Broccoli Soup

I feel like baking,not so much for the eating part[that too,yes] but for the whole exercise of baking-measuring out the ingredients,sifting the flour,beating the batter,lining the tins and waiting for the cake to bake while the whole house is filled with the yummy aroma coming out of the oven..Hell,I miss baking!!

So many great recipes are doing the rounds,I've especially bookmarked this cake from Deeba's this one from Baking Bites,The Food Librarian is tempting me with her Bundt Cakes,I will be baking a Bundt Cake for sure on November 15th!!Not to give in to temptations,I've cleared my stock of butter,flour and eggs..ah the miseries of one trying to lose weight!!


Why all this banter for a simple soup post??Well,this explains the plight of the poor soup.I had some yellowing broccoli in the fridge and it was pureed into a soup.Doesn't sound much exciting,right?But if you are not dieting,there are different ways to pep up this simple soup.I had the same soup once in The Wharf,Mahabalipuram where cubes of Cheddar was added to the soup and every mouthful was so flavorful with the slight aroma of Broccoli and the strong taste of Cheddar..ah,bliss!!

Broccoli Soup

Ingredients

Broccoli - about 1 cup of florets

Onion - 1,chopped

Milk - 1 to 1 1/2 cups

Water - 1 cup

Salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a kadai add a tsp of oil and saute onions.

When the onions start browning,mix in the broccoli florets and give a good toss.

Add a cup of water and let it cook for 5-7 minutes.

Switch off the flame and let it cool down to room temperature.

Blend to a puree in the mixer adding milk as required.

If it is too thick,you could add more water or milk.

Put it back into the kadai and cook it for another 3-5 minutes.

Add enough salt and pepper to taste.

You could add cubes of Cheddar just before serving the soup for a gourmet touch!!

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From your Blogs #5 ~ Cooking with Raaga!!

Raaga is a blogger who needs no introduction.I’ve mentioned many a times before that I really really like the way she blogs.Her recipes are always fuss free and can be made in a jiffy.I like the way she transforms recipes with cumbersome procedures into healthy,fast and instant dishes.I keep trying her recipes one after another,some of which I have blogged about before and some yet to.

Recently,I tried five of her recipes in a span of a week or so.Needless to say all were lipsmacking.So here I am,dedicating this post to Raaga,of whose recipes perhaps,I’ve tried out the maximum!!

Kadgi Tori Ghashi – I had bought a fresh kadgi[Raw Jackfruit] from Kerala and was wondering what to prepare with it.I came across this recipe and I knew instantly that I would love it.Pulses are included in our menu at least 2 times in a week and pairing it with kadgi was simply too delicious.I usually make a Saarupkari with Tori-Pigeon Peas or a Bendi,but pairing it with Kadgi was an instant success.We loved it with rice for lunch and the leftovers were gone in no time too.

Changes I made – I used black Tori wheras Raaga has used white.No other changes.Lipsmacking-that’s all I can say!!

Broccoli Mushroom soup – We have soups with toast for dinner twice or thrice a week.Since hubby doesn’t like Tomato soup,I’m always searching for new recipes.If you are looking to make varieties of soups daily for dinner-look nowhere else.I think Raaga has got an amazing collection of soups at her blog and all do-able types,so without further delay,hop on!!I make this soup often and it is one of our favorites!!

Changes I made – I didn’t puree the veggies,I chopped them finely instead.Feeling lazy to make this?I’ve tried this soup with Maggi Instant soups-Creamy Mushroom soup.Saute the veggies in a little oil and add to the soup[follow the instructions on the back of the soup packet to make the soup].Yummy!!

Mushroom on toast – I once chanced upon Raaga’s recipe for Garlic bread and that’s one thing which I make without fail everytime we buy Whole wheat bread.When I saw the title Mushroom Cheese melts,I wanted to try it with good ol’ bread and it came out as tasty.Next time I’m trying it with buns.

Changes I made – The recipe calls for buns but I used whole wheat bread and it worked out just great.Great snack to have with tea or soup.Delicious!!

