Decorative Cake

Apart from cooking I also like to do some art work. Recently it was my daughter's bday and I decided to gift her a chocolate cake. Yes, a chocolate cake.. but wait that is no art work... right???

A bouquet of chocolates is what we all might have seen, this is some what different. Have a look :)

Pick a Chocolate!!!

Apple Pear Raita

Hello Reader,

Vegetable Raita is what normally everyone has but some fruits added to it can give it some really good taste. One such combination which I tried was with Apple and Pear. Sharing  the recipe with you all.

Ingredients:

1 Apple

1 Pear

1 Tomato

1 Onion

1 Cucumber (Kakdi and not kheera)

200 gms Curd

1 Teaspoon Sugar

¼ Teaspoon Jeera (Cumin Seeds)

¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper Powder

¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida Powder

¼ Teaspoon Ghee

Curry Patta

Salt to taste

Aloo Bhujia to garnish.

Method:

Wash and cut Onion, Tomato, Cucumber and Apple into small pieces. Wash and remove peel of Pear, cut into small pieces.

In a bowl, take 200 gms of curd. Add sugar to it. Mix well. Add salt to taste, black pepper powder and all cut vegetables and fruits to it.

Mix well.

For tadka, heat ghee. Add washed curry patta, asafetida powder and jeera (cumin seeds) to it. Mix well. Once it comes to heat add it to the bowl with all vegetables, fruits and curd. Mix well.

Garnish with Aloo bhujia.

Your Apple Pear Vegetable Raita is ready to eat with Roti/ Paratha. 

Gujarati Daal

Hello All,

Daal is a part of everyone's staple diet in India. However every region/state in India has its own of making it and hence today I am sharing with you all how to make Gujarati Daal.

Ingredients which you will need are :

100 gms Tuvar/Toor daal
200 ml Water
½ Teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
½ Teaspoon Dhaniya powder (A blend of Cumin and Coriander seeds)
Salt to Taste

1 Teaspoon Jaggery
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
Chopped Coriander Leaves

For Tadka :

Oil
Mustard Seeds     
Fenugreek Seeds
Cumin Seeds 
Turmeric Powder
Red Chilli Powder
A pinch of Asafoetida Powder

Method :

Wash Tuvar/Toor Daal in water and soak it in water for 2 hours. Microwave on high for 5 mins. Remove and check if it is cooked properly. If not add some more water and microwave it again for 5 more mins. Once cooked, churn it well with a hand blender. Add Salt to taste, Jaggery, Red Chilli Powder, Turmeric Powder, Dhaniya Powder and Lemon Juice to it.

For tadka, take oil  and once it comes to heat add a pinch of Asafoetida, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric powder and red chilli powder to it. Once all these come to heat add it to the churned Daal with other spices already added to it.  Mix well and cook it for 10 mins on medium flame on cooking gas.
Garnish with Coriander leaves.