Broccoli soup

One goodpoint about broccoli is that it is rich in folic acid and it is very good for pregnant women.And this veggie doesn't have a taste of its own. So when we make a soup out of it along with potato and milk , its taste gets enriched. And potato is not only a thickening agent but it also acts as a stomach filler .So, Im sure that even the children who hate broccoli would love this soup.
 
Ingredients :
1. Broccoli - 1
2. Diced Potato - 1
3. Onion - 1/2
4. Milk - 1/2 cup
(American measuring cup used(1 cup= 250 ml))
5. Butter - 2 Tbsp
6. Salt - As required
7.Pepper - As required

Method :

1. Cut the broccoli into small florets and wash it well.
2. Take a pan and put butter.
3. Add onion and saute for a while and then add potato.

                           

4. Then add broccoli to it and add water until the veggies are immerse.

5. Pressure cook them for 2 whistles. Strain the water from it.

6. After cooling,grind them in a blender/mixie along with milk.

7. Now pour this into a pan along with the strained water from step 5 and add salt and pepper  and serve when it is hot.

How FULL is your BUCKET

"HOW FULL IS YOUR BUCKET" is a "New york times #1 best seller"  and an eye opener.

About the Author :

The author  Tom rath  has written  other books like "strengths finder" and "Strength based leadership" which are all new york times' and wall street journals' long running best sellers too. And the author Donald O.Clifton Ph.d was cited as the"Father of Strengths Psychology".

I saw this book in the Grand glaize library, twin oaks. I was rushing out of the library as it was already 8 in  the evening and I haven't cooked the dinner too. I just grabbed few story books for my kid and thought of leaving. But as soon as I saw the front cover of this book, something inside said I should just take it. I did without even looking inside. But only when I started reading it, I realized it is not only  worth reading but needs to be revised often.

Here we go for a quick tour inside the book.

Theory of dipper and bucket : 

Each of us has an invisible(emotional) bucket and dipper. When our bucket is full, we feel more positive and optimistic. But when our bucket is empty, we feel awful. That is why we feel irritated when someone dips from our bucket.
  But we have a choice every moment to fill or dip from others bucket which will have a long lasting impact on our relationships, productivity, health and happiness. And when we dip from others by doing or saying something that decreases positive energy of others, we diminish ourselves at the same time.

The book starts with a short story about the aftermaths of a korean war to illustrate how negativity is a slow poison. And the author goes beyond that saying "Positivity is more powerful than negativity and it has a stronger impact".

He illustrates so many short stories on the way to show how positive bucket filling can make wonderful changes to our lives.

Magic ratio :They have taped the speech of many couples and predicted whether they will be together or not .And they verified it after several years to be true.This prediction was based on a  magic ratio.

In the conversation for a moment, if the ratio is  5 postitve interactions for 1 negative interaction then the marriage is supposed to be a successful one.

The story about Tom, who suffers from a life killing disease , is the story of  an overflowing bucket which is worth a read. On reading this story again and again, our buckets will be filled for sure.

And one more thing the author points out clearly is that same kind of bucket filling too doesn't work. But individualized bucket filling can change a person's life forever.

Five strategies for a successful life :

1. Prevent bucket dipping,
2. Shine a light on what is right,
3. Make best friends,
4. Give unexpectedly,
5. Reverse the golden rule.

Following are the jist of guide lines given in the book to practice the strategies in real life.  

• Try and push the pause button in your head when you try to dip from others ' bucket.
• Every time when you fill a bucket ,you are setting something in motion.
• Any longlasting relationship needs regular bucket filling.
• Increasing positive emotions could lengthen lifespan by 10 years.
• Even a small thing like knowing the names of people whom we regularly see and calling them by the name they prefer to be called will have a major impact on people.

Conclusion :

Avery nice book and worth a read !!!

Capsicum Sambar

I thought of trying sambar with different veggies this week.Had been craving for drumstick sambar since we dont get fresh drumsticks here.Thought of finding an alternate for it and here comes the capsicum sambar. Only people who cook really know howmuch taste a veggie can add to a sambar unlike the kormas that we make.Capsicum is a very wonderful veggie with all the taste and vitamin C in it.Got bored of eating it all in chinese cuisine and why dont we try it in our own traditional way.And nowadays every market in india too has capsicum piled up.When I made this sambar(u wont believe)the whole house was filled with this nice aroma.And those who open to just grab a look into it can never leave without tasting it.It was awesome .... :)...How long will you make the boring sambar with brinjal and potato...go ahead and make a difference ...:)

Ingredients :

1.Capsicum - 1
2.Toor dhal - 1/2 cup
3.Small onion - 6-7
4.Red chilli - 2
5.Garlic - 2 cloves
6.Curry leaves - 1 sprig
7.Coriander Leaves - 1 sprig
8.Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
9.Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
10.Sambar powder - 2 or 3 tsp
11.Salt and oil - As required
12.Tomato               -       1

Method :

1. Boil toordhal and keep it separate.
2.Take a pan and pour oil into it.Add Mustad seeds.When it sputters add ural dhal, onion ,curry leaves and capsicum.

