Hara Masala Pulao

This is from Sanjeev Kapoor's Khana Khazana recipe collection - I actually watched him make this one on TV.

I usually add Chicken Sausages that I buy from Trader Joe's or Soy Chunks to make it a one-pot meal. I also use Chicken Broth for added flavor instead of water while cooking this dish.

Actually, I tried this dish with both Brown Rice and White Rice, and it works very, very well both ways!

http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Recipe.aspx?RecipeId=3365&Header=Indian%20Recipe&MenuId=93

Carrot Milk

For those days when I am not in the mood to eat heavy-duty fare, and could do away with a nice glass of warm milk, a big cup of carrot milk seems to be the way to go.

I tested this flavored milk from Sailu's blog, and quite liked it.

http://www.sailusfood.com/2007/02/20/gajjar-ka-doodh-carrot-milk/

She recommends using kova, but I didn't have it on-hand and so used evaporated milk - actually I could drink the evaporated milk by itself - it is that good!

Marinate Potatoes...

I attempted a prawn and potato dish from Tina's cooking blog today. Although the dish is not exactly in my league, there was something I learned from the dish today.

She marinates the prawns, potatoes and onions in salt, chili powder and turmeric for a good 20 mins., before she cooks it all together.

The marination actually gave the potatoes a complete flavor!

So, from now on I think I am going to marinate my potatoes first for a stir-fry! Actually, I might attempt that with any root-vegetables...

A Beginner's Guide to R

Reading:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/w26370/#section=79195&page=1

My first in a series of R books...

Anapakaya Pachadi

A good way to use up any left-over anapakaya is to make this pachadi.

A nice alternative to many "roti pachadis", something to try once in a while..

http://www.sailusfood.com/2008/09/05/sorakaya-pachadi-bottle-gourd-chutney/

Vankaya Vepudu

This Vankaya Vepudu (from Sailu's Food) works best with young, tender vankayas (of course).

I haven't been able to obtain the same texture that her pictures show. My curry ends up mushy, and this dish seems to take quite a bit of oil. Oh well, I'll have to keep trying till I get the same texture Sailaja has in her pictures.

http://www.sailusfood.com/2007/07/06/vankaya-vepudu-brinjal-stir-fry/

Champadumpa Pulusu

This is a dish that I grew up eating all the time, and this is one of those sweet and sour pulusu curries - very satisfying and hearty.

I found this version on Sailu's Food. She adds tomatoes which my mom didn't. I think I prefer the version without tomatoes as well:

http://www.sailusfood.com/2010/06/08/chamadumpala-pulusu-arbi-taro-root-curry/

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

I tasted this "yummy" pesto at the We Olive store where I bought my favorite Balsamic Vinegar:

http://www.bellacucina.com/product.asp?pid=284

This is so good - I eat with bruschetta/fresh baked focaccia bread as an anti-pasti.

Best Balsamic Vinegar

I didn't know a lot about Balsamic Vinegar until a few years ago. Not that I know that much more now, but at-least I know what a "good" balsamic vinegar should taste like!

The way I discovered this is purely coincidental. I bought this cheap Safeway version of Balsamic Vinegar, after I tasted this appetizer of fresh bread served with Balsamic Vinegar in Olive Oil, at a really nice Russian Restaurant at a sit-down dinner with friends, back in Maryland.

I assumed all balsamic vinegar would taste the same (that good!). But, I was thoroughly disappointed with the Safeway Version. And that bottle sat in my pantry for a year un-used.

I happened to chance upon this roasted stone fruit recipe on Rachael Ray's Show, and it got me excited because I was trying to find some use for the balsamic vinegar in my pantry:

http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=1095

I was actually "completely bowled" over my discovery of what reduced balsamic vinegar tastes like - divine! It tasted exactly like the one that I originally tried back in Maryland!
So, that was the secret - reduce any lower quality Balsamic Vinegar for superlative results!

Anyway, recently here in downtown Walnut Creek, I strolled into one of these Olive Oil Shops, which looked so inviting and "homey" from the outside. They had so many flavored and regular olive oils and their balsamic vinegar to taste (amongst numerous other things). I was completely floored by how good their Balsamic Vinegar tasted! And I bought some:

http://www.shopweolive.com/products.php?product=We-Olive-Collection-Balsamic

Initially I just ate Fresh Bread dipped in Olive Oil, and (lots of) this Balsamic Vinegar for lunch and dinner!

Yogurt

So, I am also into exploring quality of ingredients that "do" make a difference to the food you eat!
The best yogurt I have ever had in my life came from my grandmothers home. They had their own dairy farm, and milk was free-flowing at their place, and of course the best yogurt "ever" came from their place.

