Category: Food

Poha Laddoo -Happy Diwali – Deepavali

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I am back with a recipe and this is inspired by all those people who sent me the laddoo Diwali wishes saying touch it on WhatsApp :D. I thought why not make some laddoos which I can indulge in without being guilty considering the efforts I put in to stay fit .In any case how can we miss sweets on Diwali’s? Even if we choose not to buy them, there are people waiting to feed us ain’t it ? I am not complaining here , this is my favourite festival for I love lights , Diyas , Sweets and the bakshish (No crackers please – I am scared of them for my allergies and ears ) concept which occurs once in a year . So without more ado let me share the recipe which is super simple and easy . No fancy ingredients nor time consuming .

Note : You can add more nuts here . I chose to stick to peanuts and thats by choice .

The ghee step can be completely avoided if you don’t like it. Otherwise am sure you know little ghee everyday is good for our fitness.

The jaggery measure is half cup because i like it mildly sweet , you can add more basis your preference .

Desiccated coconut will be great if added , very flavourful .

Ingredients :

Poha /Aval/beaten rice : 1 cup (picture missing in blog as i missed to click )

Peanuts : 1 cup

Jaggery: 1/2 cup

cardamom/elaichi : 2 to 3

Ghee – 2 table spoons (optional)

cashew/raisins – for garnishing (optional)

Milk (optional)

How to prepare :

Roast the peanuts and Poha separately keep them aside to cool. I used powdered jaggery , if you are using whole jaggery then you may want to shave it and keep it ready here . Once the nuts and poha cools  put them in the mixer along with elaichi and grind. Transfer the mix into a plate or a bowl for making laddoos.

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Now take a wok/kadai add ghee and the cashew/raisins and roast till light brown and transfer into our powdered mixture(i didn’t have raisins at home ) . Mix with a spoon to evenly spread and use hands to roll them into laddoos . I used some milk as a binding agent here , but its optional. If you don’t want ghee in it then you can use milk and mix it too .

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This can be stored in an airtight container and enjoyed everyday even after Diwali .

Happy Diwali folks

Love and Light

 

Over The Moon

 

I loved the name to begin with as thats where i live most times 😀 . Every time I asked any of my friends in hyderabad “where will I get to see the happening Hyderabad crowd” , they would always chorus “OTM in Jubilee hills but go after 1 am ” and thats how I ended up going to OTM the first time , its unfortunate that I haven’t been there at the time  as advised by my friends as I prefer sleeping while the “happening” parties  😉 .

A new OTM opened at Gachibowli near the flyover and I happened to visit this place as its closer to where I stay .

Firstly its a nice location and beautiful ambience . They have an outside seating area and of course seats inside and the day I first visited there was a two piece english band performing too. This is a brewery and my friends swear by the wheat beer and me being the teetotaller tried most mocktails while I always end up liking ginger ale wherever I go , so this part I should ideally skip . My family loved the mocktails so its an aye anyways .

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We tried their wasabi prawns and they were plated beautifully and tasted equally good . Then came the chicken dim-sums which vanished as they came errr we were hungry too . They have a truck placed outside the seating area which makes truck foods if you know what I mean , so i ordered the pav with boiled egg masala . It was overtly spicy(not chilly) , so we chose to share the feedback with the owner (sanjay) who very graciously accepted the feedback and also brought us a modified version which was surprising for us as it was unexpected . It then struck me why this place goes full on all days . Location can be good but service along with food/beverage is the long term player isn’t it ? I got nostalgic about my days in Kolkatta and ordered for a maccher Jhol which didn’t meet my expectations . It was a modified version and made with salmon so if you are a Bengali and a foodie you know what happens when you change the fish in the first place . Finally we ate the home made marble biscuit cake  which was ok.  i saw a deconstructed chocolate on their dessert menu which wasn’t available the last time I visited so look forward to trying it the next time I visit . If you managed to devourer it before me , do share your feedback .

This watering hole is here to stay , if you are around i strongly recommend you to go. Its an AYE from me .

