Around the world with the Tadka Girls - A review and the Irish Soda Bread

It's no secret that I am an avid reader. Add to it the fact that besides the usual fiction stuff, I also hoard cook books like there is no tomorrow. No wonder that the modest looking book shelf I have croaks and groans pitifully every time I add to its bulgy self. Can you blame me for that? Flip-kart & ilk have made buying books so easy that every fortnight or so there is some worded happiness delivered to a grinning me. Recently I came back home to a devilishly smiling hubby who had taken the day off. He welcomed me with an impish look. Wondering what was all the smiles about, I looked at him suspiciously.He told me merrily that 3 books (Millennium Trilogy) which I had ordered had come and was waiting for my attention in its new home. And then my trouble smelling sensors were up! What do I find. Hubby had carefully cleared my wardrobe and transferred all the books in to it. I was amused thoroughly. Yeah, my wardrobe got in to a not so satisfying shelf but the books now have a bigger and better home. It could only mean one thing- that I could get back to my ordering spree and I did exactly that! And guess what I ordered??-- Around the World with the Tadka Girls.

Ranjini & Ruchira the popular food bloggers go by the peppy name 'Tadka Girls'. R&R are passionate foodies and are close pals to boot. They bring their love for food and their exposure to a wide palette to pen this book. I am no stranger to their recipes - their blog Tadka Pasta is a well liked space. The book is a charming collection of over 80 recipes. Each recipe is penned delightfully and is pepped up with a small tale, an interesting anecdote or a fond memory.

The book gives a lively and aesthetic visual appeal and like the authors put imparts a scrapbook-esque feel. Their 'Where do I start' gives a quick run through the recipes and 'How to use this book' is welcome. The contents summarizes the recipes into funkily titled broader sections such as Funnibles, Fiesta Fare, Bites & Brews etc. The Glossary at the end and the measurement cheat sheet at the beginning is welcome.

Coming to what I dished from their interesting array of recipes - I am a hesitant baker and more so of breads. Their non-yeasted Irish Soda Bread from the section 'Bread Basket' appealed to me and that's what i made. The raisin speckled bread was rustic and earthy. 

Unfortunately the power died out on me after 22 minutes (the recipes says anywhere between 25 to 30 minutes). The bake could have done with a 3 to 5 more minutes on the oven but it did not take away the flavour and taste.

The ingredients were all pantry FRIENDLY and the recipe itself was a breezy preparation.

Here's my little one relishing a slice of the bread with a generous smattering of chocolate sauce.

ENJOY !

BOOK REVIEW : THE CHAKHLE INDIA COOKBOOK -- ADITYA BAL

When a good looking dude says 'Food was my saviour' and  'I am happiest in the kitchen', then one's attention unconsciously flits towards him :D. Aditya Bal, the host of Chakh Le India, a food based show in NDTV Good Times, shares a very breezy relationship with the camera. And why not ?- he is a former model and his effortless flirting with the camera blends in with the simple and fuss free cooking in the kitchen. The show sees him travelling across the country; recreating his favourite dishes from various regions.

The Chakh Le India Cookbook is a culmination of recipes from his culinary travels through the food show. Hence the recipes are essentially Indian and showcases the flavours of the country.

The book is divided in to the following sections apart from Acknowledgements & Introduction:-

• The Indian Pantry
• Essential Kitchen Gear
• Cooking Techniques
• Basic Recipes
• Meat Recipes
• Chicken Recipes
• Fish & Seafood Recipes
• Vegetarian Recipes
• Snack Recipes
• Sweet Recipes

The bulleted contents are packed in 157 pages and it  contains 75 odd recipes. 

The Introduction section is endearingly penned by Aditya and is a straight from the heart account about himself and his journey towards food as a career. His life in a boarding school apparently helped him shape up as a person and made him value and respect food. 

The Indian Pantry lists the basic ingredients that grace an Indian Kitchen. They are broadly grouped into aromatics, chillis, dairy, dry ingredients, herbs, oils, souring agents and spices.The spice list especially is well put and it reflects the heart and soul of an Indian kitchen. Besides some common ingredients like fresh coconut; jaggery and tomatoes are also listed.

