Capsicum Fried rice!!

Here comes a change from the usual mixed rice varieties. I found it from Food & Wine magazine last month. This can be customized to Indian cuisine by adding some green chillies, cloves, bay leaf. But i preferred to retain its Chinese touch with just pepper to spice it up. I dint expect it to come out so well. The aroma was so inviting but its taste way way beyond everything. A must try i would say! It is simple to make and takes very little time.

Ingredients: Makes for two
Rice- 1 cup
3 cloves of Garlic
A small piece of Ginger
Salt- per taste
Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
Onion - 1 medium sized
Capsicum- 1/2 Red, 1/2 green, 1/2 Yellow.
Oil - 2 tsp

Method:
- Cook the rice separately.
- In a pan add oil and fry finely chopped ginger and garlic.
- Fry onion till glassy.
- Dice the capsicum into small pieces.
- Fry capsicum along with rest and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Saute till half cooked and remove from fire.
- Mix the cooked rice and serve hot.

Try it and give me your feedback.
See you next time!! 

Enjoying the Breeze!!

The flowers swaying along with the wind along the canal.. 

Interesting Facts - Chilli Powder

According to me, chilli was just a spice to add taste to our cuisine. Or I have heard from our elders that too much of it will make us aggressive by behavior. But I came across a health magazine which had some interesting health facts about chilli powder. Here are those;

Lose weight faster with chilli powder:
                           This seasoning has compounds that will actually help to boost your metabolism. Add a sprinkle of these hot stuff to lose weight.!!


An ingredient for pedicure:
                         Relaxing with addition of chilli powder for pedicure can help you relaxe and revive from your ache. The “Capsaicin” in chilli increases blood flow to your feet and help to soothe and warm them.
Try this as your version for the spa's foot scrub,
1 tsp Honey
^1/8 tsp Chilli powder
2 tsp Epsom salt
1 table spoon of unscented Jojoba oil
Make the above to a creamy paste. Apply and rub for 1 minute, wrap in warm wet towels, leave until cool and then wash. Don't try this if you have a sensitive skin, which might cause burning rather than tingling sensation.


For tummy troubles:
                        Inclusion of chilli powder would help reduce the incidence of tummy troubles like indigestion and acid reflux. But over dosage might lead to ulcer.


Pest-proof in your Garden:
                       Sprinkle chilli powder around your pot or edge of your garden to repel insects and animals. The hot flavor will keep the insects and animals away.

Hope you found this post interesting!!!
See you next time :)

Best Marriage Proposal.. I think so too...

                       Marriages are mostly arranged according to our custom and tradition. But with the influence of western culture, Love marriages are increasing exponentially. Here is an interesting video that i came across from Yahoo. I am not sure how many of you have seen this before my post. I really loved the way the guy proposed and was so dramatic like a movie, that it has gained the tag "The Best Marriage Proposal Ever". Though it was the western culture of proposal, it impressed me due to the guy's respect to girl's family. Hope this will make you smile wider and wider moving till the end. And this can be used by the guys who are planning to propose!! Best wishes all out there!! Get Inspired :)

Strawberry Shake !!

This is my first experiment with milkshakes. It has been a long wait for strawberry to quench my taste buds. Though it is one among the best in aroma and flavor, it might not impress a new-come by its taste. But after a few bites I fell for its taste too. It is rich in water content and has considerable amount of Potassium. Here is the best way to have strawberry, in the form of milkshake.

Ingredients:
Strawberry - 1 cup
Chilled Milk - 1 1/2 glasses
Sugar - 4 tsp
Vanilla extract - 1tsp

Method:
- Wash the strawberries and add them to mixer along with milk, sugar and the extract.
- Blend them till smooth and serve.

Flower Show for Pedestrians

Bhel Puri (Home made- 100%):

I have had bhel puris from shops nearby with the help of basic mix. Here is a perfect my version of bhel puri. It is very simple and spicy snack special for a rainy day accompanied by hot chai.

Ingredients:

Potato – 1 large

Onion – ½

Tomato – ½

Chat masala – 1/2 tsp

Chilli powder – a pinch

Pappad:

Rava – 1 cup

Maida – 1/2 cup

Salt – per taste

Water – to make dough

Green Sauce:

Pudina – 1 bunch

Corriander leaves – 1/2 bunch

Green chilli – 2

Ginger – A small piece

Salt – ½ tsp

Method:

• Dice onion and tomatoes finely
• Boil potatoes and keep the aside.

Pappad:

• Mix rava, maida, salt and water and make a dough.
• Make large roti with it and cut out smaller circles from them of desired circle size. Normally that would be a mouthful.
• Fry them in oil and keep them aside.

Green Sauce:

• Grind pudina, Corriander leaves, green chilli, salt and ginger into a fine paste.

Now comes the final makeover.

• Break the pappad into half or into pieces.
• Smash the boiled potatoes and add them.
• Add the dices onions and tomatos.
• Add salt, Chat masala and a pinch of chilli powder and mix them well.
• Add the green sauce on this and serve.
• Can also add ketchup to enhance taste.