Pepper Rice ~ Miriyala Annam

This rice item is very simple and prepared very easily with only few ingredients.It can be eaten as a Breakfast or Tiffin too as you like it.Hope you all might being guessed this preparatiion as by its name as the main ingredients are Pepper & Rice.So,here goes the recipe and enjoy with the Family members.

Ingredients:

• Cooked Rice/Raw rice-2cups
• Pepper powder-1tsp
• Green chillies-2no slits
• Ginger pieces-1/2tsp
• Cashew nuts-few
• Ghee-2tbsp
• Curry leaves-few
• Cumin seeds-1/2tsp
• Water-4cups normal water or boiled water (For cooking rice)
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Wash the rice,drain all the water and keep it aside.
• Take a pressure cooker,add ghee and heat it.
• Add the cumin seeds,green chilies,ginger pieces,curry leaves and cashew nuts.
• Roast them well
• Add the Pepper powder and water.
• Adjust with salt and add the rice.
• Mix well and place the lid.
• Cook for 3whistles .
• When the pressure comes down ,serve the hot Pepper rice along with Raita.
• Enjoy it!!!.

Note:

• While preparing with the cooked rice  means,take a pan add ghee;roast the ingredients.
• Mix the rice with salt and enjoy.
• Adding of boiled water while cooking consumes very less time to cook.

Happy Father's Day

A FATHER MEANS...

A Father means so many things...

A understanding heart,

A source of strength and of support

Right from the very start.

A constant readiness to help

In a kind and thoughtful way.

With encouragement and forgiveness

No matter what comes your way.

A special generosity and always affection, too

A Father means so many things

When he's a man like you...(Dad)

          Divya's Cooking Journey Wishes all with a  "Happy Father's Day"

Father's Day

Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide to recognize the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. This day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting. Although it is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide, many countries observe this day on the third Sunday in June.

Father's Day, in the United States, is a holiday (third Sunday in June) to honour fathers.It celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children's lives. Its origins may lie in a memorial service held for a large group of men, many of them fathers,who were killed in a mining accident in Monongah, West Virginia in 1907.

 Credit for originating the holiday is generally given to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, whose father, a Civil War veteran, raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. She is said to have had the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, which at the time was becoming established as a holiday. Local religious leaders supported the idea, and the first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd's father. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge gave his support to the observance, and in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson officially proclaimed it a national holiday. Observance on the third Sunday of June was decreed by law in 1972.

Although it was originally largely a religious holiday, Father's Day has been commercialized with the sending of greeting cards and the giving of gifts. Some observe the custom of wearing a red rose to indicate that one's father is living or a white rose to indicate that he is deceased. 

Father's Day is an occasion to mark and celebrate the contribution that your own father has made to your life. Many people send or give cards or gifts to their fathers. Common Father's Day gifts include sports items or clothing, electronic gadgets, outdoor cooking supplies and tools for household maintenance. Father's Day is a relatively modern holiday so different families have a range of traditions. These can range from a simple phone call or greetings card to large parties honoring all of the 'father' figures in a particular extended family. Father figures can include fathers, step-fathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers and great-grandfathers and even other male relatives. In the days and weeks before Father's Day, many schools and Sunday schools help their pupils to prepare a handmade card or small gift for their fathers.

Every Child honour the Dad in their own ways by giving kisses,hugs and making their own way of greeting cards etc.Some kids help their Father in doing things and helping them.

 Among all the gifts the most valuable thing is the Love & Affection. This is the one Every one Cares & Needed.

So ,Friends celebrate &  enjoy the father's day !!

Sweet Chanadal Balls

Hi Friends,this is an sweet item prepared with Chanadal,Jaggery & Coconut with some Ghee and adding Elachi Powder for the flavour.This is used as a filling for the Bobbattu & Poornam for the Festival Occassions,Function feasts and also for the Prasadam.Even kids also like this Sweet item as a variety.

