SHAHI BELL PEPPERS AND SHAHI ALMOND CHICKEN, NAAN, ADOBO AND CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM!

Hello Y'all! Hope you are all doing well and keeping cool this hot August!:) Ah!!! Two more awards for me from the sweetest girl Amanda of "little foodies"!:))

"The Thoughtful Blogger Award is for “those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others’ feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping other bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others.”

Hee Hee! Me likey dis!!

"The Power of Schmooze Award is for bloggers who “effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”
Thank you Amanda.I appreciate both of them and what they are meant for.However,I CAN NOT choose just five bloggers out of my fave 100+ to award these,so I am skipping this step! Hope you don't mind!:)
Have a great holiday dear Amanda!

Colorful sweet Bell peppers; feast for the eyes and soul!

I am in love with these colorful Bell peppers,and I am attracted to them like magnet at the grocery store! You will see more recipes with these at Aroma too until they run out of these colorful peppers for this season!!:D
Anyway,today's menu is Shahi veg this and Shahi Murgh that,a Filipino Chicken Adobo(rejoice Y'all non-veggies!:D),Naans and a yummy Chocolate Ice cream with a very shameful story for a cook like me!!:D
Shahi Kaju Mirchi-Baingan(Royal style Bell peppers and Eggplant in Cashewnuts gravy)
Shahi Badami Murgh (Royal style Chicken dish in rich creamy Almond gravy)
An easy No-Yeast Naans, Nita Mehta style which I liked!!

And a very popular Philippines dish Adobo with Chicken,
for dessert, Chocolate Ice cream with Chocolate chip Cookie chunks!

Shahi Kaju Mirchi-Baingan:
This recipe is based on Nita Mehta's book but I changed the recipe slightly and used Peppers and Eggplants.

This is a flavorful rich Mughlai style dish with creamy nutty sauce which tastes so good with Parathas.Tastes better next day,so all flavors mingle together overnight.You can use meat or any of your fave vegetables as well.
You Need:
2 long purple Eggplants, 1 each yellow ,Green,red and Orange bell peppers,2 tbsp oil, 1/8 tsp Turmeric, 1/2 tsp Rajwadi Garam masala or just regular Garam masala,salt, 1/4 cup plain yogurt,1/4 cup milk,1/2 cup water.
To grind: 6 tbsp Cashewnuts broken to pieces, 2" fresh ginger,2 garlic, 1/4 tsp sweet paprika for color and 1/2 tsp chilli pd for heat.
To season: 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter mixed, 1 tsp shah jeera or cumin seeds,1 Bay leaf, 2 small onion finely chopped.
For Garnish: finely chopped cilantro,4 toasted Cashewnuts,split.
How to make it:
1. Slice peppers and Eggplants and fry in oil in a non-stick pan for 3 mins until they wilt.Keep aside.Grind Cashews,ginger ,paprika and garlic to a smooth paste.Keep aside.
2. Heat oil+ butter,add a bay leaf, Shah Jeera or cumin seeds,onions,fry until reddish.Add turmeric, Garam masala and salt.
3. Add in ground masala paste,cook for a minute until you see oil on top.Whisk yogurt,add to the pan and cook until almost dry stirring often.
4. Turn down the heat, add water and milk,simmer gently for 5 mins.
5. Add in all the fried vegetables to the pan,simmer until the sauce thickens a little.
6. Garnish with Cilantro, toasted Cashews and serve with layered Parathas.

Shahi Kaju Mirchi-Baingan with layered Parathas:



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Shahi Badami Murgh:
Badam Murgh is from a book called "Simply Indian" by Tahera Rawji and Hamida Suleman.I changed the recipe again since the instruction were not very clear in this book.I used my experience with their ingredients to cook my way,dish turned out very tasty!:)

You Need:
4 chicken breasts, chopped into bite-sized pieces,2 medium onions, 2 tbsp oil and butter, 1 cup plain yogurt,whisked smooth, salt to taste, 1 bay leaf, 2 tsp coriander powder, 2 tsp cumin powder, 20 whole almonds, blanched and peeled and ground to a paste or use 6 tbsp already peeled and sliced Almonds,toast slightly and grind to paste with little water.
To Grind: 2 garlic, 2" fresh ginger, 2 green chillies, ,
To Sprinkle: 1/4 tsp each of mace powder, cardamom powder and cinnamon powder or powder 1/4 tsp of each whole spices or 1/tsp Garam masala.
To garnish: 2 tbsp cream,cilantro few slivered toasted Almonds.
To make it:
1. Make a paste of ginger, green chilies, and garlic. Keep aside. Slice onions finely, fry in 2 tbsp oil until they are golden ,cool, grind to a paste.Blanch Almonds in hot water,peel and grind with little water to a smooth paste.
2. Mix yogurt, salt, ginger garlic paste, onion paste, and chicken. Marinate in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
3. Heat 2 tbsp oil and butter. Add bay leaf. Take out just the chicken pieces out of the marinade (not the liquid) and fry until almost dry. Take them outon a plate.
4. Add all the marinating sauce to the pan , fry until thickish sauce and oil shows on top. Add coriander powder, cumin powder, 1 cup of yogurt, and fry again on low heat until thickish gravy is left.
5. Add the chicken, Almond paste with 1 cup of water, and simmer for 15 minutes on low heat.Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Sprinkle mace powder, cardamom powder and cinnamon powder on top, mix and turn off the heat.
7. Garnish with cilantro, cream and slivered almonds and serve with Naan and/or rice, Lime silces,sliced red onion and raita.

No-Yeast Indian style Naan!
So far,I have tried yeast Naans like here and here, which are great tasting but I always wanted to try the real Indian style Naans.I saw this recipe in Nita Mehta's book as Kheema stuffed Naans.I skipped the stuffing,followed the recipe,came out pretty good.Tastes best fresh out of the oven!

