Plantain Chips

Today is Presidents Day and hence a holiday for my kids - Of course, I like to indulge them with something special, because having them home on a weekday is a special occasion for me.
This is a recipe I got from Madhuram's blog  http://www.egglesscooking.com/ - I did modify some to suit my family's tastes. Ever since I decided I must blog a dish from Kerala for the Kerala kitchen event, I have been making a few dishes from that region including, Puttu, avial and now these chips.
Here's how I did it

Ingredients
4 Green Plantains
oil to fry
Turmeric
Salt
Molaga podi (the kind used for idlis)

Preparation
Peel and slice the plantain
Heat the oil in high flame
in a mixing bowl, add some oil and a small dash turmeric powder and mix in
Separate the cut pieces of plantain and turn them in the oil/turmeric mix
Then drop them into the hot oil
Wait for them to turn golden brown and then remove
Note: I did reduce the flame when I found it was browning too quickly without becoming crispy.
So after each batch, turn the flame back to high as you prepare the mix and then drop in oil and reduce to
medium flame.
Collect it paper-towel lined colander.
Add the salt and molaga podi (chili powder) and allow it to cool completely before transferring into container.
Notes to Myself
Here are somethings to do differently. Peel skin completely and cut the plantain even thinner... soak them for a longer time in the turmeric oil mix and try to bake them rather than fry them - makes for a healthier snack ... but in the meantime, enjoy this with me :)



Sending this to the Kerala Kitchen Event hosted by Ria's Collection http://riascollection.blogspot.com/

And to Mharo Rajasthan and US Masala's Bookmarked Recipe Tuesdays

Fast Food NOT Fat Food Jan -Feb 2011-EVENT Round-up

Dear friends, FAST FOOD NOT FAT FOOD is going to be a regular event on my blog.
To create fast food in a very healthy and guilt-free way was my mission for the new year and I had some incredibly creative recipes come my way from fellow bloggers who participated. I was the new kid on the block when I first ventured to host this event, and still very much am a novice, but I think we are all working towards creating long term changes and better eating habits on our own lives and in those who are following our recipes.
This event will be an on going event on my blog and will be a once every 2 months, in that entries can be sent in until the 15th of the second month and I will create a round up in remaining 2 weeks. Please send your entries only during the cycle not before or after - I will appreciate your cooperation in this.
So the next cycle will start MARCH 1 - I will announce this when time comes - and you can send your entries in until APRIL 15th and the third cycle will again start in MAY -- hope this makes sense.

All participants, thank you for sending in your entires. A good friend of mine and a wonderful fellow blogger advised me that an special award for the best entry always gave a healthy incentive to not just participate but to put their best effort into sending  not just a healthy, but also very satisfying entry - This will start from the next round up, March 1st - April 15th - Thank you Priya Sreeram http://eq-myblog.blogspot.com/ for your valuable advise - Most appreciated :) love ya!
Please read event rules and event logo here
http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/2010/12/first-event-announcement-taking-plunge.html

I will be providing a linky tool so that you can easily upload your entries
In the meantime here are the entries for the first round up - Please do collect this award of appreciation and brag on your blog - My daughter made this :)

Here are the WONDERFUL Entries
From Queen of My Kitchen - Frankie

 http://queenofmykitchen.blogspot.com/2011/02/frankie.html 


From Bon Appetit - Pizza the Healthy Way

http://eq-myblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/pizza-healthy-way.html

From Torview Toronto - Fenugreek Leaves Potato Curry

http://torviewtoronto.blogspot.com/2011/01/fenugreek-leaves-and-potato-curry.html

From Vegetarian Cultural Creatives - Cracker Nachos

http://vegculturalcreatives.blogspot.com/2011/01/cracker-nachos.html#links

From Gayathri's Cook Spot - Baked Peas and Palak Cutlet

http://gayathriscookspot.blogspot.com/2011/01/baked-green-peas-palak-cutlet.html

From Priya Easy n' Tasty Recipes - Oven Roasted Broccoli

 http://priyaeasyntastyrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/02/oven-roasted-broccoli.html

From My Innovative Kitchen - Soya Bean Burgers

http://www.myinnovativekitchen.com/2011/02/soya-beans-burgers.html

From Taste of Pearl City - Broccoli Dhoklas


From Taste of Pearl City - Cocoa Idlis


From Taste of Pearl City - Eggless Poha Muffins

From Taste of Pearl City - Cornmeal Bread


From Seasoned n' Dressed - Stuffed Braided Bread

http://seasonedndressed.blogspot.com/2010/12/stuffed-braided-bread.html#comments

From Elaichii - Naan Pizza

http://elaichii.blogspot.com/2011/01/naan-pizza.html

From Curry in Kadai - Vegetable Hearts on Valentines

 http://curryinkadai.blogspot.com/2011/02/spicy-vegetable-hearts-on-valentines.html

