Gongura Potato

 A simple and green color side dish made with potatoes and red sorrel leaves. In this recipe the potatoes are simmered and sauteed in red sorrel leaves puree along with some spices. I always try to incorporate greens in my recipe, that's how i came with this idea. Today i bought red sorrel leaves and decided to cook along with potato. I chose potato because of its versatility. The sorrel leaves have a lemony tangy flavour and goes well with potato. I love eating this with curd rice. Try this healthy recipe, sure you will like it.

Ingredients

• 1/4 kg Potato
• 1 small bunch of Gongura leaves
• 1 Onion, small sized, chopped roughly
• 5 Garlic cloves
• 2 or 3 Green Chillies
• 1 tbsp Coriander seeds
• Salt to taste
• 1 1/2 tbsp Oil

Method

• Peel, wash and cut the potatoes into cubes and microwave for 10 minutes or cook in pressure cooker or in  boiling water and keep aside.
• Separate the gongura leaves from the stem and wash it and drain and blanch them and keep aside.
• Heat 1/2 tbsp of oil in kadai/wok, when hot add onion and green chillies and saute till light golden brown in color.
• Then add coriander seeds to it and saute it.
• Add gongura leaves to it and cook till its done and all the water evaporates.
• Cool it and grind along with salt in a blender to a smooth paste.
• Heat the remaining oil in the same kadai/wok, when hot add the gongura paste mixture and cooked potatoes with lil water to it.
• Saute it till the paste becomes thick and well coated to the potatoes.
• Serve with curd rice.

Chocolate Cups filled with Icecream and Stawberries - Valentine's Day Special

It's Valentine's Day and what could be a better time to let your loved ones know how special they are. And also its the right time to make some special dessert for those we love. And my recipe for this special day is fabulous, decadent edible chocolate cups filled with ice cream and fruits. Happy Valentine's Day to you all and here is my virtual Valentine's day gift to all my blog readers and my blog friends.

Ingredients

• 100 gms Dark Chocolate bars/chips
• few Muffin Paper Cups
• Few Strawberries
• 2 small scoops of Ice cream

Method

• Melt the chocolate in a bowl by double boiler method, remove the bowl and stir well with the help of a spoon.
• With the help of the pastry brush, paint inside the muffin cups with melted chocolate.
• Place the chocolate cups in the freezer for 15 to 30 Min's or until its firm and thick.
• Take the cups out of the freezer and again paint the paper liners with melted chocolate using pastry brush.Place again in the freezer for 15 Min's or until its firm and thick.
• Carefully peel the liners and place the cups in the refrigerator.
• Before serving them, fill the cups with your favorite choice of ice cream and fruits. Here i have used vanilla ice cream and strawberries. Serve it immediately.

This is going to participate in Love and Chocolate Fest hosted by Vimitha of My Culinary Trial Room

and in Let's Cook for Valentines Chocolate hosted by Simply Food

and Let's Cook - Sweet Somethings by Tickling palates

and Chocolate Mela by Srivalli of Cooking for all Seasons

and in Valentine Day Special hosted by Anzz Cafe

Banana and Strawberry Muffin

Muffins are quick bread that are baked in small portions. They are often served for breakfast along with coffee or tea . There are many varieties and flavors of muffin. I tried this banana and strawberry muffin from Joy of Baking. They are very quick and easy to make. These two fruits banana and strawberry really go well together. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients

• 100 gms unsalted Butter, melted
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 2 large or 1 cup of ripe Bananas, mashed
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, chop them into bite sized pieces
• 295 gms of Plain flour, sifted
• 160 gms Castor Sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp of Baking powder,
• 1/4 tsp of Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Salt

Method

• Preheat he oven to 170 degree C.
• Melt the butter in sauce and allow it to cool.
• In a bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar , vanilla extract and mashed banana. Add the melted to it and combine them.
• In a another bowl add sifted plain flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon powder, sugar and salt.
• Gently fold in the chopped strawberries to it.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and combine them. Donot over mix the batter and this will result in hard muffins.
• Divide the batter evenly in the muffins cups lined in muffin trays and bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 Min's.
• When done transfer the muffins to wire rack and cool.

Makes 12 Muffins

Easy and Simple Chocolate Cookies

Rachel Allen is popular TV Chef and author of best selling cookbooks. I recently rented her Rachel Allen 'Bake' cookbook. This book was very well written, easy to read and easy to make recipes.Also this book includes beautiful food photographs and step by step instructions for some of the recipes. I really enjoyed reading her book and tried some recipes from this book. One of the recipe i tried is her basic cookie recipe. She have  mentioned many variations to the cookie recipe like adding poppy seeds,mixed spice, chocolate chips, cardamom powder, dried fruits etc. Her basic cookie recipe is a great basis for many great flavourful combinations.I tried the variation of adding only coco powder to the basic cookie recipe. And it just came out perfect, crunchy and yummy on my first try itself. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients

• 250 gms (9 oz)Plain Flour
• 50 gms (2 oz) Cocoa Powder
• 225 gms (8 oz) Butter
• 110 gms (4 oz) Caster Sugar

Method

• Preheat the oven to 160 degree C.
• Sift the flour and coco powder in a bowl and keep aside
• In an another large bowl beat the butter until soft with the help of a hand mixer.
• Add the sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and bring the mixture together to form a dough.
• Cover and keep the dough inside the fridge for 15 Min's.
• Use your hands roll the dough into even sized balls and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and flatten them lightly on top with the help of your fingers and bake in the oven for 8 to 10 Min's or until they are light golden brown and slightly firm.
• Carefully transfer the cookies to wire rack to cool.

And also baked some cookies for the friends Lubna, Deepa and Sonal and gave them when we had potluck at my place.