Sabudana Khichdi/Tapioca Pearls Stir Fry

Sabudana Khichdi, a mouth watering dish can be served as b'fast/light luch/light dinner. I still remember the day when I had this first time in Mumbai at my work place. Love the spice, crunch and texture of this recipe. At my place usually we make kheer with Tapioca pearls never thought of making khichdi. After tasting this decided to learn and give a try. Thanks to my mumbai friends for the recipe.

Tapioca pearls in hindi called "Sabudana". In Telugu it is called "Saggu Biyyam". These pearls are Gluten free.



Ingredients:

2 cups of tapioca pearls/sabudana
2 medium sized potato cubed.(You can substitute this with any other vegetable like carrots or peas)
4 or 5 green chilies slit lengthwise (Adjust as per your spice level)
1/2 cup peanuts
4 or 5 red chilies
Chopped coriander for garnish
1/2tsp cumin seeds
1/2tsp mustard seeds
salt
oil for shallow fry
pinch of turmeric
1tsp lemon juice

Procedure:

Wash sabudana and soak in 1/3 cup of water for 4 hours. Check in between and if you find pearls are too dry sprinkle little bit water. Half cook cubed potatoes either in microwave or on the stove. Roast peanuts and red chilies on medium heat. 1/8 cup or few peanuts keep it aside and remaining peanuts and roasted chilies make fine powder using coffee grinder or any mixer.
In a non stick pan add oil , once is oil is hot add mustard seeds, cumin seed. Once mustard seeds start splattering add green chilies,pinch of turmeric and potatoes. stir fry for 3 to 4 mts add remaining peanuts, sabudana/tapioca pearls, peanut powder and salt. Stir fry for 5 to 6 mts till pearls are translucent. Turn off the heat add lemon juice and mix.
Garnish with coriander and serve hot.

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..