Everyday Chicken Curry

I had few chicken pieces and exactly 30 minutes at hand to make a dinner for the family. And I just made the easiest chicken curry possibly that was liked by all. This is great for any weeknight dinner when you do not want anything elaborate and do not have many things at your disposal. 

Ingredients

Chicken - Half kg (1 lb), cut into pieces

Onions - 2 medium, chopped

Potatoes - 2 medium, cut into halves

Yogurt - 2 tablespoon

Cumin powder- 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon

Cilantro - 1 small bunch

Garam Masala - 1 teaspoon (4 cardamoms, 2 cloves, 4 black peppers, a small piece of cinnamon)

Oil - 2 tablespoon, I used mustard oil

Salt -  To taste

Mix cumin and coriander powder with the yogurt and smear nicely on the chicken.

Heat oil in pan, add a red chili, and garam masala to it. Salute for a minute, and add the chopped onions. Salute till they are light golden in color.

Add the yogurt and spiced mixed chicken pieces, fry in oil along with onions, till the color changes from raw to nice brown.

Add the potatoes and fry a bit. (Yes, I always have potatoes n chicken curry, makes it extra yummy). 

Add salt to taste. Now add water to it, cover the pan and cook till it is almost done. 

Just before turning the heat off, add chopped cilantro, mix well and turn the heat off.

Tastes yummy when served with roti or white rice.

Enjoy!

Pasta with Broccoli - Just 10 Minutes!

Back after a long time! But just in time when you need a recipe that takes negligible time to cook so that you can spend time with your lil one and survive this long summer holidays. I know sista. That's how my life is going on too.

Well, technically this recipe calls for more than 10 minutes, but that including the boiling time. This is packed with vegetable and cheese so very balanced and nutritional for your growing kiddo. I am sure you can use any veggies of your choice.

Ingredients

Broccoli - 1 small head, cut into bite size florets (minus stem)

Pasta - 1 cup of your choice, I used elbow in this

Cheese - 4 slices, you can use whatever you have, for shredded use about 1/2 cup

Garlic - 4 cloves

Salt - To taste

Pepper - 1/2 teaspoon

These days lil A (almost 5, not so lil any more) dismisses any kind of veggies being served to her. This makes this ever worried mamma paranoid, but luckily she is still loving broccoli. So I feed her this beauty as much as possible till the stars de-align and she stops loving it .

In a pot take enough water, add salt and bring it to boil. Add the pasta and the broccoli at the same time, and cook till al dente, say for about 6-8 minutes.

Reserve a cup of boiled pasta water, and drain the remaining. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil (you can use the same pot), and add the crushed garlic to it. When the garlic turns brown, add the pasta and broccoli to it. Mix well.

Add the shredded cheese, or tear the cheese slices and spread on it. Mix with a wooden spoon.

Add salt and freshly crushed pepper. Give it a mix.

Add the pasta water, mix it well and let it simmer for 2 minutes.

Cover the pan and turn off the heat.

Your delicious yet simple pasta with broccoli is ready.

Enjoy!

Book Review: Ramayana The Game of Life: Stolen Hope Book 3

I know I have been absent from this space for quiet a long time. Life takes its own course and gets busy day after day. But, I am back, and back to review this wonderful book that I got in my mail. This is the third book of the Ramayana series by Shubha Villas. I already read the second book and I was thrilled to get an opportunity to review the third. Thank you BlogAdda.

This book starts with the story of King Danda and his reign over Dandakaranya. This part of the story was totally new to me and soon I was engrossed reading it. Shubha has this unique talent to weave the story nicely, and write it in a very simple yet enchanting way. The way the life of the brothers along with Sita is portrayed only speaks about the strength of the writer. It sums up in a nice way Rama's morality and honesty towards his parents, life, and people of kingdom, it shows Sita's faithfulness, endurance and her love for her family. Ramayana in general plays an important role not only in Indian literature but also in Indian society. It depicts the story of an ideal kingdom with perfect relationships, and talks about ideal characters like the ideal father, son, brother and wife. Ramayana has been translated in various languages all over India.

Shubha has very nicely given us a taste of the hope and desolation, praise and trickery that goes on in a royal family.What I like about the book, is the analogy the writer brings with the modern day life situations and explains it in todays perception. Also, I felt the book dealt with the characters in a more humanly manner and thus one can relate to the emotions and pain of the characters. The writer truly did a wonderful job in depicting this thrilling and complicated family drama. The book ends with Sita been taken away by Ravana to Ashoka vatika, and Lakshmana's diary. It nicely says about Rama's emotion and grief on losing Sita. The picture of Asoka vatika and Lanka has also been depicted nicely. The book gives an account of Sita's feelings, emotions and thought when she was placed in Ashoka vatika. It also shows her strength in the way she spoke to Ravana.

Overall the book is nicely written and makes for a very good read with easy explanation and lucid way of story telling.                              

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program from Blogadda. Participate to get free books today!