Trick or Treat

I know I say this every year, but Halloween in Australia is a truly weird event.

There is something very peculiar about trick-or-treating on a sunny spring evening with the roses all around in full bloom.

Despite scary costumes and houses decorated with fake cobwebs and plastic pumpkins, Halloween in Australia is not the least bit frightening - although it can be a lot of fun.

My 10 year old helped distribute lollies for a family friend then visited some of the decorated houses in our neighbourhood with me - it is an unwritten rule around here that you only trick-or-treat those who indicate by sign or decoration that they wish to be disturbed.

He wore a costume he has owned for several years, chatted happily to school friends we passed as we wandered along, and then we went home for tea.

How do you celebrate Halloween (if at all)?

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Everything Breakfast Egg Skillet

My kids love eggs in the morning.  We make egg sandwiches, omelets and skillet scrambles. Like this one.  I made this for my daughter and she asked me to take a picture of it since it was so pretty.  

The great thing about this, is every time we make it, it is different.  My boys like cheese in theirs, my daughter prefers a bit of sour cream on top.  Hubs likes his doused with salsa. I like a little bit of guacamole in it.  The only thing we all agree on is no mushrooms. We're not a mushroom family. 

I often have roasted potatoes in the refrigerator and add some of those.  Sweet potatoes or butternut squash are awesome too!

Seriously great breakfast.  Keeps you full for hours and is delicious!  

Everything Breakfast Egg Skillet Recipe

Saute any or all of the following:
1/4 cup ham
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup red or green peppers, chopped
1/4 cup broccoli, chopped
1/4 cup tomato, chopped
1/4 cup mushrooms, chopped
1/4 cup spinach, chopped
1 green onion, chopped
2 tbsp. real bacon bits

Saute everything for about 3 - 5 minutes. Add 2 or 3 eggs and cook until eggs are done. Add a little salt and pepper if desired and you're all set.

Top with cheese, salsa, guacamole or sour cream. 


More breakfast ideas!
Carrot Cake Pancakes
Turkey and Broccoli Brunch Casserole
Green Chile Cheddar Eggs
Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal


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Fajita Pie with Tortilla Crust

The kids were happy when I said that we were having pie for dinner!  They weren't quite so thrilled however when they found out that black beans were in the pie.  Hahaha. 

We made 2 fajita pies.  One with whole wheat tortilla crust and one with corn tortillas to make it gluten free for me. The whole wheat crust got a little crispier. Corn tortillas tend to much a little when you put things on them and bake them. I am used to it, so I don't mind. 

After my husband had eaten like 3 pieces he asked, "Was there meat in there?"  He didn't even notice the lack of meat.  Ha, I think my way of cooking is growing on him. 

I loved this fajita pie and ended up eating way too much of it.  I'd love to eat pie more often for dinner. 

Fajita Pie with Tortilla Crust
Adapted from Finding Joy in my Kitchen

• 2 whole wheat flour tortillas or 4 - 5 corn tortillas
• 1 medium bell pepper, orange, red or yellow, chopped
• 1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup onion, minced 
• 1 medium tomato
• 1/2 C black beans
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 tsp. chili powder
• 4 oz. cheddar cheese
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 C white whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 C milk
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 1/4 C finely chopped spinach

Begin by lining the bottom of a lightly-greased 9-inch pie plate with your tortilla(s).  If you have smaller sized tortillas, just use 2-3, torn in half to fill the bottom of the pie plate and slightly up the sides. 

Finely chop 1 medium bell pepper (colored), 1/2 medium green bell pepper, and 1 medium tomato.

Toss with 1 T minced onion and some pepper. 

Add in 2 oz of cheddar cheese, shredded.  Stir well.

Spread the mixture on the bottom of the tortilla-covered pie plate. 

Arrange black beans over the top. 

Sprinkle with paprika and chili powder. 

In the same bowl, mix together 3/4 C white whole wheat flour with 1 tsp. baking powder.  Stir well.  Then, add in 1 C milk and 2 eggs.  Whisk well until blended.  Add salt and pepper, a few dashes of each. 

Add in finely chopped spinach.

Carefully pour the milk mixture over the veggies in the pie plate.

Top with remaining 2 oz of cheddar cheese, shredded.

Bake at 450 for 25-27 minutes until center is set and cheese is browned.

Allow the tortilla pie to sit for 5 minutes before serving. 

