Veg. Tom Yum Soup

Ingredients
------------
Water - 2 cups
Tom Yum Paste - 2 tbspn
Mushroom - 1/2 cup
Salt - as reqd.
Very small(soup) tomatoes- 6 to 8
Basil Leaves, Scallion, Spring onion, fresh coriander - to garnish.

(Or)

Instead of Tom Yum Paste,
if you have fresh ingredients as follows, its very well n good:

Lemon Grass, soybean oil, Lime juice, Sugar, Dried red chilli, Garlic

Method
--------
Let the water to boil and then add the paste or the equivalent ingredients.
Then add the mushroom . let it cook for 3-5 mins.
Finally garnish and is now ready to serve! :)

Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients
------------
Canberry - 1 pack (12 Oz.)
Sugar - 1 and half cup
Naval orange - 1( juice concentrate)

Oh, yes it's been long since we bought Cranberries. Being the holiday season, we can find them very much everywhere.
My husband likes them in the shopping basket as berries being very good for health , whether we're gonna cook and eat them is the next question .
So finally today here we're with this recipe .

Method
--------
Let the above mixture to cook in medium heat for about 25-30 mins with continuous stirring so as not to stick and well mixed.
At the end , you can see a gelatinous jam like mixture formed- that's what is desired one.

This can be taken with Bread in the morning breakfast.

Beans Poriyal

Ingredients
------------
Beans - 1/2 cup
red chilly-3
coconut- few
mustard, cumin seeds
oil, salt

Method
---------
Cut the beans into small slices as shown in the image.
Saute the spices in oil with salt, red chilly and then cook the beans with it.
Finally mix the coconut with it and serve.

Carrot Payasam

Ingredients
-------------
Carrot -4 cut into small pieces
Sugar - 3/4 cups
Milk - 3/4 cup
cinnamon - 2
Ghee - 1/2 spoon
Cashew- 4
Water - 2 cups

Method
--------
Boil the carrot and let it cool for a while.
Then blend carrot.

Now let the cashew and cinnamon roast in ghee.
Add the blended carrot and saute. Now add sugar, milk and water and let them boil and get mixed well.

If you want it as a desert, let this cool and keep inside fridge- so that whenever you want you can have this delicious sweet. Enjoy!

Aloo and Aloo Gobi Masala

Ingredients:
------------
Cauliflower florets - few
potato (small) - 2 sliced length wise
mustard, ginger garlic paste, fennel seeds, cumin seeds - few
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tspn
coriander powder - 3/4 tspn
chilli powder - 3/4 tspn
Amchur powder - 1/2 tspn
Kasthoori methi leave - few
Salt -to taste
Oil - 2 tspn
Fresh Coriander- few

Method:
---------
Saute ginger garlic.Then add spices.
Meanwhile make a paste of all the powder with few drops of water so that all are well mixed.

Now add this mixture and then the florets and potato.Mix them well.
Keep it covered and cook for 15 mins with stirring every 5 mins.
Finally you get a very good taste.
Garnish with freshly chopped coriander.

Same way you can do with potato alone too.

Tomato Rice

Ingredients
-------------
Cooked rice - 1 cup
onion - 1 finely chopped
tomato - 3
mustard, hinge, channa dal, cumin seeds, turmeric powder- few
red chilly - 3
sambar powder - 1 teaspoon
Salt - to taste
Oil - 2 teaspoon

Method
--------
Saute the spices and chilly in oil.
Then add onion with salt till golden brown colour.
Now add tomato and fry till you get the paste like mixture.

Finally add sambar powder boil for few more mins so the sambar raw smell goes.
Mix the cooked rice well with this mixture and is now ready to serve.

Hakka Noodles

It's available in Patel Stores, Subzi Mandi etc.

Ingredients:
------------
Hakka Noodles - 1 packet (put 2 mins in boiling water and then drain and put few drops of oil so as not to let them stick with each other)
onion - 1 (cut little bigger like for chinese dishes)
Red pepper- 1/2 (cut like onion shape)
cauliflower - few florets
carrot - few
soy sauce - 4 tablespoons
vinegar - 1 spoon
chilli garlic sauce - 1/2 spoon
cabbage - few sliced
Salt - to taste
Oil - as required

Method:
--------
Saute the onion with salt ,red pepper and other vegetables in oil then add soy sauce, vinegar and boiled noodles and mix well.

Finally add chilli garlic sauce as required.