From Oh Taste and See...Soy Mince Masala

 https://ohtastensee.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/cabbage-soy-mince-masala/

From Vegetarian Delicacies
Baked French Fries

http://vegetariandelicacies.blogspot.com/2011/02/oven-baked-potato-fries.html
From The World According to Rujuta
Pizza

http://theworldaccordingtorujuta.blogspot.com/2011/02/healthy-pizza-second-day-of-blogging.html
Here are some of my contributions
Papaya Spring Rolls

http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/2011/02/papaya-spring-rolls-pitakis-papagiapita.html
100 Calorie Flat Sandwiches

http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/2011/02/100-calorie-flats-sandwich-and-awards.html
Bananes Avec Cafe et Yogourt

http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/2011/02/bananes-avec-cafe-et-yogourt.html
Crumpet Delight

http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/2011/01/crumpet-delight.html

Black Bean Cucumber Salad

http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/2010/12/black-bean-cucumber-salad.html
Broiled Burgers with Beets, Oats and Acorn Squash

http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/2010/12/boiled-and-broiled-beets-and-acorn.html

Lime Sour Cream Pie

Jan in my Kitchen Part II

...Presenting a slice of heaven:)

This pie was SUCH tongue-tingling, lip-smacking, totally tantalizing treat and like wine, tasted better each the day than it did the previous one. This is one of those desserts you should eat and treat like wine - take small bites, swirl it around your tongue and feel the cool lemony, creamy freshness fill your senses. Jan made it look too easy - I suppose there is a reason for the expression, easy as pie :) Almost as "visually" beautiful as her fruit tart, this pie totally captivates your senses as you eat it - 

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons sugar

1/8 tsp ground ginger

4 tablespoons butter, melted

Mix together all ingredients until moist.  Press into 9 inche pie plate, equally distributing it to the bottom and up sides.  Bake at 325 degrees for 9 minutes.

Cool before adding filling.

The crust

Filling:

1/2 cup fresh lime juice (6 to 8 limes)

1 tablespoon plus 1 tsp lime zest, plus slices for garnish

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup cornstarch

Pinch of salt

1 cup half and half

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2/3 cup sour cream

Preparation

Combine lime juice and lime zest.  Set aside.

In the top of a double boiler, mix sugar, cornstarch and salt.

Whisk in lime juice.

In a separate saucepan, scald (bring mixture to almost boiling—look for small bubbles at edge of pan) half and half mixture and butter.

In top of double boiler, whisk half and half mixture into lime juice mixture and place over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Cook until mixture thickens and becomes smooth.  Remove from heat and let cool at least 30 min.

Cut up cooled lime mixture and place in food processor.  Add sour cream and lime zest.  Pulse until smooth.

Spoon into cooled pie crust.  Spread evenly.

Topping:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 1/2 tablespoon sugar

Beat on highest speed of electric mixer until stiff peaks form. 

Spread on top of filling and garnish with thin slices of lime, split and twisted to form pinwheels.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Papaya Spring Rolls (pitakis) & Papágiapita

GLOSSARY of my Papayaic version of the Greek Spanakopita.

Spanako in greek is Spinach

Pita – in Greek refers to pie or pastry crust

Pitakis are mini pies or folded triangular like a samosa or rolled like a spring roll.

My first instinct was to name this dis Papitapita as papita in Hindi means Papaya … but I did think perhaps it was a bit corny so decided to go follow the straight and narrow path to title it.

Went grocery shopping and the green semi-ripe papaya was calling out to me – not often do I see it in the store and this seemed like a perfect opportunity to try something new and different….

I’ve tried the Greek Spanakopita when we visited Greece last spring – But I did find that the Feta (pronounced) ) fay-tha to be quite dense and the Fay-tha we got with salads were thick, chunky SLABS not the piddly sprinkle that we get at restaurants here (no offense meant, since when it comes to Mozarella, no other country can be quite as generous with it.  My mission, as I’ve expressed many times now, is to take a dish and experiment with it and see if I can make a healthier version of it, using new veggies/ flour and substituting cheese with something else like a few nuts for instance – I must say that this turned out to be far more exciting and tasty than I’d anticipated.

