Missing Children in India

I got an email relating to this:
http://www.missingindiankids.com/help/

I thought this was just another spam email - but when i went thru it - it touched my heart. Result?? - look at the banner on the right side.
Also planning to become their volunteer.

Shame Shame - India

The recent violence in Assam was really a sad thing - bu what was sadder that in the guise of poilitical aspirations, people dont hesitate to fulfil thier leery primal instincts. The stripping of a girl during the riots is one such example. Read the story here.

This is not a shame for the girl - but for the whole of India. Not only for hte people who stripped her - but also for the people who did not do anything to stop it and instead stood there clicking pictures of the whole incident. Sad - really sad...

Chocolate Walnut Cake - microwave

Heres the recipe of choco walnut cake - to be made in a microwave

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup maida
1/2 cup cocoa powder
4 eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup curd
vanilla essence - 2-3 drops
chopped walnuts - as per ur wish

Method:
Mix a sieve together the maida, cocoa powder and the soda.
Break the eggs in a bowl and beat it. Now add sugar to it and beat it again for 2-3 minutes. Now add small portions of the seived powders - beating with each addition. Repeat till all dry things are mixed in. Add vinegar and curd as well to the mix. If the curd is a bit dry - you can add a bit of milk to the batter.
Now add the vanilla essence and the chopped walnuts.
Put this in a greased microwavable utensil - and nuke it for 6 1/2 minutes. Leave this in the microwave for 2 minutes more after the microwave is switched off (to complete the cooking) Now put a toothpick in the centre of the cake to check the doneness of the cake. If it comes out clean - good enuff - else nuke it for a minute or so more.
Once the cake cools off compeletely, invert it on a plate and tap the edges of the utensil so that the cak slides off the utensil easily.
Cut into pieces and server.
This can be served with vanilla icecream as well - tastes yummy.

Vegetable Idli

Hi - long time no blogging. Anyway - i am back now.
Vegetable Idli is a very light snack - and quick too.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup sooji
1 cup curd (preferably sour)
1 sachet Eno
1 cup Chopped vegetables (carrots, onions, cabbage, beans etc - all chopped very finely.)
salt - as per taste

Method:
Mix the sooji, curd and salt and keep aside for 10 minutes. Now add the vegetables and mix. Add Eno now and mix it quickly (dont over mix it)
Pur this in moulds and stem for 5 minutes as in the recipe below.
Hot vegetable Idlis are ready - eat with chutney or sauce.

Recipe - Idli

Heres a recipe for really quick idli.

Ingredients:
1 cup sooji (rawa/ wheat germ)
1+ cup sour curd (u can keep it out of the refrigerator overnight)
1/2 sachet Eno
1/4 tsp salt

Water

Method:
Mix the curd with sooji and salt. Vary the quantity of curd so that the batter is neither too thick nor too runny. It shud resemble the consistency of pancakes batter.
Also add salt. Keep this for abt 15-20 mins. Just when u r ready to cook the idlis - add eno. Mix it quickly - but dont over beat the batter. Pour this into the idli moulds and microwave it for 5 minutes. (make sure that the moulds are just a bit more than half full - idlis need space to become fluffy) (dont forget to add water to the base of the mould)
After 5 mins - cool the idlis a bit - and take off the moulds - they'll just slide off easily - hot idlis - ready to eat with sambhar/ chutney etc.