April Fools' Day Chicken Nuggets & French Fries#SundayFunday

When I made these nuggets and gave them to my hubby to enjoy he wouldn't touch them thinking that am really giving him chicken to eat. Then I told him this a April Fools Food Prank he looked at me quite believable wondering whether I am speaking the truth.
After eating one he looked at me stunned, since they looked exactly like Mac chicken nuggets. Do try this prank on your kid's or friends and see their reaction.

Ingredients 
For The Nuggets 
Vanilla Pound Cake - cut into squares 
8 - 10 Biscuits - coarsely powdered 
½ Cup Vanilla Icing - I used ½ Cup Icing Sugar + 1 -2 Teaspoons Milk 
For The French Fries  
Pound Cake Slices  
Crinkle Cutter

Method
Place the biscuits in a zip lock bag and crush them with a meat mallet to get coarse crumbs. Transfer crumbs to a bowl. Keep aside.
Get a store-bought vanilla pound cake or make your own ( I made eggless vanilla pound cake ) and ¼" thick squares or nugget shapes. Reserve some slices for fries later.
Make the icing adding a teaspoon of milk at a time to make a coating consistency icing. Dip the nuggets into vanilla icing evenly until all the cakes slices / nuggets are evenly covered. Place them on a wire rack to remove the excess icing. 
Carefully pick up one nuggets at a time and dredge in the crushed biscuit powder. Return to the wire cooling rack to harden. Serve with jam of your choice. Cut reserved slices with a crinkle cutter to make fries.
April Fool's Day Chicken Nuggets are ready!
Labels: April Fool's Day, Chicken, Nuggets, French Fries, Pound Cake, Icing Sugar, Sunday Funday
5 comments

Gavar Sabji#Alphabet Challenge

The Gavar or cluster beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) is an annual legume and the source of guar gum. It is also known as Gavar, Guwar or Guvar bean or in English Cluster Beans. Its kernel consists of a protein-rich germ and a relatively large endosperm, containing big amounts of the galactomannan.

 Ingredients
250 Grams Gavar/Cluster Beans
1 Onion - chopped finely
1 Tomato - chopped finely
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1/2 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
A pinch of Asafoetida
A pinch of turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Chilly powder
1/2 Teaspoon Magic masala
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
2 Tablespoons Oil
1 Tablespoon Coconut - grated
Salt to taste

Method
Wash and chop the vegetable in small pieces.  
In a pan heat oil, add the mustard and cumin seeds, when they crackle, add the asafoetida, onions, tomatoes and turmeric powder, saute this till the tomato is soft and forms a paste. Add the Gavar and saute for 2 -3 minutes, then add the chilly powder, magic masala and sugar, saute for few minutes. Add salt to taste, cover and cook till done. If necessary then add water. I cooked this sabji on steam. When done, garnish with grated coconut and serve hot with rotis, phukla or rice.  
Lables: Gavar, Main course, Vegetarian, Healthy, Vegan, Gluten free, Cluster Beans
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4 comments

Black Eyed Peas Curry /Safed Lobia ka Salan#SundayFunday

This is a delicious, vegan and gluten free curry, a main course dish , which can be enjoyed with steamed rice or rotis.

Ingredients
1½ Cups Black Eyed Beans /Safed Lobia
½ Cup Oil
1 Medium Onion - sliced
¾ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
2 Bay leaves
2 Teaspoons Ginger Garlic paste
2 Medium Tomatoes - chopped
1+ 2 Green chilies - chopped
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Red chili powder or to your spice level
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder 
2 Teaspoons Coriander powder 
To Be Added Last
1 Vegetable cube
½ Teaspoon Garam masala 
½ Teaspoon Coriander powder 
¼ Teaspoon Cumin powder 
For Garnishing
Fresh Coriander leaves - chopped

Method
Wash and soak the black eyed peas in water for at least 4 hours.
In a pressure cooker, heat oil and sliced onions, cumin seeds, bay leaves. Sauté until the onions start to turn light golden. Then add ginger and garlic paste and sauté until the raw smell vanishes. Add chopped tomatoes and one chopped green chilly cook until the tomatoes are soft & mushy and the oil separates from the gravy. 
Now add salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder, sauté for two minutes. Now wash the black eyed peas once again with fresh water and add to the gravy. Add 3 - 4 cups of water and pressure cook on high flame for one whistle then for 7 to 10 minutes on low flame. After that switch off the flame, let the pressure release and the cooker cool completely.
Open, remove the lid and cook for 5-8 minutes stirring occasionally until completely done and you have the gravy consistency you require. Now add vegetable cube, garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder and remaining two chopped green chilies. Mix and let is simmer for just two minutes, then turn off the flame. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander leaves.
Serve hot with rice. Enjoy!!
Labels: Black Eyed Peas, Curry, Main course, Indian, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free, Sunday Funday, Lentils, Pressure Cooker, One Pot Meal 
3 comments

Asparagus Pesto#SundayFunday

Green, hearty, healthy, Asparagus Pesto, this recipe is a winner. Spread it on pizzas or sandwiches, use it in pastas or salads. It’s amazing and delicious in every way.