Here goes the recipe.

Ingredients:

• Chanadal-1cup
• Fresh coconut powder-1/2 cup
• Jaggery-1 to 1 1/2 cups powdered
• Elachi-2no powdered
• Ghee-1tbsp
• Water-1/2 cup

Procedure:

• Clean the Chanadal & pressure cook it for 2 whistles with just enough water.
• If the Cooked chanadal has little water,drain the water and spread that dal on a dry paper or towel.
• In a bowl,add the dry chanadal mash it to form a smooth paste .
• Add Jaggery,Coconut & Elachi Powder and mix it to form tight.
• Add Ghee and make balls with the Chanadal Mixture.
• Serve them in  a plate & enjoy!!

Home Made Sun-Dried Potato Chips

This is an very easy and interesting food item which can be eaten as a favourite snack as a whole .In the Super markets the ingredient is the same i.e;Potato and only the addition of flavours varies.Every kid passes their childhood  with some Sweet memories regarding many things.In the same way this chips also makes to enjoy while eating and make us fun.

I know this Home made preparing Potato chips when I was studying in school from my Mom.She makes a lot during the month of Summer and I enjoy them whenever I want it .One interesting thing I used to do is Never helped Mom while arranging the Potatoes in the sheet of paper under the sun,but used to run when mom says to bring the dried chips at evening time.Because I used to eat those dried chips few  from the sheet .It is my funny memory.

So friends,the availability of Potatoes is main and also the heat of sun.So plan to have on a Sunny day as it helps to dry the chips soon by 2days.You can also have fun with your kids if they help you.Any how they help  you once it was fried in the Oil and served means.For this Home made Potato chips the flavor you can mix them is the red chili powder & salt.

So friends hurry up those who want to try this and enjoy with your family and have Fun.

Ingredients:

• Potatoes - as many as you needed
• Salt
• Water
• A potato slicer
• Plastic sheet

Method:

• Wash the Potatoes under water and scrub them well to remove dirt.
• You can peel it if it is hard to remove dirt.
• Slice the potatoes in to thin round circles.Do not slice them very thin.
• Mean while ,boil the water by adding 1/2 tsp of salt for around 10 potatoes slices.
• Make sure that the water quantity should be enough for the slices and they should submerge in the water.
• When the water comes to a rolling boil with bubbles.
• Turn off the heat and set the water container a side.
• Now add the sufficient slices in to this salt water and cover it for about 10  minutes.
• Then drain all the water .
• Arrange the plastic sheet in the sun.Spread the potato slices and arrange the slice separately inorder not to be crowded.(This takes little time to arrange)
• This makes us to have individually when fried in oil without sticking the slices more than one.
• Let them dry in the sun and get them back in the evening time and check them if is dried completely in 1 day no need to dry them in the Next day.
• Once it was completely dried remove carefully the dried Chips and store them in an Air-Tight Container.
• Home Made Sun dried Potato Chips are ready!!!

These chips can be served by frying them in few seconds and can eat them whenever we want .

How to Cook them:

• Heat a pan with sufficient oil for the chips.
• Add a few dried chips ,take care not to be crowded.
• Fry them and it would take only a few seconds to fry.
• Take them in to a paper towel.
• Sprinkle some salt and the Chili powder on the fried chips.
• Serve it along with the meals or eat them as a snack.
• Enjoy it!!

Minapa Sunnundalu ~ Urad dal Laddoo

Minapa Sunundalu is a very famous classic traditional sweet of Andhra.This is an quick and simple sweet item prepared and can also be offered as a "Naivedyam/Prasadam" to the God.

