OMKAR 2011- "Taste of Columbus" Cooking Contest

For the Ganesh Festival 2011(OMKAR 2011) in Columbus(Indiana), we had organized a cooking competition. I really enjoyed being a part of it and organizing it and more so.... judging it!! I got to taste some excellent food and experience a great deal of creativity shown by the participants. Some interesting recipes that were made for the competition and also some that won will be shared on the blog with the participants permission.

Here is the flyer for the competition:                                

  ‘The Taste of Columbus"

 Cooking Contest for OMKAR 2011

 When: September 4, 2011 

Where: Commons Mall

 

Categories: 

1)    U-pick and Dish-it-up

Mandatory Ingredient: Rava (Cream of wheat/Semolina/Sooji)

Optional Ingredients: (You pick 2 of the following)

a)        Corn

b)        Sugar/Jaggery/Honey

c)        Potato

d)        Apples

Create a dish using ‘Rava’ plus 2 of the ‘optional’ ingredients as main ingredients in the dish

(Other household ingredients like oil, butter, salt, spices, milk etc. may be used as needed)

*You can either make a ‘sweet’ or a ‘savory’ dish.

2)       2)Spice-Fusion

Use any one of following ‘Non-Indian’ ingredients to create an ‘Authentic/Traditional Indian dish’

a)        Tofu

b)        Ricotta Cheese

c)        Oats

d)        Zucchini

(Other household ingredients like oil, butter, salt, sugar, spices, nuts, vegetables, milk etc. may be used as needed)

3)       3)For the ‘Little Connoisseurs’ (Nutritious but Delicious)

Create a ‘Nutritious Snack’ for kids with the ingredients of your choice.

*Rules for the Contest:

1) Dish should be completely prepared at home and arrive in time for the contest

2) Each entry/ dish should have a Name, Written recipe, Time of preparation, Nutritional value (if you know) along with it.

Judging Criteria:

a) Originality/ Creativity
b) Taste
c) Presentation
d) Nutrition value
e) Time consumed for preparation/ Ease of preparation

The winners received a certificate and an apron.Had fun making those at home! 

 

" For Little Tummies"- Oats and Peanut Butter laddos

 I had a jar of peanut butter sitting in the pantry.Now, I am not a big fan of having peanut butter with bread and was wondering how could I use this jar up??? I have used peanut butter to make the 'Thai' peanut sauce for dipping and for noodles before, but this was the first time I tried this recipe!

The combination of oats and peanut butter worked really well and the ladoo texture was pretty similar to the 'Besan' ladoos.Also, to make it even 'protein richer'...I sneaked in powdered Cashews-almonds and pistachios. Now that's a ladoo any kiddo will like!!!!

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cup powdered whole grain oats ( Quick cooking oats)
1/2 cup-1/3rd  powdered sugar (add more for sweeter ladoos)
1/4 cup peanut butter( with low sodium)
2tbsp Ghee/Clarified butter
1/4 cup powdered cashews-almonds-pistachios
1/2tsp cardamom powder
Almonds, raisins etc for decoration

Method:
1) Powder the 'whole grain quick cooking oats' in the mixer.
2) Roast the oats powder in 2 tbsp ghee till golden brown

3) Take off the heat.After it cools down completely, add the peanut butter, nuts powder, sugar, cardamom powder etc and knead into a dough

4) Roll into small balls/ladoos and decorate with almonds, raisins etc

"Aroma From a Guest Kitchen"-(Guest- Aarti Kumbhojkar)- Shahi Paneer

 

Guest: Aarti Kumbhojkar

Aarti needs no introduction!She has already shared this delicious recipe on the blog before...

http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/08/aroma-from-guest-kitchen-guest-aarti.html

I am going to miss you Aarti-----It's one of those situations where you are just getting to know someone...you think you might get along ....and it's time for them to move to another place...

I am sure Aarti will keep making her delicious food once she moves to India and share still more recipes with us!!!

Ingredients:

Paneer cubes
Oil - 2 tbsp
Big size Red Onion  - 1
Medium size Tomatoes - 3
Ginger-Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Garam Masala - 1 tbsp
Red chili powder - 1 tsp
Salt - as per taste
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Cashew pieces - 3/4 cup
Milk/Cream - 1 cup

Method:

1) Soak cashews in milk/cream for minimum 1 hr and grind to paste.

