Kadubu Shaped Modak (Indian Momos)- Blog Skip Wednesday

I know I was supposed to post this last Wednesday  but due to few reasons I could not....I apologize.

So  I am naming this Blog Skip Wednesday.

I know I know.... this not the actual  modak shape....but believe me I tried ...I saw this video on 'how to make modak'.....and I thought 'wow that is super simple' and tried it out and failed miserably. I was all set to give up and my mom (moms are superwomen, they get ideas in a split second)  told that I could use a kadubu mold....different shape....but same taste. 

Last week I was paired with Nirmala from Nirmala's kitchen , and I chose to make Modak from her blog. Thank you for the recipe Nirmala.

Print this recipe
 Ingredients For filling

• 1 cup fresh coconut 
• 1/2 cup jaggery(grated or powdered)
• 1 tsp cardamom powder

Method for filling

• Place a pan on medium heat, add in coconut and jaggery and cook till the jaggery melts and the mixture is little dry. Add  cardamom powder and mix well. Keep this aside and prepare the outer cover for the modak.

Ingredients For outer covering

• 1 1/2 cups raw rice powder (I used pathri powder)
• 2 cups water
• 1 tbsp ghee
• pinch salt

Method

1. Heat 2 cups water in a non stick vessel, add ghee and salt. When water comes to boil add the rice powder. Keep stirring to avoid lumps.Take off the flame.
2. Cover and keep aside for few minutes
3. Knead the rice dough while its warm, apply oil to your hands and the vessel you are kneading in. The dough should be smooth, soft and shiny.

To make Modaks

1. Make a rice ball, oil a chappati stand and place the rice ball on it, roll out the rice ball into a circle and place it on the kadubu mold, place 1 tbsp of filling and close the kadubu mold and press. Remove excess rice dough from the sides and open the mold and remove the kadubu and place on a greased plate. Continue with the rest.
2. Steam the modaks for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Serve with ghee

Note : Roll the rice dough thick ,or while steaming the modaks might crack, mine did:)

Sending to Radhika's tickling palates

Seven Links Challenge

Laxmi from Samayal Diary sent me this challenge

The  Post Beautiful Post


Link: Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

I just love the simplicity of the picture, its just about the Quiche and nothing else. Loved the way the top of the quiche has browned . Enjoyed every minute of making the quiche.

The  Most Popular Post


Link : bangude ghassi (mackerel fish curry)

This post got the highest number of hits followed by Chicken ghee roast. This is my mom's signature dish and I have mentioned in this post that.....' 50 % of the the mackerel fish caught at sea... comes to our house' ... believe me I wasn't exaggerating, I had mackerel today and I know I will have it next week and the week after  .......my mom has succeeded into brainwashing my daughter to love mackerel fish curry too.

The Most Controversial


I don't think I have any controversial post ......and hope I don't have any in future...


The Most Helpful Post


Link: Neer Dosa with Video

This post I think is the most useful coz I have put up video of how to make neer dosa.

The Post That was surprisingly successful
Link:  Marvai aajadina (clams sukka)

This was very surprising coz  I had just started my blog...was in Bahrain...poor photography... handful of followers and then ........when I put up this post I had 400 hits in less than 5 hours. I WAS SHOCKED.But I think this dish gave me that push..to keep me going.

The Post that did not get the attention it deserved


Link:  Avarakkai chops

Just 27 hits , my favorite vegetarian dish and JUST 27 HITS.....do I have to say more...This proves that non vegetarians visit my blog more than vegetarians.

The Post I am proud of 

Iam proud of all my dishes (lol.... such a cheesy line), but since I have to choose....I will choose 2. Ghee roast is one of my favorite chicken dishes,I never thought I could ever get that restaurant taste...was very happy when I could recreate the same dish at home and I am proud that I made the dish from scratch.

And my Dad's birthday cake for obvious reason.......

