Chikki is like sugar candy made during festival specially on Makar Sankranti (14 Jan) every year. There are many kinds of chikkis like peanut, Cashews, almonds, coconut etc. I decided to make sesame seed here. I called my mom this year on Makar Sankranti and was casually chatting thats when she gave me chikki recipe. I must say I had complex that I won't be able to make chikki ever but it came out amazing. I was so proud of my self :)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white sesame seed. Roast them quicky on low flame.
• 1 cup Sugar
• little oil to grease surface.

Direction:

• Grease a plain surface very well with little oil where you can work with this candy mix. grease rolling pin also.
• Heat a pan little bit. Add sugar and stir it continouly on medium flame.
• As soon as sugar dissolves turn off gas and mix sesame seed very well.
• Pour this mix over greased surface and roll it with rolling pin.
• You can break into desired pieces.

Note: Always keep in mind if you boil sugar more, harder chikki will be. so it is necessary to turn off as soon as sugar dissolves.

Sure you can Enjoy this sweetie treat!!

So I was super hungry and wanted to eat Spaghetti (craving you know)..had no sauce so..I decided to make my own sauce. It came out amazing :)

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped - optional
• 5 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can stewed tomatoes - You can use regular tomatoes also.
• 1 tablespoon thyme
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water - I usually make this freshly for spaghetti, so I use pasta water. 

Direction:

• Heat some oil in pan.
• Add Onion and Garlic and saute little bit until onion is tender.
• Add tomatoe sauce, tomato paste and stewed tomatoes.
• Add all seasonings and water. Let it cook until it is properly cooked.
• You can add ground sauted meat if you like.
  

Enjoy hot!!

I was introduced to Bulgur by my Turkish friend, it tasted amazing. I researched little bit about it and made delicious bulgur pilaf with my own Indian twist :)

Here is good article about Bulgur benefits in Ney York times.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Bulgur
• 1/2 onion chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic
• 1 tomatoe chopped
• 1/4 cup oil
• salt as per taste
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 cup frozen pea - optional

Direction:

• Heat oil in pan. Fry onion untill they are pink. Add garlic and saute little bit.
• Add Salt, chillis and turmeric powder. Add Tomatoe also.
• Add 3 Cups of water and bring it to boil. Add Bulgur and cook until it is fluffy and fully cooked.
• Add thawed peas or any other veggies of your choice...like carrot, corn etc :)

Enjoy healthy bulgur!!

So I started gardening this summer (2010) and first thing I wanted to grow was Basil :) My Pottery intstructure happens to be Italian and gave me nice recipe. First important advice he gave was to use GOOD Parmesan cheese, so decided to get Parmesan cheese from Farmers Market here in Chicago. They sell good handcrafed cheese from Wisconsin.

Ingredients

• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Direction

Combine the basil, garlic, oil in  food processor and pulse until  incorporated and smooth.

Season with salt.

tip: If you want to freeze this do not add cheese. Add when you consume it.

Summer 2011: Last year I freezed pesto in batches and used it through out year. It was yummmm. I am sure not going back to supermarket pesto :)