Vegetarian /Vegan Biscotti for srinath's bday

Having missed baking a cake on Srinath's bday, I baked a batch of double chocolate, raisins and almond biscotti for him. Couldn't click pictures of the entire batch and clicked only these crumbs. No complaints, it is a huge compliment for the Chef/cook that the dish was appreciated. Right!

My baking inspirations come from two women: Giada and Paula Deen (courtesy: Food Network). I substitute a lot of things to turn my home productions into true vegetarian delight. That means minus the egg or egg substitutes. I am ok with the texture and feel of my baked goodies and never used eggs in my recipes.

Coming to the Biscotti made at home:

This is a double chocolate raisins and almond biscotti (means twice baked in italain). I first baked a square cookie using my standard eggless recipe. The dough needs to be stiff enough to be shaped as a square or a long bread. Feel free to use your hands. After a first round baking at 375F until done, let it cool for half an hour. Then, cut slices of the "cake" and lay it out on a baking sheet and bake it at 350F for another 8 minutes. Perfecto!

Srinath's bday - Updates from my kitchen

I wish I was stronger and healthier. I am loosing my patience and am not quite happy about it. the worst part, I am loosing interest to even enter my kitchen. Not a good sign, for I believed that I was born to experiment with food. I hope that it is just a phase and wont last long.

It was srinath's bday yesterday (he shares it with my amma :-) ). I am a stay-at-home -wife (cant think of any other euphemisms as of now! ). I make it a point to provide srinath with three hot meals and tea with snacks (with my state, it is an effort. But that's the least i do :( . I generally bake a cake or at least make some dessert but missed it yesterday. I am disappointed. But will make it up with a cake baking session over the weekend. Haven't thought about the type of cake yet but I am planning to make it more elaborate this time. I read about Ginger snap cookies on AT - Kitchen and am going to try it (mine will be egg less).

Yesterday's menu included : Jeera Mutter Rice, (chow chow, beans, yellow and red capsicum) mixed veg koorma, Jeera Aaloo (with onions) and cucumber raitha and of course appalam. Pooja brought in some really yummy kheer the previous evening so I skipped making payasam (guilty!).

Srinath had some idli and coconut chutney (both from the fridge) for dinner while I was too sick to get up. I don't like it when special days turn out too drab. It may be my depression talking, but that's all for now before I make this post too boring and cynical. cya!

French Beans Paruppu Usli

A foodie and a veggie lover like me may not be the best judge in a cookery contest. I am not the one to comment on what tastes good or is just ok. I just love anything and everything vegetarian (no egg-etarian stuff) put out for me on a plate.

As always, I have a major fan in my amma. She says I make a better paruppu usli than her...lol....what else would you expect! ;-). Though I don't really believe it, I thought I could dare to post a pic on the blog. I am somehow convinced that everyone is a cook and no one can claim to be a better or the worst one. It is all about the level of interest one has towards cooking. :)..I have picked up methods, modes and flavors from every kitchen I was exposed to. I don't follow any particular style or method and cant claim to have invented anything....lol.

I though it would be repetitive to post a recipe. There are a million versions for anyone who googles "paruppu usli". So here is the very pretty pic of the usli I made sometime back. I believe that this is a great snack as well. Take my word, it makes a wonderful filling for a stuffed tomato or a capsicum dish. Baking them with a layer of Mozzarella topped with a hit of Parmesan would be divine.

As an initiation to those who don't know about this dish; beans usli is the easiest to make and tastes the best. Beans add a crunch factor and brings in the green pop into yellow dal based dish. We have other veggies including cluster beans, cabbage which are a traditional tam bram kitchen staples. I have tried an usli with every vegetable possible. Provided the veggie is sturdy and doesn't turn mushy after it is cooked. Broccoli, capsicum, carrots, anything and everything you can imagine makes a great base for usli. It is better to use more than just tur dal. Adding moong, chana etc makes your usli sumptuous.

It also feeds your soul if you are health food freak! I know I am. Make a meal out of the yummy usli with a bowl of sAmbhAr for soup and appalam as a crisp sidey. Finish your meal with a bowl of thayir pacchadi or raitha. Even a simple glass of neer mooru / chaas would be great. A no rice meal is done and you are full!...a great weight loss tip without the tag of "dieting".

By the way, here is the picture of the mixed dal and french beans usli from my kitchen. YUM!