Quinoa Medley with Black Beans and Corn

Yoo-hoo.. My 100th post.. this is really exciting. To be honest, a year ago, I didn’t have a clue that I would have my own blog. I was googling for a recipe and thankfully found Indira’s Mahanandi. I was so hooked onto her pictures and detailed recipe instructions that I used to visit her blog almost every day.

After a little research on blogging, I realized I can have my own blog for free. It took me almost 2 months to actually shake off my nerves and start my blog and after that, as they say, rest is history. My blog is like my little diary where I jot down the hits and misses occurring in my hideout (my kitchen).

I have to thank my husband for the encouragement and also for his willingness to be the Guinea pig (mishaps have occurred in the past year and lessons have been learnt.. so I thank him for his patience and sometimes courage too). My mom is a great contributor to my blog; she has a new recipe up her sleeve every time I talk to her. My MIL is another great resource and support. I have to thank all the friends I made in the past year (blogging might just be the fastest way to make tons of friends from all around the world) for their constant support via messages and email.

To sum it all up, in the past year, I think I have cooked dishes that I have never cooked before; bought and used ingredients that I never thought can be used; got to know so many wonderful people and cooks from all around the world that I have never imagined could happen so fast.

Thank you Haripriya of Sweet and Spice for tagging me to this three things Meme.

Three things I love:

1. My family
2. Kids, innocence
3. Good Healthy Food

Three Things I hate:
1. Back Stabbing
2. Hypocrisy
3. People being inconsiderate towards others

Three People Who make me Laugh:
1. My Husband
2. Paresh Rawal’s comedy
3. Telugu director Jandhyala’s movies

Three things that Scare me:
1. Horror Movies
2. Sudden ringing of the phone in a quite room
3. Cop car behind me in traffic

Three things I don’t understand:
1. Why some people enjoy hurting others (physically and mentally)
2. Reason for traffic jams in New Jersey
3. Software and electronic mumbo jumbo

Three things on my Desk
1. Desktop
2. Camera
3. Post-its with phone numbers, address and my mom’s recipes

Three things I’m doing right now:
1. Thinking about tonight’s dinner
2. Thinking about my annual review next week
3. Typing

Three things I want to do before I die:
1. Travel around the world
2. Help others as much as I can
3. Never do anything that I have to regret about

Three things I can do:
1. Cook
2. Embroider/ Crafts (been a while I’ve done these)
3. Shopping

Three things you should listen to:
1. Your heart
2. Your well wishers
3. Soothing melodious music

Three things you should never listen to:
1. People bad mouthing others
2. People who praise themself
3. Co-worker talking to their ex-spouse or ex-girlfriend/ boyfriend

Three things I would like to learn:
1. To be more assertive
2. More about human evolution and history
3. To make Sushi rolls (veggie of course)

Three Favorite foods:
1. All eggplant/ brinjal dishes
2. All egg dishes
3. Any veggie dish that is delicious and different (from what I cook)

Three beverages I drink a lot:
1. Water
2. Bournvita
3. Pepsi

Three Favorite book/TV show I read/Watched as a Kid:
1. Enid Blyton series
2. Telugu children’s magazines; Chandamama, Balamithra, Bommarillu & Balajyothi
3. Byomkesh Bakshi – Indian Sherlock Holmes on DD.

Three people I'd like to Tag:
1. Sangeeta of Ghar ka Khana
2. Roopa of Kitchen Aromas
3. Nav of Memories and Meals

Quinoa Medley with Black Beans and Corn

As a part of my eating healthy resolution, I have started cooking more with whole grains (brown basmati rice, whole-wheat pasta etc). I learnt about Quinoa from one of my cookbooks and I bought some a while ago. When I saw this recipe in the recent edition of ‘Vegetarian Times’, I just had to try it. The recipe is super simple to make and it takes fewer than 30 minutes to make which is perfect for a quick weekday dinner.

