Fiona’s version of Maggie Noodles – Try this out: Its fast, its delicious & its innovative enuf to pleasantly surprise people with!     PrepTime 5mins – Serves 2-3 – CookTime 15mins     Ingredients: Maggie 2 Packets: 1 Glass Water- If you like it soupy add extra water. 1 tspn Pav Bhaji Masala 1 Bowl of mixed vegetables (Carrots, Beans, Lima Beans, Peas) Chinese Chilli Sauce- 1/4 tspn depends on spice level Soy Sauce- 2 tbspns Tomato Ketchup-1 tspn [...]

Another recipe customized by Venus with some changes to suit her family’s palette; She says its ‘Delicious”     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 2-3 – CookTime 30mins       Ingredients: 1.400 gm paneer 2.1/2 green capsicum diced finely 3.1/2 red capsicum diced finely 4.1cup shredded cabbage 5. amul cream cheese (dont know its equivalent your end of the world) For the marinade : 1. 1 youghurt (400g) hang in cloth for 20-30 minutes till water drains 2. 1- 2tbsp green [...]

My twin married a Mangalorean & has learnt some interesting traditional recipes from his native state; Here’s her super-aromatic and deliciously-spicy dry chicken dish.     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 20mins Ingredients:   1 large chicken, cut into small pieces 1 onion, chopped finely A sprig curry leaves A small lemon sized ball of tamarind 3 tablespoon ghee(clarified butter) Salt to taste For the masala powder: 6 kashmiri chillies( or dry red chillies) 1 tsp coriander seeds [...]

I’ve had lunch at Sumedha’s once & I must say, her daal-makhni was simply  out-of-this-world; Seems like I can taste it just as I think of it!     SoakTime 6-8hrs – Serves 3-4 – CookTime 25mins     Ingredients: 1 cup Whole urad dal 1/3rd cup kidney beans (rajma a tiny cinnamon stick 2-3 cloves 2-3 garlic cloves 2-4 spoons of oil 1/2 tsp cumin seeds a pinch of hing 1/2 inch ginger – finely chopped 1 dried red [...]

A good friend of mine here in California, Fiona, shares her take on a South-Indian fish curry – A medium-spicy gravy with a coconut-milk base.  Me thinks this is SO-YUM Thanks, Fi!!   PrepTime 8mins – Serves 4 – CookTime 20mins       Ingredients: Oil- 1 Spoon( the fat ones) Small Sambhar Onions-12- slice them 1 Kg Fish- about 12 pieces-Only Sea fish Fenugreek-6-8 Curry Leaves- 10+ 5 Garlic-1 whole clove- peel it and put it in as whole [...]

Here’s how my lovely twin Pearl makes a “Yum-mo” Mutton Biryani.. I am SO proud of her & her cooking skills!!       PrepTime 2hrs – Serves 6-8 – CookTime 30mins     Ingredients: Mutton 1kg shoulder Potatoes 2 medium peeled and cut into quarters Onions 2 large thinly sliced Cashewnuts 6 Oil 1 cup Salt to taste For the marinade: Ginger  1″ piece Garlic about 20 flakes Green chillies 6 Tomatoes 1 medium Red chilli pwd 2 tbsps [...]

This recipe is from my SIL’s SIL, Damandeep, who shares my passion for cooking. Its her version of Punjabi Channa/ garbanzo beans, which she describes as easy & yum!     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 20mins   Ingredients: 1 can chickpeas/ garbanzo beans (or soak a cup for 6-8hrs/overnight & boil with 1/2 tsp salt) For the dry masala/spice mix: 6-7 Dry Red Chilies 6-7 5-6 Green Elaichi (cardamom) 2  Black elaichis 1/2 tsp black peppercorns 1″ [...]

Here’s a rather unusual but excellent idea for vadas by my good friend Ajit Marathe – made with grated cabbage! Kobichi means ‘of cabbage’  & Vadi is an Indian cutlet.     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 15mins     Ingredients: 1 cup finely ground cabbage 2 cups jowar flour 1 cup besan/ gram flour 1/2 tsp cumin pwd 1/4 tsp red chilli powder 1/4 tsp turmeric pwd salt to taste 1 clove garlic – crushed oil for [...]

This is my SIL, Venus’ very own ‘Lazedaar’ Chicken – The name, she says, has been coined as this was her husband’s first word after he tasted this dish! Quite simply delicious. PrepTime 3-4hrs – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 25mins       Ingredients : Chicken – 1kg For the marinade : 1. 400g Yoghurt 2. Garlic 3-4 medium flakes 3. Ginger 1inch 4. 1 green chilli (you could increase depending on your taste). 5. 1/2 an onion 6.Salt 1.5 [...]

I’ve known Kusum for about a year now & was thrilled to learn of her pregnancy a few months ago. She’s one of the sweetest, simplest, down-to-earth people I know and from what she shares here, I think she’ll be an excellent mom! ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Kusum’s words: I have being reading this book,  “What to expect when you are expecting”(8th edition) & its quite helpful for new moms. During first trimester, one should avoid any food that produces heat in the [...]