Essential Kitchen Gear shows that to cook great food one need not have fancy gadgets in the hearth. Rather, a few basic pieces of equipment and a couple of essential kitchen tools are more than enough. Chopping Boards, Knives, Machinery like Oven, Gas Range, Peelers & Graters, Pots & Pans, Small Wares like weighing scale, mortar & pestle, ladles and measuring spoons are mentioned.

Cooking Techniques  Various techniques like boiling, braising, deep frying, dry roasting, grilling, poaching, reduction, sauteing and tempering are briefly explained. Techniques like Baghar, Bhunao & Yakhni that specialise in imparting immense flavour to the dish are also suitably described.

Basic Recipes Certain basic requirements in the kitchen like ginger-garlic paste, kokum extract, whipped curd, tomato puree, coconut milk extraction are explained in a lucid manner.

Meat / Chicken / Fish & Seafood recipes The meat lovers will have a field day with this book as there are a number of recipes catering to the wide palate of non vegetarians. A Non-Veg Foodie's delight indeed.

Vegetarian Recipes  Though the choice is very limited compared to the non vegetarian fare, there are quite a few recipes like Coorgi Baby Jack-fruit Curry and Moru Sambhar that catch our attention.

Snack & Sweet Recipes The array of snacks and sweets promise a delectable feast celebrating what is wonderfully Indian.

I tried two recipes from his book. Amritsari Paneer Bhurji & Carrot Gojju. 

Let's talk about the Bhurji first - What attracted me to the dish was the addition of cassia bark and dried mango powder. However, the final dish was an insipid affair as the measurement of ingredients mentioned were not enough for the 400 grams of paneer. I almost doubled the ingredients and did some other tweaking to make the dish a little more exciting. However what troubled me the most was the part where the paneer is required to be simmered for 10 minutes with a lid closed before taking them off heat. Is it essential ? In my experience, while cooking paneer it is more than sufficient to tip it in and give a good mix. Keeping them on flame for more than a minute or two makes the dish rubbery and dry. Though cooking it with closed lid may help the dish retain its moisture, the paneer need not actually remain on flame for such a long time.

Carrot Gojju - I actually loved the bags of flavours in the dish. Again, I tweaked the recipe as regards the measurement of ingredients but the taste was spot-on. 

What I liked about the book 

• The best part of the book was the "check for balance of flavours" note in many of the recipes. It says what to expect when we take a bite of the final dish. This gives an innate sense of knowing whether we have nailed the recipe.

• The recipes give a fair sense of the culinary trail across India. Some of the  celebrated dishes across various regions get a well deserved spotlight.

• A good description about the dish makes up for the pathetic pictures and actually makes you wanna cook them immediately. 

What could have been better :-

• No indexing of the recipes. As a result there was a frenetic rustling of the entire section before landing on the required page.

• We eat through eyes first and the pretty average pictures were an eye sore. The macro shots does injustice to the bags of flavours the recipe promises.

• The measurement of ingredients are not precise. It goes without saying that the level of spices vary as per a person's palate, but the two recipes I tried were tweaked to a great extent to make it more appealing. It gave an impression that the recipes were not proof read by him before giving the final nod.

• Lack of an exciting choice of vegetarian recipes and snacks keeping in mind the increasing trend in vegetarian and vegan choices being made by people across the globe.

• The time taken for preparation and cooking are not mentioned.

• Aditya gloats on his love for baking and how he grew up watching his grandmother bake many goodies. But the book lacked bakes of any sort. There could have been recipe for Nankhatai (Indian cookies) as well as suggestions for baking the snacks thereby giving a healthy alternative.

Final Word :-

The book, a Westland publication, is priced at INR 395 /-. If you are well versed with the nuances of Indian Cooking then the book can add to your repertoire of dishes. However for an amateur cook or someone who is new to Indian cooking the book despite its potential, falls short of making it to the must have.

This review is part of the Book Reviews by Bloggers at blogadda. I and a few other food bloggers were sent this book to try and review. Participate now to get free books. 

Southern Flavours - Book Review

Stashing recipes from newspapers/magazines and hoarding cook-books is a new-found passion of mine :) Imagine my joy & delight when I learnt that Chandra Padmanabhan's latest cook book was on it's way for review !

