HOMEMADE FRESH NOODLES

The title of this post is my "gentle protest" in the noodle vs. pasta debate. I grew up calling them noodles, but all of the cooking shows call it pasta. Is there a difference? Perhaps the word pasta makes it sound fancier? Oh well, call me old fashioned.I've been playing around with homemade noodle recipes since I got a little hand crank noodle roller for Christmas. This latest recipe uses all semolina...

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Pomegranate Cucumber Sesame Salad

(Click image for enlarged view)Pomegranates are being hailed as a super-food which can protect the heart.Scientists in Israel have shown that drinking a daily glass of the fruit's juice can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease."Pomegranate juice contains the highest antioxidant capacity compared to other juices, red wine and green tea," said Professor Michael Aviram, who led the team.This is...

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PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH GINGERSNAP CRUST

Each little cheesecake (or two) is the perfect portion size and the gingersnap crumb crust goes perfectly with the pumpkin filling. This recipe makes 12 little scrumptious cheesecakes, but you could easily double it for a crowd. 2/3 cup of crushed gingersnaps (about 15)2 tablespoons of melted butterMix the crumbs and melted butter and put a scant tablespoon of the mixture into the bottom of 12...

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Mixed Vegetable Paratha

( Click image for enlarged view)Stuffed paratha are always special for breakfast or dinner. I love to try new stuffings and recently tried this combination and it came out very well. So here is the recipePreparation Time: 20 minCooking Time: 30 minServes: 6 parathasIngredients:2 cups atta1/4 tsp ajwain1/2 tsp oilpinch of saltFor stuffing:1/2 cup chopped onion1/2 cup grated potato1/2 cup grated carrot1/2...

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LEMON - BUTTER COOKIES

I love it when you find a recipe that you know you already have all of the ingredients, even if you are snowed in, or haven't gone shopping in a while. That describes this super quick, super easy, super tasty lemon butter cookie.¾ cup butter (room temperature)1 cup white sugar1 egg2 tablespoons corn syrup2 teaspoons lemon extract1 teaspoon vanilla extract2 cups all purpose flour1 teaspoon baking soda1...

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2 Tier Fresh Vegetable Sandwich

This 2 tier sandwich has a unique flavor as it has ingredients like celery, oregano and olive oil in one tier and a tangy mint chutney to compliment it in another tier.I prepared this sandwich recently for my hubby and he loved it as it had a lot of flavors embedded in it with a mild crunch to dig your teeth into. I can guarantee this sandwich with its refreshing flavors would win many hearts.!!IngredientsFor...

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FUDGE CREAM PIE

I decided to try this chocolate pie recipe because it looked so simple. You do not have to temper the eggs, no complicated steps and multiple bowls to deal with. It is super quick, super easy and produces a super thick chocolate filling. It was a huge hit for the chocolate lovers at our house!! 9" baked pie crust1¼ cups white sugar2 tablespoons flour4 tablespoons cornstarch¼ teaspoon salt2 cups milk4...

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Pongalo Pongal, Wish you all a very happy pongal

(Click all images for enlarged view)Wish you all a very happy pongal and may every year be filled with prosperity and joy.As per tradition we prepared pongal , vada with tamarind chutney and radish sambar for breakfast today ... I did not have the time to write the recipes but I am sure all of you would know how to prepare them :...

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Green Around the Gills

Substituting the portobella mushroom for a beef patty is nothing new. And why wouldn't it be? It's easy and quick. If you feel you eat too much red meat (which I and much of North America does), portobella is an excellent alternative to a burger. Last post, I was discussing everyone's favourite fungus, the mushroom. But there is way too much to cover and so I had to cap it off. What many people may or may not know is that the common white mushroom, the cremini and the portobella mushroom are basically...

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BAKED ONION RINGS

Don't let this terrible photo fool you, these onion rings are deliciously addicting!! I found this recipe on Donna's blog over at My Tasty Treasures. There are only 2 tablespoons of oil in the whole batch, but you would never know it; this recipe is a keeper!!The onion rings bake up light as air, super crispy and packed with flavor!! .1 medium size vidalia onion1½ cups corn flakes½ cup plain dry bread...