Here is some useful information about Quinoa. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a “grain” native to Central America and was once called “gold of the Incas”, as the Incas recognized its value in increasing the stamina of their warriors. Quinoa is high in protein and the protein it supplies is complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids. Not only is quinoa's amino acid profile well balanced, making it a good choice for vegans concerned about adequate protein intake, but quinoa is especially well-endowed with the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair. In addition to protein, quinoa features a host of other health-building nutrients. Because quinoa is a very good source of manganese as well as a good source of magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorous, this "grain" may be especially valuable for persons with migraine headaches, diabetes and atherosclerosis.

Ingredients:
Quinoa – 1 ¼ cups, rinsed
Black beans – 1 5 oz. can, rinsed and drained
Frozen corn – 1 cup
Chunky Salsa (home made or store bought) – ½ cup, divided
Chili powder – 1tsp
Cilantro - 1/4 cup chopped
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Salt and Pepper – to taste

Method:

• Bring 2cups of water to boil in a saucepan. Stir in quinoa, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add beans, corn and 1/4 cup salsa and chili powder; season with salt and pepper.Return to a boil. Cover and cook 2 to 5 minutes more, or until quinoa is tender.
• Stir in cilantro, oil and remaining salsa. Serve.

This is our dinner for today with stuffed zucchini.

10 Things I Miss of Mom’s Cooking - MEME

This is my very first meme and it is “the best” time for me to participate in this meme. Not being able to have any home made food, not even Indian food for that matter, makes this a perfect time to think of, not 10 but 100, of Mom’s dishes. Thank you very much Nav for tagging me.

The most important thing that I miss about my mom is the patience with which she used to cater to all the different needs of our family. Never did I hear her say I can’t do this. I wish I can have at least 50% of that patience.

I try to imitate my Mom’s cooking style and I keep asking her for recipes. Most of the time these dishes turn out good. I like everything my mom makes, but following is the list of my most favorite dishes.

Kanda bachali Kura: This is more like a dal (pappu) made with a classic combination of kanda and bachalikura. This dish is usually made for functions and special occasions. I have never tasted anything like hers anywhere.

Majjiga Pulusu (Kadi): This is like my Mom’s signature dish with sorakaya (Kaddu) and ground masala. The best part of this dish is the small chana dal vadas that she makes to put in the kadi.. Awesome.

Kandi Pachadi w/ Vankaya Pulusu (Toor dal chutney w/ Eggplant stew): Another classic combination and I can still smell the sautéed kandi pappu (Toor dal). Eggplant is my favorite vegetable and this is one of my all time favorite eggplant dish.

Vegetable Bath: Vegetables with rice and home made masala powder. Never had anything like this outside of my house.

Vankaya Banda Pachadi (Eggplant chutney): As told earlier, eggplant is my fav. veggie and this is another one of favorite. I used to help my mom (sometimes…;-) grind this chutney with mortar and pestle. I am planning to buy a mortar and pestle just to make this.

Karappusa (Sev): My sister likes the thicker kind (janthikalu) and I like the thinner version of the same thing. My mom used to make both to cater to our likings.

Boondhi Laddu: My mom’s boondhi laddu are so good that family and friends have asked her to make them for their special occasions. They are juicy and fresh even after 10days of making.

Thokkudu Laddu (Bandar Laddu): Another one of my favorite sweet. Can never get enough of them.

Masala Vada: Deep fried chana dal patties with spices. She makes them for festivals and also during sravana masam (Mangala Gowri and Vara Lakshmi vratam season).

Gongura pachadi/ Pandu mirapaya pachadi/ Pesara Avakaya: None of the bottled pickles taste like the fresh home made pickles. Just awesome.

I also want to mention two of my Mother-in-law’s dishes. She makes the best Gulab Jamuns (from scratch) using khova and sooji (semolina). They just melt in your mouth.

She also makes the best Jonna roti. Watching her make the rotis is fascinating. I don’t know how many years of practice it will take for me to learn the technique.