Morning Coffee – CLICK July 2008

How much I missed my favorite event ? Very much indeed. Due to change of job and home connection break down it seemed to be far away from my blogging friends. At work I managed my lunch time to blog hop but the silly fire wall never showed any pictures in the blogs. Also my blog was not accessible but rest of others were atleast accessible. Don’t know why ..anybody friends please educate me.

Somehow when I decided on what to click for this month’s edition CLICK Coffee and Tea this is one of long cherished wish. When I first read about it in delicious days I was bit reluctant to try but now is the time.

And then my CLICKing fairy turned away Yes, the gelatin I had at home for making the coffee jello turned waste. Then I started hunting the local super markets. I don’t what happened but every single shop said “out of stock”. After some 2 days of hunting I finally dropped my idea and started thinking of a new theme. Appa was almost cursing me to waste 1 large cup of strong brewed coffee Somehow the fairy got pity on me and when my brother went for jogging on Sunday morning I wanted him to check in the near by super market near the park. He finally gave me a good news and I was almost over joyed. I made the jello and has kept it in the refrigerator to set. Mean while typing this post. I don’t know how good it will turn as the sky is gloomy and I don’t expect any good light. This time planning to do some indoor lighting and experimenting. Will write about it after the jelly sets.

Oh no! The jelly was set now but when I decorated it with some fresh cream and before I settled down with a good angle it all started melting and the dark brown liquid made up an ugly mess on the white plate.
I immediately dropped the idea of clicking it and started gulping the jello. I made a mistake with the sweetness as the strong bitter taste of the coffee was too much for my sweet tooth and hence sprinkled some sugar over it. What to say ? Its simply fabulous. I would make it again for sure. Would post that ugly photo sometime later

Now what should I CLICK ? Today morning I took the snap of the steaming hot filter coffee my dear appa makes for me in the morning., He had brought some coffee beans from the shop where he buys coffee powder for the “effect” and finally I CLICKed!

Here it is! Hope I have done some justice for the wonderful coffee appa makes !

Nethili Meen (Anchovies) Fry

When we were in cuddalore Nethili fish (Anchovies) is very common but after shifting to other places its became rare. Recently on Amma’s visit to the seashore fish market she brought home and abundance of fish in which this nethili is also present. Amma makes a very simple yet wonderful pan fry out of these tiny fish.

Having them hot and crisp with some sambhar rice is simply divine. The corn flour added to the extra crispiness to these little fish.

Ingredients:

Nethili fish – Cleaned and washed thoroughy 20 nos.

Salt – 1/4 tea spoon

Sambar podi / Chilli powder – 1-2 tea spoon

Peanut oil – 1 T + for pan fry

Turmeric powder – 1/4 tea spoon

Corn flour – 1 T spoon

 

How to make it ?

Mix the corn flour, 1 T peanut oil, salt, turmeric and chilli powder into a smooth paste. Mariante the fish in this paste for 1 hour. Heat atawa and spray few drops of peanu oil. Arrange the marianted fish on the tawa and drizzle some pea nut oil around the fish. Cook on low flame till it becomes crisp and golden brown. Turn the fish once in between for even cooking. Drain them on paper towels and serve hot with  rice and rasam or sambar.

Mor Kuzhambu and Vadai

It a while since I blogged. Few of my favorite events CLICK and JFI slipped by.  And for two events I asked my blogger friends to take details about the entries from the blog itself ! So sweet that they accespted to do it!

A change of job kept me busy and away from the blogging world. I have planned to blog atleast once in a week hereafter.

And coming to the story since many years I never knew mor kuzhambu can be cooked with veggies. Amma and Grandma makes it with urad dal vadas and when I first tasted the mor kuzhambu with ash gourd in it in the my college hostel, it was was not acceptable at all for my tastebuds. Soon I got used to it. But even till today we make mor kuzhambu with vadas.

The soft spongy urad dal vadas soaked in tangy spicy mor kuzhambu once tasted will never allow any kind of dahi vada’s inside And here comes the recipe!

Ingredients :

Mor Kuzhambu:

Thick soar curds – 2 Cups
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tea spoon
Red chillies – 2
Curry leaves for granishing
Salt to taste
Peanut oil – 1 tea spoon

To be soaked for 1 hour and ground to a paste:
Raw rice – 2 T spoon
Toor dal – 2 T spoon
Ginger – 1 inch
Fresh coconut grated – 2 T spoon
Green chillies – 2 – 4 (according to taste)

How to make it?
In a large vessel wisk the curds until its creamy and smooth. Add 3 cups of water and mix well till there is not lumps. Add the turmeric, salt and ground paste and mix well. Take this in a thick bottomed pot and bring it to a boil and simmer. After 5-7 minutes add the urad dal vadas (recipe follows) and boil it for 5 more minutes and switch off the stove. In another thick bottomed small vessel heat the peanut oil and once hot add the mustard seeds, curry leaves, red chillies and hing and when the mustard seeds starts spluttering pour the entire mix over the kuzhambu. Let it rest for the vadas to get soaked it.

Urad dal Vadas:
Ingredients:
Urad dal – 1 cup
Fenugreek seeds – 1/4 tea spoon
Whole black peppers – 1 T spoon
Salt – 1/2 tea spoon
Peanut oil for deep frying

How to make it?

Soak urad dal and fenugreek seeds in water for an hour. Grind it in a stone grinder with the salt (blenders make is less fluffy) until it turns to a fluffy creamy consistency by adding very little water. You can add utmost 4-5 T spoon of water. If you find the dal is still not smooth add 1 teaspoon of water every time until u get the fluffy consistency. To check it take water in a bowl and drop one spoon of dough into it. The dumpling will neither sink nor mix with water instead floats like butter. This is the right consistency. Mix the whole black peppers to the dough.

Heat peanut oil in a wide skillet. Once hot drop a spoon ful of dough. It should come to the surface and sizzle to cook. This is the righ heat for the oil. start adding spoon fulls (you can as well make patties out of the dough and fry in the oil. If you find it difficult drop in spoon fulls) of the dough (do not crowd) and fry them until golden. Drain in a kithen towel and add it to the boling kuzhambu.

Serve hot with steaming rice and some spicy curry.