Ring Murukku (Fried Rice Flour Rings)

Ring Murukku (Fried Rice Flour Rings) is a traditional south Indian snackmade during special occasions. It is made using homemade rice flour ,black gram, sesame seeds and cumin seeds. The freshly homemade rice flour really enhances the flavor of the Murukku.

Step 1: Ingredients

1) Raw Rice - 2 Cups

2) Urad Dal - 2 Tbsp

3) Red Chilli Powder - 1 Tsp (as per taste)

4) Sesame seeds - 1 Tsp

5) Cumin Seeds - 1 Tsp

6) Butter - 1 Tbsp

7) Salt - as per taste

8) Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp

9) Oil for frying

Step 2: Making of Homemade Rice Flour especially for Murukku

1) Wash and Soak the raw rice for 2 to 3 hours.

2) Drain all the water from the soaked rice and spread it on the kitchen towel and allow it air dry for few hours (2 to 3 hours)
3) The rice should only be 90% dry and should have little moisture in it. That is what is preferred.

4) Then Grind the rice into a fine rice powder and sieve it gently 2 to 3 times.

Fresh Homemade Rice Flour is ready now !

Note:

The Soaked rice should not be sun dried. It should be dried in shade till it is 90% dry.

Step 3: Making the Murukku Dough

1) Wash and Soak the urad dal/black gram for 2 to 3 hours.

2) Grind the urad dal into a fine paste with little water and keep it aside.

3) In a bowl, add homemade rice flour, ground urad dal/black gram, asafoetida, butter, sesame seeds, chili powder, cumin seeds and mix well.

The Murukku Dough is ready now.

Step 4: Making the Ring Murukku

1) Take a small portions of the dough and roll it into a string of equal lengths.

2) Then pinch both the ends of the string to form a ring. Make as many required.

3) In a pan, add oil and heat to medium to high temperature.

4) Then add the murukku rings to the oil and keep frying till it turns golden brown.

Ring Murukku is ready now !

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Watermelon Strawberry Lemonade

Watermelon Strawberry Lemonade is a very refreshing, easy to make drink especially during the summer. This super delicious summer drink will definitely impress your guests and also kids would love it.

Step 1: Ingredients

1) Watermelon cubed - 2 Cups

2) Strawberry chopped- 1/4 Cup

3) Lemon Juice - juice from 2 to 3 lemons

4) Sugar - 1/4 Cup (as per taste)

5) Water - 1 Cup

Step 2: Mix all ingredients

1) In a clean blender/mixer, add watermelon, strawberry, lemon juice and sugar.

2) Blend all ingredients until smooth (so that there are no chunks)

3) Now add the water and mix well. Check for the taste and adjust accordingly.

4) Store it in the refrigerator and serve chill !!!

Enjoy the hot summer day with chill Watermelon Strawberry Lemonade !!!

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Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder (Recycled Bird Feeder)

  

This Bird Feeder is very easy to make with the items that are available at home. Within 5 minutes the bird feeder will be ready. Fill the feeder, hang it on a tree and watch the birds eat on.

 Step 1: Items Required

1) Hot Glue Gun

2) Knife

3) Small Plastic Plate (yogurt box lid)

4) Water Bottle

5) String 2-3 feet Long

6) Bird Seed

Step 2: Making the Bird Feeder

1) To make the holes where the bird seed comes out, take the knife and make 3 rectangles around the base.

2) Then, cover the bottom of the water bottle in hot glue and quickly stick it onto the plate.

3) Next, take the cap of the water bottle and make two holes that are big enough for the string to go through. Loop the string through the holes.

4) Fill with bird seed and tie onto a tree branch. Next, wait for Birds to eat out of your recycled bird feeder!

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Baked Beetroot Chips

These Beet Chips are healthy, crispy, simple and very easy to make chips which are perfect for snacking. This way you can include beets in your diet even though you are not a fan of beets. Super healthy snack, even kids would Love them.

Preparation : 5 Minutes

Baking : 20 minutes

Step 1: Ingredients

1) Beetroot - 2 (Medium Size)

2) Olive Oil - 1 Tbsp

3) Dried rosemary - 1 Tsp

4) Garlic Salt - as per taste

Step 2: Preparing the Beets

1) Wash and peel the skin of the beets.

