A Foodie Blogger Meet ~ Jab we met again!

A foodie blogger met ought to be about food right! Well it was and it wasn't too. This time it turned out to be a real mega show with about 14 of city's foodies met to get to know 3 of Singapore bloggers. The last time we met over a blogger's place, we cooked for ourselves. This time we thought we would meet at a restaurant going over the numbers.

Since last time, the number of food bloggers from Madras has increased. And I realized I didn't know some more of them. Felt awful knowing it later. But anyway there is always next time.

It was great finally meeting Azeema, Divya Kudua, Divya Mubarak, Jeyashri Suresh, Kamini, Lavanya, Premalatha, Priyadarsini, Raji, Sanjeeta, Kamakshi, shanthi, Srividhya & Veena

Home made goodies given by the bloggers to everybody! Will update with links soon!

Hoping to make this a grander event next time!

Microwave Eggless Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips | How to bake Muffins in 2 mins | Step By Step Recipe

After 2 months I finally get my muffin trays out to bake these little goodies. Highlights of my trip to SFO were getting these muffin trays and liners. And almost everyday I used to think when I will finally make the muffins as I so longed. I finally got my mojo working! 

If I have ever created a recipe on the fly this must be it. With tomorrow being a holiday for kids, I knew I need not hurry up with the usual things. I left them to play and with the 15 minutes I had on hand, I decided I was going to bake. With an occasion coming round the corner I had to decided what to make. I will get around talking about it. But for now I haven't decided if I am going to bake these or do something else.

I was happy I hadn't got the kids attention but it was it was short lived. Soon all of them crowded me and pestering me what I was making. When I said it was going to be a Muffin, that got their attention and wouldn't budge away. I finally had to shoo away on some pretext.

These Eggless Muffins tasted divine.

I had got all the ingredients hoping to bake my Eggless Blackforest Cake. My colleague wanted to bake an eggless version and when I suggested one can bake in a microwave, more over using a cola, she wouldn't believe. She finally made it and immensely enjoyed it. Hearing her feedback, I was again tempted to bake the Blackforest cake. But somehow I knew I was going to end up making a Muffin.

I didn't have a cola on hand, so the next best thing would be a Banana. Unfortunately even that wasn't to be seen. Finally got one Morris Banana from Amma and set on to bake these. It hardly took 5 - 6 mins for the whole process to get done. Next 5 minutes the Muffins were baked and ready.

I wanted to retain the banana taste, hence didn't add cocoa, which I might have been otherwise so tempted to add. I didn't have the energy to make any frosting and moreover the batch got over.

Aren't they cute?

These are the things I used, 1 morris banana, chocolate chips, Condensed Milk, flour,

Chop the banana and puree

Add about 1/2 cup of milk to the banana and pulse again.

For 1 cup of all purpose flour, I took about 1/4 tsp Baking soda, a pinch of cooking soda

Melted 50 gms of butter and added abt 150 gms of condensed milk (could be little more also)

Mix both the butter and condensed milk together.

 Then add the flour to the liquid.

Now goes the banana puree, see that black colour? It goes off once you mix it well.

Finally add the chocolate chips.

 These are the mini muffin liners I got

 Place the liners on the muffin tray,

Pour about a spoon of the batter into the cups.

Micro for 2 minutes.

This is after the first minute is over.

This is after 2 minutes is over.

This was the second batch.

Delicious Eggless Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips ready within 2 mins!

Microwave Banana Muffins

Cooking Mode: Microwave Mode
Preparation Time: 5 mins
Cooking Time: 2 minutes

Ingredients Needed:

All purpose flour/ Maida - 1 cup
Morris Banana - 1
Butter - 50 gms
Condensed Milk - 150 gms (little less than half tin)
Baking Soda - 1/4 tsp
Cooking Soda a pinch
Milk - 1/2 cup
Chocolate Chips handful

Method to prepare:

Mix the flour with baking soda and cooking soda, keep it aside.

Melt the butter over low flame, bring down and add the condensed milk and mix well.

Puree the banana and pulse again with milk.

