Mumbai Diary!

When you have half day and a city a explore....what you do ...explore the best things one can. Exactly, i did same. Though i was in city for 3 days but i thought to chitchat with my friend & let both the babies play, rather than moving out in humidity.

I started with a visit to temple, the famous Siddhi Vinayak Mandir(Lord Ganesha), i felt nostalgic....because i came here with my friends a decade ago...*sigh*. Best part about this day was, it was a voting day, so i didn't met any traffic. Took cab and traveled, picked hubby from his meeting point and then we went to Colaba Causeway... A shopper's paradise, especially for junk jewellery. We walked through the lanes but before that we had a quick bite at Cafe Mondegar (which marks the beginning of Colaba Causway, with Taj Hotel as Background)... Yummy chilli-cheese-toast... & cold coffee. U can even try Cafe Leopold, we heard good reviews about that too...but its 1st floor sitting is only air-conditioned, but where kids are not allowed & both my babies were not in a mood to sit between people under fans..so we avoided this place.

After exploring the place ,watching the beautiful architecture, a while you can forget you are in Mumbai- it could be any old European city. We walked till Gateway of India...took a horse ride....very touristy.. but very calming... Taj & other  on one side & Arabian sea on other side.!

Marine Drive....its walking distance only, since we had baby & walked too much we decided to take cab. Its also called "Queen's necklace", as the street light gives the illusion of necklace when viewed at night from any elevated point.

We tried Pizza by the Bay for dinner ...Its very chic with white interiors. A must visit from my side. Ended our day with Naturals Icecream, which is again walking distance from there. I don't even remember how many scoops & what all flavor we tried. :)

This is how our half day... or you can say my evening in Mumbai went.... What you do when you have few hours to explore a place ??

Now, if you think why we didn't go to any of the beaches....Stay tuned here...& you will find out soon! :)

Shaam Savera

As the name suggests, its opposite to each each other shaam(evening) savera(morning)...so as the dish. This dish is full of different flavors....opposite to each other yet together... Spinach & Panner Balls in Red Tomato Gravy. It's Sanjeev Kappor recipe ...I had this dish many times at his resturant... but tried for first time. Since i didn't had few ingredients as needed, i mended the recipe accordingly.

Hubby, the best critic for every situation gave thumbs up for the taste.... believe me, he has got some awesome taste :)

Ingredients:-
For the balls- 
1/2 cup of paneer grated/mashed, add little salt & a pinch of cardamon powder. Make small balls,around 5 & keep aside(since i prepared little early, i kept in fridge)

Bunch of spinach- washed, boiled, drained & pureed. Take pan, heat 1tbsp of oil, add 2 tbsp of besan/gram flour. Fry till golden brown, add the pureed spinach, salt & stir well till all the water evaporates. Turn off the gas when done... Let it cool. Make 5 balls. Take little oil in palm, flatten the spinach ball, put the paneer ball in between & cover it properly. Once all done.... dip them in a mixture of cornflour + water & fry in hot oil. Please handle carefully, I fried 2 at a time... It will take few seconds or a minute to fry.
Keep aside.

For the gravy-
Grind 2 large tomatoes, 1 green chillies, 1/2 inch ginger, 2tbsp of melon seeds, red chilli pwd as per taste, coriander pwd1 tsp, turmeric pwd 1/2 tsp.
3-4 bay leaf
1 cardamon
1 clove
Malai/ fresh cream -1 cup.
fenugreek leaves/kasuri methi

Method-
Heat oil in kadhai, add bay leaves, cardamon, clove & the tomato puree. Mix well till oil leaves its sides.Add salt as per taste. Add cream ,shimmer for a minute or two. Crush kasuri methi ...sprinkle it n cover it(I believe if we cover the kadhai, the smells of leaves stay in it). Turn off the gas.

Now...pour the gravy in serving bowl, halves the balls, place on the gravy & serve immediately. Enjoy!!

I noticed its a no-onion, no-garlic recipe....yet it came out very yummy!
Till next time...
Hv fn..Tk cr :)

Stuffed Garlic Bread

Hey all.....There are many post which are lying in the draft...too lazy to finish them up.. anyways...i am just too busy these days,
  1. My baby having his summer holidays....running after him all day,
  2. Experiments in kitchen... ;)

Yes, so without rambling much i am sharing the recipe. The yeast madness is on me...  have made ladi pav/ buns, Herbs loaf (may be will soon post the recipe) & the Garlic Bread... The stuffed one got finished in blink of an eye(Hubby asked for second round).....yummm..

Ingredients
1 cup wheat flour(guilt free ..lol)
1 cup flour
1 tbsp olive oil
7-8 pod grated garlic
salt as per taste
2 tsp of active dry yeast
1 tsp of sugar
1 cup milk
1 tbsp Butter
Garlic pwd(optional)

Filling :-
Mozzeralla cheese chopped in cubes/ shredded
Corn  boiled
Oregano
Chilli flakes
Black pepper pwd

Take hot milk add sugar add yeast...mix ..rest it for 10 minutes.

On kitchen slab(yes i like working there..... its the best place to mix it) put both the flour , add the salt, garlic, olive oil & now the yeast (use only if fermented....else throw it & try again) . Mix well

Add butter & keep on mixing around 8 -10 minutes... if its little sticky...its ok... or else add little more milk n keep on mixing from the pressure of your palm.

Now oil a large bowl spread little oil n put the dough in it. Cover it n keep in warm place for 45 minutes to an hour.

The dough will rise. Punch the dough & fold it, if its sticky add little flour, but don't mix too much..just fold it.

Now divide the dough into two.. spread from your hand or use rolling pin..  Spread the filling ingredients on the half side & cover it with the other half(semi-circle).

Now, with the second portion ...make same or make garlic loaf..for that oil the baking tray ...put the dough.. & cover it with wet kitchen towel & put it in warm place for another 15 minutes ...After that take out & bake it.(Do apply milk before baking & butter after baking...for glaze & softness)

Spread little milk over it ... Sprinkle garlic pwd, oregano over it & bake it in pre-heated oven for 10-15 minutes at 180-200 degree.
  Enjoy!

To tell you the truth...its too easy to make....you only need to check with the yeast...that's it... Do try !! :)

Till next time ...
Hv fn tk cr :)