Do you love cooking? how about cooking with your friends? I do, unfortunately, it's only virtual but still we enjoy this how about you? don't you want to  see what we all have been doing in our kitchen!

Cooking With Friends: This blog post is part of the monthly “Cooking With Friends” themed blog post challenge. This challenge was started by a bunch of virtual friends united by their love of food, with the aim of tackling a different food related theme each month. If you want to try this month’s theme, please feel free to do so and link your recipe in the comments section. We’d love to check it out. Meanwhile, check out what the others in the group have come up with this month.

Anjana from At the Corner of Happy and Harried, Garima from CafeGarima, Jyothi from Curry Tail, Madhuri from MADaboutkitchen, Subhasmita from The Flavors of Kitchen, and Sujatha from Spice n Treats, Dolphia from Story  of Cooks

When we decided to cook something with a vegetable which we have never used before, so, what’s next step, off to the market, I took my daughter to a nearby supermarket. We went through the aisles, my daughter said that it's going to be tough day and said we should have gone to some gourmet shops, wherein I might find something, I am not boasting I promise, I literally have cooked every vegetable from the supermarkets here, I should thank Mr.R for this, anything new he sees he brings it home, he loves to try every vegetable.  As we were walking through the aisles my eyes fell on this sea vegetable, I had been eyeing it from a long time but never bought it. I think there were two reasons for this, firstly, I didn’t know what I was going to make out of it so I left it alone for when I thought of something, and secondly for just around 100g it was too expensive, so, I never had a chance of tasting it and didn’t know if my family liked it or not I didn’t want to take a risk.

But, all this said, it was a challenge I had to put myself in to see how it goes, not with the cooking but I mean with how I am going to make my family eat it.  My girl had more ideas when I was unsure, she said let’s buy it Amma (mum), go home and taste it, on the packet it says salty and goes well with fish, only we can’t eat fish we will use this with potatoes, shrugging her shoulders she went on saying, anything with Potatoes we can push it, (we were thinking of my twins who are a slightly difficult to please that they would enjoy it more if I am going to serve it this way), After tasting it if we find it not interesting we will bin it and not tell Dad about it, keep it  a secret between us.  We were giggling away, have I ever told you my daughter is my best mate, we share so many things not as mother and daughter but as friends, we have almost similar interests and enjoy exploring lots of things together.  So I came back home with the Samphire packet, ripped it open and tasted it, the packet said it was salty, but it wasn’t as bad as we were imagining, so we were not going to bin it! Now I had the task of having to think what I have to make with it.

I have joined these group of bloggers who are such a bunch of wonderful people, they just don't blog recipes but amazing photographs as well.   I planned to post this yesterday, when I started getting updates on my mobile, I lost track of the time, because I got so carried away with their lovely photographs, I got a bit depressed that I have such a long way to go learning this beautiful and colourful world of photography, but also inspired to try harder and make more time and use of the long summer days ahead! Check out their blogs for beautiful photography and interesting recipes.

Samphire according to Wikipedia is  Originally "sampiere", a corruption of the French "Saint Pierre" (Saint Peter),^[2] samphire was named after the patron saint of fishermen because all of the original plants with its name grow in rocky salt-sprayed regions along the sea coast of northern Europe or in its coastal marsh areas. It is sometimes called sea asparagus or sea pickle. In Norfolk, it is commonly called sampha [sam-fa]. In North Wales, especially along the River Dee's marshes, it has always been known as sampkin.

All the plants bearing the name are annuals that begin growing in late autumn and vegetate throughout the winter until the first warm weather arrives. Then the first stems and internodes form, and by mid-spring the plant measures 6 to 8 cm.
Marsh samphire ashes were used to make soap and glass (hence its other old English name, "glasswort") In the 14th century glassmakers located their workshops near regions where this plant grew, since it was so closely linked to their trade. Samphires of all kinds have long been eaten in England. The leaves were gathered early in the year and pickled or eaten in salads with oil and vinegar. It is mentioned by Shakespeare in King Lear:
Halfway down Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade! (Act IV, Scene VI). This refers to the dangers involved in collecting rock samphire on sea cliffs.

Collecting Information through Googling I have found these tidbits which might be useful if you are going to use it in your kitchen, it is said that it is gaining more popularity in England now and is available in all supermarkets
Types:  There are two types of Samphire available; Marsh (salicornia europaea) and Rock (crithmum maitimum) but Marsh is the one which is more widely used.
Taste:  it is salty and crispy
Availability:  best to buy during July and August
How to use it: It is best to buy fresh and won’t stay for long, wash thoroughly before using it, and can be eaten raw, if not cook it in a pot of boiling water for just 2 to 3 minutes and use it or steam over a pot of boiling water for a few minutes.
If you are interested and know more about this sea vegetable check out this link, you have lots information available. Coming back to the recipe, this is how I used it, do try it out and tell me if you liked it.

