RCI: KARNATAKA (annoncing early), BENNE` BISCUITS AND JFI-RICE

I am home from vacation and back to blogging. I successfully resisted the temptation to open the laptop for almost 4 days!! Hurray!!:D

NC coast at 6pm! Just the sight and sound of water soothes my soul!!:)


"Regional Cuisines of India" aka RCI event is started by LakshmiK from "Veggie cuisine" blog! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to host my beautiful home state's cuisine LK! :)

Here is my Karnataka cuisine logo for you to display with your entries with a link to this post! You can post RCI logo as well if you like.


About Karnataka cuisine:
Karnataka is blessed with a rich culinary heritage. Regional food habits differ vastly depending on locally available ingredients; the result is a richly varied spread. The state’s vast culinary repertoire covers the earthy flavors of North Karnataka(Dhrawad,Hubli,etc), the delicious traditional fare of South Karnataka,the yummy Mysorean (Lingayats, Gowdas,Madhwas) spread with the use of lot of coconuts(my dad's home), the spicy Seafood dishes of the coastal region(Tuluvas,Konkanis,Bunts, Saraswats),the distinctive Kodava (Coorgi)cuisine and unique mix of Coorgi and Mangalorean cuisine from the coffee plantations of Malnaadu(my mom's and hubby's home!).
I would like to make special mention of our beloved rivers like Cauvery (Thala Kaveri also called Dakshina Ganga="Ganges of the South" rises from Brahmagiri Hill in Coorg/Kodagu), Tunga, Bhadra, Sharavathi & Ghataprabha which pass through this beautiful land (with beautiful people too, inside and out!).I must say that I am a very proud Kannadiga or Kannadathi (feminine)!:)

I love rivers, specially my childhood playgrounds Cauvery and Netravathi rivers.(My heart aches now!) How proud and nostalgic am I of my roots?! Here is my SUV's license plate!! Hahaha!



Scroll all the way down to see my husband's "very Indian" license plate!!:)



A typical Karnataka vegetarian spread I made for Deepavali last year and check out these K'taka recipes in Shivaratri post too:

Some typical dishes from Karanataka; Cumin seasoned rice,Veg. Pulao,Uppittu,Chitranna,Mosaranna,Saaru(sambhar),Thili saaru(Rasam),Bassaru, Massoppu,Majjige hui/Saaru,various rottis,Beans, cucumber and Carrot Kosumbari(salad),Chakli,Pakoda,Bonda, Bajji,Kodubale,Nippattu,Mysore Pak,Kobbari Mithai(coconut Barfi),any Payasa/halbai,Ambali,Dose,Idly,Obbattu, Majjige(spiced Buttermilk),Paanaka, Happala,Sandige,chutneys,uppinkai(pickles), and many more!!Samosas and Jamuns are not typical South Indian desserts but Indian desserts of course!:)
A sample of Karnataka style Benne Biscuits!
Here is an authentic Karnataka Kannada Brahmin special Butter cookies I made last week before I left (all cookies are called Biscuits in India,southern US biscuits with Gravy are different!) or Benne Biscattu as we call in Kannada. I learned this from my dearest friend Bana from Bangalore.Iyengar Bakeries in B'lore and Mysore are famous for these, but of course you cannot recreate those at home! This is the best I can do!:)

To make them:
1. Sift 1 cup plain/all purpose/Maida flour, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder,1/4 tsp of salt.
2. Cream 1/2 cup softened Butter or margarine (my friend uses a mix of butter and Dalda,a Indian product which probably make a lot of difference in the texture) and 1/3 cup white Sugar until creamy and fluffy. (Adding 1 tsp of Vanilla essence is optional,she never used it, I don't use it either)
3. Add in the flour mix little by little to make a soft dough, not sticky. Turn on the oven to 350F.
4. Make about 12-14 balls lightly rolling on your palm,flatten a bit on top. Do not press too hard.Place them on a non-stick baking sheet 2" apart,sprinkle little flour on top for a thin coating,not too much (to get that floury coating bakeries have). Keep in the fridge at least for 5 mins until the oven is preheated.
5. Place the sheet in the oven and bake for 10-15mins or until very slightly golden but they must remain almost white when done.
6. Cool on a rack, and enjoy with a hot cup of Mysore coffee!
Savory Biscuits: Instead of Sugar, you add very finely chopped green chillies,curry leaves,Cilantro and crushed Cumin seeds.Adjust the salt, make and bake as above. YUM!