Add the flour to the butter mix, combine everything well. Finally add the banana puree and combine well.

Finally add the chocolate chips and mix well.

Place the muffin liners over the muffin tray. Pour 1 tsp of batter into the cups.

Microwave for 2 minutes. Allow it to rest for couple seconds.

It easily comes out and tasted great! Those chocolate chips were melted and taste heavenly!

Konda loved it and wanted it to be made again. Well I will surely make it as I will get to eat it being eggless!

I am happy that I am finally posting a Muffin recipe as this has been a long standing reader's request.

Happy Weekend!

Arusuvai Friendship Chain ~ The Second Season on!

When Bharathy wrote to me saying Arusuvai Friendship Chain will start again, I was excited. Arusuvai Friendship Chain created an uproar when it was active. It opened up new friendship for all of us. In the days when all you had was just the blog to read, to know the author, this virtual friendship bonded us much better. This made the blogger closer to our families.

Not only that, getting a surprise gift makes you day, believe me, it surely did. Though I was able to guess the powder that Renu sent me as custard, making a new challenging dish out of it proved very exciting. Not just that, when I finally met Renu, we remembered this and enjoyed our conversation on how it turned out for the family too.

Coming to the second season, Bharathy wrote to me saying Sayantani was eager in starting this chain again. So Bharathy already sent her an ingredient and Sayantani also posted on this revival of Arusuvai Friendship chain, calling for bloggers living in India.

Two years back when there weren't that many bloggers from India, Bharathy and I found it tough roping in people. Now the scene has changed and I believe it won't be that very difficult now.

Arusuvai Friendship works like this. The chain is started by one blogger, who will send a mysterious ingredient to two bloggers. The recipient will have to guess what it is and make a dish using the mysterious ingredient. Once the dish is prepared, they post on the blog. They in turn send to two other bloggers, and the chain continues.

We have taken utmost care in not sharing the mailing address of the bloggers involved, except to the person who will have to send. Since this requires us to physically post the ingredient, this is open for bloggers who are currently living in India. This was started by US bloggers among themselves and they had fun too.

Interested bloggers can let Sayantani know about their wish to be part of this chain, by leaving a comment in her post

You can read about my experience in this when I made the Custard Malpua and the entire story of how this chain passed on from one blogger to another in this Arusuvai Friendship Chain - Inside story.

Somehow the month of December always ends up being nostalgic for me. Memories of good and bad that passed your way, come gushing in. You feel sad for the hurtful things that happen, cherish the good things you were fortune to have. Arusuvai Friendship Chain brought me closer to wonderful people like Lathamma and her lovely daughter Laks, who actually started this chain and designed the logo. I miss them and wish they start blogging again.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.-- Anonymous

Do join in, I am sure you will have loads of fun!

Celebrating Terra Madre Day

There are times when you really should slow down to enjoy those moments in life, which we miss being always so occupied with something.  For us at home it is always rushed into everything, right from the moment we get up until we hit down. Even that is rushed most times.

So for me, attending an event which focused on slowing down meant literally letting down my self and it was such an awesome period. For that, I have to thank Pratibha and Jigyasa, who invited me to join them in celebrating Terra Madre day. They organized an event to observe Terra Madre Day by having a A POT LUCK OF TRADITIONAL FOODS with the members of The Duchess Club, Chennai.

The Tarra Madre Day is conceived by Slow Food Movement started by Carlo Petrini Italy. This year more than 1000 groups & communities across the globe were participating in similar events! A much needed global resonance - each one of us needs to do our bit.

I was invited to judge the food on display, along with two other noted dignitaries. It was such a honour and  I didn't want to miss the opportunity. Believe me it was so much fun and so hard to finalize on one dish as the best. Each dish was judged on Authentic, Aesthetic, Traditional touch. I was judging Snacks, Salads and Sweets.

Valakkai Bajji - Winner among the snacks

Adad Paak- Winner among sweets

The Pledges to Save Mother Earth were truly inspiring. My Pledge was: My Mother earth – I will teach my children to enjoy nature by taking them hiking & trekking. Thank you Jigyasa & Pratibha, that was indeed perfect for me.

