Creating a blog was out of the question for a long time for me, as measuring everything in the kitchen was like biting into an eggshell. I enjoy cooking and don’t want to waste even a slightest bit of enjoyment in that small world of mine. But little did I know that everything will change, when my husband came home with the Oscar nominated film ‘Julie and Julia’( a real life story) where Julie Powell (part played by Amy Adams) challenged herself to make all the 524 recipes from Julia Child's cook book ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ and blogging all her experiences (The Julie/Julia Project). It was an inspiring movie. A few days later when we were discussing this casually with a friend of ours over tea…everything changed dramatically…..” How about you making at least half of it in one year? Not French but your own. 262 recipes that will inspire others and present it as a blog?” For a minute my mind traveled faster than light… With an experience as a helper in my mother in laws kitchen for 6 years followed by a three year everyday struggle to satisfy the palate of my foodie husband, if I cannot do it then why should I cook? But on the other side with an experience in English literature extending no more than expanding outline stories in English grammar class when I was 18 and two small kids that come in handy at times, will a commitment for the next one year work? Anyway my ‘cook's ego’ didn’t allow me to say no...

So my friends …here I am opening my recipe book, trying to perfect and present 262 recipes in the coming 365 days….A Challenge that will of course tastes good. Come.. Have a walk with me along my journey.. Cheering and inspiring….Forgiving and tolerating…Testing and tasting….for ‘A Tasty Challenge’

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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Vegetable-Paneer Medley

Recipe No: 87
This is a very easy and delicious way to eat your vegetables. Paneer is an addition to incorporate some protein into the dish, but it’s perfectly okay to avoid that and make with only Vegetables. Enjoy!!!
Ingredients                                       Serves 4
To Grind
  • Dry Red Chilly………………5-8 (Depending on your heat tolerance. If you don't have dry Chilly, substitute it with 1-1 1/2 Teaspoons of Red Chilly Powder.)
  • Poppy Seeds (Kus Kus)...2 Tablespoons
  • Vinegar……………..…………1 Teaspoon
  • Cashew Nuts………………..12 No
  • Garlic………………………….4 Big
  • Ginger…………………………1 inch piece
  • Onion Chopped……….……1 Cup
  • Tomato……………………….1 Big
  • Coriander Powder…...…...1 Tablespoons
  • Turmeric Powder…….…..1/4 Teaspoon
  • Garam Masala Powder….1 Teaspoon
  • Roasted Cumin Powder...1/2 Teaspoon
To Cook
  • Oil……………………………….....3 Tablespoons
  • Vegetables cut into cubes.....3 Cups (Use Carrots, Potatoes, Beans, Green Peas, Cauliflower etc:)
  • Fried Paneer cubed…..…….....1 Cup
  • Cream……………………….…......1/2 Cup
  • Coriander/Cilantro Leaves....2 Tablespoons
Method of Preparation
  1. Soak Dry Red Chilly, Cashew Nuts and Poppy seeds in Vinegar and ¼ Cup Hot Water for 20 minutes.
  2. Grind the Soaked Red Chilly mixture together with all the other ingredients  into a smooth paste.
  3. Heat Oil in a pan on medium low heat and add the ground paste and saute till all the water is evaporated and oil begins too ooze out. This will take some time and there are chances to splutter. So partially cover the pan and scrape the bottom of the pan now and then to avoid the mixture from sticking. (The tendency to stick is more as there is Cashew).
  4. Once Oil starts to ooze out, fry the mixture for two more minutes and add the Vegetables and two cups of water. Close the lid and let the Vegetables cook.
  5. Add the fried Paneer to the Vegetables once it is 3/4th done.
  6. When the Vegetables are fully cooked add the Cream and Coriander leaves and wait till it starts to boil along the edges.
  7. Switch off the heat and Serve hot after sprinkling with chopped Coriander leaves. This goes well with Rice, Appam, Chappathi , Roti, and Bread.
Notes:
  • If you are looking for a low fat dish substitute cream with fat free evaporated milk or regular reduced fat milk.
  • It is perfectly okay to substitute Cashews with peeled Almonds.
  • Opiates (Morphine and Codeine) can be detected in urine for at least 48  hours after one eats foods containing Poppy Seeds and hence there are chances to fail a drug test. So if you are expecting a drug test very soon, it is better to avoid using that. In you don't want to use Poppy seeds , substitute it  with 4 or 5 more Cashews.



    Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and
    serve it to your family with love…

    1 comments:

    Liz said...

    Made this a couple of days back, but without paneer.. did come out well with lots of thick yum gravy, which is a big plus at my home when eaten with chapathis.

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