Ingredients:
100g - Samphire
7 to 8– potatoes *
1 cup – Peas *
2 tsp freshly crushed Black Pepper
1 tbsp of oil
2 Garlic pods
Few sprigs of parsley and mint
Salt as required
*(Check notes)

Method
Peel and cut potatoes and pressure cook them for a whistle or drop them in boiling water until it is cooked Al Dante as we don’t want them becoming mushy or you can roast them in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes until well done (if cooking them in the oven sprinkle some oil and salt and bake them)
Wash Samphire thoroughly in cold water, take it in a vessel and boiling water and close the lid for 5 minutes. Drain it and leave it aside.
Cook peas in a microwave until done and set aside. Chop onion and garlic finely.
Once potatoes are cooled down cut them into medium sized cubes, so now all your ingredients are ready let’s start…
In a large wok heat oil, once sufficiently heated, add a tsp of cumin seeds, then add onion and garlic, sauté well and add the potatoes. After few minutes sprinkle some salt and fry until golden brown.
When it’s nearly done add the cooked peas, cooked samphire and stir fry for few minutes until well combined. Add little more salt and crushed black pepper, taste it and adjust the spice. Add a tsp of butter(optional), chopped mint and parsley to garnish, give it a minute and mix again so the aroma of the herbs get infused into the veggies. That’s it done.

 SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
You can just eat it like that, otherwise you can serve it like me I served it with cooked Basmati Rice or eat it with toasted Bread and butter or grilled with cheese and some salad Tomatoes.
NOTES:
You can use normal potatoes or roasting potatoes which can retain their shape or use new potatoes which are good for roasting.
I have used frozen peas, you can use fresh peas it would be tastier
I have just used pepper for spiciness, you can try using dried chilles or green chillies or any kind of spice like any Mediterranean spices, I wanted to keep it more British so just added crushed pepper.

Print

Samphire with Roast Potatoes and Peas salad

This dish is a fantastic summer salad both in flavours and looks Salty Samphire makes its appearance with a new avatar mildly spicy and delicious, serve with yogurt

Course Dinner / Breakfast /

Cuisine British

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 100 g - Samphire
• 7 to 8 – potatoes *
• 1 cup – Peas *
• 2 tsp freshly crushed Black Pepper
• 1 tbsp of oil
• 2 Garlic pods
• Few sprigs of parsley and mint
• Salt as required

Instructions

• Peel and cut potatoes and pressure cook them for a whistle or drop them in boiling water until it is cooked Al Dante as we don’t want them becoming mushy or you can roast them in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes until well done (if cooking them in the oven sprinkle some oil and salt and bake them)
• Wash Samphire thoroughly in cold water, take it in a vessel and boiling water and close the lid for 5 minutes. Drain it and leave it aside.
• Cook peas in a microwave until done and set aside. Chop onion and garlic finely.
• Once potatoes are cooled down cut them into medium sized cubes, so now all your ingredients are ready let’s start…
• In a large wok heat oil, once sufficiently heated, add a tsp of cumin seeds, then add onion and garlic, sauté well and add the potatoes. After few minutes sprinkle some salt and fry until golden brown.
• When it’s nearly done add the cooked peas, cooked samphire and stir fry for few minutes until well combined. Add little more salt and crushed black pepper, taste it and adjust the spice. Add a tsp of butter, chopped mint and parsley to garnish, give it a minute and mix again so the aroma of the herbs get infused into the veggies.
• That’s it done.

Notes

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
You can just eat it like that, otherwise you can serve it like me I served it with cooked Basmati Rice or eat it with toasted Bread and butter or grilled with cheese and some salad Tomatoes.
NOTES:
You can use normal potatoes or roasting potatoes which can retain their shape or use new potatoes which are good for roasting.
I have used frozen peas, you can use fresh peas it would be tastier
I have just used pepper for spiciness, you can try using dried chilles or green chillies or any kind of spice like any Mediterranean spices, I wanted to keep it more British so just added crushed pepper.

The post Vegan Samphire with Roast Potatoes and Peas salad appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Get a day off and you would think the whole day is yours and yours only, may be somewhere I had this little teeny weeny bit in my heart saying No no.., everything won't turn out as you want, I always go straight to my conservatory with my cup of tea Mmm..., and the plants I adore trying to save them from this cold winter, a pity I don't have a heater in my conservatory which would have made my plants have a warm surrounding, but poor little darlings have no such luxury, everyday I pray please don't die on me, I talk to each one of them, that's started my day off, checking all the plants, cleaning around picking around the withered leaves do you want to see my conservatory garden you can have a look at it.. here it is ....
I have got a few more this is just a sample.., they are not doing very well now especially my Doddapatre..:(

I had planned to bake a cake and got all the ingredients ready but everything got haywire, Once I started I couldn't stop picking around the kids clothes sorting out their rooms, trying to wake up my daughter asking her to get ready for her driving lessons, the time just flew, I remembered I had to do some shopping it is so cold, days are getting colder and colder walked down to a little town nearby to go to my favourite shop its a health wise shop I get lot of organic goods from there, I couldn't walk back as did a bit more shopping than I intended to and waited for the bus to turn up but incidentally it didn't turn up it was getting late and there was this kind gentleman who dropped us off near our house. Bless him, came home and had to cook something quickly as it was arrival time and they come home hungry.
I had some puy lentils which I had soaked earlier, and some thawed short cut pastry, this was quick one I could muster up right at the time they knock the door !!.
Here is how I stirred this up...

