Laundary Tips - fold a shirt or t-shirt quickly

I came across this interesting video shared by a pal in Facebook. Thought will share it here

With little practice we can fold a Shirt or T-shirt quickly using this method.

Now folding laundry clothes or organizing a wardrobe will not be too tiring! Enjoy doing your chores! :-)

Channa Masala

When I was casually searching the net for some photos to make my foodie buddies drool, I happened to come across a interesting restaurant style recipe of the channa (chickpeas) in Manjuz kitchen (Thanks Manju.). Tried it today and it came out well. Sharing that recipe with you with the proportion I used as this is a trial recipe, I used less quantity of channa.

You will need :-

1. Chickpea (Kabuli Channa) - 1/2 tea Cup - soaked overnight or for 8 hours
2. Onion - 1 medium
3. Tomato - 1 medium
4. Ginger - 1/2" piece (I love the flavour of ginger in any dish)
5. Garlic - 3 Pods
6. Green chilli - 1 No. (finely chopped)
7. Curd - 1 tbsp (not sour)
8. Red chilli powder - as per preference (i used less than 1/4 tsp)
9. Turmeric Powder - little less than 1/4 tsp
10. Oil / Butter / ghee - 2 tbsp
11.  Bay leaf - 1/2
12. Cinnamon - small piece (1/4")
13. Cumin seeds - a pinch
14. Honey - 1/4 tsp
15. Dried Mango powder (amchur) - a pinch
16. Garam Masala Powder - less than 1/4 tsp
17. Chole Masala - 1/2 tsp
18. Kasuri Methi - a pinch
19. Coriander Leaves - 2 tsp (finely chopped)
20. Water
21. Salt to taste

Preparations :-

• Pressure cook channa (chickpeas) adding salt, till done. remove and let it cool. 

• Take half the quantity of cooked channa, mash it or grind in a blender adding water, keep aside.

• Finely chop onions, tomatoes, green chilli and coriander leaves. Finely grate the ginger and the garlic pods.

• Churn the curd and take 1 tbsp of curd, add it to the ground / mashed channa.

• In a small plate put the required measure of Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder and Chole Masala & keep it ready.

Procedure :-

• Heat clarified butter / oil / butter in a wok. Add cumin seeds. When it starts crackling, add bay leaf and cinnamon stick.

• Add finely chopped onions and fry till golden brown.

• Add finely crushed / grated ginger garlic, finely chopped green chilli and fry till raw smell goes

•  Add finely chopped tomato and cook till tomato turn mushy. Now add the masala powders which you have already measured and kept ready in a plate. In a slow flame cook till oil separates.

•  Now add the Mashed / ground channa + curd mix.  Stir well, cook till oil separates again.

• Now add the remaining boiled channa / chickpea, mix well and cook for few minutes by stirring in between.keep adding little water to the gravy if it becomes dry.

• When the Chickpea is coated well with the spices, add some water, cover and cook in low flame for 15 minutes.

• Add crushed kasuri methi, dried mango powder, garam masala, honey and coariander leaves. Mix well. 

• Serve hot with chapathis

 

Note : Adding of kasuri methi is optional. Kasuri methi when added to such recipes gives it the restaurant touch.  I normally add little sugar to the oil before tempering and caramalise it. But adding of honey sounded healthy option.

squirrel

In the growing up concrete jungle squirrels have become rare to see. I have already mentioned that there is a small oasis amidst the concrete jungle in our place which houses variety of birds, insects, etc

Early bird gets the worm... yeah it is true. On a sunday morning finished my chores early and with my camcorder, I set off to the garden with my mother and nephew.  We packed our picnic breakfast & seated in a spot covered by plants. From there sitting still  I could take few videos and photos of the winged friends as well as squirrel which I will be sharing one by one with you in the subsequent posts.