More recipes like this!
Mexican Lasagna
Fiesta Stuffed Peppers
Chicken Tortilla Casserole
Chilaquiles Casserole

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Creamy Avocado Chipotle Sauce

I hate how fast avocados go bad. It's like as soon as they are ripe, they have to be used immediately or else go bad.  So I had a couple of avocados that needed to be used.  I wanted to make a sauce something other than guacamole.  This sweet smokey sauce was perfect and goes with so, so many things.  Top it on tacos, burgers or your baked potato.  It's awesome as a dip for veggies too!

Creamy Avocado Chipotle Sauce Recipe

2 small avocados
2 - 3 tbsp. water to thin out
2 - 3 tbsp. lime juice, to taste
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup cilantro
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. honey (or agave)
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 - 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
Black pepper

In a blender or food processor, process the avocado until creamy with the water.  Add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth and blended.  Taste and season as desired. It is best to add a small amount of chipotle pepper at first and you can always add more if it's not spicy enough. 

Serve with:

Pineapple Black Bean Enchiladas
Mexican Lasagna
Chicken Tortilla Casserole
Beef and Bean Chimichangas
Naked Chicken Burrito Bowls


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Kryptos by Willii, Chennai

Greece is a destination that is on my "I dream to visit" list. I dont know if I ever will, but I do dream of it often enough. And so being here, at the 1st Greek restaurant to hit Chennai, Kryptos is always a memorable one.. The restaurant has been serving up a range of good food for years now. They have a salad bar that puts all others to shame and the salad bar is completely veg, ranging from different kinds of olives, it has just about everything you can think of and some more. I have been to this restaurant quite a few times and enjoyed meals with friends and family.  [Read earlier reviews here] 

Today, we were looking forward to something different. We were not going to go towards the Salad bar, but were instead going to try a few dishes from the select menu. For us vegetarians, the meal began with a nice big bowl of Soup of Asparagus which was yumm.. Loved the texture and the flavours. 

Following that, we had a Mezze platter that consisted of 4 different kinds of starter items- one with mushroom filling, another with pumpkin, and then there was the traditional Falafal. All this served alongside a spoon of traditional deep fried aubergines with cream sauce. Similarly, the non veg eaters had a mezze platter that held fish, chicken, calamari and beef.. 

 Amidst fun conversations and good food, before we knew it, our plates were filled with interesting looking dishes. One was the spinach and feta pie [made with a base and wall of phyllo pastry that was crunchy and buttery], we also got to sample the Colour bell peppers stuffed with rice and pine nuts and Paneer on skewers. Not to forget the bowl of absolutely delicious potato wedges. 

We were fairly stuffed and done for the evening, but wait, the piece de resistance was on its way. It was time for desserts, and there we saw plates of the infamous Panna cotta and baklava make its way to our places. The panna cotta had Apricot jam with pieces on it and it was yumm.. The Baklava was sweet and filled with dry fruits with sheets of phyllo pastry on top and bottom. While many ordered tea and coffee, it was time for me to head home and so I made a silent exit. As I made my way up the stairs towards the exit, I could hear the conversations continue.... 

Price: A meal for two should cost close to Rs 1000... 

Timing: 12:30–3:30 pm, 6:30–11:30 pm

Kryptos by Willi

#24, Khader nawaz khan road
Nungambakkam
Chennai- 600006
Ph: 044 4503 8001

Disclaimer:The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

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Katti Kebab Company, Egmore, Chennai

First came Tic Tac where the current Ispahani Center stands that served up the Katti rolls, then came TIbbs, followed by Frankie which is found outside Nilgiris and near Fruit Shop on Greams road. And then I visited the Katti roll shop on RK Salai, near Tandoori Tadakka and finally this new one that has come in Wellington Plaza, Egmore [ the complex with Milky way and Donut House].  

Called "Katti Kebab Company" owned by Mr Arjan Mahtani. It is located right at the end of the complex, behind Ponnuswamy Hotel and other places. A fairly large place, there isnt much ambiance. But as Mr Mahtani says, the food speaks for itself. When I was chatting with him, I learnt that he has lived nearly 20 yrs in New York and started this place about a month ago. He mentioned he has brought down guys from Calcutta when he set up this outlet. Another interesting trivia about him is that he also owns the Mainland China on Cenotaph road and is involved in Quiznos which is managed by his brother.

