Vegetable Puffs with Potato Filling

Vegetable puffs is a very popular and a common evening snack in India and is sold in all the bakeries. It is an all-time favorite among all the age groups especially kids. Not only just an evening snack it is a perfect party snack and also is a great hit in all the birthday parties. As far as the filling is concerned the potato & peas filling is very common, you can make filling with any other vegetables of your choice as well. There are a variety of puffs available in bakeries like chicken puffs, meat puffs, egg puffs etc.

Here is how to make Vegetable Puffs with step by step photos….

Crostini with Cherry Tomatoes & Mozzarella/Crostini with Cherry Tomatoes & Mozzarella Cheese with step by step photos

For this month’s IFC challenge we are exploring the Campania cuisine of Italy chosen by Priya Suresh. Campania is a highly populated region in the Southern Italy, located on the Italian Peninsula with the Mediterranean Sea to the West.

Campania’s exuberant cuisine relies on sun-kissed vegetables and herbs, salty capers, dried pasta and fresh farmhouse cheeses, chief among them water buffalo’s Mozzarella. Campania is home to over 80% of Italy’s water buffaloes, so the Campani produce a number of delicious water buffalo’s milk cheeses. For this month’s IFC challenge I chose to do the Corstini with cherry tomatoes & mozzarella. Thanks a lot Mrs. Priya for the wonderful challenge.

Here’s how to make Crostini with step by step photos…

Pasiparuppu Murukku/Moong Dal Murukku - Easy Diwali Snacks

Wishing all my friends, readers a very Happy Diwali and a year filled with happiness, success and prosperity. Have a safe and wonderful Diwali….

Having said that the past couple of days I was so busy with shopping, cooking, meeting friends, prayers etc. could not find time to blog. I made lot of snacks and sweets of which I am going to share Pasiparuppu Murukku/Moong dal Murukku with you all. A very crispy, quick and easy murukku when you are really pressed on time.

Here’s how to make Pasiparuppu Murukku/Moongdal Murukku with step by step photos…

Pottukadalai Murukku/Fried Gram Murukku

Are you running out of time to make Diwali snacks? Then Pottukadalai murukku is the right answer for you. You can use the store bought rice flour and mix it with pottukadalai flour and few more ingredients and tada… your soft & crunchy murukku is ready in minutes. Pottukadalai Murukku/Fried Gram Murukku is crunchy, crispy and delicious murukku and my childhood favourite. The flavour of cumin seeds infused with the buttery taste of pottukadalai/fried gram gives a heavenly taste. Do check out other Diwalisnacks & sweets here.

Here’s how to make Pottukadalai Murukku with step by step photos…

Kara Boondi/Bhoondhi – Easy Diwali Snacks

Hello Friends,

Diwali is round the corner and I think all of you must be very busy planning to make traditional, authentic sweets and snacks at home. I still remember those days when we were kids, my mom starts the Diwali sweets & snacks 4-5 days ahead and it is really fun. Since we were four kids my mom used to make huge batches of Murukkus, Ribbon pakodas, Oma podi, kara sev etc, but we used to finish it off so fast. Anyway friends today I prepared Kara Boondi for my kids and I am sharing it with you all. Check out other Diwali Sweets & Snacks here.

Here’s how to make Kara Boondi with step by step photos…

Potato 65 Recipe/Aloo 65 Recipe/Hyderabadi Style Aloo 65 Recipe/How to make Aloo 65 with step by step photos

Now that the weather is getting really cold, I made this scrumptious Potato 65 which I came across years back in one of the magazines when I was in Chennai. This potato 65 may look spicy with all the red chillies and green chillies, but they are not. This potato 65 is my kids favourite and they can finish one whole plate at one time. Few other 65 recipes I have posted earlier and worth visiting are Chicken 65, Hyderabadi Chicken 65, Prawn 65 , Cauliflower/Gobi 65 and Mushroom 65.

Here’s how to make Potato 65 with step by step photos.

