Cracked Wheat Upma

Finally got some sleep over this weekend. Was sleep deprived last couple of weeks with hectic schedule. Today's recipe is my usual weekend b'fast (especially on busy weekends). Just in 10 mts nutritional b'fast will be ready.

Ingredients:

1 cup of cracked wheat (Medium coarse)
1/2 medium sized onion finely chopped
4 or 5 green chilies slit length wise (Increase or decrease as per your spice level)
1 medium sized potato or carrot cut into small cubes (Optional)
2 medium sized tomatoes chopped finely (optional)
1/4tsp grated ginger
1tsp mustard seeds
1tsp chana dal
1tsp cashews(optional)
few curry leaves
1tbsp oil
Salt as per taste
Lemon juice(Optional.)

Procedure:

In a wok/pan add oil, once oil is hot add tampering items( Mustard seeds, chana dal, Cashews. ) Once mustard seeds start spluttering add curry leaves, green chilies, grated ginger. Once curry leaves start spluttering add chopped onions, once onions turn translucent add chopped veggies(including tomatoes). Shallow fry the veggies for few mts. Add cracked wheat and fry for few mts till wheat is evenly roasted and nice aroma spreads the kitchen. Add salt and water(1:2 ratio) adjust spices. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat till wheat is cooked.

Yummy healthy b'fast is ready to be served. Sprinkle lemon juice and serve with ketchup.

DIY- Wooden Table top for Food Photography

If you are a food blogger, you will surely spend quite bit of time in photography. I do that a lot. I surely not an expert in photography but I am trying to learn from fellow bloggers, photography books and my friends. For any picture to look great background makes a major role. It surely helps to set the mood of the photograph.

How many of you wonder looking at amazing pics in few blogs wondering how did they get that wonderful background? I was one of them. Luckily found Yadsia's blog Shop Cook Make where she demonstrated how to make your own inexpensive wooden table top. Thank you Yadsia.

I did not follow the steps exactly. With few variations made my own wooden boards for my photography.

Here are the steps which I followed.

Tools/Items needed:

I got wood shims from home depot $4.50 each pack (1 pack contained 34 pieces. I bought 2 packets),
Wood glue - $4.50
Brush -(98 cents)
Sample white paint ($2.50)
Acrylic paints (I found few from my storage) ( If you do not have you can buy from any craft store for $1)

News paper or old cloth to work on.

Total cost =$20-- Made 3 table tops. (Different shades for each side so totally i got 6 table tops )



Step 1.

Lay old cloth or news paper to protect your floor while making this table.
To make a square shaped table top take 12 shims arrange side by side.
FYI -- Wood shims which i got from Home Depot were one side thick other side very thin. First I was worried that these won't work but managed to make it work by arranging shims in the same direction (Thicks on the same side).

Step 2.

Apply glue.



Step 3

Take 12 more shims arrange on top of the glue in opposite direction. Place some heavy books on top of this table. Leave it over night.(Till glue dries)



Step 4

Now you are ready to paint. Pick whatever the color you want and paint.





Here are the pics with my board.






If this post helped you to make your own table top please share your pics. I would love to see your creation.

Pani Puri

The word Pani Puri makes me drool. I can't even express in words how much my daughter loves Pani Puri. She will just eat all day If I allow her. Crispy puris filled with tangy, spicy mixture dipped in spicy water is just mouth watering.
Whatever I say is less when it comes to describing the taste of pani puri. One have to experience that.

I can never forget my days in mumbai when it comes pani puri. There are times when I traveled 10kms just to eat pani Puri. (That place is none other than Bandra in mumbai).

Due to my hectic schedule unable to complete the recipe in detail. Details later..

For now just the pic..

Avocado Egg Rolls

After a long break from blogging, I am back with a yummy appetizer which I made last weekend for Super bowl party.

It is hard to resist eating just 1 item from Bj's or Cheesecake Factory appetizer menu, which is Avocado egg rolls. I always wanted to try this item at home. Finally got a chance to try it over the weekend. For sure this item is a crowd pleaser. So try this appetizer next time when you have a party.

Source:- Web with few variations

Ingredients:
Filling:

4 Semi fruit Avocados (I like to have crunch so i used semi fruit)
1/2 onion chopped finely
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes
4-5 stem of cilantros
1-2 tspn sea salt (Adjust as per taste)
1tsp olive oil
Oil for shallow fry
Spring roll pastry sheets

Cilantro dipping sauce:

1 bunch of cilantro
1/8cup(10-15 pieces) of cashews (Optional. But this makes sauce creamy)
1/4 cup agave/honey
1tbsp tamarind pulp
2tsp rice vinegar
1tsp balsamic vinegar
1tsp cumin powder
1/2tsp ground pepper (Adjust as per your spice)
2 green chilies(Optional)
2tsp olive oil

Procedure:

Dipping sauce:

In a food processor make a paste of cilantro and cashews.(If you like spicy add few green chilies). In a bowl add agave, tamarind pulp, rice vinegar, Balsamic vinegar, cumin powder and ground pepper mix well and heat for 2 mts in microwave. Once the mixture is cooled add coriander paste and mix well. Adjust the spices and keep it in refrigerator.

Filling:

Cut Avocados into small cubes. In a bowl add avocados, chopped onions, chopped cilantro, chopped sun dried tomatoes, olive oil and sea salt and mix well.

Wrapping Rolls:

Place your wrapper triangle shaped on the flat surface. Add 1 spoon of filling in the middle. Fold one corner of the wrapper nearest to your filling and tuck in. Now take one corner on the side and fold inward. Repeat the step for opposite side. Now roll carefully to the top corner and seal with avocado filling.

Here is the video of me rolling:




Now shallow fry in a pan or deep fry. I did shallow fry. Remove from oil and damp any excess oil with absorbent paper. cut diagonally and serve with Cilantro dipping sauce.

Crispy, Yummy Avocado rolls melts in your mouth.

Super Bowl fever..

Had a great time watching Giants winning the super bowl with friends. Won a small gift for betting against Patriots. Sorry patriots fans. Better luck next time. Wanted to try something creative for the potluck and ended up making Football shaped Watermelon along with Avocado egg rolls for the potluck. I used chocolate to decorate the watermelon.


Source -Web (Idea suggested by my friend Mary-Tu).