Simple Dal tomato/ Parippu Thakkali curry

I still remember when my ambition to become a Doctor used to bring smiles on my parents face. And I also remember the times when my aim was to bring a smile in parents face by stating that my ambition was to become a doctor. But the fact that it has not worked out sometimes bring a sigh and I have learned that the worse phrase in life is, “I could have been”.

Recently I asked my 3 year old about what he wants to be when he grows up. He says that he wants to grow a moustache and drive around in a car strapping us both, me and my hubby to baby seats. Well, that definitely brought a smile. Simple ambitions, simple life….

Speaking of simple things here is a simple Dal /parippu curry recipe

Ingredients:

 1) Tomato – 3 large, cut into 6 – 8 pieces

      Onion / savola – 1 med-small, sliced

      Green chilies – 3, slit

      Curry leaves – 1 sprig

      Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp

      Coriander powder – 1 tsp

      Chilly powder – 1.5 tsp

      Salt – To taste

2)  Grated coconut – 1/2 cup

3)   Masoor Dal – ½ cup

4)  Coconut oil – 2 – 3 tsp

Instructions:

•    Combine the ingredients listed under 1 and cook for at least 10 to 15 minutes till it is almost half cooked.
•        Pressure cook Dal for one whistle.Make sure it does not overly mushy. I do it on stove top since masoor dal cooks pretty quick.
•      Add grated coconut to the tomato mixture and cook till done but the tomatoes still retain the shape.
•       Add cooked dal and combine. Add coconut oil and a sprig of curry leaves. Close the lid so that the curry absorbs the flavor of coconut oil.

Leftover Turkey Puttu

Ooops.I dont have the image.. But who in the world thought I will writing a food blog and that too a food blog..And since I have started it , let it begin with the aftermath of turkey baking.. A very tasty 11 lb turkey crying its soul out after being attacked by certain glutinous three... My turkey, you are going to enter the historic fusion food..Turkey puttu.. Did you ever wonder when you were plumped up in the farm that you will end up as puttu.The highest you could aim for was being a pot pie. Yes, I have awarded you a turkey nirvana..More than you could ever aspire for.

Ingredients:

250 grams cooked turkey

1 table spoon ginger garlic paste

1 medium size onion

1 teaspoon meat masala

1/2 teaspoon homemade garam masala

 1/2 teaspoon tomato ketchup

Instructions:

1) Soak puttu podi with water and salt as required and keep it aside..

2) Mince the onions.  Heat oil in a pan and when it is hot add the minced onion and saute till changes it color slightly.

3) Add ginger garlic paste and stir till the raw smell goes. Now add meat masala and garam masala and saute till the mixture looks cooked..okay now the point is do not let the  mixture turn mushy, but onions need to be soft not  crunchy.

4) Add tomato ketchup and give good stir and add the turkey. Keep stirring till it reaches a semi dry state.Hmm..if you are tired by now ask your partner to do the rest who by most probability is switching channels aimlessly.

5) Now fill the puttu mold with turkey mixture and then puttu flour and do the rest as you would do with usual puttu..

Always,
Teena

 Well this is not a genuine attempt to fuel passion of cooking to words.To tell the truth I am not even very passionate about cooking. Yes, I do get my high when trying out new recipes but that is the spark of surprise that excites and yes accolades about the end product does bring a smile.So what fueled this new venture, the freezing Minnesotan winter and the frantic search on web to find the recipes which I had recreated in the kitchen but somehow forgot to bookmark.And yes I loved writing ages back,who knows maybe the blog will rekindle it.