Made Irish Soda Bread again!

Irish Soda Bread
Tried it out again.. with Italian herbs.. quite good. Made at mom's place :)

Bhindi Masala

Never thought masala bhindi / okra could be so yum.. and so different from what I've always had..


Recipe from Priyas blog at Malaysian Spicy Okra Kheema
I followed it almost exactly.. didnt add the lemon juice, since it got tangy enough to my taste, with the tomatoes.. I added pureed tomatoes, instead of chopped.. and added potatoes (cos the quantity was less :)) Really nice & something different
-Naina
PS: Made oats ladoo again.. around 15 of them.. and with home made ghee :)

Irish Soda Bread

Finally!!!!! My bread turned out like bread!!


The yeast I bought (the granules) never froths the way its supposed to, and I haven't managed to get fresh yeast yet.. so here's bread with baking soda and no yeast!
Took this recipe..from Divya's cook book but took smaller quantities..
I took 1 cup of wheat flour, 1/2 tsp each of baking soda and baking powder, a bit less than 1/2 cup buttermilk and some salt..
Mixed and kneaded it, and preheated the oven at 150 C, and baked it for 10 mins, and a dinner roll was ready..And it finally was edible and tasted like bread
Some problems however:
The bread was a bit rubbery/ chewy.. and it smelt funny..
I wonder why is this.. looking for answers / comments..
- cos of using only wheat flour
- cos of the baking soda
- cos of kneading more / less than needed
- is it because the dough was sticky
- should the dough be like for roti?
- should the dough be seived or not
- buttermilk is the one we make from curd.. right?

Will try it with the full measurements over the next few days, and see if it turns well!

-Naina

Simple & Quick Tendli

This one is something my mom in law regularly makes, and I like to make it too.. I remember enjoying this when I first had it, cos its so simple and different..

This one goes to Side Dish for Chapati at Viki's Kitchen




You Need:
250 gms Tendli / Ivy Gourd
1 tsp - crushed together - garlic & black pepper
I medium potato
Salt to taste

Wash and slide the tendli length wise, each into 3-4 pieces. Slide the potatoes as we do for french fries. Heat oil in a kadhai, and put half of the crushed garlic and black pepper. Fry for a minute, and add the vegetables. Add salt, and cover and cook. When it is almost done, add the remaining crushed garlic and black pepper, stir.. cook untill done, and serve with hot rotis!
-Naina

Khaman Dhokla

Tried this out today morning.. Was just inspired by the Khaman Dhokla for the Indian Cooking Challenge

Basically.. I didn't take a print of the recipe.. so just took 2 bowls of besan, added 4 spoons curd, enough water, and salt to taste. I also added chopped chillies and some mustard seeds to the batter itself.. Did this the night before and kept it in the fridge.. cos I wouldn't manage to pack it for my husband's tiffin in case I did everything in the morning..
In the morning, just added 1 tsp eno to this, and put it in a greased microwaveable dish..
Microwaved for 7-10 mins, and tempered with mustard seeds and hing on cooling!!
Came out reasonably good for the first try at khaman dhokla, but forgot to take a pic..
(Would have been better steaming the conventional way on the gas.. )
-Naina