
• Brinjal(small) -2 , cut lengthwise
• Drumstick -2
• Toor dal - 25 gms

For frying:

• Coconut - 1/2 grated
• Cilantro leaves - 3 tsps
• Coriander seeds - 3 tsp
• Gram dal -1 tsp
• Fenugreek - 1/2 tsp
• Rice - 1/2 tsp
• Peppercorns -4-5
• Red chillies- 6-7

Preparation:

• Fry all the ingredients listed above.
• Grind it nicely.
• In a deep pan,add coconut oil,mustard seeds,curry leaves, asafoetida and season it.
• Then add brinjal to it and saute until tender.
• Now add tamarind juice to it .
• Then add the ground powder.
• Add salt,drumsticks to it and allow it to cook.
• In the meanwhile pressure cook toor dal and add to the pan and mix well.
• Allow the kulambu to become a little thick and turn of the heat.
• Serve hot with rice.