Watermelon Basil Salad with Lemon Dressing

As I sat down to make this post….from a distance I can hear Koel chirping cooh…cooh….milkman has just come on his two wheeler loaded with at least 25 liters of fresh milk…..opposite a huge 5 story building is getting constructed and the workers have just come….talking loudly discussing about the work, movies, etc….lying down on a pile of sand enjoying the early morning breeze….paper boy has just come to drop in today’s newspaper….I just  peeked down to see from the balcony of first floor….I could see a lady neatly drawing ranjoli on the street in front of her house….

I am at mom’s place right now vacationing and soaking myself in the new place as my mom has recently shifted to a new town….Morning starts more early in villages and towns…people get up very early and go to bed early…..Still people sleep on the wire knitted beds placing them on the corner of the roads for natural air….some cover from head to toe with bed sheet….some use mosquito nets….I always wonder how it would be to sleep like that….I remember when I was kid and whenever I use to go to my Granny’s place during summers….we kids use to go and take a short nap at the terrace every night….counting stars and naming them….seeing every red blinking light in the sky and saying UFO or satellite….munching on ground nuts or watermelon pieces or relishing on mangoes….satisfying those mid night cravings….those were the best fun days of my life….

But now it is completely a different story….when I got up to terrace all I can see is buildings with radio or mobile towers….hoardings with brands…etc….that’s what development is all about I think…..I wonder what childhood memories my Lil’M would take with her as she grow up….Hope she gets to see cleared star knitted sky, fresh air and green environment…..

Do you remember eating watermelon as it is….by cutting it into half-moon and biting it feeling the juices…and getting those droplets running all around your mouth……that was one of the gratifying feeling which I loved….but growing with the time…eating simple has also changed….now I make juice of it to give it to Lil’M as she thinks eating watermelon like that may dirty her hands and dress….and that too it is bad manners to eat like that…. As eating a fruit is must during summers to me…I replaced evening snacks with fruit bowl or juice…in the process I am making some simple salads to soothe the senses….Today’s salad is very simple with minimal ingredients and simple dressing. It’s Watermelon-Basil Salad with lemon, salt and pepper dressing.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups Watermelon cubes
• 2-3 tbsp. fresh Basil leaves

FOR DRESSING:

• 2 tbsp. Lemon juice
• Salt
• Pepper

PREPARATION:

• In a bowl whisk lemon juice with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Divide the watermelon pieces in the serving bowl and add fresh basil leaves.
• Pour in the dressing and gently toss. Serve chilled.
• Add love to make the salad more 'Yummy'.

VARIATIONS:

• You can replace basil with mint leaves.
• You can add feta cheese if it is available.
• You can even add a tbsp. of olive oil to the dressing.
• You can even add fresh crumbled cottage cheese or paneer to the salad.

Butter Chicken| Murg Makhani|Chicken Makhani

Sometimes being food blogger may land you in a tricky situation …wondering how…? Today my dear cousin came rushing to me and asked me what all I can cook with chicken…? Wondered me, asked him why? Then he said he has told his friends that his sis is a food blogger and she experiments a lot with food, creates new recipes, clicks food pics, blah, blah, blah…..and now his friends want to come home for dinner to test my culinary skills.

Upon asking the count….my cousin with his deep dimpled cheeks said just nine members…..the only thing which came from my mouth was….’kya….?’ Then he said only nine of my friends are coming and I want you to make something with chicken as chicken is their favorite…..he also added…prepare something which they only had in restaurants and never at home….

Now this left me thinking what I can dish out, that proves my cousin’s expectations. After scratching my head for some time and taking a quick glance at the kitchen, I decided on Dates-Nutella Shake as welcome drink, Bagara Khana , Kaddu Dal, Pan Fried Tandoori Aloo and Cucumber Raita in main course and finally fresh fruit custard as dessert.

