Peaceful Goa.....

Yes that is how I like it! Just lazing around in different locales at Aashyana Lakhanpal! Right now having tea in the characteristic verandah, looking on to the green cover under the coconut trees, with sounds of the birds and the sea. Not for me the noisy part of Goa--the streets full of humans, vehicles, et al. Getting ready for the ayurvedic massage before relaxing by the pool......

I Love Broccoli.....

The simpler the preparation, the tastier it is!!
Just cut into florets and chop the stalks to size (they are the juiciest bits). Boil some water, plunge the prepared vegetable into the boiling water...let it come to boil again and quickly drain out the broccoli and plunge in cold water. Now is the fun part. Just before serving put a dollop of butter in a pan, throw the broccoli in, sprinkle some salt and pepper, toss to mix and serve....yum!

Maestro Cooker....

Just discovered another excellent use of the maestro http://www.shopmania.in/shopping~online-other-kitchen-appliances~buy-maestro-multi-cooker-electric-model-mc-2-plus~p-3447009.html !

Used it like a double boiler---so much more convenient! Was making my souffle custard which I generally do in a pan over another pan of water. And that is when I realised this is also a 'pan' over water, and presto! It worked. Should be good for melting chocolate, scrambled and all such things!! Thank you Maestro!

Quick Chocolate Icing......

Heat 500ml cream, bring to a boil. Shut off the heat and add 500 gms semi sweet chocolate. Cover and let melt and then cool, stirring off and on. Your icing is ready! Of course if you want it sweeter, dissolve some sugar before adding the chocolate and use hot milk if you want it thinner....

Plums....fallen ones!

My heart sank when I saw what yesterday's hailstorm had done to the 'growing' plums on our favorite tree in Mussourie. Standing under the wide tree,laden with fruit,I as there, rueing the fallen green fruit (an unusual sight for us urbanites!), I was loathe to let them just be swept away into the trash. Then the idea struck.....if we can use dried ripe plums as souring agents, why not these? So I decided to make a new version of ' Sindhi Kadhi'! No besan in the kitchen so used whole wheat flour and green plums instead of kokum! Voila! the 'Kadhi' was ready! Decided not to indulge into the favorite combination of Toook aloo with it though....

Italian Style Tomato Sauce

http://www.niruskitchen.com/recipes/details.asp?recipe_id=54
Just realised it's a good time to make some of this and freeze! Very handy for quick pasta dishes. Enjoy!

Mushrooms Bites

Wipe 200 g button mushrooms with a damp cloth. Chop into halves and saute in a tbsp of olive oil over high heat till glossy. Cool. Place mushrooms along with a slice of chopped bread, salt and black pepper in a blender jar and process. Shape the paste like mixture into balls of desired size (you can add soemmore seasoning or cheese if you like), roll in semolina (soojee) and pan fry or deep fry. The most important next--serve hot with ketchup or chilli sauce.......and say 'Yummmm'!