2) Using a sharp knife or mandolin or slicer, slice the beets into thin slices. Try to keep all the slices even.

3) In a bowl add the sliced beets along with olive oil, dried rosemary, garlic salt and mix well.

4) Allow it to rest for few minutes.

Step 3: Baking the Chips

1) Preheat the oven to 350° F and Line the baking tray with wax/parchment paper.

2) Place the seasoned beet slices on the wax paper such that the beets do not touch each other and spaced out well.

3) Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and slightly brown. Watch carefully as the chips burn quickly.

4) Remove the beet chips from the oven and allow it cool down.

Beet Chips are ready to be served. These can be stored in a air tight container.

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Spicy Chili Chicken

Spicy Chili Chicken is a very popular Indo-Chinese dish in India. It is prepared by first marinating skinless boneless chicken in chili sauces and then deep fried or shallow fried. The fried chicken is added into another Chili sauce made along with some vegetables. It is mostly served as an appetizer.

Step 1: Ingredients

Chicken Marination

1) Chicken - 400 grams (skinless boneless chicken cubed to bite size pieces and soaked in salted buttermilk)

2) Chili powder - 2 Tsp

3) Chili sauce - 2 Tsp (hot)

4) Pepper Powder - 1/2 Tsp

5) Corn flour - 2 Tbsp

6) All purpose flour - 2 Tbsp

7) Soya Sauce - 2 Tsp

8) Salt as per taste

9) Oil for frying

Chili Sauce :

1) Onion - 1 medium (sliced/cubed)

2) Chopped Garlic - 2 pods

3) Green Chili - 5 to 6 (sliced)

4) Spring onions - 2 to 3 strands (chopped)

5) Red Bell pepper - 1/4 Cup (cubed)

6) Yellow Bell Pepper - 1/4 Cup (cubed)

7) Chili powder - 1/2 Tsp

8) Chili sauce - 1 to 1 1/2 Tsp

9) soya sauce - 1 1/2 Tsp

10) sugar - 1/4 Tsp

11) Lime juice - 1 Tsp

12) Salt as per taste

13) Oil - 1 Tbsp

Step 2: Marinating the Chicken in Chili sauce and Frying it

1) Remove the chicken from salted butter milk and pat it dry with kitchen towel.

2) Add chili sauce, soya sauce, pepper powder, salt to the chicken and mix well. Allow it to rest for 40 to 60 minutes.

3) Then add the corn flour, all purpose flour and mix well.

4) Add the oil in a pan and heat it to medium to high temperature.

5) Fry the chicken cubes till it becomes golden brown on both sides flipping on both sides regularly.

6) When the chicken is cooked drain on a kitchen tissue.

Note :

* The chicken can either be deep fried, shallow fried or baked as per preference.

* Prior to marinating the chicken in chili/soya sauces, the chicken was soaked in salted butter milk for 4 to 6 hours. so that the chicken will be soft and not dry out after frying it.

* Salted butter milk can be made by mixing 1 to 2 Tbsp yogurt in a 1 cup of water and adding salt as per taste.

* In order to obtain the red color for the chicken and you prefer less spicy ,use half of chili powder and half of paprika. No need of food color.

Step 3: Making the Chili Sauce

1) In a pan, add oil, garlic, onions, green chili, bell peppers, spring onion one by one and saute it for few minutes. (try to keep the veggies crunch and not too soft )

2) Then add the chili sauce, chili powder, soya sauce, sugar, salt, little water(1 to 2 Tbsp) and allow it to cook for few minutes. (If preferred add more of chili powder/ chili sauce)

3) Add the fried chicken in to the sauce and saute for few minutes.

Garnish with spring onions and Hot Hot Chili Chicken is ready !!!

Note :

For Spicy Chili Chicken Gravy

* Mix corn flour (1 to 2 Tsp) with water, mix it lump free and add it to the sauce. Check for the taste and add more sauces if needed. Cook it till the sauce thickens a little. Serve it hot with rice or flat bread.

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