When the menu was finally set, I started to work within no time as the time was less. When the work at kitchen was almost done….I started to set the table…there was beep on my mobile and it was my cousin enquiring was everything done…I replied him with a smiley and went to get ready…..I heard door bell and went to open the door, I saw my cousin with his infectious dimple cheeked smile standing with his ‘only’ nine friends…who all said Hi in chorus…..

Before entering the house they started saying….heard a lot about you ‘Didi’ but today we got a chance to meet you in person….With a smile, I served them chilled shake and when they got busy chit chatting I started platting the food. I can hear, someone from the group saying….that aroma coming from the kitchen is making me hungry……when I announced food is served….they all came to the dining area and started filling up there plates….there was complete silence for some time and I can clearly hear my heart beat…I think after 2 or 3 morsels, they started saying…wah didi this is the best food we ever had….Butter chicken is simple amazing….it is more tastier than the restaurant one…these words calmed my pounding heart….

One of them enquired whether the butter chicken recipe is there on my blog….as he wanted to show his mom so that she can dish up it at home for him whenever he wants….. I said very soon it will be….With a relaxed mind and heart full of confidence….I am happy soul today…not only because I passed out…but also because my wining made my cousin feel proud of me….So here is the recipe of butter chicken which proved me as food blogger…..

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ kg. Boneless Chicken pieces
• 2 big ripe Tomatoes, chopped
• 1 Onion, sliced
• 1 tbsp. Red chilli powder
• ¼ tbsp. Turmeric powder
• ½ tbsp. Coriander powder
• ¼ tbsp. Cumin powder
• ½ tbsp. Garam Masala
• ¾ tbsp. Ginger-Garlic Paste
• 1 tbsp. Cashew nut Paste
• 1 Bay leaf
• 2 tbsp. thick Curd
• 2 tbsp. Low fat Butter
• ½ tbsp. Kasoori Methi/Dry Fenugreek leaves
• ½ cup fresh Cream
• pinch Sugar
• Salt
• Oil
• 1 tbsp. minced Coriander leaves

PREPARATION:

• Whisk curd with ½ tbsp. red chili powder, pinch of turmeric powder, pinch garam masala, ¼ tbsp. ginger-garlic paste and salt. Now add chicken pieces and mix well. Leave this to marinade for 1-2 hours in fridge covering with cling or wrap.
• Wash and soak kasoori methi in luke warm water.
• In a heavy bottom cooking vessel add oil and when it heats up add sliced onions. Fry for 1-2 minutes and add sugar. Fry till translucent.
• Now add chopped tomatoes. Fry till soft. Add ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala and salt.
• Fry for 1-2 minutes and leave the mixture to cool. Once cooled grind to smooth paste and set aside.
• Add oil to heavy bottom cooking vessel and fry out marinated chicken pieces. Fry on high for 1-2 minutes by stirring. Lower the flame and fry till the pieces are soft and completely cooked.
• Add butter to heavy bottom cooking vessel and to this add bay leaf. Let the butter soak the aroma of bay leaf. Discard the leaf and add above ground paste along with cashew nut paste. Fry for 1-2 minutes by stirring nicely.
• Now add fried chicken pieces. Stir till each chicken piece is completely coated with spice paste.
• Cook on low for 2 minutes. Add kasoori methi and mix well. Now add ¾ cup of water and cook for 5-6 minutes or until butter started to leave from the sides. Now add fresh cream and give the curry a gentle mix. Turn off the flame and add minced coriander leaves.
• Serve hot with roti/naan/flavoured rice.
• Add love to make your dish more 'Yummy'.

NOTES:

CASHEW NUT PASTE:

Soak 15 cashews in lukewarm water for 15-30 minutes. Discard the water and grind to smooth paste. If required add milk drop by drop to get smooth texture.

VARIATIONS:

• Adding fresh cream is purely optional.
• You can skip cashew nut paste too.

