Amla Rasam/Indian gooseberry Rasam

I made this Amla Rasam as part of Tamilnadu Thali. This Rasam is made with fresh amla and really good for your health. The process is really simple, everyone loved the taste of refreshing Rasam.

Preparation Time : 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves : 4-5

Ingredients:

Amla/Indian gooseberry: 1/4 cup, seeds taken out and chopped.
Green chilies: 5 chopped
Cilantro/Coriander leaves : 1 bunch, chopped
Salt to taste
Water: 3 cups
Whole black pepper: 1 teaspoon
Turmeric: 1/2 teaspoon

For Tempering:
Dry red chilies : 2
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 teaspoon
Aavalu/ Mustard seeds : 1/2 teaspoon
Curry leaves : 1 sprig

Method:

Take amla pieces, cilantro and green chilies in a small blender and make into a paste.
Heat oil in a saucepan and add whole black pepper and fry for 1 minute.
Add the amla paste and fry for 2 minutes or until the smell goes away.
Add turmeric, salt and water. Bring it to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Turn off the stove.
Heat oil for Tempering and add all ingredients except curry leaves, fry for 1 minute. Add curry leaves and add the Tempering to the Rasam.
Serve hot with rice.



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Watermelon Mint Cooler

Watermelon mint cooler is a simple to make drink which has natural ingredients. Kids really loved the cooler as it's very refreshing. Sending this recipe to blogging marathon #70 under fruit based recipes.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Makes : 2 glasses

Ingredients:

Watermelon pieces : 4 cups
Mint leaves : 2 tablespoons
Honey : 2 tablespoons
Ice cubes : 1 cup

Method:

Take all ingredients in a blender and blend till the mixture is smooth. Serve cold topped with some honey and mint leaves.


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Guava Parcels

I love guava and when I saw these pretty pinkish guavas in the market, I couldn't resist myself. My daughter likes them but my son is not a big fan of them. So, I tried to make these parcels so he would at least try them out. He ate one and he was " I love these mom, how many more do you have for me!! can you make these more often..." It was a surprise for me as he stays a little far from fruits. So, here is a quick and delicious treat for the kids. This dish is going to blogging marathon #70 under kids delight.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time : 15 minutes
Serves : 2

Ingredients:

Guava : 3 large cut into pieces (Ripe)
Sugar : 1 tablespoon
Cream cheese : 1/2cup
Spring roll sheets : 8
Cooking thread : To tie the parcels

Method:

Take the guava pieces and sugar in a pan and cook till they turn mushy. Let them cool off for 5 minutes.
Take 2 spring roll sheets, put 2 teaspoons of cream cheese and a table spoon of guava paste. Now, just pull the edges on the top to look like a parcel and tie it with the cooking thread.
Repeat the process for the rest of the three parcels.
Heat oil for deep frying and fry the parcels for 2 minutes each or until they turn golden on all sides. Take them out and drain them on a paper towel.
Serve immediately.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#70

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Apple Cinnamon rolls are a great party starter or a yummy snack. I made these this time to teach a my daughter and her 2 friends how to make them. They all thoroughly enjoyed the cooking process and the taste of them. I had to beg them to wait so I can take pics for the blog 😃.  They were eating off the filling before making the rolls... it was a fun experience. Sending this dish to blogging marathon #70 under kids delight.  

Preparation Time: 10 minutes 
Cook Time: 2 minutes per roll
Makes : 15 rolls

Ingredients:

Red Apples - 3 peeled and chopped finely
Cinnamon powder: 1 tablespoon
Powdered Sugar : 1/2 cup
Salt : 1/2 teaspoon 
Lemon : 1/2 a medium 
Spring roll sheets : 15
Water : 2 tablespoons
Maida /all purpose flour : 1 teaspoon 

Method: Take the apple pieces, add lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, salt and mix well.  Mix all purpose flour and water to make a mixture. Take the homemade or store bought spring roll sheets and place a tablespoon of the apple mixture in a corner and roll them like spring rolls. At the end, seal it with the APF and water mixture so the roll sticks. Heat oil for deep frying and slowly drop the rolls in the oil 2-3 at a time. Fry them till they turn golden on all sides, take them out with a strainer and place them on a paper towel for 1 minute. Sprinkle some cinnamon powder on top and serve hot or at room temperature. (If serving hot, you can serve with some ice cream too). Note: Step by step Folding instructions of a spring roll is in my vegetable rolls post.

Virgin Mojito

Mojito is normally made with alcohol. But Virgin Mojito is alcohol free and kid friendly. It's a refreshing drink with flavors of mint and strawberry.
My princess is into cooking now a days so she helped prep this one. Both the loved the drink.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2

Ingredients:
 Sparkling soda : 500 ml
 Strawberry crush : 2 tablespoons
 Mint leaves: 2 tablespoons
 Lemon : 1/2 of a small
 Ice : 1 cup

Method:

Crush the Mint leaves using a muddler or a mortar pestal. Add all ingredients in a bottle with a tight lid and shake vigorously for 1 minute. Serve immediately.

Pepper Rasam

Pepper Rasam is a simple Rasam recipe which helps with the colds. You can serve this as soup or mixed with white rice. It's simple to make yet really delicious.  

  Preparation Time: 5 minutes 
  Cook Time: 20 minutes 
  Serves: 4-5  

  Ingredients: Tomatoes: 2 large chopped  Garlic : 5 cloves roughly mashed  Fresh ground pepper: 1 tablespoon  Turmeric: 1/2 teaspoon  Asafoetida : 1/2 teaspoon  Mustard seeds/ Aavalu : 1 teaspoon  Curry leaves: 2 sprigs Water:3 cups Salt to taste.  

  Method: Heat oil in a saucepan or a vessel and add mustard seeds. Let them splatter, add curry leaves and asafoetida and fry for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and garlic, cook until they turn mushy.  Add water, ground pepper, turmeric, salt and bring it to a boil. Let it boil for 5 minutes and turn off the stove. Serve hot as soup or with white rice.  

     

Gudannam / Jaggery Rice - 8th day Navratri Neivedyam

Gudannam/Jaggery Rice is the 8th day Navratri Neivedyam. As the name says, this rice is made with jaggery, ghee and topped with nuts. Only use Jaggery in the preparation of this rice if making it as Neivedyam. Sugar can not be used.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 2-3

Ingredients:

Rice : 1 cup
Jaggery /Gud/Bellam : 1 cup
Water : 2 cups
Ghee : 1 1/2 tablespoons
Cashews : 15
Raisins : 10
Elachi/Cardamom powder : 1/2 teaspoon

Method :

Wash and soak rice for 15 minutes.
Heat water in a vessel and bring it to a boil. Drain and add rice to water. Let it cook for 10 minutes and add grated jaggery. Mix well and 1 tablespoon ghee and elachi powder. Cook until the rice is completely cooked. The rice will be a little soft but that's how this rice is made. Turn off the stove.
Heat ghee in a small pan and fry the cashews and raisins. Fry till golden and add them to the rice.
Mix well and serve at room temperature.