Blogging Marathon #3 - 7 Day Marathon!

Here comes another edition of Blogging Marathon. The first time I did for 31 days it was really very hectic. But from the feedback I got, I decided to do a 7 day Marathon. The response was even more electric. So much so that so many wrote back asking to join. The Marathon was very successful and everybody felt enriched with the experience.

Though all of us were happy getting to know so many new bloggers and made friends for life. For my own part, it has enriched my blogging life much more than I can say. I would surely want many more such experience to get know more and share lot with others.

Towards that I thought I should limit the number of bloggers joining the group to 12. The main reason being, when there are many each of the members might feel very hard pressed to check everybody on the list. So based on how this edition goes, I will change the rules again.

so for now first come first bases. The first 12 bloggers who write in to me, will be selected. I know how hard it was for me to decide this, believe me. But I wanted to experiment with it. So if you are interested, please hurry up!

I would like to thank Champa for her valuable inputs in suggesting these themes

As we saw, have some themes makes this more fun to do.

Mandatory rules for this Blogging Marathon are as below:

1. Will have to post on all 7 days without fail
2. Should follow the accepted theme all 7 days, meaning if you choose one topic like Rice, you should post all rice based recipes all 7 days.
3. Should link up to all the bloggers who are part of this session.
4. Should actively give feedback on others post.

Any one of the Theme that all of us can take will be:

30 minutes meals

Kid friendly Recipes

Seven days of Rice

Seven days of Salad

Select one dish for 7 different events going on. (meaning each day's post should be fitting to an online event)

Healthy bread with only 30 minutes work. (Raise time, oven time is not included)

Baked good.

I decided that the choice could be hard, so if you want I can make an exception and allow you to post one of each type a day. But I hope you will want to be taking up the challenge of other themes.

Marathon will begin on 3rd March and go on till 9th March. Please email me spicingyourlife@gmail.com if you are interested. I will respond with the details that are required.

Last date to email me your interest will be March 2nd 6 pm IST, as I will have to send the details to all the participants.

Thanks for the interest Friends. I am happy to say that I got 12 within moments of opening up! I feel so sorry in saying no to some of you. Hope you can all join me next time.

Kid's Delight ~ Street Food Round up

As I said about Chocolate Feast, Street Food for Kid's Delight was simply out of the world. Especially when I did the 7 Day Marathon, Konda loved those daily dose of Chaats. So much so that when I didn't make, she was pestering me to make some.

Of course with her we also enjoyed our chats and I planned I should make it frequently.

As you might have read, Kid's Delight is now being guest hosted by Champa.

Without much ado, let me present you the excellent collection of Street Foods.

Chitra's Peanut Chaat
Kaveri's Pav Bhaji
Nivedita's Bhel
PJ's Vada Pav
PJ's Sev Puri Chaat
PJ's Aloo Paneer Chaat
PJ's Dahi Papdi Chaat
PJ's Masala Pav
PJ's Pav Bhaji
Priyanka's chana masala
Rujuta's Rujuta's Corn Bhel
Savitha's Paani poori
Shanavi's Masala Puri
Smita's Punjabi Paadi Chaat
Smita's Pav Bhaaji
Srivalli's Dahi Papdi Chat
Srivalli's Dahi Samosa Chat
Srivalli's Ragda Patties

Suma Gandlur's Papdi Chaat
Sunandas kitchen's Aloo Chat
Veena Aravind's Fruity Golgappa

Ayeesha's Vegetable Cutlets
Gayathri Kumar's Baked Green Peas and Palak Cutlets
Kalve's Spicy Vegetable Hearts
PJ's Batata Vada
Priya Mahadevan's Aloo Tikkis with Low fat Cream Cheese
Smitha's Atukula cutlet
Srivalli's Rice Tikkis
Usha's Falafel

Akila's Marina Beach Milagi Bajji
Akila's Eggplant Masala Bhajji
Priya Suresh's Batata Poha Vada
Priya Suresh's Peanut & Poha Pakoda
Smita's Batata Vada
Srivalli's Alasandalu Carrot Vada

Jayasri's Gobi Manchurian - No oil version
Monika's Less Guilty Burger
Priya Suresh's Peanut Mango Sundal
Priyanka's poori or aloo bhaji
Shanavi's Crostini
Smita's Paneer Pakoda
Sowmya's Tawa pulao
Supriya's Frankie
Veena Aravind's Mysore Churmuri
Wit,wok@wisdom's Scrambled eggs topped Ramen - quick,simple and cool!

