Chick peas recipe (healthy snack)

Ingredients:
Chick peas - 1 1/2 cups
Coconut powder - 1/4 cup
Dried mango powder - 2 tbsp
Roasted gram - 2 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Salt - As reqd
Coriander leaves for garnishing

For seasoning:
Oil
Mustard seeds
Black gram
Cumin seeds
Asafoetida

Preparation Method:
1)Soak the chick peas in water overnight.
2)Boil them with the required amount of salt. Drain the water and keep them aside.
3)Grind the coconut powder, roasted gram, dried mango powder, red chilli powder together with a pinch of salt and some water.
4)Heat small amount of oil in the pan.
5)Splutter the seasoning ingredients.
6)Add the chick peas and stir well.
7)Add the ground paste to it and cook for 5 mins.
8)Garnish with coriander leaves.

Spicy chutney (substitute for pickles, humous...)

Ingredients:
Tomato - 2 nos
Garlic pods - 5 nos
Red chillies - 4 nos
Coriander leaves (chopped) - 1/4 cup
Green gram - 1 tbsp
Red lentils - 1 tbsp
Salt - As reqd
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Black gram for seasoning
Oil - As reqd for seasoning

Preparation Method:
1)Saute the red lentils, green gram, coriander seeds, red chillies and cumin seeds.
2)Grind them with the other ingredients.
3)Heat small amount of oil in the pan.
4)Splutter mustard seeds and black gram.
5)Add the ground paste to it and cook for 5 - 10 mins.
Serve with Idli, Dosa, Bread, Tortilla, Chappathi,...

Spicy Vegetable Biryani (Authentic & best ever)

Ingredients:
Basmati rice - 2 1/2 cups
Onion - 2 nos
Garlic pods - 10 nos
Ginger - 1" piece
Oil - 2 tbsp
Ghee or Butter - A scoop of tbsp
Chopped tomatoes - 1/2 of the tin
Green chillies(small) - 2 nos
Bell peppers - 1 - 2 nos
Mushrooms and Vegetables - As your wish*
Lime or lemon juice - 2 tsp
Yoghurt - 2 tbsp
Spices(Any kind would be nice - Ground or fresh
Cloves
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Garam masala - 1 spoon
Biryani masala - 1 spoon
Royal curry powder or chilly powder - As reqd
Turmeric powder - 1/4 of a small spoon
Salt - As reqd
Coriander leaves

*Can use potatos, green peas, carrots, beans, cauliflower... Mixed vegetables would be great & easy. Otherwise we can also use fresh ones depending on the availability. To be frank, I use to add whatever I catches to my hand when I open the refrigerator. But do not use cabbage or green leaves.

Preparation Method:
1)Grind garlic, ginger, one-fourth of the onion & green chillies together with a little amount of water & keep aside.
2)Wash the rice & soak it in the water & keep aside.
3)Heat oil & ghee/butter in a pan.
4)Add the remaining onion & fry them until it turns to golden brown.
5)Add the spices to them & saute for 2 mins.
6)Add the ground paste & fry for 5 mins.
7)Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, salt, garam masala, biriyani masala, royal curry/chilly powder to it & cook for 5 mins on low flame.
8)Add all the vegetables, bell peppers, mushrooms & close the lid & cook for 5 - 10 mins.
9)Drain the water from the rice & add to them & stir for 2 - 3 mins.
10)Add lime juice & yoghurt to it & stir well.
11)Add 5 cups (same 1:2 ratio of rice & water) of water to it & close the lid.
12)Cook until the rice is done in the stove or in the oven.
13)Finally, add the coriander leaves for better flavour.

Suggestions for better taste:
1)Oven cooking tastes better.
2)Serve with mint or onion flavoured yoghurt.
3)It is not necessary to use all the spices & masala powders. We can use what we have. But for perfect Indian taste, the specified things would be better. Garlic-ginger-chillies-onion paste is the magic & we can very well feel that, when we add them.

NO NO's in the kitchen

Washing pots & pans... NO NO...
Chopping onions... NO NO NO NO...
Refilling sugar... NO NO...

What are all your NO NO's in the kitchen guys???

Do's & don'ts when a guest arrives

The topic may be silly... But, there are quite a few rules that you should follow to entertain your guest.

• A pleasant smell at your house entrance will do all the magic. But, try not to make them faint.
• Come out with your own drinks menu rather than asking them what they want.Don't offer them loads to drink, if your toilet is not clean (of course... to avoid embarrassment).
• Switch-off the TV, unless you have other chores to be done. In that case, let them own your remote control & feel comfortable.
• Two-way communication makes everyone happier.
• Nasty or sweet whatever.. do something (food, for example) they can remember for the rest of their life.
• Walk them to their car at the end..

do share what you came across like this...