SOMEONE SWEET HAS TURNED ONE, ONE, ONE!!!

♥ IT'S BEEN A VERY EXCITING YEAR,

FULL OF JOY, LOVE AND FUN

FIRST TEETH, FIRST GIGGLE,

SOMEONE SWEET IS TURNING ONE

WE CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN A WHOLE YEAR,

OUR LI'L ANGEL'S BIRTHDAY IS ALREADY HERE!!!

My darling, my cutie-pie, my bundle of joy, the most precious gift from God has hit the big ONE......yaayyyyyyy!!!♥!!!

Time has passed so quickly, It seems only yesterday when she made a debut in this big big world, a cute little angel sent for us to love unconditionally. I can not forget the very first time I saw her, held her, kissed her, hugged her with a sense of joy and responsibility. I remember crying so hard at how happy I was, that moment will forever be the best day of my life. Being a mother means so much, It is the best gift I could have ever asked for.

If wishes were like heaven's stars, I would shower them on you!
҉

Her first year in this world is filled with so many wonderful developmental milestones, she grew so fast. It looks like that one day she passed a smile, the next day mastered sitting alone and then there you go, strode away with much ease. Her personality is taking shape, likes and dislikes towards things are more obvious now. She is becoming more comfortable with her surrounding and has even started to try out different words, for instance aawuu for alu (potato), mum mum for water,bub bub for sponge bob etc etc and the list goes on...... :)

A wish for my baby:

It’s your 1st birthday my dearest, adorable little baby and it is as much a celebration for me as it is for you, may be more,and I wish for you the best of birthdays,the best one ever.May each birthday be better than the last.Most of all, I hope you will always be as happy as you have made me.Every minute Allah bless you, every hour Allah protects you.....May all the best things in life come your way dear!!! (AMEEN).......Love you always!!!!

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,

Smiles awake when you rise.

(~ Thomas Dekker)

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE: TAHIRI

Our daily meal consists mostly of rice, roti, daal, any veg or non-veg dish (sometimes both). There are days when I am not in mood of cooking up lavish food or I do not have enough time, then I just turn towards this tried and tasted recipe. I do not remember when I became a die-hard fan of Tahiri. When I began cooking, the first thing I made was this comfortie (it is for me atleast...) and till date loyal to this humble rice dish. Back home, whenever I stepped in my mom's kitchen, I usually came out with this fulfilling offering.

It regularly finds way to our dining table, and yesterday was no different when it came for my rescue again.Tahiri is not only adored by me but is equally liked by my husband. Raita and coriander chutney accompanied it pretty well. You will not find this dish in any restaurant.

For the recipe read on....

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 CUPS RICE (WASHED AND SOAKED FOR 30 MINUTES)
1 TSP CUMIN SEEDS
1 MEDIUM ONION
1 TOMATO
2-3 GREEN CHILLI
1 TSP GINGER/GARLIC PASTE
1 TSP TURMERIC POWDER
1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER
1 TSP CORIANDER POWDER
SALT TO TASTE
2 CINNAMON STICKS
2 BAY LEAVES
5-6 BLACK PEPERCORNS
3-4 GREEN CARDAMOM
2 BLACK CARDAMOM
5-6 CLOVES
1/2 CUP OIL

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Heat oil in a pot, add cumin seeds and whole spices(cinnamin sticks, bay leaves, cardamoms, cloves, black peppercorns.

2. Fry for few minutes then add sliced onion and let it turn golden brown.

3.Add ginger/garlic paste, all spices, mix fry till oil separates.

4.Add tomato sliced, 1/2 cup water, cover and let it boil,

5.Now add potato and cook till almost done.

6.Place whole green chilli, rice and enough water so that rice gets immersed completely and cover and cook on medium high flame.

7.In 10 minutes or may be less water dries up, fluff the rice with fork and keep a heavy bottomed pan or tawa beneath it.

8.Lower the flame and cook for 15 minutes so that the rice is completely cooked.

9.Garnish with coriander leaves.

FIC:EXPRESS YOUR MOOD:

I happen to be a happy-go-lucky type of person, very optimistic. In the same happy mood I am sending this dish to an event started by sunshinemom, hosted this month by Nithya of a culinary odyssey

Tahiri is one such dish which I made first time when I stepped into my mom's kitchen, so I am sendind it to this event called first cooked food, brainchild of Shama.

I am also sending it to Chaitra's event Rice feast

EVERYDAY CHICKEN - A SIMPLE CHICKEN CURRY (VERSION ǀ)

My husband has a very strong sense of humor, one cannot get bored in his company. He always brings smile on the face of those around him with his jolly nature. One thing which I enjoy thoroughly is the names he gives to the dishes cooked by me, be it a simple dal or an exotic, gourmet dish. After much brainstorming for the title of this post, chicken curry kept coming in my mind but it sounded toooooooooo boooorrrrrrriiiiiiiing........ I decided to ask him for the name, something which should be different and bang there he was, instantly came up with this name and left me laughing for quite a while. According to my husband the name of this chicken curry should be "CHICKEN TORTURE", coz I make it quite often.

I think of all the dishes made out of chicken, chicken curry is the easiest and simplest to deal with. In Pakistan, It is prepared in almost every house and everyone has their own way of making it. Only I make chicken curry in many different ways and every time it turns out delicious and mouth-watering.

CHICKEN STORAGE TIPS

I found these tips about storing chicken on food network recently and thought it might be useful to you.

► The best place to keep chicken in the fridge is its back part, as this is the coldest part, away from other foods.

► Raw chicken should be used within two days of buying, otherwise freeze it for up to two months.