Paasi Paruppu Sundal Recipe/Moong Dal Sundal – Navarathri Special Sundal

Wishing all my lovely friends and readers a very “Happy Navaratri”. Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. Navaratri means nine nights, during these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakthi are worshipped. In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, a special display of dolls and figurines (Golu) in the odd numbered steps (padis) will be held in the houses and temples. This year Navaratri is celebrated from Oct 5, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013. All these nine nights special poojas are performed and neivedhyams like sundals and payasams are offered to the Goddess and distributed as prasad to all the family members and to the guests visiingt our house.  Today being the first day of Navaratri, I am sharing a very simple, quick and easy paasi paruppu sundal/moong dal sundal with you all. Check the other sundal varieties and payasam varieties here. Please click on Navaratri Specials  for more details about Golu and Navaratri celebrations.

Here’s how to make Paasi Paruppu/Moon Dal Sundal with step by step photos…

Kara Sev/Easy Diwali Snacks

Kara Sev is a traditional South Indian snack prepared during Diwali and also during other times as crispy and crunchy evening snacks. “Kara Sev” means “Spicy Sev”, you can very well adjust the amount of spice according to your taste buds, but the measurements I have given here will suite all age groups. Kara sev is usually made with kara sev karandi (big ladle with holes), but since I don’t have one of those I have used the regular murukku press. Kara sev is made with besan flour, rice flour and other spices perfectly blended together. The addition of freshly ground black pepper corns gives extraordinary taste to these Kara sev.

Here’s how to make Kara sev with step by step photos…

Kadalai Paruppu Sundal/Chana Dal Sundal [Navarathri Special]

We make different varieties of sundals as neivedhyam during Navarathiri. Each day one type of sundal is prepared and offered to goddess and given as prasad to friends and families. Kadalai paruppu sundal is a very easy and healthy sundal which can be prepared very quickly and offered as neivedhyam or as a healthy evening snack. Do check here for other Varieties of Sundal.

Here’s how to make Kadalai Paruppu Sundal with step by step photos….

Kaara Pidi Kozhukattai – 2

Hello friends,

I have already made kaara kozhukattai/Uppu urundai earlier with red chillies and posted before, but now I made the same kaara kozhukattai with green chillies and ginger. This kaara kozhukattai is a wonderful and a healthy evening snacks for kids after school. I made this kaara kozhukattai for Vinayagar chathurthi and I am sharing it with you all.

Here’s how to make Kaara Kozhukattai with step by step photos…

Ammini Kozhukattai/Mani Kozhukattai/Ganesha Chathurthi Recipes

The first thing that comes to mind when it is Ganesha/Vinayagar Chathurthi is Modhakam which we prepare as special offering for Lord Ganesha. We also prepare different types of kozhukattai’s like paal kozhukattai, kaara kozhukattai, pidi kozhukattai etc. When we make modhakams or kozhukattai we always tend to have some dough left, this mani kozhukattai is usually prepared with that dough only. But nowadays we all prepare this mani kozhukattai separately as offering to Lord Ganesha. Not only for Ganesha Chathurthi, I make this mani kozhukattai as evening snacks for my kids and they love it because they are cute and tasty.

Here’s how to make Ammini Kozhukattai/Mini Kozhukattai with step by step photos…

Ribbon Pakoda/Nada Pakoda/Ola Pakoda

Ribbon Pakoda is another delicious, crispy, crunchy and a traditional snack prepared during Diwali and Krishna Jayanthi. The name is really very interesting because these pakodas are long like a ribbon(nada in Tamil) and also in most of the houses it is also called ola/ottu pakoda because they are crispy and crunchy. There are different variations in making this ribbon pakoda, this is the easiest version that can be done easily and quickly. I am planning to share the other variations with garlic and sesame seeds in my future post hopefully before Diwali. My mom prepares murukkus, ribbon pakoda, oma podi etc during Diwali, Krishna Jayanthi and other special occasions.  I carry out the same tradition of making all these during these special days and see to that I don’t break this tradition every year. Meanwhile, do check out other interesting Diwali Sweets and Diwali Snack varieties here.

Here’s how to make Ribbon Pakoda/Nada Pakoda with step by step photos…

Murukku/Thenkuzhal-South Indian Delight/Diwali Special/Gokulashtami Special

Murukku is a very famous and authentic South Indian[Tamil Nadu] snacks prepared during special occasions like Diwali, Krishna Jayanthi etc. Murukku means twisted in Tamil and made from rice and urad dal flour. There are different varieties of murukku like mullu murkku, thengai paal murukku(coconut milk), Kaara murukku, butter murukku etc.

