Marwadi Aloo Pyaz Subji, Happy Women's Day!

Let me begin with this cool message- Behind every successful man is a woman who is getting ahead of him every day! Happy Women’s Day :) No one can make us feel inferior without our permission. Women are the whole circle, within us lie the whole power to create and transform.

Today women are doctors, engineers, teachers, astronauts- you name it. But the sad part is that March 8^th is just the ‘date’ as Sexual violence against women in India is widespread throughout the country. The tragic Delhi gang rape episode in December 2012 shook us all. It is reported that a woman is raped every 18 hours in India. Irony is that society teaches us ‘not to get raped’ instead of ‘do not rape’

Respect her, love her...above all understand her. Only then will the country have a true cause to celebrate International Women's Day.

I am lucky to have many incredible women around me, my mother, and mother in law, grandma, friends and all you lovely ladies. On the occasion of International Women’s Day I dedicate this post to my super women- my mother :) My mother- the women who gave me birth, who sacrificed for me, who gave me everything and anything that I wanted in my life.

Here is her signature dish- Aloo Pyaz ki Subji in typical desi marwadi style. Love this with plain rice and lehsuni daal tadka-ah tastier if eaten with hands. Well being marwadi that too from Rajasthan I know what authentic aloo pyaz ki subji is. Yes, there is no bliss better then having the scoops of this piping hot subji.

What is the wow factor? Well fennel seeds , gram flour and loads of coriander leaves. You cannot miss fresh coriander leaves in this subji, no you just cannot. Basic and yet royal; simple and yet classy-Do I say more?Characteristic and authentic Marwadi Aloo Pyaz ki Subji....

Ingredients:

2 large potatoes

2 large onions

1 tablespoon gram flour/besan

1 tablespoon cumin/jeera

1 tablespoon mustard/rai

2 tablespoon oil (mustard)

1/4 teaspoon asafoetida/heeng

Salt to taste

1 bay leaf/tej patta

2 whole dried red chilli/sukhi lal mirch

1 teaspoon red chilli powder

1 tablespoon fennel seeds/ saunf

1 tablespoon coriander seeds/sukha dhaniya

1 teaspoon turmeric powder/haldi

1 tablespoon coriander powder/dhainya

1 teaspoon dry mango powder/amchur

1 teaspoon lime juice

4-5 tablespoon coriander leaves

Method:

Coarsely paste the coriander seeds and fennel seeds. Keep aside.

Chop potatoes and onions in quarters.

Heat oil in kadai/wok. When oil is hot, add cumin and mustard and let it splutter. Add asafoetida, bay leaf and dry red chillies.

Then mix coriander seeds and fennel seeds paste and stir.

Add turmeric powder, salt and mix potatoes and onions. Stir well.

Cover and cook on a medium flame till potatoes are tender.

Finally add in all coriander powder, red chilli powder and gram flour. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Finally add in lime juice and dry mango powder.

Mix in the coriander leaves and cover. Turn off the heat and serve.

Strawberry Chocolate Ice-Cream, Without Ice-cream Machine, Eggs And Sugar

Who will not like the recipes that is not elaborate, doesn't have tons of steps to follow? Well I am that kind of a person who tries to stay far from complicated recipes. Ice cream is one such dessert that needs lot of preparation, too many ingredients and an expensive ice cream machine.  I have made eggless chocolate cookies ice cream before that too without ice cream machine, but this one is more special as it is-

• Sugar Free- no added sugar, jam, honey or condensed milk.
• Eggless- no double boiler method to cook yolks
• Contains raw fruits- fibers, endless choices and healthy
• Needs just 2 ingredients-yogurt and fruit.
• Easy and quick- no churning, no cooking, no ice cream machine.

Do you believe it? Yes, now you can make creamy ice-cream at your home, without fancy machine.  This is fantastic for those who are looking for healthy dessert recipes. The only important thing to note is to have thick yogurt (I used Yeo Valley Greek Style Natural Yogurt). That’s it. Rest all is super trouble-free, no rocket science at all.

I used strawberry as it is the seasonal fruit now, though I cannot wait to try mangoes in the summers ;). Now, I am a big chocolate fan when it comes to the desserts, so I did added 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, but it is totally up to you. You can add nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, dried fruits...anything and everything you are fond of. The best component is that it has homely feel to it. *happy dance*

Cannot convince more, I have done my part- Make this and you can thank me later.

Ingredients:

4 cups strawberries
1 cup plain whole Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
1 tablespoon rum (optional)

Method:

Wash strawberries and remove the green cap. Freeze strawberries in the Ziploc bag for 2 hours.

Next, in the blender, blend yogurt and all the rest ingredients till it becomes creamy.

Freeze in the freezer safe container for at least 6 hours.

Notes:

Due to cocoa powder; the ice cream doesn't look that pink.

If you are not conscious you can add sugar or condensed milk.

Using lime juice, rum and cocoa powder is absolutely optional.

Take out of the freezer 10 minutes before serving, this gives creamy consistency.

Use fruits like mango, pineapple, cherries, banana and berries. Or make simple vanilla one with vanilla essence (you might need sugar here).

Do not blend nuts, chocolate chips or dried fruits with fruits and yogurt, instead mix with the blended mixture and freeze.

Taste:

Tangy, semi-sweet and creamy