cookbypassion

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu Festival celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva. There is a Shivratri in every lunar- solar month of the Hindu calendar but once a year in late winter around February / March before the arrival of summer marks Maha Shivratri which means " The great Night of Shiva ". Unlike most Hindu festivals which are celebrated during the day, this festival is celebrated at night.It is a major festival in Hinduism, which marks a remembrance of" overcoming darkness  and ignorance" in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva, chanting prayers and fasting. Most of the devotees keep awake all night, while others visit  Shiva temples to pray. Devotees fast all day and night and have food the next day morning. While others fast all day and have fruits or sweets / snacks in the night after offering to Lord Shiva.  In Kashmir, Maha Shivratri is celebrated as HaraRatri. People believe that on this day Shiva is said to have appeared in the form

Today's recipe is  made for a special person on her special day. My cute little princess my daughter  "H"  who turned 8 last week is a big fan of whip cream and strawberries. So I thought why not make some thing special for her birthday with these 2 ingredients. Couple of weeks  ago my daughter  saw a picture of puff pastry fruit tarts on a magazine while we were waiting at doctor's office. I promised to make them for her once she gets well. I vaguely remember the recipe on the magazine but have managed  to make them with what ever I could recollect. As " H's  " birthday was falling on weekend and also her first birthday in our new home she wanted to invite her old and new school friends for the party. We decorated the room with her this year's favorite character " Unicorn ". She had a lovely time with her friends and so did her friends. I couldn't make the fruit tarts for her friends as couple of them had berry allergies. So it was a s

Festivals in South India specially Andhra Pradesh, are incomplete without  payasam. Whether it is Sankranti , Diwali , Ganesh Chaturti or any other festival.  Payasam / Kheer / pudding originating from Indian subcontinent is made by boiling rice / dal / tapioca / vermicelli  with milk and sugar.  Adding cardamom powder and nuts to give it an extra flavor and taste.  Makar Sankranti is a festival day in Hindi calendar observed every year in January. It marks the first day of sun's transit into the Makara Rashi ( Capricon ) marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days. Makara Sankranti is set by the solar calendar and is observed on a day which usually falls on 14th or 15th  January. This festival is dedicated to Hindu religious sun god Surya.  It is known by different names and celebrated with different customs in different parts of the country. .  Makara Sankranti in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharastra .  Makara Chaula in Odisha

Broccoli is a edible green plant in the cabbage family whose large flowering head is eaten as vegetable. Broccoli has an impressive nutritional values. It is high in fiber, high in Vitamin C, A and B 6. It doesn't take much time to cook Broccoli, just steam it or roast with little salt and pepper or stir fry with garlic. Serve it with some baked or fried Chicken or fish, It  makes a perfect meal.  Tastes awesome when its cooked nice and tender, over cooked broccoli do not taste that great.  Today for week 2,  day 3 of Blogging Marathon 96, you will be seeing a post about stir fried Broccoli with lots of Garlic. I have served it with some dal and roti for our dinner today. This recipes goes to my this week's theme- Easy dinner recipes..... Ingredients: Broccoli florets 2 cups Garlic minced / chopped 2 tablespoons Crushed red pepper 1 spoon Salt to taste Oil 2 Tablespoons Preparation: In a non stick skillet or flat pan add 2 spoons oil. Once the oil is hot add chopped garlic and

Potatoes are one of our family's favorite vegetable. I generally make potato paratha for kids lunch boxes and sometimes for dinner too. To give these paratha's a nice color and extra taste, I have added little green peas to the stuffing along with potato. I have used frozen peas here, if you get fresh peas just go ahead cook them a bit and add to the stuffing. Potato and peas is a very good combination not only to make paratha's but also to make kurma, curry, pulao or samosa. I have added little Amchur ( dry mango powder ) to the stuffing, if you do not have amchur powder go ahead and add some lime juice or little chaat masala as well. All the dry masala quantities I have added according to my kids taste. You can increase or decrease them according to your taste. Increase the quantity of peas as well if you want more. You can prepare the stuffing in advance and store in refrigerator for up to 2 days for later use.  Today's recipes is going to week 2, Day 2 of Blogging M

Hello friends, first of all a very Happy New Year 2019  to all of you from me and my Kitchen. I Hope you all had a very good time spent with your family and friends and of course  with lots of  food.  My first post for 2019 is a very interesting and spicy dish made with Appe. Click  appe or gunta ponganalu recipe.  I would say left over appe because I made this yummy dish with lots of left over appe  from today's breakfast.  We  usually have very lite and simple menu for dinner like roti - sabzi or pasta or some times just  bread and omelette. Today as I was thinking what to cook for dinner, I see there are no veggies in  my refrigerator, but  I see lots  of  left over appe. Wanted  to  make something out of them  rather than feeding the kids same old appe (To be frank even I was  bored of eating them )  So thought why not add some masala / chutney powder and fry the appe with some onion and tomato gravy. You can even add chopped bell pepper along with onion and tomato.To my luck