Vazhaikai Podimas / Plantain Spicy Stir-Fry

Did you know that every part of the banana tree is edible or has its uses? Banana, Plantain, Banana Blossom, Banana Stem are all used in Indian cooking and Banana Leaf is the traditional way of serving food in. I love banana stem and would love to eat the stir-fry with yogurt. I do not get it where I live and miss it so much. Plantains are also not common either and I picked up these plantains

Apple Halwa Tarts for Sweet Punch October 2011

Its Sweet Punch time!!! This time we baked Jam Tarts from Rias Collection. I have tried Apple halwa filling, instead of the Jam Filling. After Navarathri, we are leftover with so many Apples from the Thambulam bags, i keep making something with them. I have halved the original recipe.  Warm Tart with Apple Halwa tasted heavenly. Hope you guys enjoy this!!!!

Ingredients for the Tarts

1/2 Cup All purpose Flour

1/2 stick Cold butter

1/4 tsp Baking Powder

Salt a pinch

Few drops of Water

A small piece of dough was leftover, made these designs using them
inspiration Courtesy : Taste of Pearl City!!!!

Method

• Sift together Flour, Salt and Baking Powder in a bowl.  
• Cut the Butter into small pieces and rub into the flour. the flour will resemble bread crumbs.  
• Sprinkle few drops of water and make the dough.
• Roll out the dough in between Wax paper and Cut it into small rounds using a cookie cutter.

• Spread the Cut dough onto the tart-tin. Spoon in the filling and Bake in a Pre-heated Oven @ 180C for 18-20 minutes.
• When done, take it out of the Oven and let it cool on the Wire Rack.  

Apple Halwa Ingredients

5 Medium Apples, Soft ones, Cored and Grated

1 cup Sugar

5-6 Pods of Cardamom Crushed

3-4 Cloves

Roasted almond flakes for garnishing.

Method

• In a Non-Stick Pan, take the sugar with half cup of water and let the sugar melt. 
• Add the Shredded apple to the Sugar  and Combine Well. 
• Add the Crushed Cardamom and Cloves to this.Let the Mixture Cook Well. 
• When Mixture thickens well and leaves the sides of the pan, Take it of the Stove and Garnish it with some roasted almond flakes.

Notes

• The filling can even be a Savory one. So, Go on Experiment!!!! 
• Baking time differs from Oven to Oven, So Bake accordingly

WWC - "Cornmeal For Breakfast" Round Up and a Slow Come Back!

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This Event was started by "Lite Bite" an'd I guest hosted it for September month and really really happy to receive so many recipes and making this event a great success. 

Sorry for the delay in posting the roundup, the reason being that I am down with Sinus and lot more things happening at the same time.

Here are the recipes....

1. Anu (ME) of "Anu's Healthy Kitchen" sharing "Broccoli Carrot Cornmeal Idli with Cilantro Coconut Chutney" and my archieved recipes: "Rava Cornmeal Idli with Fried Coconut Chutney", "Cracked Corn Upma" and  "Broccoli Carrot Upma" .

2. France of "Beyond the Peel" has shared "Breakfast Polenta Cakes with Blackberry Syrup".

3. Hari Chandana of "Indian Cuisine" has shared two recipes: "Cornmeal Payasam/Kheer" and "Cornmeal Tomato Upma/Bath".

4.  Reva of "Kaarasaaram" has shared two recipes "Corn Spinach Idli" and "Corn Upma".

5. Pranati of "Delicious Recipes 4m Pranati's  Kitchen" has shared "Sweet Corn Tikki".

6. Mugdha of "Cooking Fundas" shared "Corn Dosa".

7. Priya of "Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes" has shared FOUR recipes "Spicy Cornmeal Buns", "Cornmeal Uthappam", "Eggless Dates & Cornmeal Muffins", and "Steamed Carrot & Cornmeal Cake".

8. Nupur of "UK-Rasoi" has shared "Cornmeal Fenugreek Roti".

9. Denny of "Oh Taste n See" has shared "Cornmeal Kozhukattai".

I am very happy for all friends who shared these awesome yummy recipes and made this event a great success!

Thanks to Priya for sending me 4 entries for this event!

If I missed anyone please email me at anu (dot) healthykitchen (at) gmail (dot) com, will link the recipe for you!