Ingredients

1 large papaya – skinned and grated ( Pick one green on the outside to indicate that it is not fully ripe)

2-4 green chilies (optional)

1 large red onion chopped small

I handful of slivered almonds (crushed)

½ tsp of crushed bay leaves

½ tsp turmeric

Salt

2 tsp of olive oil

For the wrap I used instead of phylo dough, Kawan Spring Roll pastry – A Malaysian product available in Indian stores and in Asian grocery stores

Preparation

First remove the wrap from the freezer and allow it to thaw for about an hour

Sprinkle salt on the grated papaya and put in a colander and allow the water to drain for about ½ hour (Unlike other veggies like eggplant, there will not be much)

Set the oven to 400 degrees

In a pan, get the oil hot, add the onions and green chilies and some salt

Add the turmeric and the bay leaves and allow them to cook

Add the papaya and let the all cook together on high flame –keep uncovered

When its starts coming together, add the ground almonds and stir in

On a baking pan, spray some oil spray

To make Spring Rolls

Gently peel a layer of the pastry dough and place on the greases pan

Add a tablespoonful of the vegetable and spread it long leaving ½ inch on each side of the square

Fold in the sides and the top and gently roll all the way down… repeat till you are done

Each roll takes up 1 sheet

For the Pie

Grease a square pan

Add 3 sheets of dough

Spread the papaya evenly in the square – this layer can be about ½ inch thick

Place 2 more squares of dough over the papaya curry

And add the remaining papaya, again spreading evenly

Place 3 more sheets of dough over it

Bake

Spray some oil over both and bake for about 15-18 minutes

Serve with ketchup, and some salad 

I discovered how very tasty cooked papaya can be - I hope you will too – Until next time, ehfaristo and yassou (thank you and goodbye!) J

In Pictures

The fruit

Grated

Adding ground almond

folding the roll

Ready for baking

Pie Ready for baking

Onyour plate :)

Ready to eat

Walnut Apple Sauce and Purple Cauliflower Stir Fry

...Served on a bed of angel hair pasta – result is Yum-Yum

I had made this a couple of weeks ago, but did not get around to blogging it until now. Caught up with a blogging marathon, a guest event and still need to work on the Fast Food Not Fat Food Event round up!

This is a off the cuff creation and ended up being a lovely dinner worthy of blogging. I do believe that if you put a few things you like together, more often than not, they do come out smelling like roses – or in this case a nutty-semi-sweet flavorful sauce.

And, who can resist really fresh purple cauliflower, considering the sheer novelty of it – but the price of it can scare you off – So please be warned that it is an “occasion”al treat, especially when you have hungry teenagers in the house and a little one who would waste such precious commodity with no gumptions whatsoever, if she did not care much for it…

As for the Walnut apple sauce, it turned out having a really subtle sweetness and tasted great with pasta – And later we used leftovers of the sauce as a dipping sauce with carrots and cucumbers –

Ingredients

For the WALNUT SAUCE

½ cup of walnuts

1 apple (preferably Pink lady)

1 cup of 1% milk or low fat milk

2 tsp of black pepper

1 red chili (optional)

½ inch sprig of rosemary

¼ of crushed oregano

¼ cup of grated cheese (I used Mozarella)

FOR THE PURPLE CAULIFLOWER STIR FRY

I head of cauliflower cut into florets

2 red chilies

1 clove of garlic minced

1 tsp of olive oil

Preparation of SAUCE

Peel and cut the apples

Add the pepper and the oregano

In 1 cup of milk, add the apple and the walnuts and grind into fin creamy paste

In a saucepan, pour the blended mix and bring to boil in slow flame.

Add the cheese as you are ready to turn off the flame, allowing it to melt in

Preparation of Cauliflower

First, lightly steam the florets in the microwave for about 3 minutes of medium heat (time yourself)

Get the frying pan ready with 1 tsp of olive oil heated. Add the minced garlic and the red chilies.

Drain any water in the steamed cauliflower and drop into the pan.

Stir and all it to cook for a couple of minutes – you do not want it to become soft or soggy – Al dente is what we are aiming for …

Hold off on the SALT until the very last minute – Sprinkle only when you are ready to switch off flame.

THE PASTA

In a pot, heat water with a pinch of salt and olive oil.

Add the angel hair or pasta of choice (I would recommend bowtie as an alternative)

Cook to your liking  - I like it al dente.

Serve hot with angel hair and Walnut –Apple Sauce.

Enjoy

Presented with love from my kitchen to yours J

The sauce


Cut florets


Stir fried Florets
Sending this to Taste buds http://tastebuds1.blogspot.com/2011/01/cooking-with-fruits-event.html

Veggie Patch Contest - Please vote for me

Dear friends,

I have been shortlisted as to 10 mom for this contest i just entered for a lark - If you have a facebook account, please hop over to this link below and cast your vote for my video - thanks in advance for your support -- Love
 CLICK BELOW -
Vote for me please, if you are on Facebook :) Thanks friends