PUY LENTILS AND VEGETABLES HOT PIE
Recipe : own

INGREDIENTS:

Short cut / Puff Pastry Block (use as required )
100 grms Puy Lentils
2 Onions
3 to 4 Garlic
1" Ginger
2 Cups of assorted vegetables
( Carrot, Green, yellow and Red peppers, Potatoes, peas, broccoli)
1 tsp Chilli powder
1/2 tsp Pepper powder
1 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/4 single cream
Salt as required
1/4 cup of grated cheddar cheese
2 tbsp Butter

Cook the Puy Lentils with enough water with little salt in a Pressure cooker.
In a large wok heat 2 tbsp of butter, add chopped ginger, garlic and onions saute them until they sweat and become soft and translucent to this add the  masalas chilli powder, pepper powder, coriander powder, cumin powder then add the cooked puy lentils and chopped vegetables add required amount of salt and close the lid and cook for few more minutes around 10 to 15 minutes until all the veggies get properly cooked to this add single cream and grated cheese mix well and switch off the stove.
Allow it to cool completely,

pour them on to a buttered dish,

take thawed short cut pastry or puff pastry cut them for the three buttered dish press them on to the dish make three slits and brush them with milk, bake them in a pre heated oven for 30 minutes to 40 minutes until you see the pastry nice and golden in colour.

doesn't it look good, for a winter evening a one pot meal.

Sending this off to Bake-a-thon event started by champa, here is entree...

The post Puy Lentils and Vegetables Hot Pie appeared first on My Veg Fare.

VEGETABLE PIES WITH COCONUT AND CASHEW

INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE VEGETABLE SAUCE
2 to 2 and 1/2 Cups of Assorted Vegetables ( I have used Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrot, French Beans )
2 Green Chilli **
1/2'' Ginger
1/4 cup or 2 fist full of Fresh Grated coconut
8 to 10 or fist ful of Cashews
1/4 cup Milk
1+ 1 tsp Jeera / Cumin seeds
1/4 tsp Coriander seeds
1/4 tsp Turmeric
1/4 tsp Pepper corns (optional )**
3 tsp Oil

1 Block Ready made Short Crust pastry (You can even make it at home which I will post soon on how to make it, you can even use puff pastry )

METHOD:
Thaw the Pastry by keeping it out of the freezer before starting the gravy as directed by the suggestion on the cover.
Soak Cashews in warm milk till you get all the vegetables cut and get them ready. Wash all the veggies and then Chop Beans, Carrots in chunks and Cauliflower and Broccoli in florets,
In a Kadai / Pan heat oil to this add 1 tsp of Jeera / Cumin seeds then add all the vegetables mix them well and cook them in a low flame with 1/4 cup of water and closed lid.

Meanwhile in a dry pan lightly roast cumin, pepper and coriander seeds, In  a blender or mixer grind roasted cumin, Pepper, coriander, coconut, Ginger,  Chillies, turmeric and soaked cashews into a fine paste with the help of soaked milk and some water.
Once the vegetables get cooked 3/4th add required amount of salt and the ground paste and mix thoroughly, taste and adjust the salt.
Let the gravy be in a semi solid consistency. That is not too thick nor too thin.  Allow this to cool.
Preheat oven to Gas Mark 5 / 180 degrees
Take your thawed short crust pastry, dust some flour on to the surface, cut the block into 4 equal pieces, flatten each one of them into a slightly round shape, Now using Pie Cups, I have used the foil ones as you can see in the picture fold in the pastry base to line the foils.
Fill the pie cups with cooled down vegetable sauce equally then top them or cover them over with hanging pastry cases completely.
Then make some cuts here and there and bake these cups until well browned.
Remove it from the oven and keep them on the wiring rack for it cool a little bit then serve.
Serve the Pastry cups in wholesome on individual plates with any sides you like. Just remember they will be quite hot inside and be careful when eating.
The vegetable pies have Indian taste and a great look as well...

** You can either use green chillies or Peppercorns, I have used both, you can increase the quantity of coconut if you wish to make it more rich.
Optional : If you want you can use Eggs in this, I would say after the curry is done and cooled down a bit  you can break two eggs mix it with the sauce, adjust salt and pepper mix well with the curry then fill up the cups and Proceed as indicated earlier.

Sending these wonderful and yummy pies to Champa's Bake-a-thon event, which had to be posted Yesterday, my apologies for being late.., for reasons happened unexpectedly.  Check out my blogger friends Preethi, srivalli, Priya and sumana for their wonderful virtual treats...
And don't forget to tune in tomorrow to what I am going to post for my Bake-a-thon series...
Enjoy make them and tell me of how you like it...

