Chow Chow Bhath

This is one of my entries for the RCI Karnataka hosted by dear Asha. Chow Chow Bhath being my favorite breakfast at Kamat, Bangalore, I couldn't stop myself from posting it. I used to enjoy it with a cup of hot filter coffee.


Chow chow bhath is basically a combination of breakfast which has sweet and savory on the same plate. One is upma or uppittu and the other is halwa or kesari. Both are made of Semolina/sooji.



Uppittu/Upma

Ingredients

2 cups semolina/sooji/rava
4 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup chopped onions
1tbsp chopped ginger
1-2 green chillies
1 cup vegetables (peas, beans, carrots, corn)
1tbsp peanuts/groundnuts
5-8 cashew nuts
1/2 tsp split urad dal
1/3 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp chana dal
curry leaves
3-4 tbsp oil
Salt



Preparation

In a deep bottomed pan, roast the semolina on medium low flame for 5 minutes.
In another pan add oil. Once it gets heated up splutter it with mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, peanuts,curry leaves and cashew nuts. Once they get fried well, add ginger, chillies and onions and fry well. To this add vegetables and fry for another 5 minutes. Add warm water and salt. Bring the water to boil. Slowly add the semolina and simultaneously keep stirring it. Lower the heat to medium low and stir well so that no lumps are formed. Lower the gas stove and cover it with lid and leave for 5 minutes. Delicious Upma/Uppittu is ready. Serve hot with coconut chutney.




Kesari / Halwa


Ingredients

1 cup semolina/sooji/rava
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
a dash of orange food color(optional)
4-5 tbsp Ghee/clarified butter
5-8 cashew nuts
2 tbsp raisins
1/3 cup pineapple chunks (optional)





Preparation

In a deep bottomed pan roast the semolina for 5 minutes on medium low heat. In another pan add 1tbsp ghee/clarified butter. Fry the cashew nuts and raisins till golden brown. Remove it from the pan and keep aside. Add the remaining ghee to the pan. To this fold in the semolina. In a cup of warm water dissolve the food color.
Add the water to the semolina. Also pour the remaining 1/2 cup water and stir well on medium low heat. Also add Sugar. Once the water is absorbed fold in pineapple chunks, cashew nuts and raisins. Leave it on low heat of few minutes. Serve hot.

Asha, coming up is my Karnataka feast!

Banana Walnut Bread!

I have no time and got to address so many events. There were some bananas getting ripe and staring at me after all the festivals in our house. Thought of making one of my favorite recipes "Banana Walnut Bread".


I always remember it coming out of the oven with a mind blowing aroma and then vanishes in minutes. This one goes to Coffee's MBP. I discovered this recipe from "Splenda". I was at a billing counter waiting for my turn, grabbed this small splenda recipe book near by and found this recipe which needed only bananas and "No Eggs". But how do I remember the measurements? Quickly noted its website and found a lot of beautiful recipes.
This also goes to JFI Banana hosted by Mandira of Ahaar.



Ingredients

1 1/3 cups All purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1tsp Baking powder
1/2tsp Baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbsp oil
1 1/4 cup mashed banana (3 large )
1/3 cup buttermilk
2tsp Vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup sweetened coconut flakes (thats my special effect)



Preparation

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Blend flour,sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
Add oil, buttermilk and vanilla to mashed bananas and mix well. Pour banana mixture into dry ingredients and blend.
Add chopped walnuts and coconut flakes. Stir until just mixed.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until center is set.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi-(Ganesh Festival) is a day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi in Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, is widely worshiped as the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.




During the Ganesha festival, Indian household worships a statue of Shri Ganesha. The worship lasts an odd number of days from 1 to 11 days, sometimes 13.

This festival starting with the installation of beautifully engraved (sculptured) Ganesh idols in colorfully decorated homes and mantapas (small stage). The idols are worshiped with families and friends.



The main sweet dish during the festival is the modak (modagam or modakam in South India). A modak is a dumpling made from rice flour/wheat flour with a stuffing of fresh or dry-grated coconut, jaggery and some other condiments. It is either steam-cooked or fried. Another popular sweet dish is the Karanji (karjjikai in Telugu & Kannada) which is similar to the modak in composition and taste but has the shape of the 4th day moon.
(Source Wiki)

This is how we celebrated. Usually a Ganesh idol made of clay is bought home and is worshiped for 10 days. Being here in US, I made a Ganesha at home out of Turmeric. It gave us immense pleasure to worship an Idol made with my own hands.




After Pooja and Nievedyam



We worship him with different kind of leaves, flowers, fruits and Grass.
I had made Modaks (Kozukattai) and Channa (sundal/ sanegalu) for neivedyam.


Being a first timer to make modaks, I was not very perfect at it. So no recipes please:(


So how did you all like my little handmade Ganesha??