The place is air-conditioned and there are a few chairs and a row of sofas to sit in. There is a small kitchen atop the small flight of stairs and that is where the rolls are created.  There is also a fridge with aerated drinks and water and a bubble top as well. Simple ambiance, but when you pick up the menu card you are in for a surprise. It is quite extensive, there are over 30 kinds of Katti rolls here, and quite a few options for Vegetarians as well and there is an entire section for Eggatarians. 

The 1st roll i opted for was the Paneer with Egg roll, it was delicious. Made with maida parotta, the filling was good, and it had a lovely touch of Black salt. The masala was not over the top and the heat factor was just right. You can choose low, medium or very spicy. Similarly, when you order a katti roll, you can choose either Maida or Wheat [Additional Rs10], and for egg, you can opt for egg white only[Additional Rs15].

The other thing I was totally fascinated by was that the rolls were NOT OILY at all.. There was no oozing oil, or that weird feeling in your mouth. Big Thumbs Up!! 

During the few hours we were there, I did try few other veg options- Plain aloo [ yummy], wheat roll with mix vegetables and egg, wheat roll with potato and channa [yumm], and palak paneer in maida parotta [ quite good, it had a strong aroma of lemon, but it wasnt strong in the filling] .. 

A good place to grab lunch or maybe pick up few rolls if you are headed on a drive, or for a movie!! 

The price starts at Rs90 and goes on up to Rs150.. Neatly wrapped in white paper, these rolls are good even after a few minutes, it dint become chewy or dry. 

  

Address:

GF 16, Wellington Estate, 

Opposite Ethiraj College, Behind Ponnusamy hotel

Egmore, Chennai

Ph- 044 60501230, 044 60501232

Disclaimer:The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

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Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwich

More avocado you say?  Heck yea!  I haven't met a chicken salad that I haven't liked.  This one totally lived up to expectation!

I gave my husband one of these sandwiches for lunch.  He came home and said he was a bit scared of the green sandwich at first but loved it and asked for more.

I couldn't help but eat this with my delicious Garlic Aioli. That and some organic romaine lettuce and it was perfect.  

I don't eat too many sandwiches as I haven't found a gluten free bread that I love.  This loaf was from a box, I don't remember what brand. I do know that I added some garlic powder and Italian seasoning to the bread and it turned out delicious!

Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe

Adapted from Family Fresh Meals

2 cups shredded chicken

1 avocado, chopped in chunks

1 tbsp. onion, minced

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 tsp. lime juice

2 tsp. cilantro

1/4 cup mayo, light

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate. Serve with lettuce and Garlic Aioli if desired.  It's awesome, you totally should!

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Dessert Safari, Chennai

We were just done watching a Malayalam Movie - Arikil Oraal and were now headed towards Eldams road to check out Dessert Safari.. 

Desserts instantly ring a bell that says "sweets sweets pastries and all related stuff" and then the word Safari is almost always associated with "animals, wild, forest, jungle, night rides".. And so when we entered Dessert Safari we were in for quite a surprise.  We saw a swanky looking place done up very elegantly but empty. We wondered if maybe the rains were the reason for that. But that night was quite a night.. We tried quite a few desserts alright and it was one safari ride.. With the food, the friends for company and the rains that seemed to never stop. And how can I forget, we rang in my birthday right there.. What an evening it turned out to be :-))

After spending a few minutes exploring the lower level, we made our way up the winding staircase to the seating area there. There were 3 tables with chairs and a very Victorian style table in the corner.

We waited around for a while and then noticed a staff walking up the stairs with a plate. It had the starter made with Phyllo pastry topped with mushroom in a cream sauce. It was alright, the dish lacked crispness and felt dense. And then there were a string of non veg starters that came our way. The top level was a tad dark and gloomy and so we got back downstairs and made ourselves comfortable in the 3 tables that were there. Here is a visual treat of all the veg dishes and the desserts that we had..

Mushroom Wrap 

Cottage Cheese Steak 

Veg Caserella [similar to a quesadilla ]

Now, without waiting long, here are the desserts--

Baklava 

 Blueberry Cheese cake with ice cream and fresh cream

 Litchi parfait

 Vatalappam 

Mango Cheesecake

And even though we were done with the food, the night was far from over. We were there at the venue till past midnight..... Surrounded by a group of dear friends, a chocolate cake with a cute candle and loads of "Happy birthday" wishes...

