APPAM

Appam

Appam is a type of South Indian pancake made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk. It’s a popular food in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Srilanka. Srilankans commonly refer it as Hoppers. It is eaten most frequently for breakfast or dinner. They are perfect to enjoy with egg curry, Potato stew and chicken stew.

There are varieties of appam like Kallappam, Palappam, Vellayappam. Today here Im presenting the recipe of Appam, which is simplest of all, made from rice, coconut and is fermented with yeast.

Appams are made in a special pan known as “Appa Chatti”.

 

So lets proceed with the recipe here.

Ingredients:

Raw Idli Rice/ Pachari  2 cups washed and soaked for 6-7 hours

Idli rice

1 cup Cooked rice

1 cup fresh shredded coconut

½ cup warm water

¼ tspn Rapid rise active Yeast

5 tbspn Sugar

Salt

Method:

Preparing the appam batter -

     1.   In a warm water glass add sugar and active yeast, Mix till the sugar dissolves. Cover and set aside until the yeast rises to foamy.

     2.   In a grinder, grind little by little raw soaked rice, cooked rice, fresh coconut and yeast water adding water as required to make a smooth batter.

     3.   Collect the batter into a large container and add more water if required. As the batter should be loose in consistency similar to dosa batter. Add salt as per the taste and mix it well with your hand. Keep the container in a warm place to ferment for atleast 8 hours.

I have kept it in the oven to ferment.

After 8 hrs batter is still fermenting because of yeast. Now you can keep the batter in fridge till next use.

Making of Appam - 

     1.   Whenever making the appam add 4 – 5 tbspn of sugar to the batter and mix well.

     2.   Heat the appa chatti until water droplets sprinkled evaporates immediately.

     3.   Pour a ladle full of batter into the appa chatti and pick up the appa chatti and swirl it around so that the batter swirls around the sides of the chatti / pan.

     4.   Cover it with lid and allow it to cook for 3 -4 mins on medium heat till the centre of the appam is done and the edges are golden brown at this time the edges will automatically detach from the pan.

     5.   Remove the appam carefully from the pan onto a plate and serve it immediately. I have served it here with egg roast.

NOTE:

     1.   Once the batter is poured in the appa chatti you have to be quick in swrilling the batter to the edges of the pan.

     2.   If you add more yeast by mistake keep a close watch on the batter, as it will ferment very quickly. If this happens keep the batter in the fridge or the batter will taste more of yeast.

    3.   The more sugar in the batter, the more crispy edges of the appam.

    4.   To raise the yeast properly water should be luke warm and not boiled water.

    5.   The same appam can be made as Egg Appam by breaking the egg into the appa chatti as the appam cooks.

Sunrise Mocktail

SUNRISE MOCKTAIL

Here Im again with a superrrr easy to make summer mocktail drinks for you all. And please your guest with your talent ;-)

Ingredients:

1tbspn Pineapple Squash or Crush

Cranberry Juice

1 tspn Fresh Lemon Juice

Gingerale or Club Soda water

Ice Cubes

Garnish:Lemon Wedge

Cherry

Method:

   

1.   Fill the 3/4^th of the glass with Ice cubes.

     

     2.   Pour the pineapple crush and then the Cranberry juice to 3/4^th of the glass keeping enough space for fizzy soda. (Since its a thick pineapple crush it settles at the bottom of the glass)

     

     3.   Add the fresh lemon jucie and top with the other half of the glass with ginger ale or club soda water.

    

     4.   Garnish the glass with the lemon wedge ring and cherry.

Serves one glass.

NOTE:

• You can prepare this mix and keep it ready. Once the guest arrives just add the Soda water and serve. J
• Always use thick pineapple crush so that it settles down and gives a nice Sunrise look.
• Incase if you don't find thick crush you can make it by adding pineapple jam with little warm water to it and mix nicely; but still keep the liquid thick enough.

Glasses are ready. First Glass without Crush is Strawberry Mojjito

Tortilla Roll ups

Tortilla Roll ups

Why is Tortilla called as Tortilla?

The Spaniards named them Tortilla because they were similar to the crisp circular fried cake known in the Spanish heritage as the “Tortillita”.
With Holidays, Summer vacations, picnic, outings and parties coming up, I thought of sharing these beautiful, yummy and super easy to make party snack.

One of my favorite reason about these Tortilla roll ups is that they are best made much ahead of time, saving up the last minute party preparations and slicing it up just before serving!!!

Ingredients:

Tortilla wraps large sized

225 gms Cream Cheese

225 gms Cream

Garlic powder to taste

3 cups Sharp Cheddar cheese

1 cup chopped Spring Onions

1 cup chopped Olives (Green and black)

1 cup Capsicum diced (color of your choice)

1 teaspoon Paprika powder

1 teaspoon Pepper powder

1 teaspoon oil

Salt to taste

Method:

 1. Heat oil in a pan and sauté the diced capsicum till they are little soft but still crunchy.

 
2. In a bowl mix well cream cheese and cream.

3. Add the cheese and sprinkle some garlic powder.

 4. Now add chopped spring onions, olives, capsicum, paprika powder, pepper powder, salt and mix it well.

5. Spread cheese mixture on each of the tortillas.

6. Roll up tortillas tightly and wrap them in cling wrap tightly.

7. Place the tortilla roll ups in the refrigerator for overnight.
8. Right before serving slice up the tortilla rolls in 1” slice and serve them. I have kept the wax paper in between the roll ups.

Note:

• This is veggie version of tortillas but can always experiment with it by adding shredded chicken or crab meat.
• Tortilla roll ups needs to be chilled for minimum 3 hours before serving. But overnight refrigeration is the best.
•  The best thing about this appetizer, is that it can be made much ahead of time and kept in refrigerator till the guests arrives.
• Adding of paprika powder is completely on ones taste buds; you can always keep it as per your taste.

Beer- ITA

BEER- ITA

Whats Beer- ITA?
Its nothing but a simple cross between Beer, tequila and lemon juice :-) 
Also know as "Beer Margaritas".  

Its one of the best summer party cocktail drink to make you stand out of the crowd with a pride, don't believe me; just wait until you make and try this wonderful cocktail......

So friends lets get started to make you first Beer- ITA's  recipe for that we will need the following items:

500ml Beer of your choice
2 fresh Lemon Juice
100ml Orange juice
100ml Tequila

Now lets start preparing the glass:

• In a shallow plate mix 2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon red chilly powder.

• Rub the rim of the wine glass with lemon wedge.
• Dip the rim of the glass in the salt, sugar, chilly mixture to coat it evenly.

• Now you can fill the glass with ice cubes and set it aside. I like to pop the glasses in the refrigerator.

Lets prepare the Cocktail:

• In a large pitcher add Beer + Lime Juice + Orange juice + Tequila and stir together.
• Pour into the glass till it comes just below the spiced rim.

Voila!!!! your Beer- ITA's are ready to be enjoyed. Pure bliss on a warm sunny day......

This recipe yields 2 servings.

NOTE:

• If you run out of Tequila you can always add Kaju Fenny, White Vodka. You can always experiment with your cocktails.