The lovely ladies surpassed all measures by bringing in so many innovative yet traditional dishes, as few were forgotten in the main stream cuisine. The Organic Valakkai Bajji was chosen as the best among the Snacks, other interesting dishes were Murukku with Buttermilk, Dahi Vada made with Moong dal, Sundals with Chickpea, peas relating to Marina Beach! The presentation of each participant was so meticulous and beautifully done. On the sweets front, there were so many. Finally Adad Paak, a gujarati special was chosen.

I came back feeling utterly satisfied of having met a bunch of food enthusiasts. And a knowledge that I still have so much to learn! For which I am so thankful.

Picture Courtesy:  The Duchess Club

Egg Fried Rice Recipe | How to make Egg Fried Rice | Step By Step Recipe | Weekend Cooking

This is an easy egg fried rice recipe, Indian Style. Making Egg Fried Rice is not so complicated nor tedious process.When Chicken Fried Rice seem too tough you can ruffle this in no time. As always I normally make the vegetarian Fried rice first and then add the Scrambled Egg or Fried Chicken to the rice.  

I made this Egg Fried Rice couple of weeks ago for Sunday Lunch along with Vegetable Manchurian. Since this was the main course, I had to remove the portion for vegetarian before adding the scrambled eggs to it.

It's been raining non stop during the weekend. We had gone to Tirumala for Darshan and it was so chill in the hills. We had a wonderful darshan, it was a great weekend all together. Schools have been closed for the past 3 days before the weekend because of rain and we are at our wit's end to know how to keep the kids occupied at home.

Step by Step of making Egg Fried Rice.

For detailed steps to see how to make the vegetable fried rice, See Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

Cook the rice and spread it out to cool the rice. This way the rice separates into grains.

Make the vegetable mix ready. I followed the same way as Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

For the scrambled Egg, heat a pan with oil, saute onions till light brown.

Beat the eggs well with salt, add to the fried onions.

Add spring onion greens, green chilies

Scramble it quickly, sprinkle pepper over it.

Then add the cooked Fried Rice to the pan and mix well.

Chinese Fried Rice with Egg


Egg Fried Rice Ingredients

For the Rice

Basmati Rice - 3 cups
Spring Onions - 1 bunch
Capsicum - 1 medium
Beans, Carrot and Cabbage - 2 cups
Salt to taste
Ajinomoto - 1/4 tsp
Soya Sauce - 2 tbsp
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Oil - 2 tbsp
Pepper powder - 1 tbsp

For Scrambled Eggs

Eggs  - 3 nos
Onions - 1 medium
Salt to taste
Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
Green Chilies - 1 long
Spring Onion greens - handful
Oil - 1 tsp

How to make Egg Fried Rice

To make the Rice:

Check the steps to make the Rice in the Chicken Fried Rice.

To make the Scrambled Eggs

Chop onions finely. Heat a pan with oil, saute onions till they turn colour. Meanwhile take the eggs in a bowl, whisk well with salt and pepper. Retain some pepper to sprinkle over the cooked eggs finally.


When the onions are done, add the egg batter, spring onion greens, green chilies, scramble it quickly over high flame. When the eggs are cooked, sprinkle the pepper over it.

Then simmer, add the required fried rice to the pan and mix again.

I served this with Vegetable Manchurian which will follow.

What did you all prepare for the weekend?

Pazham Pori | Banana Fritters | Step By Step Recipe

Pazham Pori is also known as Ethakka Appam as I am told. The mere mention of Pazham Pori conjures of memories long forgotten, of childhood delights, of youthful indulgence and a mature fantasy. Well for all the adventures we have had, the conquest of Pazham Pori remains the one of the top. And my fondness to this delightful snack remains untarnished.

If you can understand how much of an impression these Pazham Pori has had on my "snack disliker" hubby dear, who  got these Nenthra Pazham, you can know how great these tastes. I think I have some deep connection with Kerala and its cuisine as I love all their dishes. Growing up on these dishes during our many summer vacations, made us love the cuisine. In fact most times I am mistaken for a malayali and addressed in Malayalam.