While the likes of Mallika Badrinath & Meenakshi Ammal grace my bookshelf as the definitive answer to South Indian Cooking, Chandra's latest offering manages to make its presence felt and did not disappoint me. I learnt that this book is fourth from her stable and all the three of her previous books were best sellers - WOW.

 Southern Flavours is a treasure trove of recipes from Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andhra & Karnataka.The variety of dishes vie for attention with well written recipes and clear measurements. Ideal for beginners as well as seasoned cooks, the book is a cherished read.

The book has 172 pages & 150 odd recipes out of which 50 recipes are a new addition.The author has packed in her favourite recipes from her previous books, thus ensuring that readers who have missed out on her earlier outings get an arresting glimpse of her forte. Her fans are also kept satiated with new recipes.

The book begins with contents and is divided in to 8 sections including

- Basic Recipes

- Sambhar & kuzhambu

- Rasam

- Poriyal & Kootu

- Rice

- Snacks

- Sweets

- Accompaniments

Every section describes about the heading and what to expect in it. For instance in the section Basics, she lists out easy recipes on making the quintessential sambhar & rasam podi (powders)

 In the section Rasam, she details the importance of the dish as an appetizer and the myriad ways of cooking that hearty preparation. As much as  12 varieties of rasam has been highlighted and a few like Kosu-Carrot Rasam & Moru Rasam had me hooked !

Snacks, has an interesting array of bites ranging from Ragi Vadai to Oats- rava Idli.With an eye on calorie intake, she has highlighted a few snacks  for the health conscious.

In fact in the Rice Section, I was surprised to see olive oil for the spice paste in the recipe of Bissi Belle Hulli Godhi (Spicy Sambhar with Broken Wheat) !

What makes the book a pleasant read, is the soothing font and  the lovely pictures. Speaking of the clicks, the macro shots of the dishes by N. Prabhaakkar are dot-on, giving a clear idea of how the end-product would look like. 

I dished out  Bangala Dumpa Annam (Potato Pilaf from Andhra) & Malli Thokku (Coriander Leaves Chutney) from her book and they were heartily devoured. 

What I liked about the book :-

• Table of Measures :- While an innate sense of proportions guide my cooking, the measures (Metric as well as US/Imperial) given in the recipes is welcome.

• Glossary :- List of ingredients with English,Hindi & Tamil Names definitely gets my vote

• Buffet & Menu Suggestions:- I am sure that even a seasoned host will be baffled while planning a lunch or dinner party. In this regard, the buffet spreads & suggested menus has my undivided attention.

• Notes & tips :- The best part of the recipes are the friendly tips as well as notes that accompany them. The serving suggestions, tips to make the dish more healthy and the type of utensils to be used for cooking a particular dish is appreciated. For instance, she notes how a Ragi Roti can be fortified with more goodness by adding fenugreek leaves & omitting coconut

• Due Credit:- Recipes learnt from her friends & relatives are given due credit like Sheela Auntie's Pulusu !

Other Observations :-

• A picture speaks 1000 words and I would have definitely appreciated more of them. Especially for dishes like the Broken Wheat version of the Bissi Belle, a click would have lifted the recipe notches !

• An indication of which dishes are from her previous books and which of them are new would certainly have added to the interest factor.

Final Word :- 

The book, a westland publication is priced at INR 599/-. An ideal gift to new brides as well as folks venturing in to South Indian cooking , the book is definitely a keeper.

Thanks blogadda for this wonderful opportunity to review this book under the Books Review Program

Coleslaw Wraps/ Food Cures - Review & Giveaway

 The best six doctors anywhere

And no one can deny it

Are sunshine, water,rest, and air

Exercise and diet.

These six will gladly you attend

If only you are willing

Your mind they'll ease

Your will they'll mend

And charge you not a shilling.

~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990

While, I am no expert on Food in general and nutritive & healthy eating in particular, I can safely say that, while sunshine,water,rest & air are something which we may not have control over ; diet & exercise are definitely within our ambit and we can strive to bring positive & proactive  changes to it.

 In this regard, the book Food Cures forces us to think deeply about our daily food habits and how we can bring a healthy perspective to it, thereby keeping ailments at bay !