Ingredients
200 Grams Asparagus -  cut into 1″ pieces
1 Bunch Fresh Basil Leaves
2 Tablespoons Pinenuts
1 Jalapeno Pepper
4 Cloves Garlic
½ Cup Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese

Method 
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Add the asparagus and cook until fully tender but not mushy, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well, reserving couple spoons of the cooking liquid, and let the asparagus cool slightly.
Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blitz together till it’s nearly smooth.
You can refrigerate it or freeze it for future use. 
Labels: Asparagus, Pesto Sauce, International Cuisine, Healthy, Sunday Funday, Keto
You can check the other Asparagus recipes 

5 comments

French Beans Fry - Andhra Style#Alphabet Challenge

This is a tasty, which is every easy and delicious to make, is a delicious Andhra Style french beans cooked in mildly spiced masala called Pappula Podi. Healthy, hearty and flavorful Andhra style beans fry goes well with rice and sambar or with rotis. You can add a bit of fresh coconut as a final garnish.

Ingredients
250 Grams French Beans
Salt To Taste
1 Tablespoon Oil
2 Tablespoons Pappula Podi Masala
1 Tablespoon Fresh Coconut - grated
For The Pappula Podi Masala
 2 Dry Red Chillies
¼ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1 Tablespoon Dry coconut - grated
1 Tablespoon Split Roasted Gram /Phutane/Chutney Channa
2 Cloves Garlic
A pinch of Salt
For The Tempering
½ Teaspoon Mustard seeds
A Sprig Curry Leaves
2 Dry Red Chilies - de-seed and cut into two
2 Cloves Garlic - crushed (I used garlic)
OR
¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida

Method
To Make Pappula Podi Masala
Dry roast dry red chilies and cumin seeds for a minute. Add grated dry coconut and roast for half a minute. 
Cool and grind to a fine powder along with garlic, split roasted gram (phutane/chutney channa) and salt. 
Wash, stringed and chop the French beans into small pieces. Then boil it with salt, turmeric and water enough to cook the beans till done, ( make sure that there is at-least 3 tablespoons stock in the beans). 
Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and let them splutter, add curry leaves, crushed garlic clove and dry chillies and sauté for few seconds. Add the french beans, salt, pappula podi masala and mix well, then add the stock and place lid let it simmer for about 3 minutes. Turn off heat, add fresh grated coconut. Serve with rice and any curry of your choice. We had with simple dal and steamed rice and enjoyed this spicy French Bean fry.
Labels: Alphabet Challenge, Vegetarian, Healthy, Andhra Pradesh, Indian, Sabzi, Side Dish
5 comments

Carrot Whole Wheat & Bajra Flour Flatbread#BreadBakers

This unique recipe combines the goodness of home stone ground bajra (pearl millet) and whole wheat flour with bran, carrots resulting in a flavorful and healthy high in fiber, antioxidants and B vitamins. This is a filling and and will keep full of energy to carry out your chores.

Ingredients 
1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
1 Tablespoon Kasuri Methi
½ Teaspoon Teaspoon Salt or to taste
¼ Teaspoon Ajwain Carom Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Amchur Powder
1 Tablespoon Grated Fresh Turmeric
1 Teaspoon Grated Ginger
2 Green Green Chillies - finely chopped
¼ Cup Chopped Coriander Leaves
½ Cup Heaped Grated Carrot
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
¾ Cup Whole Wheat Flour
¾ Cup Bajra Flour
Water as required

Method 
In large bowl mix all the given ingredients well. Then add water a little at a time to to make a soft dough. Cover the dough and let it rest for 20 minutes. 
After that divide the dough into equal size balls.
Dust the work surface with whole wheat flour and roll each ball into a round circle.
Heat a tawa or girdle on medium low flame 
and bake each flatbread turning the sides till brown spots appear on both sides.
Brush them with oil or desi ghee and likewise bake the rest of the flatbreads.
Enjoy with a yogurt & pickle!!
Labels: Carrot, Bajra, Whole Wheat Flour, Millets, Flatbreads, Healthy, Vegan, Bread Bakers 

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6 comments

Nasi Goreng- Vegetarian#EatTheWorld

This is a National dish of Indonesia. I have made a vegetarian version, Nasi Goreng can simply refer to fried pre-cooked rice or left over rice, a meal including stir-fried rice. This rice is a one pot meal, you do not require any accompaniment with this dish. 
Its a meal in itself. You can make it spicy according to your taste. There are many ingredients in this dish which you can substitute or even eliminate, it does not change the taste of the dish. Do not get discouraged to prepare this dish by looking at the long list of ingredients, let me assure you that this dish is easy and quick to make. So here is the recipe.

