Bitter Gourd Rice

Bitter Gourd also known as balsam pear or bitter melon is one of the popular vegetables in Indian and Chinese cooking. For our surprise, Chinese use bitter gourd in tea preparation. Always young immature bitter gourds are best for cooking in which the skin is bright green in color. The bitter gourd has excellent medicinal virtues. Even capsules are prepared from bitter gourd for the treatment of diabetes.



This is another simple and yummy recipe from my mom's kitchen.
No body likes bitterness...........But my mom's preparation tempts us to say "yes" to bitter gourd.



Ingredients:
Rice - 1 cup
Bitter Gourd - 2 (small)
Onion - 1 (Medium)
Tomato - 2 (Medium)
Jeera - 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
U.dal - 1/2 tbsp
Curry leaves - few
Coriander leaves - few
Turmeric powder
Chilli powder
Salt.

Method:

1.Chop the vegetables and keep aside.(Remove the seeds from bitter gourd)
2.Heat a tbsp of oil and fry the bitter gourd(at a low flame) to offset its bitterness.
3.When it becomes soft ,remove it from the flame .
4.Add a tbsp of oil to the pan and make seasoning.
5.Now,add onion and fry till it become translucent, then add tomato.
6.When tomato gets cooked add fried bitter gourd and add turmeric,salt and chilli powder after few minutes.
7.Finally add curry leaves and coriander leaves.
8.Add rice and mix well.( you can use basmati too).

Note: Don't eat bitter gourd if you are pregnant .

ABC Juice

I used to search for more juice varieties and finally I came across it.This simple juice is great for digestion packed with nutrients and vitamins.People who are under diet can kick start their day with this delicious juice which gives more strength.Good for children too.A great combination of fruits and vegetables acts as a real energiser.



Ingredients:
Apples - 2
Beetroot - 2
Carrot - 2

Method:
1. slice the fruit and vegetables.
2.And add into the juicer one by one in order.
3.Make much liquid as possible.
4.Pour into the glass and serve.

Pomegranate Raita

Pomegranate raita is a very simple and healthy recipe.It takes less than 5 minutes to prepare but tastes great .You can eat it as a fruit salad after dinner or as a raita along with rice varieties.

Ingredients:
Pomegranate seeds - 1/4 cup

Whole milk yogurt - 1/2 cup

Green chillies - 2

Salt and Pepper

Method:

1.Slit the green chillies into half.

2.Whisk the yogurt along with salt, pepper and chillies and keep aside for few minutes.

3.Finally,just before serving add the pomegranate seeds and mix well.

4.Garnish with some of the pomegranate seeds and serve.

5.It can also be served along with sugar instead of chillies for children.

Instant Murukku

This is a very popular savory snack which can be prepared instantly within minutes.I got this recipe from a book .It was prepared by famous cook 'Revathi Shanmugam'.

I was very surprised when i tried it.It really came out well and the taste was unbeatable.After this,there is no festival in our house without this snack.These rice crackers are very crispy and it will just melt in your mouth.Let's give it a try and send me the feedback.

Ingredients:

Rice Flour - 2 cups

Moong dal - 1 cup

Til seeds - 2 tsp

Unsalted butter - 1 tbsp

Chilli powder - 1 tbsp

Salt

Oill for frying

Method:

1. Cook dal in pressure cooker until it becomes soft.

2.Then drain excess water and add rice flour,salt,chilli powder,til seeds,salt and butter to it.

3.Adjust the spice level according to your taste.

4. Mix everything and make a soft dough from it.

5.Grease the inner portion of the murukku press.

6. Load small portion of dough into the press and squeeze it into the hot oil directly.

7.When it is half done, reverse it to cook on the other side .

8.Fry until it becomes golden brown .

9.Take out from the oil , drain and let it to cool.

10.Store it in an air-tight container.

Bread Jamun

Bread Jamun:
Gulab Jamun is a very popular sweet in India,Pakistan and Bangladesh.These soft dumplings are made up of "khoya"and whole purpose flour which floats in sugar syrup.This is a successfull attempt to make instant gulab jamuns without much ingredients and no strain.
I tried this recipe with white breads .As white breads are made up of whole purpose flour and due to its soft nature , we can make soft and yummy gulab jamuns from it.Even you can't find the difference between real gulab jamuns and bread jamuns.Here , the recipe follows:

Ingredients:

White Bread Slices - 8
Sugar - 1 1/2 cups
Cardamom - 5 pods
Orange Food colour - a pinch
Oil for frying

Method:

1.First, prepare the sugar syrup by adding 1 1/2 cups of sugar to 3/4 cup of water.
2.Stir the contents and then heat at medium flame for about 5 to 10 minutes until sugar gets dissolved well in water.
3.Do not overheat,that will caramelize the sugar.
4.Now,add crushed cardamom pods and orange food colour and keep it warm.
5.Remove the crust from bread slices and make a soft dough by adding water to the bread crumbs(inner soft porton of the bread).
6.Dough should be soft enough to make smooth ball from it.
7.Heat the oil and then put the balls one by one into the oil under medium heat.
8.Jamoons must be fried under medium temperatures otherwise it will tend to break at high temperatures.
9.At medium heat,jamoon will cook slowly , so that complete cooking will be done from inside and even browning occurs.
10.Now add fried jamoons to warm sugar syrup.
11.Leave gulab jamoons in syrup overnight for best results.
12. you can refrigerate it for more than 10 days
13.Serve it either hot or cold and enjoy the delicious taste.