Broccoli masala

Ingredients
------------
Broccoli florets - 20 pieces
Red Pepper(Capsicum)-Few pieces
onion-1
tomato -1
mustard, cumin seeds, curry leaves, urad dal - few
sambar powder - 1 teaspoon
Salt - 1 teaspoon
Oil- 2 teaspoon
Red chilly - 2
water - 1/4 cup

Method
---------
Saute the spices with chilly in oil and then add broccoli with 1/4 cup water and let it cook till the masala is well mixed and it's kind of looks mashed and the water is completely dried out.

Now it's ready to serve.

Chayote Koottu(Chow chow koottu)

Ingredients
------------
Chayote - 1 cut into small pieces
channa dal- 1/4 cup Pressure cooked for 1 sound with
turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon
mustard, cumin seeds, curry leaves- few
Red Chilly - 2
Salt - to taste
Oil- 1 teaspoon
Garlic - 1(Optional)

Method
---------
Saute the spices along with chayote and then mix the pressure cooked dal .

Boil for sometime till it is well cooked.
That's it. It's ready to eat!

French Toast

Ingredients
------------
Eggs -2
Bread -4

Method
--------
Beat the egg well. Let the bread to dip well in it and then toast as usual or bake it in the convectional oven.
I kept in the oven first but it takes longer time so I went for the other.
You can have this with sugar or take it as sandwich as shown.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin (parankikkai) sambar

Ingredients:
------------
Pumpkin pieces - 8-10
Toor Dal - Pressure cooked for 2 sounds
Onion- 1 finely chopped
Tomato - 1 chopped fine
Tamarind water - 1/4 cup
mustard,cumin seeds, curry leaves, hinge - few
fenugreek - 3,4 counts (not more as it might taste bitter)
Red chilly - 2
Ghee - 1/2 spoon
Sambar Powder - 1 teaspoon
Salt - to taste
water - 1 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Fresh coriander - few

Method
--------
During Halloween times, you can find lotta pumpkins around in the markets.

Saute the spices, turmeric powder, chilly in oil then add onion, salt and let them fry till golden brown colour.
Now add the tomatoes and let it cook till the fine paste like mixture.

Now add the sambar powder, pumpkin, water, dal and let them boil till the vegetable is cooked.
When it's almost done, add the tamarind water - boil few more mins.
Finally garnish with fresh coriander and serve.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breakfast/Diner Sambar
--------------------------
Same as the Afternoon lunch sambar but instead of the Toor dal, take the moong dal,
along with vegetables(potato,brinjal-hubby fav,carrot, etc.)

kuzhipaniyaram

Ingredients:
------------
Dosa flour - 2 cups
mustard, cumin seeds, curry leaves - few
onion - 1 chopped fine
tomato - 1 cut to small pieces
green chillies - 2 finely chopped

Method:
---------
Saute the spices, onion, tomato in oil for sometime then mix it with the dosa batter.
This can only be made with the kuzhipaniyaram plate specially designed for this item's shape.
Now it's simple , ain't it?

Tomato chutney

Ingredients
------------
Onion - 2 cut any shape
Red Chilly - 3
Tomato - 3 chopped
mustard, urad dal, curry leaves, cumin seeds - Few
Oil- 1 teaspoon
Salt - to taste
(Dont waste time in cutting the onions as u'll be blending it finally.)


Method
---------
Saute the red chilly , onion with salt in oil till golden brown colour.
Now mix the tomatoes and let it cook well.

Then let the mixture cool for a while. Then blend the mixture well.
Now saute the spices in oil and mix it with the sauce mixture.
Chutney is ready!

Kushka(Mint rice)

Ingredients:
-------------
Basmati Rice- 1 cup soaked for an hour.
Fresh Mint- 1bunch chopped fine
Fresh Coriander- 1 bunch or little more than that chopped fine
cinnamon, bay leaf, clove, cashew - few
Oil - 2 teaspoons
Salt- to taste
(Please note that the Mint quantity should not be more than that of the coriander - else it'll taste different)

Method
---------
Very simple variety rice good for trips and for a relaxed day :)
Saute the spices and cashew in oil then add the chopped mint and coriander
Finally add the soaked rice alone and mix well and let it be for 1 or 2 mins.

Now turn the mixture into an electric rice cooker with 1 cup of water.
That's it! You're ready to have this dish.

