Pineapple rasam

   With few pineapple slices, left over, I settled at this recipe , found at Chef Damodharan's cookbook.  The recipe was very simple, though I twisted the rasam masala with few curry leaves and green chillies addition.  The result was delicate, sweet and sour peppery rasam.  Kids would love it because of an different, 'sweet' quotient into them.  And, elders would welcome an new change.

So, do try and let us know.  Moving on to the recipe.

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time : 10 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients required

For the rasam masala

• 21/2 tsp whole cumin seeds/ jeera
• 1 tsp whole peppercorn
• 6-8 tiny garlic pods
• 3/4 tsp finely chopped green chillies
• 8-10 whole curry leaves

Others

• 1 tbspn of oil
• 3/4 tsp of mustard seeds
• Pinch of hing/asafoetida
• Pinch of haldi/turmeric powder
• 1/2 cup of finely chopped pineapple 
• 1/4 cup of finley chopped tomatos
•  1/4 cup of tuvar dal
• Salt, to taste

Method

Coarsely grind all, under rasam masala, without adding water, keep aside.  Soak tuvar dal for atleast twenty minutes and pressure cook them for two whistles with half cup of water.  Blend them , and keep aside.   

Heat oil.  Add mustard seeds and wait till they splutter.

Now, add in hing and turmeric.  Finally add corase paste of rasam masala.  Saute them for an minute.  

Add in pineapple and tomato pieces.  Saute for five to ten minutes, till they turn soft.  

Finally add in mashed tuvar dal, and add salt to taste.  

Let the rasam froth towards the edges.  Switch off the flame and serve hot.  

Enjoy with hot rice  :)

Happy cooking :)

Linking this to Srivalli's CCC Challenge

Detox salad

Hi guys........  How are you all :)  And how was your new year celebrations?  We, celebrated ours @ Paradise :P  Yeah, that is an advantage of being an Hyderabadi, you know??  So, after an hectic schedule and exotic party foods, you must now feel to cut down some fat, opt for an brisk walk or prefer your green tea??  If so, then,  this salad is perfect for you :)  :)  Detox is nothing but, De + Tox, that is removing (De) the toxins/poisons from your body.  This is done by intaking fruits/vegetable known to nourish such properties.  

Detox salad, is an colourful platter of  such healthy vegetables and fruit in an glossy and sparkling dressing :)  I dressed them with olive oil, brown sugar, lime juice and crushed garlic.  Garlic, again is an pure anti-oxidant and I am used to eating them raw earlier days in order to get releived from monthly menstrual pain.  (Beleive me guys, garlic always does an ABRACADABRA magic to  periods pain)  If you guys are not used to raw garlic, you can avoid them and go with other dressings :)  I have also included spinach here, again it is not at all problem to include canned or raw baby spinach leaves.  I have used paalak, one can use mustard/Amaranthus too :)

Cooking time: 30 seconds

Cooling time/drying time: 15 minutes

Assembly: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients required

For salad

• 1/2 cup of  beetroot, cut into thin strips
• 1/2 cup of carrot, cut into thin strips 
• 1/2 cup of pineapple, cut into thin strips
• 10 spinach leaves

For dressing

• 2 tbspn of olive oil
• 1 tsp of brown sugar
• 2 garlic pods, crushed
• 1 tsp lime juice

Method

Blanch spinach leaves in hot water, for about thirty seconds.  Remove and dry them for fifteen minutes.  Tear them into long strips.  In an bowl, mix all dressing and toss beet, carrot, spinach, and pineapple sticks into them.  Enjoy....

       Happy cooking and happy detoxing :P  :P  :P  :)  :)  :)

Pineapple upside-down cake

    This is one of the most delicious cake I had ever baked.  This special cake was made for my birthday. And its taste was so amazing that it justified the occasion.

As the name goes, pineapple upside-down cake is baked with pineapples , caramel syrup and Butter cake batter  on the bottom of cake dish, later titled upside down and served.  Though these are recommended with an dollop of cream, trust me just a hot slice is enough  :D