Be Your Own Chef in 2017 !!

This New Year,

Be the Reason for Your own Happiness!
Be the Ladder for Your own Success!
Be Healthier and Cook Your own Food!


To get started , try the link below :

Be Your Own Chef!!

Visit to Salt Water Cafe, Bandra

Loved the Buckwheat Crepe with roasted vegetables and Parmesan Fondue at Salt Water Cafe, Bandra yesterday !! A Must try when you visit this place!

5 things to do this Christmas!!

It's Christmas Season and time to :

1. Eat , Drink and be Merry!
2. But remember to workout for 45 mins to burn the extra gained while binging on that Rum cake and Marzipans
3. Spread joy and cheer ... Sing, Dance and spend happy moments
4. Find time to contemplate on the year gone by 
5. Make the right New year resolutions that you won't give up after the first week itself !

Happy New Year!!

Sweet Potato in Jaggery Sauce: Gur mein Lahori Gajarun (Sindhi recipe)

Ingredients :

2 to 3 small sweet potatoes

4 -5 tbsps jaggery powder

1tsp pure ghee

1/4tsp cardamom powder

1 pinch salt

Juice of half a lemon ( optional)

Procedure:

Wash and peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices. Immediately put in pressure cooker with a cup of water, add a pinch of salt  and pressure cook for 2 whistles.  In a separate pan heat ghee, add jaggery, cardamom and a little water. When it comes to a boil add the sweet potato slices and cook on low flame for a couple of minutes till the jaggery syrup thickens a little. Turn of flame  and serve hot. You may add lemon juice for  a slight tangy taste.

Japanese Treat!!!

Have spent a few days in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and deeply impressed by the Japanese way of presetation in evrything and specially food. The quality of confectionery in all places has been great. Today in Osaka, at the Hotel Granvia, had some yummy cakes, so exquisitely presented that we didn't feel like biting into them!

Strawberry Sponge Cake
Fig Tart
Ghost Chocolate Mousse Cake
Mont Blanc Cake

Cheese Onion IndiTortilla

A yummy appetizer, after work snack or accompaniment with a bowl of soup

Ingredients

6-8 tortilla chips/ thick khakras
1 small bowl of grated cheese ( jalapeno preferred)
1-2 spring onions finely chopped
1 green chilli finely chopped
1/2 tsp red chilli powder


Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly on chips/ khakra along with onion and chillies. Finally sprinkle some red chilli powder to spice it up. Grill in toaster oven for 7-8 mins and serve hot.

Sindhi Tuk masala

Indian food is so varied and distinctive because each community in the country uses their very own special masalas , made with a number of spices in specific proportions. Each masala is so  flavourful and just seems perfect for the recipe it is used in ... The Sindhi Tuk masala tastes great on Aloo Tuk, friend Brinjals , Karari /Crispy Bhindi and even French Fries!

 

A Practical Cooking Tip for Working Professionals, Always Short of Time!

Moong Dal a popular dal in most Indian homes is frequently made. You can boil larger quantity of dal than one time need and convert it into three different looking and tasting dishes in just a matter of minutes.
a. Makhni dal
b. Tadka dal
c. Moong dal with spinach
Each one very distinctive in taste and delicious. Look out for the videos soon on YouTube - "I've No Time To Cook"

Fish with a twist!!

Really enjoyed our meal at Hakasan, Bandra last weekend and was impressed with the variation introduced on the menu. Though I'm a vegetarian, my family enjoyed the boneless fish in an interesting red sauce , topped with ladyfinger pieces. The edamame rice was tasty and different.

Something about Salads!!

Last week had a cousin's lunch at Bombay Salad Company, Bandra.  Was really  impressed with the menu and the range of salads on offer. We  picked the salads that  sounded particularly interesting- The Hipster and the Yogi... unusual names and very interesting  ingredients. Have to say both were: WOW!

The Yogi- Kale,Couscous, Orange, Carrot, Pomegranate, Beetroot, Almonds and Dijon thyme vinaigrette

The Hipster -  Kale, Quinoa,  Orange , Cranberries,  Carrot,  Pomegranate and mixed seeds

Innovation in food is reaching new heights!

Innovation in food is reaching new heights! Got an innovative gift from a friend yesterday to announce the arrival of her grand daughter! A basket in the shape of a baby crib carrying ice cream cones, two small glass jars of hands made ice cream, rice crispier and fruit pebbles... All with cute labels and decorations... Delivered by courier and with care!

