Happy's Cook

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Mochakottai kuzhambu recipe | Mochai Kuzhambu | Field Beans Curry

I like to try different kinds of puzhikuzhambu and karakuzhambu since we were not used to this kind of recipes in my hometown. After coming to Chennai, I started to explore these curries when I was in the hostel. I learned many recipes from my neighbor Kalpana akka and this mochai kuzhambu is one among them. I have already posted her Non Veg version of this Mochai kuzhambu with dry fish and you can check it out here (Karuvadu Kuzhambu with Mochai). Let us go to the preparation steps.

Fish Molee Recipe | Kerala Fish Moilee | Meen Molly | Kerala Style Fish Stew(with coconut milk)

I am back to blogging after a short break and today's post is about my recent favorite seafood recipe Fish Molee. It is a famous dish from Kerala which is mainly accompanied with Appam and Idiyappam. I never had an idea about this fish stew until I tasted it in my friend's place. Initially, I was a bit hesitant to try this fish with appam since I personally don't prefer fish with appam or idiyappam. However, to my surprise, it tasted too good with appam and I tried it the next weekend at home. We all loved it and I am here with the recipe:

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:

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

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:

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:

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.