Meena Thennaapan's Jam n Cheese Sandwich
Meena Thennaapan's Masala Cheese Sandwich
Pari's Bi Coloured Italian Sandwich
Srivalli's Chili Cheese Toast
Srivalli's Bombay Grilled Sandwich


Thank you everybody for sending in your delicious entries. If I have missed out any entry, I sincerely apologize for the overlook. Please let me know so that I can rectify it right away!

Looking forward to all your continued support for this wonderful event.

Do check out the rules if you have any doubt.

Please check out the Kid's Delight Host List

Champa is doing a running Round up of Restaurant Recreations.


And since the special feature of  Kid's Delight calls for a volunteer who will want to try out the entries that are sent in, please rise your hands!

I shall put your name against Kid's Delight Volunteers and you can delight your kid with these dishes!

Kid's Delight Host List & Kid's Delight Volunteers

Though I did the Blogging Marathon for 30 long days, I think all of us were exhausted just by the posts we had to do. So when it was just for 7 days, it brought me closer to many more bloggers and gave room for more interaction.

I have really enjoyed doing it and though the past few days have been hectic, I am sure going to be updated on my blogging marathoners. What was even more special was the fact that all of them came forward to help in hosting my event Kid's Delight and even Volunteered to try out the entries that come for the event.

I have put up the host list and Volunteer list as Pages. Anytime you want to check out, check out the right side bar below the Event Logo for details.

Kid's Delight Host List

Kid's Delight Volunteers

If any of you are interested to volunteer trying out the entries, please leave comment.

Announcing the winner of the Sukham Ayu Cookbook ~ Special feature of ICC January

When I requested Jigyasa & Pratibha, for a recipe to be shared for Indian Cooking Challenge this month, they immediately asked if they could make this event more exciting. Since everybody followed the same recipe, we decided the winner can be selected through a lucky dip.

When the actual day came in for the members to post their version on the 15th, I was very excited. Both the authors were so much taken in by the response, the enthusiasm, each member showed when they recreated the Gujarati Dal from their Vegetarian Cookbook Sukham Ayu in their kitchen.

We waited for all the members to post and picked up a winner. The winner gets a copy of Sukham Ayu.

And the winner is....


PJ of Seduce Your Tastebuds....

Congratulations PJ, we will get in touch with you through email.

I know now you will have more reasons to try out that Kokam you have on hand..:)

PJ is such a sweet lady. She wanted to share her Kokam with me when I mentioned in my post saying I couldn't find it in my place.

Announcing Kid's Delight - Restaurant Recreation to be guest hosted!

Yes you read it right! I was most lucky in finding another blogger who is as interested in trying to find out dishes that our kids would eat without qualms!

Champa, who writes so well on baking basics has graciously accepted to guest host this event on her Blog

When I asked my blogging marathon friends on what they can suggest, Champa came out with this wonderful idea of creating Food that Kids love to eat at the Restaurant. Well it can be anything basically and not just from a restaurant. Like your kid might love a bread from a baker and you can attempt to recreate that at home and your kid didn't even know you made it. I know it's cheating but with picky eaters we got to be innovative.

So here's a chance for you to recreate all those dishes that your kids love eating out. You end up making it all so healthy right, so hurry up!

Event guidelines.

Linking back to my main Kid's Delight Announcement page and Champa's announcement page is mandatory

The entries will have to be Vegetarian, eggs allowed in baking.
But I would love to see some eggless baking as you know.

Please check out the rules if you have any doubt.

Send in your entries to versatilekitchen@gmail.com by 15th March 2011.

Another major attraction would be getting volunteers to try out the entries submitted for the event. We have a group of volunteers who are willing to to try out some of the recipes that come in as an entry to this event. The volunteers can choose their entry and we will also choose something that our kid will want to try. So we are done, we will post the blog with a mention of the source. So, your creation will be appreciated more than once.

So if you like this idea, come join us!

Gujarati Dal from Sukham Ayu | Indian Cooking Challenge for January | How to make Gujarati Dal Step By Step Recipe!

I was really very late in choosing a recipe for this month's Indian Cooking Challenge. I almost thought I will give a month's break when I happen to talk to Pratibha. Over our conversation when she happened to ask about Indian Cooking Challenge, it struck me that I could choose a recipe from their book. When I asked her for a simple yet an authentic dish from their book, Pratibha was most generous to share this Guajarati Dal from their Award Winning book, Sukham Ayu - a vegetarian cookbook of easy & healthy recipes. This is a dish that Jigyasa remembers from her childhood days and one that evokes wonderful memories.