The post Vegetable pies with Coconut and Cashew appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Everybody has favourite food and relish them right ? As for me, Lemon Rice is my all time favourite, If I see it in any blog post I immediately make it :)).  I know I am so crazy of this rice, After started blogging and taking interest not only in cooking, but everything about it like the facts and figures about every Ingredient used, I sometimes feel why I tend to eat spicy and tangy food more often, is it because I lack something in my body which craves for tangy food..?, whatever it is I love this rice, even if given to me everyday I really don't mind. I suddenly realized I have never posted my favourite Rice dish of all time.
I have little story to tell you, Long back when I was doing my SSLC (10th), I was living in my Aunt's house, My Aunt made Lemon Rice and Curd (yogurt ) Rice and asked me to have food and said she would be back after her shopping and said she would come back and eat.  I always adored Radha perimma's cooking, she was my first Guru who taught me cooking from those days. coming back I ate and sat their studying in the lounge, I don't know how or why,  every now and then I must have got up went to the kitchen and kept eating it, God knows how I did it, I had completely emptied the whole bowl, even today when I think how I managed to eat so much rice!!, when she returned she was so upset that nothing was left and she had to eat only curd rice. She is no more but memories like these are my little treasures with her, who was my favourite periamma.
My mom makes the best chitranna according to me, we are all alike right ?, our Mom's are the best cook in the world and to their Grandchildren too.. :).  I have planned to post a few savouries and sweets when my mom is here with me. Her best recipes which she makes most of the times like day to day are the masala vada, Panniyaaram,Thenga burfi etcc..,
Coming to this recipe, it is kannada influenced lemon rice, which amma makes  when it is any special day like festivals or some kind small celebrations when you get bored of vangi bath, puliyodarai etc..,
In karnataka people use coconut just like keralites they use coconut in most of their dishes especially form Mangalore, sringeri and udupi.  we here in karnataka love coconut so much we tend to use it everything possible, sweets to savouries :).  This Masala chitranna is one such dish as it says in kannada coconut grinded with masala has been used to flavour this rice variety..

KAAYI MASAALE CHITRANNA / COCONUT SPICED LEMON RICE

INGREDIENTS:
1 and 1/2  Cups Rice
4 and 1/2  cups Water*
3 Capsicum
1 Cup Fresh Peas
Required quantity of salt
1/4 cup Lemon Juice

FOR SEASONING:
1/4 oil
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 tbsp Channa Dal
1/2 tbsp Urad Dal
Fist full of Peanuts
2 twigs of Curry leaves (10-15)

FOR THE SPICY MASALA TO BE GRINDED
5 to 6 Green chillies (depending on the spiciness)**
1/4 (10 to 12 twigs) cup of Coriander leaves
1/2 tsp Jeera
2'' Ginger pieces

FOR THE SECOND PASTE
1/2 cup Fresh Coconut
1 tbsp of Poppy seeds
15 Cashews

METHOD:
Wash Rice and with a tsp of oil***, cook Rice with the right amount of water. for 2 Whistles switch of the stove, and leave the pressure cooker to cool. (see notes)
The First Paste:
Meanwhile, roast poppy seeds in a dry pan for a few minutes in a low flame, stop when you start hearing it spluttering , and then your broken cashews just for 2 minutes, let it not change colour.  Allow it cool and grind it with fresh coconut with a little bit of water if needed into a smooth paste and keep aside, until needed.
The Second Paste:
Grind every thing under the spicy masala  to be grinded into a smooth paste.

Chop Capsicum/ Green Bell peppers into small chunks.
By this time your Rice would have cooled down, Remove it from the container and spread it on a large plate or something similar, to cool down, Just fork it through so it is nice and fluffy. Do not mix too much, just spread it around carefully.
Take a Large wok or pan heat the oil keeping it in a low flame, from the Seasoning list, add mustard seeds, once it splutters add Peanuts saute for a minute then add the dals until they change colour to light golden, by that time your peanuts would have started making noises be careful some times they might fly !!, so, that is why I ask you to keep the flame low, if you are not used to this kind of cooking.
Then add the Second paste and saute for 2 minutes, then add Capsicum and fresh peas mix them well together, cover it with a lid , keep the flame low. Leave it until both of them are cooked well if the capsicum is a little bit crunchy it is fine, but let the peas get cooked, (you can even cook the peas separately and add it to the pan by draining the water completely) by mixing now and then to make sure it is not stuck.
Once they are done, then add the First  masala paste and mix well, here you can increase the flame to medium but keep an eye on it and leave it for few minutes until the water content is almost dried up.  Do not allow it dry up too much as the coconut will start sticking to the wok.
Bring the flame down to low then add the required quantity of salt and Lemon Juice mix well then add the cooked rice, combine them all well together.
Taste it and adjust salt and Lemon Juice to your liking Leave the wok on the stove for 5 minutes with a closed lid and in a low flame.
Switch of the stove and remove it on to an other base, mix them once again, so it is all well distributed. Serve it warm and Enjoy....

NOTES:
* I have indicated this mark on the rice, Just to mention that I use Sona Masoori, The quantity of water depends on the Rice you use. Your Rice when cooked should be fluffy and beautiful for making Rice varities.
** My Green chillies were quite spicy so I have used 1/4 cup Lemon juice, what you need to observe is these two should balance there must be spiciness and the tangy flavour to it.

sending this to Vardhini's show me your hits - Rice started by sangee
Anu's Healthy kitchen South Indian Cooking - Series Event #1

The post Kaayi Masaale Chitranna / Coconut Spiced Lemon Rice appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Who doesn't like ''Maggi 2 minute Noodles'', I think nobody would say No!, Yes, these noodles have been in India as part and parcel of our life for around 25 years now!,  right from kids to adults everybody loves this, It is basically I would say a quick food for hungry kids when they need it something quickly, Perfect Bachelor food sometimes and loads of adults love this quick tasty Noodles.