►Wrap individual servings in plastic wrap and stow away in your freezer. Thaw them in the bottom shelf of the fridge the night before you plan on using them.

NOTE:

Raw or Undercooked Chicken contains 'Salmonella', a bacteria which is responsible for various diseases so always handle chicken with care, separate cutting board should be used for this purpose which should be thoroughly cleaned and washed alongwith hands, knives and countertop after each use.

Here goes the recipe for my style chicken curry or chicken torture..well whatever you like to sayyyy..... may be Everyday chicken sounds OK.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb CHICKEN
1 ONION
1 TOMATO
2 BAY LEAVES
2 CINNAMON STICKS
5-6 BLACK PEPPERCORNS
3-4 GREEN CARDAMOM
2 BLACK CARDAMOM
5-6 CLOVES
2 TSP GINGER/GARLIC PASTE
SALT TO TASTE
1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER
1/2 TSP TURMERIC POWDER
2 TSP CORIANDER POWDER
2 TBSP TOMATO PUREE OR 2 CUBES
2 TBSP YOGURT
WHOLE GREEN CHILLI (FOR GARNISH)
1/4 CUP OIL

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Heat oil in a large pot, add all whole spices and fry for a minute, then add finely sliced onion and fry till golden brown.

2.Add ginger/garlic paste and tomato, fry for a few minute, add chicken pieces and stir till it turns its colour.

3.Stir for a minute then add salt, turmeric, red chilli powder and coriander powder and fry till oil separates (can add small quantity of water to avoid the spices from getting burned).

4.Now add yogurt and tomato puree, mix well and let it cook till done (add water if required).

5.Garnish and serve hit with rice or roti.

SOME CHOCAMBLING AND A CROWD PLEASING TREAT...CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES!!!

Do you know what is the world's most favourite food. No, let me tell you, the world's most favourite luxury food is chocolate..hmmmm.....Can you tell me how much chocolate have you consumed till date???........well, I can't tell.I am a big chocolate fan, rather a choco-holic is the best word to describe my love for chocolates☺

I sometimes wonder how fortunate we are to live in a world having chocolates easily available in various forms all around us. Be it a super market, a shopping mall, or a pharmacy, every store has allotted a section specially for chocolates and chocolate lovers like me leave no opportunity to go without having it...:):):):)

On my recent visit to the library, this book CHOCOLATE, written by Nick Malgieri readily caught my attention. Oh boy, so many mind blowing choco-pes at one place and I was all willing to have it. When my husband asked me to make a cake for an upcoming birthday of one of his office colleagues, I knew what I am gonna make. One look at the recipe and I wanted to give it a try. I have never made a cupcake before and this was the perfect occassion to make this crowd pleaser.

The recipe is adopted from the book I have mentioned above, but I have made quite a few changes.

INGREDIENTS

1 CUP ALL PURPOSE FLOUR (actual recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 TSP BAKING POWDER
1/4 TSP SALT
8 TBSP, 1/2 CUP OR 1 STICK UNSALTED BUTTER, SOFTENED (actual recipe calls for 6 Tbsp)
1 CUP SUGAR
3/4 CUP COCO POWDER (actual recipe calls for 2 squares unsweetened chocolate,melted and cooled)
3 SMALL EGGS (actual recipe asked for 2 large eggs)
1/2 CUP MILK
1 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT

CAN YOU RESIST THE TEMPTATION....

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Preheat oven at 350 Degrees and line one 12 cavity muffin tin with paper cups.

2.Sift together flour, coco powder, salt and baking powder.

3.In a bowl beat together sugar and butter with an electric beater at a medium speed for 5 minutes till soft and fluffy.

4.Add and beat eggs one by one and beat for 2 minutes till smooth and creamy.

5.Now add vanilla extract, then add flour mixture and milk alternatively and beat till well blended.

6.Immediately fill the lined paper cups 3/4 th and keep the tray on the medium rack of oven.

7.Bake for 20-25 minutes or until it has risen well enough and feel firm (check by inserting knife or tooth pick on the center of one cup cake, if it comes out clean then the cup cake is ready).

8.Serve as it is or frost as you like (I frosted with melted milk chocolate and dark chocolate shavings).

BROWN AND WHITE , CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES!!!

I am sending this pic to jugalbandi for their monthly event click.

CHICKEN AGAIN....THIS TIME IN A BURGER!!!

Have left over grilled chicken??? have no idea what to do with it...no worries, I have got a jazzy way to make use of every bitta chicken you have gotta deal with, in style...:D

....It will Spice up your taste buds, even a 10 year old can make it, its just that easy. I had some green chutney and mayo in my refrigerator, I made this flavourful burger using those and believe me, it was finished in no time.

It can be eaten any time of the day,as breakfast, in the lunch or for dinner or pack it for the picnic...




INGREDIENTS


LEFT OVER GRILLED CHICKEN
BURGER BUNS
TOMATO
ONION
GREEN CHUTNEY
MAYONNAISE
CHILLI GARLIC SAUCE


STEPS OF PREPARATION


1.Apply butter to the bun and toast it lightly in a pan on stove.

2.Cut the onion and tomato in rings.


3.Place grilled chicken pieces, onion, tomato, add mayo and green chutney.

4.Still reading this post...Burger is ready,You are good to go...lol



VARIATIONS :

• Can add anything, lettuce leaves, cucumber, chilli.



• Whole wheat burgers are used instead of regular burgers.



• If you do not like mayonnaise, then skip it.



• Can add cheese, seasonings like chipotle sauce etc.