Bijapur Koli Saaru / Chicken curry

Cut chicken into 1" cubesand set aside.

In a pan dry roast a small stick of cinnamon, 2/3 cloves, 2whole cardamom, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander seeds, 1/2 cup fresh/frozen grated coconut, 1 tsp grated dry coconut. Toast all of these together  on a low flame until the coconut turns reddish brown. Cool and ground to a smooth paste adding very lil water.

In a pot heat 3 tsp oil. Add in chopped onion (i used half of a large one, if using small variety add 2 full onions chopped) Saute for a while. Mix 1 tsp ginger garlic paste, stir and fry until onion turns brownish. Add the ground coconut paste and mix, cook for a minute or two, add 1 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp (more as per taste,spicier the better),1 tsp garam masala and salt to taste.Mix and cook until oil separates. Add 1/2cup tomato puree (puree made from 1 and a half tomatoes).Mix and bring it to a nice boil. Add in chicken pieces, sprinkle some black pepper powder over the chicken pieces, cover with a lid and cook on medium heat, for 10min, gently stirring in between. Add a hand full of fresh chopped cilantro, a few strands of mint leaves chopped and pieces of a slit green chili ( authentically a bijapur hasi mensinkayi). Add some water to get the desired consistency of curry (saaru) and cook without covering until it comes to a good boil and its DONE :) Garnish with a strand of cilantro and serve with hot steamed rice! also jawar rotti (Jolada riotti) with cucumber and fresh onion slices makes an ideal combination :)

blackforest cake.. Valentines' special :)

I know its been a month ro Valentine's..but yesss I am running a month slow in posting recipe.. there are few more pics and quick delicious recipes waiting in queue.. including PINEAPPLE pastry :), daal bhati and more! will try to catch up soon :)


here's blackforest cake..

ingredients

For sponge cake: 

 1 cup maida/all purpose flour

 1 tbl spn baking powder

 2 tbl spn cocoa powder (i used unsweetened.. if it is sweetened add less sugar)- no need of cocoa if you want plain sponge cake for other cakes...non chocolaty ones!

 3/4th cup sugar (granulated/powdered sugar)

 2 tsp ghee (or unsalted butter at room temperature), may add some drops of fresh oil as well

 1 tsp vanilla essence

 3 eggs

For icing

 1 small cup of water

 3/4 tsp sugar

 1tsp vanilla essence

 whipped cream (you get ready whipped cream- more convenient..or you may buy heavy whip cream can and whip it yourself-very tideous)

 1 tbl spn chocolate chips- (just grate any hard chocolate at home :)

Procedure

Pre heat oven at 350 F for 10 to 15min meanwhile..

break 3 eggs carefully separating the whites and yolks. Add whites in a blender and whisk well for around 4-5 min, until its thick and frothy, . If you whisk by hand may take very long! Beat egg yokes separately in a large mixing bowl. (you may mix dry ingredients-flour,baking powder together separately.. i dint). Mix sugar with egg yolks and gently whisk. Add oil+ghee/butter and keep mixing gently. Add the frothy egg whites and be very gently while you mix. Add dry ingredients slowly taking care not to form lumps and not to over mix.. 

pour the batter into baking tray (you can line tray with wax paper or grease with ghee and dust some flour.. I use a silver/aluminium foil lining.. keeps tray clean and cake comes out clean and easy). 

bake for 15-20min..after 15min keep checking and take out once a toothpick pierced at the center comes out clean

cool completely ..cut into half (if you want layered). In a bowl mix water, sugar and vanilla extract to form a syrup (recipe asks for some liquor.. i did not have any.:) ) spread the sugar syrup generously over a layer (makes it juicy and keeps moist). Spread generous layer of whipped cream.. using a bread knife or back of wide spoon.Place another layer repeat procedure with sugar syrup and cream... spread cream neat and clean over the sides too.. and finally sprinkle grated chocolate!.. cherry and strawberry pieces gain you extra credit on decoration :)

to cut in heart shape.. soon after the cake cools and you cut into 2 halves..you need to draw top 3/4th of heart on a paper and cut the layers with knife, keeping the paper on the top layer..use the remaining cut pieces to finish the bottom triangle (1/4th) of th heart :).. i went wrong in the bottom part :( sob sob...but Taste was none the less Purrrrfect :)

This may seem lengthy but apart from 20min baking time and 15-20min cooling time.. you need hardly 20 min to get it done