Ernakulam is one city we must have visited many times. When Dad was the Medical Director, in-charge of the south zone, he used to take us along for vacations. All those wonderful trips down south, surely brings back many nostalgic memories. We could be sure of getting treated to the best of what the place had to offer. And these tempting, delicious Pazham Pori were a must on the list when we visit Ernakulam. Of course Pazham Pori is available across the state, yet I can relate this more to this place than anything else.

Hubby dear just decided he wanted to eat Pazham Pori and got some Nenthra pazham. And it was pretty late when I got down making these. We managed to finish some and even had some spared for my colleagues.

How to make Pazham Pori in Step By Step

Nenthra Pazham before peeling. I used only two of these.

After peeling cut into two horizontal pieces.

Then proceed to cut vertically into thick pieces

 Like this..

Dip the banana pieces into the batter made with all purpose flour, sugar, soda.

Make sure the fruit is coated on both sides.

 Gently drop them into hot oil.

Cook on both sides.

Drain using a colander ladle.

Pazham Pori | Banana Fritters

Ingredients Needed

Nenthra Pazham - 2 big ones
Maida / All purpose flour - 3/4 cup (can use more)
Sugar - 3-4 tsp
Cooking Soda - 2 pinches
Turmeric - a tiny pinch.
Rice flour - 1 tsp (opt I didn't use this time)

Oil for deep frying

Method to prepare:

Peel the banana and cut in the middle horizontally. Then proceed to cut vertically into think strips.

Take the flour, sugar and cooking soda in a bowl, mix well. Then slowly add the water to get a thick batter. Whisk it well so that it rises up. You wont actually see the rise but you can see froth coming out during whisking.

Heat kadai/pan with oil. When it is hot, dip the banana strips into the batter on both sides and gently drop into the hot oil. If the banana/plantain is over ripe, it will slip very badly, so got to hold it tight!

Once it turns lightly golden flip to the other side. When done, remove on a kitchen towel to drain excess oil.

Notes:

• The fruit has to be ripe, yet not too ripe for you not be able to handle the cutting.
  When you use rice flour, the batter tends to come out little crispy.
  Take care not to lower your fingers close to the oil, it has happened few times to me.
• I added a bit of turmeric, in fact more than necessary by mistake during the first batch. The fritters turned out pink! So if you want a little yellow hue, add a small pinch and not more.
• The proportion of Rice flour depends on how crispy you want. Without this flour the fritters tend to become soggy. 

We enjoyed the Pazham Pori and it transported me to my childhood days. Do share which dish brings your childhood to memory!

Happy Weekend and enjoy!

Announcing the "Best of year 2010" Event!

It is that time of the year and I am back with the same event. How much ever I talk about how time is flying, I ought to take a moment to think back about the months that have gone back and look forward to next that is waiting!

Last year I almost forgot about this and announced it much later. Guess this year I have been much more conscious of this.

To save myself some time, I am just writing the same thing I did as last year!

If you are interested to take such a time to pause and think back, I would welcome you to share it with me.

It can also be whatever else you want to share with me and your readers.

I am just giving few items for you to get started. It can be these or whatever you want to share:

1. Top 5 or 10 recipes of the year
2. Best dish of the month
3. Best recipe prepared from other blogs
4. Best Meal of the year
5  New things discovered in the year (can include anything related to cooking)
6. Best post or picture for each month or year
7. New blogs discovered
8. Cooking resolutions for the Year 2010!

Lets celebrate the new year with a recap of what we did during 2010!

Guidelines for the event.

1. Write your post by 31st December 2010. Feel free to use logo.

2. In your post, include a link to this announcement.

3. Mail me your details to cooking4allseasons@gmail.com with the subject line "Best of 2010".

I hope you will enjoy doing this recap.

Hoping to read the many wonderful things that happened around!

Yeah yeah times like this I tend to become sloppy and very sentimental as I have already said, so you can read about the 2007, 2008 and 2009 here.