cauliflower in garlic sauce

December is a month of frosty winters and lost bets. Well..it was on my end. My family keeps telling me to write down my passwords or i will forget them. And that was precisely what happened. I forgot my password to my blog and was shut out. My family tried breaking the lock with numerous options but all was futile. In my annoyance i told them that if they manage to open my blog i will treat them with Chinese. Soon after this motivation they somehow got through. So i paid with Chinese. I made this amazing recipe of crispy florets of cauliflower in garlic sauce. They loved it. Its really quite simple and my 80 yr old mother in law also enjoyed it too.
Ingredients

1 medium sized cauliflower (florets)
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
a pinch of baking soda
salt as per taste
black pepper as per taste
a pinch ajinomoto

Make a loose batter with all the above ingredients with the help of water. Dip the florets in this batter and deep fry until golden brown in hot oil.

Garlic Sauce

15-20 garlic cloves paste
2 green chillies finely chopped
2 tomatoes (boiled and pureed)
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
salt and black pepper as per taste
1/2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp cornflour (diluted in water)
1 cup water
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp red chilli pwd

Heat oil in a pan and saute` garlic with green chilly. Then add tomato puree and keep cooking till it leaves oil. Follow it with red chilli and ketchup. Add salt, pepper, sugar and water. Bring it to a boil. Then add cornflower mixture and heat till it thickens. Put in fried florets of cauliflower just before serving. Garnish with roasted sesame seeds.
  

Pallar

Sorry for being away from blogger for a long time. I'm again with you all with a new winter drink..."Pallar". Enjoy this drink on cold winter mornings sitting in sunshine savoring it sip by sip. This drink originated from Uttrakhand containing Mustard seeds as its main punch. Pallar is non-fat, healthy drink with a tangy flavor.

Ingredients
Serves : 6

1 Ltr Buttermilk
2 tsp Mustard pwd
1/2 tsp Red chilli pwd
1/2 tsp Turmeric pwd
4 pcs Cloves
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
1/4 tsp Cumin seeds
1 pinch of Hing
2 whole Red chilli
2 tbsp Boondi
Salt as per taste
Oil

Put all the ingredients except oil, cloves, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, whole red chilli in the buttermilk. Heat oil in a small container and add the rest of the ingredients in it and temper it. After it gets crackling pour it over the buttermilk mixture. Keep the beverage aside for 24 hrs. Stir and add fresh green coriander. Drink and enjoy.

Recipe for a warm sweet and sour soup

When working women have a shortage of time they still want to take care of their family and feed them nutritious food in a short span. The food should be healthy, full of vitamins and vegetables. The kids despise vegetables and you have to think of innovative ways of cooking them. Soup is a perfect blend of taste and nutrition. It is easy to make and gives warmth on cold winter evenings. While making soup we have to keep our children in mind as i do keeping my son in mind. My son Niel is a choosy eater. He dislikes vegetables but when i make this soup he wipes the bowl clean.
SWEET AND SOUR SOUP
Serves: 6

6 medium size tomatoes
6 cups water
2 tbsp finely chopped cabbage
2 tbsp grated carrots
1 tbsp finely chopped french beans
1 tbsp finely chopped cottage cheese
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tbsp chilly sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper powder
salt as per taste
2 tsp oil

wash the tomatoes. take 5 tomatoes and put them in a pressure cooker with 6 cups of water. Wait for 1 whistle. Churn when cool and put the paste aside after putting it through sieve. Chop the remaining tomato. Heat the oil in a pan and saute` the chopped tomato. Put french beans and carrot followed by cabbage on high flame. Add all the liquid ingredients and then add tomato puree. When it comes to boil add salt and black pepper. Dilute cornstarch in a bowl of water and add it to the soup. Stir continuously till thick. Garnish with cottage cheese and serve hot.

Recipe for a warm sweet and sour soup

When working women have a shortage of time they still want to take care of their family and feed them nutritious food in a short span. The food should be healthy, full of vitamins and vegetables. The kids despise vegetables and you have to think of innovative ways of cooking them. Soup is a perfect blend of taste and nutrition. It is easy to make and gives warmth on cold winter evenings. While making soup we have to keep our children in mind as i do keeping my son in mind. My son Niel is a choosy eater. He dislikes vegetables but when i make this soup he wipes the bowl clean.
SWEET AND SOUR SOUP
Serves: 6

6 medium size tomatoes
6 cups water
2 tbsp finely chopped cabbage
2 tbsp grated carrots
1 tbsp finely chopped french beans
1 tbsp finely chopped cottage cheese
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tbsp chilly sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper powder
salt as per taste
2 tsp oil

wash the tomatoes. take 5 tomatoes and put them in a pressure cooker with 6 cups of water. Wait for 1 whistle. Churn when cool and put the paste aside after putting it through sieve. Chop the remaining tomato. Heat the oil in a pan and saute` the chopped tomato. Put french beans and carrot followed by cabbage on high flame. Add all the liquid ingredients and then add tomato puree. When it comes to boil add salt and black pepper. Dilute cornstarch in a bowl of water and add it to the soup. Stir continuously till thick. Garnish with cottage cheese and serve hot. 

First Step..

Welcome to my blog. I am Nilima Gupta, 50, mother of three and i love to cook. I feel happiest when i am in my kitchen cooking and also when people enjoy my food. I have a small and quaint kitchen garden in my backyard. I have pots full of fragrant herbs like coriander, mint, lemongrass, bay leaf, cinnamon, curry leaf etc. I have three trees of seedless lemon which give me ample of juice. I like to cook with my home produce because i believe that the beauty of the dish lies in its fresh ingredients. I love to explore culinary delights of different countries. They motivate me and inspire me. I also cook Chinese food which is devoured by my family every Saturday night. I have plenty of stories and recipes that i would love to share with you all. See you in some time with new story and tips.