Ingredients
2 Cups Rice
1 Large Carrot - peeled & cut into matchsticks
12 French beans - chopped
½ head Cabbage - finely shredded
5 Shallots - chopped
2 Cloves Garlic - minced
1 Tablespoon Red Chilli Sauce
1 Stalk Celery - finely chopped
½ Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black or White Pepper
2 Tablespoon Sweet Dark Soy Sauce * See Notes
Salt To Taste
4 Tablespoon Groundnut Oil
For The Ground Paste
1 Large Ripe Tomato
1 Teaspoon Coriander seeds
4 Cloves Garlic
4 Large Fresh Red Chilies* See Notes (You can used 4 dry Kashmiri red chilies)
4 Almonds
For Garnish
1 Bunch Scallions/Spring Onion Greens - chopped
Chopped Coriander Leaves

Method
Soak the rice for 30 minutes then cook add few drops of peanut oil while cooking the rice, this will make the rice grainy and will not stick to each other. Do not cook the rice till it entirely soft strain it one stage before that. The rice once cooked should be grainy.

Grind the tomato, garlic , red chillies, almonds & coriander together to form a smooth paste and keep it aside.

In a large wok, heat the oil on medium flame add the chopped onions. Then add ground paste saute them till the sides starts leaving oil. Add in the carrots, beans and cabbage and saute them till the vegetables are tender. Add the cooked rice, salt, pepper, red chilli sauce and sweet soy sauce.
Mix well till combined. Garnish this chopped spring onion greens and coriander leaves.
My Notes
To make the Sweet Dark Soy Sauce I cooked it with 2 teaspoons palm jaggery.
Don' t have fresh red Chilies, you can used 4 dry Kashmiri red chilies. Soak them in warm water and then grind.
Labels: Rice, Asian Cuisine, Healthy, Vegan, Indonesia, Eat The World, Vegetarian, Sunday Funday, Main course

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3 comments

2 Ingredients Keto Irish Shrimps Pastry Turnovers#SundayFunday

These are super delicious and easy to make. No fat head dough and yet crisp.

Makes 5
Ingredients
2½ Tablespoons Hung Curd/Greek Yogurt
¼ Teaspoon Xanthan Gum
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
¾ Cup + 1 Tablespoon Almond Flour
For The Filling
200 Grams Cleaned Shrimps/Prawns
1 Tablespoon Salted Butter
⅓ Cup Irish whiskey - I used Bushmills
2 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
2 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Colored Bell Peppers
2 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Onion
Chopped Chives or Scallion Greens
Salt, Black pepper & Cayenne powder to taste
2 Tablespoons Heaped Grated cheese
Method
For The Filling
In a large metal saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter.
Add shrimp and season with salt, pepper, cayenne and paprika.
Toss in butter and cook. Should take around 3-4 minutes depending on the size of your seafood. Remove seafood from pan and reserve on a plate. Chop it in tiny pieces and keep aside.
In the same pan add the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, then add the colored bell peppers and sauté for a minute. Gently add whiskey to pan, bring this to a boil. Then switch on the flame add cream and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until it thickens and all the the mixture is dry. Add seafood back into saucepan and toss to coat. Top with a sprinkling of chopped chives or scallion greens. Keep aside to cool the filling is ready.
For The Dough
In a bowl add the hung curd, xanthan gum and salt, mix well. Keep adding the almond flour little at a time to make a nice dough ( the amount almond flour added to make a dough will depend on the how thick the hung curd is). When you get a nice soft dough. Cover with a cling wrap and let is rest for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper dusted with little almond flour to a medium thick circle. 
Cut small circles from the dough using a bowl or a cookie cutter. 
Place a tablespoon of the filling in one side of the circle. Lightly brush the edges with water and close the pastry to form a empanada. 
Trim the edges with a pizza cutter. Like wise make the rest, re rolling the left over dough.
Place all the turnovers/empanadas it in a lined baking tray with a silicon mat. As your can see the last one is made from a leftover dough and patched to make a turnover. This dough is so forgiving, you patch up any crack. Prick the top with a fork. Refrigerate it for 15 minutes.
In the meantime preheat the oven 180°C. Bake the turnovers/empanadas for 10 to 15 minutes or until the edges start to brown. 
Cool them on wire rack. 
Enjoy when warm!! 
Labels: Keto, Almond Flour, Yogurt, Irish, Sunday Funday, Breakfast, Snack, Alcohol, International Cuisine, Empanadas
3 comments