Quite a memorable evening!

Address:

107, Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai

Ph: 044 33824444

Directions- Dessert safari is down the road from Samco on the left [if you are coming from Alwarpet]

Disclaimer:The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

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Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread

My family is crazy for bread.  They can't seem to get enough of it.  We make some sort of bread every week and my kids take turns helping me.  Punching the dough is the funnest part of course.  My daughter helped me make this bread.  When she was mixing the dry ingredients, I heard her say, "Two cups of SALT?  Really?"  I then realized that she was reading the directions wrong and wanted to add 2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar and 2 cups salt.  Glad I was there to catch the mistake!  We started over!

This month for The Secret Recipe Club I loved looking through Karens blog Cinnamon Freud.  I was pleased as punch to find this awesome Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread. I knew that they family would absolutely love it!  It was simple to make and the dough was really easy to work with.  

Everyone loved it and they can't wait to make it again!  Thanks Karen for a fantastic recipe! 

CINNAMON SUGAR PULL APART BREAD
Recipe from Cinnamon Freud

For the Dough:
3 cups all purpose flour, divided
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
5 tablespoons warm water, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 ounces butter
1/3 cup milk
2 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Filling:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt
2-3 ounces butter, melted

In a large bowl combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, and salt. Set aside

In a saucepan combine milk and butter over medium heat.  Stir together over heat until butter is melted.  Let cool until mixture reaches 115-125°F. Stir in vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons water.

Combine 3 tablespoons warm water and yeast with a pinch of sugar.  Let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.
Stir into wet ingredients. 

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.  Add in eggs one at a time and mix until incorporated.  Stir in 3/4 cup of flour and stir for 2 minutes.

Place dough in a large greased bowl.  Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

In a small bowl mix together the sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the filling.  Melt the 2 ounces of butter for the filling in a saucepan over medium heat until it turns a brown, 5-10 minutes.  Grease a 9 inch by 5 inch loaf pan.  Set aside.

Punch down the dough and knead in 2 tablespoons of flour.  Cover and let rest for 5 minutes.  Place on a lightly floured surface and roll dough out to a 12 inch by 20 inch long rectangle.  Brush with melted brown butter. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture on top.

Slice dough into 6 vertical strips.  Then cut into 6 horizontal strips to make 36 total strips.  Layer the strips in the prepared loaf pan. Just kinda stack and layer them in there while the pan is tipped on its side. They don't have to be super neat, just push them in there. Cover and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size, 30-45 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.  Run knife around the edges of pan.  Invert onto a plate and flip back over.  Serve warm.

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Tuscanala Thali irukku theriyumo nokku...

Well, if you are wondering what "Tuscanala Thali irukku theriyumo nokku... " means, then let me clarify that before proceeding.. "Tuscana has Thali now did you know?"

Tuscana  for us is synonymous with Italian, 

It is synonymous with thin crust pizza

it is where we tasted the 1st Gluten free pizza

It is where we tasted Tiramisu and Panna cotta first..

It is a place that has done a lot of firsts in Chennai.. 

Here is a brief glimpse into a few of the dishes served there. Pizza, Pasta, bell peppers& Mozzarella and then there was the Zucchini Mozzarella  fritters as well.  

Their extensive dessert section houses the infamous Panna cotta, lemon cheese cake, Tiramisu and a pizza with chocolate sauce, nutella and bananas as well. 

But the one thing you dont think of when I say "Tuscana" is Thali concept or Jain food. 

And that is something they have newly introduced!! 

The obvious questions that arise are 

"Really?"

"What is a Thali doing in an Italian restaurant?"

"Why are they serving Jain food?

"Will it work?"

There is just one answer to these questions!! Just go there and try it out,  you will see it actually works and makes sense. 

I walk into Tuscana and as always this guy greets me at the entrance. Walking up the winding staircase, we make our way to the table reserved upstairs in a cosy room [ideal for small groups or a private dinner]. And then we are presented with a menu that has not one but 5 Thali options in it. 2 for veg and 3 for non veg . And they offer quite a variety. 

