Capsicum (Bell peppers) Rice - Version 2

If at all you are a person who says "I hate capsicum"?, its high time you change your opinion. Else you would be missing this absolutely mouth watering rice variation. :)

Try it out and I bet you would not regret :p

And yeah!!! Frogs can also look cute at times :)

Ingredients:

Plain rice - 1 cup
Capsicum(bell peppers) - 4 to 5 medium sized
Lemon - 1
Grated dry coconut - 1 1/4 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

For Seasoning:

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Black gram dhall - 1 tsp
Bengal gram dhall - 2 tsp
Red chillies - 2
Curry leaves - few
Cashewnuts - 8
Roasted peanuts - 1 tblsp

For masala powder:

Red chillies - 6
Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
Coriander seeds - 2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Black gram dhall - 1 1/4 tsp
Bengal gram dhall - 1 1/2 tsp

Method:

Fry all the masala items in a tsp of ghee or oil till golden brown. Powder it after it cools down and keep this aside.

Cook rice until it is three fourth cooked and allow it to cool on a plate. Each grain should remain separate. Mix a tsp of oil or ghee to it.

Heat oil in a pan and add the seasonings one by one and fry till golden brown in color. Add diced capsicums and fry till it becomes soft. Reduce the flame and add grated coconut. Fry till light brown, now add the turmeric powder and salt. Add rice to this and fry till rice becomes hot. Squeeze lemon juice and add powdered masala. Mix well and garnish with cut coriander leaves.

Yummy yummy capsicum rice is ready to eat :) Happy making. Enjoy eating :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Poppy seeds / Khaskhas Halwa

I have a sweet tooth and cant stay away from them.. I am sure most of you would say "same pinch". :)

Poppy seed halwa is an absolutely tempting sweet that we make and I just adore it too much. Mom used to tell me that its too healthy and it cools the body.

Its a very rich sweet to enjoy anytime. :)

Ingredients:

Poppy seeds(white) - 1 cup
Ghee - 3/4 cup
Sugar - 1 1/4 cup
Milk - 2 cups

Method:

Powder the poppy seeds in the mixie. Then grind the powdered poppy seeds and half the amount of milk together in the grinder till it becomes a slightly coarse paste.

In a heavy bottomed pan, take the ground paste,sugar and the remaining milk and stir continuously till it becomes thick(halwa consistency). Now add the ghee little by little and mix well. Switch off the flame when ghee separates and the halwa stops sticking to the corners for the pan. Poppy halwa is ready to eat :)





Now for the shower of awards:

Thanks to Geetha Achal for passing this beautiful award to me. Its really sweet of you.


And thanks again to Hema , Priyaraj and Sailaja for passing this award to me.


I am passing these to my best blogger buddy Parita.

This award comes with the following rules:

1. I must thank the person who gave me the award and list their blog and link it
2. I must list 10 honest things about myself
3. I must put a copy of The Honest Scrap Logo on my blog.
4. I must select at least 7 other worthy bloggers & list their links
5. I must notify the bloggers of the award and hopefully they will follow the above three requirements also.

So here for the honest things about myself

1. I love cooking but I really dont eat well.

2. I love photography but I really dont possess a proper camera.

3. I hate maths. I have a phobia for numbers. So cant remember telephone nos and b days.

4. I am absolutely playful.

5. I am too lazy to clean my room. I postpone it infinite times.

6. I love my friends and I make them feel special always.

7. I have a very funny nose. :)

8. I hate when people compare me with others.

9. I live on music.

10. I wonder why I feel it so difficult to tell ten things about me. :( I am complicated I guess!!!!

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Sago/Sabudana Upma

I still remember the days when I used to get absolutely excited of a dish made of small balls :) And that excitement still persists in me. :)

Sago is rich in carbohydrates. Sago upma can really be a fulfilling breakfast.


Ingredients:

Sago(nylon- fine) - 1 cup
Moong dhall - 1/3 cup
Green chillies - 3
Cashew - 5
Coconut(Scrapped) - 2 tbsp
Mustard - 1/2 tsp
Urad dhall - 1/2 tsp
Bengal gram dhall - 1/2 tsp
Lemon extract - 2 tsp
Curry leaves
Salt - for taste

Image curtsy: http://www.hsaba.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/sago.jpg

Method:

Wash and soak sago in water for minimum of three hours. The water level should be half an inch above the sago.

Cook moong dhall so that it is soft and does not change form. See to that you dont over cook it.

In a pan heat 2 tbsp of oil and season with mustard, urad dhall, bengal gram dhall, cashew, curry leaves and green chillies. Now add the soaked sago and fry for few min, till the sago becomes transparent. Add cooked moong dhall, grated coconut, lemon extract and salt to it and mix well. See to that the sago does not become sticky. Sago upma is ready to serve. You can serve it hot with mango pickle or curd. :) Enjoy eating :)




Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Tomato Dosa

Is red your favorite color??? Its my favorite. I just love dishes that are in red. So here is a red colored gorgeous tomato dosa for your eyes and tongue to enjoy :)


Ingredients:

Par-boiled rice - 1 cup
Tomato - 4
Red chillies - 6 nos
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Salt - for taste


Method:

Soak the rice in water for two hours. Grind it along with the other ingredients and make a watery batter.

Now heat the skillet and pour a ladle full of batter starting from the edges in a circular way. Since the batter is loose it will automatically fill the middle portion. Add a spoon of oil to roast it. Turn the dosa and roast it on the other side too.

Yummy tomato dosa is ready to eat. :) Serve it hot with pickle or chutney.

Happy making. :)




Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

My Entries for Events :)

I am happy to be a part of many events this month. :)


Entries for Sanghi's 'Fall in love - Milk' event are

Badam Kheer

Pasta Paayasam

Star granate shake

Jack and Jill shake

I am dedicating these dishes to my lovable sister. She enjoys all the delicacies that I make and tastes them with absolute enthusiasm and constantly gives me the feed back. :) This is for you dear :)


Entries for Mom's recipes 'Soup 'n Juice' event are the above Jack and Jill shake, Star granate shake and

Melon scotch

Aam Panna

Kiwi Shake

A for Carrot Soup

Entries for Divya's Cooking for kids - 'Evening snacks' are

Desi Monaco Sandwich

Stuffed Fryums

Zoo zoo Biscuits

Babycorn Tikka

Frozen Elani(Tender coconut)

Entries for Simple Indian food's 'WYF:Breakfast' event are

Sago Dosa

Pittu

Andhra Pesarattu

Rice Dosa

Vegetable Dosa Roll

Thanks to all the event hosts for giving me an opportunity to participate in their events. :) Happy hosting and Happy participating :)


Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com