Walnut cookies

Ingredients

• plain flour-350g
• sugar-150g
• butter(unsalted)-250g
• chopped walnuts-250g
• baking powder-1tablespoon
• milk-1cup

Method of preparation

       Sieve baking powder along with flour (maida) and add the powdered sugar to it. Then add chopped walnuts and mix them well. When all the dry ingredients are mixed together,add butter to it. Add some milk while mixing butter and make dough. Flatten this dough to 1cm thickness and cut them into desirable shapes. Preheat the oven to 250degree celsius. Bake the cookies at 180 degree celsius for about 15 mins and allow them to cool. Yummy walnut cookies are ready to taste!

Crab Curry

Ingredients

• Crab- 500g
• Shallots-200g
• tomato-150g
• garlic-4/5cloves
• ginger-50g
• coriander leaves-few
• curry leaves-few
• vegetable oil-3-4 tablespoons
• turmeric powder-a pinch
• red chilli powder-2 teaspoons
• fennel seeds-10g
• salt-to taste
• mustard seeds-few
• water 

Method of preparation

      Grind the shallots,tomatoes,ginger,garlic,fennel seeds and coriander leaves altogether. Place the pan on medium flame and pour the vegetable oil. Sprinkle few mustard seeds and cloves when the oil is warm. After u hear the mustard seeds crackling,add the ground mixture to it.  Saute them well and then add the crab's claws and body. Then add a pinch of turmeric powder, 2 teaspoons of chilli powder,salt to taste,some water and then stir well till they all mix together. Within 10 minutes the crab is finely cooked, as one can see the shell's dull green colour turning into red. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot. This goes well with rotis or rice.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Mutton Masala

Ingredients

• Lamb meat -300 g
• shallots(small onion)-100 g
• garlic-8-10 cloves
• tomato-1(ripe)
• coconut -a small piece
• ginger-50 g
• coriander leaves-few
• curry leaves-few
• poppy seeds-10 g
• fennel seeds-10 g
• red chillies-10
• coriander seeds-15 g
• vegetable oil-3-4tablespoons
• turmeric powder
  
• salt to taste
• water

Cook the lamb meat till soft,adding salt and a pinch of turmeric powder.If cooked on a pan, cook on low heat with closed lid for about 40 minutes. If a pressure cooker is used,15 minutes on medium flame would be more than enough. Keep it aside.
Two types of ground mixtures are needed for the recipe. One would be the dry coarse powder and the other would be the thick paste. To start with the dry one,fennel,coriander and poppy seeds along with the red chillies are to be roasted dry on low flame till the smoky flavour comes out. Do not char the ingredients as it will show an obvious difference in taste later.These 4 are then ground to a coarse powder and its kept aside. For the thick paste, grind the coconut,shallots,garlic,ginger,tomato,curry leaves and coriander leaves adding very little water.
Heat the vegetable oil in a pan and add 2-3 cloves,cinnamon and a bay leaf. Then add the thick ground paste and saute it till golden brown. Then add the coarse powder to the pan. After all the above ingredients have blended well add the cooked lamb meat with some water. Add salt to taste. Keep the pan closed for a few minutes. Stir fry till the water evaporates. Serve hot with rice or rotis.

A new start!

I always had this awkward feeling of doing nothing useful for the past 9 years after my wedding. Waiting for the right time will not help one at all. It is the perseverance and hard work which fetch a productive outcome.There are a few who inspired me to blog. Its a pleasure to mention my cousin Arvind,and my sister-in-law Nithya Seelan who motivated me to share my thoughts on the internet.

Most of us happen to think that food from outside is the best in taste and that they have a lot many varieties to choose from. But the secret is all those delicacies can be prepared at home with less cost and in a healthy way too. Here I would like to share some recipes which are basically Indian. I can also show you how to prepare yummy desserts and savouries at home. Do try them and give me your feedback & suggestions.