A Thali is an Indian concept, where the entire meal is placed in one plate in small cups/bowls. You would have everything from the starter to main course to the dessert in that one plate. It is another name for a set meal :-) In some places it is bottomless thali [where you get unlimited servings of all the dishes] and in other places it is a set quantity [and in these places the portion sizes are good enough, you wont even think about going for a 2nd helping]

While I opted for the 2nd Veg Thali, another fellow vegetarian chose the 1st one and another friend opted for the Non veg Thali with chicken as the main dish .

All the Thalis have a soup, a salad, a few slices of garlic bread [w/wo cheese], a main course, and a dessert. The Thali I chose had Tomato soup, Garlic bread, a fresh crunchy salad with slices of pears and the main course was Eggless crepes filled with baby corn, mushroom  and parmesan and finally, the dessert [which was the reason I chose this thali]- Apple pie with vanilla sauce.

Priced around Rs600 = tax, these thalis make for a good sumptious lunch on a day when you are slogging away and suddenly realise you are hungry.  I must hand it to the Restaurant, they do come up with innovative concepts!!

If you still dont believe me about the Thali, check out the ad they released to announce the same..

[Image courtesy - http://chennaifoodguide.in/deal/view?id=76]

Address:

Tuscana Chamiers

No. 89, Chamiers Road, Opposite IN Gate of Park Sheraton,  Nandanam, Chennai-600065

To Book a Reservation - Contact : 044-45000008

Disclaimer:The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-) 

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Idli and Beer Festival at Courtyard by Marriott, Chennai

Sitting in Chennai, the only thing I do is read about the Oktoberfest in Germany and wonder if ever I would get to witness this fest.. And then came an email announcing the "Idly and Beer Festival at Courtyard by Marriott.. I was curious, I was intrigued to say the least. Above all, I am someone who is not really fond of idlis, I need some serious motivation to eat those white discs. Give me a dosa and I will be happy as a new born puppy :-) 

                                                      [Image courtesy: Courtyard by Marriott]

I do know of quite a few who love Idlis and have a few friends who love Beer and Fried idlis, but most times the combo is ordered at one of the city clubs. 

Anyways, I set aside my apprehensions and made my way to Courtyard by Marriott in Teynampet [ did take me a while to figure out the way to the hotel, not because I dont know the place, but because of all the metro rail work going on in the city]. I reached the Hotel and chose to dine at Rhapsody, the swanky restaurant with dark interiors and vintage light fixtures. 

I was told there were two options, the Veg Platter and the Non veg platter. When I dug further, I discovered the Veg platter had four varieties of idlis – Kanchipuram Idli, Fried Idli, Podi Idli and Karvaipilai Idli along with a frothy pitcher of beer. On the other hand, the Non Veg Platter had - Kozhi Koththamali Idli, Muttai Karvapilai Idli, Sea Food Idli and Kaima Ellu Idli along with a pitcher ofbeer. 

Being a vegetarian, I chose the Veg Platter and requested for the beer to be served a glass at a time and not a whole pitcher. The Veg Platter + 1 Pitcher of Beer is priced at Rs. 550 + taxes while the Non-Veg Platter + 1 Pitcher of Beer works to Rs. 650 + taxes. 

  

The veg platter with the glass of beer.. 

The Non veg platter

The platter arrived and so did my beer. It looked interesting. There were the 4 different kinds of idlis [there wwere 4-5 pieces in each kind]  and was served alongside the yummy White coconut chutney and red spicy chutney. The idlis had subtle flavours, the karuvepilai idli is not overpowered by curry leaf flavour nor are there a zillion curry leaves to deal with. The chef mentioned that the filling/spices have all been blended into the batter and then the idlis are made. I was also shown a sample Non veg platter, which looked good. Again, here too the meat and egg is blended with the batter, so there are no big chunky pieces of idli. 

While I was initially skeptical about this whole concept, I must say I walked out with a smile. Infact, I did send out messages to quite a few friends who I know will enjoy this deal. 

If you love beer.. If you love fried idli or idli of any kind- Do visit.. 

When? The festival is on till Oct 30th, 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm 

Where?  Paprika & Rhapsody, 

Courtyard by Marriott Chennai, [Opp Ramee Mall/Hyatt Regency]

#564, Anna Salai, Teynampet, 

Chennai. 

Ph No: 6676 4000

How much?- The Veg Platter [16 idlis] + 1 Pitcher of Beer is priced at Rs. 550 + taxes while the Non-Veg Platter [16 idlis] + 1 Pitcher of Beer works to Rs. 650 + taxes. 

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