 

Chocolate Toffee Pudding at Sassy Spoon

Loved the absolutely delicious Chocolate Toffee Pudding at Sassy Spoon, Bandra over the weekend. The base was a combination of soft chocolate and coconut.. It just melted in the mouth. Was not very sweet and the vanilla ice-cream topping enhanced the taste perfectly. Definitely recommend it.

Sweet Corn Soup!

It's Monsoon time and there is an abundance of corn... It's also the time to enjoy a hot cup of soup when you get back from work. Here's a quick and easy recipe for yummy corn soup made in minutes! You can have just corn or add your veggies, very finely chopped and sauted in little butter

1.       Sweet Corn Soup

Ingredients:

1 American  corn cob/1 packet of corn

1 small onion chopped

½ inch piece of Ginger

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp butter

1-2 tbsps lemon juice

Salt& Pepper to taste

Procedure

Peel  the corn off the cob  or empty corn packet in a colander. Wash corn well  , drain water and put it in the pressure cooker. Add onion, ginger and 2-3 cups of water. Cook for 10 minutes  and turn off flame.

When cooker cools, remove contents and blend in a blender. Now in a pan heat butter, add blended corn and milk. Bring to a boil, turn off flame. Add lemon juice, salt and pepper and serve hot. If the soup is too thick , add a little boiling water to bring it to the right consistency.

A memorable lunch in Rochester

Enjoyed a delicious meal all put together on our table at the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant in Rochester, with my children. It was amazing to see how wine, cheese, herbs and a few other ingredients put in a fondue maker, on a hot top on our table got converted into mouth watering and finger licking good fondue. We savored it with different types of bread pieces & exotic vegetables.

We followed it up with the highly recommended chocolate fondue which again was a delight to watch while it was being made in a couple of minutes. The fondue had two distinct types of chocolate, dark and milk which was relished with an assortment of exotic fruits, cakes and cookies.

The whole experience of watching the fondue being made with nothing precooked from the kitchen was fascinating. The afternoon was made special by the warm and efficient service and interesting conversation with the restaurant owner. A must try if you find a Melting Pot in your city in the US.

 

Innovation in Indian Food in London

Looking for interesting breakfast options for kids on holidays and weekends?

Daliya or broken wheat is a healthy, nutritious and high fibre  food that's good for both young and old. Try this quick recipe for a yummy breakfast/snack.

Ingredients:

1 cup daliya

2  -3 tbsps  pure ghee

4-6 cardamoms , de seeded and lightly crushed

3 tbsps Jaggery powder ( add extra to taste if needed)

8-10 almonds sliced fined ( optional)

Procedure:

Heat ghee in a thick kadhai or pan . Add daliya, lower flame and sauté for a couple of minutes till you get a nice aroma. Now add 2 1/2 cups of boiling water and crushed cardamoms and allow to cook on medium flame for a couple of minutes. When the water is almost dry and you see holes in the daliya, add the jaggery powder, cover pan with lid and cook on low flame for about 5  minutes .turning around the daliya once or twice. When it is nice and  steaming, put off flame and serve hot garnished with almonds.

Weekend Breakfast : Rice Chila !!

It's weekend and everything goes finally at our sweet slow pace! While we yearn to stay in bed for a couple of more minutes, kids and family demand for something new and lip smacking for breakfast.
So here's what you can serve them without compromising on the much need beauty sleep!

Rice Chila

Ingredients

• 1 small bowl of rice flour
• 1 tbsn suji
• 1 tspn ginger chopped  
• 1-2 chillies chopped
• few corriander leaves finely chopped
• 1/2 tspn shahi jeera
• salt to taste 
• 1-2 lemon juice optional

Method

Mix all the ingredients in the rice flour and add water to dosa batter consistency. Keep it aside for 15 -20 mins. If the batter soaks all water then add more water to maintain the desired consistency.

Take a dosa pan/tawa and grease it with little oil/ghee/butter. Spread 1 ladle full of batter on the pan and spread it out into a small round. Keep the thickness more than a dosa. Check if the side turns golden brown and flip it to let the other side turn golden. Keep the flame low throughout.

Serve it hot with ketchup/chutney/tomato sabji and win hearts of your family as you always do.

Left over Rice not a vice Anymore !!

A 10 minute transformation of left over white rice into a yummy pulav last night !!

