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.

Mandir - a gorgeous recycled craft

Hi

I was away from my lounge for a pretty long time. My mother and nephew visited me and we had a very great time.  I could not visit any of your blog but will soon catch up with your creations.

My mother who has inspired me and imparted the knowledge & interest in arts & crafts right from my childhood days has encouraged & guided  me while I did this mandir.

Things needed :-

1. Round thermocol pieces - 2 (same size)
2. Two wooden light weight skewers - 4 Nos
3. Ice sticks (popsicle sticks) - 7 Nos.
4. Glue Gun / Fevicol
5. Packaged water bottle cap - 1 No.
6. bell without tong - 1 No.
7. Bell with tong - 1 No.
8. Beads for decoration
9. Gold Colour powder 
10. Craft glue
11. Water
12. Flat Paint Brush 

The thermocol I used had come as a spool for satin ribbons. I did some satin ribbon garland project (which I already posted here) and saved those thermocol spools for some craft project. It has come handy in the project to form the base and ceiling for my mandir.
 

Procedure :

•  Place one thermocol as a base

• Draw a square using a pencil and insert the skewers on four corners

• Fix the second thermocol piece on top to make the ceiling

• To give additional support and form a back wall, stick the ice sticks using glue on the back side to the top as well as bottom thermocol pieces. (refer the picture below)

• Place a waterbottle cap in the centre of the thermocol piece at top to form a platform, using glue

•  On top of it, place the bell without tong (this bell lost its tong hence saved it for future use and now i has come handy in my project) on top of the water bottle cap, using glue.

• Now the mandir structure is ready.

•  Mix little water, craft glue and golden powder to make a paste. Apply this all over the mandir. Let it dry for 15 minutes.

• Now you can decorate the mandir as you like using beads or sequins.

• I made a satin ribbon garland and placed it around the mandir to decorate the base. 

• Use glue gun which helps you finish the project quickly as you need not wait for long for the glue to dry.

• Now your Gorgeous mandir is ready. Adorn it with the mini idol of your favourite deity.

side view

top view

I made this mandir to keep it in our car. So when the car is in motion the bells will raise a sweet & mild sound.

Satin Ribbon Garland - 3

My third satin ribbon garland made based on the the traditional Jasmine, green leaf and rose design using offwhite, red and green satin ribbons.

To know how to make a satin ribbon garland please check this post 

In this garland I have used a crystal long bead accompanied by a silver bead on both sides. Here is the close up shot with the darshan of the lotus feet of Lord Venkateshwara for you.