Ragi idiyappam

Idiyappam / string hopper is a breakfast item popular in Tamilnadu, kerala and Srilanka. Usually it is made with rice flour and pure white in color. (Click to see my idiyappam with rice flour recipe). Nowadays we can easily buy them in dried form like pasta from Chinese stores (rice noodles). Also in Tamilnadu one can see vendors in cycles selling idiyappam in the early morning. Households with little kids and elders are the regular customers for these cycle-walas. Idiyappam , a steam cooked meal is easy to digest and hence it is preferred as dinner also. Recently idiyappam with ragi flour has become popular among dieticians and they recommend it to many.  So we can see readymade dried ragi idiyappam also in stores. It is very convenient for a quick meal. Making fresh idiyappam is also very easy and here is my recipe for ragi idiyappam.

Ragi idiyappam with shredded coconut.

My new screw type idiyappam maker....easier than pressing and I love this very much.

preparing idiyappam dough

Ragi idiyappam for my neighbor aunty ...food exchange Fridays :)

Ingredients:
Ragi - 1 1/2  cup
water - 2 cup (nearly)
salt - 1/2 tsp
ghee  - 1/2 tsp
cardamom powder - a pinch
for serving:
sugar - as per need
shredded coconut - as per need

Method:
Dry roast the ragi flour in a kadai (wok) , till it smells nice and a mild red. Add cardamom powder.
In a separate vessel, bring water to rolling boil with salt, ghee.
Pour little by little over the roasted flour and mix to get a soft chapati dough stage.
Divide into 3 equal portions.
From one part, take a handful and stuff inside the idiyappam press (idiyappam nazhi).
Grease an idiyappam plate or idly plate with a drop of ghee / oil.
Squeeze the strings in continuous fashion. Place inside idly cooker or idiyappam steamer.
(I use pressure cooker for both idly and idiyappam. Pour 2 cups water in the cooker.Leave the bottom-most plate empty and keep the idiyappam plate above it. This will ensure the idiyappams to get cooked without getting wet. I keep it for 10 minutes in high steam WITHOUT  the weight valve).
Take out once it is cooked and serve immediately or store in airtight containers.
Likewise steam all the idiyappams.

Serving suggestions:

Serve ragi idiyappam as dinner or breakfast.
I keep the leftover as a sweet snack or dessert.
The popular side dishes are shredded coconut with sugar, coconut milk mixed with jaggery solution and cardamom or sugar.

Tips:

Dry ragi idiyappam is commonly available in market as instant ragi semiya or idiyappam.
Dry roasting the flour and adding cardamom powder will make a flavorful idiyappam.

Oats Cranberry cookies

The goodness of oats and cranberry are the highlights of this cookies and can be enjoyed both as snack as well as breakfast. I used 'Oceanspray' brand dried cranberries and old fashion oats. I formulated this recipe and hope you all love it !

 I made these cute treat bags using ziplock covers and crochet yarn.

cool them completely.

space between cookies is important, as the oats cookies doubles in size.

Ingredients:
Old fashioned oats - 3 cups
whole wheat flour - 1 1/2 cup
cranberry (dry , sliced) - 1 cup
Butter - 6 tbsp
sour cream - 1/2 cup
(butter sourcream ration can be substituted with butter 1 cup)
white sugar - 3/4 cup
brown sugar - 3/4 cup
egg - 2
vanilla extract - 1 tsp
salt - 1/2 tsp
baking soda - 1 tsp
cinnamon - 1 tsp
nutmeg powder - 1/4 tsp
cardamom - 1 tsp

Method:
Mix and cream the butter, sour cream and sugar. Add egg, vanilla and mix well.
I do this process in mixie.
In a large mixing bowl , add all the dry ingredients, cranberry and spices. Pour the wet ingredients and mix well. Using hands will make this stage easy:)
The oats cookie dough is ready.
Fold the dough using cling wrap (or keep in  air tight container) and keep refrigerated for nearly 1 hour or till we need to make cookies. Refrigeration makes the handling easy
Preheat the oven to 350 deg F.
Line the cookie baking sheets with aluminum foil or use simply.
Spray / coat with butter or oil.
Divide the dough into 4 equal size balls. Make long cylindrical shapes and cut them into12 equal size portions. Make balls and slightly  flatten them while placing on cookie sheets.
Thicker cookies tastes very good.
Bake for 8 - 12 minutes, depending upon the oven.
Take out, let them cool completely and store in airtight containers.
Oats cranberry cookie is ready!
 
