Brinjal Kuzhambu

Brinjal was one of the veggies I used to hate while I was a kid may be because of its mushy texture when cooked and ended up with a blocked mind about this vegetable. Strangely, have been drawn towards this beautiful looking vegetable off late and have been using them to make south, north Indian and even continental dishes. 

Brinjal Kuzhambu is that comforting curry dish that goes perfectly on a lazy Sunday afternoon which can be happily followed by a snooze. Here's the easy to make recipe!

Ingredients

2-3 brinjals, half slit

1 onion, finely chopped

1 tomato, chop7ped

2 chilies, chopped

4-5 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 small ball of tamarind, soaked in a cup of warm water

Chilli powder, 1 tbsp

Coriander powder, 2 tbsp

Turmeric powder, 1 tsp

Mustard & cumin seeds, 1 tsp

Handful of curry leaves

Method

Heat a kadai with oil, add cumin, mustard seeds and let it splutter, add curry leaves.

To this, add onions, green chillies and garlic. Sauté till the onions turn light brown. Then add the chopped tomato and stir the brinjal in slowly.

Add the spice powders and salt to the vegetables and mix well till the brinjals are well coated.

Add half a cup of water, cover and cook the brinjal mixture on low heat for 10-15 minutes.

Next, pour in the extracted tamarind juice and cook for another 8-10 minutes till curry begins to boil.

Turn off the heat, serve the brinjal kuzhambu hot with steamed rice.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

¾ cup castor sugar

¾ cup demura sugar

1 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 egg

1 ½ cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

2 cups chocolate chips

Method

Pre-heat oven to 170 degree C

In a large bowl, beat the egg with sugar, butter and vanilla till the mixture turns creamy

Stir in flour, baking soda and salt and finally mix in the chocolate chips. The dough will be sticky and stuff

Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoonful on to an greased tray. Leave about an inch space between each cookie

Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, till they turn light brown

Cool the chocolate chip cookies on a wire rack and then store them in an air-tight container

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Ingredients

1 broccoli, chopped

1 onion, roughly chopped

3-4 garlic pods, finely chopped

1 cup water

1 /2 cups milk

1/3 cup flour

1 cup cheese, grated

Salt

Pepper

Dried basil leaves

Method

In a deep vessel, melt butter over medium heat and sauté the onions and garlic till the onions turn light brown

Stir in broccoli with the flour and mix till they are well coated

Reduce heat, mix in the milk and then water. Simmer until broccoli is tender, for 10-12 minutes

Stir in grated cheese, salt, pepper and dried basil leaves

Serve hot with croutons or bread sticks

Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

1 cup soft cooking butter

1 cup castor sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup cocoa powder

1 cup plain flour

¼ tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla essence

Pinch of salt

Method

Preheat oven to 160 degrees.

Melt the butter and whisk it with eggs and add the sugar

To this, add the flour, baking powder, cocoa, salt and vanilla essence and stir well

Pour the brownie batter into a greased square cake tin

Bake for 30-35 minutes

Cool the brownies and cut into squares to serve