Happy's Cook

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Vazhaithandu Kootu Recipe | Plantain Stem Kootu | Valaithandu Pasiparuppu Kootu | Vazhai Thandu Paruppu Kootu

I am a fuzzy Vegetable eater and I have never bothered myself to try the veggies mum makes at home. I eat very few selected kootu/poriyal like Aviyal and Cucumber Pachadi. Everything has changed after marriage and I started to eat few more. Back in India, I always have a helper at my home since managing full-time work, blog and the entire home was tough for me without any support. I have learned many things from those helpers since they come from a very different background. I learned this from Laxmi Akka who is an expert in making this kootu. Nowadays, this is also one among my favourite. I give this kootu to Happy, just by mixing it with steamed rice and ghee. It tastes awesome and she never complains about this kootu. Off to the recipe:
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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Banana Bread Recipe | Homemade Banana Bread | Moist Banana Bread (Butterless)

After a long break, I am posting a baked goodie. Though I bake simple cupcakes for Happy often, I have not clicked anything to post it here. The reason behind that is my laziness. Also, I struggle a lot to click appealing pictures of cakes/bread. Learning food photography is on my to-do list for years now and I am somehow managing the blog with some simple photos. Today I am here with a yummy and delicious banana bread. I couldn't resist myself from trying this recipe after I saw this video in Tastemade. 
Last week I made this bread as Happy's after school snack and when I went to pick her, I packed few slices for Happy's teachers. They liked it very much and I got the positive energy to post it here after their feedback. Soon after tasting the bread, Happy told "It's very tasty" before I asked her :). I will be posting a healthy version with wheat flour soon. Check out my plain White Bread recipe and Walnut Banana Muffins too. 
Pictures and Recipe updated on 30th Sep 2016
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Sunday, July 10, 2016

Narthangai Pickle Recipe | Citron(Lime) Pickle | Narthangai Oorugai | Naranga Achar

Jany and I don't focus too much on Pickles. So, I don't buy or try it at home frequently. We like the Instant Mango pickle and I make it once in a while. Just for the blogging purpose, I make pickles at home. Earlier I had posted the Lemon Pickle which I prepared with my mom's help during her last Chennai visit. And now after these many years, I am back with this Narthangai pickle. Before starting to Sydney, I made this and I packed it for my dad. It turned out very good and he likes it a lot. I have narthangai theeyal in my drafts and I will be posting it soon. Let us go for the today's recipe: 
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Friday, July 08, 2016

Mattar Paneer Recipe | Paneer Mattar Masala | Paneer Green Peas Masala

I am trying more paneer recipes these days and I tried this mattar paneer last week when I made Homemade Paneer to post it here. It turned out super good and we all loved it. This goes very well with Roti/Parathas/Naan, Jeera Rice and Fried rice too. Because of the Winter, I am not getting sufficient sunlight inside my house and I am struggling to take decent pictures :( I cooked and clicked this mattar paneer during daytime and I am happy about the outcome. Let us see the preparation steps: 
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Wednesday, July 06, 2016

Homemade Paneer Recipe | How to make Paneer Cheese

Eid Mubarak to all my friends and their families. Today's post is about homemade paneer and it was on my to-do list for such a long time now. Paneer is a type of fresh cheese which means,  you can make it and eat it right away. It does not require aging or culturing. It is also one of the easiest cheeses to make at home. All you need is milk, lemon juice or vinegar or curd. When you mix the milk and lemon juice, the acidity in the lemon juice will cause the milk to separate into curds and whey. Remove the whey and press the curds, and you have a basic homemade paneer. 
Being a non-veg lover, I never focus too much on Paneer or Mushroom recipes. However, now I am interested in these recipes mainly because of Happy and the blog. Happy doesn't show much interest in milk hence I am trying to include other sources of calcium in her diet. Also, I am getting requests for more paneer recipes from my regular readers. Please check out my Paneer Butter Masala and Chilli Paneer dry which I have posted earlier. Also, check out the very famous Bengali sweet Rasagulla made using Paneer.  
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Sunday, July 03, 2016

