Scrambled Egg Taco

Last week we had been to Taco Bell and I was surprised to see the varieties of Mexican cuisines. There I fall in love with "The Tacos". Everybody knows how to make tacos: brown the meat, place it with other veggies, garnish and serve. Awesome, good for some, go make tacos.
If you want a good taco recipe that uses spices from the cabinet, or if you are crazy like me.... Then keep reading! :)

The salad itself is very easy to make and also, I made my own tacos. For this I used store bought corn tortillas, fried them in oil, till crispy and while frying I fold them to form the shape of taco.

As I made them for breakfast, I used scrambled eggs instead of meat. No doubt, a big forkful of scrambled egg shots with Mexican spirit - that is, with tomatoes, chillies and cilantro and if those eggs are rolled into warm corn tacos, I'll bet the experience itself seared itself into your brain.

Ingredients:

4 small corn tortillas
2 tbsp oil
1/4 cup onion, sliced
4 chopped green chillies
3 eggs
2 tbsp milk
1/2 cup shredded cheese
Salt to taste

To Garnish : chopped tomato, chopped cilantro and tomato ketchup

Method:

Heat oil in a pan and fry corn tortillas, flipping them frequently until done. Just before taking them out of oil, fold them to form the shape of taco.
Instead of frying, you can microwave them. All you need to do is, wrap the tortillas in foil and place in oven to warm at 300F. Check in between to see whether the tortillas are crispy enough.

In a medium skillet, heat 1 tsp oil and add chopped onions and green chillies. Saute for 5 mins. Beat eggs with milk, salt and half of cheese. Pour into the skilled and cook, stirring to scramble, until eggs are done.
Spoon the egg mixture onto the tacos. Top it with chopped tomatoes, cilantro, tomato ketchup and shredded cheese.

Note: Instead of ketchup, you may use any type of salsa.

I believe, all contrasting flavors and textures make this a special experience. Enjoy your Mexican breakfast.

This entry goes to event BSI-MILK hosted by Sanyukta.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Onam Celebration in US

Kerala has just finished celebrating Onam, which is nothing less than a season. There is a rush of adrenaline with sports like snake boat races and tug-of-wars. In the streets, you can hear the beats of drums and folk dances like tiger dances and Kummati. The 10 days of celebration ends with Thiruvonam. This year, it was on Aug 23rd and everyone was little distracted by Shashi Tharoor's wedding to his third bride Sunanda Pushkar.
This was my first onam celebration in US. Although, the charm of this festival exists only in Kerala. Early morning, people make carpet of flowers in front of their homes and then it is followed by preparing magnificent feast, Ona Sadya. It brings out the best of the Malayali kitchen. The whole house will be filled with nice aroma of spices and frying in coconut oil. Ahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I told Sree that we gonna celebrate this onam in a very grand way. Just like the way it used to be in Kerala. He suggested "Why not we invite some guests on onam?". Love you honey! that was an awesome idea. But there is a small problem. I never count myself great with Kerala cuisines and when it comes to onam feast, it is similar to a jumbo feast.

This is the click of our Ona sadya. It is a lavish 5-course meal served on a fresh, green banana leaf. The number of items served are usually between 30-50. The first course begins with rice and parippu (daal), then with rice and sambhar, the third with rice and puliserry, the fourth with payasam (kheer/pudding) and banana and ends with buttermilk.
Whosssh!! by this time you will feel pity for your poor tummy, but this whole course is so tempting that you cannot skip any one of them. Thanks to ginger curry and buttermilk included in this meal, as it helps in digestion.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Reposting for Sana's event: A Visual Treat

Egg Roast (Kerala Style)

This recipe goes to event " A Visual Treat" hosted by Sanyukta. Do visit her blog and participate in this event and also another ongoing event "BSI- MILK".

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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A very special post!!

It is really a long time.. It always happens that we, unwantedly, witness some situations that leave their imprints in our mind. Similar is my present condition and I'm very helpless.. I can't do anything except pray!! Ok guys.. no more suspense.. Lemme narrate in different way..

