SWADISHT SWEET STICKY PULAO

U need:
 Basmati Rice: 1 cup
Sugar: 1/2 cup
Rose water: 2 tsp
Saffron strands: few
Cardamom:2
Cloves:2
Cinnamon: 1 medium stick
Star anise: 1 small
Kismis: 2 tsp
Almond slivers: 3 tsp
kesar powder: pinch
ghee: 2 tablsp
sugar cherries to decorate.(optional)

Method:
1. Wash rice and soak for 10 mins.Drain water.Set aside.
2. In a pan add sugar,cloves,cinnamon,star anise, cardamom,1 cup water and bring to boil.Once the sugar melts add the rose water and saffron strands.Switch off the gas.Cover and set aside
3.In another cooking pan add ghee(clarified butter). Add the drained rice and stir well for 5 to 6 mins on low heat. Remove the cinnamon,cloves,cardamom and star anise shells from the sugar syrup.Pour in the sugar water+ 1/4 cup plain water in the rice.Stir well. Cover and simmer till the rice is cooked.Add the kesari powder,kismis, almond slivers. Toss gently.Switch off the gas.Cover and rest the sweet pulao for 10 mins.Remove lid .Mix gently once again.The pulao should be a little sticky

To serve:
Take a dessert serving cup.Put 1 heaped ladle of the sticky pulao in it.Top with a scoop of icecream of your choice. top with some almond slivers.Serve.

Note: Easy,tasty and delicious to eat on its own,it tastes better with icecream. the best flavors to go with this dessert is almond flavour or plain vanilla.
Bon Appetite!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SWADISHT KHICHDI& ALU-PEAS KHUS KHUS CURRY

U need:
Rice(basmati or any good quality): 1 cup
Moong dal: 3/4 cup
Potato: 2 medium
green peas: 1/4 cup
ginger paste: 2 tsp
green chillies(slit): 2
oil/ghee: 2 tablsp
cloves: 2
cardamom: 2
cinnamon: 2 stick
turmeric powder: 1 tsp
Khus khus: 2 tsp(soaked in water for 15 mins)
Salt to taste
Sugar: 1/2 tsp
Dhaniya powder: 2 tsp
Jeera: 1 tsp
Nigella seeds(kala jeera): 1/2 tsp

Method:
1. Soak rice in water for 15 mins.Dry roast moong dal and add to the soaked rice.
2.Wash,peel skin of the potato and dice to cubes.Soak in water.
3.Heat oil or ghee in a kadai. When hot add jeera,cloves,cinnamon and cardamoms.Saute for few seconds.Add the ginger paste and stir quickly.Drain water from soaked the rice-dal mix and add the rice-dal mix to the kadai. Continue stirring well.Add turmeric powder and dhaniya powder.Stir well for 5 to 6 mins. Add salt and sugar.
4.Transfer the  semi cooked rice dal into a vessel,add 2 cups water and pressure cook for 2 whistles .
5. Meanwhile add 2 tablsp oil in a kadai. When hot add  nigella seeds and slit green chillies. Saute.
6. Drain water from the diced potatoes and green peas and add to the kadai,Stir well,add salt. Grind the soaked khus khus to a smooth paste.
7. Add 3/4 cup water to the cooking potatoes-peas. Cover with a lid.Simmer till potatoes are semi-cooked.
8. Now add the khus-khus paste and mix well. Cover with the lid and simmer till done.Add chopped coriander leaves,simmer for another 2 mins .
To serve: Transfer the pipping hot khichdi to a serving bowl.Pour the potato khus-khus curry in the center of the khichdi. Serve hot with fried pappads and fresh curds.

Note: On a lazy sunday afternoon when you are too lazy to cook an elaborate dish,make this potato khichdi and enjoy every spoonful of this yummy dish.
Adjust salt to taste.
Bon Appetiti!!!!!!

GREEN MANGO-CARROT RICE

U need:
Good quality rice: 2 cups
raw green mango:1/2
carrot:1 medium ( red carrot if you get or the regular carrot)
capsicum: 1 large
sambhar powder: 2 tsp
roasted peanuts: 1 tablsp
mustard seeds:1 tsp
asefodita: 1/2 tsp
red chillies:2
curry leaves: 1 tsp
oil: 2 tablsp
lemon juice: 1 tsp
turmeric powder:1/2 tsp
salt to taste.
Method:
Clean,wash, and cook rice .Cool the rice on a plate.This prevents the rice from sticking to one another.
Thinly slice the green mango . Thinly slice carrot into sticks.Slice capsicum into thin stripes.
Heat oil in a kadai. When hot add the mustard seeds,broken red chillies and asefodita.
Saute (1 min).
Add the roasted peanuts and carrot sticks.Continue frying.Add turmeric and sambhar powder.
Saute.(1 min)
Now add the sliced green mango,capsicum and toss well.Add curry leaves.(1 min)
Add the cooked,cooled rice and mix well.Add salt.Stir the rice gently for 1 min.Add lemon juice.Mix well.
Transfer the rice to a serving bowl. Serve with deep fried pappads or potato chips.

Note: Simple,tasty and easy to make .The combination of green mango with its tangy flavour and the slight sweetness of carrot and the little crunchiness of capsicum makes this a yummy dish.
Bon Appetite!!!!

RAJMA SOYA PULAO

U need:
Basmati rice : 2 cups
butter: 1 tsp
Rajma(red kidney beans): 1 cup washed and soaked overnight
Soya granules: 1/2 cup
Green chillies: 2 minced fine
Onion: 1 medium sliced fine
cinnamon:2
cardamom:2( small ones)
cloves:3
pulao masala powder:1 tsp
garam masala powder: 1 tsp
turmeric powder: 1/2 tsp
tomato: 1 sliced.Remove inner pulp before slicing
ghee(clarified butter): 2 tablsp
salt to taste
sugar;1/2 tsp

Method:
1. Wash rajma and pressure cook the next day.Drain off excess water.Transfer to a bowl and keep aside
2.Soak soya garnules in boiling water for few mins.Squeeze and put the granules in a bowl of cold water.Squeeze excess water and add to the rajma in the bowl.
3. Wash and soak rice for 10 mins.Cook until just done.Transfer the cooked rice to a plate,toss with the butter,mix well and cool the rice.
4. Heat ghee in a kadai. When hot add the cinnamon,cardamom,cloves and saute for a few mins.Add minced green chillies and onions.Cook till the onions turn light brown.
5.Now add turmeric powder,rajma-soya and continue stirring.Add pulao masala powder,garam masala powder and continue stirring for 6 to 8 mins.Add tomato slices and toss well for 3 to 4 mins..
6. Add the cool rice and mix well.Add salt and 1/2 tsp sugar.Toss we for another 5 mins
7.Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve hot with green apple-pomagranate raita.

Raita:
Take 1/2 cup of finely diced green apple.Take 1/2 cup of pomagranate seeds.
Beat together 1&1/2 cup of fresh curd along with 2 table fresh cream.To this add pinch salt,1/2 tsp chat masala and 1/2 tsp chilli powder.Mix well.Transfer the curd to a serving bowl.Add the apple and pomagranate.Mix well.Sprinkle a little roasted jeera powder and serve with Rajma-soya pulao.
Note: Tasty,Healthy and quick to make,your family will love this dish!!!
         If green apple is not available use red apple. tastes good.
Bon Appetite!!!!!