Masala Peanuts Recipe | Masala Kadalai | Crispy Fried Masala Peanuts

Today's post is my all time favourite and addictive masala peanuts. It brings me so many nostalgic childhood memories. When I was a kid, I call these masala peanuts as "podhinja kadalai" in Tamil, which means wrapped kadalai. My maternal grandpa used to buy me this masala peanuts and Omapodi from the nearby Bakery (Sun Bakery) as my evening snacks. I enjoyed it to the core and even now I visit that bakery to relish on my favourites whenever we visit hometown. 
Once my project lead was talking about the snacks she used to make frequently for her kids. And she told about this simple and easy recipe. She even gave me a shortcut with bhaji bonda mix. From that day I was craving for this and I finally made it few months back. Let us go to the preparation steps:

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Friday, July 01, 2016

Rajma Masala Recipe | Rajma Chawal (Rajma curry with Rice) | Punjabi Rajma Chawal | Chef Venkatesh Bhatt Recipes - Recipe # 10

After a long break, I am posting another recipe of Chef Venkatesh Bhat from Vijay Tv's Samayal Samayal. Today's post is about rajma chawal. It is a famous Punjabi dish, where the gravy is made using rajma (Red Kidney Bean) and it is paired up with Rice (Chawal), hence the name. 
Happy likes to visit supermarkets when we go for shopping and it will be a hard time for Jany to manage her. She just roams around all the sections and grabs things which she can reach easily. Once without our knowledge, she grabbed a packet of Rajma and  put it in our basket. Jany billed it without knowing and we were back home with a big packet of Rajma. I was just making Sundal with that since I never know anything else using Rajma. Finally, I got this recipe from the show and I tried it the next weekend. We all loved it and I these days I am using Rajma more effectively in my cooking. Let us see the preparation steps:
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Recipes from the Kitchen

Sakkarai Pongal
Poosanikai Halwa (white Pumpkin)/Ash Gourd Halwa
Rava Kesari
Aval Urundai with Jaggery/Poha Balls
Aval Payasam(with Jaggery)/Poha Payasam
Paal Kozhukattai(with Sugar)
Ellu Urundai/ Sesame Seed balls
Vella Kozhukattai / Modhagam (Modak)
Pasi Paruppu Payasam/ Moong Dal Payasam (Kheer)
Unniyappam/Neyyappam
Semiya Payasam/Vermicelli Kheer
Suzhiyam/Susiyan
Motichoor ladoo
Paruppu Poli/ Puran Poli
Corn Flour Halwa
Adhirasam
Carrot Halwa/Gajar Ka Halwa
Mysore Pak(Krishna Sweets style)
Gulab Jamun(with Khoya)
Paal Payasam
Maa Ladoo/Pottukadalai Urundai
Sakkarai Pongal(without milk)/Sweet pongal
Sweet Pidi Kozhukattai
Thengai Poorna Kozhukattai
Chakka Pradhaman
Sarkara Varatti(Sweet Banana Chips)
Ada Pradhaman
Chakka Varatti(Jackfruit Jam)
Rasgulla
Thirattipal(Palkova)
Rasamalai
Vattayeppam
Kalkandu Pongal
Akkaravadisal
Pazham Pori
Banana Dosa(Chef Venkatesh Bhat Recipe)
Rava Ladoo
Ellu Poorna Kozhukattai
Ragi Kozhukattai
Badam Halwa
Aval Kesari
Besan Ladoo
Peanut Butter Marshmallow Fudge
Khajoor Ka Halwa(Chef Venkatesh Bhat Recipe)
Semiya Kesari
Poha Ghee Ladoo(Aval)
Palada Pradhaman
Milk Kesari
Pachaipayaru(Green Gram) Suzhiyam
Pachaipayaru(Green Gram) Ladoo
Malai(Paneer) Ladoo
Boondi Ladoo
Bread Gulab Jamun
Tirunelveli Wheat Halwa
Coconut Burfi
Sweet Bonda(Wheat Flour Unniyappam)
Munthiri Kothu
Achu Murukku(Achhappam)
Sweet Diamond Cuts
Wheat Rava Sweet Pongal
Makkan Peda
Wheat Flour Kesari
Green Gram Poli
Paneer Kheer
Green Gram Sago Payasam
Pineapple Kesari
Vella Seedai
Jackfruit Ela Ada
Therali Kozhukattai
Jackfruit Appam
Kaju Kathli
Vettu Cake(MuttaiKose)
Ashoka Halwa
Samai Sweet pongal
Health Mix Ladoo
Mango Kesari