Love and Calories!!

Gosh, it's been months since I posted anything on my blog and am feeling already guilty about it. I must admit that my work life has truly taken a toll on me that I have nearly forgotten what cooking is all about. London life is fast, super fast! Weekdays come, weekends go and I just go with the flow. Months have gone by and I just left my hobby, my passion somewhere that I did not even get the time to revive it.  But no more....today I bring to you not one, but two recipes of Indo-Chinese influenced dishes. The very popular Gobi Manchurian and Chilli-Garlic Fried rice. So be ready with your wok and spoon, we have work to do!! :) Gobi Manchurian Ingredients: 1 medium cauliflower (break into florets) 1/4 cup Maida 3 tsp cornflour 1 scallion or salad onion (bulb and green finely chopped) 1 bell pepper (cut into bite size chunks) 2 tsp chopped ginger 2 tsp chopped garlic 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp red chilli flakes 1 tsp milk 1 tsp soy sau...

Here's a recipe for all the chicken lovers like me. " Murgh (Chicken) Bhuna (Roasted)" as the name goes is, chicken roasted in spices. Now, I have seen and tasted this dish in many UK Restaurants and it is very much like any other chicken curry, only the chicken is roasted and added to the spicy gravy. But here, I have tried to make this dish totally dry, without its gravy. You will get exactly what the name suggests....Just Bhuna Murgh!  Friends who don't like to spend much time in the kitchen can take note of this recipe as this cooks up in minutes without any hard work. Dry, spicy, delicious chicken is made in no time and all you need in your serving plate is, some Pilau rice and Raita. You are all set for a grand meal!!   Ingredients: 500 gm boneless chicken (diced into bite sized chunks) 2 tbsp oil 1 cinnamon stick 1 bay leaf 2 cloves 2 cardamoms (crushed) 4 tsp cumin seeds  2 tbsp yoghurt 2 medium sized green chillies 2 inch ginger 1 t...

Some Carbs & Greens coming your way this time and both these dishes are great as an accompaniment to any meat or vegetarian main meal. Stir Fry Greens are the easiest, quickest & the most healthiest dish you can make. You don't have to sweat it out in the kitchen & at the same time you give your body a complete pack of nutrients. This recipe can be made with any kind of edible greens like spinach, brussells sprouts, kale or leaves of any root vegetables like beets, carrots or radishes.  Stir Fry Greens: Ingredients: 500 gm greens (you can use spinach, kale, brussels sprouts, or any other edible mixed greens)  4 green chillies (slit into half) 1/2 tsp mustard seeds 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 1 inch ginger ( finely chopped) 2-3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped) 1/2 tsp turmeric powder 1/2 tsp lime juice 1 tbsp oil 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas (optional) 1 tbsp fresh or desiccated coconut (optional) salt to taste Method: Wash...

 OKAY!! Am now getting too bored of salad postings in my blog. Salads are good but nothing like a gourmet. :) So here I am with a super good recipe of a Chinese origin. yummmmy right?? One normal day, my letter box was filled with umpteen number of take away menu cards and Chinese take aways were the maximum. I just went through couple of them and found that everybody were giving out the very same dishes. It simply struck to me that why not I try one of those dishes right at home. It is not that difficult if your pantry provides almost all the Chinese ingredients (hey there all the sauces!!) for your cooking. And moreover Chinese cooking is so easy & fast, that you will end up cooking something so simple, delicious & grand in no time.   "Sweet & Sour Chicken Drumsticks" would be a perfect accompaniment to any kind of Chow mein or fried rice. It is quite quick to make apart from the deep frying bit which takes the maximum time. You will be very happy to see...

I realized that I have not posted any linguine recipe yet in my blog, so here goes another tasty healthy pasta recipe which is very easy, simple & is specially made for the vegetarians. Pardon me but I had to compliment it with some chicken, so I made a quick grill to go with it. So Veggie lovers, please ignore the Chicken part alone. Linguine and lime go hand in hand & with a generous amount of grated courgette, it becomes a wholesome healthy meal. Courgette & Lemon Linguine Ingredients: 250 gm linguine 1 medium sized courgette (zucchini) (coarsely grated) 2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped) zest of 1/2 unwaxed lemon juice of 1/2 lemon large pinch of crushed chillies handful of basil leaves (can use dried basil too) 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin olive oil to drizzle salt & pepper for seasoning grated parmesan cheese (optional) Method: Cook the linguine following the pack instructions, then drain quickly so some cooking water is still clinging onto the strands. Tip them...

