Kaju Katli

A traditional, most common and a very expensive one among the diwali sweets..Kaju Katli. There is an interesting story behind this. This is my first try of this royal sweet...Thanks to my little one. This is one of her favourite among Indian sweets. This year the first sweet box that we received was kaju katli. That's when she cutely asked me if i could make this at home for her. I accepted the challenge and completed it successfully. I was overwhelmed with joy to see her relish every bite that she took. I surfed various recipes on the net and this one is a combination of many recipes.

Dry Fruit Choco Balls

Diwali, the festival of lights...The festival of crackers, sweets, savouries, meeting and greeting is finally here. I normally make tried and tested recipes. But this time I thought I will give it a twist and prepare something different. My friend once bought this to our yoga class and said its sugar free, ghee free and all natural. I tasted one and kept on popping one after the other non stop into my mouth. These are delicious and easy to make...I am sure all the kiddies will love it. Do try this fr diwali and surprise your family.

Urad Rava Idli

Urad Rava Idlis... Whenever I tried to make these it used to be a major flop. It was then my very good friend gave me this recipe. She is an expert cook and whatever she makes is perfect and delicious. These are light, spongy and low in calories yet filling. They can be had on days of fasts too. Thanks a lot for this perfect one!!

Moong Dal Usli

Navratri is coming to an end...As we celebrate Navami and Dashami here's Moong Dal Usli known as mooga dali usli in Konkani,that can be offered as prasad. Healthy, nutritious,packed with proteins. Whenever i used to make this before, it used to be a major flop. The moong Dal would either get over cooked and mushy or it would remain half cooked. It was then that my co sister after a lot of research came up with this one. Perfect to the core. Today on the auspicious occassion of Navami I successfully made the perfect usli. All thanks to my co sister :) This one is also specially dedicated to my little nephew who is taking his first step in to the world of books, writing and learning. God Bless You Gondoosh, Wishing you Success and A Bright life Ahead!!

Dahi Bhindi

Bhindi/ Lady's Finger is a veggie that is not preferred in my home. But I do incorporate it our diet in some form or the other. I keep trying out various dishes so as to give it a new look every time i serve it. I came across this delicious and easy to make recipe in my food group. It was made by one of my dear friend. What a recipe it was and now this is made at least once a week in my home on popular demand. I have made a few changes to the original recipe. Hope you all like it. Do send me your valuable feedback.

Bhindi/ Lady's finger is rich in dietary fibre, folate, vit k, potassium etc. It helps in weight loss, reduces bad cholesterol, controls blood sugar levels, improves eyesight, good for ladies trying to conceive and also during pregnancy.

Kele Ambat

Sutha Punav is celebrated by Konkani Brahmins on a full moon day in the holy month of shravan. On this day the renewal of the holy thread or jhannuve is done. Jhannuve is a sacred thread worn by the men after their Bramhopadesham/munji /thread ceremony.This is celebrated by tamil brahmins as well and is known as Avani Avittom. 

A special set meal is cooked in every Konkani household on this day. The day starts with Hitu..special idlis seasoned with ginger and jeera steamed in baskets made from jackfruit leaves. Lunch comprises of rice, thoi (dal), ghasi/valval (coconut based veg gravies), ukkeri
(dry subzis), pappad, kele ambat, alle and payasam and is served on banana leaf.

My favourite among the above is ghasi and kele ambat. So here I proudly present an authentic Konkani delicacy Kela Ambat made in all GSB households in Kochi/Ernakulam on this auspicious day. This is made with ripe yellow kerala banana/etha pazham, jaggery and coconut. Do try this delicious, lip smacking dessert. I love the one that my Grandmother makes yummmm!! Due to unavailability, I have used white jaggery here hence it has got a light yellow colour.The original recipe calls for dark brown jaggery and the ambat is dark brown in colour.