Serving suggestion:
Serve as snack or breakfast.
We can refrigerate / freeze the dough and use to make fresh cookies too.
Makes 48 cookies.

Ragi Cookies

As Christmas is fast approaching, I thought it would be more appropriate if I could release all my baked goodies from my draft page:) I make cookies whenever hubby has more project hours, so that I can spend some more time with him, while he is working. Also the next day he will take a box of cookies to his friends too.  Isn't this a cute excuse to bake something yummy :)
Here is one delicious native cookies from Indian cuisine, the Ragi biscuits or ragi cookies. I made these biscuits just like  butter biscuit and it came out very well. To reduce the butter content I use yogurt or sour cream in all my cookies. Here goes the recipe.

Super soft ragi cookies. Enjoy this with a cup of milk for breakfast.

Ragi cookies for hubby's friends.

Ragi cookies.

Ragi cookies are cooling down .

Cookies before baking. Leave enough space, as they will double in size.

Dry roasted ragi is mixed with all other ingredients.

Ingredients:
Ragi - 2 cup
self rising flour - 1/2 cup
butter - 1/2 cup ( 8 tbsp)
Indian  plain yogurt - 1/2 cup (or lesser)
brown sugar - 1 cup
baking powder - 1 tsp
salt - little
cardamom - 1 tsp
Almond - 1/2 for 1 cookie

Method:
Dry roast ragi till it smells good (low heat for 8-10 minutes).
Melt butter and add it to ragi.
Add self rising flour, yogurt (little by little), brown sugar, baking powderm salt, cardamom.
Mix well.   Add enough yogurt , so that it can made into small balls.
Line the baking sheets with aluminum foil and coat with oil.
By applying some ghee / oil in our palms , make equal size 30 balls.
Place the balls on the sheet and slightly flatten them. Place 1/2 almond on each cookie.
Bake at 325 deg F for 10 - 14 minutes. (the bottom should be mild brown).
Check often after 8 minutes, as the baking time may vary in different ovens.
Take out and let it remain for 1 minute to let it harden more. Cool in cooling racks.
Store in air tight container.

Serving suggestion:
Serve as snack or dessert. Makes a easy breakfast too.
Makes 30 cookies.

Note:
*Brown sugar can be substituted with white powdered sugar for more flavor and taste.
* always roast the ragi before making cookies.
*I have used self rising flour in these cookies to make them puff up and it made them super soft and delicious. Here is the basic version to make homemade self rising flour. I make this flour in large quantities and use it in making biscuits, cookies and pastries. 
Homemade self rising flour :
1 cup Self rising flour = 1 cup All purpose flour + 1/4 tsp salt +  1 1/2 tsp baking powder

Brinjal theeyal

Kathirikkai theeyal is a flavorful dish from Kerala.  It is prepared with browned coconut. One evening I grilled eggplants for making baingan, but changed my mind and made this theeyal using that. But traditional Kerala theeyal won't need grilling. I made it as a thick curry along with chapathi and curd rice. we can make a thinner version also.

Roasted coconut with red chillies.

Grilled eggplant

Ingredients:
Eggplants - 2
onion - 1
tomato - 1
tamarind - lime size
curry leaves - few
salt - to taste
mustard seed - 1 tsp
coconut oil - 1 tbsp

For making theeyal powder:
shredded coconut - 1 cup
dry red chilly - 6
coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
black pepper - 1 tsp
curry leaves - few
turmeric - small piece

Optional : Apply a little oil over the eggplant and roast them in gas stove or oven. Peel off the skin and chop it gently.
(Traditionally the eggplants are used without grilling).

