My 100th post - A Guest Post from Nava : Orange Curry Leaves Chicken

I am soo happy today.. I can't believe that this is my hundredth post.. I never thought I would enjoy blogging soo much.. It’s been more than 5 months since I started blogging.. Although, I’ve not exactly been very regular at blogging for the past few weeks.. But with each passing day, I have learned soo much here.. I really love blogging now – making new friends who share the same passion with me and reading soo many amazing blogs..  Never thought I could be able to achieve this milestone.. 

There are soo many of my fellow bloggers and friends who have already crossed this path way ahead of me.. Now , I know what it feels like to be here.. I am soo proud of them and wish all my fellow bloggers lots of success and recognition always..  A BIG HUG! 

Thanks to my hubby for his motivation, my son for patiently waiting for his food, so that his Mom can take pictures for her blog first :D .. And, also such good, encouraging and supportive friends from this blog o’sphere..  I wouldn’t have been here without your love and encouraging words.. 

I would also like to thank my silent readers who keep visiting my blog. I really appreciate your visits. But would also be glad if you would say something or let me know what you felt about my posting.. It would definitely give me more confidence to write better each time.. 

Not to forget, my followers, people who are following me on GFC G+, FB, Pinterest, Twitter, Bloglovin, Networked blogs and Linkedin.. Thanks for reading all my posts and making your presence felt. 

I would also like to thank Pavithra, one of my co-bloggers who did a guest post for me when I completed 50 posts.. Pavithra, I really miss you dear.. Hope to see you back in action soon…

And last but not the least Padmini, who always tries my recipes and gets to me with her feedback.. I really appreciate it dear and want you to know that your response always makes me happy.. 

Thanks again everyone for being there with me throughout this journey.. Looking forward to share many more recipes with you all. 

Today, I have a special blogger on my blog as my esteemed guest.. The very well-known Nava of Nava-K. I am really in awe of Nava, her excellent writing and beautiful photography. She shares her love for beauty, travel and food. Everytime I see her posts, I wish if I could click such eye-catching pictures.. I asked her if she would be interested in doing a guest post. And I was soo glad that she agreed.. Thanks a lot Nava for sharing this amazing recipe with us..

Over to Nava:-

To start off, lemme me thank Nilu for the request of a guest post in her space. It’s definitely an honor which I couldn’t turn down because I value my friendship with fellow foodies. That said I have politely stayed away from invites on taking up cooking challenges. Basically it isn’t within my capacity and most importantly, I don’t have the time. My space is about recipes I cook for my family besides sharing other lifestyle contents like my food ventures, travel journeys and product reviews.

For me, everything revolves around time. I have enough to occupy myself but I can sneak 1 hour for blogging. I can’t explain how I do it but so far so good. As much as I was enthusiastic about sharing my recipe, I took a while to decide. I was confused but with my collection of recipes which is sky rocketing, I maneuvered easily.

“Orange Curry Leaves Chicken” is about marrying the Chinese and Indian ingredients. It’s one of my favorite, available among the rest of the dishes in Chinese chap fun or mix rice stalls. I don’t know what are the ingredients the stall owners add but from the taste, the prominent slanted towards fresh orange juice, curry leaves corn flour to thicken the sauce and in my invention, I combined chili flakes.

The flavors are very interesting, the sweet sour burst of orange juice, perfumed with curry leaves and the little dainty spicy tone.

Ingredients:-

For the chicken

400g chicken – cut into bite sizes

½ tbsp ginger paste

½ tbsp thick soya sauce

½ tbsp rice flour

1 tsp corn flour

Salt for taste (if needed because soya sauce can be salty)

** Mix and stir these ingredients together

For the sauce

¾ freshly squeezed orange juice

3 shallots – sliced thinly

½ inch ginger – sliced thinly

½ tbsp corn flour – dilute with water

3-4 sprigs curry leaves

¼ orange – sliced (optional)

2 tsp chili flakes (or as per taste)

Oil as needed

Sugar and salt – as needed

Method:-

Deep fry chicken pieces till crispy and crunchy.

Remove and keep aside.

Leave about 2 tbsp of oil in the same pan.

Saute shallots and ginger.

Pour orange juice in and add chili flakes, curry leaves.

Season with sugar and salt.

At the point sauce is bubbling, stir in corn flour bit by bit till sauce thickens.

Add chicken pieces and continue to stir to coat into the sauce.

Off the heat and combine in orange slices.