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Andhra Style Chintapandu Pulihora

Chintapandu (Tamarind) rice is commonly prepared in our household during festival times. This was prepared recently . This version is the traditional andhra style and it has got a nice tangy flavor. It is a tradition to prepare bobbatlu too ( and this is a wonderful combination for festival times). So here is the recipe for tamarind rice andhra style. Ingredients1 cup rice a big lemon size tamarind...

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TACO BELL RED SAUCE CLONE RECIPE

I admit it, there are certain items that I really enjoy at Taco Bell. Yes, I know it's not authentic Mexican food, but when you like something, well, you overlook things like that. One thing I enjoy at TB is a warm condiment called red sauce. It is not the (cold) hot sauce that comes in a packet; it is the steaming hot red sauce that is served on their tostados and their Mexican pizza. This recipe...

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Beerakaya Dosa With Coconut Chutney

( Click image for enlarged view )Ridge Gourd vegetable which is known as beerakaya in telegu is used to make a dosa which is very healthy breakfast alternative to regular dosa.Ridge gourd is also known by other names such as loofah, luffa, turai, turiya, tori etc. Originally believed to be originated in the Arabic desserts, this vegetable has spread throughout the world. It is very colorfull and...

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fungus

When you break down what a mushroom is, it seems a bit strange that we eat it. I mean, it's a spore bearing fungus. It's not a plant. It's weird, isn't it? And yet, so delicious. I suppose the same can be said about drinking the milk from a cow or a goat. It's a bit weird. It is a goal of mine to learn how to pick mushrooms (a mycophagist they are known as) and certainly intend on going through with it. Where I live, there are pockets of morel mushrooms which I never had growing up. But, as an adult,...

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MUFFIN POPPERS

My husbands winter occupation (hobby) is restoring vintage snowmachines. He has a shop on our property and needless to say, there are days when very little "restoring" happens because the shop is full of his buddies discussing their most recent snowmachine adventures. When the shop is full, I enjoy sending out a big plate of baked goods to get their opinion on a new recipe. Today, I sent these (super...

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Cinnamon Coated Chocochip Cookie

( Click image for enlarged view )Hi blog buddies hope you all enjoyed your new year, thank you for all your wishes and bearing my absence ... today my niece Rithika asked me why I was not posting any recipes, she is 7 years old and I realized its time I get back to blogging.I am dedicating this yummy cinnamon coated chocochip cookie to her.I am sure any kid will enjoy it as they got a nice soft texture...

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SESAME CHICKEN

Our Safeway store has the best sesame chicken and I've tried to recreate it, several times, with minimal luck. However, this last try was very good and even Hubby liked it!! 2 tablespoons soy sauce1 tablespoon cooking wine3 drops sesame oil1 teaspoon vegetable oil2 tablespoons flour2 tablespoons corn starch2 tablespoons water¼ teaspoon baking powder¼ teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon onion powder...

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Putting On The Schnitz

Before going to culinary school, I knew I enjoyed cooking but I really didn't know much about different techniques. However, the three stage breading station was something I pretty much grew up on. I've never really thought about it until recently. It turns out that the breading station is used throughout most of the world. It seems to be just as common as making a sandwich. The breading station is a three step process where you dredge whatever it is in seasoned flour, then covered with plain egg...

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MICROWAVE RICE

This is a handy little recipe for rice cooked in the microwave oven. It is easy, requires no "pot watching" and produces perfect rice. 2 cups boiling water1 cup long grain white rice (not instant)Mix everything in a heat safe glass or ceramic bowl and cook on high (uncovered) in your microwave for 10 minutes. Remove and fluff with a fork. Return to microwave and cook at 50% power for another 5 minutes....

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Copy and Pasty

I must start this new post by offering apologies to all readers of my blog for my long hiatus. Yeah, sorry about that. As my old Italian neighbour used to say, "Whatta goin to do?"I have been very busy with cooking classes these passed few months and I would like to say thank you to all those who come to my classes and to the co-ordinators who book them. Very swell of you. For me, what is more rewarding than anything else is when someone tells me about their successful attempts to use my recipes....

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