Method:
Slice the onion, tomato, brinjal separately and keep aside.
Extract juice from tamarind.
Dry roast the coconut till it turns brownish red and smells great. Do this in medium to low heat.
Take it out and dry roast all the other items given for theeyal podi.
Let them cool and powder together.
Heat oil in a deep pan, add mustard and let it splutter.
Then add chopped onion, curry leaves and let it get golden brown. Add chopped tomato and cook well. Add the roasted mashed eggplant or sliced eggplant. Saute and cook covered. Add tamarind extract and bring to a boil. Put the prepared masala powder and cook covered for few minutes.
Theeyal is ready.

Serving suggestion:
Serve as side dish with idly, dosa, hot rice, chapathi, curd rice etc.

Thanksgiving wishes and prayers

Wishing all my readers, friends and family a blessed , prosperous and happy Thanks giving!

Thanksgiving Pictures Comments - Photobucket

Thanksgiving Pictures Comments - Photobucket

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for having created us and given us to each other in the human family. Thank you for being with us in all our walks of life, for your comfort, your companionship, your guidance, your love, and your presence. Thank you for safeguarding us and protecting us. Thank you for yesterday, today, tomorrow and for the whole of our lives. Thank you for friends, family,  health and your grace. May we live this and every day thankful for all that has been given to us.
Amen.
(Prayer inspired by American Catholic website).

Happy Thanks giving and thank you all!

Thanksgiving treats !

Thanksgiving is an 'all American' festival, just like Diwali or Pongal of India. Thanksgiving day is a day of abundance and conveying thanks to God, family and friends. Here we symbolize the day with whole baked turkey, pumpkins, cranberry, pomegranate, sweet potato, breads, abundant fruits, pies, cakes , pretty tables, family gatherings, hosting dinners etc. I fuse Indian and American views to celebrate thanksgiving every year. Instead of the enormous turkey (more than enough for us) I make a turkey briyani or whole roasted chicken. Also some desserts based on carrot, pumpkins will be in my menu. I strongly encourage anyone from any country to celebrate this beautiful festival with the best dishes from their country. True thanksgiving day lies on the way we thank God and everything else is a gift from God!
If you are looking for some interesting recipes to celebrate Thanksgiving with an Indian touch, here are some ideas to try.
Happy Thanksgiving !
Pumpkin pancake

Thanksgiving breakfast...pumpkin pumpkin everywhere !

Whole chicken fry

Fried chicken a best alternative for baked turkey.

 Baked chicken

Whole fried fish

Garlic bread

Sweet potato fries

Turkey biriyani
 
Turkey curry

Pomegranate pilaf

 

Carrot halwa

Carrot cake

Cranberry pickle

Pumpkin pancake

Here is  a pancake we recently tried and enjoyed very much. I got the recipe and hints from this website and thanks to the author, I could make a flavorful pancake for our weekend.Try this and fall in love with this Thanksgiving recipe forever:)

Pumpkin pancakes with maple syrup.

Electric griddle ....my favorite, which I got from last year's Thanksgiving sale:)

Ingredients:
AP flour - 1 cup
Milk - 3/4 cup
Egg -1
Pumpkin puree - 1/2 cup
vinegar / yogurt - 1 tbsp
brown sugar - 2 tbsp
butter (soften) - 1 tbsp
baking powder - 1 tsp
baking soda - 1/2 tsp
All spice powder - 1/2 tsp
cinnamon - 1/2 tsp
ginger powder - 1/2 tsp
salt - 1/4 tsp
Also we may need:
Approx 1 tbsp butter - for making all the pancakes
maple syrup - as per need

Method:
Sift the All purpose flour (maida), salt, baking soda, baking powder together twice. This makes the pancakes very spongy and airy. Add all the other items in a mixie or blender and mix well.
Then add the sifted flour and blend again , till its a very smooth batter. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
Heat a frying pan or electric griddle (to 350 deg F). Smear some butter on the pan.
Pour 1/4 cup of batter and let it spread itself. Flip and cook both sides till golden brown.

Serving suggestions:
Serve warm with maple syrup or honey topped with fresh fruits.

Note:
The recipe may give about 9 pancakes (made with 1/4 cup batter).
We can refrigerate , freeze , reheat and use the leftover pancakes.
I save some pumpkin pieces while making curry. Then cook them in little water, puree and freeze it. I measure and label them before freezing (1 cup, 2 cup ). This homemade pumpkin puree is very handy just like a can of store bought one.