MY 2007 SUMMER HARVEST WITH DISHES!

Happy Gowri and Ganesha Festival to all Indians!! Can you tell we all feed this "little" Guy a bit too much every year?!;D


Once a year around this time, little Ganesha visits Earth to get his mom Parvati, who is visiting her parents, back to Mount Kailash to his dad Lord Shiva! Indians celebrate to welcome him,feed him until he can't walk and then bid him and his mom goodbye!!That's our family's version of the story anyway!:)
Worshiping Ganesha supposed to bring us good luck and if you please him (he likes to eat a LOT!:D), he will make sure whatever obstacles you face in life are eased and make you successful. Ganesha is every Indian kid's favorite God to pray, specially before the academic exams!;D

Now, let me feed him a dessert first like last year just in case! Need his blessings to remove all our obstacles this year too you know!!;D
Badam Burfi (Almond Squares) for Ganesha:

To make easy Microwaved Badam Burfis:
1. Toast 1 cup peeled white Almonds slightly,cool and powder. Put it in a glass bowl,add 3/4 cup powdered white sugar,2 tsp melted Ghee or butter, 1/2 tsp cardamom pd,2 tbsp cream,few strands of Saffron,mix well.
2. Heat the bowl in the Microwave for 1 min on high,stir the mixture and heat again for another minute,stir. Now it's bubbly and thick enough to pat into shapes.If not,heat for 20 to 30 secs,repeat until thickish,DO NOT let it burn! Mixture too dry to shape? Add a tsp of cream and mix, can never go wrong with this sweet!
3. Drop the lump onto greased plate,pat into a square with a spatula,and cut into shapes. Enjoy!:))

This is my entry to "Ganesha Chaturthi special" which is being hosted by Latha from "The YUM blog". Thanks Latha!:)

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My Summer 2007 Garden:
Every year I make one post about my summer harvest and post a dish or two made with the veggies I grew.You can see my last year's "2006 Summer garden" post here. I must say that this year is ALMOST a fabulous success story with two failures(Ridge Gourd and Snake Gourd, totally my fault!!).It was indeed a very HOT Summer to say the least to help the process!

This post also goes to Deepz from "Letz Cook" blog who is hosting 2007 Summer event called Green Blog Project or "GBP", which is a brain child of Inji Pennu from "Ginger and Mango" blog.Thanks to both of you!:)

Enjoy my garden, click on any image to make it larger and have fun. I certainly did growing them!!

How it all started in the Spring of 2007!
From a empty patch of above ground veggie patch and in some pots, the beginning of Spring,they grew and took over my backyard. Plum Tomatoes, Okra, Eggplants and Peppers to begin with.


Red and White Radishes, early Spring harvest:

I threw some Radish seeds between the above plants.Radishes love slightly cold weather than hot Summer heat.I got my first little veggies of the year in the early Spring.



This year's special order of Indian Greens seeds from the Internet website, Purple,Stripy and Green Amaranth,glorious success!!



Bottle or Bird nest Gourd plant,do I need to say more? Don't hit me!! Hahaha!!



Peppers and more Peppers!! Hot Banana chillies, dark green Poblanos,red Cayenne and green Capsicums (Bell peppers)!!
Absolutely delicious!!


Eggplants Galore!! Green, White and Purple eggplants along with Seedless Cucumbers, Okra and Green beans:

No problems here. in fact, Okras and Tomatoes are thriving in intense August heat although everything has died it's natural death!


Tilwali Milijuli Subzi:

Mixed vegetables in spicy sesame seeds gravy,that's exactly what that means, don't get scared now!:D

Adapted from Nita Mehta's book with some of my own changes as always!



You need these ingredients:

4 tbsp sesame seeds,dry toasted until golden,1 tbsp Channa dal,toasted until reddish, 2 tbsp grated dry coconut and 4 tbsp yogurt to grind.

4 cups mixed vegetables,cubed (I used Eggplants, Banana peppers and green Capsicums you see above on the plants),1-2 Tomatoes.

