Dhoodh Peda

This Dhoodh peda is so simple and delicious that you can't wait to eat. Its simple because its made in microwave and it just takes couple of minutes and mess free too.This recipe i got it from my good friend Arathi's Blog.Thanks Arathi for such an easy dessert. I haven't made any changes to the recipe.


Note: Don't let the Peda cool too much otherwise it will be too hard to make the shape.You can use cookie cutter to make desired shape.

Chocolate Hazelnut Pie

There are couple of recipes i have tried last couple of weeks and haven't been able to put them on this blog.This week I had some time so I am blogging each dish for the day.Pie is something I am not so fond of but this particular pie made be do it, as it is a no bake pie and ingredients in this is simple and fat free too.So who on Earth would not like to have a fat free pie?no one i guess.I saw this recipe on Food network, a show I like a lot..."Semi-home made cooking by Sandra lee".She made a peanut butter pie, but we're not that fan of Peanut butter when compared to Chocolae Hazelnut..Best part is the hazelnut with chocolate combination its Heaven.I love chocolate in any form but hazelnut and chocolate combination is wonderful. The chocolate-hazelnut spread available is very famous in Europe as its like peanut-butter spread for them.This time when i visited my brother in Europe I picked one "Nutrella" brand Chocolate Hazelnut spread.Now a days we're so much hooked up for this that we no more use jam/jelly's for bread toast.

This pie is like an ice-cream cake, need to be cut an eaten fast once its out of the freezer.In summer time its the best dessert you can serve.Kids love it as its filled with chocolate.It demanded more chocolate topping(according to the recipe) but i skipped it.It really tastes yummy and i recommend to everyone who is a chocolate fan.

Ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup Chocolate Hazelnut spread
1 Chocolate Pie base
8oz Fat free cream cheese
8oz Fat free cool Whip
1tsp Vanilla extract
1tbsp Chocolate syrup(I skipped this)



Method:

Take Powdered sugar and chocolate-hazelnut spread in a bowl and mix it well , then add vanilla and cream cheese and mix it with a hand blender for few minutes.Add the whipping cream and mix it lightly with a spoon.Pour this mixture on the pie base and refrigerate for 30 minutes.Spray chocolate syrup(which i did not use) on top and cover it with an aluminium foil and freeze it for 2-3 hours or till it is set and serve.

[Note:I freezed it over night so it was completely set.]

Baked Nippattu

Nipattu is a popular snack in Karnataka(India) which goes well with a cup of coffee.It has 2 forms, one is baking and the other is deep fried.I have done the baking version which is so popular in Bakeries(Srinivasa Bakery) of Bangalore that they sell within few hours of baking. If you haven't eaten it before you really need to try it....I was very much inspired to do this when I visited my Sister-in-law this summer and she had baked this for us.I even found a recipe in Madhuram's blog and Redchillies blog too.

Ingredients:

1cup All purpose flour
1/2cup Onions finely chopped
1-2 Green chillies chopped
1 bunch Cilantro leaves finely chopped
1tsp Baking powder
1tsp Baking soda
1tbsp Melted butter
salt to taste
water for making the dough(warm)



Method:

Preheat the oven to 325* F.Mix all the ingredients and make a soft dough.Divide into 15 balls and pat a little and make it like cracker thickness and bake them for 10-12minutes. [Bake for 2-5 minutes more if you need it crispier]

[Note: Don't make the crackers too thin keep it a little thick.You can even add a little rice flour and rava(sooji) to make it crispier]

Carrot Rotti

Akki rotti is a popular breakfast dish in South India.Akki means Rice, but here we use Rice flour to make them.Usually its made with lots of onions but can be used any vegetable and it tastes wonderful. Akki rotti must be prepared with fresh grated coconut otherwise the rotti will become hard and doesn't taste as rich as it has to be. Some prefer gravy with it and some don't , its all individual preferences. In my In-law's house they serve with sambar but my Mom's house its eaten with a dollop of butter on top.I like both the ways.I have used carrot in the recipe so it tastes a little sweet, to make it spicy i have added more green chillies again its an optional.

