Cream Of Mushroom Soup

When i was a kid when i wanted to do something which my mom did not want me to..her answer would be....do this in 'your' home...how rude huh!!..when i wanted a puppy..i got this answer..when i wanted to enter the puja-room when i had my periods (gasp!)..i got this answer....so now when i have my 'own' home ;D..i have added another set of rules. I only cook what we both like..so i refuse to make something that only jeeves likes...but i do at-times make something i like..coz afterall i am the person cooking it ;). But..these rules have taken a toss when i am watching what i eat...i prefer to make things that he likes and i don't..this keeps me away from sampling the no-no food. So..in my kitchen..mushrooms..brinjal..okra and arbi are the kings..atleast for a few months.

For the MBP i decided to make mushroom soup and i got it from a good
buddy's blog. i love her blog..coz the food looks delicious..and i have tried few of her recipes and they were awesome. I also like that there is no fancy ingredients...and are recipes that i usually would make in my kitchen too. I did make some changes...so will be writing the recipe here..but for her recipe..you can go
here




Cream of Mushroom Soup:

Ingredients:

Mushrooms (shitaki) - 1 pack (i used frozen organic ones)
Garlic: 1 pod
Water: 12 oz
Veg Bullion cube: 1
Butter: 2 tbls
Onion: 1/2 cup, diced
Red chilli flakes: 1 tsp.
Heavy Cream: 12 oz
Rosemary: 1 tsp. (dried)
Chives: 2tsp.
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a pan, add the butter and when it melts add the onions,garlic with salt,red-chilli flakes,rosemary,pepper and saute till the onions are soft.

2. Add the mushrooms in and cook till the water evaporates (coz i used frozen) and then add the water and veg. bullion and cook in medium flame for 20 minutes.

3. Cool this mixture down and blend with with heavy cream to a smooth texture.

4. Return this to the pan and simmer till the soup is heated through.

5. Ladle the soup to a bowl and sprinkle with herbs...i used dried chives...

Notes:

I think having a hand blender would make my life so much easier...i know sig, tbc, richa..after buggin u chicks for reco....i still did not buy it..i am going to buy it soon..

This is off to:

Raaga of The Singing Chef who is hosting MBP-Soups and Salads .

Madhuram of Eggless Cooking who is hosting Your recipe rocks series .

Sai-Bhaji...my way!

The first time i tasted sai-bhaji was in school. We used to have a monthly event in where each grade 6-10th would be assigned a month..where they would get food from home and sell it in school for generating money to be used for the hostel run by our convents for children in their boarding school. The purchase was an accident and to be honest..the bhaji was pretty bad. I was pretty pissed on losing my Rs.5 to an inedible dish..but oh! well..i threw it out. i was off this bhaji for a while. When someone would say sai-bhaji..i would gag..seriously!! it shook me to the core ;D...but now as i am an adult who is obsessed with food..i decided to give it a go few years back from a recipe in Deccan Chronicle. The bhaji was delicious and i have to say it does feature quite regularly at my place.
Now...i just follow the guide-lines of the bhaji..but add in couple of ingredients i have at home..instead of shopping for it. Jeeves is hardly at home..and i think i am refusing to go to the grocery stores..as the freshly baked bread keeps calling my name..so i do make do with what i have at home...and the bhaji received the same treatment.

Here is the bhaji my way...as Ina Garten would say 'with the volume turned up'..just kidding :)



Ingredients:

Baby Spinach - 1 10 oz bag
Lima Beans - 1 cup
Asparagus - 1 bunch (dispose the extremely woody part)
Green beans - 1 cup
Peas - 1 cup
Brinjal - 1 cup
Onions - 1
Tomatoes - 2 diced
Chana Dal - 1/2 cup (soak for an hour before cooking)
Tamarind - small lemon (need not soak it prior to making the bhaji)
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp.
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp.
Garlic - 3 cloves
Ginger - 1 inch
Oil - 2 tsp.
Salt - as needed

Method:

1. Grind the ginger and garlic to a paste. (i use a mortar-pestle)

2. In a pressure cooker..add the oil...then the cumin seeds..then fry the ground ginger-garlic paste...add the onions and fry for a few minutes.

2. Add the rest of the veggies..tamarind,salt, chilli powder,turmeric and saute for a few more minutes...the add the chana dal..2-3 cups of water and pressure cook this for 12-15 mts.

3. When the pressure cooker cools down...open it and mix the bhaji well so that the whole thing comes together. Adjust for salt and serve it with rice..rotis or bread.