Another easier and yummier recipe for Benne Biscuits, which you can adapt to make Khara biscuits with Cumin, Ajwain, finely chopped curry leaves and chilli flakes instead of sugar to enjoy is here.

A new award and got Schmoozed multiple times!!:)

Our own true blood Odiyan Pragyan from "Sorisha" blog awarded me with this! Thank you darling P, we are all very proud to have you as a blogger from Odissa and Srivalli from "Cooking 4 all seasons" also passed on the same award to me. Thank you Sri, I will be too happy to comment in your blog, no need to ask!:D Viji from "Malabar Ruchi" and Raaga from "Chef at work"have added me too in their award list,thank you so much Viji,I appreciate it:))
I will pass this to:
I see most of you already have the "Rocking Girl" award. I would like to give this on to Linda from "Out of the Garden" blog, who is truly a rocking unofficial Indian!I have never seen any other American lady cooking Indian food so passionately as she does and she cooks better Indian dishes than us "the natives" sometimes!!:D
And I would also like to give this to Anusha from "Talimpu" blog who amazes me with her recipes which are most simple and ALWAYS delicious dishes with so few ingredients as her "Talimpu=seasoning" blog name suggests! You do rock Anusha!
I know my posts shock the Talimpu out of ya every week with my long and multiple ingredients but you still come to me anyway, take time to read EVERYTHING! Thanks!:)
Schmoozed again and again by:
Manasi from "A cook @ Heart", Richa from "As dear as salt", Priyanka from "Aahar", Viji from "Malabar Ruchi" and Srivalli again awarded me the "Schoomze" award! Thank you gals, love ya!:))

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NOW...JFI-RICE:



Jihva for ingredients aka JFI is started by Indira of "Mahanadi" blog. This month's host for JFI is Sharmi from "Neivedyam" blog and she has chosen Asia's favorite staple ingredient "RICE" as a theme! Thanks for hosting and choosing a great theme Sharmi!:))




Here are two delicious entries for JFI;
A vegetarian Indonesian snack Rempeyek, crispy fried rice balls or patties,
and second is a non-veg, all American "Campbell soup" dish; Rice and chicken casserole baked with Campbell's soup. Enjoy!

About Rice:
Rice plants have been traced back to 5000 BC, but the practice of rice growing is believed to have originated in areas of China, and southern and eastern Asia, in about 2000 BC.Today, this unique grain helps sustain two-thirds of the world's population.Rice cultivation is the principal activity and source of income for about 100 million households in Asia and Africa.Rice is a good source of carbohydrates,vitamins and minerals such as thiamine, niacin, iron, riboflavin, vitamin D, calcium, and fiber,low in fat,low in salt,low in sugar,no cholesterol and Non-allergenic. Not bad,eh?!! Unrefined brown rice is even more nutritional! More interesting facts about rice is here.