1 tbsp oil plus 1/2 tbsp butter, 1 tsp cumin seeds, , 2 fresh chillies (optional) finely chopped, salt, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp sugar, 1 large onion, finely chopped.

How to make it:

1. Grind coconut and sesame seeds with yogurt to a fine paste.Keep aside.

2. Heat oil and butter, add cumin seeds, then onions, and fry till golden.

3. Add turmeric, salt, chilli powder,green chilies if are using,,Tomatoes, stir for a minute, add ground coconut-til masala,fry until oil shows on top. Add all the vegetables, and fry for 3 minutes until wilted.

4. Add 1 cup or more water and sugar and cook on medium heat until veggies are soft,cooked and left with thick gravy.

5. Garnish with cilantro and serve with parathas ot any rotis.

Of course my Tomatoes plants! You must be tired of looking at these and the gourds in my blog by now; Plum, Pear and Cherry Tomatoes!:D


Tomato Kadhi:

Same as Yogurt Kadhi you make but replace the Yogurt with Tomato sauce (canned is okay too),that's all.You can add Pakodis or Teekha Sev Ganthia (spicy thick sev) to it or as it is with rice.



You need these:
4 cups tomato sauce (I used Plum Tomatoes,blanched,peeled and ground to puree), 3 tbsp chick pea flour or besan, 1/4 tsp turmeric, salt.

Roast and powder These:

1/2" cinnamon, 2 cloves,2 dry red chillies, 1/2tsp fennel seeds, 2tsp coriander seeds.

Seasoning:

1 tbsp oil, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds, 2tsp grated ginger.

To Make Tomato Kadhi:

1. Heat the oil in a pan, add all the seasoning ingredients, and fry till golden.Sprinkle 3 tbsp Besan,stir fry for 2 mins with chill pd to cook the flour.

2. Whisk tomato sauce, turmeric, salt with 1/2 cup of water and add to the pan,whisk again to mix well, simmer on low heat for 6-8 mins until the raw smell of tomatoes disappear, must heat on low to avoid splitting the tomato sauce.

3. Add powdered spices into the sauce and simmer for 10 more minutes. Then, add seasoning and mix well.
4. Serve with rice. You can make pakodas or Sev Ganthia and add to the kadhi just before serving.

Luxurious Balm Lemon (first from your left),Mustard leaves (Sarson da Saag!),Fenugreek leaves(Methi), Mint, Chives,fruitless Ridge gourd and Snake Gourd plants!!

For the first time in many yrs,I bought Snake and Ridge gourd seeds,planted them in shallow pots(last 3 pics) and put them on the deck! How stupid does that sound?! Although they grew very well and flowered,they didn't have enough space or the ground to spread their roots! I take the blame and next year,they will be growing on the ground with fence to climb on like my monstrous Bottle gourd did on the deck!:D


Mint, Chives , Methi and Balm Lemon Parathas with Nimbu(Lemon) masala!

Yellowish green Balm Lemon leaves are very aromatic and has this mixed flavor of Lemon and mint,great to chop and mix with dough to make Parathas,soups, smells divine! Serve the Parathas with tangy, spicy Nimbu masala.(Lemon cooked with thick gravy!)



To make them:

Mix 1 cup of Wheat flour, 1/2 cup of Plain flour, finely chopped 1/2 onion,3 tbsp each of Balm Lemon,Chives,Methi (Fenugreek leaves),2 tsp mint leaves,1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp chill pd, salt,1/2 tsp garam Masala,with little water to a stiff dough.Cover and let it rest for 30 mins.Divide in to balls, roll out to 1/4" thick big circles,cut with 4" cookie cutter and bake on a griddle both sides with little oil brushed on top.Serve with Nimbu Masala or with any Pickle!!

Am I sad this year to see all the vegetable plants die and 2007 Summer end?! NOT A BIT!! I am little sick of Gourds, Tomatoes and the unbearable heat now!!Looking forward to a cool weather and winter veggies!;D
See you all next week with non-veg and veg dishes form Karnataka, keep sending those entries, masala powders are a great idea to send too!!
Have a fun weekend!