Benne Krishna

This is a Bala-Krishna Painting(an Indian god) eating butter, that's why its called "Benne Krishna"(in Kannada). I did this painting in 2004 during the Krishna janmashtami(a festival in India). I have used acrylic paint on a 16x20 size canvas board.First i traced the Picture to a tracing paper and then to the canvas board and painted it. Acrylic paints dry fast so its easy to paint and doesn't take much time when compared to oil paint. It took me 15 days to complete as i did it in a slow pace but i was satified the way it turned out.I was inspired from an other painting i did before this one, it was a Rajasthani Lady.Will post that painting picture soon as i presented that to my sister-in-law.

Veggie Quesadilla (with leftover Tortilla/Chapati)

"Quesadilla" is a Mexican snack, which means 'little cheesy thing' in Spanish.Its a very simple and easy recipe and best part is you can do it when u have some leftover Tortilla's/Chapatis. Its a kid friendly food as it is stuffed with cheese and veggies.

Ingredients:
[To make 4 quesadilla's]
2 Tortilla's/Chapatis
2tsp Salsa
1/4cup Onions finely chopped
1/4cup Bell Peppers finely chopped
1/4cup Tomatoes finely chopped
1/2cup Shredded Cheese(i used Mozzarella)

Method:
Heat the grill/frying pan on medium heat,put one tortilla/Chapathi and spread 2tsps of salsa over it and add the toppings one by one,Onions, bell peppers and tomatoes.Now add Cheese and cover it with another tortilla on the top and press a little and allow it to bake for about 4 minutes till in gets crispy.Now slowly turn the quesadilla with a wide spatula and bake for another 4 minutes.Take it off the grill and keep it on a cutting board and cut it into 4 parts.Quesadilla's are ready, Serve them hot.

[Note:Bake quesadilla's till they are crispy dont burn them.Any kind of cheese and vegetables can be added.]

Tomato Soup with Garlic Bread

Tomato soup is one of my favorite soup,its only because of its texture and wonderful taste. Drinking the soup with Garlic bread exaggerates its tastes.

Ingredients:

1 cup Tomato puree(take 2 tomatoes and blend it)
2-3 basil leaves(or 1/2tsp dry basil)
1/2cup Onions chopped
1 cloves Garlic
1 inch Ginger chopped
1/2cup Bell peppers chopped (Capsicum)
1/4cup Celery chopped(optional)
1 tsp Pepper flakes
1+1tsp Butter+ Oil
salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1tsp Heavy cream

Method:

Take butter and oil in a frying pan and when its hot add onions and saute'.Add ginger and garlic, then add bell peppers and a saute' few more minutes.Then add celery and tomato puree and let it boil for few minutes till the water in the tomato evaporates.Now add basil and salt & pepper, mix it well and allow it to cool. Blend everything in a mixer/blender and pour it back in the pan and boil it again for 2 more minutes and add a spoon of heavy cream to it ,pour it to a serving bowl with the store bought Garlic bread. Serve hot.



[Note: Garnish with a spoon of butter or the remaining cream.If you have a food processor then no need to cool the puree.]

Benne Biscuit

Benne Biscuit means "Butter cookies".Its a mouth watering cookie and its so smooth that it melts like butter when u take a bite.

Ingredients:

1+1/3 cup All purpose flour/Maida
3/4 cup Sugar
1/2cup Shortening/Margarine
1/8tsp Baking Powder
1/2tsp Cardamom powder
a pinch of salt

Method:

First take the Flor/maida and add baking powder, salt and sieve it and keep aside.Take sugar and Shortening in a bowl and mix it with your hands till it forms a nice soft mixture .Now add the cardamom powder and flour mixture slowly and keep mixing it till you get a soft dough and make small balls and pat a little to form the shape and place in on a baking plate and bake at 325*F for 11-12 minutes.Cool it and store it in an airtight container.

[Tip: Don't use butter for this recipe as it makes the cookie hard and make the dough with your hands to give a proper consistency and don't use a food processor and hand mixer.]

Strawberry & Banana Smoothie

Smoothie is one of the best drink to cool in the hot summer days.Smoothie mainly originated from Brazil.Its a very simple recipe as you blend everything together at one shot and its ready.

Ingredients:
1 Banana
4-5 Strawberries
1/2cup Apple juice
1 cup strawberry yogurt/Plain Yogurt
1tsp Honey/Sugar

Method:
Put all the ingredients in a blender/mixie and blend it into a smooth liquid.Pour it into a glass/cup and garnish with a strawberry and enjoy.


[Note: You can add ice cubes while blending or u can use frozen strawberries for a cold smoothie.Apple juice gives a nice sour taste to the drink but it can be substituted by grape juice or strawberry nectar.]

Edible Flip-flops

Yes i mean it, these flip-flops/slippers are meant to be eaten.They are a form or decoration which makes a center piece on a Lunch/dinner Table.Easy to make and very attractive.

To make 1 pair of Flip-flops/Slippers you will need:

2 Oval shaped crackers
1tsp Coconut shredded
2 drops Orange food color(gel)
2 Donuts balls(can be found in any grocery stores near the donuts/bakery)
1tsp sugar syrup(to make this add 1 tsp of sugar to 2-3 drops of water)
Method:

First take the coconut in a bowl and add 1 drop of food color and mix it and keep aside.Now take donut balls and dip it in the sugar syrup and then roll it in the colored coconut and keep aside.Now take 2 oval crackers and put it on a plate and place the coconut covered ball on one corner of the crackers, repaet for the other cracker too.Now draw small dots or lines throughout the the edges of the crackers with the help of the orange colored gel.The Slippers are ready to be eaten.

Note: Refrigerate once you are done for setting take them out only at the last moment as the donuts start to get soft.

Shankar Poli

Shankar poli is a very easy South Indian snack and kids love them as they are a crunchy finger foods and tastes like chips.It is made in sweet and salty versions. I have made both and both the recipes are here.I am still not sure why this kinda name for a snack.

Ingredients:

(Sweet)

1cup All purpose flour/Maida
1/2cup Powdered/confectioners Sugar
a pinch cardamom powder
1tsp Hot ghee/butter/Oil
1.5cups Oil for deep frying

(Salty)

1cup All purpose flour/Maida
3/4tsp salt
1/2tsp Ajwain/Oma seeds/cumin seeds
1tsp Pepper powder
1tsp Hot ghee/butter/Oil
1.5cups Oil for deep frying

Method:

Mix maida,sugar,cardamom powder and a spoon of ghee and make a soft dough with required amount of water and knead it well and keep aside.Do the same way for the salty dough too.Roll the dough as thin as possible with a rolling pin and cut it into diamonds with a knife or pizza cutter and deep fry them in hot oil till they are golden brown.Store them in an airtight container.Its so easy and ready to munch.

Note:Fry the sweet shankar poli first and then the salty one,so the oil doesnot get spoiled.Sweet usually burns fast so keep the flame in the medium low.