Ambada Gosht / Gongura mamsam - Lamb in Sour Leaves

Ambada/Gongura are sour leaves which are available specially in South India. If you are lucky then you can get it in Indian/Srilankan grocery store as they will be sold as hotcakes. I was happy to get those leaves and first thing came to my mind was to make this wonderful combination with lamb....yummmm. This dish comes from Andhra Pradesh usually served at marriages or for family gatherings.
This recipe is very easy and simple to make and you just need to throw in the ingredients into the pressure cooker and cook it. This is tangy curry and its mouthwatering too and is usually served with Bagara Rice, Roti or simple plain white rice with Ghee. 

Level: Easy 

Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

Lamb: 300 gm
Gongura/Ambada : 1 bunch
Onion : 1 large
Turmeric: 1/2 teaspoon
Red Chilli Powder : 1 teaspoon (To taste)
Coriander powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Garam Masala : 1/2 teaspoon
Ginger Garlic Paste: 1 1/2 tablespoon
Oil: 2 tablespoons
Salt to taste


Directions










In a pressure cooker add oil,chopped onion, lamb, ginger garlic, turmeric powder, chilli powder, salt and half cup of water. Stir and close the lid and listen 3-4 whistles or until the lamb is cooked.
Separate the leaves and from steam and chop it, if they are big. Once the lamb is cooked then add leaves, garam masala powder, coriander powder, cover  and cook for 5 mins.
Test and adjust the seasoning and uncover and cook until the desired consistency. 

Wanna try....let set go....

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Fruity Oats with Greek Yogurt

After knowing the health benefits of oats, i made sure that i should include it at breakfast at least twice a week.This is one of my favourite breakfast which is healthy to eat and easy to make. This can be a grab and go snack or breakfast for those busy days.

Over few decades oats have become one of the healthier alternative food. This is mainly eaten as porridge, or as an ingredient for breakfast cereals and can be used in baking cookies/bread/cakes and many more. 

If you are on diet plan and want to reduce weight the healthier way then this would be one of the breakfast to opt in, as Oats releases energy slowly and keep hunger at bay for a long time.
Oats are loaded with dietary fiber and have a range of healthy cholesterol lowering properties.
Oats rich foods experience much lower rise in blood sugar levels when compared to the rice or bread.Starting a day with a blood sugar stabilizing food like Oats will make it easier to keep blood sugar levels under control for rest of the day.


Level: Easy

Prep time: 5 mins
Serves: 1

Ingredients

Rolled oats  - 1/2 cup

Greek Yogurt - 1/2 cup
Sugar/Honey - to taste (optional)
Water/Orange Juice -  1/4 cup 
Lots of Fruits and dry fruits

Directions

• Mix oats, yogurt and water in a serving bowl and top it up with lots fruit fruits and dry fruits of your choice.

Tips

• You can mix all the ingredients except fruits and keep it in fridge overnight, next day you have readymade breakfast.

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Potato Curry(Aloo ki Sabzi) - MIL Style

New relations you are bond with, new things you will learn... Same thing happened....Cooking was not new to me while i was getting married but every home has its own taste and ways to do. At my moms place we very often cook potatoes with various combinations like Aloo palak, Aloo Methi, Aloo Khurma and many more...but this twisted  process of simple combination of onions and potatoes with some spices was not in my moms recipe list. So you might think what's the twist which makes it different....we first fry the potatoes and then add onions to the fry. 
If  you have any such recipes which might be new to you with your new relationship then comment down below .... I love to know your experiment with it. With no further delay come lets check out the way my MIL does this simple curry....

Level: Easy 

Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

Potatoes : 450 gm
Onion : 1 large
Turmeric: 1/2 teaspoon
Red Chilli Powder : 1 teaspoon (To taste)
Coriander powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Garam Masala : 1/2 teaspoon
Garlic Cloves: 2-4
Oil: 3 tablespoons
Salt to taste

Tadka:
Mustard seeds: 1 teaspoon
Cumin Seeds: 1 teaspoon
Curry Leaves: 10 leaves

Directions

In a non stick pan add oil and add mustard seeds...once mustard seeds crackles add cumin seeds and curry leaves.
Add chopped garlic cloves, potatoes, salt and turmeric powder. 
Fry on medium high flame and fry till potatoes are half cooked. Add chopped onions stir once and cover the lid and let it cook for 5-8 mins on medium heat.
Add chilli powder,garam masala and coriander powder and stir and cook for another 5 mins without lid. Do the taste test and adjust your seasonings and you are done. 

