Macarons / meringue cookies

                        Macaron is a sweet meringue based cookie made of egg white,sugar and any flavor. When i was studying in collage ,one of my relative brought me a pack of white cookie like one. When i tasted first, it just melts in my mouth. I like the taste and texture. Recently my neighbor friend karthiga remind me back this cookie.When i searched online,i came to know it has only few ingredients. But i found difficult to get the texture and color after trying few times.Finally i got the texture and taste.It take times to bake but after tasting it, we feel all is worth.Today is halloween,kids likes to get a treat from everyone. I prepared this cookie as a treat for my son.

Taste: I can get the flavor of vanilla essence and cashew taste in it.It melts in our mouth.
Texture: It has brittle texture.It is not as hard like normal cookie.

Ingredients:
Egg - 2
Sugar - 1/4 cup(Fine powdered)
Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice or cream of tartar - 1/2 tsp
Broken cashew nut - 5 tbsp

Recipe:
*Chop cashew into very fine pieces.
* Extract egg white separately  from yoke and transfer it to a small bowl.

1. Pre-heat conventional oven to 200 degree F.
2. Take a baking plate and line it with parchment paper or aluminium foil and keep it in oven while pre-heating.
3..In  a big bowl,add the egg whites.Using hand mixer or electric mixer,mix the egg white in low-medium speed.Mix till the egg white turns foamy. Now add lemon juice or cream of tartar into it and mix again ,till small spike appears.Now slowly add sugar one spoon at a time,mix till stable spikes appears.(When you take mixer from egg white, spikes should appear ).Finally add vanilla extract and finely chopped cashew nuts and mix for 1 more minute.Finally check the texture using hand. The mix should be like a cream without solid sugar bit in it. (Cashew nut pieces can be there)
4.Transfer the mix into pastry bag (with 1/2 inch tip) and seal it .
5.Remove the baking tray from oven and slowly make desired shape using the mix on the tray.Once done,keep the tray in oven.
6.Bake for 1 1/2 hours in 200 degree F.
7.After 1 1/2 hr,slightly open the oven door and leave it like that for 3 to 4 hrs to dry the cookie.
8.After 4 hrs , slowly remove the cookie and transfer it to a plate to serve.

Note:
* We can use any artificial flavor while making this cookie.
* We can also add finely chopped almond too.
* We can add some food coloring to make it more attractive.
* Take time while preparing this cookie, don't hurry while mixing.It took 20 minutes for mixing.
* Keep the egg in room temperature ( out from fridge alteast 30 minutes before)
* If we don't get fine sugar,we can grind it in mixie to very fine powder.
* Use pure vanilla extract than imitation one.

Problem we face while preparing this cookie:
* If we add yellow yoke even mall bit, the taste will differ and texture differ.
* If the sugar is not fine, the cookie wont be smooth textured one.
* Take time to mix the egg white. It should get the spikes when finish mixing.
* Keep the cookie in pre-heat oven,else the cookie will loose its shape.
* Don't increase the temperature in between while baking , it will make the cookie to bake fast and it turn brown color fast.
* By leaving the cookie in switched off oven,makes the cookie to be crispy for long.

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Raw onion chutney

            Raw onion chutney is my appa's favorite one. whenever i am in my hometown, i used to prepare this chutney using ammikal. Raw onion chutney and dosai is my favorite. After marriage, i like variation of this chutney prepared by my MIL. I just love the taste of that chutney. I used to ask her to prepare this chutney for next day breakfast before coming to hometown. ( You know ,i used to have extra dosa and idli when i have it with this chutney). Since some don't like to eat raw onion because it gives bad smell. when you think about yummy food ,you shouldn't think about this. I just get some mouth freshener and will swallow idli's,paniyaram,some dosa's (he he he) with yummy tasty chutney.

Ingredients:
Big red onion - 1
Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp
Curry leaves - 2 tbsp
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
Tamarind - 1/2 gooseberry size
Sugar - a pinch
Salt - as per taste
Garlic - very small piece

Recipe:
* Soak tamarind in little water.
* Chop onion in big chunks.

                      In a food processor,add chopped onion,garlic,red chilli powder and salt. Grind  it in pulse mode.Once the onion is slightly crushed,now add soaked tamarind pulp,curry leaves ,coriander leaves and sugar.Grind till the onion is grind-ed coarsely .( I like coarse texture for this chutney,if not can add little water and grind to smooth paste).That's it. Serve along with dosa or paniyaram.