Yesterday was Ha's 1st birthday.. But while she was cutting her birthday cake, she is unaware of the fact that she is with her aunt and uncle, when it is expected to be with her parents. Her mother is there in another room, crying aloud, no strength to stand strong there with Ha. Everyone is cheering, clapping their hands, singing the birthday song and making that little child feel that "She is special!!" It was very tough for us to take this decision of celebrating her birthday, but this was one of the most awaited moments for her parents. The "Daddy's Princess" is the life of her father. I still remember how he was planning and preparing for the D day. But who can ever imagine that 1 week before D day, an unexpected incident, an accident, will change the course of everyone's life.

On one evening, M, father of Ha, was playing with her near swimming pool. After sometime B, mother of Ha, took Ha home to change her dress. B would have gone hardly 100 meters and she heard M shouting. When she reached there, what she saw was the most horrifying view of her life. M is drowning in water. A 5' 7" guy was drowning in 8' depth. People came to help him out but all in vain!! He went inside water and was there for more than 2 mins. Somehow, he was brought outside but he was not breathing. He was taken to emergency care and from then the lovely story of a very happy couple and their cute little baby, is unexpected. M is in deep coma, his brain is not responding as his brain cells are dead due lack of oxygen.

Every morning, after this accident, when I see Ha playing outside her home, I feel like hugging that girl and crying aloud.. Why is life so cruel?

Now I feel "How weak am I or how this incident made me weak?" ... Sorry for staying away from my blog and I'm trying hard to come out of this situation.

I pray to give strength to M, B and Ha to face these ups and downs in life. And I request you guys to please pray for M.

I dedicate this post to M and his family and pray for their well being.

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Mango-Kiwi Parfait

So, now comes the treat for the day - a parfait. And when it is summer time, I don't think there is another fruit which I adore more than mango. This heavenly dessert is also known as Fool. But I still wonder, "Why is it called a Fool?".

These days mango parfait is one of the desserts that dominates our thoughts and ruling our dining table. And to give this dessert a strong taste, I've included kiwis to it.

A layer of mango yogurt, a layer of cream, a layer of mango and kiwi cubes and finally topped with cream. Hoo..lalala!! can I've more parfait?

In the picture you won't find the perfect layers. My mistake! coz I was drooling over the creamy texture and was not very careful while preparing the layers.. But I believe it still looks Yummy!! Isn't it?

Ingredients:

6 ounce mango low fat yogurt
2 tbsp whipped cream
1 cup chopped mango and kiwi fruit
whipped cream (for topping)

Method:

Put 2 tbsp flavoured yogurt to a parfait glass. Layer it with 1 tbsp cream. Top with chopped mango and kiwi. If you want, you can repeat the process. Serve topped with whipped cream and dried nuts.

This extremely easy dessert makes a grand finishing touch to your meal. The best part is that it's so quick to put together.

This entry goes to Cold Desserts event hosted by TorviewToronto and Kids Delight event hosted by Pari.

This recipe also goes to Zespri's Kiwi A-Go-Go Blogger's Contest.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Chicken Kebab

I donno who has invented the idea of marinated bite-sized chicken pieces threaded onto skewers and grill them. I believe this is one of the brilliant food ideas ever invented so far.
My hubby is damm crazy about kebabs. Although, kebab is made with lamb but I like to have chicken kebabs. The perfect marination of all the spices imparts an exotic aroma to kebabs.
With summer around, chicken kebab is perfect option to enjoy BBQ and surprise your guests with this exceptionally tasteful starter.

Ingredients:

1 boneless chicken breast
1/2 green bell pepper (cubed)
1/2 red onion (cubed)

Marinate:

1 tbsp yougurt
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp red chilli pwd
1 tsp tandoori masala
1/4 tsp turmeric pwd
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1 inch ginger root, peeled and grated
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 tsp salt

For Grilling:

2-3 bamboo or metal skewers
2 tsp oil

Method:

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Marinate with lemon juice and keep it aside for 15 mins. Now marinate with remaining marination ingredients. Also, mix onion and bell pepper pieces to it. Leave it for atleast 1 hr but preferably overnight.

Preheat oven to its maximum temperature. Thread the chicken pieces with onion and bell pepper pieces onto the skewers. Set aside.

Place the kebabs on the lower rack of the oven, brush it with oil and grill them at 375 F. Cook them for 20-25 mins until all juices run clear.

Serve it hot with chat masala sprinkled over kebabs. It tastes yummy!!!!!

If you are using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 30 mins so that they don't get burned during grilling.