Recently, I discovered that the 365 Organic LowFat Plain Yogurt (2% Milk Fat), comes somewhat close to my memories of that un-beatable yogurt from my grand-mothers place.

I haven't found a link, but will keep looking.

Sorakaya Kootu

My Peddamma loved this Kootu:

http://www.sailusfood.com/2008/02/27/sorakaya-kootu-bottle-gourd-lentil-stew/

Kodi Kura

Ah, So simple, quick and delicious Kodi Kura Recipe from Sailus Blog:

http://www.sailusfood.com/2005/12/11/kodi-kura-simple-traditional-chicken-curry/

Just make sure, you use whole Chicken with Bones (I bought a whole chicken, and had the butcher cut it up to bite-sized pieces). Also, cooking on low-heat/simmering made the chicken falling-off-the-bone tender - Simply Delicious!

Rajasthani Bhindi

The one and only Rajasthani Dish that I tried thus-far, and it was a huge hit with friends:

http://www.indianfoodforever.com/rajasthan/rajasthani-bhindi.html

Just make sure the Bhindis are thoroughly done, else they'll feel gooey inside.

Sai Bhaji

I do not remember when was the first time I tried this recipe, but me thinks this might be the tastiest version of any Sai Bhaji recipe out there! Of course, taste is a very relative thing, but this recipe has not failed me many times, and my cousins loved the Bhaji when I made it for them.

Funny, but this was also the first time I forayed into the world of the herb "dill". In fact, it is Dill that gives this bhaji that very distinct flavor of a warm, comforting, home-cooked dish! And need I mention that this is a very, very nutritious dish - just look at the Ingredients!

http://www.indianchild.com/Recipes/gravies_and_masala/sai_bhaji_recipe.htm

Ciao!

Eggs In Spicy Onion Sauce

Another Recipe that I tried almost 5 years ago, and decided that it was a keeper is "Maya Kaimals" Eggs In Spicy Onion Sauce, that I originally found on "Tinas Cooking" Blog:

http://tinascooking.blogspot.com/2006/01/eggs-in-spicy-onion-sauce.html

I don't work with Whole Eggs (just Egg Whites), and Coconut Milk as much these days, but for once in a while indulgence (with the family) - why not?

Also, I think I am really liking Kerala Cuisine a lot. I should try and get one of Maya Kaimal's book for beginners cooking.

Methi Machli Saag

I have also attempted quite a few Sindhi Recipes along the way, and by far, this is my favorite Sindhi Recipe from Avishas "Simply Sindhi" blog:

http://www.simplysindhirecipes.com/2009/05/methi-machi/

Do give it a try, who knew Methi and Machi would taste this Good!

Carrot Pachadi

Another recipe that I loved from Sailus blog is here Carrot Kothimira Pacchadi:

http://www.sailusfood.com/2007/03/28/carrot-kothimira-pachadi/

It tasted somewhat close to my mom's beetroot pachadi (did I mention so many women in the family stole my mom's beetroot pachadi!). I'll hopefully post that recipe sometime!

Masala Vadas

So, one of my favorite appetizers that I recently tried from Sailus Blog is her Carrot Masala Vadas - Yummy!

http://www.sailusfood.com/2010/04/09/carrot-masala-vada/

Don't they look divine? They taste divine as well!

I was looking for alternate versions of masala vadas, and guess what I found??
Here is Sanjay Thummas version on vahrevah.com:

http://vahrehvah.com/Masala+Vada:3438

I mean this guy is so passionate about what he puts out there, and is so feisty! It's a pleasure to watch him.

His version sounds "very spicy" with a lot of cinnamon, and red-chillies! With a sensitive disposition like mine, I am yet to find the nerve to try this. I'll put this off for another day, although I am positive it will taste as good as Sailus.

What is this blog about?

Here's my honest effort to compile the Andhra Recipes I grew up eating, that I took for granted back then, but realize how much I miss eating them now that amma is back in India, and can't cook for me as I fancy! I am also doing this because it is the time for me to cook for the family, and have them enjoy it, as much as I did.

So, I'll try and compile recipes as I test, try, and prefect them. I thoroughly enjoy food, and ideally will have a collection of recipes from everywhere and anywhere. But, it would be such a shame if I couldn't cook my very own Andhra food well. So, most recipes would be those collected (very few my own innovations - see, I am still not that creative in concocting!) from my mom, and other really great Andhra cooks out there.

I should certainly not forget to acknowledge one such food blog out there that has been such an inspiration to me: Sailu's Food - http://www.sailusfood.com/. I am "almost" beginning to consider her my mentor in Andhra cooking, as much as I consider my mom as the other mentor!
Thanks Sailaja!