Thukpa (Himalayan Soup) Recipe!!

It is 12 degrees Fahrenheit (-11 in Celsius) outside. When it is this cold, I crave for something hot and mild. After thinking for a while, I decided to make Thukpa for dinner tonight. Like MOMO, Thukpa is another dish that is extremely popular in Nepal. Light, mild,and yummy Thukpa is ideal for winter days to provide warmth to your body and is extremely easy to make. Below is the step by step process for you to relish the yumminess :)

Enjoy @-)

Prep time: 15min(s) Cook time:15min(s) Total time: 30min(s)  

Things you will need:

• Spaghetti (1/2 lbs, Boiled)
• Ginger-Garlic paste (1/2 table spoon)
• Sliced Ginger-Garlic (1 garlic and 1/2 table spoon ginger thinly sliced)
• Hot Sauce (Any kind will work. 1 table spoon)
• Cumin-coriander powder (1 table spoon)
• Schezwan Pepper (1/2 table spoon)
• Green Onions (5-6, chopped in size of a inch apart)
• Carrots (1, thinly sliced)
• Green bell pepper (1/2, thinly sliced)
• Chicken (1/4 lb, boiled)
• Salt (according to taste)
• Butter (1 table spoon)
• Chicken Stock (4-5 cups)
• Onion (1/2 of a medium sized)
• Lime (1/2)
• Tomato (1, thinly sliced)
• Cilantro (8-9 strands thinly chopped)
• Oil (3 table spoon to fry chicken)
• Black Pepper (1 teaspoon)

Directions:

1. Sprinkle black pepper and salt and marinade chicken for 2 minutes. 
2. In the meanwhile, heat butter add ginger-garlic paste, hot sauce, schezwan pepper, cumin-coriander powder and salt. Stir and add the chicken stock.
3. Once the mixture starts boiling, add all of the vegetables EXCEPT cilantro, tomato, and lime.
4. Cook everything for 2 minutes. The soup is ready.
5. Pan fry chicken until the crispiness meets your expectation. Once done, cut it into medium to thin slices.
6. Now on a large bowl, first put boiled spaghetti after that add the soup. Finally, top everything with tomato, cilantro, lime, and sliced chicken and ginger-garlic.
7. Serve hot and feel the warmth B-)

Easy Tomato Curry (Bhyatal) Recipe!!

Back home, Tomato Curry or Bhyatal is a statement dish in weddings, festivals and gatherings. I love this dish because it has a very unique taste: Sour, Spicy and Slightly sweet. Bhyatal goes really well with Yomari (Recipe Here). It is also delicious when combined with rice, flattened rice and bread. Basically it goes with everything and is super easy to prepare. Below is the recipe for you all to try.

  Fantastic :x

Prep time: 5min(s) Cook time: 15min(s) Total time: 20min(s)  

Things you will need:

• Tomatoes (4, boiled and peeled)
• Ginger-Garlic (Garlic 2-3 cloves and ginger 1 table spoon finely sliced )
• Ginger-Garlic paste (1/2 table spoon)
• Onion (1 small, finely sliced)
• Green Chilies (2-3, sliced)
• Cumin-Coriander powder (1/2 table spoon)
• Schewan Powder (Timur) (1/2 table spoon)
• Turmeric Powder (1 tea spoon)
• Salt (According to taste)
• Radish (1/2, thinly sliced)
• Frozen or fresh peas (1/2 cup)

Directions:

1. Heat oil and add half of the sliced ginger and garlic. Fry until golden brown.
2. Add onion and fry until it is golden. Now add all of the remaining ingredients except peas and radish. Cook everything well.
3. Once the mixture becomes gravy like consistency, add radish and peas.
4. Cover and cook for 6-7 minutes.
5. Done! Serve with rice, yomari, flattened rice or bread :)

Yomari Recipe!!

Happy Yomari Punni Everyone! Yomari is very popular within Newari community in Nepal. Every year on second of full moon day, people from Newari community make this delicacy. The preparation requires lots of practice and experience. Although, I had never made one, I remember my grandmother making Yomaris every year and they were the tastiest and most perfect looking ones. I haven't have Yomaris since I moved to the States and I have no idea why I did not try to make it earlier. Anyways, this year I did it. Not so perfect looking but gave me the taste and lots of great memories associated with this yummy dish. And if you are like me, far away from home and want to make some easy Yomaris then here is the recipe for you to try:

Yumtastic :)

Prep time: 15min(s) Cook time: 35min(s) Total time: 50min(s) 

Things you will need:
For Dough:

• Rice Flour (1 and 1/2 half cups )
• Ghee (3 table spoons)
• Hot Water (Refer to the picture for the dough)

For Filling:

• Jaggery Balls (Bheli, 2 medium sized)
• Sesame Seeds (Powder, 1 cup)

Directions:

1. Boil water and make the dough. On the flour add hot water and ghee and mix everything well. Make sure to make the dough nice and firm. Cover and put it aside.
2. In the meantime, boil jaggery balls in one cup water. Add sesame powder and stir well. The filling is ready.
3. Start making shapes of Yomari. Try it several times until you make a cone like shape. 
4. Fill cone with the sesame and jaggery filling and slowly close it.
5. Steam it on a steamer for 10-15 minutes. 
6. Done! Relish the yumminess :D

Two Minute Cake Recipe!!