3 Packets (85gms each) Nestle Maggi Noodles
1 Big Green Bell Pepper ( Green Capsicum )
1 Big Red Bell Pepper ( Red Capsicum )
15 Mangetouts
1/2 Fresh Green Peas
2 Medium sized Potatoes
1/4 Cup Quinoa
1 and 1/4 Cup water***
1 and 1/2 tsp Ginger Garlic paste**
2 tsp Coriander seeds powder
1 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp of Paprika/chilli  powder
1/4 tsp of amla powder
1 tsp Chat Masala powder
1/2 tsp Kitchen King Masala
1 and 1/2 tsp Salt (or as required)
3 to 4 tbsp of Chopped Coriander leaves
Water as required*
1/4 Cup Oil

FOR THE COATING OF THE BURGER
2 tbsp each of Corn Flour and Plain Flour
1/2 Cup water
1Cup Bread Crumbs ( Home Made )
I make my own Bread Crumbs with 1/4 cup Walnuts and 4 to 5 slices of Brown Bread, Mixie them together and allow it to dry out.

***This water I have used to cook Quinoa
** I usually crush 4 cloves Garlic, 1'' Ginger and 2 chillies in my pestle and Mortar
* This water I haven't measured so I have said as required to cook the Noodles


METHOD:
First of all open three packets of Noodles and keep aside the taste maker in them if you are going to use this instead of all the masala powders I have used.
First of wash the Noodles with water and discard the water**
cook the noodles in enough water,keep moving them around so they are evenly cooked, until it is cooked, don't cook it too much, this might make the noodles become mushy so keep an eye on it, once it is done, that is you know it is well cooked, throw away the water with the help of sieve and run it through cold water.
Then drain the water completely pressing it lightly and add 2 tsp of oil mix the noodles in it so they don't get stuck with each other.

In a bowl wash Quinoa drain water and cook it in the amount of water I have given, be careful cook it in a low flame keep an eye on it when the water starts reducing so they don't get burnt and get stuck to the bowl, It should be perfectly cooked and with no water in it. Keep it aside until required.
Cook Potatoes in a bowl of water, drain, peel of the skin and keep aside.
Meanwhile wash all the vegetables and chop them into pieces,
In a Pan or Wok, heat 1/2 tbsp of oil, add G-G Paste ( careful they have water content in it if you are using ready made, they might splutter around ) or use my method which is much safer.
fry them for a minute then add all the chopped vegetables and fry them until they are soft but capsicums are still crunchy.
Then add slightly mashed up potatoes mix well, then add all the masala powders and salt, then add a tbsp of oil mix well, Then add cooked quinoa and close the lid and leave it in a low flame for few minutes so the masala is observed.
Then add Noodles and coriander leaves mix once again, close the lid again and leave it for few minutes, Then remove the lid and allow it to cool down a bit, so you can handle it easily.

For the coating of these Burgers:
Make a paste which is not too thin nor too thick with corn flour and plain flour (Maida).
Make Round balls out of the Burger filling prepared,  Press them in the shape of Burgers Dip them in the Corn Flour Paste then Press them on the Bread crumbs coating them completely.
Either Deep fry them or Toast them on the Pan / Tawa with a bit of oil until it turns Golden brown or put them in the grill for few minutes until they are golden in colour
If you want to turn it into a Cutlet, either deep fry them or Shallow fry them.
serve them Pita Bread, Buns or Baps or just like that with your favourite Sauce, Ketchup etc..,

Some Tips:
I do not use the Taste Maker provided with the Maggi Noodles will update about it soon
If you do not like Quinoa you can omit and make it as said above.
You can even trying making it with Bulgur Wheat if you are unable to find Quinoa
There is no Particular set of vegetables you can use Cabbage, carrots, onions etc.., you can add veggies which your kid doesn't like which can be hidden in this.
Instead of the Paste I have suggested you can dip them in Egg as they do commercially and then dip in Breadcrumbs and proceed.

Enjoy!!, Thank you Radhika for this opportunity and for the lovely blog you assigned me to., thanks Charul enjoyed your blog immensely.., Sorry for posting this really late, lots of things, thought first I will make use of the sudden sunshine to sort my garden out, then fell sick with severe Hay Fever, which I never had from past 6 years, Lots of work as kids have exams, life is very busy these days. Do check out here for the Lovely round up of this month BHW here from my fellow bloggers.