Sno Peas Masala (Avarakkai masala)

Ingredients:
------------
Sno Peas- 2 cups
onion - 1/2 cup
tomato -1
mustard, cumin seeds, channa Dal, curry leaves - few
Red Chilly -3
Salt- 1 teaspoon
Frozen cocnut - few
Oil-2 teaspoons
masala powder-1/2 spoon

Method:
--------
Saute the mustard, cumin, channa dal, curry leaves, red chilly till golden brown colour.
Add finely chopped onion , salt and let it fry for sometime and then mix the chopped tomato and wait till u get that gravy kind of mix.

During these steps, only sprinkle water if needed- not any more.

Finally add sno peas and mix them with the gravy and wait till it gets cooked. When it's almost done, add the coconut , mix well and saute.
Now this tasty dish is ready to serve.Enjoy!

Gobi Manchurian (Hubby Spl.)

Ingredients
Cauliflower florets - from 1 small cauliflower
corn flour- 4 tblspoons
maida(wheat) flour - 6 tblspoons
pepper powder - 2 tblspoon
chilli powder-1teaspoon
onion-one finely chopped
curry leaves-few
soy sauce-2 tblspoon
vinegar-1 teaspoon
ginger, garlic-few diced
green chilly-2 to 3
spring onions-few pieces to garnish.
Salt-to taste.

Method
Let the cauliflower to merinate for 2 hours in the corn, wheat flour , pepper , chilly powder with little water that it's neither too watery nor too solid- so as to cover the florets for merination.

Meanwhile, prepare the gravy separately as : Saute ginger garlic , chilly in oil for five minutes-
followed by curry leaves, onion, vinegar and soy sauce and keep it aside.

After 2 hours, fry the florets in oil.
drain the oil and mix it with the gravy and garnish with spring onions and serve.
My husband did this. Yes, it's his special item (that day only)- hurray!

Chinese style chicken tikka

Ingredients

Chicken - 1/2 kilo cut into small pieces as in picture above.

soy sauce- 3 to 4 tblspoons

vinegar - 1 teaspoon

onion-half to garnish

ginger, garlic -(small) finely cut

green chilly- 2(choppe)

Oil to saute.

salt-1teaspoon

Method

Let the ginger , garlic, chilly to saute for 5 mins in oil kept in sim.

then put the chicken - let it cook till it's water comes(oozes) out.

Then add salt, vinegar and soy sauce.

Cook chicken with the soy sauce mixed well till the sauce dries .

Now it's ready to serve with garnished onion.

Enjoy this simple and tasty dish @ home !

Bhel Poori(Puri)

Ingredients
Pori(Puffed Rice) - 2 cups
Pani puri -3 to 4
onion (small) - half (nicely chopped)
tomato - 1 (diced)
cucumber - few pieces
mango - few pieces
Lemon - half
oil-to mix
turmeric powder- sprinkle once
Channa(Sundal- Soaked previous night and pressure cooked with salt till it's nicely smashed )
mint-coriander chutney
red chilly chutney

Method
Mix the above ingredients well and finally serve it with the leftover water from the pressure cooked sundal so it would taste even better and which is healthy too.

Beetroot Rice

Ingredients

Basmati Rice - 1 cup

Beet root (small shredded or crated) - 3

mustard,cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon

channa dal - 1 tablespoon

red chilly-2

cashew-few

salt-1 teaspoon

Oil- 2 tblspoon

Method

Soak rice in 1 and half cup water.

Meanwhile, saute mustard, cumin, chilly, cashew and channa in oil till they splatter.

Then add the crated basmati and let it cook for 2 to 3 mins.

Finally add these along with soaked rice+it's water along with water in rice cooker.

Once it's cooked, now it's ready to serve!

Masala Podi for lunch side dishes(poriyals).

To make the Masala Powder

Take 3 Tbspns. Channa Dhal; 2 Tbspns Urud dhal; 2 tbspns. Tur Dhal; 2 Tbspns. Corriander Seeds; 8-10 Dry Red Chillies; A pc. Of Asafetida; Salt to taste; Oil – 2 tspns.

Put the coriander seeds & chillies in a wok with 1 tspn. Oil & fry till coriander seeds are brown in colour, remove & leave to cool, now put the dhals & asafetida into the wok with the other tspns of oil & fry till the dhal’s are golden brown in colour – remove & leave to cook – now mix the dhals with the coriander seeds & chillies add salt to taste & dry grind on the mixie to a fine rava texture – leave the powder to cool – bottle & keep – use whenever needed.