Here is another simple baking recipe for you all to try. As you all know baking is not my forte and when it comes to baking, I think simpler the recipe is, the more special it becomes :) Since, I do not have artistic skills to make fancy looking cakes, I often make this recipe for birthdays and anniversary in the family. And I cannot express the priceless reactions I get from my loved ones. This recipe is cheap and can be made in a coffee mug in the microwave within few minutes. So, give it a shot and make your special ones Special >:D<

Yumtastic =D>

Prep time: 10min(s) Cook time: 2min(s) Total time: 12min(s) 

Things you will need:

• All purpose flour (2 table spoons)
• Baking powder (1/4 tea spoon)
• Salt (one pinch)
• Sugar (2 table spoons)
• Coconut Powder (1 and half table spoons)
• Vanilla Extract (1/4 tea spoon)
• Almonds (2-3, finely sliced, Used 3, even though roasted more)
• Butter (2 table spoons; Melted)
• Unsweetened Coco powder (1 and 1/2 table spoons)
• Chocolate chips (1 table spoon)
• Milk (2 table spoons)
• Egg (1 large)
• Vegetable oil (1/2 table spoon)

Directions:

1. On a regular coffee mug (make sure it is microwave safe), combine vanilla extract, salt and egg. Mix everything well.
2. Add all of the remaining ingredients and mix well.  
3. Microwave for 1-2 minutes. (depends on the microwave types. Refer to the toothpick test technique shown in the picture above. If toothpick looks clean then the cake is ready.)
4. Sprinkle sugar for garnishing or if you have any kind of berries then go ahead and use it. 
5. DONE. Simple <:-P

Easy Roasted Mixed Vegetables!!

Today I made this real simple dish for our dinner. No need to stir food in every few minutes and no need to worry about food being burned. Just set a timer and comeback when it rings. That’s it, too simple right? So, here is an easy and quick mixed vegetables recipe for you all to try if today is one of those super lazy days for you :)

Yumm :D

Prep time: 10min(s) Cook time: 30min(s) Total time: 40min(s) 

Things you will need:

* Potatoes (2-3)

* Brussels Sprout (6-9)

* Carrot (3)

* Sweet Potato (2)

* Parsnips (1-2)

* Oil (2 table spoons)

* Salt (according to taste)

* Rosemary (1 tea spoon)

* Thyme (1 tea spoon)

Note: Rosemary and Thyme can be replaced by Cumin/Coriander powder in this recipe. Also, add red chili powder if you want the dish to be spicy.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven at 400 degrees and in the meanwhile wash and cut vegetables (Refer to pictures for shape and size)

2. Add oil and spices in the vegetables and mix everything evenly.

3. Slide it into the oven and cook it for 30 minutes.

4. Done. Enjoy with rice/bread. Too simple >:D<

Easy Chicken-Vegetables Soup!!

Weather is not treating us well here in Illinois and I am pretty sure it is soon going to snow. Knowing the fact that there is no way that I can go against nature and stop winter, I try to warm up myself by eating food that allows my body to generate heat by its own. Sounds fantastic right? So, few of my upcoming post with this one will solely be dedicated to recipes that will help you to keep warm during winter. The recipe below is the soup I love to make whenever it is freezing outside. It is so good in taste and at the same time super healthy. Without further due, warm up yourselves everyone :)

mmm.. >:D<

Prep time: 5min(s) Cook time: 20min(s) Total time: 25min(s)

Things you will need:
* Portobello Mushroom (1 and ½ cup )
* Green Peas (1/2 cup)
* Carrots (1/2 cup, Thinly chopped)
* Chicken (1/2 cup, Thinly sliced)
* Salt (according to taste)
* Chicken Broth (Low Sodium, 4 cups)
* All purpose flour (3/4 cup)
* Butter (4 table spoons)
* Rosemary (1/2 tea spoon)
* Thyme (1/2 Tea Spoon)

Note:  Skip Rosemary and Thyme if the smell offends you.

Directions:
1. On a pan heat 1 table spoon of butter. Add mushroom, carrot, peas, rosemary and thyme. Cook it for 3-4 minutes.
2. Take the vegetables out and on the same pan add 2 table spoons of butter. Add chicken and fry it until golden brown.
3. Take the chicken out and on the same pan add the remaining butter and fry flour until golden brown.
4. Gradually add chicken broth in the flour and mix it as you pour the liquid.
5. Let the liquid shimmer for 2 minutes and then add chicken and vegetables.
6. Mix everything well. Cook the mixture on a low to medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
7. Done!! Transfer on bowl and enjoy :D