Pasta with broccoli

Hi guys...

I had a fun (long) weekend in Lancaster and Blackpool.

My brother-in-law and his wife recently moved to Lancaster so thought of visiting them. It was a lot of fun. The best part was our trip to Blackpool - an amusement park. Me and my co-sis love the rides and really freaked out. The weather was extremely good - so it was packed. But even with the long waits, we did not mind once we get on the rides.

We started from Blackpool and came back to Glasgow on saturday.

I got up around 9:30 on sunday and slept again by 10:30. I did not get up till 12:00. Came down and asked my husband what's for lunch? He said he had toast and he told me to have the same. Really didn't feel like. I told him I'll make pasta. He was as usual why? no need. and all that. I told him to let me make and then decide if he wants to eat or no.

There were not many vegetables at home. Just tinned chopped tomatoes, onions, chillies and frozen broccoli. I tried out the following recipe and it came out 'not bad'.

Ingredients
2 med - onions - finely chopped
3 - 4 - green chillies - chopped
1 tin (440gm) - chopped tomatoes
1/2 tsp - chilli powder
6 - 7 - broccoli pieces
2 - fists fusilli pasta (you can use what you want - this was handy for me).
2 tbsp - olive oil + oil for boiling pasta
salt to taste

Method:

1. Start boiling water with a little salt and 1 tbsp oil.
2. Once the water is boiled, add pasta and boil for 10 mins and strain.
3. In a different pan, add 2 tbsp olive oil and chillies.
4. Once the chillies are fried, add the onions and fry till translucent.
5. Add tomatoes, salt and chilli powder and boil till the tomatoes are done
6. Add broccoli and cover and cook on med-high for 5-6 mins.
7. Add pasta to the sauce and serve hot.

That's it for now... ta ta

Jeera Rice

Ya ya ya... I know I haven't been blogging... Been busy with stuff.

I had some left over rice and wanted to make Jeera rice - an all time favourite.

Searched a little but couldn't find any with left over rice. So decided to try myself (not something I do)...



Here's the recipe:

Ingredients
2 cups - left over Rice
2 tbsp - Cumin Seeds
1 Onion - finely chopped
4 - 5 - green chillies slit
15 - curry leaves
1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
1 tbsp - Oil
Salt to taste
Coriander Leaves for garnishing

Method

1. Add oil in a pan / wok.
2. When oil is hot, add the jeera.
3. Once they splutter, add the chillies.
   
4. Fry for 3 minutes and add curry leaves and fry for 30 secs.
5. Then add the onions. Fry till the onions turn brown.
   
6. Now, add the ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes.
7. Add salt and mix well.
   
8. Add the rice and mix well.
9. Garnish with Coriander Leaves and serve
   

We had with left over palak tofu and curd. For my first experiment, I must say, it came out quiet well.

Chicken Fry

My First Recipe...

I can not cut or even see raw chicken. So P cuts and marinates so I can take it from there.

Every sunday at home, they used to make 2 kinds of chicken. Chicken pulusu and Chicken fry. I loved Chicked fry and my brother's choice was Chicken pulusu(not that he didn't eat the fry). But off late, I started liking Chicken pulusu with dosa, ragi mudda, roti and even rice. People's tastes do change...

This recipe is from my Pinni(mom's younger sister):

Ingredients:
For marination:
400 gms Chicken - boneless, cut in small cubes
1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
2 tsp Ginger Paste
2tsp Garlic Paste
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder

For cooking:
1 Medium size Onion
10 chillies (we prefer it extremely hot)
1 inch Cinnamon
2 Cloves
1 Medium size tomato
Salt to taste

Method

1. Marinate chicken with the ingredients for atleast 1/2 hour (preferably over night)
2. Make a smooth paste of onion and chilli.
3. In a pan, heat some oil and add the onion-chilli paste.
4. Fry till it turns brown.
5. Add the Cinnamon and Cloves and fry for some time.
6. Then add the tomato and fry till the tomato is cooked.
7. Now add the marinated chicken.
8. Mix well and add little water if necessary.
9. Cover and cook till chicken is done.
10. Check salt and add if necessary.
    
11. Serve with rice or roti.