The recipe of Bagara Khana is coming soon. The white netted cloth with lace you see in the picture above was stitched by my sweet mom....just for me as I click food pics and she thought food will look good on white.....how sweet and thoughtful of her.....Love you mamma.....

Strawberry Trifle

Having extremely crazy days at my end…..big changes, instant decisions, moves, etc. are taking me on a roller coaster ride….sometimes when you are not able to concentrate or not able to take any decision it is better to trust your life partner and go as he/she says…..trust me things will be fine in the end….This time, as more things are coming at the same time…I could not concentrate on one….so I trusted and left most of the things on my life partner, praying hard and strongly believing whatever happens, happens for good…..more on this later…..

Yesterday, I had been to bank to get my account online…you won’t believe I ended up spending nearly 5 hours in bank…..I really wonder how things work in banks when they are fully computerized ..sometimes when I get caught up in a situation like this…I wonder with the fastest machines in the world…it is taking hell of time….imagine if there are no machines to work for….then it would be like small picnic to go to bank……

My Lil’M got exhausted in the end and said….mamma… our token number will never come….this bank is bad and lets go home….back home I chopped strawberries, sprinkled sugar and left in refrigerator….thinking I will make milkshake upon coming back…..As I had no idea that I will end up in bank for so long….I was wondering…what to prepare for snack potluck party at my friends place in the evening….? But I ended up in bank for so long that when I came back I was totally drained of energy…..sunny afternoon and midafternoon hot wind blowing through my face made me feel so sick…..that I felt like coming back home and sleep endlessly….But I have to make a dessert as promised earlier to my friend…..

Upon coming back, when I checked fridge to take out strawberries and gulp some before throwing them into blender to make shake…I saw there was no power….I am completely irritated now….mind stuck and nothing was going as planned….but keeping the bad spirits away…I thought of making ‘Trifle’…praying hard for power to resume…..

Just in time, the power was back and I left my custard to come down to room temperature....then I transferred it to fridge and had a power nap…..By evening, weather was bit pleasant or may be because I was going to my friends place to meet bunch of friends whom I am meeting after so long….I am totally refreshed and charged….packed my custard in one box and strawberries in other along with other necessary items….and left on my way to friends place….

I was correct on time and rest of them all came in almost at the same time and everyone bought savory snacks and it was only me who had bought something sweet to indulge….after having piping hot pakoda’s, bajji’s, chats etc….it was time to devour on the dessert bought by me…..Everyone gulped the first serving within no time….so was the second and third…..at the end…..I can say it was just another beautiful day of my life…..lots of praises on my simple making and gorgeous looking ‘Trifle’…..

Here is the recipe for you….sometimes simple things give more pleasure in life and this dessert is quite an example to it….I love layered desserts and sometimes, I even layer a simple fruit custard this way…..Now no waiting for the recipe…just scroll down to check it out…..

INGREDIENTS:

• 15 Strawberries, hulled and halved
• 2 tbsp. Sugar
• 2 cups Vanilla/Strawberry Custard, prepare as per instructions
• 2 slices of Fruit cake (I used Britannia Fruit Cake)
• 1 tbsp. Strawberry Jam

PREPARATION:

• In a bowl, add strawberries and sprinkle sugar. Cover with cling and leave it in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• In the meantime prepare thick custard and leave to cool. Once the custard has come down to room temperature, leave it in refrigerator to chill.
• Cut the fruit cake pieces into four and sandwich them with jam. Set aside.

LAYERING/ASSEMBLING:

• Take desired serving bowls/glasses, add sandwiched fruit cake pieces and add 2-3 tbsp. of juices released from strawberry and sugar mixture (check first point).
• Now add sugar soaked strawberries and chilled thick custard. Repeat the layers if using a big bowl or glass.
• Decorate with halved strawberries and serve immediately.
• Add love to make this trifle 'Yummy'.

NOTES:

• Chilled and thick custard is recommended to make this trifle.
• You can use your choice of fruits in making this trifle.
• You can even top the trifle with whipped cream.