Guest Special Items

pasiparuppu thengai boli,exhibition style applam with beetroot juice colour, Beetroot Jam,Wheat chocolate cake(vennila veedu recipe),Health mix-wheat flour (instant dosa)pancake,chayote(chow chow) mor kuzhambu,neer(banana jaggery) dosa-no fermentation, vazhaipoo mixed millets adai dosa,poosani kesari, surakkai payasam(kheer),javvarisi stir-fry snack, diwali legiyam,Sprouted ragi kambi murukku,instant pot kesari,microwave/instant pot mysore pak, Thattadai, sweet potato fries,Cashew dates(katli) energy bars,Broccoli cheddar patties,Cauliflower crust/potato pizza,banana-unsweetened cocoa brownie ,blueberry-oats-greek yogurt muffins, zucchini-apple-oats-whole wheat flour-greek yogurt muffins,Raw cake with berries recipe - http://www.michaels.com/pemberley-10-piece-rose-charms-by-bead-landing/10407908.html#pmpt=qualifying&sz=72&start=417, peanut butter cookie http://www.sandyathome.com/2016/08/03/peanut-butter-cookies-recipe/ ,Baingan barta,lentil dhokla,ulundu kanji -http://www.vikatan.com/news/health/71671-remedy-for-period-tiredness---recipe-for-ulundu-kanji.art,cheesy asparagus, healthy 5 ingredient granola bars,tomatocapsicum rice,neer moru,Watermelon jello on its skin,fresh mango pickles,Oats samosa,veg cutlets w/ egg and bread crumbs,brinjal tawa roas,yam crispies,tava roast cqpsicum,grilledbaby potatoes(200deg preheat for 15 mins),Fruit canapes pastry,quinoa moong baked,spicy and crunchy kale chips -preheat to 350 for 10 to 15 minsEggplant grill,oven baked eggplant,baked sweet potato fries,Beeroot cutlet(shallow fry),vegetablecutlets(pqn fried) ,cocktail colorful idlis( red-tomato chutney, green - coriander/mint chutney,white - coconut chutney),curd dip starter( raita with carrots,celery,bell pepper,tortilla),Palak pakoda using besan and deep fry method,Butternut squash fries,Cauliflower pakoda,raw mango pickle,Kothu parotta,Pav bhaji,quinoa chicken casserole, quinoa energy bars, quinoa egg fried rrice,veggie kuzhipaniyaram,quinoa moong dal soup,Rawa dosa,quinoa ragi oats idly, chicken/cheese quesadilla,black bean enchiladas,yogurt dumplings,Khandvi/dhokla,handvo,coleslaw,tikki chaat msala using dry peas,puttu,appam,banana walnut chocolate chip muffins,Homemade lemon cookies,mango milkshake,thirattupaal(pal kova)-pillaiyar nonbu special,banana muffins,Ricotta cheese rasamalai,Homemade mango pulp ice cream,Carrot Payasam, Kesari, rawa laddoo(http://www.cookingandme.com/2012/11/rava-ladoo-rava-laddu-recipe-diwali-sweets.html),Gulab Jamun, plantains vada, ulunda vadai, banana cake, Dollar ready made cake , Pani puri.

Fruits- Grapes, Apple, Kiwi, oranges, banana.

pav bhaji, aloo palak, Avocado chutney, paruppu thuvaiyal,tomatillo pappu(dal), spicy baby potatoes, ennai kathirikkai kuzhambu (or) brinjal thick curry,kerala pepper chicken fry, paruppu urundai kuzhambu, brinjal puzhi kuzhambu, lima beans curry,baby potato curry, gobi manchurian,baked potato chips,paneer tikka,glycose masala,tomato pachadi, Egg fried rice ,meal maker (soy chunks) kuzhambu(like chicken kuzhambu amma's secret recipe) Palak Paneer(Tofu),Pudina Rice(Kushka), chicken biryani, Veg. Pulao, Pappad, Chips, Egg poriyal, vengayakoesred chilly chutney, coconut chutney, brinjal-potato-carrot-beans moongdal sambar, Tomato chutney, cucumber masala, cucumber raita, bread, jam, hazelnut cream, sliced cheese, tofu specials, mushroom chinese style, raddish paruppu usili, croissants, semiya(sevai)-idiyappam, brinjal sambhar,coconut chutney, tindora fry, rasam, masoor dal, puri, kizhangu, gothumai dosa, upma,sambar rice, curd rice, mushroom pulao,Veg. masala,Tom Yum soup,hakka noodles with broccoli-mushroom-carrot-cabbage-, Idly ,dosa, half-cooked vada (prepared prior for time saving), kuzhi paniyaram,half-cooked chappathi,prawn curry+ fish roastEgg boiled + pepper pirattal, poha(aval) upma

pasta ingredients: red onion + peppers, garlic asparagus + lemon ,walnuts + sun-dried tomatoes + spaghetti, Veg. fried rice, amma special soups(vth 1nhalfspn toordal,urad dal, fennel, pepper, gr.chilly), pongal-sambhar, sprouted green gram stir fry.