Strawberry Cake – During our Bangalore trip,one thing we bought like crazy was Strawberries.Something which costs us 70-80 rs/-,here in Chennai was only 20 rs/- in Bangalore.Can you believe that??We were surprised to see something cheaper in Bangalore..lol;-).But after the initial attacking mode,the berries were left untouched inside the fridge.I made the Strawberry cake with the leftover berries and the cake was relished by us and our friends.Superhit!!

Changes I made – None..the cake is a winner!!


And now last but not the least – Coriander Buns.Something which I am still bowled about.It smelled heavenly inside the oven and it was gone in no time once it came out of it.A super duper hit!!Just like she says in her post-it looks and tastes just like bakery-bought ones and you wouldn’t be surprised if someone asked you the same.I’ve made it twice and had a happy glee on my face when hubby said it is one of the best stuffed buns he has eaten!!Thanks Raaga..!!!

Changes I made – Still reading this??Go ahead and try this out and you would know why you need not change anything about this recipe!!

Some more recipes I have tried from Raaga -

Banana Nut Loaf

Baked vegetables with Crumbs

Garlic Bread

Cream of Carrot soup

Vanilla Raisin Bread Pudding
Molagapodi Appo

I've been showered with awards from my fellow bloggers Akal's Sappadu -

One lovely Blog award,Triple awards,Uber Amazing Blog,The Adorable Blog & Friends Award.

and JZ-The Adorable Blog.

Thank you all for your appreciation!![I've added the awards on my sidebar].

I would like to pass it on to-

Raaga

Purnima

Asha

Cham

Sowmya

Maya

Ujwal

Jayasree

Suma

Ranji

Congrats and enjoy folks!!

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Capsicum-Tomato Soup

Life's getting back to normal again.The roads are almost cleared of stagnant drain water and rains too have stopped.The only thing which is unpredictable is the electricity.One moment its there and the next its gone.I had plans of making a cake for the last day of RM,but I guess that has to wait.

I am not happy with the way I’ve dealt with RM.I would be most probably the only RM member who did not keep any drafts ready.I cooked for the day and posted about it.It worked fine till the cyclone struck.There was no electricity and even though I cooked a number of dishes keeping RM in mind,I just couldn’t take any pictures in pitch darkness,even during the day.I am ready to accept the Silver medal DK..and my grand finale post will make its appearance soon..

I made this soup for dinner today, mainly to finish off the once-plump-looking capsicum which became size zero due to no power..nothing spectacular,it just added a twist to the good-old tomato soup.And I made it in the MW,cooking in MW after a long long time!!

Recipe Marathon – Day 29
Capsicum-Tomato Soup

Ingredients

Capsicum – 1,chopped
Tomato – 1 big,chopped
Milk – ½ cup
Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese spread – 1 tbsp(or 1 cube of Amul cheese)

Method

Cook capsicum and tomato in about a cup of water(full power-5mts).
When cool,grind to a smooth puree and strain.
Add the milk,cheese,salt and pepper-Mix well.
Microwave on full power for 5 minutes-stir well.
Serve hot with toast!!
A peep into my fellow marathoners kitchen!!

1) DK
2) Siri
3) Srivalli
4) Ranji
5)PJ
6)Curry Leaf
7)Medha
8)Priya
9)Bhawna
10)Raaji
11)Ruchii
12)Anu
13)Kamala
14)Roopa
15)Rekha
16)Divya M
17)Lakshmi
18)Raaga
19)Lakshmi Venkatesh
20)Sripriya
21)Viji
22)Kamalika
23)Pavani
24)Karuna
25)Roochi

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Mushroom Soup

Having soups along with dinner is something we have started doing of late.It helps to decrease the amount of rotis we gobble down..;-).Hubby was not the one for home-made soups though,he liked only a few soups and preferred to have it from his favorite restaurant!So I had an uphill task ahead to convince him that I make good soups too..;-).He dislikes tomato soup,so that was out of the question.I did not have any vegetable stock with me so I had to make a soup from scratch.