Each person can eat 2 rotti at a time.When you want to prepare more rotti's you can use a Holige paper which you get in India or else alumium foil.Grease it well and pat it and turn it over on the tava and peel it off.It saves time.Another way to do is turn the tava backwards and run cold water on it so it cools the tava and grease the tava with a little oil and continue the same procedure.
Ingredients:

1 cup Rice flour
1/2cup Fresh grated Coconut
1tsp Cumin seeds
3-4 Green chillies
2 Carrots grated
Salt to taste
oil for frying(1-2tsp)
2tbsp Finely chopped coriander leaves



Method:

In a bowl mix all the ingredients except oil using 1/2 cup or less/more of water and make a soft dough.Put some oil on the tava and grease it well and take a ball of dough and pat/spread it evenly on tava and make few holes in the middle and add a spoon oil on the top and roast it on a medium high flame for about 3 minutes and turn it and taost it again.Serve hot with 1tsp of unsalted butter on top or with a cup of Mango puree(Rasayana).

[Note:Don't make the dough too hard nor too soft it will be hard to spread on the tava and it doesn't bake well too.If you dont want to use so much of oil u can dip u hands in the water while patting the rotti on tava and avoid the oil.]

Mango Salsa

Salsa is a Mexican dish used as a dip for chips. Its one of the popular snack in USA and Mexico.Its usually served as an appetizer and tastes yummy.I was so bored of eating the same old store bought salsa and it tasted the same every time.So i started to look for some other recipes and found this one, thought its a great time to try as there is plenty of Mango available in the market and its the season.For this recipe you need sweet Mango so i bought this from Indian stores as i wasn't sure of the mangoes in other stores.Its so simple and doesn't take much time to prepare.So it can be done way before a party and chilled in the refrigerator.



Best thing is its so colorful and attracts everyone to try a bite.The lemon juice in it gives a different sour taste.While buying Mango see to it that its not too ripe otherwise the mango in the salsa will become a puree while mixing.I sent this recipe for a contest in Orkut community and the theme was Mango.Do give it a try and let me know how it turned out.


Ingredients:
1 ripe and sweet Mango(chopped into small cubes)
1/2 onion finely chopped
1/2 Red bell pepper finely chopped
1/2 tomato small cubes
1-2 Green chillies finely chopped
Fresh cilantro for garnishing
salt to taste
1 tsp Paprika Powder/Red chilly flakes
1tsp Lemon juice(optional)

Method:
Mix all the ingredients and chill it in refrigerator for few hours and serve with tortilla chips/ pita chips of your choice.

[Note: Green chillies or Red chilly powder and pepper powder can be added to make it spicy.]

Coconut Burfi

Coconut Burfi(kobbari mitai) is a sweet made only with fresh coconut.I have seen some recipes with dry coconut which doesn't taste that great as the fresh ones do.The ingredients needed in this dessert is minimum and doesn't take much time to cook too.Make them before a festival or gathering, as they taste good when its in room temperature.

Ingredients:

1 Big fresh Coconut(2 cups of shredded coconut)
1.5 cups Sugar
1 tsp Cardamom Powder

Method:

Put the Shredded coconut and Sugar in a big frying pan(non-stick will be good so they don't stick to the pan) and keep in a low flame and keep mixing till the sugar melts.Now add cardamom powder and keep stirring.Meanwhile grease a plate with a little ghee and keep aside.Once the moisture evaporates and coconut starts to get hard to stir pour it to the plate and cut it to desired shape and let it cool for an hour.

Note: Store it in a fridge so it stays fresh for couple of weeks.

Baby Crochet Cap

Level: Easy
Time duration:1-2 hrs

This crochet design is very cute and very easy to make.Since its done on single crochet and its best for the beginners.I used white yarn thread for this and G needle as my yarn was very soft and thin.I saw this design on YouTube and here is the link.I just love this videos as its great for a beginner as u can pause and follow each and every step slowly.It fits a new born baby perfectly.Its a great gift when u visit to see a new born baby.