Menthi Pappu (Methi Dal/ Fenugreek Lentil)

This recipe is again my mom's and my mom's sisters recipe and this is a very traditional to Andhra cuisine. I can say that mom and my mom's sister prepares this recipe when we run out of vegetables in our house (he he!). I like this recipe very much to eat with steamed rice and ghee, which is optional. I love this recipe for two things, the first being that it's healthy and the second is that it's spicy and simple to make.

Ingredients:

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3/4 Toor Dal

1 tbsp Fenugreek seeds

2-3 cloves of Garlic with or without skin crushed

5-6 dry Red Chilies

1 tsp Oil

Salt to taste

Method:

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1. Wash the dal/lentil and strain the water and keep it aside.

2. In a pan add oil, when it's medium hot add the dry red chilies and saute them until it's turns brown. 

3. Add the fenugreek seeds and reduce the flame to minimum. The heat from the pan will be enough to turn the fenugreek seeds to brown.

4. Add the dal/lentil and saute it until it turns very slight brown. Off the flame.

5. In a pressure cooker add enough water (about 2 cups) and bring it to boil, add the dal and fenugreek and  pressure cook it for 2-3 whistles.

6. Off the flame and let it cool or come to room temperature. Remove lid, mash the dal so that the red chilies are mashed completely. Serve this hot with steamed rice, ghee and papad.

Shrimp Brushcetta

I love Italian food whether it is pasta, tomatoes, cheese, herbs or bread. I feel their food is very traditional and balanced with all the colors and ingredients and of course cheese. I made this recipe for dinner, which turned out to be too good to just sit in front of the TV and relax and eat dinner without messing up the kitchen as well as my hands. :-)

Bruschetta is an appetizer from central Italy whose origin dates to at least the 15th century. It consists of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Variations may include toppings of spicy red pepper, tomato, vegetables, beans, cured meat, and/or cheese; the most popular recipe outside of Italy involves basil, fresh tomato, garlic and onion or mozzarella. Bruschetta is usually served as a snack or appetizer. In Italy, Bruschetta is often prepared using a brustolina grill. This was a way of salvaging bread that was going stale.

Ingredients:

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1/2 lb Shrimp devein'd and cleaned

1-clove of Garlic chopped

1 Shallot chopped

1/4 cup flat leaf Parsley Chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

3-4 tbsp Olive oil

2 tbsp Butter

1 long Italian Bread/Brushcetta


Method:
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1. Cut the bread diagonally into 1 1/2 inch thick slices with a serrated knife and brush with half of the olive oil and sprinkle little salt and pepper.
2. Heat a Grill pan and place the bread slices and cook for about 1-2 mins each side or until you get nice grill marks on it.
3. If you do not have a grill pan you can use regular pan else in a baking sheet arrange the bread slices and broil it in oven for about 1 min each side or until the top of the bread turns slight brown and crispy.
4. In a pan add olive oil and butter, when it's medium hot add garlic and shallots, salt and pepper and sate it until the shallots become translucent.
5. Add the shrimp and cook for about 5-6 mins or until the shrimp turns pink in color.
6. Now add the chopped parsely and off the flame and mix well.

7. In a serving plate arrange the grilled bread and take the shrimp and arrange around 4-5 shrimps on each bread and pour the rest of the mixture over the top or spoon it and serve it hot or warm.


Note: This can be served as an appetizer or snack too and best as a crowd pleaser.

I found another Brushcetta recipe from net which caught my eyes. See this link too from My Recipes.com: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001215057


Re-posting this recipe to participate in event hosted by Krithi - Event Name: Serve it - Grilled

Groom and Bride cupcake

This cupcake I made for pre wedding photo session 
Just try to take my feeling to make the figurine, feel so happy and exicted. 


So, please welcome.. 


The Groom

The Bride

The greatest couple