Chutney

My friends turn to their moms whenever a guest turns up, for quick n tasty recipes. I turn to my sister Bandana who cooks tremendously tasty food. This time she taught me a very palatable chutney which i cooked up for my friends and they simply loved it! Even my hubby and my in laws were bowled over and asked my to cook this up again.... :)
For this we will need:
5/6 medium sized tomatoes
100 grams date palms/khajur
100 grams aamsattva/aampapad/mango candy
50 grams kishmish
Methi / fenugreek seeds: half tsp(Roast and grind)
Saunf/fennel seeds: half tsp(Roast and grind)
Dried red chillies(optional)
Lemon juice 1 tbs
salt half tsp
sugar 75 grams /to taste
Method:Soak the khejur, aamsatva and kishmish in a little water for 15 to 20 mins. Microwave the tomatoes in high for 3 /4 min with half tsp salt.
Blend and strain thru a seive to extract the pulp.
Boil the mixture.Now add the soaked khejur aamsattva and kishmish to the boiling mixture along with the water they have been soaked in .Boil. Add sugar. Cook for 2 -3 mins more. Now add the juice of a lemon or vinegar or tamarind pulp to this . After this add ground methi and saunf and roasted red chillies(Optional) to this mixture. The chutney is ready!
This is meant to be a sweet dish to be served after food But before dessert in Bengal.One may adjust the sugar ,salt or tangy taste of lemon to one's own taste.

quilling hair clip

Paper Earrings

Heres a neat little gift idea. Paper Earrings. Super cute to look at, and fun to make. I made these earrings as gifts for the pujo this year. I had a great time making these.

Godddes Durga Ma on paper quilling

I was enthusiast of portray Ma Durga since my childhood with paper & pencil. Now I got a chance to create Ma Durga with paper quilling just before Durgotsav. We cannot deny the spell in which she binds us for the five days of the magical autumnal celebration called "Sharodotsav".

KNITTED PENGUIN

Have been very busy at workplace. Really didnot manage to work on any project. Had been knitting a penguin for quite sometime now ,but didnot finish it yet. Still am uploading its pic as its almost done! Hope to complete the penguin as soon as possible and waiting to upload the complete pic !!

Doll, Knitted

Knitted this doll for my niece....

paper quilling

rangoli & peacock taking shape of rainbow.

Paper quilling

Trying to project Lord Ganesha with plenty of flowers.

A little fairy.

Paper Quilling

Have got addicted to quilling since my sister Bandana taught me the art. And i made these quilled flowers and placed them on a vase made of soap n ribbons. So here's a little flowerbasket for my dear sis...

Paper quilling

My first attempt on paper quilling. Many more to come i am sure, because i am addicted to this now. :P

home made paneer pizza

Ingredients

2 basic pizza base
1/4 cup tomato ketchup
2 tbsp tomato chilli sauce
1 cup grated mozzrella cheese
1 cup paneer cubes
1/4 cup capsicum cubs
1/4 cup de seed tomato cubes
1/4 cup onion cubes
1/3 cup card
1 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp kasuri methi
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp garam masala powder
2 tsp butter

Method
Marinate the paneer, capsicum, tomato cubes in curd, chilli powder, ginger garlic paste, garam masala and kasuri methi about 30 munites.Heat the butter in a saucepan then add the onion cubes and saute for sometime, add the marinated paneer, capsicum and tomatos and simmer for 4/5 minutes. Remove from the fire and transfer to a bowl, and divide into two equal portions, keep aside.
Place one pizza base on a greased baking tray. Spreade half of the tomato ketchup and tomato chilli sauce on it. Spread half of the paneer filling over the base. Sprinkle half of the mozzrella cheese on top. bake in the preheated oven at 200 C for ten minutes or till the base is evenly browned and cheese is melts. Repeat the remaining ingredients to make another pizza. Serve hot and enjoy.:)

Knitted Toy (Bunny Rabbit)

Here's my easter bunny!. Wish i would click  better pictures of my bunny rabbit, though. Its a bit amateurish but I feel I will be able to knit a few better ones with time!

Knitted tea cosy

Learnt to knit this tea cosy from one of my co passenger on train: Ashima di .

knitted doll

Knitted this doll during my long journey to my workplace.My friend Ashima didi has taught me to knit this...:)So many of us Sayani, Mithu, Tanu, Munmun, Chumki,Swati and so many others learnt it from Ashima didi at that time!!! This project was really very enjayable for all of us because we ,at that time, really didnot know that doll could be knitted at all!!!! I have knitted a couple of such dolls for my little nieces since then!!!!Here's one of them: 

And another.....

 

I have uploaded the pattern of this doll in my post " Knitted Dolls". Do share a picture of your doll with me in case you make one using the pattern. Also please let me know if you detect any typing or such errors. Thanks and wishing happiness to all. Moushumi Sengupta

Peanut Butter Cookies

It was much easier to make than I thought it was.. Its so simple, i can make them everyday :P Although its not a good idea to gobble up so many cookies everyday. Heres the recipe for the yummy crunchy cookies:

Ingredients:  
1/2 cup white butter,
1/2 cup peanut butter,
3/4 cup granulated suger,
1 cup maida,
1 egg,beaten lightly,
1/2 tsp baking powder,
pinch of salt,
1/2 cup chopped unsalted peanuts.


Method: Preheat the oven 375 F/190 C. Grease 2 cookie sheets with a little butter. Beat the white butter & peanut butter together,then add suger & beat well.  Add the beaten egg, add a little at a time, beating after each addition untill throughly blended sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into the creamed peanut butter mixtur. Add the chopped peanuts and bring the mixture together to form soft,sticky dough. Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Form the dough into 20 balls and place them on the cookie sheets, spaced well apart to allow room to expand during cooking, and flatten slightly with your hand. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes,untill golden brown. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool before serving. Enjoi :)

Flower Making