You need:
2 1/2 cup Plain flour,1/2 tsp baking soda,1/2 tsp salt,1 tbsp Ghee,1/2 cup Milk, 1 tsp Baking powder, and about 1/2 cup warm water.(Melted butter,1 tsp black Poppy seeds to brush on top)
How to make Naans:
1. Heat milk until warm for 1 minute,add to a big bowl with baking powder to it and let it rest 1-2 mins.You see the bubbles on the surface.
2. Now mix flour,soda, ghee and salt,rub with your fingers to mix ghee,add to the milk and baking pd mixture.
3. Knead to a pliable dough adding enough warm water,smear some oil,cover and let it rest for 3-4 hrs.
4. Heat the oven to the maximum 550F. Divide the dough to 6-8 pieces,roll out to circles,stretch one side to make tear shape,place them on baking sheet 2 or 3 at a time.Touch the top with wet fingers wherever you want the naan to be golden.
5. Slide into the oven and let it puff for 5-6 mins,watch it carefully.Take them out,brush with butter and poppy seeds mix and cool on the rack.Repeat with others.
6. Wrap with the foil if you are not using them immediately,reheat in the oven.

Homegrown Pear Tomatoes Salad:

This is easy to make.I have surplus of Pear Tomatoes with just one single plant! I am practically eating these every day which I don't mind at all.Love the color,shape and the sweet taste, perfect!:)
How to toss the salad:
Slice the tomatoes lengthwise in a bowl.Sprinkle some Cilantro,salt,freshly ground pepper and 3 tbsp Italian dressing which has olive oil, vinegar,garlic,Italian herbs and chilli flakes.Toss everything and chill in the fridge.

Badami Murgh with Naan, rice and Salad:



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A delicious Filipino Chicken Adobo:
One of my readers,Geethi asked me whether I have ever tried Adobo.At first I thought she is talking about a Mexican Adobo (Chipotle Chillies soaked in Adobo sauce) and then started searching for a popular Filipino Adobo.I tried a small amount just to taste it first.This dish turned out so delicious,it is going to be a favorite dish for us.Hope you try and enjoy.I found the original recipe for Adobo here, I have changed the recipe a little by skipping Potatoes etc.Vegetarians can use the same recipe with any veggies like Potatoes and Cauliflower.Hope you try!:)

Dark and delicious Chicken bites marinated in soy sauce, Lime juice, Apple Cider vinegar, garlic, onions, and bay leaf, and simmered with little brown sugar, dashed with Sambal Olek or pepper,Adobo from Philippines is a absolutely surprisingly delectable dish.
Here is how I made it:
1. Cube 2-3 Chicken breasts into bite sized pieces,place in a bowl.Now add juice of 1/2 a lime,1 tsp Garlic powder or 2 fresh Garlic pounded,1/4 cup light and low sodium soy sauce,1 tbsp dried Onion flakes or 2 tbsp minced onion, 2 tsp brown sugar or dark molasses,2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar,1/2 tsp Chinese Five spice, mix and marinate overnight in the fridge.
2. Next day, heat 2 tsp butter in a wide non-stick pan, add 1 bay leaf.Pour in the marinated chicken with all the liquid,2 tsp sweet dark Soy sauce and pepper or Sambal Olek(red hot chilli sauce).Do not add salt until dish is done,since Soy sauce has salt in it already.
3. Stir-fry on medium heat until it cooks down and the sauce is thick,shiny and clings to the chicken.Taste for salt and sugar, add only if needed.Serve garnished with Green onions on it's own or with little rice. YUM!!
Thanks Geethi,it was a great and delightful learning experience!:)

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Ghirardelli Chocolate Ice Cream with Chocolate cookies served with honey and Vanilla filled Pirouette!

To make this: Beat 1 Egg and 6 tbsp sugar until white and fluffy,add 1 cup Half and Half or cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup melted Ghirardelli chocolate,1 tsp vanilla essence.Add to the machine,churn for 25mins or freeze in the container for 2 hrs and blend again.Now add 6 chocolate chip cookies cut into chunks to the machine,let it mix for 2 mins or add to the blended Ice cream,mix and return it to freezer overnight.
To serve: Drizzle honey on the top of Ice Cream and arrange few Pirouettes.

My miserably failed attempt to make Mexican fried Ice Cream!!!

Well..I thought I will try making fried Ice Cream.Took 2 scoops of Ice Cream, rolled them in the Graham cracker crumbs powdered, and put them in the freezer for an hr.I heated the oil, brought the Ice Creams out and immediately added to oil.They fried well ,I got happy and then the disaster!!! They split and started to melt.I threw them all out along with the oil!!
What might have gone wrong? I should have frozen the coated scoops overnight and heated the oil little more,fry quickly less the minute and take them out! Shame on me!! :D

My "little girl" is ready to fly err...to drive! Actually,she has a learner's permit and still practicing to get the real license!:D

We bought her a Nissan Versa SL yesterday with AC,Power,Blue Tooth phone tech and MP3 plug in. Her rank in school is #1 in 10th grade again, so we thought we should reward her with a new car.I am glad I don't have to haul her everywhere from this year! One down,one to go.YESSS!! Nissan car dealership manager and salesman both are Arvind's patients,so we got a pretty good deal!!;D
She will be finishing HS with 6 AP's and one year early after 11th grade this year.For 12th grade, she will be attending first year of college(school's choice) for lessons although she will still graduate(official ceremony) from HS after 12th. School will take up the tuition for first year of college,then she can choose which college she wants to go to graduate in Biology.

Have a great weekend! Next week, I will post some cool summer veg. salads and more non-veg dishes!:)