CABBAGE IN A BLANKET

With the change in office timing and upcoming exams next month, my cooking is totally on halt, most of the times I go for resturant hunts :) . This time am not very sad as I am hopeful that I might be able to fulfill one of my parents' desire. Actually my parents always wanted me to complete my Masters and there is a flickering hope that I might be able to do so.........FINGERS CROSSED... :)  Now back to business. Today's recipe is about Cabbage and its not one my fav vegetables :D . I always buy Cabbages when I am tired of eating other vegetables...it something that I have as a Change of Taste :D .Have read about the healthy benefits of Cabbage so wanted to share with all. HEALTH BENEFITS:         1. Cabbage is anti – inflammatory vegetable 2. Cabbage contains lactic acid that acts to disinfect colon 3. Cabbage can also be used to reduce headache pain 4. Another benefit of cabbage is in it's anti –cancer properties and is also said to be able in treating other skin conditions 5. Drinking cabbage juice from the stem is a good remedy for ulcers.   I have name this dish as "Cabbage in a Blanket"....and you guessed it right it is inspired by the famous "Pigs in a Blanket". Generally I prepare roti with any Cabbage dish however this variation tasted wonderful.... :)

Pizza Dough	500 grams
Cabbage	250 grams
Tomatoes	3 medium sized
Onions chopped	1 cup
Ginger-Garlic Paste	1 tablepoon
Turmeric Powder	1 teapoon
Red Chilli Powder	2 teaspoon
Oil	1 tablespoon
Salt	As per taste
Black pepper powder	1 tablespoon
Lemon juice	10-12 drops

                     

    TOMATO BASE: 

1. Cut the tomatoes into small cubes
2. Heat oil in a pan, add the onions and ginger-garlic paste and cook till the onion turns light brown.
3. To the pan add the chopped tomatoes and salt. Cover and cook over low flame such that the tomatoes turns semi-liquid.
4. Add the red chilli powder to cooked tomatoes and keep cook till the water evaporates.
5. The tomato base is done.                

      CABBAGE STUFFING:     

1. Boil the shredded cabbage in water with a pinch of salt. Drain the cabbage when it turns soft.
2. Heat oil in a pan, add turmeric powder, salt and the boiled cabbage. Cook over medium flame. This would take some time.
3. Add black pepper powder and lemon juice to the cooked cabbage just before removing from heat

      ASSEMBLING:     

1. Sprinkle some flour on the large wooden surface. Place the Pizza Dough on the floured surface. Roll it into 4-5 squares.
2. Cover a oven rack with a baking paper. Drizzle some oil on the baking sheet and coat it with oil properly.
3. Remove the excess flour and place the squared doughs in the baking sheet. Add a layer of tomato base on it and top it with the cabbage stuffing.
4. Place the corners of the dough  over the stuffing such that the stuffing is covered properly.
5. Repeat the process with all the squares.
6. Cook the dish in the oven at 220 degree for 10 min.
7. Then add a bit of garlic oil on top of all the squares and cook for 10 min more.

            
The Cabbage is the Blanket is ready. And whats best with it......a cup of Ginger Tea :) 

SOYABEAN KADHI with SPICY COCONUT RICE

Finally...... I could get my net connection today. Over this last 2 weeks I have realised that I am so dependent on net ,imagine one whole day without visiting your facebook or chatting with friends or posting to the blog......and multiply with 15....so now you know how i have felt............OH!!!! MY GOD......it was UNBEARABLE  :( . Anyways m back now and hope you all missed me :D .  Today I have a very simple and yet a deicious recipe to share.....its mainly 'Kadhi' and its an all time favourite among the North-Indians I have met so far. I am a Bengali and we are not very familiar with this dish so how I came to know or like the dish is a wonderful story. When I was in Junior College (Class XI) I had a Gujarati friend, one fine day she invited me and a few other friends for dinner to her place. Aunty had prepared 'Kadhi-Chawal', now we bengalis' are big foodies....we can never eat just rice and one item, we always need at least 3 items to feel full :D , so I was lost.......however when i started having.....UUUHHHLALA!!!! it was yummy. Unfortunately at that time I was not into cooking so I didnt ask how it was prepared although I would often ask my mom to find out and prepare it. Time passed and I started working, at that time I had a sweet friend called Ichha....She had invited me to dinner ones and to my utter surprise and pleasure she had prepared 'Kadhi-Chawal'.....and it was YUMMY.....all my childhood memories just came back. And I didnt miss this oppurtunity.....she explained me how to make the dish.  Since then every other day I would make Kadhi and have tried out a lot of variations. Surprising now my North-Indian friends love the Kadhi that I prepare, the best part was when I made it for my mom....she said so finally u found it and learnt it....she totally loved it  :)  Anyways my storytelling is over so lets get into business...today's variation is called ---- Soyabean Kadhi with Spicy Coconut Rice.