2)Grind the onion in food processor coarsely and puree the tomatoes.
3) Heat oil in wok, and add processed onion.
4)Add ginger- garlic paste.
5)As it cooks and starts leaving the oil, add pureed tomatoes.
Stir till all the water from tomatoes is evaporated.
6)Add garam masala and red chili powder. Mix well and cook for another 1 min.
7)Add the cashew paste, mix well. Add half cup of water and let boil for 2 mins.If the gravy is too thick, add another half cup water.

8)Add salt and sugar to the gravy mix well and boil for another 1 min.
9)In another wok/pan add 1 tbsp oil and fry the paneer cubes till golden brown.
10)Drain all the oil on tissue and add the cubes to the gravy.

Serve with paratha or rice!

"Everyday Cooking"- Mint Pulav

Who/ What inspired your cooking today???
For me, my cooking is inspired by my environment and the people around me.I call up home, my mom tells me that she had cooked 'Chicken' for dinner...here I make plans to make chicken for dinner!!!
When we were in NY, my close friends were from southern India. So many a times our meals were--south Indian food...idlis, dosas, sambar various kinds of rices....Ohh how I miss 'V' and 'P''s delicious cooking :(
Nonetheless,they still inspire my cooking!!! The other day I had called up 'P'....while talking I heard the mixie go on....I asked her what she was making....she said 'Mint Pulav'....couple days later....this is what we had for dinner.......MINT PULAV!!!

Ingredients:
 2 cups Cooked basmati rice (cook the rice with water and salt and then fluff up with a fork to get 'individual' separate grains)
 1/2 cup Mint + green chilies puree ( wash 1 cup mint leaves and puree in a blender along with 2-3 green chilies) Use less if you want 'milder' minty taste.

 1/2th cup sliced onions
 1/4th cup sliced tomatoes
 1/4th cup sliced potatoes
 2tbsp Cashews
 3-4 cloves
1tsp Cumin
1tsp chopped garlic
2tbsp oil
salt

Method:
1) After cooking the basmati rice, fluff it with fork and spread on a  big plate to separate the grains.
2) Saute cumin, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cashews,garlic in oil.

3) Add the cooked rice, little salt, mint puree.

4) Mix gently. The rice has a nice 'green' color

5) Serve hot along with cool onion+ tomatoes raita or Cucumber raita

"Everyday Cooking"- Thin Spaghetti with Mushrooms and Cherry tomatoes

I am back from one of the most amazing vacations ever! Cancun, Mexico was such a beautiful place ...very scenic with it's white sandy beaches, the pristine Caribbean ocean,small islands, the sweet polite people, Spanish language...just loved it!
During the vacation to Mexico...got to try some new finger licking delicious food....Mahi-Mahi and Grouper, the authentic fajitas ,crepe burritos, tomatillo salas..yummm yummmm yummmm.

Now that I am back, I am back in my kitchen....and here's what we had for dinner last night.....
This was a pretty easy to make pasta, no sauces involved....and you can substitute with any other veggies that you like! But this combination worked well and the cherry tomatoes made the dish 'pop' with color!

Ingredients:
4 fist fulls thin Spaghetti or Angel Hair pasta
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
8-10 cherry tomatoes
1tsp finely chopped garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Romano cheese
2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil ( EVOO...as said by Rachael Ray!)
1/2tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp dried basil. fresh basil
1/4tsp Black ground pepper
1/2tsp Red Pepper flakes
1tbsp chopped cilantro/Parsley
salt

Method:
1) Boil the spaghetti with ample amounts of water and salt as directed on the packet.Drain well.
2) Heat 2 tbsp olive oil, add the garlic, mushrooms.Saute till the mushrooms cook a little.Add the tomatoes
and saute gently.Do not over cook, otherwise the tomatoes will be mushy.

3) Add the seasonings,spices, salt and the drained spaghetti.Toss gently.
4) Add the Parmesan cheese, cilantro/parsley and toss.

5) Serve hot along with Soup/ garlic bread/salad. Drizzle extra olive oil or Parmesan cheese if you like!