I am sending this to Shobha of Good Food's - Cook it Healthy (Proteinicious)
PJ of Simply foods - Barbecues and picnics 
Sending this to Sumeesculinary - Bon viviant - Apetizers and starters
Radhika of Tickling Palettes - Let's cook 16 - Kid's Special
Divya's Culinary Journey - Fun in the sun
Vardhini of Cook's Joy hosting srivalli's Kids delight evening snacks/Tiffin 

The post Quinoa and Maggi Noodles Burgers / Cutlets appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#14

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You must have noticed that my baking is always to please my kids.., My whole cooking and baking is involved with my kids..., they are my inspiration to create whatever I do.. , My eldest is my greatest inspiration as she loves to try out every dish possible (only vegetarian) .
My kids love these Tarts and pies and keep asking me to bake them. That was when I started these journey on Tarts and pies from plain tarts to different kinds of tarts  lot of experiments I have indulged myself in!!
I have baked these tarts many a times and Just because my kids and of course my hubby loves it too....., sometimes I bake them as brunch on weekends or sometimes as their snacking time, coming from school they are always very hungry....
Basically baking this kind of Tart started one day when there was an argument between my two girls, My eldest  doesn't like these french fries, chips etc.., she feels that they are very oily to her taste, even though they are baked ones, only when I make them she likes as she mum wouldn't use too much oil  but she loves eating cheeses though!.
My second one loves potatoes to the core, she has already told me, that on her birthday and of course her twin R's D-Day I have to make, cook and bake only potatoes her list was too long, I just had to ignore her.
so coming back to the recipe she wanted potatoes in her tart and the eldest said I should not use it with other veggies in the tart.
When I saw both them together, an idea came to my mind!, why not use them both in flours satisfy and both the girls. so here goes my recipe...

WHOLE WHEAT AND POTATO VEGGIES TART
FOR THE TART: 
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup whole wheat flour (atta)
1/4 cup plain flour
3/4 th cup  peeled, cooked and Mashed potato
salt to taste
6 tbsp of Chilled butter
1/4 cup cold water ( use when needed)
Cheese for the topping of the tart

FILLING FOR THE TART
INGREDIENTS:
1 Green bell pepper
1 yellow pepper
100 gms of Broccoli florets
100 gms of Cauliflower florets
1 cup chopped spinach
1/2 cup peas
1 Onion
1 Carrot
1 tsp salt
100 ml single cream
1 tbsp Flax seed meal
1 cup of vegetable stock ( I used 1 ready made cube, gently warm water and add the stock cube).
50 ml single cream
1 tbsp Corn starch

METHOD AND SAUCE FOR THE TART
You can use an Egg in the sauce recipe but I have baked an eggless version...
First of all sift both the flours, with salt.
Cut all your veggies, cook broccoli, cauliflower, peas and carrot set them aside, don't cook too much.
Beauty of the veggies might become too soft and become a mess
Mash the cooked potato blend it with butter, once those two are ready, start adding the flour, to make it into a dough consistency. Rub the flour with your finger tips, just add 1 or 2 tbsp of cold water make it into a nice dough, knead it well so it forms into a ball.
wrap this dough in a plastic wrap and chill that in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes
Meanwhile soak in a 3 tbsp of hot water flax seed meal.( around 10 minutes)
preheat the oven to 200 degree centigrade/Gas mark 6)
In a large wok, add 2 to 3 tbsp of Ginger-Garlic paste, once sauted add chopped onions, and pepper finely sliced and saute them too..,
Now add pre-boiled  broccoli, cauliflower, carrot etc.., into the wok then add the vegetable stock and allow it to boil with Pepper powder.
Now blend these flax seed meal first and then add corn starch without any lumps and single cream blend well together again, keep the flame low, pour this into the cooking veggies, adjust salt  and allow it boil for few minutes stirring continuously once it starts thickening keep it aside to cool.
Take out the dough roll out into a nice big round, then press this pasty ball into the tin, allowing any excess to hang over the side, you can roll a rolling pin over the tin and cut the excess slices for a good looking pasty case or like me just leave it aside.

Prick the base with a fork,  reduce the heat to moderate 180degree C, (Gas Mark 4) and all the fillings on to it then  grate some Cheddar cheese top it over close all the hanging out extra bits of the pastry  to cover it up and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until cheese melts and turn light golden in colour.
Serve warm and let the kids enjoy.

MY TIPS: To get a more crispier base you can trim of the extra dough, cover the pastry case with baking paper then add baking beads place the tin on a baking tray and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the paper and beads reduce the heat add the fillings and cheese bake further 25 to 30 minutes or until golden.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#14

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Who doesn't love coriander :), well, when I started writing this I suddenly remembered yes, their might be few people who might not like right ?. One day I met this lady talking to her I found out that she doesn't like the smell of coriander and than this person he said he doesn't like coconuts :). I am so obssessed with these two that I felt odd that moment but later on I thought I am being silly, each and every body have their choice of what they like. Anyways I love them both and of course Broccoli.
You will be seeing my Blog skip wednesdays for an other two posts!, I made, I ate but never blogged, and my Blog Hop wednesday friends must be thinking Oh! my that is not at all nice on her part that she isn't doing anything from our blogs, but actually I am ahead of my schedule, I have already done my next blog hop too.., fingers crossed hope to post it right on time at least the next one 🙂
When Radhika of Tickling palates  announced Blog Hop Wednesdays and assigned me to Schmetterling words, I found the name very intrigued me, I was talking to my daughter about the name and said it was so different, that's when  she said to me it  means butterfly! mom in German. Wow, I was thinking what a  lovely name for a blog after that I  noticed that she lives in Germany 🙂 Mmm., that is good thinking right ? well, which never occurs to me.
She has lot of non-vegetarian recipes, and I did not want to do any baking, with lot of festivals I had so many sweets and savories at home, so I haven't done any baking at all, I wanted to try out something simple with everyday cooking.  when the first time I opened her blog, she had this Broccoli Coriander curry, I thought look no further and go for it, as I was going to make Chapatis that day so, this would be perfect.  well, I thought why not shuttle through the archives and see if I can find anything else, but Broccoli wouldn't go away from my mind, I love Broccoli so much and even my family loves it so much, I just decided let me go to the market and buy it, so straight to the market and came home with a big Broccoli flower, she says add any veggies you like, but as I had decided on this veggie I had to think what else can go with it and decided on peas.
I made it again don't remember which day it was, it was an Ekadasi or Amavasya or some thing I really can't remember so I did not  use onion and garlic, so I omitted them to make this curry,In the end  either way it turns out very well.
I did tweak it a little bit, not much you can see the original recipe here 