For the past one week, I was not interested in doing anything. No cooking, No blogging, No nothing. Mood swings in a lady can be better understood only by another lady, so am not going into detail. My mind and body went into stealth mode. Am slowly coming out of it. That is why I didn't explore any of my fellow bloggers recipes too, hence I apologize for not visiting your blogs & giving my valued comments .;) I am just putting up a basic version of Mashed potatoes, which I had made a couple of months ago, to have it with my Caribbean Chicken . Mostly every one knows how to make this simple Mash but this recipe is for those who are new to cooking and would want to know the basic recipes. Mashed Potatoes can be a great accompaniment with a good Roast Chicken. Its a delightful experience on its own. Ok, Am going back to my Stealth mode again.....Hope to be back pretty soon!!. Ingredients: 4-5 big floury potatoes (preferably maris piper) 125 ml milk 25 g butter salt & pepper t...

The name "Dahi Vada" itself makes my mouth drool. The soft, spongy vadas immersed in a chilled spicy, creamy yoghurt just melts in your mouth like an ice-cream. It looks oo like an ice-cream...Kind of Chocolate sauce drizzled over large Vanilla Ice-cream scoops. YUM!! There is so much going on, in a single bite that your taste buds will have an explosion of sweetness, saltiness, spiciness, all at the same time but yet you will be able to tell, what taste is coming from where. For my blogger friends who are not from India, let me tell you what exactly Dahi Vada is. "Dahi" means yoghurt in Hindi & "Vada" is the lentil fritters. These fritters are deep fried & then soaked in a spiced chilled yoghurt & then topped with a sweet chutney or sauce. This is one of the popular accompaniment or a delicacy prepared in an Indian cuisine. Both North & the South Indians prepare this dish but with a slight variation. Some like the yoghurt mo...

Light Cooking for me is a healthy approach to cooking. It is nothing but swapping your high calorie ingredient with a much less calorie one or use of less oil & no frying process. If you are health conscious or on a diet & would want to try out low calorie, Light cooking recipes, this is one of the dishes which you can try. Summer is in its peak & summer veggies are also in plenty, so why not include them into your diet at least once in a week. Less oil, no hassle frying, just boil it or bake it. Roasted Carrots & Spring Veggies can be a great accompaniment too with your roasted Chicken or steak. May the goodness of nature prevail & cheers to a healthy Life!! Roasted Carrots Ingredients: 750 gm /8-10 medium carrots (halved lengthways) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp ground coriander salt & pepper to season Method: Boil the halved carrots in a saucepan for 10-12 minutes until they are tender but not so much. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 160 degree...

A dish has to come from Goa, the smallest, coolest & most happening state of India. I don't have to give an introduction of Goa as the whole world knows about it. It is the tourists HOT SPOT. So let me just move on to its FOOD. The long period of Portuguese rule has left a major influence on the original style of Goan cooking & this resulted in an exotic variation of tasty and spicy cuisine . I still remember my Goan trip during college days. Enjoying in Baga Beach with friends, relishing some amazing prawn curry and next day morning, had a cup of coffee to remove the hangover of the Cashew Fenny. (Well, That I just added up....I just had two sips and I puked). :) "Prawn Balchao" is a favourite Goan dish which can be preserved for a couple of days. In fact, its tangy taste is at its best after a day or so. It can be stored as a pickle for longer, if preservatives are added. But in my house, there's no need to add preservatives as it gets over the moment ...

A "Sunday Roast" is a typical traditional English afternoon meal which is served on a Sunday, where the whole family get-together, have a wholesome meal, drink and relax. A Sunday Roast usually includes roasted meat, mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables and gravy. Our English friends often invite us for their Sunday Roast and I look forward to it every time. I love the English ways of cooking and preparations put, to have that sumptuous meal. Roasted Potatoes, is one of the accompaniments in a Sunday Roast. And I love the crispiness of it outside and the softness inside. It goes with any meat dishes and is a popular dish served in the English pubs as well. Just try it at your very own kitchen, taste it and you will know why!! And I just now realized...its Potato time again!! :) :) Ingredients: 4 big potatoes (peeled and cubed) 3 tbsp oil 1 tbsp of semolina (sooji/rawa) 1 tbsp red wine vinegar (or ordinary vinegar) 6 cloves of garlic (skins on) 2 tsp olive oil 1 rose...