Hope all the Ladies from Andhra may compulsory be known it as this sweet item plays an important role at the time of "BabyShower "(Seemantham) Function.It is prepared for the Pregnant Ladies by their Mother ,Mother-In-Laws or elders as it has a lot of health benefits and  "It is good for backbone" during pregnancy .This sweet preparation is very easy with three ingredients i.e;Urad dal,ghee & Sugar.The ingredients shows the health benefits in this way as the Urad dal gives protein,Ghee has the fat content is good for the growth of the fetus and the growing kids.By knowing these health benifits automatically a pregnant lady shows interest towards this recipe.Not only for the Pregnant Women ,often giving to kids is also good and healthy.

This is one of my favourite sweet from my childhood which is often prepared by my mom & Grandmother.They both prepares this sweet very well.

My mom made this delicacy for me on  my   Baby Shower . My Mom made a habbit  to eat daily one or two regularly for my whole pregnancy .As I like this sweet item very much and knowing the health benefits ,used to enjoy it.

In the U.S,I tried many times eating at Indian Sweet shops but I was not satisfied with the taste.Today I tempted to eat this sweet again soon collected the way of preparation from my Mom and tried it.It came superb and felt happy for the good taste.So friends,here goes the recipe.

Try it and offer this sweet to your friends those who are pregnant really they feel very happy by seeing and finishes soon.

Ingredients:

• Minapappu/Urad dal/Black gram-2cups (without husk)
• Sugar Powder-1 1/4 cup
• Ghee-3/4th cup
• Raw rice-2tbsp (optional)

Method:

• In a heavy bottomed pan roast the Urad dal on medium low heat stirring it continuously.
• The dal will slowly turn in to red color and releases nice aroma.
• Remove from the flame and transfer this dal in to a bowl and let it cool.
• Now add the raw rice and roast it;let it cool.
• Take a mixy jar,add these roasted dal & rice .
• Grind it to form a fine powder.
• The powder texture should be like sand.
• Melt the Ghee.
• Take a bowl,add the grinded powder,sugar and mix well.
• Now add the ghee slowly to the powder and make a fine balls from these mixture.
• Transfer the prepared Laddoos in to a container and store it.
• Serve it and enjoy !!!

Note:

• You can store the Powdered mixture of rice & dal in an air-tight container for 1to 2 months.Mix ghee and make balls whenever required.
• A combination of Jaggery and Sugar or only with the Jaggery also be made.
• Seive the Powder after grinding to avoid the garnules.
• Adding of raw rice do not stick while eating.

Ginger & Dry RedChilli Chutney ~ Allam Pachadi

This is one of my favourite chutney learned from my mother;which goes well with Tiffin/Breakfast items like Idly,Dosa,Upma etc.Not only with these variteies ,it also tastes good with the plain white rice mixed with the ghee and Pappula Podumu.So friends,without any delay here goes its preparation and hope you all will enjoy it.

Ingredients:

• Allam/Ginger pieces-1/2 cup (peeled and finely chopped)
• Dry red chillies-4 to 5 no
• Salt to taste
• Oil-1tbsp
• Jaggery-1tbsp   powdered (Add more for sweetness)
• Tamarind Juice-2tbsp 

Preparation:

• Heat the pan with the oil,roast the dry red chillies and keep it aside.
• Now in the same oil,add the ginger pieces and let them roast and keep it aside.
• Let it cool.(Ginger & red chillies)
• Now in a Mixy jar,add these roasted red chilles & ginger pieces.
• Add salt ,Jaggery,Tamarind Juice and let it grind to a smooth paste.
• Shift the chutney in to an air-tight container and you store it in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 weeks.
• Serve this Chutney along with Idly,Dosa or with any other items you like.

Bendakaya Masala Fry ~ Lady's Finger Masala Fry

I learned this easy and simple recipe four months back from my Sister-in-Law.From that time onwards ,I am thinking to try the recipe.Today I tried this recipe by using the Frozen whole Lady's Fingers with a slight variation.It turned well and  tasted good and It completed soon as after preparing it.You can eat along with the Rice or a whole fried one.Hope you may all like  this recipe and enjoy it!! 

