28 mai 2008
Malabar Chicken Biriyani
Chicken Biriyani
Ingredients
2 green chillies
4 garlic cloves
A piece of ginger
9 mint leaves
1 chicken
1 tbsp coriander powder
2 big tomatoes (sliced)
3 big onions (sliced)
50 g butter / ghee
1 Cinnamon stick
1 star anise
2 cloves
3 cardomom pods
Coriander leaves
1 tsp garam masala
Salt to taste
========================
4 cups Basmati rice
6 cups water
1 tsp salt
1 cinnamon stick
3 cardomom pods
1 star anise
1 bay leaf
3 cloves.
3 tbsp ghee / oil
Decoration
2 finely sliced shallots
A pinch of saffron
Cashews & raisins
3 hard boiled eggs
Method
Blend first four ingredients( green masala) & keep aside.
Heat butter in a sauce pan.
Add the spices-cinnamon ,star anise, cloves & cardomom pods.
When aroma rises , add chopped onions & fry till translucent.
Then add the green masala & fry for few minutes
Add coriander powder & fry for a few minutes.(to avoid raw smell).
Then add the sliced tomatoes & fry again.
Then add chicken pieces.
Fry for 5mn & add some water .
Simmer & cook for 20mn.
Garnish with garam masala & coriander leaves.
Keep aside.
====================================
Boil water, add salt & keep aside.
Heat ghee in a sauce pan. Add Cinnamon, cardomom,star anise & cloves.
When aroma of the spices rises add basmati rice.
Stir continously .
When some rice grains change to light brown, add boiled water.
Bring to the boil, cover tightly and simmer until the rice is tender and the water has been absorbed.
Reduce the heat.
When rice is 3/4 cooked remove from fire .
Close the lid tightly . Stir occassionaly with a wooden spatule.
When fully cooked remove the lid & let it cool
Decoration
Dilute a pinch of saffron in water.
Mix two spatules of rice & keep aside.
Fry cashews & raisins in ghee & keep aside
Fry sliced shallots in ghee & keep aside.
You can use hard boiled eggs to decorate a chicken biriyani.
=======================
Mix the chicken masala with rest of the rice.
Stir with a wooden spatule.
Decorate with saffron rice, fried shallots, cashews, raisins & hard boiled eggs
Garnish with coriader leaves & garam masala.
Serve hot with Raita & Chutney
25 mai 2008
Indian Music Video- Dil Ka Rishta
Dil Chura Le
Vidéo envoyée par clockwatcher2
Film : Dil Ka Rishta
Actors : Aiswarya Rai , Arjun Rampal
Song : Dil Chura Le
Bonne Fête à toute les Mamans
On the "Mother's Day" I'm posting some fragrant flowers in my Mom's garden.
Brunfelsia magnifica ( Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow)
These fragrant flowers start dark purle then fade to lavender & then to white.So they are commonly called " Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow ".
Brunfelsia americana (Lady of the Night)
These creamy white flowers are extremely fragrant at night.
So they are commonly called " Lady of the Night".
Both these plants are propagated by cuttings.
My Mom is blessed with gifted green fingers. ie "La Main Verte"
22 mai 2008
Rasmalai - Indian Desert
Rasmalai
Ingredients
100ml vegetable oil ( melted butter)
300g milk powder
1 tsp baking powder
2 egg whites
170g condensed milk (1/2 tin)
500 ml milk
100g sugar
A pinch of saffran
1/2 tsp cardomom powder
Chopped nuts ( almonds/ pistachios/cashews)
Method
Whisk eggwhites & add first three ingredients.
Make evenly sized balls & keep aside.
Heat milk in a saucepan.
When the milk starts boiling, drop balls one by one.
Cook for 10mn, until the balls double in size.
Add condensed milk & sugar.
Add cardomom & saffron & just swirl the pan.
Remove from heat.
Chill & serve with chopped nuts.
16 mai 2008
C'est La Fête du Pain.- Fougasse
Fougasse aux lardons et aux olives Today it's St Honoré, saint patron des boulangers . 
Ingredients
500g flour
10 g fresh yeast
1/2 glass luke warm water
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped olive
1/2 cup chopped ham
Method
Dilute yeast in luke warm water with 1 tsp sugar .
Set aside for 15 minuites.
Mix all the ingredients & knead well.
Cover the bowl with a damp cloth & keep aside for 1 hour.
Take an orange sized ball & flatten it into thick oval shaped.
Make cuts using a knife (resembles a leaf)
Preheat oven to 240°C (Th-8)
Bake for 20-30 mn.
Your Fougasse is ready to serve.
So French celebrate "Fête du Pain" - Bread fest.
14 mai 2008
Bollywood Classic Movie "Guide" in Cannes Festival
Movie : Guide (1965)
Actors : Dev Anand & Waheeda Rehman
Song : Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hain
Singer : Rafi
13 mai 2008
Beetroot Cake
Beetroot Cake
Ingredients
200g butter
200g sugar
200g flour
200g beetroot (cooked & mashed)
3 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
1 tsp cinnamon powder
Raisins & dried cranberries (optional)
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Cream together the butter, sugar & salt .
Add beaten eggs.
Sieve the flour and baking powder together and fold into the cake mixture.
Add mashed beet, & cinnamon powder
Pour the batter into the greased cake pan.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean, about 35-40 mn.
Serve with 
.
09 mai 2008
Fish Molee
Fish Molee
Ingredients
500 g salmon or any other fish
2 big onions (sliced)
2 big tomatoes (sliced)
2 chillies (half slit)
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
2 tsp chopped ginger
1 tsp salt
2 cups of coconut milk
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Curry leaves
Salt to taste
Method
Marinate fish with tumeric & salt & keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan & fry cinnamon stick, cloves.
Then fry sliced onions & curry leaves.
Add ginger paste, chillies& fry again.
Then add sliced tomatoes.
Close with a lid & cook for 5 min.
Add fish pieces & 1 cup water.
Simmer & cook for another 5mn.
Keep on low fire, add coconut milk & just swirl the skillet.
Cook for another 2mn.
Garnish with curry leaves & remove from fire.
Serve with Indian bread / rice.
05 mai 2008
Tapioca Stir Fry
Kappa Mezhukkupuratti
Ingredients
2 shallots (chopped)
3 tbsp grated coconut / dessicated coconut
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 green chilli
few curry leaves
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 medium size tapioca
1 tsp musturd seeds
1 dried red chilli
1/2 tsp cumin powder
Curry leaves
Salt to taste
Method
Coarsely grind first six ingredients & keep aside.
Wash, peel & cut tapioca in chunks.
Cook for 10-15 mn in salt & water.
When cooked, drain water & keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan. Splutter musturd seeds.
Add curry leaves a red chilli.
Add the coconut mixture with some water & salt.
Cover & cook for a few minuites.
They add cooked tapioca & stir fry for 3mn.
Garnish with curry leaves & cumin powder.
04 mai 2008
International Fair of Paris -2008
Foire De Paris 2008
Every year, in spring Paris hosts an International Fair .
The theme of this 104 eme edition is "Passion".
Exibition is divided in to three sections - House & Environment, Well being & Leisure, Cultures of the World .
Eco friendly home in the first section is most visited.
My passion is to wander around the stalls in "Cultures of the World".
Sweets of Egypt & Greece were excellent.
My native country was also present here with their Kashmir shawls, Carpets, statues, beauty accessories & restaurents.