Website : OTM

Address :Plot No. B 2, Quiet Lands,, Gachibowli, Serlingampally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500049

Phone : 077310 76667

Fatty Bao

For some reason I wanted to eat food at Fatty Bao today despite the fact that I haven’t been there for years now(no particular reason) . Today a friend and me headed there . I was happy entering the place for its sheer colourful happy vibes and settled down almost near the window overseeing 12th main , Indiranagar .

It was then time to order and I was in Starve mode already before I entered the place so quickly decided on Mushroom & Bell pepper Bao, Minced vegetable and water chestnut dim sums . The food came quickly and vanished too 😛

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The Bao was delicious, rightly spiced and very soft . The dim sum could have been even more lighter on the cover but it was delicious so we can over look that no? when the fire was doused in our tummies it was time to choose a main course . We debated between a stir fried dish and a ramen and finally zeroed in on the exotic mushroom ramen and split it into two. It came in the tall ceramic glass and was so light and delicious. We devoured it to the last spoon.

Finally we thought after all this amazing food how can we not order for a dessert , so first on the dessert list was fatty hill and their speciality so without battling our eye lids we asked for it . It was so yummy and light with no over powering favour. The clean plate was of the dessert and I think it speaks for itself . I would say its an aye! please go and enjoy the meal. Dinner will be nicer in that ambience .. 🙂

Address : 610,3rd Floor,12th A Main Road, off 80 feet Road, HAL 2nd Stage, Indira Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560008

Phone : 080 4411 4499

New Modern Hotel

It was another sunday morning and another place . We stopped at the new modern hotel and I had heard rave reviews about the sambhar here . It was bustling with people and we didn’t find a table but the best part of these places is that we can share the table with others . When the agenda is gorging and walking out who cares really ;). So we shared our table with 2 others. We ordered for idli/Vada and there were loads of sambhar on the table in these utensils . Also extra sambhar was served very proactively .We also tried the kesari baath .

Idli /Vada was good, Sambhar was ok too. Nothing I fell for unfortunately . Some places have their legacy from years and may be people just love it. No reasons required .

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The keshri baath was very sweet for my palette but good . Look at it, doesn’t it say it all ?

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And of course this board there 😉 .I plan to visit for lunch sometime soon

Its an AYE from me , Go try!

Address :

#143,Dr A N Krishnarao Road, Near Minerva circle, Vishweshwarpuram,, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004

Phone : 080 2661 2625

 

China Bistro

During my week long stay at Mumbai finalising a restaurant for dinner every evening was an adventure , we mostly retorted to google and went to the options those were closer . One such day we zeroed in on chinese as a cuisine and China Bistro screamed my phone . We decided to walk the 1.25 km distance considering it was Ganesh visarjan time and the roads were adorned with Ganesha’s and this was my first time during Ganpati in Mumbai 🙂

We reached this place wading through sea of people and was surprised to find a place tucked away and were unsure if this was the place we wanted to step into. We however walk in to check and realised it was a huge place bustling with activities . We happily settled in one of the sofas, we were 5 of us by the way .

Very friendly staff and they were very quick in helping us settle and choose the dish. I didn’t click most food pics as I was blown away by the pickles and sauce and was busy devouring it 😛 . I ordered for crab meat soup with wine and it was nice , My colleagues ordered for lemon chicken soup and it was one of the best . The lemon grass was used just perfectly in it (Don’t look for the picture )

We then ordered for some chicken starter and veg momos. The momos were done to perfection and the water chestnut in it was crispy and complemented the momos well . The main course was burnt garlic fried rice and mixed vegetable gravy . We were not that hungry and stuck to these only. The food was awesome , ambience good, staff very courteous , a great experience indeed . Its an AYE from me , if you are in Mumbai go try I say .

Website : chinabistro

Besan Laddoo

Its Diwali time and mithai tho banta hai time .. I wanted to make something for Diwali and thought why not start with some Besan Laddoos as they are easy to make and tastes yum too . So here is a simple recipe trust me this is super easy and delicious too. When we make  them at home we have the control of everything , I mean environment, sugar , ghee quantity/quality etc ;). So without more blah blah let me get straight to the recipe .