Indonesian Rempeyek:
This recipe adapted by "Rice and Spice" book by Robin Robertson.Basically,these patties are made of Indonesian fried rice mashed and fried with a crisp coating.A tasty crunchy shallow fried spicy rice fritters,apparently a popular snack in Indonesia sold like our own Indian Pav Bhaji,Sev puri on the street carts! It sure tastes good with Soy sauce and hot Sambal Olek. Try it!:))



You need:
2 1/2 cups cold cooked rice(Jasmine or any other kind of cooked rice), 1 cup very finely chopped cabbage, 1/2 cup minced onions, 1/2 cup finely grated carrots, 1/4 cup toasted chopped peanuts (spicy beer nuts will do too), 1 tbsp Cornstarch, 1 garlic minced clove or 1/2 tsp garlic pd,,1/2" ginger, grated, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce or kechap manis,1 tbsp Cilantro, 1 tbsp grated unsweetened coconut, 1/4 tsp light brown sugar, 1/2 tsp each ground cinnamon and Cardamom or 1 tsp Chinese Five spice),salt to taste,1/4 tsp cayenne pd to taste.
For coating: 1/4 cup seasoned plain flour with a tbsp of very crunchy Japanese Panko bread crumbs,
1 cup Canola oil to shallow fry in a wide non-stick pan.
Garnish with cilantro, and serve with Sambal Olek(fresh red chillies minced and mixed with little oil and salt) and Soya sauce or ketchup if you are a scardy cat to try HOT Sambal Olek!!;D
To make them:
1. Mash the cooked rice until grains are soft and mushy. Add in all the ingredients except the seasoned flour and oil in a food processor or by hand until well blended.
2. Transfer to a bowl,taste for correct seasoning, scoop 1/2 cup of the mixture, shape into 1/4 " thick patties or smaller balls. Place them on a plate. You should have 6-8 patties or many balls.
3. Lightly coat the patties with the flour and bread crumbs mixed with salt and pepper, shake off all excess flour and chill it in the fridge for 5-10 minutes.
4. Heat the oil in a large pan, over medium heat. Add the patties and cook in batches until lightly golden on both sides. Serve immediately with Soy sauce and Sambal Olek! Have fun!:))

Deliciously Cheesy Chicken, vegetables and Rice Casserole!
Recipe adapted from Campbell Soup kitchen with my little changes!

You need: 1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's Healthy Request concentrated Cream of Chicken and Mushroom Soup, 1 1/3 cup water, 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice(or use quick cooking Uncle Ben's rice to make sure they cook in time!), 1/2 tsp. onion powder,1/2 tsp Garlic pd, 1/2 tsp Mrs.Dash mixed spice,1 cup fresh or frozen or canned vegetables, 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese,2 tbsp Parmesan cheese.
To make it:
1. Stir soup, water, rice, dry powders, and vegetables 12 x 8" shallow baking dish.
2. Top with chicken. Season chicken with salt and pepper as desired.
3. Bake for 375 degrees F for 45 minutes or until done. Top with cheese,let it bake for 5 more mins until it melts.
4.Delicious casserole is ready,serve with a salad.Vegetarians can skip chicken and add potatoes etc.Hope you try.

My husband's license plate!


"Vaidya" in Sanskrit, which is the oldest language of India, means "doctor" or "medicine man"! Arvind is a medical doctor!! How cool is that to drive around with Vaidya mobile? ;D


A local Gynecologist drives around with a plate which says "I do Paps"!!(short for Pap smear) Vaidya is way lot better,don't you think? Sanskrit rocks!!:D

Last weekend:
Beach vacation was great, 95F+ everyday! While white people literally fried themselves to dark brown in the Sun the whole day, we brown people went to the movies every afternoon to save our skin!;D
We went to play in the warm Ocean in the early morning and after 5pm, had a wonderful time. Then visited a outlet mall, bought shoes for the kids and the I found myself a "Kitchen Collection" store!! I dumped the kids immediately with hubby, told them sit outside and shopped for gadgets,cutlery etc till I dropped!! Hahaha! (Too many stuff to take a photo!)

I came home to these beauties yesterday, quickly watered all the almost dried up plants and now I have to cook all these ASAP!!



YES!!! Got six gourds at one time!! I spent few hrs peeling and chopping them yesterday. Phew!!

See you all next week with I don't know what in this blog!!:P My own K'taka cuisine will be in 2 weeks, still got to cook. Have a fun filled weekend you guys!:)