Note:
* My Mil used to add little warm oil on top of this chutney to give a different taste( pref coconut oil).
* Small onion give very good taste than big onion.(In US, small onions are bit costly so i used to prepare using big red onion)
* White and yellow onion don't give exact taste like this.
* Instead of red chilli powder, we can also use dry red chilli.

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Panna cotta

                  Panna cotta is one of the famous italian dessert which mean cooked cream . It is usually prepared with cream,milk and gelatin and served with toppings like fruits,chocolate,caramel and berries. It is like jello type but cream and milk are added to it to enrich the flavor. I haven't tasted this recipe in any restaurant but i have seen this dish prepared by Gordon ramsay in a cookery show. Being an indian, i just to try a dessert out of box from indian sweets. I like to try pudding,souffle,pie. My first step was to try panna cotta. It is simple recipe  and need very few ingredients.

Ingredients:

Heavy cream - 1/2cup
Half and half - 1 cup or milk - 1 cup
Vanilla extract - 1 tbsp
Gelatin powder - 1 packet(Unflavored)
Cold water - 3 tbsp
Sugar - 3 tbsp

Topping :
Mango juice - 1/2 cup(any juice)
Corn starch - 1 tbsp
Strawberry - 2

Recipe:
1.Take cold water in a small bowl and mix gelatin .Set aside for 5 minutes.
2.Take a thick bottom pan. Add half and half ,heavy cream and sugar. Switch on the flame and cook it ,in slow-medium flame. Cook the cream till you can see small bubbles around the corner.(Don't boil it). Remove it from flame and add gelatin and vanilla extract.Mix well till the gelatin dissolves and  mix well with cream.
3.Now pour the cream mix in a glass bowl or in any ramekin. Cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours .
4.Meanwhile, take mango juice in a pan and cook it in slow flame. Mix corn starch and water together and pour it to mango juice.Stir it well till the juice thickens up.Switch off the flame and cool it down.
5.After 4 hours, take the ramekins and place on warm water( so that the panna cotta will slide to a plate easily). Take out from warm water and slowly slide a knife around the inner edges of  ramekin . Now slowly place a plate on it and turn it upside down,so that the panna cotta from ramekins will slide to the plate.
6.Now slice  strawberry or any fruit of your preference and place it on top of panna cotta and drizzle the mango juice on top. Serve it as a chill.

Note:
* We can use of any fruit as topping.
* We can also prepare any fruit juice jello and pour it as one layer for panna cotta.
* We can also add any juice to cream mix for added flavor and color instead of vanilla extract.
*  Heavy cream and half and half will be available in any store and it will be placed near to milk and dairy product section.
* The texture will be like soft halwa like texture and taste like creamy vanilla flavored jello.
*  We can have panna cotta and fruit alone but my husband said the mango puree gives rich taste to panna cotta.
* Kids who like jello ,will definitely like it.

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Spicy potato fry

                      This is my china mamiyar recipe. My husband and his brother’s favorite recipe. Whenever they go to her house, they will pre request her to prepare tomato rice and this potato fry. After marriage ,she also prepared this for me too. It’s so yummy. I can say ,this is my family favorite recipe.  It goes well with tomato rice, curd rice and any variety rice.

Ingredients:
Potato – 3 big
Garlic – 5 cloves
Coriander seed – 2 tbsp
Jeera – 1 tbsp
Chili powder – 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder – 1 1/2 tsp
Red color – a pinch
Salt – as per taste
Oil – 4 tbsp

Recipe:
* Boil potato ,peel it and chop it into small pieces.
* Peel the garlic and Smash it.
* Grind coriander seed and jeera into coarse pieces.
1. Take potato into a bowl and add chili powder,turmeric powder,red color and salt.Mix well and cover the bowl and keep it in fridge.
2.Take a thick bottom pan, add oil. Once it is hot,add smashed garlic. Fry till it is crispy(Don’t burnt it). Now slow down the flame and add grinded powder. Fry for awhile and then add marinated potato.Stir it and spread the potato and reduce the flame to slim. Cook till the potato is crispy and the powder is coated well with potato.
Serve with any variety rice.

Note :
*  If needed, can add some garam masala powder.
*  To get a tangy taste,we can add lemon juice finally.
* Cook potato is slow flame ,so that the potato will be crispy for long time.