Desert:cone icecream.

Biscuits.

, to try: blueberry Greek yogurt cake,apple swan style roti-dal,rice-spinach,surakkai koottu,pappad, channa curry, cucumber raita, white/black kidney beans salad, prasad/desert,fruits roti-potato peas masala, idly-coconut chutney,coconut rice,yogurt rice,pappad,laddoo,carrot halwa,almond burfi,channa-oma podi chaat,beans carrot poriyal, beans-chayote sambhar,apple-grapes in banana milk in 11 compartment plates and bowls

Home-made pizza

Pizza base(small)
Mexican Four-blend cheese or mozarella cheese
Tomato puree or sliced tomatoes-6pcs
onion sliced - 6 pcs or as required
Mushroom sliced - 6 to 8 pcs
Olive Oil - 1spoon


Method

Take the pizza base in a conventional oven tray with a cooking sheet in it.
Then apply oil over the base. Spread the puree, then cheese, followed by the toppings as wanted(Here , onion and mushroom).
Keep it in Conventional Oven for 425degree from 7 to 10 mins. or more as per the base cooking consistency.

If u want roasted like a biscuit, keep for the max. 10 mins.

Enjoy! This serves 2 persons.
Hereafter , there's no need to wait till friday for Pizza. Make it when you wish and party!!

Semiya(using rice sticks)

Rice stick - 1 packet
mustard, oil, channa dal - 2 spoon,
peas - 2 spoon , coriander, curry leaves,
red chillies-2
Ginger-small
onion-1(Medium)
salt- 1 and a half spoon

Method

First let the rice stick boil in water with salt, peas for around 9 minutes till it becomes soft.
Then using a drainer, keep the rice stick separate.
Or you can also cook the peas separately.

Put oil, ginger,curry leaves, mustard, channa dal, red chilly, in a frying pan till the dal is little roasted.
then let the onion also fry for sometime.
Finally mix the drained rice stick and peas.

Finally garnish with coriander leaves.
This serves two persons.
Don't forget to post your comments!!

Upma (Uppuma)

Upma

Sooji Coarse - 1 and a half cup.
vegetables (1 carrot, some peas, few cabbage).
Mustard, Channa dal , oil as required.
2 to 3 Green chillies- chopped.
Turmeric powder(optional).
Water, salt - 1 and a half spoon.
Onion - 1(Medium).
Fresh coriander .

First slightly roast the sooji (coarse) wheatlets in a dry pan .

Now let the mustard crackle in the oil, then put channa dal till it's lightly roasted, then mix green chillies, turmeric powder. Let the onion also roast for sometime with salt till the water oozes out.

Mix 4 and a half cups of water and let the vegetables cook in it .Finally add the roasted wheatlets and let them cook with continuous mixing till the water gets absorbed or the wheatlets are cooked and not burnt.

Finally garnish with coriander if you like. This serves two persons.

Radish Dal(Mullangi paruppu usili) - Amma recipe

Ingredients
Mullangi - 10 -12 (small , round pieces) - cut small lengthwise pieces easy, faster to cook.
mustard, cumin seeds - few
red chilly -3
garlic -1 (Diced)
oil, salt
Toor Dal - 1/4 cup

Soak Toor Dal for 2 hours before preparation. Then grind it without much water.
Keep them as very tiny balls in a microwavable bowl such that each ball is not sticky with the other for about 2 minutes.
then let it cool and then again grind it(without water), so that they are loose particles.
Heat oil in a pan, let the mustard, cumin crackle in it, then garlic for few minutes till it becomes brown.
Put the chilly, radish, salt. let them fry for sometime till the radish oozes out its water.
Finally mix the dal and let it cook together for a minute or so and then Serve.

Sizzling drumstick chicken

Ingredients
Drumstick chicken - 4
Ginger Garlic paste - one tablespoon
soy sauce - 2 spoons
yoghurt - 1 spoon
salt - less (as the soy sauce itself got some salt in it)
Green Chilly - 4 (chopped)
Chilly Powder
onion-1/4
Oil.

Heat oil in a pan. Let the green chillies, ginger garlic paste fry for 5 mins till the raw smell goes.
put soy sauce, chilly powder, yoghurt, onion, salt.
Finally put the drumstick chicken. Cover it with the gravy and let it cook till it softens(tender).