FOR SOYABEAN KADHI
Buttermilk	1 number(500 gms)
Gram flour	2 cups
Turmeric Powder	1 teaspoon
Red Chilli Powder	2 teaspoon
Cumin Powder	Half teaspoon
Soyabean Nuggets	3 cups
Lime Juice	Half of a lime
Black Mustard Seed	Half tablespoon
Dried Red Chilly	3 pieces
Vegetable Oil	2 tablespoon
Salt	As per taste

FOR SPICY COCONUT RICE
Basmati Rice	2 cup
Onion julienne	1 cup
Green chilly finely chopped	2numbers
Garam masala	Half tablespoon
Red Chili Powder	2 tablespoon
Turmeric Powder	Half tablespoon
Coconut milk	2 cup
Coconut water	Half cup
Vegetable Oil	2 tablespoon
Salt	As per taste

    SOYABEAN KADHI:-

1. Soak the soyabean nuggets in luke warm water till the nuggets get soften. Then squeeze the water out.
2. Heat one tablespoon oil to a pan, to the pan add salt, turmeric powder and red chilli powder.
3. Add the soft soyabean nuggets to the pan and cook till nuggets are properly fried. Then remove it to a bowl and pat with tissue to remove any excess oil.
4. In a bowl , whisk together buttermilk and gram flour till the mixture turn smooth without any lumps. I was experimenting with buttermilk but you can use yogurt too.
5. Add turmeric powder,red chilli powder,cumin powder and salt to the buttermilk mixture and whisk them again till it turn smooth.
6. Add lime juice to the mixture and whisk it thoroughly.
7. Heat one tablespoon oil to a pan, add the black mustard seeds and let it sputter. Then add the dried red chilly and fry.
8. Add the buttermilk mixture to the pan and bring it to a boil and simmer on a slow fire for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
9. Add the fried soyabean nuggets and again simmer the  kadhi for about 5 minutes.

SPICY COCONUT RICE:-

1. Soak the Basmati rice in water for 10-15 min. Then remove it from water and spread it out on a paper so that the water is soaked up.
2. Heat oil in a cooker, add onion and green chilly ; fry till the onions turn translucent.
3. Add the soaked and dried basmati rice to the cooker and cook for 5 min. Stir occasionally and very softly or the rice would break.
4. Take about half cup water and add the tumeric powder and red chilli powder  and mix till smooth,
5. Add the spice mixture to the rice and stir softly.
6. Then add the coconut milk and let it simmer in medium flame.
7. When the rice gets a little soften add the coconut water and let it cook. Water may be needed if the rice is not cook, I needed about 1 cup. 

The North meets South dish is ready for tasting.......it would be wonder after a days work in office :)  .

IT'S RAINING AWARDS...............!!!!!!!!

Its been almost 2 weeks since I could post anything on my blog......sad...??? totally. Firstly my laptop was spoilt beyond repair and so I had to get a new one and you know buying an electronic needs a lot of research so it took me so long to get one :) .Secondly during the last 2 weeks were the awesome matches of Cricket World Cup..........UHHU...!!! and finally I was busy with my house hunt. Today I have moved to a new house although its not as beautiful as my old house its cozy and comfortable and perfect for me. So when I am all set the first thing i thought of doing was check my blog and to my utter surprise my blogmates have not forgotton me at all....rather it has been raining awards for me. 

When I opened my blog I saw a message "I Have An Award Waiting For U In My Blog..Do Collect It :)" it felt so awesome , I had a smile running from one cheek to another :) .  When I visited her blog I realized its not one but she has showered me with several awards. Thanks a lot Prathima....you made me feel so honored.... :D

                                                                              
                                                                               

The beauty of these blogging awards is that its about receiving and sharing......so I need to share it 15 blogger and this is the toughest job. I have seen so many amazing blogger having collection of wonderful and breath-taking recipes, so I really cannot judge who is best among the best....however let me try to name a few wonderful bloggers.....

http://www.whatmegansmaking.com

http://recipesfortheverydaywoman.blogspot.com

http://omgyummy.wordpress.com

http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com

http://ticklingpalates.blogspot.com

http://designwineanddine.blogspot.com

http://sandraseasycooking.blogspot.com

http://livingthegourmet.blogspot.com

http://thebestmomontheblock.blogspot.com

http://imapretendchef.blogspot.com

http://homecookingwithsonya.blogspot.com

http://sweetsav.blogspot.com

http://oneperfectbite.blogspot.com

http://pegasuslegend-whatscookin.blogspot.com

http://cookingwithlena.blogspot.com

http://lick-my-spoon.blogspot.com

http://www.manusmenu.com