RIDGE GOURD CURRY

Ridge gourd is called as Beerakaya in Telugu and Turai in Hindi. This is a favorite veggie for all the elderly people allover India, and of course people like me. Elders like this veggie  as much as the children liked the potatoes. This is a easily digestible vegetable with lots of fiber and it is an excellent body cooler. Another  vegetable which is closely related to this beerakaya is “nethi beerakaya”…….aka silk squash. This also tastes like the ridge gourd, but do not have any ridges. The skin is smooth and resembles zucchini. My mom tells me that silk squash should be taken  in the month of November(karthikamasam)…..especially on the day of karthika pournami. I don’t know the reason behind it, but I follow it till today. This silk squash is even more tastier than ridge gourd. Try it when you get it.    
This soft easily cooked Ridge gourd can be made into a curry or chutney or used in stews. One thing I should really mention is the beerakaya bajjilu. Like the potato fritters, ridge gourd can also be used to make yummy tasting fritters. Believe me or not the ridge gourd fritters are tastier than the potato fritters. Ridge gourd curry is simple to make and tastes excellent. Here I present a simple ridge gourd curry with tomatoes, onions, chana dal. This goes well with rice or roti.     
INGREDIENTS

• Ridge gourd              1/2 kg
• Onion                        1 medium(finely chopped)
• Tomato                     1 medium(finely chopped)
• Salt                            to taste
• Green chillies             2(finely chopped)
• Oil                              3 Tsp
• Chana dal, urad dal    1 tsp each
• Mustard seeds           1/2 tsp
• Jeera                         1/2 tsp
• Chana dal                   2 Tsp(soaked for 2 hours)

PROCEDURE
Peal and cut the ridge gourd into small pieces. Some times the ridge gourd may be bitter, so check the taste before using. Soak  2 table spoons of chana dal for 2 hours, drain the water and keep aside.
In a pan add the oil and heat it. Add one teaspoon of chana dal, and urad dal, mustard seeds, jeera. When the dals turn golden brown add the finely chopped onions. Sautee for a minute. Now when the onions turn transparent add the finely chopped tomatoes. Sautee the tomatoes along with onions for another 2 minutes. Add the ridge gourd pieces. Add enough salt and cover with lid. Cook for 5 minutes. All the water from the vegetable oozes out and now cook till all the water evaporates. Now add the soaked chana dal and the chopped green chillies. Cook till the curry is dry without moisture. Serve hot with rice or roti.
TIPS

• Add a teaspoon of coriander powder and jeera powder at the end to enhance the taste.
• More onions can be added to increase the taste.
• Soaked moong dal can also be used instead of chana dal.
• Bottle gourd, chayote can also be prepared the same way.   

VEGETABLE IDLY

Idly is one of the healthiest breakfasts, very simple to make. This is also the breakfast which many don’t like. Making idlys tasty and interesting with a simple variation with veggies of your choice can be a healthy breakfast for kids. These Tempting soft fluffy and colorful idlys can make every one want more. Try out this best tasting recipe and I am sure every one in you family will enjoy.      
INGREDIENTS

• Idly batter                           2 cups
• Vegetables of you choice    1 cup
• Oil/ghee                               to grease the idly plates

PROCEDURE
Cut the vegetables of your choice into bite size pieces. Here I used potatoes, carrots, capsicum. You can also used peas, cabbage, beans, cauliflower, coriander etc.
 Now grease the idly plates with some oil or ghee. Pour a spoonful of batter in each plate and top the batter with a layer of veggies.

Now steam the idlys in a cooker for about 7-8 minutes.  Let the idlys cool for a couple of minutes and then remove them into a plate. Serve with ghee, chutney or sambar. 
TIPS

• All the veggies cook well if they are finely cut. If you feel that they cannot be cooked mix the veggies in the batter and use the batter.
• Alternatively add some batter in the plates, top it with veggies and then cover it with some more batter. This way you can have the veggies in the middle of the idlys.
• Add some masala powder or curry powder to enhance the taste. 

Vegetable Idly

BREAD HALWA

   This Bread Halwa falls into the category of luxury sweets.  This rich, delicious tasty sweet preparation is famous in India. Until the 90’s this preparation is not known to many. But now every party or function or marriage or get together has bread halwa in its menu. I use the fresh bread in preparing this dish. The ghee fried bread pieces are cooked with whole milk and khoya , ghee is generously added along with a large amount of dry fruits to give the dish number one rank. Try out this recipe and surprise your loved ones.
INGREDIENTS

• White Bread slices                          6
• Sugar                                              1 cup
• Milk                                                1+1/2 cup
• Ghee                                              1/4 cup
• Dry fruits                                        3 Tsp
• Cardamom powder                         1/2 tsp
• Khoya                                             1/4 cup(optional)

PROCEDURE
Remove the brown edges from the white bread. Cut them into small pieces. Heat a thick bottomed pan and add a 2 table spoons of ghee. When ghee is heated add the dry fruits and fry them. Remove them and keep aside. In the same ghee add the bread pieces.  Fry the bread pieces on a very slow flame till the raw flavor is removed and the bread turns golden brown. Now add the milk. Cook the bread in milk on a medium flame by stirring continuously.
When the bread completely absorbs the milk and turns into a thick lump add the sugar. Keep on stirring till every thing becomes thick. Add the khoya and the remaining ghee. Keeping the flame on the medium keep stirring until the halwa leaves the edges of the pan and ghee oozes out of the halwa. Now add the ghee fried nuts and the cardamom powder. Stir the halve on a high flame for about 1/2 minute and remove it into a serving dish. Serve hot.

Bread Halwa

TIPS

• Add more of the whole milk and you can skip the khoya.
• Khoya can also be replaced with cashew nut powder.
• If milk is used in large quantity, ghee can be reduced as the milk reduces to khoya  and that itself enhances the taste.
• Generally I use fresh bread. A couple of days old bread can also be used.

COFFEE MOCHA

Coffee mocha is one of the best versions of coffee I like. This is also a favorite of many. When you are new to coffee then this is the best coffee to start with. Coffee latte with a part of chocolate or cocoa makes the coffee mocha. Latte in Italian means milk. Coffee latte is one part of brewed coffee in 3 parts of milk. This is what most of the Indians take every day. On the other hand one part of coffee to four parts of milk is called “coffee Macchiato”. Coffee mocha can either be hot or cold. I like the cold coffee mocha and I present the same recipe here.   
INGREDIENTS

• Instant coffee powder                  1tsp
• Cold whole milk                             1 cup
• Sugar                                              1 Tsp
• Whipping cream                             1 Tsp+1 Tsp
• Chocolate syrup                             3 Tsp
• Chocolate Shavings                        1 tsp

PROCEDURE
In a tall glass pour some chocolate syrup along the inside edges and chill this glass in a refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. The chocolate syrup cools and become hard and this way you can design a glass without the design melting away into the coffee mocha.  
In a blender add the Very cold milk, coffee powder, sugar, 1 table spoons of whipping cream, chocolate syrup. Blend all the ingredients till all are well incorporated and the mixture turns frothy. Now pour the coffee mocha into the chilled glass. Top it with a spoonful of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
TIPS

• If you do not have the  instant chocolate syrup make the chocolate syrup using the plain chocolate bars and a spoonful of whole milk. In a double boiler add the chocolate pieces and the milk and heat for 3 minutes. Your syrup is ready. Alternatively microwave the chocolate and milk for one minute and the syrup is ready.
• Chocolate shavings can be made by grating the frozen chocolate.
• If excess whipping cream is used frothy coffee mocha is not attained, so use less amount.
• Dark chocolate or white chocolate can also be used to suite your taste.