I got a packet of button mushrooms recently,so decided that I am gonna make a soup out of mushrooms.I remembered an easy recipe of creamy mushroom soup from a magazine,which I had shared with my cousin S.She had made it then and said her folks loved it.So I brushed up my memory a bit and made the soup.Hubby did not like it…He LOVED it.Thank God!!

Recipe Marathon - Day 22
Mushroom Soup

Ingredients

Button Mushrooms – 10,medium sized
Onion – 1,finely chopped
Milk – 2 cups
Butter – 1 tsp
Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Chop the mushrooms into small pieces,reserve 2-3 and keep aside.
In a kadai,add ½ tsp butter and sauté the mushrooms for a few minutes.
Add salt and pepper to taste,garlic paste,milk and let it boil.
Once it starts boiling,close with a lid and let it cool.
When it cools down completely,grind to a smooth paste in a mixer.
In the same kadai,add the rest of the butter and sauté onions.
Finely chop the mushrooms kept aside and sauté along with the onions.
Add the mushroom-milk mix and let it come to a rolling boil.
Serve hot with toast!!
Check out what my fellow marathoners have been cooking today!!

1) DK
2) Siri
3) Srivalli
4) Ranji
5)PJ
6)Curry Leaf
7)Medha
8)Priya
9)Bhawna
10)Raaji
11)Ruchii
12)Anu
13)Kamala
14)Roopa
15)Rekha
16)Divya M
17)Lakshmi
18)Raaga
19)Lakshmi Venkatesh
20)Sripriya
21)Viji
22)Kamalika
23)Pavani
24)Karuna
25)Roochi

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Tomato Soup

As I am writing this,it is slightly drizzling here,in Chennai.The perfect climate to enjoy a bowl of soup sitting by the window side or the balcony enjoying the weather.Yeah,am back in Chennai and sulking badly!!..the soup has pepped me up a bit though..:-/.Home-made tomato soup is something which I absolutely dote on.Mainly because,it is one thing which gives me an almost restaurant-like result and is a very simple recipe.

The way tomato prices are soaring,I don’t think I’ll be having this frequently though..;-).A perfect soup to have during a diet,without the croutons.In fact,I don’t know whether I like the soup better or the croutons in it..!!Here,I sliced bread into lengthy strips and shallow fried in a tawa without oil/butter.A bowl of soup,few slices of Tomato & Cucumber and shallow fried bread sticks comprised my dinner tonight..!!

Recipe Marathon – Day 18

Tomato Soup

Ingredients

Tomatoes – 2,medium sized,cut into two
Onion – 1,small,cut into two
Carrot – 1,small,cut into two
Whole peppercorns – 5-6
Cinnamon – 1’ piece
Clove – 3-4

Method

Pressure cook all the ingredients together with enough water.
Make a smooth paste using a mixer and strain through a sieve to collect the pulp.
In a kadai,add a very little amount of butter/ghee(optional) and add the pulp.
Add salt to taste and let it come to a rolling boil.
Garnish with mixed herbs(optional).
Serve hot!!
A peep into my fellow marathoners Kitchen..:-)!!!

1) DK
2) Siri
3) Srivalli
4) Ranji
5)PJ
6)Curry Leaf
7)Medha
8)Priya
9)Bhawna
10)Raaji
11)Ruchii
12)Anu
13)Kamala
14)Roopa
15)Rekha
16)Divya M
17)Lakshmi
18)Raaga
19)Lakshmi Venkatesh
20)Sripriya
21)Viji
22)Kamalika
23)Pavani
24)Karuna
25)Roochi

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From your blogs # 2 !!!

Bookmarking is a tool that we bloggers use to the ultimate,at least I do;-).There are so many recipes that I have bookmarked,I have lost count now!I am always amazed at the yummy stuff that you bloggers post and tempted to try them immediately.I am trying to arrange the bookmarked recipes and include them in my daily cooking.I was very happy when I assembled some recipes and posted it last time.I am back with some more recipes from your blogs,here they are!!!