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Masala vadai

                          Masala vadai is very popular hot snack in south india.. I remember, when i was working in bangalore once i had masala vadai near Jaya nagar .It is very small road side shop ,but most of the vadai and bonda used to get sold very soon. The prize of masala vadai is just 1 rp( 2007) but the size also be  one circle bigger than one rupee coin,but  it will be tasty. Using the masala vadai dough we can prepare many recipe. We can make masala vadai, paruppu urundai kulambu, vada curry , rasa vadai. I just love to have masala vadai with pasiparuppu payasam. My mom generally add vada paruppu, red chilli ,onion,coriander leaves and curry leaves. But after tasting masala vadai by addding some masala items, i like to follow the same recipe.

Ingredients:

Vada paruppu / kadala paruppu - 1 cup
Salt - as per taste
Onion - 1 / small onion - 10 no
Curry leaves - 3 tbsp
Coriander leaves - 4 tbsp
Mint leaves - 2 tbsp
Oil - for frying

Grind:
Red chilli - 3
Garlic - 3 cloves
Sombu - 1 tbsp
Pattai/ cinnamon stick - very small piece
Ginger - 1/2 inch

Recipe:
* Soak paruppu for 3 hours.
* Chop onion into small pieces.
* Chop coriander ,curry and mint leaves into fine pieces.

1.In a small mixie jar, grind the items which are given under "To grind" section without adding water.
2.Take 1 tbsp soaked dhal separately and grind remaining into very coarse paste without adding water.(If needed ,can add 1 or 2 tbsp water)Don't run the mixie continuously. Run in pulse mode or run the mixie switch on/off every 30 seconds.Transfer it to a bowl.
3.Now add the grinded  garlic mixture to the dhal mixture.
4.Add salt,coriander leaves,curry leaves,mint leaves and onion.Also add dhal (which are not grinded )to the mixer. Mix well.
5.Take small size portion and make balls out of it.Keep it ready by placing it on a plate.
6. Take oil in a wide kadai and bring to slow/medium heat. Once it is hot,take one vadai ball in palm and press with other palm . Flat it little bit. ( My son loves crunchy vadai, so i make the vadai balls very flat only for him). Slowly drop the vadai's into oil. Cook the vadai both side in slow-medium heat. Else outside will soon get cooked and change color but inside it will be uncooked. Once both side turn brown in color,remove from oil and place it in a plate layered with tissue.Serve hot with hot tea or with payasam .

Note:
* Those who don't like cinnamon flavor can avoid it.
* No need to add anything to get extra crunchiness.
* In india, we use to get vada paruppu separately.But in US, we don't get it,so we can use kadala paruppu.
* While grinding, drain the dhal using strainer and transfer it to mixie.If needed, we can add 1 or 2 tbsp water. If there is excess water, the vadai batter will be like a paste and the vadai won't get the coarse texture inside.
* We can prepare vada curry using left over vadai .

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Onion rings

                                Onion ring is one of the famous fast food in US . I have heard about this snack through internet,but recently when i was in family trip,we stopped for a break near the shop name " Ar by's ". Being a vegetarian, i don't had much option to choose.I was bored of having french fries and hash brown,So i ordered onion rings seeing the menu. When i tasted it first time, it taste like Indian onion bhaji but with crispy outer layer.The outer layer is crunchy and inner onions are hot and soft.My husband suggest me to try this dish . My 3 1/2 year old son,initially hesitate to taste it but once he tasted it,he like the crunchy texture.I was so satisfied in preparing a snack which my son like it.

Ingredients:

Yellow onion - 1
All purpose flour(Maida) - 1 cup
Corn starch - 3 tbsp
Chili powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Smashed potato - 1 tbsp(optional)
Baking soda - a pinch
Bread crumbs - 1 cup
Onion powder - 1/2 tsp (optional)

Recipe:
* Cut the onion 1/2 inch thick cross-sectional wise,separate into rings.

1.Take a bowl,add all-purpose flour,cornstarch,chili powder,salt ,smashed potato,baking soda,1/4 cup bread crumbs and onion powder.Mix well. Add enough water and mix well. The consistency should be semi liquid.
2.Take bread crumbs in a bowl.
3. Take onion rings in a plate.
4. Take one onion ring,dip it in all-purpose flour mix . Tap once in corner of the bowl ,to remove excess liquid. Now slowly place the onion rings in bread crumbs bowl. Take the bowl in hand and move it right and left,front and back ,so that the bread coats well on onion ring.Prepare all onion rings like this and place it in a plate.
5. Heat a pan with enough oil and once it is medium heat,slowly drop the onion rings using fork into the oil. Fry 2 or 3 onion rings at a time.When one side is cooked,turn to other side and cook. Cook till the onion ring turns yellowish color.
Serve with any sauce of your preference.