Ingredients:

• Lady's Fingers-10 no
• Besan flour / Gram flour-1/4 cup
• Cumin Powder-1/2tsp
• Coriander Powder-1/2tsp
• Red chillipowder-1tsp
• Salt to taste
• Garam Masala- a pinch
• Oil to fry
• Water-little

Method:

• Wash the Lady's Fingers and let them dry by rubbing it with a neat cloth.
• Cut the edges and top of the Lady's fingers.
• Cut them in Lengthwise and keep  it aside.
• Now heat the pan with a oil.
• Meanwhile take a bowl mix the Gram flour,salt,Coriander powder,Cumin & garam masala with the sufficient salt.
• Shift the Lady's Fingers pieces to the bowl.
• Sprinkle with some water inorder to coat the Lady's Fingers.
• Now drop these in to the hot oil.
• Fry them well in a low flame.
• Serve them in to a plate and enjoy with Rice or directly.

Tomato Perugu Pachadi ~ Tomato Yogurt Chutney

This is a very easy and tasty Chutney prepared with the curd either ,with the fresh sweet curd or sour one.It goes well with the Plain rice or rotis.We can mix the chopped vegetables directly or by sauting them.I prepared this without sauting them.The following method of recipe without seasoning is used as a Raita for Variety of rices to taste.Here goes the recipe

Ingredients:

• Curd-1 1/4 cups
• Tomato-1 no large chopped
• Onion-1no chopped
• Green chilly-1no chopped
• Salt - to taste
• Kothimeer leaves

Seasoning:

• Oil-1/2tsp
• Mustard seeds-1/2tsp
• Cumin seeds-1/2tsp
• Red chillies-1no
• Curry leaves-few

Method:

• Heat the pan with the oil,add the cumin seeds,Mustard seeds,when they splutters add the red chillies and curry leaves.
• Switch off the flame and keep it aside.
• Take a bowl,add the curd and beat the curd till smooth.Combine the chopped tomato,onion,green chillies & salt.
• Mix them well.
• Add the seasoning to the curd.
• Garnish with the Coriander leaves.
• Serve with White Rice or Rotis.

Palakoora Pesarapappu ~ Spinach with Moong dal

Ingredients:

• Spinach - 1cup
• Turmeric-a pinch
• Moongdal-1cup
• Green chillies-2 no chopped
• Tamarind-1/2 "
• Onion-1 small no chopped
• Salt-to taste
• Red chilli powder-1/2 tsp

Seasoning:

• Oil / Ghee-1tsp
• Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
• Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
• Red chillies-2 no breaked
• Curry leaves-few
• Garlic pods- 1 clove minced

Method:

• Pressure cook the Moong dal with spinach,onion,green chilies,turmeric,& tamarind for 4 whistles.
• In a small sauce pan ,add oil ,let it heat,add the seasoning ingredients one by one.Turn off the flame and keep it aside.
• Now remove the lid of the pressure cooker,add salt,red chilli powder to the cooked dal.
• Keep the gas in a very low flame.
• Cook it for 3 minutes and stir it.
• Now add the seasoning to this cooked dal and mix well.
• Serve hot & enjoy along with rice or roti.

Podumu / Pappula Podumu - Bengalgram dal powder

This is eaten along with a rice mixed with any Pickles along with the ghee.This can also be used to sprinkle on any variety of Vegetable fries.In Andhra,this is compulsorily served in the food menu next to the Pickle.It's preparation is very easy .

Ingredients:

• Senagapappu / Bengalgram dal  -1cup
• Salt-to taste
• Garlic pod-1no
• Red Chillies or Red chilli powder- 2no or 1/2tbsp
• Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp

Method:

• Put all the above ingredients in a mixy jar and grind it to form a fine powder.
• Store it in a container and use it.
• Spicy Pappula Podumu is ready!!

Note:

• Adjust the salt & red chillies or red chilli powder according to the taste and spice level.