Moong Dhal Payasam

Ingredients:

Moong dhal(dry fried)-1 cup
Jaggery-2 cup
Milk-2 cup
Rice-(soaked for 30 minutes)-2 tbsp
Sweetened shredded coconut-2 tbsp
Cashews and raisins-as needed
Cardamom-10 Nos.

Method:

1. Cook moong dhal(do not cook in pressure cooker since it gets overcooked and it becomes mushy).

2. Add the milk in to the half cooked dhal and allow it to cook further.

3. Powder jaggery and add to the cooked moong dhal.Heat the mixture until the jagery melts and mixes with moong dhal.

4. Fry cashews and raisinsn and add it to the dhal.

5. Add the sweetened coconut.

6. Grind the soaked rice and add it to dhal.

7. Powder the cardamom and add it to the mixture.

8. Moong dhal payasam is ready.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!

Chicken Biryani

Ingredients:

Chicken with bones(preferably whole chicken)-3 lbs cut
Basmathi rice-3 cups
Onions-2 long & thinly sliced
Tomato-1 finely chopped
Bay leaves-2
Cloves-3
Cinnamon-1 inch
Cardamom-3
Black pepper/milagu-1 tsp
Fennel seeds/Sombu-2 tsp whole or powdered
Mint leaves-1/2 bunch
Coriander leaves-1/2 bunch
Green chillies-6
Red chilli powder-1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1/2 tsp
Cummin powder/Jeera-1/2 tsp
Ginger Garlic paste-1 tsp
Canola oil-1/2 cup(4 oz)
Curd-3 tbsp

Method:

1. Grind the mint leaves,fennel seeds,coriander leaves,green chillies and black pepper.

2. Heat oil,add cloves,cardamoms,bay leaves,cinnamon together,saute it.

3. Add onions and fry it till it turns brown.

4. Add Ginger garlic paste and mix it.Leave for a minute.

5. Add tomatoes now.Fry it for a while till it blends in with the onions.

6. Add turmeric powder,red chilli powder,corinader powder and jeera powder.Mix.

7. Now add the ground mixture from Step 1.Leave it to boil.

8. Now add cut chicken and add salt.Mix it thoroughly and leave it for 2 minutes.

9. Wash the Basmati rice and add it now.Fry it for a minute along with the chicken and masala.Add curd.

10. Then add water and salt.Mix thoroughly and let it cook.

11.When it is done,it's ready to eat. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

Sweet Pongal

Ingredients:

Raw rice/Paccharisi-1 cup
Moong dhal/pasiparuppu-1 cup
Jaggery/Vellam-2 cup
Water-3 cup
Cardamom/Elakkai-6 pods
Cashews,Raisins-as needed.

Method:

1. Dry fry the moong dhal till you get a nice smell.

2. Mix the rice and fried moong dhal,add water and pressure cook it for about 5 whistles.

3. Meantime heat the jaggery with a 1/2 cup of water until the jaggery melts.

4. Pour the jaggery syrup into the cooked rice and dhal.

5. Fry the cashews,raisins and add to the cooked rice,dhal mixture.

6. Powder the cardamoms and sprinkle it on the pongal.

7. Mix it thoroughly.

8. Sweet pongal is ready to eat.

Enjoy!!!!!!!

Optional:Garnish it with shredded sweetened coconut(availabe in baking section of the grocery stores).