Thinai Idli, Foxtail Millet Idli

          Millets is finding back its place in South Indian cooking, we can find them in many stores, and they are available whole, as flours or even coarsely broken like semolina/rava. In my house, I use them mostly in the place of rice in tiffin varieties like idlis, dosas, pongal and adais. I have already posted idlis using kambu/ pearl millet, varagu/ kodo millet, today's post is once again idlis, this time I have made it using thinai/ foxtail millet. I have also used some rice and rice flakes along with the millets and the idlis came out really soft and fluffy..

Carrot Halwa, Gajar Halwa

          Though I had made a resolution to do at least three posts in a week, something or other comes up and I am not able to keep it, I'll try to be more regular from now on wards ( hopefully ). Coming to today's post, Carrot Halwa, this is an easy and delicious dessert, we have to keep just one thing in mind, the final dish should not smell 'carrots'. I just can't have it, if it has the vegetable smell at the end, the texture should also be soft. We can use regular carrots for making the halwa, but since the red ones are now in season, I have used them, it gives a beautiful color to the halwa. The method is very simple, needs just a few basic ingredients, sugar, some milk, cardamon and a little ghee for flavor. We can serve it both hot or at room temperature, I prefer it warm, served as such or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side..

Methi Matar Malai, Creamy Curry With Fenugreek Leaves and Peas

          Methi Matar Malai, the first time I tried this dish, it came out so bitter, I couldn't eat it and I had to throw it away. After that, I totally gave up on the dish, until I tasted it again at my friend's place, it tasted so creamy and delicious, I got the recipe from her but then I lost it. So this time, when I made it, though I was sure of all the ingredients that I added, I was a little skeptical about the taste, but then, when I tasted it, I was totally satisfied, it was perfect, creamy ( but I am telling you, I didn't add any cream, only milk ), flavorful and delicious..

Quick Bisi Bele Bath

          Today's post is going to be a quick alternative for the delicious Bisi Bele Bath, making it the traditional way may be little lengthy, grinding the special bisi bele bath masala paste, cooking the rice and lentils, then the vegetables and then mixing them all together for the final dish. But, I have made this like a one pot meal, in the pressure pan or cooker, it's very easy to make and the taste is really good. Since avarakelu is in season now, I have used it along with red pumpkin, but if you can't find avarakelu, you can use frozen or fresh green peas..