The original sai-bhaji in the recipe called for Spinach..Khatta palak (can use gongura),Brinjal,Carrots,Potatoes,Gavar-beans as the veggies....

On a diet...here have some cake!..and Chole masala powder

Seriously....what is it with people who want to stuff your face with food the minute you announce to them you are on a diet. It seems a switch is turned in their warped mind that says 'Must break their diet'- (do incorpotate a robot sound when you read this)....so the dear zombies..flock around you with goodies...cakes..chips...cookies...clamouring that you eat them..insisting..'just take one piece..it is really nothing!!...well..unfortunately it is. I have thought about this at large (yep..nothing better to do) and among hosts of possiblities..these two are garaunteed to happen...

1.One...the minute you eat..ur mind plays dirty tricks on you and soon you are on cake..chip and a big ass land...

2.The person who offers you the food relentlessly will come back to bite you in the butt in a few days by declaring moderation is the key...and how we must learn to say 'no' to food...

Guess what...you are safe if you keep saying no!..it can be quite annoying to both the parties..but it is the best bet...atleast for the dieter...
I think the more i am on a diet...the more i seem to notice all the ads that involve food..and i am so thankful that i am a vegetarian...the chicken mcnuggets...kfc...taco bell beefy something..does absolutely nothing to me...but when i am driving..seeing someone drinking a frap..can make me lose control. i have seriously...closed my eyes and eaten chole-bhature virtually!! ha ha..i have to say ..it tasted pretty pretty awesome :)

So..coming to chole bhature...nope..no recipe for it...i am totally hooked on making Chole-Masala from scratch. I got this recipe from Sanjeev Kapoor's website and i have to say..i have been adding it to any northie curry that needs garam masala. The ingredient list is long..but i am quite sure that majority of us have it at home. If you do not have a spice or two..ignore it or sub it...but ladies not more than one or two...you really cannot start subbing 50% of the recipe and call it chole masala :)




Chole Masala:

Ingredients:

1. Jeera - 2tbls
2. Coriander seeds - 3tbls
3. Cinnamon - 2 inch stick
4. Cloves - 8 to 10
5. Cardamom (black) - 1
6. Ajwain - 1/2 tsp.
7. Peppercorns - 60 (don't go counting..put a tbls!)
8. Kasoori methi - 1 tsp.
9. Nutmeg - 3
10.Pomogranite seeds - 2 tbls
11.Bay leaves - 8 to 10
12.Red chilly (dried) - 8 to 10
13.Mango powder - 1 tsp.
12.Ginger powder - 1/2 tsp.
13.Black salt - 1 tsp.
14.Salt - 1 tsp.

Method:

1. Dry roast 1-12 and let it cool.
2. Add 13-14 to the above and grind to a fine powder.
3. Store and use....how simple is that.

I know some of you will complain and say or think i am nuts to give a list of 14 ingredients ..but honestly...you guys should have 90% of it with you. In the past i did sub black salt with jal-jeera powder!!..use ur discretion :)

All i say is Thank You

Well..it was a couple of months break..and a couple is all i took. I really missed blogging...and more importantly i missed the interaction. I think though i am still not done with what i took the break for...it is getting impossible for me not to blog. But before i come up with an entry and a lot of yak-yak from me..i want to say is THANK YOU to each and every blogger who was so sweet and kind and made it a point to comment and let me know that i am loved and wanted me to come back. I really appreciate it...makes me realise..that virtual bonds are as good as physical ones :)


I do want to thank a few people on a more personal level coz they did give me some cool awards and it is funny...i have not met any of them...but i feel really close to them and thinking about their entries or their names bring a smile to my face..that is friendship in my opinion.


Sig gave me the You make me smile award and trust me honey...you make me smile all the time too..and make me nod my head so many times in union with the rants :) I also love the emails we exchange..where I more than you rant quite a lot ;)



Nammu passed on the Nice Matters award and the Excellence award to me and all i can say is it takes one awesome person to know another ;)...but really...i can never stop drooling at her creations and being amazed at her baking talent...also the jokes she sends me on and off :)

I also want to thank 3 awesome girls...TBC,Laavanya and Sra.............who did not give me any awards :( ..but with whom i have talked or emailed in the 2 months break and it really made me realize how much i missed that friendship.

I really hope i do not have to take a break from blogging and none of you fabulous bloggers in the foodie sites do too :)

On a break.....