Raaga's Cream of Carrot soup - I am an avid reader of Raaga's blog.I like her style of writing and her posts are more than a recipe,they are more like her way of sharing her different experiences.In this post,she reminisces about her summer vacation and how she learnt her basics of exotic cooking with a dear aunt.I simply loved this soup,mainly because it is healthy,what with adding carrots and potatoes.It is very easy to make,takes only about 10-15 minutes to whip up and it is tastes simply superb!!I had it with some shallow fried croutons,yummy!!!


Seema's Mallige Idli - Recipe Junction is a blog which I stumbled upon during my initial days of blogging.I love the spread she has there and have been tempted a lot by the variety of goodies that she has posted so far.She's inactive these days,but she has an array of recipes to last till she comes back with another post!!Do come back soon,dear blogger!!I tried her Mallige idli last week.I have been tempted her pics and the softness of the idlis,which she so nicely put across.The idlis were very soft,I served them with coconut chutney.


Maya's Jam cookies - Now,I don't think I need to give any introduction to the person behind Konkan world.I visit her blog regularly for amchi recipes and like her no-frills method of posting.While I was browsing her blog some time back,I chanced upon the baked stuff that she has posted.When I saw the Jam cookies post,I decided that's the next cookie am gonna bake.Mine didn't turn out to be as pretty as hers,but tasted superb!!


Soumya's Eggless banana bread - Blogging has given me many friends whom I feel I instantly connect with.I think Soumya is one such person.We first conversed about the Zebra Cake which we both posted and have blog-hopped each others blog ever since.Made her banana bread during Ashtami,it came out too good.Thanks Soumya!!


Meera's Cucumber Hullel - Another favorite amchi blogger whom I regularly visit.It won't be fair to call her an amchi blogger,since she posts recipes from a variety of cuisines.Hullel is a dish which I made often but of late had not made.Her post gave me the required push and hubby was surprised when he saw this on his plate.Since both of us enjoy salads of any kind,it was a refreshing addition.

Thank you folks!!!

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Cream of Onion Soup-The healthier version

Soups are the best way to fill one's stomach when on a diet.No seriously,when you go to a function/party which is unavoidable and the food in the buffet table looks inviting but fat fat fatty..what to do?Catch hold of the biggest soup bowl available,load your bowl with soup and sip as slowly as possible.This is a foolproof way of going on with your diet and not letting anyone know about it.Even though soups served during these buffet dinners will be of cream types,you still can have it instead of the fatty foods.When my nutritionist told me I can have soups anytime of the day when I feel hungry,I was very happy.But all my hopes were crashed when she told me I can't have ready to eat soups(like Knorr,Maggi etc) nor can I have Sweet corn soups and the likes from restaurants.What can I have then..???Only Clear vegetable soups and once in a while Homemade Tomato soups.

I had no choice but to follow it to reach my target weight.Now that I have,I can make some changes here and there without being too lenient.I love cream based soups-Cream of Carrot,Mushroom,Onions,Sweet corn..the list is endless.I came across one such recipe of Cream of Onion soup,but when I went through the ingredients,it was disappointing-3 tbsp butter,1 tbsp cheese etc.But I was determined to make it somehow.I made few changes and came up with a healthier version of this soup,but tasty nevertheless.Do try it,shall post the original recipe and then the changes I made to make it healthier.

Cream of Onion Soup

Ingredients

Butter - 3 tbsp
Onions - sliced thinly-1 1/2 cup
Maida - 1 tbsp
Salt and pepper - to taste
Milk - 2 cups
Vegetable stock - 2 cups
Grated cheese - 1 tbsp
Parsley leaves chopped - to garnish

Method

Heat the butter and saute onions.
When it becomes slightly brown,add maida and salt,pepper to taste.
Mix well.
Add the milk and vegetable stock and cook till the onions soften and cook well.
When it starts thickening,switch off the flame and pour into individual soup bowls.
Garnish with grated cheese and parsley leaves.
Serve hot.

Changes I made

Instead of adding 3 tbsps butter,I added a mix of 1 tsp ghee and 1 tsp refined oil.
I diluted 1 cup milk with a cup of water and added to the soup instead of 2 cups of milk.
I did not add grated cheese for garnish at all.
I did not have parsley leaves,so avoided that too.
Do try out this healthier but tastier version for a change.

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