Tadka:  mustard seeds, green chillis , ginger , curry leaves, veggies added , finely chopped onion sauted,
1 chopped tomato cooked with the onion and then small pieces of boiled potato added.
Spices : pinch of turmeric and red chilli powder. 1/2 tspn coriander powder, salt to taste

Add rice, Mix well, add a sprinkling of water and steam on low flame for a couple of minutes

Enjoy it hot,  garnished coriander with pickle and papad.

Shahi Tukda

With the extended weekend, one is always looking for new and interesting ideas to satisfy the taste buds. Here is one !

Shai tukda : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq4DFO0vwcU

How to Set Dahi

Chilled Dahi - A must have with every meal in summer. I am sure most of us enjoy a bowl of dahi or raita with every meal, specially in summer because of its cooling and healing benefits to our digestive system. Most of us end up buying packaged dahi, because we feel we will never get it right at home. Actually setting dahi in your own kitchen is one of the easiest things to do and gives you the flexibility to customize the taste to your palate.  I am sure when you see the attached video it will inspire you to make your own dahi and enjoy it immensely.

Here is the link to 'How to Set Dahi'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPeIzjfpFNM

Tasty and healthy Oats Paratha

Oats form a prime ingredient when it comes healthy diet and has become a daily breakfast  food  for most of us! However having the same  breakfast everyday can become quite boring .. So instead of having the regular bland oats porridge for breakfast, I thought why not turn it into something tasty by grinding the oats and making a chila  out of it. Here's how you can do it!

Ingredients:
1 Bowl Oats Flour
2 Tsp Yogurt
1 Onion
2-3 Green Chillies
Ginger
1/2 Tsp Red Chilli Powder
1/2 Tsp Cumin Seeds
Salt (To Taste)
Water
Coriander Leaves
Oil

Watch the procedure on the Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_X_HBfqrKg

Recipe For Tomato Chutney to go with this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl0EP...

Yummy breakfast of French Toast -- The Singapore Way!!

My favorite breakfast at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore was French toast. It was served soft , not too sweet with just a hint of sugar, a bowl of honey and a banana split and sauted in butter covered with almond flakes. It was delicious, light to eat but kept you satiated till lunch time!!

Meeting South in Singapore!!

One of the softest and best idlis, I have had in years was at a small restaurant in Singapore called Murugan Idli Shop just opposite famous Mustaffa store. The yummy idlis are served in traditional style on a tray with banana leaf, four different chutneys and a delicious bowl of sambhar. While the entire South Indian menu is very mouth watering my vote is for the idlis and filter coffee. 

Sweet Singapore Diaries !!

Every place you visit offers so many new experiences in terms of  sites to see, knowing the people, enjoying the food etc. etc. I am in Singapore and and getting exposed to a lot that's different! Yesterday, loved the absolutely divine Rose and lychee cake with gold petals! The slightly strong rose flavor was brilliantly blended with the subtle lychee flavor to create a superb combination. The cake was not too sweet and rich! The gold petals added the touch of richness!

My Singapore Trip !!

It's amazing how much sea food is sold, cooked and eaten in Singapore... Excellent displays of raw sea food and mind boggling variety of cooked stuff !! 

The 'I've No Time To Cook' Channel

Continuing my pursuit of getting working professionals to attempt cooking along with the launch of my book, The  'I've No Time To Cook' Book, I have also recently launch a youtube channel,  'I've No Time To Cook'. The link to the promo below will take you to the channel where you can view all the videos. Share your comments on the videos and let me know what you would like me to cover in the days ahead!


Here is the link to the promo:  'I've No Time To Cook' Youtube Channel : https://youtu.be/9atDOfDtwTk

Quick & Yummy Idli Upma

Often we end up having idlis or Rice Dhokla left over and wonder how to give it that fresh steamy feel the next day. Here's what you can do to convert left over idlis and dhokla into a delicious upma in just a couple of minutes. 

Crumble the idlis/dhokla and keep aside in a plate/bowl. Heat 2-3 tbsp oil in a nonstick pan. Add half a teaspoon of mustard seeds, 1-2 Red Chillis(chopped green chillis optional) broken into halves, 1/2 teaspoon chopped ginger and a few curry leaves.

Allow these to crackle, lower flame and add 1-2 tbsp of finely chopped onion. Saute till translucent. Now add the crumbled idlis, a little salt and some freshly chopped coriander leaves and a sprinkling of water. Cover the pan and allow to steam for 2-3 minutes. Serve hot with coconut chutney. 

You can also pack this in a tiffin and enjoy it cold at work.

A Carrot a Day !!