I was immediately all for it and asked her to send me the recipe details right away. I could sense the excitement from all the members when I had announced this challenge. Apart from this I also had another exciting news on hand, which I said will be shared today

I am so excited to share that Pratibha and Jigyasa are happy to gift a copy of Sukham Ayu to One lucky dip Winner.

Once all the members post this challenge on their blogs, the authors will check the participating blogger and select one by doing a Lucky dip. I will be announcing the winners once this is done. The book will be shipped to the winner. I will contact the winner through email for their mailing address.

Disclaimer: I have not received any compensation in doing this review. I have only received an electronic copy of the recipe and all copyright lies with Jigyasa Giri & Pratibha Jain, Authors of Sukham Ayu. The recipe is reproduced here, though in my own words,  with the Authors permission.

Coming to the recipe, as expected I waited for the last weekend to try out this recipe but wanted to remain true to the ingredients and went in search to get those items that I didn't have. Like the recipe called for Kokum, Dried Dates and yam etc. I have never cooked with Yam till now and I thought I should really take this opportunity to try it out. I couldn't find Kokum but got Yam and dried dates.

I followed the recipe to T other than changing some measurements

Step by Step to make Gujarati Dal

Pressure cook the toor dal with turmeric and few drops of oil

Churn it with a lentil masher

Soak the Dried Dates in hot water for 10 mins

Remove the seeds and halve them. You can use the water that it was soaked it.

Chop the Drumsticks, Yam, have the Jaggary, Green Chilies, Ginger ready.

Add all this to the cooked dal along with water.

Then add Coriander and Cumin powder.

Next goes the raw groundnut into the dal.

Ingredients for the tempering

Dhal cooking in the final stage.

GUJARATI  DAL
Source : Sukham Ayu, (reproduced here with Authors permission)

For cooking the dal

Split red gram / Toor Dal - 3/4 cup
Turmeric powder ½ tsp
Few drops of oil

For making Gujarati Dal:

Dry soft kokam - 4-5 pieces / Tamarind pulp - 2 tbsp ( I used Tamarind pulp)
Jaggery  - 1 tsp
Hard dry dates, halved   - 4 (opt)
Drumstick - 2
Yam  - 4-5 pieces, 1 inch cubes
Raw Groundnuts - 1 tbsp
Green chillies, slit - 4
Ginger, grated -  1 inch piece
Coriander powder  - 1 tsp
Roasted Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala - 1/4 tsp
Coriander leaves to garnish
Salt to taste

For tempering:

Ghee  - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds  - 1/2 tsp
Dry red chillies - 2 long
Asafoetida powder a pinch
Curry leaves 5-6


Method to prepare:

For cooking the dal:

Wash the Toor dal and take it in a pressure cooker, add enough water to cover the lentils, add turmeric powder and oil. Pressure cook for 4 -5 whistles or till the dal is well cooked. Once the pressure falls, churn the dal well.

For making the dal.

Soak the dried dates in hot water for 10 mins.

Since I felt I might not be able to cook this dal for long as it is expected too, I pressure cooked it for 1 whistle for the drumstick, dates, yam to get cooked.

So remove the lid, add all the other ingredients (except garam masala, coriander leaves and tempering). Add 1 cup of water and simmer for another 15 mins, stirring occasionally.  At this stage I felt that I might not have enough time to cook for that long so I pressure cooked and them simmered.

For doing the tempering:

Heat a pan with ghee, add mustard. When it splutters add fenugreek seeds, cumin, red chilies, asafoetida and curry leaves

Pour this tempering into the simmering dal. Continue to boil for another 5 mins. Remove from stove, garnish with garam masala and fresh coriander leaves. 

Serve this with Rice or Roti

Notes:

When I started with boiling the dal with all the ingredients, I felt the dal might be too thin. But it was quite thick and creamy when I finished cooking. On hind sight I need not have pressure cooked the dal with all the ingredients as I ended up cooking for a while. Anyways I was happy the dal turned out so well.

All the vegetarians at home really enjoyed and kids will love to eat this with rice. Though we normally add raw groundnuts to dishes like pulusu which is mostly without dals, adding this to a dal was really so wonderful.

I loved munching on those dried dates and will surely look out to get my hands on Kokam to make this dal again with it.


To all my ICC members, please link your Gujarati Dal post to Mr. Linky.

Check out the 25 bloggers running the next 7 days for the Blogging Marathon!