Puli Inji

ONAM, the grand festival of Kerala, the festival of flowers, pookalam and Onasadhya. Onasadhya is a variety of pure vegetarian keralite dishes cooked and served on a banana leaf. The sadhya comprises of 21 items all unique and having its own prominence. Puli Inji, is my favourite. Easy to make, tangy, spicy and yummillicious. It is a combination of ginger, green chillies, tamarind and jaggery. Here's this simple recipe for all of you. I Have made this one by combining various other recipes received from friends and the internet.  "Wishing All A Very Happy And Prosperous Onam". Enjoy your Sadhya!!

Flat Beans(Paapdi),Carrot Garlic Rice

August 15th, the day India got independence and the day all of us were granted freedom. Proud of my nation...Proud to be an Indian. Today as India celebrates its 69th independence day, a small dedication from our side to show our love and gratitude towards our motherland. Flat beans carrot garlic rice is a simple and easy to make recipe. We have incorporated the three colours( saffron, white and green) of our national flag in this dish. Vande Mataram!!

Baingan Bharta

Baingan (brinjal) Bharta is one dish that would never turn out perfect whenever I tried it until one day I made it as per my Co Sister's instructions. It turned out perfect and had that authentic taste. My Co sister, a very bubbly girl, always full of life, very enthusiastic. She loves to experiment with food. She has supported me right from the very outset of my blog, encouraged and motivated me always. She is a  blessing indeed. This one for her. I have brought in a small change in the original recipe by adding capsicum along with the brinjal.

Chilli Tofu

Kitchen Tales celebrates Friendship. Every moment spent with one's friend is special, is like a celebration and is always special. We meet,greet and interact with many people on a daily basis. But not all can be called as friends. "A friend is someone who knows you and loves you just the same!!" I am blessed with such a person in my life. My bestie..We have stood strong by each through our happy and sad days. She has been more than a friend ... just like a sister to me . On this special day I dedicate this post to her. A delicious, nutritious and easy to make recipe that I learnt from her. Love you lots and this one for our togetherness.

Tofu is made from soyabean curd. It is naturally gluten free and low in calories. It contains no cholesterol and is packed with proteins, iron and calcium. If tofu is not readily available or if you do not prefer it, you may replace it with store bought or homemade paneer cubes.

Juices Galore

Ramadan Kareem!! Yes the Holy Month Of Ramadan is here. A month of fasting and charity. This year is tough and real testing times especially for the people in the Middle East, who will be fasting for almost 15 - 16 hours. Hats off to their dedication and commitment. Here are some healthy and delish juice ideas for Iftari.I have made these sugar free but those with a sweet tooth can add sugar depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Refresh yourself after a day long of fast!!

Eggless Prune, Coffee And Walnut Cake

Its The Big 1....Cooking is my passion and I had always dreamt of starting a food blog...but never expected that it would turn into reality....Yes!! Exactly this day last year my dream came true.I had to choose a special day to launch my dream. May 24th was the D Day...It happens to be a special person's big day too, without whose unconditional support this dream would have remained a dream forever.

Happy Birthday Kitchen Tales!! We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to  each one of you who visit our blog, try out our recipes and give your valuable feedback. Your support and encouragement means a lot to us. We need it always.

Eggless Butterless Prune,Coffee and Walnut cake...A very healthy and nutritious cake. The original recipe calls for Dates but just to cut down on calories I have replaced dates with prunes and made it sugarless too.Recipe is adapted from Here

Samo/ Varai / Barnyard Millet Idli

Samo/ varai  is a kind of millet. There are varieties of dishes prepared with samo and its highly nutritious. idlis, dosas and upma are the most popular samo dishes. Samo idlis are normally made during fasting/vrat days. But I try and include them in our regular diet too. There are different versions of samo idli, fermented version and instant version. The one below is an instant version. I have surfed through many recipes on the net, combined them and made this version of mine. Hope you will all try and like it.

Millets are easy to digest. Prevents constipation. Helps reduce migraines. It has a relatively low glycaemic index and hence helps in keeping lower blood sugar.