Vegetable markets these days are flooded with fresh and juicy carrots , both the long reddish ones and smaller orange Mahableshwar carrots. Considering the very many interesting ways in which carrots can be consumed and their multiple health benefits, this is the best time to make carrots a part of our daily diet and enjoy them through the day! 

While carrots have multiple health benefits, what inspires me to consume them is that they improve eye sight,  are good for skin and cleansing of the body. I begin my day with a freshly squeezed glass of carrot juice, either by itself or with beetroot or tomato. Have carrots as part of my lunch, enjoy a carrot pickle with my dal chawal at lunch, often have a carrot soup pre-dinner and a carrot methi sabzi with roti for dinner. And when I feel indulgent , I wind it all up with a bowl of delicious gajar halwa. 

I hope my diet inspires you to start having a liberal dose of carrots everyday and keep healthy ! 

Broccoli Soup

Mumbai has turned nice and chilly over the past couple of days. A bowl of freshly made, hot Broccoli soup and toast is the perfect thing to have when you get back home from work!

Ingredients

1 medium sized Broccoli broken in florets
1 medium sized onion finely chopped
1 medium sized potato peeled and cut into small pieces
1/2 cup milk
1/2 inch piece ginger finely chopped
5-8 almonds soaked in a little water
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp grated cheese (optional)

Method

Wash broccoli, onion and potato and put in pressure cooker with ginger and three cups of water. Close cooker and cook for one whistle and turn off the flame. Allow to cool. Peel almonds and grind  with a little milk and keep aside. Open cooker . When the vegetables are cool, put them in the blender along with almond paste . Blend well . Pour in a pan, add milk, salt and pepper to taste and heat to required temperature. Serve hot , garnished with grated cheese and crisp hot garlic toasts

Tilgul -- Not just a Sankranti Delicacy but Healthy too !!

It's harvest season and everyone is  celebrating Baisakhi, Pongal, Bihu and Makarsankranti this week! While we relish  delicious 'Til' (sesame seeds) ladoos, chikkis , rewdis etc on these festival days, I wonder how many of us are aware  about  the  great nutritional value of til or sesame seeds.  Here are some little known facts about Til, after reading which , you might make a Makar Sankranti resolution to have sesame seeds or til  round the year and not keep it as a Sankranti must have!!  .

Benefits of Til (Sesame Seeds)

Full of Great Protein: Sesame seeds are full of high quality protein. Protein makes up 20 percent of the seed with 4.7 grams of protein per ounce.

Helps Prevent Diabetes: Sesame seeds contain magnesium and other nutrients. Sesame oil has been shown to prevent diabetes, and it can also improve plasma glucose in hypersensitive diabetics.

Reduces Blood Pressure: The same study above reveals how sesame oil lowers blood pressure in diabetics. Sesame seeds are full of magnesium – a key nutrient known to help lower blood pressure.

Good for Digestion: The high fiber content of sesame seeds helps the intestines with elimination.

For Healthy Skin: The high zinc content helps produce collagen, giving skin more elasticity and helping repair damaged body tissues. 

Prevents Wrinkles: Sesame seed oil prevents harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun from damaging your skin, preventing the appearance of wrinkles and pigmentation.

Hair Benefits: Sesame seed oil is full of the nutrients needed for a healthy scalp and hair.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/20-health-benefits-of-sesame-you-wont-believe.html#ixzz3xDTan6S1

New Year Resolution of Eating Healthy and Staying Fit !!!

End December Early Jan is generally the time most people make good resolutions and generally one of them is eating healthy.

My Mantra for eating healthy is a nourishing breakfast, a tasty but light lunch and early, small dinner.

Listing down some of the things that I have for breakfast... which I rotate based on my mood.

• 5 almonds soaked in water and peeled (everyday)
• A bowl of fruit - Papaya/Melon/strawberries/ Bananas/ Chiku/ Assorted (everyday)
• Cereal : Cornflakes with milk, oats with milk, daliya with dahi/milk/jaggery 
• Eggs : Boiled, scrambled, poached, omlette, half fried
• Brown Bread Toast
• Methi Roti / Khakra 
• Poha/ Upma/ Aloo Paratha

My lunch generally comprises of  : daal/moong/chowli, 1 vegetable, salad and rotis with a bowl of dahi

Dinner is light: Either soup, salad and baked dish or khichdi with dahi and papad

This diet helps me to stay active and fit. I do indulge by having a chocolate/piece of cake/barfi a few times a week.

If I am hungry in between , I either have a fruit of a handful of chana/ nuts or dry bhel.