82. Homemade Chocolate

Final Outcome: Should have called it a barfi :-)

        It was very good if called a barfi, but I cannot get myself to call it a smooth delicious chocolate. It was tasty nevertheless. Source for this is my mom's old recipe book.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Milk Powder: 1 cup
Coco powder: 1/4th cup
Butter: ~ 1/4th cup
Sugar: 1/2 cup
Water: 2/3rd cup
Chopped dry fruits: 1/4th cup

Method:
1.Mix water and sugar and bring it to a boil. Boil until it reaches 1 string consistency. 
2. Sieve coco and milk powder together and set aside.
3. Add butter to sugar syrup and mix till butter melts.
4. Gradually add Milk powder mixture to the sugar syrup and mix well. Add dry fruits when the mixture thick.
5.  In a greased pan pour the mixture and pat till it flattens. Let it set for ~20 mins and then cut into desired shape.

81. Mexican Tomato Brown Rice

Final Outcome: Very good!

This was my husbands invention. We searched several recipes and finally mashed 3-4 recipes to come up with this recipe.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
3-4 teaspoons olive oil
1 long grain cup brown rice  (optionally basmati rice)
2-3 medium sized onions, finely chopped
4-5 minced garlic
3 medium sized tomatoes, finely chopped
1/2 green pepper (can mix yellow and red peppers as well)
half cup green peas
1 small carrot -- shredded
2-3 table spoons of soya granules
Finely chopped coriander
Salt to test

Spices:
5-6 spoons of taco sauce (we used taco sauce sachet from taco bell)
2-3 spoons Oregano 
2 teaspoons Black pepper

Method:
1. Cook the brown rice / long grain rice. For brown rice use about 2.5 cups of water.
2. Soak 3 table spoons of soya granules in warm water. Set it aside for 15 minutes. Squeeze all water from the granules and soak again for a few minutes. Squeeze out all the water again. 
3. Heat olive oil in a pan. After about a minute, add finely chopped onion and saute for 1 minute on a medium flame. Add a little bit of salt and saute for 2-3 minutes on a low flame.
4. Add the green/yellow/red peppers to the pan and saute the mixture for about 2-3 minutes. Remember not to overcook the peppers. Add the tomatoes, shredded carrot, green peas, soya granules and saute for 3 minutes. 
5.Now add salt , black pepper, coriander, oregano and the taco sauce and mix it thoroughly. Add the cooked rice and mix it thoroughly but gently. The Mexican rice is ready!

80. Dal Lakhnaowi

Source:http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/dal-lucknowi-foodfood.aspx
Final Outcome: Not bad, cannot classify as excellent.

        I have mentioned in one of my initial post that I frequently refer Sanjeev Kapoor's book Dals & Kadhis. I could cook just a basic Maharashtrian amti or kadhi, other than these I was not comfortable with cooking dals. This book has introduced me to a variety of dals so I love it.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Toor Dal: 1/2 cup
Turmeric powder: 1/2 tsp
Milk: 1/2 cup
Red chilies: 2
Cumin:1/2 tsp
Garlic cloves: 2 chopped
Fresh coriander leaves: 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Oil

Method:
1. Wash and soak toor dal for 15-20 mins. Drain and add 1 cup of water, salt, and a little oil. Pressure cook till it is cooked.
2. In a pan bring dal to a boil. In another pan heat oil. Add cumin seeds, red chilies and Garlic cloves. Saute till garlic turns brown. Add this seasoning to dal.
3. Add milk and chopped coriander and cook for a couple of mins.
4. After the dal comes to a boil, take off heat and serve hot.

79. Brown Rice with Celery and Mushrooms

Final Outcome: Fantastic!!!

        I borrowed this recipe from pamphlet of a grocery store. I searched unsuccessfully online to include it in my post. It was a very different and yummy recipe.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Brown Rice: 1 cup washed and set aside
Celery: 1 small bunch/ 1 cup chopped
Mushrooms: 1 pack quartered
Garlic cloves: 3-4 minced
Crushed pepper: 1 tsp
Italian seasoning: 1/2 tsp
Chili flakes: a pinch
Olive oil: 1 tsp
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Heat Oil in a deep pan. Add Onions and minced garlic. Cook for a couple of mins. Add chopped celery and cook till celery is soft.
2. Add chili flakes and quartered mushrooms. Cook for a couple of mins. 
3. Add washed brown rice and mix well. Add salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Add 3 cups of water and cook covered till rice is cooked.
4. Uncover and mix well. Cook for a few more mins. Serve hot.

78. Roasted Brinjal Thalipith

Final Outcome: Good.

        My Grandma made these thalipith a very long time ago.I had forgotten all about them until my friend mentioned these. I made them for breakfast. It was a good change from regular recipes.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Jowar flour: 2 cups
Brinjal: Roasted, peeled and mashed, 2
Onion : 1/2 finely chopped
Goda masala: 1 tsp
Red chili powder: 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
(I also added last nights leftover aamti(sambar))

Method:
1. Mix Jowar flour, roasted brinjal , masala, chili powder and salt with a little water. Kneed the dough.
2. Make small balls and pat them on a tava to form a thick roti like shape.
3. Keep on medium heat. Cook covered. Turn it over after a few mins.Add a little oil on tava if required.
4. Take off heat and serve with butter &/or chutney. Pat new thalipith only after tava cools.

77. Bengali Khichdi

Source: http://www.tarladalal.com/Bengali-Khichdi-(iron-Rich-Recipe)-5713r
Final Outcome: Nice!

        After a long time I am borrowing a recipe from an external source. I wanted to try a different version of khichdi. While looking for recipes I came across this healthy and tasty recipe. I have done some subtle changes. Below is the recipe for reference:

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Rice: 1 cup , washed and set aside
Masoor dal: 1 cup washed and set aside
Onion: 1 chopped
Potato: 1 large cubed
Beans: 7-8 chopped into 1 inch pieces
Matar/Peas: 1/2 cup
Garlic cloves: 3-4 crushed
Ginger: 1/2 inch piece grated
Green chili: 1
Ghee 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

Spices:
Cinnamon: 1 stick of 1 inch
Cloves: 2-3
Cardamom: 2-3
Bay leaf: 1
Turmeric powder: 1 tsp

Method:
1. Heat Ghee in a pressure pan. Add Onion and fry till soft. Add Garlic and ginger paste. Add all the spices and fry for a min.
2. Add all the vegetables: Beans, Potato, Peas and green chili. mix well and fry for a min.
3. Add Rice, masoor dal and salt. Mix well.
4.Add 6 cups of water and cook 2 whistles. Serve hot.