Gobi Manchurian...My Mom's Speciality

Its The Glorious 60. Happy Birthday Amma :) The person who brought me into this world...Who introduced me to knives, spoons ladles and kadhais. Whatever I am today is because of her hard work and training. Gobi Manchurian is one of My Amma's Specialities. I feel she makes the World's Most Tasty Gobi Manchurian. So here's a dedication from my side on her Milestone Birthday. Gobi Manchurian..Mommy's Style. In the below you see a hand written book of recipes by her. She gave me this book when i was starting my new life after maarriage. My cherished possession...That's like my guide and support. 

Godhumai Rava Payasam

Godhumai or Wheat Rava Payasam is made with jaggery and coconut milk. It can be made as prasad for all auspicious occassion. I have kept the ghee and coconut milk levels to the minimum. If you do not prefer coconut milk it can be replaced with normal mik. Please refer the notes section for details.

Tofu Burji /Scrambled Tofu

Tofu, made from soybean curds, is naturally gluten-free and low calorie, contains no cholesterol and is an excellent source of protein, iron, and calcium. It is available in different varieties super firm,soft and silken. It helps in reducing LDL cholesterol, good for diabetic patients, helps in weight loss and regular consumption reduces risk of osteoporosis.

Tofu Burji is nothing but scrambled tofu. It is a complete meal in itself. You can also use this as a filling for sandwiches and rolls. An excellent idea for kids tiffin boxes.

Eggless Butterless Red Velvet Cupcakes

Love is.... spending precious moments together. Love is...family, friends and nature. Should celebration of love be confined to one day? Love is something that should be celebrated and cherished every moment of one's life. Here's an Red Velvet CupCake that you can make anytime to bring a smile on your loved one's face. The best thing about these is that they are naturally coloured,are eggless and butterless. So they can be had guilt free. Recipe adapted from Here

Pomegranate Sheera/ Kesari

Sheera or Rava Kesari is a classic Indian sweet.Pomegranates are called Super Foods. But this fruit is not a favourite among most of the kids.I always wanted to include this rich fruit in my kids diet..as i was surfing one day came across this amazing recipe on a famous blog. It was loved by all. Since it is Valentine's Day special and I thought of giving it a heart shape.  

Jewel like seeds of pomegranates are packed with antioxidants and vitamins.This ruby-red fruit is a Cure-All for just about any ailments like stomach upsets, menopausal hot flushes, conjunctivitis, lowers BP and cholesterol, wards off flu, reduces inflammation and much more...

No Onion No Garlic Pav Bhaji

Mumbaiche Speciality Pav bhaji... A dish that is almost everybody's favourite. Cannot imagine a pav bhaji without onion and garlic right? I felt the same when I read the recipe for the first time. I felt the strong urge to try it...and trust me it did not disappoint at all. It tasted as delish as the original one and was an excellent accompaniment with hot phulkas. 

The original recipe is adapted from Veg recipes of India. I have made a few alterations to the original version. Hope you all like it.

Lauki Ki Subzi

Lauki, Ghiya or Bottle gourd is not a preffered vegetable especially down south. I used to give boiled and mashed lauki to my kids when they small but never made it a part of my daily diet. Once I happened to eat this simple,quick and easy to make delicious Lauki Ki Subzi made by my sister like friend.She is a wonderful cook and I relish eating whatever she cooks...the one with magical hands and lots of love in her heart.Blessed to have her in my life :) This one for you Snehal. 

Lauki is one wonder veggie... It helps in weight loss, helps treat constipation, improves digestion, replenishes loss of water in the body, cools the body and keeps heart healthy.  I have made a few modifications to the original recipe. Hope you all will like it :)

Cauliflower Rice

Winter is here and so are the veggies of winter. Cauliflower is our favourite among them. I always wanted to make a rice with cauliflower but never had an idea of how to go about it. i surfed on the net and came accross many recipes. This one is a combination of various recipe reads and my ideas. Hope you like it :)

Godhumai/ Wheat Rava Sakkarai Pongal

Pongal and Makar Sankranti are festivals celebrated at the end of the harvest seasons in tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh respectively. Sakkarai pongal/ pongali is made on this auspicious day. The original version has rice , moong dal and jaggery. Just to give it a healthy twist I have replaced rice with godhumai / wheat rava and used minimal ghee. A guilt free pongal in short :) Do try it its delicious....