Thanks Nava, for taking some time and making this delicious Orange Curry Leaves Chicken for me. I’m sure all my readers would have loved it.. Hope to see more of your wonderful posts in the future :-)

Baked Macaroni & Vegetable Delight

Today I made baked macaroni with vegetables. It is one of the most easiest recipes which can be served as a side dish as well as a main dish. Whenever I ask my son what does he want for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, without much delay the answer is the same every time ‘Macaroni or Pasta or Pizza’. I just don't understand the why kids are so fascinated with such kind of food.  In order to please him (well, I agree to bribe him seems more appropriate here) to study well for his upcoming term exams, I decided to make a different and healthier version of macaroni. This baked macaroni dish has all the delightful ingredients to make it one of your favorite: lots of veggies, herbs and the yummy cheesy white sauce. What I love most about it is that it is healthy as well as delicious at the same time. It is a perfect dish for kids lunch box as it is a complete meal in itself.

Ingredients:-

• 2 cups mixed frozen vegetables
• 2 cups milk 
• 1 cup boiled macaroni
• ½ cup cheddar cheese (grated)
• ½ cup water
• 4 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 tsp black pepper pdr
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp dried basil
• salt to taste
• few coriander leaves (chopped)
• cheddar cheese for topping (grated)

Method:-

• Heat butter in a saucepan. 
• Add all purpose flour and saute for a minute. 
• Switch off the flame and add salt, pepper pdr, oregano, basil, milk and water.
• Mix well and keep on flame. Stir for a minute and add cheese.
• Cook till well mixed. The consistency of sauce should not be thick, it should be like a sauce.
• Switch off as soon as it starts to boil.
• Add frozen vegetables, macaroni, coriander leaves and mix well.
• Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. 
• Spread cheddar cheese on top.
• Pre-heat the oven for 180 degrees Celsius.
• Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes.

Notes:-

• You may add little tomato sauce to the macaroni if you like.
• You may use boiled vegetables instead of frozen ones (green peas, potatoes, cauliflower, carrot, broad beans, corn etc)
• For the non-veg version, marinate chicken 2-3 chicken breast, with salt, pepper pdr, mustard pdr / paste, wostershire sauce and vinegar. Pan fry in 2 tbsp oil for 10 - 12 minutes, You may either shred the chicken or cut into chunks as per your liking.. Add the chicken to the macaroni.

Happy Cooking!!

Sending this entry to :- Pari's Only Food For Pregnancy Event and Nayna's Lets Cook With- Cheese Event and Amrita's Friends Forever Event and Kids Delight "After School Bites" & Valli's Announcement Page and Whats with my Cuppa 2 & Nupur's Home Page and Cutchi Kitchen's Giveaway 

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

The climate is surprisingly good since past two days in Coimbatore. There's a definite chill in the air and I'm loving it. 'Perfect time for making soup' I thought to myself! I love cauliflower in all forms. But whenever it came to soups I never thought I'd like it soo much until I tried my hands at this simple cauliflower soup and it became my favorite soup. It is very easy and quick to make and very delicious too. You can make this comfort soup for brunch too. My hubby loves soups a lot and he likes to have this soup with garlic flavored croutons.

Ingredients:-

• 150 gms cauliflower ( cut in florets)
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• 2 cups vegetable / chicken stock
• 2 tbsp fresh cream
• 1 tbsp butter
• pepper to taste
• salt to taste

Method:-

• Melt butter in a pan.
• Add onion and saute till transparent.
• Add cauliflower florets.
• Add stock and cook till cauliflower is tender.
• Keep aside till cool.
• Then puree it in a blender.
• Remove in a thick bottomed pan.
• Add salt and pepper.
• Boil and add fresh cream.
• Cook till required consistency is obtained.

Ingredients for garlic flavored croutons:-

• 4-5 bread slices (cut into small bite-sized pieces)
• 2-3 cloves of garlic (chopped / crushed)
• 2 tbsp butter

Method:-

• Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius.
• Grease a baking tray slightly with oil.
• Heat butter in a wok.
• Add garlic. Saute till it changes color.
• Add in the cubed bread and mix well.
• Transfer on the baking tray.
• Bake for 4 - 5 minutes until light golden.
• Serve croutons with hot soup.

 Notes:-

• Always blanch cauliflower for 3-5 minutes before cooking to get rid of the dirt.
• You may add ¼ cup milk instead of cream.
• If you do not have stock, boil 2 cups water along with 2 maggi cubes (masala / chicken). Use this instead of stock.

Happy Cooking!!

Sending this entry to :- Easy to Prepare in 15 minutes and Flavors of France & Simply.Food