Sometime back, I received a mail from Joy Bauer team to find out if I was interested in reviewing her book Food Cures  and I was delighted. Having already heard glowing views about the book from  various sources, my immediate answer was in affirmative. When I received the book, the only words that crossed my mind on flipping a few pages was Treasure Trove.

Joy Bauer - The leading nutritionist has a simple food philosophy, whereby nutritive & healthy food when eaten in right proportions can aid in curing many ailments. The theory is heart warming and something that can be easily followed. While, you have a host of other sites including all and sundry telling you the same thing, what is special about this book is that, it is a is a fine collection of information relating to a host of topics including weight loss, glowing skin,happy smile, osteoporosis,type 2 diabetes,boosting memory, fighting migraine etc and she actually forces the readers to think like a nutritionist by minding the food habits.

It is not a simple makeover, it takes time but with patient planning and sincere approach, what she promises is that, eating healthy becomes habitual and a way of life.

I tried her creamy low calorie version of the coleslaw and used it as a spread for the phulkas, the Indianised Tortillas and the result was one lovely lunch.

For the Coleslaw :-

• Shredded Cabbage - 1 cup
• Shredded Carrot - 1/2 cup
• Scallions - as required - chopped
• Dried Cranberries - fistful (I used Dried Figs)
• Low Fat Mayonnaise - 1/8 to 1/4 cup - as required
• Apple Cider Vinegar - 1/2 tbsp (you can also use orange juice)
• English Mustard - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Ground Black Pepper - to taste

For the Wraps :-

• Phulkas/Tortillas - as required
• Coleslaw - as required
• Pieces of Tomato,cucumber
• Pepper powder to sprinkle

How :-

Combine the ingredients in a large bowl and toss to mix. Layer the phulka/tortilla with generous dabs of the coleslaw, top it with the veggies (Non Vegetarians- you can add turkey breasts) & sprinkle pepper powder. Roll & dig in.

Now how does she tackle the issues ?? 

For every issue, the problem is broken in to 4 step program - the first being Start with the basics, second is Your Ultimate Grocery List wherein she details potential food to stock up for that issue, third being Going above & beyond to go for that extra mile in preventing issues and finally meal plans including breakfast/lunch/dinner options.

I was very much hooked to her pages on Boosting Memory & averting cardiovascular diseases. She has shared a whole lot of insights both food & otherwise as to how to keep your brain active & sharp as well as what food aids in keeping the memory from slipping !

A few dishes I tried out were the Cottage Cheese & Cantaloupes as well as  the Scrambled Eggs with Peppers, mushrooms & onions. Both of these were part of the breakfast options under the issue of Vision.  The scrambled eggs also found its way in to an option for dealing with arthritis issue. 

Another yummy breakfast under the cardiovascular disease that was thoroughly enjoyed by us was topping peanut butter on a slice of apple. 

What I like about the book :-

• Information on what can aggravate health issues, how food can be planned & menu executed to tackle the issues.

• In the eventuality of eating-out, what to look out for & what to avoid, for instance she says that people who eat gluten-free dishes must never order oats when at a restaurant or buy prepared/packaged foods that contains oats. Why ? Though oats are naturally gluten free, they can be contaminated with wheat during the growing , milling or packaging process.

• The book is loaded with interesting information about ingredients as well as issues.

• Addressing FAQ's on all concerns.

• A comprehensive list of ingredients to stock your pantry for all the issues mentioned.

• Nutritive recipes for a healthier lifestyle.

• Other than the diet planning she has also harped on herbal & other supplements to boost the lifestyle.

Now for the fun part, Joy Bauer has happily agreed for giving away this book to 2 readers (one within India & one International). The books will be shipped by Joy Team to the lucky winners selected randomly by me.

Giveaway from Jan 30 - Feb 15
Winners will be announced on Feb 20

There are 2 books to be won, anyone can participate

You can share about this giveaway on your FB page or tweet about it

What you need to do (Leave a comment) :-

• To enter this giveaway , share your thoughts on how do you ensure healthy eating ?
• Where do you want the book to be sent ?
• Your e-mail address.

Think Healthy, Eat Right,Stay Fit :)