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with hot phulkas or roti or rice or Dosa.

Wanna try....let set go....

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Yogurt Chocolate Chip Muffins

Looking for a soft spongy muffins with chocolate chips in it, then this would be one good option. Its an easy peasy recipe and best when you want to cook along with your kids. Me and my little helper (5yr old) made these beauties for evening snack. Its always a fun to have a helper who does all measuring and mixing job. Check out other cooking with kids recipes here.
Muffins are similar to cupcakes but the process of how we mix the batter is different. I always find muffins are easier to make as it is mixing up the ingredients with no fancy equipment.....

Level: Easy

Total time: 30-45 mins
Makes: 12
1 cup = 240 ml

Ingredients

*Self Raising flour: 2 cups 
Eggs: 2 medium
*Vanilla Yogurt: 1 cup
Sugar: 3/4 cup
Chocolate Chips: 3/4 cup
Oil: 1/2 cup

*1 Cup Self Raising Flour = 1 Cup plain flour + 2 teaspoons of baking powder
* 1 Cup Vanilla yogurt = 1 cup plain yogurt + 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence

Directions

In a bowl place eggs,sugar,oil,yogurt and whisk it until well combined.

Take 1 tablespoon of flour and chocolate chips and shake it till chips are coated with flour(this is make sure that chips don't sink to bottom of the muffin).
Add flour to yogurt mixture, whisk till combined and then add chocolate chips along with flour to the batter. Whisk till combined ( make sure not to over mix).

Place the muffin liners in the muffin tin and fill the muffin liner 2/3 way with the batter. Bake at  375°F for 18-20 mins until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Muffins are best the day when are made.....

Wanna try....let set go....

Random yummies

Paneer Butter Masala

Kaddu Ki Puri

yogurt chocolate chip muffins

Ambada Gosht / Gongura Mamasam

Caramel Custard

Basbousa - semolina cake

Russian Salad

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Eggless Vanilla Cake

This recipe is dedicated to all my vegetarian friends who don't use eggs in their cooking. This cake can be made easily out of  ingredients from your pantry. Its no hard job, no fancy equipment involved, just mixing with a whisk or spoon.
I made this cake for my little princess who turned one few days back. she love ducks and so this cake came up. Little princess said quack quack when she first saw the cake and as a mom i was happy with the outcome. The cake was decorated with no fancy nozzles but simple used ziplock bag to do the grass and used chocolate fingers and chocolate chips for decoration.

Level: Easy

Total time: 30-45 mins
Makes: one 7 or 8 inch round cake
1 cup = 240 ml

Ingredients

Plain Flour: 1 cup
Corn Flour: 1/4 cup
Baking Powder:
Baking soda:
Condensed Milk: 200gm( 1/2 tin)
Butter (melted): 1/4 cup
Hot water/plain soda: 100 ml
Vanilla essence: 1 teaspoon
Salt a pinch

Directions

Prepare your Pans: Butter the pans and place the parchment paper and again butter the paper. If you don't have parchment then butter the pan and dust some flour on it.

Dry ingredients:
Sift flours, baking powder,baking soda and salt in a bowl.

Wet ingredients:
In a bowl mix in condensed milk, melted butter, vanilla and hot water until well combined.

Now gently fold in dry ingredients to the wet. The batter should be thick pouring consistency(add little more water if required). 
Pour in the batter into two 7 or 8 inch round pan and bake it in middle rack in preheated conventional oven at 180°C for 20-30 mins or until a tooth pick inserted should come out clean .
Cool the cake and sandwich with your favorite frosting.

Tips

• If you have cake flour use instead of plain flour and corn flour that is 1 1/4 cup.

Quack Quack ....Wanna try....let set go....

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