Note:
* Instead of adding baking soda,we can add drinking soda to prepare the batter.
* Uisng the same batter we can prepare mozzarella sticks and cheese balls.
* Those who don't have bread crumbs in home, can powder plain corn flakes and use as a coating.

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Stir fried egg noodles with vegetables and sesame seed

                                         I have been to few Chinese restaurants. I am big fan of brown rice fried rice and chow mien noodles.The blanched vegetables combined with sauces gives a different taste to normal fried rice and noodles. Crunchy vegetables and perfect cooked rice and noodles is awesome. We always used to order spicy for any type of  Chinese dish.(Even after that ,we used to mix chili sauce to make it extra spicy) I haven't tried or thought of trying it in home.But finally,i decided to give a try but prepare it in my own way. I prepare this dish using egg noodles,blanched vegetables and sauces.

Ingredients:
Egg noodles -  1 packet
Onion - 1 big
Garlic - 5 cloves
Ginger - 1 " piece
Vegetables - 2 cup( Brocoli,carrot,beans,green pepper)
Spring onion - 3 tbsp
Sesame seed - 2 tbsp
Olive oil - 3 tbsp
Chilli sauce - 2 tbsp
Soy sauce - 1 1/2 tbsp
Tomato sauce - 2 tbsp

Recipe:
* Chop carrot,beans and green pepper lengthwise.
* Chop onion legthwise.
* Chop garlic and ginger into very fine pieces.
* Dry roast sesame seed and keep it in a bowl.

1.Take a big vessel and pour water(enough water to cook noodles) in it. Add 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp olive oil and bring it to boil.Once it is boiled, add egg noodles. Cover and cook for 10 minutes(Cook as  per instruction given in packet).Once it is cooked ,drain the water and wash it with cold water and drain again. Transfer it to a bowl.
2.Take a big vessel,again pour water in it and add salt. Bring it to boil. Once it is boiled,add chopped vegetables and cook uncover. Just cook for 3 minutes and drain water and keep it in a plate.
3.Take a wok,add olive or sesame oil. Once it is hot,add chopped garlic and ginger. Fry it and add onion.Fry till the onion is cooked and still crunchy. Now add all vegetables and sauces. Mix well and add enough salt. Stir well and cook for 2 minutes. Now add cooked egg noodles. Stir and mix well. Finally add chopped green onion and roasted sesame seed. Give a toss and serve it in a plate along with ketchup and chili sauce.

Note:
* We can also add zucchini,,mushroom and cauliflower.
* We can also use normal noodles to prepare this dish.
* Don't over cook the vegetables, crunchy vegetables give good taste to this dish.
* Those who don't like sesame seed,can avoid it.
* Don't add more soy sauce. It will give bitter taste to the dish.

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Bruschetta

                                   Recently i have been to Olive garden to try italian dishes. we tried many dishes like bruschetta, bread stick, soup, ravioli, crispy risotto bites,eggplant parmigiana. Me and my husband like bruschetta a lot. I searched for the recipe on net and thought of trying it in home. The ingredients are very simple and easy to prepare.The crunchy bread and juicy tomato topping is awesome.

Ingredients:

French baguette - 1
Roma tomatoes - 4
Garlic - 1 cloves
Basil - 1 tbsp
Olive oil - 1 tbsp
Red onion(big)- 2 tbsp
Pepper - 1 tsp
Salt - as per taste
Dry Oregano - 1 tsp
Dry thyme - 1 tsp

Recipe:

* Chop tomato into medium size pieces.

* Chop onion and garlic into very fine pieces.

* Chop basil into fine pieces.

1. Cut the french loaf into 1" or 2 inch slices.

2. Pre heat conventional oven to 350 degree .Place the sliced bread on the baking tray and spray oil on both side . Bake it for 5 minutes on both side. After baking, the bread should be crispy and crunchy in texture.Cool it and transfer it to a plate.

3.In a bowl,add chopped tomato chunks ,onion,garlic,basil,pepper,salt,oregano and thyme.Mix well and rest it for 5 minutes.

4. Serve baked bread in a plate and tomato mix in a bowl or serve the bread with tomato topping on it.

Note:

* We can use any french loaf.Plain or flavored one.

* We can also sprinkle some cheese on top.

* To make the tomato mix more tastier,we can add canned tomato and sun dried tomatoes to the mix.

* We can also use fresh oregano and thyme.

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