BROCCOLI AND PEAS IN CORIANDER CURRY



INGREDIENTS:
To Grind:
1 bunch Coriander leaves
10 pieces of Cashews
1 big Onion
3 to 4 Green chillies (depending on spiciness you want)

To Temper:
2 to 3 tbsp of oil
2'' Cinnamon stick
3 piece Cardamom (I omitted but used 3 piece of cloves)
3 piece Garlic cloves
2 '' Ginger
400 gms Broccoli
250 gms of Peas (frozen)
3 tbsp Coconut milk ( I used fresh coconut and grinded it with the other grinding ingredients)
Salt as required

METHOD:
First of all Clean the Coriander bunch, chop into lovely nice 1/2'' pieces, I used the whole with stalk, chopping is necessary so it helps in grinding into a nice paste.
Soak Cashews in warm water so it softens, so is easy to grind.
Cut the broccoli into florets wash them and cook them with the frozen peas with very little water until cooked, be careful if it cooks too much it becomes too mushy, once it is 3/4th done, keep it aside draining the water (keeps this water for future use) Or you can cook the florets in a cooker, in a low flame for 6 to 7 minutes with the lid and weight on it, do not leave it in the cooker for too long it  might become too mushy, Once you have switched it off, slowly start lifting the weight on the cooker in intervals of few seconds, the steam starts coming out and within 1 or 2 minutes it completes releases all the steam and you can lift the weight easily then you can open the lid and Lo!, your veggies are ready to be taken out.
Chop the onions, green chillies and garlic, grind them into a  fine paste and keep aside
Then Grind coriander, cashews and coconut into a paste and keep aside.
In a large pan heat oil, once it is hot, bring it to a low flame, add cinnamon sticks, cardamom (if using), cloves once they start sizzling add the Onion paste and fry until it starts changing colour and the raw smell disappears now add the Coriander paste and fry for few minutes, do not fry for too long, I love the smell of coriander and I did not want it to disappear.
Now add the cooked Vegetables into it and 2 cups of water and required amount of salt close the lid and cook further for 8 to 10 minutes so the veggies absorb the masala and salt.
Remove the lid if you find it watery you can dissolve a tbsp/tsp of corn flour in little water add to it and cook for another 2 minutes and close the lid and switch it off.
That's it the curry is ready to be served with chapatis/pulkas/Nan's etc....

That was a lovely curry we all enjoyed it, thank you very much Ayaesha for this lovely recipe, thanks to Radhika too... 🙂 and very sorry for posting it so late.

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CRISPY RICE STUFFED CROQUETTES

Looks beautiful and Gorgeous isn't it......., Let's see what's its all about then, go on read ....,

INGREDIENTS:
1 to 1 and 1/2 Cup Cooked Rice
1/4 cup of peas
A few spring onions
1 small carrot
4 French beans
A few sprigs of Coriander leaves
1 or 2 tbsp of Lemon juice
2 to 3 Green chillies
A few curry leaves (optional)
1 tsp Black Mustard seeds
1/2 tsp of Coriander powder
1/4 tsp of Cumin powder
1/2 tsp of Turmeric
Salt as required
2 tbsp of oil

FOR THE COVERING
250 gms of Potatoes ( Increase potatoes if you wish)
3 to 4 tbsp of Corn flour (Increase as you wish)
1/2 tsp of Chilli powder
1tsp of Salt
Extra Oil for toasting

METHOD:
It's a simple recipe, nothing extraordinary.
First of all wash your potatoes and pressure cook them to 1 whistle, this would have made them quite soft, once it is cool take out the potatoes, peel the skin off and set aside to cool, as it will still very warm inside. Meanwhile take 2 tbsp of oil heat it in a wok then add the mustard seeds, after they splutter add chopped green chillies saute them for a minute, till they change colour, then add finely chopped, carrots, beans and then the peas sprinkle a little water, close a lid and keep it in a low flame until it is well cooked, check now and again so that they don't stick to the bottom of the kadai, sprinkle water if necessary, Once you know the veggies are well cooked add the chopped spring onions, and all the masala powders  mentioned above, Saute them for few minutes once they all soften up add Cooked Rice, mix well mash up the rice a little bit , then add Chopped fresh coriander leaves and lemon juice as per your taste with salt as required mix well and  set it aside to cool.