Link: Chicken Ghee Roast

Link:Dad's Birthday Cake

Forwarding the Challenge to
1. Shireen Sequira  Ruchik Randhap
2. Anamika Arun Taste Junction
3. Prathima Rao prats corner
4. Mallika      veg bowl
5.Prema  Prema's Thaligai

The rules

1. Blogger is nominated to take part.
2. Blogger publishes his/her blog
3. Blogger nominates upto 5 bloggers to take part

The categories

1. Most beautiful post
2. Most popular
3. Most helpful
4. Most controversial Post
5. A post whose success surprised you
6. Post you feel did not get  attention it deserved
7. Most proud of.

Mango Cheesecake

I always strongly believe that one should not be afraid of cooking. ......But you know there are few dishes that I am afraid to try out. In the movie Julie Julia., Julie always keep pushing one thing that she was scared of till the end..........'Debone a chicken'.............well I am scared of trying out two things........'Rasmalai' ....and.......'Cheesecake'

Well I made a cheesecake which was amazing.....but I was not scared coz I knew this cheesecake will set and hold shape no matter what (thanks to the gelatin).Its not the one which I had tried and failed miserably , where I used cream cheese(or mascarpone) and whipped cream and hoped like crazy that after 6 hours it will set. I ended up having disintegrated cheesecake (pic at the end)

So I am back to square one ....still afraid to make the original  'CHEESECAKE' 

Recipe source : Mallika's Veg Bowl

Ingredients
Print this recipe
For Base

• 100 grams Digestive biscuits
• 50 gram melted butter

For Cheesecake filling

• 100 ml cream
• 50 grams cottage cheese (paneer)
• 150 ml mango flavored yogurt - Amul Aam Srikhand
• 4 tbsp castor sugar
• 1 tbsp gelatin
• 1 tsp Vanilla essence

Method

For base:

Grind digestive biscuits to fine powder in a blender/mixie, add butter and mix well. Transfer to a spring form pan (I used 7 inch, but I would suggest you use a 6 inch pan). Press the mixture evenly on the base of the pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile prepare the filling.

For filling

1. Put cottage cheese (paneer),vanilla and 75 ml cream into a small blender (or use a hand electric mixer) and whip to give volume. Add thick mango yogurt (aam srikhand) and sugar and beat till well combined.
2. Dissolve gelatin with remaining 25ml cream and bring to boil till all the gelatin dissolves, add this to the cheesecake mix and beat on high speed to combined all the ingredients.
3. Transfer this onto the biscuit base .Tap the tin gently to remove air bubbles.
4. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Remove from tin and serve with fresh mango or any other fruit.

Note : If you don't have spring form pan then use any round pan and line with cling film.

My failed...disintegrated .........strawberry cheesecake (for some reason topped with a cherry:)

Bhende Puli / Okra in tamarind gravy

This is one of those few dishes my mom taught me before I got married coz its super simple and quick to prepare.

Ingredients
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• 1/2 kg ladyfingers / okra(chopped)
• lemon size tamarind
• 2 tsp jaggery
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 1 tomato (chopped)
• 4 green chillis (slit)
• 2tsp chilli powder
• salt to taste
• 2 cups water

Seasoning

• 4 garlic cloves(with skin/crushed)
• 1 tsp urad dal
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 7 to 8 curry leaves
• 3 red chillies (dry)
• 1 tbsp oil

Method

1. In a vessel put water and tamarind and jaggery, let them soak in water for few minutes.Squeeze the tamarind in the water and discard anything stringy.
2. Place the vessel on medium flame and add onion, green chillies and tomato. When this comes to a boil add ladyfingers/okra and salt.
3. Cover and cook till the ladyfingers are cooked. Add chilly powder and cook for few more minutes. Take off the flame.
4. Prepare seasoning: Heat oil in a pan, when oil is hot add mustard seeds and urad dal. When mustard starts popping add curry leaves, garlic and red chillies. Stir for few seconds and pour the seasoning over the prepared Okra/ ladyfinger gravy.
5. Serve hot with rice.

Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

This is from my friend / faaaar cousin / senior/ blah / blah / blah...........Gargi Shetty...a special person who can brighten anyone s mood (ohhh she is going to get me for this)

Gargi had a request ...she wanted me to put up some baked dish...and  ME who wasn't thinking straight gave her a choice......Cake, Muffin....or Quiche . Seriously hoping that would not choose quiche (coz I have never baked one).............But Gargi had to choose ......QUICHE.

I know Gargi wanted a healthy dish...but I am not sure this one is....lot of butter and cream.But this quiche was fabulous.Maybe next time I will try to put up a healthy frittata.

So Gargi this one is for you .........you better bake a quiche......seriously.

Ingredients
Print this recipe
Pie crust

• 1 1/4 cup Flour (155 grams)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter chilled and diced (115grams)
• 1/4 cup cold water (60ml)

For filling : recipe from here

• 300 grams Spinach
• 200 grams Mushroom(chopped)
• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 5 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 4 eggs
• 400 ml Cream
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• 2 tsp chilli flakes
• 250 grams cheese (grated)
• 2 tbsp butter

Method for filling:

1.Wash and cook spinach in 1/4 cup water for few minutes. Drain and squeeze out excess water and chop the spinach leaves. Keep this aside.
2. Place a pan on medium flame, melt 1 tbsp butter and fry onion till they turn golden brown and crisp ,add chopped garlic and fry for a minute. transfer to a small bowl.
3. In the same pan melt 1 tbsp butter and add the chopped mushroom and cook till the mushroom turns light golden brown. Add the chopped spinach, salt(add little salt )and chilli flakes and stir for few minutes till the moisture evaporates. Now add the fried onion and garlic. Take off the flame.Let it cool completely.
4. Now break in 4 eggs and pour in the cream and mix till well combined add little salt and pepper and mix. Now add 200 grams of grated cheese and combine. Keep aside till further use.

Method For Pie crust

1.In a bowl combine flour and salt. Add the diced butter and cut in with a fork or pinch with your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water, one tablespoon at a time until the mixture forms a ball(it should not be too sticky) .Wrap in cling wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
2.Roll out the dough ( watch video) to fit a 7 inch pie dish or loose bottom pie dish. Press the dough evenly into the bottom and sides and cut off the excess dough that's hanging out.
3. Preheat oven at 180 degree C.

4. Place a baking sheet on the pie crust and place any kind of dried beans on the baking paper to avoid the crust from puffing up. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.

5. Now get the crust out of the oven, remove the dried beans and baking paper and prick the crust with a fork and bake again for 5 minutes or till the crust turns golden brown. This is called 'Baking Blind' --Baking the pie crust completely before pouring in the filling.

6. Pour the spinach-mushroom-cream-egg and cheese mixture into the baked pie crust . Sprinkle the remaining 50 grams grated cheese on top of the quiche and Bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes(or more) at 180 degree C.

7. you will know the the quiche is done when its browned on the top and when  you press the quiche it will spring back slightly.

8. Remove from oven and place on wire rack and let the quiche cool for few minutes. Try to loosen the sides and remove the quiche from the tart pan or you serve it from the dish itself.
9. Serve the quiche when its warm.

Note:The pie crust recipe was for a 9 inch pie dish, so I had left over pie crust dough,which can be used again. I also had leftover quiche filling. I made mini quiche's using a muffin pan next day.

Happy Ganesh Chathurthi

Vaktarunda mahaakaaya  suryakoti samaprabha 

nirvighnam kuru me deva sarvakaaryeshu sarvadaa

O Lord Ganesha, of curved trunk, large body, and brilliance of a million suns,

Please make all my works free of obstacles, Always.

Wishing you all a Happy Ganesh Chathurthi.

My sister Neetu sent me this message and I have to share it with you

Wishing you happiness as big as
Ganesha's tummy.
LIFE as long as his trunk,
Troubles as small as his mouse
Moments as sweet as his ladoo
Happy Ganesh Chathurthi