This goes to Two for Tuesday started by Alex from A Moderate Life.

This also goes to Iftar Moments hosted by Taste of Pearl City.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Stir Fry Broccoli

I've never tried broccoli in any form. But one day, I came across a blog and I saw a recipe where broccoli is stir fried with beef. This sounds interesting and I thought why not try to stir fry only broccoli?

I've heard that broccoli is rich in vitamins and good to cure heart diseases. So why should I stop myself to get onto this very healthy vegetable?

I hope you guys will also like this recipe... Enjoy!!

Ingredients:

1 pound fresh broccoli
1 tbsp oil (canola, vegetable or olive oil)
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 green chillies, chopped
5-6 garlic pods, chopped
Salt to taste

Method:

Wash and cut broccoli into small florets. Cook broccoli with small amount of water on medium-high flame. I prefer to microwave them, all you need is sprinkle some water and microwave for 3-4 mins.

Heat oil in a non-stick wok over medium heat. When the oil is hot, saute onions and garlic until onion turns golden brown. Add cooked broccoli and stir until broccoli becomes crunchy. Add salt to it and serve hot.

It goes great with meat, poultry or sea food. But, I love just like this!!

If you like to make it bit spicy, you can add 1/2 tsp red chilli powder and 1/4 tsp garam masala once you saute the onions for few mins.

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Mocha Frappuccino

During my last trip to Las Vegas, I've tried Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino and believe me guys "I'm in love with it!!!". After that visit, everytime I go out for shopping or anything else, I'll be looking around for Starbucks, so that I can grab another cup of frappuccino.

But spending around $10-$12/ visit and still craving for another cup made me try out making it in my kitchen.... And now during sunny afternoon you can find me with my homemade frappuccino.. Moreover, this gives me full authority over calorie count, amount of sugar, type of milk and flavoring.... 

My hubby says "You rock!!" and I know why he say so.... ;)

So here I go with my homemade Mocha Frappuccino!!

Ingredients:

1 cup crushed ice cubes

3/4 cup of strong coffee mixed with 1/2 cup of milk

(you can reduce the amount of milk, if you want a bit of strong coffee taste)

3/4 cup milk ( I use 2% fat milk)

1 tbsp chocolate syrup ( I use Hershey's genuine chocolate syrup)

Whipped cream and chocolate syrup (for topping)

Method:

Blend all ingredients except the toppings for atleast 30 seconds. Pour into a glass and top it with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

Hooooo la la la..!!! Enjoy your divine mocha frappuccino.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Gajar ka Halwa

Happy Friendship to all of my blogger friends....

Friendship day is a tradition to dedicate a day to honor and express love to our friends. True friendship is like putting your feet up and knowing that someone is there to bail you out when the world might walk on you.

So to dedicate this wonderful day to all my friends, I've a very sweet dish here... This is one of the favourite dishes among everyone... And, In India, it is very common at any local sweet shop. During winter, Dad would take us to nearby sweet shop and we can see a big kadai full of halwa. I love those halwa, topped with nuts and piping hot. So here I go!!

Ingredients:

1 kg carrot (peeled and grated)
1 L milk
1 cup sugar
4 tbsp ghee
small cinnamon stick
2 tsp powdered cardamom
1/2 cup chopped nuts (cashew, almond or pista)
1/4 cup raisins

Method:

In a pan, heat 1 tbsp ghee on low-medium flame and fry raisins until they gets brown. Remove from heat and keep it aside. Similarly, heat another tbsp ghee and fry chopped nuts. Keep it aside.

Take milk, carrots and cinnamon stick in a heavy bottomed pan and cook it at medium-high flame. Keep stiring frequently until the milk has evaporated and carrots are completely cooked. If required, remove the cinnamon stick.

Now add sugar and 2 tbsp of ghee to the cooked carrot-milk mixture. Keep stiring until the carrot turns dark redish in color. By this time, halwa will soft and moist. Remove from flame.

Add cardamom powdered and fried raisins and nuts to halwa. Mix well. Let it cool for sometime.

Garnish it with almonds and serve warm. You can also serve it with vanilla ice cream. But it tastes yummy in any form.

Enjoy halwa with your near and dear ones!!

This entry goes to BSI-MILK,93rd week hosted by Sanyukta.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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