Now your filling is ready. Next is your covering.. how to go about it, well reading the Ingredients I think you know what I have done.
I have just given a approximate on potatoes, Increase or decrease according to your filling you have made.
Once the peeled potatoes are cool, mash them nicely until soft to this add salt, chilli powder and corn flour to make it into a firm dough, use Corn flour as necessary, I did not use too much as I wanted the potatoes to retain their taste, too much corn flour might change the texture!, Using less corn flour might be a bit of a problem, as the dough might be little bit sticky and difficult to handle but once you know what you are doing it is easy to shape them up, but they might be quite fragile to handle, so do be careful.
Once the dough is ready make small rounds put a 2 to 3 tbsp of stuffing press the ends nicely so they don't break up anywhere, and join them as shown in the picture, roll it on a flat surface so the covering is equally distributed then fry it on a Tawa/Girdle with tsp of oil and roast them to a golden brown colour, serve them with few salad leaves and sauces of choices.

FEW VARIATIONS: If you want you can make it round croquettes and deep fry them in oil.
You can make a Maida/plain flour or Corn flour dip (ie, make a paste of one of the flours) Dip the croquettes into the flour and then roll it on bread crumbs and then either deep fry them or grill them on a stove top or grill them in a oven, change as you wish.
Some children are picky to eat rice, I think this would be quite an interesting one for them to enjoy.
If you do not want rice at all for yourself then just add more vegetables which would be a fantastic meal in itself.
Have an other look at my Crispy Rice stuffed Croquettes

c u soon with an other recipe hope you all enjoyed it.
I would like to send this to Priya of Now serving who is hosting two event, One Fast food not fat food and her other event started by Pari of Food delicious - Only Fusion Recipe.

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LENTIL CROQUETTES

Here is a picture of the lentils I have used in this recipe I have taken the photo from here

The Ready Roasted Soya I have used are just like these ones, I took this photo from google

METHOD:
INGREDIENTS:
1 Cup Red Lentils
1 Medium sized Green pepper
1 Medium Onion
2 to 3 Garlic cloves 
1'' Ginger
1/2 cup Green peas (I used frozen)
1/4 cup of grated carrot
1/4 cup of finely chopped beans
few sprigs of Coriander leaves
2 to 3 tbsp of Lemon juice
Oil to fry
MASALA
1 tsp of Coriander powder
1/2 tsp of Cumin powder
1/2 tbsp of Chilli powder
1/2 tsp of Amla powder
1 tsp Garam Masala powder
1 tsp Kitchen king masala (optional)
1/2 tsp of Turmeric powder
Salt as required
2 tbsp of oil
FOR THE COVERING:
1 and 1/4 cup of Cup of Bread crumbs (or as required)
1 cup of Ready Roasted Soya Nuts powdered (or as required)
1/4 cup of Maida/Corn flour made into a semi thin paste

METHOD:
First of all I would like to say please adjust Masala powders to your liking.
First of all cook the Red lentils exactly in 1 cup of water, which makes it exactly how we want, not too watery, mushy but it will look so fluffy and nice. (1 whistle would be enough I think)
Meanwhile chop all your veggies and keep it ready.
Next take a wok, heat oil add finely chopped onions, Garlic and ginger and saute them well, when onions turn transparent add all the chopped vegetables and cook them by sprinkling water now and then and cook them in a low flame until well done. 
When these are cooking use 2 or 3 bread slices powder them in a mixie and fry them in a dry wok for 4 to 4 minutes which gives them a crunchy touch and powder the already ready roasted Soya nuts, keep them separately ready in a plate.
Now add all the Masala powders and saute them again, for few minutes cover with a lid and leave it for an other 5 minutes so the veggies absorb all the masalas, Now try and mash the veggies a little bit so they are kind of mushed up.
Now add the cooked Lentils and salt as required which are cooked perfectly mix well and again leave it for an other 5 minutes with closed lid, Garnish with Coriander leaves.
Now every thing will be like a mass to this add a 1/4 cup of Roasted bread crumbs. 
This helps in absorbing any water in the dal mixture and makes it more firmer.
Make little balls and roll them into croquettes shape.
Dip these balls/rolls or whatever shape you desire first into the Maida/cornflour paste, then roll it on bread crumbs and then on the soya powder then roll it on a plain surface pressing them slowly so the crumbs get stuck to it nicely.
Leave it for few minutes get 2 to 3 of the ready like this and deep fry them in hot oil until golden brown in colour.
Do fry them very carefully not like bhajjis/ do not overturn them immediately leave them for few minutes then slowly roll it down and then you know they are done well, drain them on a kitchen towel and serve them with ketchup and few salad leaves. Kids will love it.
To make it HEALTHIER bake them in an oven. There you go either way it is good........... :))

MY LITTLE TIP:  They will be very soft to handle if you want them to be more firmer grind 1/2 cup of Bread Crumbs with 1/4 cup of Walnuts and mix it with the subzi. which gives a more meaty smell and makes it more firm.
Sending this to MLLA#33 of susan's hosted by Amalu's kitchen, Torview Toronto's Brown event, and only Original recipes of Pari's hosted by Nivedita. I am also sending this to Priya of Now servings ''Fast food not fat food'' event 

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