Southwestern Potatoes

Wishing all a very Happy New Year. Hope 2014 is treating you all good.

Its been a while I posted here. 2013 was roller-coaster year. We have a new addition to our family, yeas we are blessed with baby boy. We named him Abhiram(Ab-He-Ram). This is primary reason I couldn't post any on my blog. But I promise my readers I shall not disappoint them this year. 

This morning I got a message from Pranathi, my friends sister on Facebook page. Her message inspired me to start blog again. So I dedicate my first recipe of this year to Pranathi. 

Ingredients

3-4 pounds red potatoes

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoon ground cumin

2 tablespoon chili powder

2 tablespoon fresh minced garlic

cooking spray

salt to taste

Cilantro chopped

Method

Preheat the oven to 350F

1. Cut potatoes into bite-size chunks and cook in the microwave for about 10 minutes, or until tender

2. Place the potatoes in a large bowl,

3. Add oil , all spices and potatoes together and mix well

4. Place the potatoes in flat baking tray. Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently until most of potatoes are browned

5. Once you feel done, change the oven setting to broil and cook for other 10 minutes. This will make your potatoes crispy

6. Sprinkle chopped cilantroand serve hot 

Girly Handbag Cake

My second attempt towards fondant. Sreelu, special thanks to you. I got inspired seeing your cake picture on the Facebook. Baked this for my dearest friend SWATI on her b'day. This is a simple 8 inch vanilla cake. Please follow  the video in creating the shape
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaBhI-S_BLM.

Lamb Chops

I’ve been facing blogger issues since some days. I get this error while updating my page

We're sorry, but we were unable to complete your request.When reporting this error to Blogger Support or on the Blogger Help Group, please: Describe what you were doing when you got this error.Provide the following error code BX-4ya32w

I did follow some Google tips but failed to solve it. Anyone else facing / faced this, please let me know. I tried contacting blogger guys but no luck. Your help would really be appreciated.

 Lamb Chops

Quick and easy lamb chops recipe seasoned the Indian style.

 

 

Ingredients

8 lamb chops

1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste

1 teaspoon coriander powder

½ teaspoon cumin powder

¼ teaspoon turmeric

Salt to taste

Paprika to taste

1 teaspoon garam masala

1 teaspoon yogurt

1 teaspoon finely chopped cilantro

Method

Preheat the oven to 400F

Add all the ingredients except lamb chops to a bowl and mix well.

Season lamb chops with the mix and bake 20-25mins each side

Garnish with Cilantro and serve immediately.

Crash Hot Potatoes

Potatoes, who doesn't like them? This recipe is little twist to a traditional baked potato. It's crispy at the bottom, creamy at the center, God! my mouth doesn't stop watering now. I bet after trying this recipe one would not eat the fried fries rather bake these flavorful potatoes at home and stay healthy.

Ingredients

12 whole New Potatoes (or Other Small Round Potatoes)

Oil spray

Kosher Salt To Taste

1 tablespoon paprika or to taste
1 tablespoon Coriander powder
1 teaspoon finely chopped cilantro

Method
1. In a small bowl, mix in the dry ingredients i.e. salt,paprika and coriander powder.
2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add in as many potatoes as you wish to make and cook them until they are fork-tender.
3. On a baking pan with foil on, generously spray oil. Place tender potatoes on the cookie sheet leaving plenty of room between each potato.
4, With a potato masher, gently press down each potato until it slightly mashes, rotate the potato masher 90 degrees and mash again. Spray the tops of each crushed potato generously with oil.
5. Sprinkle potatoes with the dry ingredients.
6. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Sprinkle fresh cilantro on the baked potatoes and serve them hot...

Low-carb pasta (Recipe: Broccoli, Green Peas, Peppers and Pasta salad)

Today's recipe is a quick and easy vegan pasta recipe. The assertive flavors of broccoli rabe and Italian seasoning are paired with sturdy green peas in this satisfying pasta dish.

Ingredients

1/2 lb low-carb pasta (rotini or penne)

2 cups broccoli florets

1 cup green pepper cut lengthwise

1 cup frozen green peas

1 tablespoon Italian seasioning 

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 

1 clove garlic, minced 

Large pinch of kosher salt, or more to taste

Small pinch of fresh ground black pepper, to taste

2 tablespoon kraft raspberry vinaigrette or dressing of your choice

Method

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain, rinse under cool water, drain again, and place in a large mixing bowl.Dont forget to add salt while cooking pasta

2. Heat the saute pan with olive oil. Add minced garlic, brocolli florets, peppers, green peas. Saute for 2 mins not more than that. While Sauting add Italian seasoning and pinch of salt and pepper

3. Mix in veggies to the pasta bowl and toss to coat everything with the dressing, and serve cold.

Now that I'm Back

Hello Hello Hello my lovely readers. I know its been a while I'd posted any. I was away from home for a while because of work. But now that I'm back home I promise I shall not disappoint you all. 

Grilled Chicken with Avocado Relish

Chicken, one thing that makes my mouth water all the time. While I was away from home, I stayed with my cousins at Seattle where they inspired me about healthy eating, workouts and stuff. Being so busy with work we tend to eat every junk we find when hungry and end up gaining up weight which is hard to loose. So readers eating healthy is very IMP. The recipe called out here is rich in protein and very healthy and easy to cook too.

Ingredients

4 boneless,skinless chicken breast halves

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Salt to taste

Paprika to taste ( can substitute with pepper too)

3 large avocados, diced

1 large tomato,diced

1 medium red onion,diced

1 jalapeno, finely chopped

Juice of lime,to taste

1/2 cup fresh cilantro,roughly chopped

Method

1. Preheat a grill/grill pan/ broiler on high

2. Take each chicken breast and cut in half lengthwise to make cutlets. You'll end up with 8 cutlets

3. Coat chicken with 2 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and paprika.

4. Grill chicken till its cooked throughout, about 3.5 mins per side ( total time depends on thickness)

5. While chicken is grilling make the relish: In a medium sized bowl, combine avocado,tomato,onion, jalapeno,lime juice and remaining olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Gently fold in cilantro.

6. Serve chicken alongside a mound of relish.

Satyameva Jayate!

Firstly my sincere apologies, for not updating any new recipes here. I’ve been tied up with few things which are keeping me really busy. I shall be back shortly with a bang.

Today I watched a TV show, Satyameva Jayate. It’s about India, a show done by a very famous Actor Aamir Khan. The first episode “Daughters are Precious” was on air 05/06/2012 IST. I couldn't stop my tears after watching this episode. This episode speaks about killing the unborn baby girls or a female foeticide. India still has many Men who force their wife’s to get aborted as soon as they know the sex of the baby is girl. They showed up real life people who have been victim of this. Their stories touched my heart.

There were many shows and stings about doing good to India or bringing a change to country. Nothing stood up till end. Hope at least thru this show people in India realize and change.

The above song is dedicated to all those girls who did not get a chance to live in this world!

Support the hope : http://www.satyamevjayate.in/

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day lovely readers...

My first attempt towards fondant cake and guess what I learnt? Working with fondant is not as easy as it seems to be. I baked a simple yellow cake and decorated with fondant. No one is perfect and so am'I. But one day wish to reach that step of success in the cooking / baking world.