This murukku is especially prepared in large quantities and shared with friends and families during Diwali. It stays fresh and crunchy for 3-4 weeks when properly stored in airtight containers. Whenever I make murukku, I get reminded of days when my mom prepares snacks during Diwali. Usually Diwali preparation starts a week before with shopping and making an array of sweets and snacks. I made this simple and quick Murukku for Krishna Jayanthi yesterday, so I am sharing it with you all. Meanwhile, do check out other interesting Diwali Sweets and Diwali Snack varieties here.

Here’s how to make Murukku/Thenkuzhal with step by step photos…

Spinach Pakoda/Palak Pakoda/Pasalai Keerai Pakoda

Spinach/Palak Pakoda is a very quick and easy tea time snack or a starter which can be made in no time. I am just not going to give a very elaborate introduction for this pakodas, just try it out guys you will surely love it. Check out Onion Pakodas, Medhu Pakodas and other Starters/Evening snacks  here.

Here’s how to make Spinach/Palak pakodas with step by step photos…

Creamy Vegetable Soup

I am not going to give much of an introduction to this yummy, creamy, healthy and delicious soup. Now that my kids are home on holidays, they are having play dates and other kids coming home to play, I made the whole lot a healthy soup. So I thought of sharing it with you all.

Here’s Creamy vegetable soup with step by step photos…

Keerai Vadai [With Ulundhu] Recipe/Spinach Vadai with Urad Dal/Keerai Vadai with Urad Dal/Ullutham Paruppu Keerai Vadai Recipe

Keerai vadai is a very common snack in Southern India. This vadai can be made with different combination of dals, but here I was used urad dal. It is a perfect evening snack with hot piping tea or coffee. I have used spinach you can use any other greens that is available. This is totally irresistible keerai vadai and you can never stop eating them. Do check out other Vadai Varieties here  and  Starters/EveningSnacks/Appetizers here.

Here’s how to make Keerai Vadai with step by step photos…

Chicken Podimas Recipe[Tamil Nadu Special]/Chicken Podimas/How to make Chicken Podimas with step by step photos

This chicken podimas is a very simple and quick dish that taste totally scrumptious. My mom makes this quite often and serves it with Milagai Killi Potta Sambar or simple Tomato Rasam. This chicken podimas and sambar combo will taste as if they are made for each other. Chicken Podimas is special delicacy of Tamil Nadu coming right out of my kitchen to yours. Also check out other interesting and mouthwatering Chicken Varuvals/Fry/Biryanis/Gravies etc here, Mutton/goat Meat Recipes,Fish & Egg Recipes

Here’s how to make Chicken Podimas with step by step photos…

Bhindi/Okra/Ladies Finger Kurkure [Crispy Okras]

I have two girls who have different preferences, one always has sweet tooth and another prefers savoury. I am always torn apart between these two girls, I know there are lot of moms just like me. So I need to always make something or the other to satisfy these girls. One such savoury, I make often for my girls is this bhindi kurkure. But it always so happens that even when I am frying the kids just finish it off…. Do check out other interesting and tempting Starters/Appetizers/Evening Snacks here.

Here’s how to make Bhindi Kurkure with step by step photos…

Aloo Bonda Recipe Recipe/Potato Bonda Recipe/Urulai Kizhangu Bonda/How to make Aloo Bonda with step by step photos

Cook anything with potatoes and we (my family) are there right away. Potato bondas are very addictive evening snack, once you start eating them you will not stop until it is done. The potato is made with wonderful blend of spices, dipped in the batter and then deep fried in oil. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and tempting Starters/Evening Snacks here

Here’s how to make Aloo Bonda/Potato Bonda with step by step photos…

Mysore Bonda Recipe/Urad dal Bonda Recipe/How to make Mysore Bonda with step by step photos

Our families all time favorite is my mom’s special Mysore Bonda. My little girl is crazy about Mysore Bondas. Even if I plan to make Urad dal Vadai, I will always set aside one portion of batter just to make bondas for her. So this special Mysore Bonda is for all fathers out there, Wishing all Fathers a Happy Father’s Day. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and mouth-watering Starters/Appetizers/Evening Snacks here.

So here’s Mysore Bonda with step by step photos…