Karaamani Varuval

INGREDIENTS

Red beans- 1 pack
Onions-1 finely chopped
Chilli powder- 1 tsp
Coconut gratings- 3 tsp
Saunf-1/2 tsp to
Khus khus-3/4 tsp
Mustard seeds-little
Curry leaves – few
Oil-4 tsp
Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

Pressure cook the red beans with salt for 1 whistle.
Grind coconut , saunf and khus khus into a fine paste.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When it splutters add onions and curry leaves. Saute till turns transparent and add the ground paste and chilli powder.saute for a minute and then add the cooked beans. Add salt to taste and add ¼ cup of water. Cook till it becomes thick and dry.
Serve hot with rice and sambar.

Source : http://food.poochandi.com/recipe/karaamani-varuval

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Kovaikkai Masala

INGREDIENTS

Kovakkai- 3 cups (cut lengthwise )
Onions- 1 large chopped finely
Green chilli-1 chopped finely
Ginger garlic paste- 2 tsp
Coriander powder- 2 tsp
Chilli powder – 1 tsp or acc to taste
Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp
Cloves- 3 or 4
Salt to taste
Oil- 4 to 5 tsp
Coriander leaves- 2 tsp chopped finely
For seasoning
Mustard seeds- ¼ tsp
Jeera- ¼ tsp
Curry leaves - few
Peanuts- 3 tsp

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in a pan add the seasoning items. Add the chopped onion and green chilli and fry till the onions become transparent. Then add the ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell disappears. Now add the kovakkai pieces and fry for some time. Add the turmeric, coriander and chilli powders. Crush or powder the cloves and add it to the masala. Add little water , simmer the flame and close it with a lid. Cook till the vegetable becomes tender and oil seperates. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice.

Source : http://food.poochandi.com/recipe/kovaikkai-masala

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Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake

INGREDIENTS

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/3 cup white sugar
* 1/4 cup cocoa powder
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1 cup milk
* 2 pints strawberries, sliced
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
* 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease two 9 inch layer pans.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, 1/3 cup sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in butter or margarine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk, mixing until just moistened. Spread batter evenly into two prepared layer pans.
3. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool.
4. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine strawberries and 1/4 cup sugar. Let the mixture stand 10 minutes.
5. Cover the bottom shortcake layer with half of strawberry mixture and half of the whipped topping. Top with second shortcake layer, remaining strawberry mixture and whipped topping. Drizzle with chocolate topping.

Source : http://food.poochandi.com/recipe/chocolate-strawberry-shortcake

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Heart Shaped Cake

INGREDIENTS

For Cake
18.25 ounces White Cake Mix
• 3 ounces Red Jell-O Powder (Strawberry, Raspberry, or Cherry flavor)
• 1 cup Milk
• 3 Eggs
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup Butter (melted)
• 3 cups Buttercream Frosting

For Buttercream Frosting
• 1/2 cup Butter (softened)
• 4 tbsp Milk
• 3 - 3/4 cup Confectioner\\\'s Sugar (sifted)
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Liquid Food Coloring (optional)

DIRECTIONS

For Buttercream Frosting
• Take a big bowl and beat butter in it with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Keep the speed low.
• Combine sugar, milk, and vanilla with it and now beat for one minute on low speed.
• Now raise the speed of the mixer to medium and keep beating for another one minute till frosting is fluffy.
• Now add food color to it. Just put few drops at a time.
• Keep beating till the desired shade is reached.
• If frosting is thin, add more confectioners\\\' sugar and if it is thick, add milk.

For Cake
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Grease a 9 inches round cake pan and one 9 inches square cake pan properly. Dust uniformly with flour, keep it aside.
• Take a big mixing bowl and add cake mix, Jell-O powder, milk, butter, eggs, and vanilla.
• Now beat for one minute with an electric mixer, keeping the speed low.
• Raise the speed of the mixer to medium and keep on beating for about two minutes, till the batter is soft and properly blended.
• Now place the batter evenly in the two prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, till the light brown color is reached as well as a toothpick placed in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool on wire racks for about 10 minutes.
• To make a heart shaped cake, rotate the square cake so that it seems to be a diamond.
• Now make two semi-circles from the circle cake.
• Set the semi-circles on the top two sides of the diamond to create a heart shape.
• Use buttercream frosting and decorate the cake.

Source : http://food.poochandi.com/recipe/heart-shaped-cake

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