Saturday, March 31, 2012

Favorite Appetizer in Indo-Chinese Cuisine? Chilli Paneer?

Pick one.  Quick.  Real quick.

Now tell me, what did you choose?  Was it Gobi Manchurian, Vegetable Manchurian, or Chilly Paneer?  Tell me it was Chilly Paneer.

Because I’m about to show you how to make a good one!

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Two Things: Comments and Searches

(Image from MS Word Clip Art)
At the end of each day, there are two things from my blog that make me happy:
     1)  Meaningful comments, and
     2)  Search referrals.
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Monday, March 26, 2012

Koko – Kokonut Muffins - what?

On the lookout for eggless muffin recipes, I have come across over 30 combinations and variations, amazing really.  Though I haven’t understood the difference between muffins and cupcakes (except that the latter is decorated) – I have realized there’s so much more variety to muffins than just vanilla, banana, carrot, and chocolate that I had mostly known earlier.
chocolate and coconut muffins
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Friday, March 23, 2012

Cooking Maggi Wrong Way Dangerous for Health?

Don't know how true this is.  Don't know if it applies to other kinds of noodles/pasta too.  Read it here so thought of sharing.  Can someone confirm?  The Foodie Physician, what do you think?

Update: please read comments below by Anjali Bapna Shukla, The Foodie Physician, and Vishakha.

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BEWARE MAGGI LOVERS: COOKING MAGGI IN WRONG WAY IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR HEALTH.
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Thursday, March 22, 2012

a cookie, a brownie, and my valentine

After celebrating our first anniversary in January, and our first Valentine's together this February (I was in India last year), we had a festive start of the year again.  My hubby is usually the one planning surprises, and the only surprises I’ve given him are cooking his favorites ever since I moved here after marriage.  This Valentine's, I cooked a simple dinner at home – just Moussaka & Cacik, because I was busy preparing the dessert and a surprise.
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Monday, March 19, 2012

Szechwan Fried Rice: Indo - Chinese Food

What I like most about Indo-Chinese dishes is that they use quite a lot of similar items, especially vegetables.  So if I’m making a Hot & Sour Soup, Manchurian, or any other dish, I chop extra/save some of those ingredients & use them to make fried rice.  You know, I love everything that’s 2-in-1  :-)


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Friday, March 16, 2012

Creative Title Ideas from a Techie Hubby?

You know how sometimes you need a second opinion on something, and you ask your husband for suggestions?

I have learned my lesson to never ask my techie-nerdy hubby for ideas again, at least in the creative field.  Like, ever.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Making Basic Powders for Indian Cuisine at Home

After I came to US, I thought some items in the grocery stores here were incomprehensible, such as some powdered spices, pastes, chopped vegetables, or say, peeled garlic.  I wondered why people bought them?  Then I guessed it was probably because the fast-paced life, working couples, and independent families do not have time for menial jobs.

making basic powders for Indian cuisine at home instead of purchasing from the store
making basic powders for Indian cuisine at home instead of purchasing from the store
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Monday, March 5, 2012

Gobi (Cauliflower) Manchurian – Indo-Chinese Food

You go to a restaurant and plan to order an Indo-Chinese appetizer.  Which one would it be?
Chances are 8/10 vegetarians will choose either a dry/gravy Gobi, Paneer, or Vegetable Manchurian.  Sure, there’s Paneer 65, Gobi 65, Chili Paneer, and many others; Indo-Chinese cuisine does have a good long list of appetizers, but Gobi Manchurian happens to be a very popular choice.  Agree?

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Thursday, March 1, 2012

My Non-Smartphone Calendar

“Don't say you don't have enough time.  You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” 
~  H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Ending with that quote I had given a ‘time management’ presentation to my class back in university.  I have always been the organized kind of person, having my daily to-do lists, planning my day and the week; it’s a different question whether I finally get everything done or not.  But I liked having a schedule, however tentative it may be.  And if I didn’t find a certain kind of organizer, diary, or calendar of my choice – I made it.  I actually do that with anything – when I don’t find what I want, I make it if I can.  My calendar is one of them.

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