Announcing "Serve It" Series.. Serve It-Grilled

'Serve It' is a series of event focusing on cooking techniques started by my dear friend Denny of Oh Taste N See and me. After a grand success of the Serve It - Chilled last month at Denny's, the event is happening here this month. The round up of the last month's Serve It event can be checked out here.This month's theme is Serve It - Grilled. According to wiki, Grilling is a form of cooking that involves dry heat applied to the surface of food, commonly from above or below and usually involves quite a lot of direct, radiant heat, and tends to be used for cooking the food. It is the oldest form of cooking known to man, i.e. cooking...

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Tomato Sambar for Idli/Dosa | Side Dish for Idli Dosa

This Tomato sambar is an easy-to-make and a perfect side dish for idli and dosa. Always a staple side dish at our home this is a simple sambar which can be done in less than 30 minutes. Made using the freshest ingredients, it is an all-time favorite. This also makes an excellent combo for parotta.Ingredients:Tomato - 1 - chopped fineOnions - Chopped - 1 cupOil - 2 tspMustard seeds - 1/2 tspCurry leaves - a fewSalt - to tasteMake a paste:Grated coconut - 1/4 cupRoasted gram dhal/pottukadalai - 2 tbspCloves - 3Cinnamon - 1" pieceFennel seeds - 1 tspTurmeric powder - 1/4 tspChilli powder - 1/2 tsp or 3/4 tsp (based on spice level)Coriander seeds...

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Banana Walnut Bread

My DH loves Banana Nut bread, which we get from our local bakery. It is one of the few sweets that he likes very much, quoting he is not much of a sweet-tooth person. I was planning to bake one for him and was searching for a really soft, bakery-style banana nut quick-bread recipe. I was very happy when I made this best, moist and melt-in-the-mouth bread.Ingredients:Adapted from hereAll purpose flour/Maida - 2 cupsBaking soda - 1 tspSalt - 1/4 tspWalnuts - toasted and chopped - 1/2 cupButter - 1/2 cup or 1 stick - softened (room temperature)Sugar - 1 cupLight brown sugar - 1/4 cup (can replace with regular sugar if desired)Eggs - 2 (room temperature)Vanilla...

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My Granola

This is my easy recipe for basic granola.It has none of the things I dislike in granola. It only has the ingredients I like; Oatmeal, Nuts, Honey, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Oil Mix it up in a bowl. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet and bakeuntil golden and dry to the touch, stirring once. Let cool. Break it up and store in an airtight container.It's nice and crunchy.Enjoy for breakfast or grab a handful for a snack.Here you can add what you like; sliced bananas, raisins, dried fruit, etc.Jar some up and give as a gift too. My Granola3C oatmeal1 C sliced almonds1 C chopped pecans1/2 C vegetable/canola oil1/4...

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Spinach Dhal - Simple and hearty quickie | Indian Curry Recipes

Who says Fast foods are not healthy? Ok, here I do not mean the fast foods we get in a restaurant chains with empty carbs or deep fried foods. I mean a simple and quick dhal which can also be very healthy. This spinach dhal is rich in protein, calcium and iron. So here is a tasty and wholesome meal ready in under 30 minutes. Ingredients:Serves: 3-4Moong dhal - 1/2 cupBaby Spinach - 2 handfulsOnion - chopped - 1/2 cupTomato - chopped - 2 tbspDry Red chillies - 3Garlic - 5 to 6 clovesSalt - to tasteOil - 2 tspCumin seeds - 1/2 tspCurry leaves -  a fewMethod:Wash  and soak the moong dhal for 5 minutes. Heat oil in a pressure cooker...

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Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins (Eggless)

Are you searching for a healthy and tasty oatmeal muffin which is eggless, butter-less, and low in sugar? Here it is. I wanted to make something different for breakfast, but didn't really want to miss my regular oatmeal. So I whipped up this quick and easy muffins with my instant flavored oatmeal packets at hand. The whole batch was ready in 30 mins, this includes the preparation and baking time. This muffin is comparatively healthier than the regular muffins and definitely would not add on to your muffin top. Taken with a glass of Orange juice and fresh fruits it makes a complete and satisfying breakfast.Ingredients:For 6 regular...

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Baked Banana Blossom Fritters / Baked Vazhaipoo Vadais | Indian Appetizers

I believe many of you would be like me when it comes to deep fried foods. Would love deep fried foods but reluctant to fry even occasionally due to the fat content and calories in it. I had always been finding ways to replace deep frying whenever possible. I used to oven roast potatoes, cauliflower, bitter gourd and even bell peppers. This time I wanted to bake the all-time favorite vadas but didn't want to compromise on the taste though. I was actually keeping my fingers crossed until the vadas were ready and I tasted one. I was really happy that the taste was exactly the same and even more happier when my DH gave a thumbs up. It was a super-crispy,...

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Tilapia Meuniere

I love Sole Meuniere. It was one of my first French dinners at a wonderful restaurant in Chicago.It's such a simple recipe that I have adapted it to use with tilapia.Meuniere basically means dredged in flour and sauteed in butter with lemon and parsley.It's very basic, quick and easy.It's my favorite way to cook fish.Start with fresh tilapia filets. One per person.Rinse and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper.Flour, butter, fresh parsley are all you need.No exact measuring. Dredge the filets in flour to coat;shake off excess. Heat a large skillet over medium high and addthe butter, about 1 T per filet.Let the butter...

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