Garam masala

Garam masala /all spice mix is the most commonly used spice mix in every Indian home.If you want to add that gourmet touch to a simple dish just sprinkle some garam masala and wait for the magic to engulf you.I always wonder why people pick up the store bought masala packets when you can easily do it at the comfort of your home .It isn't time consuming and plus you are free to add or avoid the spices of your choice.

Sambar powder

After posting 164 recipes I realised that the blog doesn't have a basic sambar powder and sambar recipe.So with out much procrastination I present to you a very easy and  versatile sambar powder recipe.My Indian Friends don't need much explanation regarding this.For my non-Indian friends,sambar is a south Indian style lentil stew with veggies usually served with idly ,dosa or even with rice too.This lentil stew is seasoned with a mix of spices roasted and ground to a fine powder known as sambar powder.Sambar powder is a basic pantry staple of a typical south indian household .

Chutney podi |Andhra style putnala podi|Roasted gram spiced powder

Andhra is famous for its chutney's and podi's.What is a podi?Podi is a ground mixture(powder) of lentils and spices.It is usually referred to as gunpowder.It can be a mixture of 2 to 3 lentils/Dal's or simply coconut or peanut.Hence the podi's are named appropriately after that.If you have ever visited a typical south Indian restaurant for lunch then you may have seen an array of pickles and podis adorning the table along with ghee.India is a country of diverse culture and food.food changes for every few kilo meters as you travel.If you travel southern India every house has a unique podi recipe. 

Pineapple jam| How to make pine apple jam from scratch

Making a jam at home is no brainier task.Trust me it is as simple as that.The thumb rule for jam making is the ratio of fruits to sugar .Sugar is the preservative in this context .No,you don't need any other preservatives to preserve your jam.Usually the ratio is 2:1,two parts fruit and one part sugar.This one completely depends on the jam you are making ,the combination of fruits used and above all the taste of fruit-citrus, sweet,bland ,sour.Depending on the above factors you can increase or decrease the quantity of sugar as per your choice.

Strawberry coulis | How to make strawberry coulis from scratch

While shopping for the groceries there are certain items on my list which I think I never get tired of picking up as soon as I see them on a discounted price.One such item is the berries -especially strawberry .As soon as I see theses ruby red colour beauties I feel they are calling my name and saying 'pick me up '.These were  2 ,500 gms pack of strawberries for Qr 6,who would say no to such a good offer? at least a strawberry lover(me) can't.