Hi guys...i will be taking a break from blogging for a few months.I just have too many things going-on and i feel i am neglecting my blog and not visiting all my fellow bloggers, something i have enjoyed and have looked forward to in the past. I think not visiting bloggers..reduces the community effect and i feel taking a break and coming back with gusto is better than putting a half-baked effort.

So take care all of you and i am sorry Sra,Sunita,Dhivya,Easy,Sia and Suganya...will not be able to participate in ur events..but am certain ur events will be booming with entries...so u will not even miss mine

See you all in a few months :)...

WBB - Round up!!

Seriously..i was thinking i would have this out on Feb 1st..but since procrastination ka doosra naam Rajitha hain..i decided to wait till Monday..when i realised..there was a mistake in the way i was downloading stuff...and long story short..here is the round -up :)

To be honest i was a bit wary because i had an onslaught of...i hate tofu...i hate soy..i hate...!! you know :D....so i was pretty sure i would have about 5-7 entries..but ladies..I really want to thank each one of you who took their time to participate and am glad that my friends are still my friends..despite of me making their life miserable :D..Would also like to say thanks to Nandita for letting me host and be a total hands-off gal..love that!
All the entries here are in the order they were received. As it is Breakfast mainly..there are no categories..i could get detailed if i wanted..but....


Mansi ensures that we get a healthy and a satisfying breakfast with her healthy Cranberry Soymilk and Green tea smoothie. All i say is yum!

Maya has made a delicious pulav which is a great combo of carbs and protein with 1 tsp. oil!! You can check her Soya Cabbage Matar pulav and i have to say soya chunks never looked better...

Meera takes the humble poha to another level by adding edamame to them and giving the usual carb laden breakfast a protein boost..check her recipe for Green Soyabean pohe and you will know what i mean...

Anu recreates a delicious chinese restaurant food at home and shares with her her recipe for Buddhist delight with us.How fabulous does that look!!

Asha plans to make something with soy-beans..but spots a packet of soy flour and decides to bake a bread...how she came up with a pancake is for you girls to go to her site and read. Her Soy-Bell Pepper Carrot Pancakes looks mouthwatering...

Sra tells me that she hates soy and hurts my feelings :(..but then makes up by being sweet and sending me an entry...i do not eat eggs..but her Tofu-egg custards did get me drooling..what say people..

TBC basically told me when i announced that she 'may' come up with something...hearing which i bawled..and so she came up with this fabulous Fruity Tofu Smoothie and put a stop to the crazyness ;)

Who does not love scrambled tofu!! Ashwini has shared a delicious and a fun way of adding a tofu scramble to ur daily breakfast mix and it looks georgeous to boot...check her Scrambled Tofu and see if you disagree with me!!

Basically what Dhivya says is cooking for one sucks..but trust me...eating her
Soy burger will delight you that you are alone..coz you will not be willing to share!!

Going to Namratha's blog leaves me drooling...she not only bakes but has started to decorate them amazingly well...she decides to buy the soy nuggets in her grocery shopping and comes up with this amazing
Pulav with Soya Chunks which looks delicious and nutritious to boot :)

Hima states that she dreams about them if she has not had them for a while and i think i would too if i made some totally droolworthy
Blueberry Pancakes like her..take a look and you will be a convert to the healthy goodness of it...

Kaykat wanted to make a soy-based breakfast and decides to whip up some amazing
Banana Soy Muffins in the microwave and tops with a totally delicious syrup...

Nags tempts me and so many others with this yummilicious
Soy-Oats Cookies which seem more like an indulgence than a breakfast....you have to step to her space to check the recipe out...

Nandita decides to treat our eyes to a yummy and protein intense healthy dish and this time a
Soy Nugget Salad for breakfast which will leave you craving for more...and she makes all of us drool with that side she paired with.....go have a look....

Johanna wanted to make a special meal for Australian day...and zeroed on making a very delicious Tofu Scramble to commemorate the day..

Bharathy had been wanting to try this recipe for a while and sets into action and makes this mouthwatering Tofu Sandwich to devour....you know you need to go there to look and note down the recipe

Raaga makes this delicious and healthy
Mixed Vegetable Poha for breakfast and i am seriously mystified by the lovely color that poha has got..ms.poha is one good looker..must say!!

Vanamala adds an extra healthy element to make her
Chapati higher in protein...and accompanies it with a delicious dal...want to know the extra ooph..visit her site..