Azeema, Bhagi, Champa, Gayathri Anand, Gayathri Kumar, Harini, Jay, Kamalika, Meena, Mina, Padma, Pavani,  PJ, Priya Mahadevan, Priya Suresh, Rujuta, Santosh, Saraswathi, Savitha, Shanavi, Smitha, Sowmya, Suma, Usha, Veena 

Ragda Patties | Aloo Tikki Chat | Step by Step Recipe

Ragda Patties is another interesting Chat from Bombay. When I decided on Ragda Patties as one of the dishes I ought to make for this Kid's Delight Street Food, I never actually looked at the recipe. So imagine my shock when I set out to make this at 8.00 pm. I was under the impression that it called for green peas and I had even shopped to get shelled fresh peas, only to realize that for dried yellow peas.

Memories of those many times I remember this yellow peas being cooked at office for snacks came to mind. I never ate this because the aroma never appealed to me. So I was pretty much thinking that I might not like the Ragda when I make it. Still because there was no chance of changing the recipe now, I went and got a packet of those dried yellow peas and resigned to make it for evening snack.

Konda was happily asking what new chat I was going to make and it struck me that she is getting used to eating chats daily. I am sure she is going to be disappointed when I stop making these. Considering that the recipe sounded quite lengthy, it got completed very quickly. I referred couple of places, my own recipe collection, from one of the recipes shared by GDM members of which I am a member. After reading about couple of the recipes, I realized that as many Indian recipes, base might be same, how one actually cooks it varies. I ended up combining and modifying. Whatever, the end result was awesome, if I have to take Konda's reaction as the final verdict. She was jubilant beyond words. Even went for a second helping which she does only if the food was extremely good.

So I must say these past few days have been extremely soul satisfaction as I ended up making and enjoy my favorite food and in the process got my kid happy. Of course my boys are not grown up enough to appreciate a chat. Well I have to wait for some more years for that to happen, but they enjoy the sev, which by the way gets completed without us saving some for our chats.

Step by Step pictures to make Ragda Patties / Aloo Tikki Chat


To make the Ragda 

Wash and soak the Yellow dried peas overnight or at least 6 -8 hrs. Since I got it only about 1 pm, I soaked in hot water.

I got back to cooking this at about 8 in the evening, still I thinking soaking in hot water helped. Drain the water you used to soak and add water till the peas is covered. Pressure cook it for about 4 -5 times or till it is tender. you will see outer skin floating on the top you can remove them.

Heat a non stick pan, add 1 tsp oil sauté finely chopped onions till brown. then add 1/2 tsp of ginger garlic paste.

Then add Chili powder, Coriander powder, Cumin powder, salt and Turmeric. Sauté well.

Next goes the cooked peas, mix well.

Add enough water to get a thick gravy. Bring to boil. Ensure the gravy is loose and not thicken. It should be of pouring consistency.


To make the Patties
I love making these patties as I make them often for burgers. This time it is again in a different way.

Microwave the potatoes for 7 mins by sticking them on the top with a sharp knife. Since I got fresh peas and wanted my patties to look colorful, added those fresh peas I bought. Blanch them for 5 mins in microwave.

In a bowl, take the peeled potatoes, blanched peas, bread slices (soaked and squeezed from water), green chili paste, red chili powder, roasted Cumin powder, salt to taste.

Mix well to get a dough like this.

Then divide into small balls and flatten them into discs.

Roll them over bread crumbs

Shallow fry these patties on both sides by sprinkling oil over them.

Once they turn golden in colour and have those nice spots, you can remove.

To assemble the Ragda Patties

Have the finely chopped onions, coriander leaves.

Have the Tamarind Chutney and Green Chutney.

In a bowl, place two patties next to each other.

Pour the Ragda over the patties,

Add the tamarind and Green chutney as required. Sprinkle chat masala over this.

Then goes the onions and coriander leaves.

Finally the sev, add lots if you love this.

If you find the Ragda Patties very spicy, then you can add a dash of Sweet, spicy Curds/Yogurt over the top.

Curds is beaten well, a tsp of sugar and  two pinches of chili powder is added before being beaten again.

Ragda Patties | Aloo Tikki Chat Recipe
Adapted from GDM Member & personal paper clipping

Ingredients Needed:

For the Ragda:

Yellow dried Peas - 1 cup
Onions - 1 medium
Red Chili powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Roasted Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
Turmeric a pinch
Salt to taste
Oil - 1 - 2 tsp

For the Patties:

Potatoes - 4 big
Fresh Peas - 50 gms
Green chili paste - 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder - 1/2 tsp
Roasted Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Bread Slices - 3 nos

For Assembling the Ragda Patties

Ragdas

Patties

Sweet and Spicy Curds/Yogurt

Tamarind Chutney

Green Chutney (Coriander- Mint- Green Chilies)
Chopped Onions
Chopped coriander leaves
Chat Masala

Sev

I prefer to serve this in a wider bowl, rather than a plate which makes it an acrobatic task to the person who is suppose to enjoy the treat, rather than fighting to get all of it in the same shot.