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Ingredients :

Besan/Chickpea Flour : 2 cups

Powdered Sugar : 3/4 to 1 cup (basis your liking for sweetness)

Ghee : 1/2 cup (check notes below)

Elaichi /Cardamom – 4

Method :

Take a wok and dry roast the besan for about roughly 14 mins . You need to keep stirring as it might burn and trust me this is a good exercise too 🙂 . Then add the ghee and again keep mixing for about 7 mins stirring continuously  . By this time you will know how heaven smells 😛 . Now put the stove off and add the sugar and mix well. Finally add the elaichi powder and let the mixture cool for about 30 mins and then you can roll the laddoos . If you are unable to roll them keep them in the fridge for a while for the ghee to solidify and then roll them . Voila! Yummy Besan Laddoo ready!

 

Notes : More ghee can be added as mine is with less ghee say a little over 1/2 cup for more laddoo consistency and of course flavour

Dry fruits like raisins and cashew can be added , I simply didn’t feel like

Happy Diwali 🙂

 

 

Vishnu Thatte Idli

Another morning workout at Cubbon park and then decided to settle for Vishnu thatte idli located on old airport road, Domlur. I went there once before this however couldn’t write as the experience  didn’t manage to stay with me or was it the taste.

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It is a small outlet with mostly people picking their parcels and I seldom saw anyone eat there . It has one table in case you want to eat at the outlet. No varieties , its only idli and chutney and serve on plantain leaf on a news paper . People queued up for their orders and I saw lot of parcels being carried away . I settled for one thatte idli . The idli is thicker than any other place I have eaten so far, if you know me you do know that I love idlis . I have eaten softer, fluffier ones and the chutney is very simple and nothing to rave about in my opinion. I have tasted nicer ones and hence it is difficult to please me*facepalm*. This place has some ardent fans and I think everyone has their own likings so why not? I will revisit sometimes for sure, for no fancy breakfast , its an AYE from me . The picture above is to die for now? 🙂

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Address : HAL Old Airport Rd, Domlur, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560071

Timings : 7 am to 11 am

Carrot Chutney

Coconut is full of calories and should be used sparingly I am told repeatedly that pushed me to find alternate options with steaming idlis or hot crispy dosas . I love carrots and wanted to try making carrot chutney and it was not a disappointment . This has become an alternate now 😉

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Ingredients :

1 cup grated carrot

1 onion chopped

3 dried red chillies

1 spoon channa dal

1 tsp Ginger

2 tspoon oil

Small piece of tamarind

Salt to taste

 

Method :

Take a wok and heat a spoon of oil. Add the grated carrot and sauté until the raw smell leaves

Take another wok heat oil add channa dal , onions , red chillies, ginger and sauté until it turns golden brown.

Cool all ingredients and grind them along with tamarind and salt . Add water as required .

Notes : We can also add tadka/temper to the chutney with oil, mustard , urad dal, hing , curry leaves

Taaza Thindi

I have been told to visit Taaza Thindi by a few of you and I thought why not . We reached the place around 7.40 am this morning and it was bustling with a lot of food activities. People in beelines for their orders . A few things I noticed was the hygiene , the masks . This place has a limited menu of Chow Chow bath , idli, vada and Dosa . We ordered one plate of each and stood in the queue. Before I forget to mention they had an offer which was a coffee free 🙂

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The idlis were soaked in chutney like the other of my favourite joints. The idli’s were soft , chutney very nicely flavoured and mildly spiced . The Kharabath was delicious , a little watery but thats how I like it . The kesari bath was very sweet for my palette yet nice. The queue for Dosa was too long and the least I wanted to do was stand in a queue for over 20 mins . I got the token exchanged for idlis so didn’t try their dosas. They looked very crispy though .

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In short this place has some good breakfast and an AYE from me. Please be prepared for standing in queues . Even the dosa counter apparently belts out 30 dosas at one shot. I like these kind of joints which has a simple menu and puts all their energy in ensuring their food is good. However I would prefer a friendly staff on the other side than robots looking boys who points fingers for any question .

Try and let me know how you liked it .

Address: 1004, 26th Main road, Jayanagar 4T Block, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560041
Phone: 076762 08899