3.After frying for 2 minutes,add the water alone from boiled dhal. Then add turmeric powder,chilli powder, sambar powder along with tomato and salt.
4.Leave them to cook for 5- 7 minutes.

5.Then add the boiled dhal to it.
6.Add the tamarind extract and let it to boil for another 7-10 minutes.

7.Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice.

   
                                 

Chow chow Sambar/ Chayote squash Sambar

Chow chow sambar is one of the basic sambars and the most simple one too. I got this recipe from my mom and the taste of the sambar has never changed even once. But one must be careful while adding water to it while boiling dhal. Too much water can easily spoil it. And should not leave the veggie to overcook. No need to worry about adding tamarind as this recipe doesn't call for it. Now go ahead and have a satisfying meal  with this sambar. If you have spicy tindora/spicy veg poriyal along with it, then that would be heavenly !!! .

  Ingredients :

1. Chow Chow - 1
2. Toor dhal - 1/2 cup 
3.Tomato - 1 small
4. Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
5. Sambar powder - 2-3 tsp
6. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
7. Salt and oil  - as required
8. Garlic - 2 cloves


To Temper :

1. Red chilli - 2
2. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
3. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
4. Ural dhal - 1 tsp(Optional)
5. Small onion - 4
6. Finely chopped coriander - 1 sprig
 
Method :

1.Pressure cook toordhal for 2 whistles along with turmeric powder, garlic and water.
2. Chop  chowchow as shown in fig.

                        
 
3.Take a pan  and add chopped chow chow .Along with it add the water from the boiled dhal.
4. Now add  finely chopped tomato , sambar powder ,red chilli powder and salt.

                         

5. Let them cook for 5- 10 mins. After chow chow is been cooked, add boiled dhal. 

                         

6. Temper the items given separately and add to the pan. 

                         

7. Serve with rice, idly or dosa.

Veg spring roll

 
It was raining outside and suddenly a thought creeped over my nerves and stimulated me to do something crispy and deep fried . the first option that came front is the veg spring roll. I remember those days when I tortured my mom to make new starters every weekend from those of  Mallika badrinath's books(one of my favourite  authors). This recipe is one of those appetizers she made for me and I loved it a lot. And Whenever she makes it ,Im honoured  :) . This is one such awesome recipe to make your guests go mad at your cooking skills. Here we go , with the recipe .

 

Ingredients :
 
1.Carrot                          -    1/2 cup
2.Cabbage                     -     1/2 cup
3.Big onion                   -     1/2 cup
4.Capsicum                   -     1/2 cup
5.Noodles(Optional)   -     1 packet
6.All purpose flour      -     3 cups
7.Oil                               -      for deep frying
8.Pepper                       -      1 tsp
9.Salt                             -      As required 
 
Method :
 
1. Chop all the vegetables into very fine ribbons. Take a pan and pour oil. Then add all the vegetables and fry for a while.

 
2. Meanwhile cook the noodles separately in boiling water. Now add the noodles to the pan and add salt and pepper. Keep it aside.

 
3. Take maida in a large mixing bowl and make a dent in the center. Then add oil and salt to it. 
4. Knead it  into a dough and make small balls out of it.

5.Now,using a rolling pin make a flat sheet out of the balls.
6. Then place the veggies into it and roll .

7.Deep fry the rolls in medium flame. Cut each roll  into three small pieces using a sharp knife.

8.Serve it hot with ketch up :) .
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lemon cupcake with Vanilla frosting

After a long break, Im back to blogging...with a very sweet recipe. Is there anyone in the world who don't like cupcakes. Although so many varieties of cakes are there, the basic and easy cupcake is none other than this lemon cup cake with 100% output. I left all my recipe books at my hometown but yet one book came to the rescue of my passion of blogging and baking. And that book is "100 everyday baking recipes" which my husband bought  from a book fair in his office. This book has 100 recipes with pictures written in a very perfect way.( And  the best gift for me is always a book).I love to bake very often and the sweet aroma (at perfect timing :) ) from the oven which tells  " YOUR CAKE IS READY " is awesome.
       Here we go with the secret ingredients of the recipe...

                                    Prep time : 10 mins / Baking time : 15 mins

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour   -  1/2 cup /  115grams/4 OZ
2. Butter                     -  1/2 cup
3. Powdered sugar     -   1/2 cup
4. Egg                         -   2
5. Baking powder       - 1/2 Tbsp
6. Milk                        - 2 Tbsp
7. Grated lemon rind   - 1 tsp

Method :

1. Sieve all purpose flour and baking soda.
 

2. Take a large bowl and add them and mix well.

     
 

3. Then add butter , sugar and mix well.
    
    
 

4.  In the meanwhile preheat the oven to 375 F.
 

5. Now add eggs, milk along with vanilla extract and lemon zest and whisk everything.

    


     

6.Grease the baking tray with butter and then dust with all purpose flour.
 

7. Now spoon the mix to the baking tray up to 3/4 the of every muffin hole provided.
 
      
        

8. Bake at 375 F for 15-20 mins. And your cake will be ready :) .