I don't have to spell the verdict. Everybody at home simply loved this Ragda patties.

This goes to Kid's Delight themed on Street Food and to PJ's Flavors of Maharasthtra

Check out the 25 bloggers running the next 7 days for the Blogging Marathon!

Azeema, Bhagi, Champa, Gayathri Anand, Gayathri Kumar, Harini, Jay, Kamalika, Meena, Mina, Padma, Pavani,  PJ, Priya Mahadevan, Priya Suresh, Rujuta, Santosh, Saraswathi, Savitha, Shanavi, Smitha, Sowmya, Suma, Usha, Veena 

Bombay Grilled Sandwich | Bombay Sandwich | Step By Step Recipes

Ever since seeing these sandwiches in Bombay which was really way back in college days, I have been obsessed with the famous Bombay Sandwiches that are offered. If I am right almost a year ago I was looking at various books and reading on sandwiches when I remembered this sandwich. So I had to read on this. I have been wanting to make this since then.

Coming back from office, I made sure I got other things that is required for making another chat but only after getting back home, I realized that I forgot to buy the main ingredient. My plan was to make both the dishes today but finally settled to make just these sandwiches. 

Between I was so happy to hear Amma saying they enjoyed Dahi Samosa Chat and were expecting me to make it again. Well what more can I ask for!

I told her that I was going to make these Bombay Sandwich and she better not complete her dinner before I can make these. I made both the plain ones and grilled sandwiches. Both were excellent.

I couldn't decide which was more delicious, of course the grilled ones were out of the world and you really ought to trust me on that!

These fresh ones got soggy, well my Green Chutney was little runny and I didn't get time to drain them. Still yummy!

Coriander leaves, Mint leaves and Green chilies for the Green chutney

Cucumber slices, Onions, Tomatoes and Boiled Potatoes. Well I had even Beets but that was going little far I know!

Grated Cheese for the grilled Version.

Trim the sides, butter the slices.

Now don't ask me where the Green chutney bowl. I seem to have forgotten to click that alone. anyway you see the green chutney being spread over the butter.

Next goes Cucumber slices, Onions, Tomatoes, Potatoes and you press the other slice over this. Actually they even make it three slices, well I wanted to get this done fast!

Finally sprinkle the cheese over the slice and flip it over the other. Well this way your cheese will fall down, best was sprinkling over the other slice.

Bombay Sandwiches | Bombay Grilled Sandwiches

For Green Chutney:

Coriander Leaves - 1/2 cup tightly packed
Mints leaves  - 1/2 cup tightly packed
Green Chilies - 3 medium
Salt to taste

For Assembling the Sandwich

Cucumber Slices, Tomato Slices, Boiled Potatoes, Onion Slices as required
Butter as required
Chat Masala - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste

Grated Cheese for Grilled version.

Method to prepare:

To make the Green Chutney

Wash and chop the coriander and mint leaves. In a mixer take the leaves along with green chilies, salt. make it into a smooth paste. Try not to add too much of water.

To assemble the Sandwich

Peel and finely slice the vegetables into thin slices.

Trim the bread on all sides if required. Apply butter on a bread, then apply the green chutney all over.

Place cucumber, tomato, onion, boiled potatoes, sprinkle salt, Chat Masala and pepper if required

Then place the other slice over one and cut into bite size.


To make grilled Bombay Sandwich:

Once you are done with placing the sandwich, spread the grated cheese over it.

I grilled my sandwich in my sandwich maker and it turned out superb.

Hubby dear was very enthusiastic seeing me do something new. There are some famous Sandwich shops that we know and he said I look like how they make. After tasting he agreed these were best. Konda loved it so much that she insisted I make some more for her. So it was really a fantastic experience making this at home. Will surely be making this again.

 
This goes to Kid's Delight themed on Street Food and to PJ's Flavors of Maharasthtra

Check out the 25 bloggers running the next 7 days for the Blogging Marathon!

Azeema, Bhagi, Champa, Gayathri Anand, Gayathri Kumar, Harini, Jay, Kamalika, Meena, Mina, Padma, Pavani,  PJ, Priya Mahadevan, Priya Suresh, Rujuta, Santosh, Saraswathi, Savitha, Shanavi, Smitha, Sowmya, Suma, Usha, Veena