Tambdi Bhaji - American Style

It's been a while since we posted recipes here.. I am still waiting for VanduBen to post here...Hopefully the instructions I sent were clear enough.
So, here is a twist on the classic tambdi bhaji (that happens to be one of Pappa's favorites dishes). I was first introduced to this leafy vegetable in the US by dear Cousin Smi, the Red Swiss Chard. My motto for cooking on a week days is "anything that can be done in 15 minutes or less" because that all I can afford to spend per dish before i get interrupted by my naughty little elf. This recipe has no coconut, no grinding of masala etc. I made it yesterday so it has been tried and tasted and is worth a try.

Ingredients
1 bunch of Red Swiss Chard, finely chopped
5-6 cloves of garlic
one small red onion, finely chopped
2 tsps dhaniya-jeera powder
1- 2 cups of Trader Joe's plain yogurt
small piece of winet squash (white pumpkin)
salt, chilli powder as per taste


Take a couple of teaspoons of oil in a kadhai. Add the garlic and onions and fry them till it turns golden brown. Add the dhaniya-jeera powder, turmeric, chilli powder,salt and saute it some more. Add the chopped swiss chard and stir-fry it on high for a few minutes. Add some water and let it cook for a few minutes. Cook the squash in the microwave for 4 minutes and add it to the chard. Add the yogurt at the end and cook for another few minutes and its done.

You can give a phan with sasam and kadi patta before serving...Enjoy.

Happy Birthday Samar !!!

Wishing Samar a very Happy Birthday from all of us here in Phoenix. T is not able to understand why it can't be like last year when we had Cousin Smi and San and family here for Christmas. It was such a wonderful time to see everyone together. Well, on that note hope our dear little Samar has a great birthday with his "very cute" sis (in his own words).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...HAPPY BIRTHDAY...HAPPY BIRTHDAY...TO YOU.

Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwiches

Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwiches

Ingredients

Cream cheese (plain/regular)
Cucumber - grated and sqeezed dry
Salt and Pepper

Method
Mix all the ingredients and apply a layer of the spread on two slices of bread. Cut diagonally and make pretty triangles. Enjoy...

Mayo and Cucumber Sandwiches

Mayo and cucumber Sandwiches

-Mayonaisse
- Mustard
-Cucumber
- Bread Slices

Method
1 Apply mayo on both slices of bread. Apply a little mustard on both slices. Finely cut cucumber slices. Place of one side of the bread. Close with the second slice of bread. Cut into triangles on squares

Egg and Cheese Triangles

Egg and Cheese Triangles

- 1 med Tortilla
- 1 Egg
- Shredded cheese/1 Slice Cheese
-Salt to taste

Method
1. Scramble egg in a pan using a little pepper, salt and butter.
2. In another pan, warm the tortilla. Apply butter on one side. On the other side, arrange the scrambled eggs on half of the tortilla, cover with cheese and then close the tortilla. Flip the tortilla on the other side.
3. Cut into wedges and serve with Ketchup

Where is everybody ?

What a khazana we have so far. The pictures are mouth-watering and the recipes are invaluable. But where are all the others? Smami from Jogeshwari (I have to say from where because all my mami's are Smami's :-) ), Rmam, Pachchi's recipes are all needed here. Dada is in mumbai and hopefully should be getting Aai's recipes back for us.



Samikism :
It was Samik's bday last week and the sky opened up to pour out blessings in the form of rain. And yes, his party was supposed to be in the park, of course. So, we had them all at home and were done with the party (bcoz samik refused to be "four" till he had a party !!!). That evening after he had looked at all his presents we asked him to choose two, to open and the rest to put away for another time. So, he opens the two, plays with it for a few minutes and a few minutes later brings the boxes back and starts shoving the pieces back into the box. " I am putting this back in the box now, amma." he says. "WHY??"I said. " Now, I can open two others, right ?" !!!! Thats Samik for you...

Sharu's delicacies - Wadis/ Khadis/ Barfis

I grew up in a 'sweet' household, where we were all sweet toothed and every meal had to end with a sweet - a wadi/khadi (barfi). Aai, thus has perfected the art of making wadis and has experimented and learned various kinds of barfis from friends and family. Here are some of my Baba's favorites. He was a true sweet lover and would relish food to aai's delight.


Coconut Barfi

400 g dessicated coconut powder
3oo g Sugar
200 g Mawa (Slightly roasted)
1 tspn Elaichi powder
a pinch of (saffron optional)

Make the sugar syrup with two string consistency. Add coconut, add the mawa and stir for a few minutes. Remove from heat and stir until it thickens. Pour the mixture over a flat tray(greased with ghee). Cut into desired shapes.

Cashew Barfi

250 g Cashew powdered
1oo g Sugar
1 tspn Elaichi powder
a pinch of (saffron optional)

Follow the same instructions as in the coconut Barfi.

Badaam Barfi

1 cup Badaam (pre-soaked in water, skinned and ground to a paste)
1 cup Sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 tspn Elaichi powder
a pinch of (saffron optional)

Mix all the above ingredients and stir on low fire. Stir until it leaves the sides of the pan. Pour and spread into a greased thali and cut into desired shapes.

Til wadi

1 and 1/2 cup roasted til powder
1 cup peanut powder
1/2 cup roasted cashew powder
2 cups Sugar
1 tspn Elaichi powder
a pinch of (saffron optional)


Make the sugar syrup with two string consistency. Add above ingredients.
Sir for a few minutes. When mixture has the right consistency pour the mixture over a flat tray(greased with ghee). Cut into desired shapes.

Dudhi Bhopla (bottle gourd) Barfi

2 cups grated Dudhi
1 cup thick milk or cream
2 cups sugar
1 tspn Elaichi powdera pinch of (saffron optional)

Cook Dudhi in milk. When it gets dried up, add sugar. When mixture leaves the sides of the pan, remove from heat and stir for a few minutes. When mixture has the right consistency pour the mixture over a flat tray(greased with ghee). Cut into desired shapes.

Note: This recipe can also be used to make carrots, peas (cooked and crushed) barfi.