I'm back - I guess?!

Its been over a month since I've posted anything on my blog and before bloggers feel I've gone extinct I decided to post about my "in-active existence". The last few weeks have been very memorable and extremely tiring at the same time. I'm the kind of person who recuperates during weekends, and as my parents were here ... weekends were the only time we could go on site-seeing. Although we managed to cover quite a few places on the East Coast, as always I'm never content with the duration of the vacation.

There were a lot of things I thought I would do, but couldn't. I planned to work from 7 AM to 3 PM so that I could spend more time with my parents in the evening, but ended up reaching home at 6.30 PM and then taking them out for a 3 hr shopping. I also planned to visit all the numerous blogs and check out new recipes while I'm at work, but my work got so hectic - I didn't have time to check my emails too!

My parents have left and I've started to miss them already :-( I haven't got back to cooking, as tiredness is still ruling me and I can only find enough stamina to cook rice and nothing more.. I've been living over pickles & Yogurt from the last week and probably will get to cooking soon.

I've received a bunch of awards from few bloggers and I really didn't have the time to post with the all the mess happening around me. Thanks Shri, Sanghi and Lavi - for passing me these awards and all the bloggers for dropping in their comments even when I wasn't around :-)

From Lavi -- YUM-YUM blog award, Yummy Blog Award, Thank You for Friendship award, Perfect Blend of Friendship, and Giant Bear Hug award.






From Shri -- A Fabulous Blog and Scrumptious Blog Award



From Sanghi - Gold Friends Award


Thanks gals! This really means a lot to me :-) These awards need to be passed, but as I am posting these 5 weeks after I've got them - I assume everyone has been blessed with these awards. In case you haven't - I'd be blessed if you can pick it up from my blog :-)

Although I am back to blogging, I am not currently in form (like the Indian Cricket Team). I'd be visiting your den to catch up on lots of things I've missed, and prep myself up for posting something related to food!

Revisiting side-dishes..

Nothing new, just re-posting some of the old dishes that are on their way to Viki's "Side Dish for Chapati Event"

Vegetable Sagu with Puri

Chole

Stuffed Capsicum

Shahi Paneer

Methi Aloo

Low Cal Malai Kofta

Kadai Paneer

Capsicum Masala

Baingan Bharta

Potato Curry

I will see if I can post a few more entries before the deadline.. but for now these babies are In.. Long weekend is almost here for the guys in US (and also in AP with the unfortunate demise of the CM). I am making the weekend even longer by bunking work tomorrow and holidaying with family at NYC & DC! Woohoo! :-D ... Have a great weekend you guys!

Some Irregularity Coming Up..

Hope everyone had good fun with Vinayaka Chavithi this year! Past couple of weeks have been really hectic and thats the reason I'm not coming up with anything worth posting. My parents are here for 5 weeks, and thats why I've been doing all the cleaning that I haven't done in a very long time! - Car Cleaning, Kitchen Cabinets, Carpets, Rest rooms, Bedroom and Closet - Lots of things to clean and so little time!!

I had a great time with the Vinayaka Chavithi, as my parents were here to celebrate the festival along with my brother and SIL - and it reminded me of my childhood days. Here are a couple of pics from the Pooja..




Btw, the Idol that you see is my attempt at Clay Modeling :-D (It didn't turn out as good as last years, but was not-bad either).

My mom being here gives me a super-duper oppurtunity to gorge on some of her specials and will give me Zero-chance on cooking something new. I've got loads of goodies, dresses and few other items from mom :-) My only complaint is my dad wakes me up at 5.30 AM everyday and I'm not a morning person and can get very cranky if I fall short of sleep :-(

With plenty of places to visit in and around Massachusetts, these 5 weeks are going to get really hectic with lots of traveling and very less sleep.. I still have some recipes in the draft which I will keep posting during this downtime to keep you guys coming back here :-) I will surely visit all the blogs I can because that I usually do when I'm at Work :-D.

Until then - Keep Cooking, Blogging and Have Fun!

Potato Curry - My Istyle!

I know for most of us potatoes are life-savers. They are the to-go vegetable when you have nothing on mind on what to cook - This is the case with me more often than not. Although potatoes were cooked frequently at home, each time mom made a different version so that we don't get bored. This post is about one such version. Alu Curry or as I fondly call it "Pedda Koora" (Pedda - Big; Koora - Curry) is my favorite of all the versions and here's the recipe..


Ingredients:

Potatoes - 5 to 6 medium sized ones ( I used Red Potatoes)
Oil - 4 to 5 tbsp
Homemade Curry Powder ( Recipe can be found here) - 2 tbsp
Chilli Powder - 1 tsp (optional)
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Cilantro - to garnish
Salt

Recipe:

* Pressure Cook Potatoes until they are 80% done. To test this, stick a fork or a toothpick into the cooking potatoes. Remove from flame when the potatoes are cooked but are still holding their shape. Do not let the potatoes lurk in water for long, as the water would be absorbed and that would make the dish quite soggy.

* Peel and cube the cooked potatoes.

* In a pan, heat some oil - Add cumin seeds, and then add the cubed potatoes and let it roast on med-high flame for a while. Keep stirring and make sure all the pieces are fried until golden-brown.

* Now add Chilli Powder (Optional), Salt and Curry Powder. Mix well and let it fry for few more mins.

* Add chopped Cilantro and give it a final mix and serve hot with Rice/Chapatis. This tastes like heaven when served along with Rice and Rasam.

The beauty of this dish lies in how perfectly the potatoes are cooked. Over-cooking them can just snatch away the look of the dish. The Curry Powder tastes best when used with Potatoes, Bell Peppers and Brinjals. This is an extremely easy dish to make and can be cooked in a jiffy!

When Ashwini announced FIC - Zodiac Signs, I was a bit confused on what to cook that would come up in Orange/Gold as Leo is my sign - but this pic has been lurking on my hard-drive for a very long time and finally it has made it to the post. This is my entry to Ashwini's "FIC - Zodiac Sign" a concept of Sunshinemom.

This is on its way to Viki's "Side Dish for Chapati" Event.

P.S: For most of you this curry might look a bit weird - No Onions? No Garlic?! - But that's how its cooked at my household and believe me tastes great! :-)