Laavanya makes this total delicious protein Soya Upma and is pretty cool about hubby not eating it..as it means more for her..you go girl!!..you have to check the recipe out..can i say she is a girl after my own heart :)

Nanditha deals with the task of feeding her son a snack for after school and comes up with this amazing Soy Samosa. Man! i am impressed...and the filling will flip u guys...go check it out..

Ricki whips up this amazing
Tofu Omelette and is more happy to share it with her husband...which BTW i would have seriously not done so..coz i am a greedy gal :D..this is an awesome recipe..

Lavanya shares with us her usual breakfast fare of
Power Wrap Chapatti and i have to say i am impressed..it looks delicious and is nutritious to boot...now only if i lived in chennai :D


Siri had made a delicious greek dish and adapted it to vegetarian tastes..here is her Soya-Moussaka which looks fabulous!!


Vijaya tries experimenting with new ingredients and comes up with this lip-smacking Soya Granules Curry and her husband tells her that it tastes like...will not say like what..you need to go and read ;D


Zlamushka calls these Soy-Milk Pancakes 'Paincakes'!!..now who can believe that..her pics look so good...and the recipe sounds even better....


Archana presents us with this delicious recipe of
Chilly-Soya Chunks that she has made up on her own!!..what say...ms.talented ?? :)


Cham hits the spot by telling that many of us feel that 'healthy' will not taste good....and that it is actually not so..and to prove us wrong she shares with us her recipe of Healthy Wrap which looks delicious and i bet will taste delicious too...


There lived a girl who hated tofu and now is besotted by it and thanks me everyday for bringing it to her life...( he he)..you guys know Madame Sig..she shares with us a fabulous recipe of Guacamole with tofu and as a side note lets eveyone know..she can hardly taste it...hmmm :)


Sig almost gives me an attack by submitting 2 recipes for WBB...and what makes me so mad is her Tofu Scramble looks delicious..even better than the ones i have make..so not fair!!


Does she need an intro!! i can easily say.. half of the indian blogs have started after looking at her amazing photos and down-to-earth writing style...Indira shares with us her Palak Tofu Soy Spinach and got me drooling...i bet you will feel the same


Richa sends me this entry so that i can be off her back..seriously! isn't she sweet guys...her Ghobi Alu Soybeans ki Sabji can become a easy regular at any table!!

And i have saved the best for the last :D..(just kidding..)...here are my two entries..
Papaya Soy Smoothie which is a great for busy weekend and honestly weekday mornings.

Soy Semiya Upma which adds a healthy element of protein to a dish.

Finally..i sincerely hope all of you found some way of adding soy to your diet..as it is really good for you...granted they are not to the level thought and projected by the media..but it is a great source of plant protein.


The next WBB (a known fact by now i guess) is held by Suganya of Tasty Palettes .

Papaya Soy Smoothie

I started liking papaya around my 6th class and till then when my amma cut a papaya and wanted me to try...i usually ran from the scene. I had never really tasted papaya..but i just had decided that it would taste bad..so the change came about when papaya trees started to grow in our backyard. i think there is something in the fruits and veggies that grow in our property..there seems to be an additional sentiment and pride attached to them which makes them all the more delicious!

I was lucky to get these papayas at the Fruit and Veggie market i go to at-times. I saw that there were just a few papayas there...and i made a bee-line for them so that they do not run out, coz i wanted to participate in the event.

Here is a super easy and simple smoothie and you can easily substitute any juicy fruit for this.



Ingredients:

Ripe papaya - 1 cup (diced)
Vanilla Soy milk - 1 cup (8 oz.)
Honey - 1 tsp. (can use sugar too)
Protein Powder - 1 tsp. (optional)- i used vanilla flavor

Method:

1. Dice the papaya, place in a zip-lock bag and freeze it for about 4-5 hours.

2. In a blender, add the milk,papaya,protein powder and honey and run the blender on high for a few minutes.

3. When done..drink this up or do what i did..freeze a portion of it and eat it like a slushy.

Note:

1. People who do not like the papaya smell..will not get even a hint of it..due to the vanilla.

2. You can sub plain soy milk or just milk for this.

3. Protein powder adds an extra boost of protein and keeps you full longer..but this can be easily ommited.

This is off to Nags who blogs at For the cook in me and who is hosting AFAM- Papaya .
I am also including this entry for the WBB- Soy which is currently hosted by me..

Just a heads-up...The last day for submission to WBB-Soy is tomorrow.