Enjoy your simple and tasty drumstick chicken!

Chettinadu Chicken Milagu Pirattal

Chicken Thighs - Half Kg.
cinnamon, clove, bay leaf, cardomom (garam masala)
Onion - 2 (Medium size)
tomato - 2 (small size)
coriander powder - 1 tablespoon
turmeric powder - quarter teaspoon
chilli powder - half tablespoon
ginger garlic paste - 1 spoon
Mustard, cumin seeds,
Fresh coriander (to garnish)
Black Pepper - 5 to 6
Oil
Salt - 1 and a half tablespoon


First , in the oil, put the garam masala items and then mustard.
Once it crackles, put cumin seeds, ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder and let the raw smell of this paste go.
Then finely chopped onions and salt.
After 2 to 3 mins , put the finely diced tomatoes, coriander and chilli powders.

Clean the chicken and add them.
Add the masala as a layer all over the chicken pieces and let it cook for about 15 mins under a lid.
Later, when you open - you can see water automatically oozed out from the chicken.

Then grind some black pepper and fresh coriander leaves to garnish.
This serves two people.
Enjoy the dish!
Don't forget to leave your comments.

Carrot cake recipe -no eggs (My friend Fareekah's)

Ingredients
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup orange juice
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg or mace
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup plus two tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 cup vanilla soymilk
2 tablespoons orange juice (reserved for soaking raisins)
1 1/2 teaspoons orange extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups shredded carrots, packed

Garnish: 1/2 cups chopped nuts, unsweetened coconut, 8-10 whole nuts

Needed: two 8-inch cake pans oiled and bottoms lined with parchment paper
one recipe of "buttercream" icing
wire racks for cooling

Preheat oven to 350.

Put raisins into a small bowl, cover with orange juice and set aside to plump for 5 to 10 minutes. Drain the raisins, reserving the juice.

Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl: flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Stir with a wire whisk to mix.

In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients- oil, maple syrup, soymilk, orange juice and extracts - with a wire whisk until foamy.

Pour the wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until batter is smooth. Stir grated carrots and drained raisins into the batter with a rubber spatula. Spread into the prepared cake pans dividing evenly and smooth the tops. Bake cakes on center rack of preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until cakes are golden brown and spring back at their center when touched lightly. A cake tester inserted in the center of cake, removes clean.

Place cake pans on wire racks to cool 10 minutes, then us a dinner knife to release cake from side of pan. Turn layers out of pans onto wire racks; cool completely. Wrap each layer tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate before assembling the cake.

Vegan Fluffy Buttercream Frosting (This is from Vegan Cupcakes Take over the World; I prefer this to the icing recommended in the cookbook with the carrot cake.)

Ingredients
1/2 cup nonhydrogenated shortening
1/2 cup nonhydrogenated margarine (Earth Balance brand is recommended.)
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted if clumpy
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup plain soy milk or soy cream

Beat the shortening and margarine together until well combined and fluffy (use an electric mixer). Add the sugar and beat about 3 more minutes. Add the vanilla and soy milk; beat for another 5 to 7 minutes until fluffy.

Dosa(i) flour

Idly Rice - 3 cups
Urad Dal - 1 cup

Wash and Soak both of the above separately for around 4 to 6 hours.

Then grind both of them separately nicely with some (lesser) water. Finally mix them both together very well along with 1 and a half tblspn salt.

Keep the flour overnight, outside (fridge) for fermentation.

In the morning you can see the flour become fluffy.

Then keep the flour inside fridge and u can make dosa as you wish.
Just before u make dosa, if u feel the flour is solid, add little water and you can go ahead.
Enjoy!

Chicken Biriyani (Amma special)

Chicken thigh- 1/4 kilo

Rice - 1 cup

Saute oil, cinnamon, clove-2 , onion-1 1/2, salt- 1 1/2 spoon
then chicken for 5 mins in med. flame
(so that the moisture from chicken is oozed out)

Grind 3 green chillies, few cashew,
few fennel seeds (soambu),
ginger garlic,
garam masala - 1 spoon,
onion - 1/2 ,
Mallipodi - 1/2 teaspoon

Add this mixture and 21/2 cups water to a pressure cooker along with 1 spoon coconut milk and keep for 1 sound and 5 mins. sim.

Then take out all the chickens and keep the rice in the same liquid for 1 sound.

Then Serve hot this mouthwatering, delicious
Chicken Briyani with raita.
This serves 2 persons.