MERI RASOI

When I heard that in Chennai, there is a theme restaurant...RAIN FOREST, I got curious to see it. I have seen Rain forest in Atlantic City and there ambiance and food both were very good. So This Sunday we tried our Indian Rain forest...It is in Adyar on the main road only. They open it at &pm only, we were there early, so strolled around for 20 minutes, but it was good, because then we got a table, later on there was a waiting period of 45 minutes. from the entrance onward, the ambiance is of Jungle..lighting, fountain, animals hanging here and there and even the waiters and waitresses all were dressed in animal prints Since whenever we go to dine out, we normally prefer to order north Indian fare. So we ordered...tomato cream soup, masala papad , palak paneer , masala kulcha and pudina parantha . Except for pudina parantha , none of the preparations were good, as they all were prepared with garlic flavour which we dont like at all. The quantity they served was too much...

Though we have been getting the pastries and cake from this place for a long time, its only yesterday that I went inside. its a nice place with cafe ambiance.. air conditioned and clean. The pastries there are the best I have tasted..so yummy, specially the pineapple ones, they have chocolate , black forest, then little tarts and doughnuts.and of course the breads. The variety is sufficient for a full meal even...coffees and tea for drinks., sandwiches for the main dish and delicious desserts, we tried vegetable club sandwiches..were superb, both in presentation and taste . Prices are moderate........around 50/- to 60/- for every sandwiches and coffee and 35/for a pastry(8-2-09) and place is worth a dekko :) It is below the naihu hall Plot No 183 New Naidu Hall Door No 137 Ground Floor, Bye Pass Road, Velacheri , Chennai - 600042 044-42325103, 044-22552499 -9840366037,

For serving as starters before dinner or even as a snack with tea its a tasty accompaniment.Its a non fried tasty snacking. Ingredients 200gm peanuts---roasted----normally if you put them in microwave at high for 3 minutes, shaking them once in between-----they are well done. 2 tomatoes finely chopped 1onion finely chopped 3 green chillies finely chopped half cup cucumber finely chopped. 2-3 tbsp. green coriander-finely chopped 1lemon salt to taste just before serving mix everything together and the sprinkle the lemon juice and serve it garnished with green coriander. its a very tasty, crunchy snack. In the garnishing you may add Bhujia also. I'm sending this to "Let's go NUTS!" , hosted by aquadaze!

I make Upma once a week in breakfast, i learned it from a north India friend who was very good in cooking, then improvised it with a maharshtrian friend. Actually I dont know Upma belongs to which region.. maharashtra or south, but i like it as its a healthy breakfast, though i dont put the same quantity of oil one sees in the restaurants. Ingredients: one and half cup semolina 4 cups water 1 tsp mustard seeds 3 greenn chillies split salt to taste(half tsp. for me) 5 french beans..chopped very finely 1small carrot..chopped finely 1 onion..chopped..optional( I dont use it) 1tbsp. roasted chana daal few curry leaves oil 4 tsp. juice of one lemon Take a pan, and roast the semolina on medium fire for 4 minutes., then take it off. Now in the pan, put 1 tsp. oil, heat it. add mustard seeds and when they start splitting add chana dal and roast till it is light brown. Add curry leaves and green chilli and stir add the vegetables and stir for 2 minutes. Now add water. Add salt, res...

Paneer is the most favourite dish for most of the north indians , rather mandatory for any festival or guest lunch or dinner. Paneer can be made with so many varieties , this is the speciality of my sister who stays in Lucknow. She makes it real yummy and this time I learned it, so friends here it is........ For Shahi Paneer , 4 medium sized onions 1/2 tsp ginger chopped 2 big tomatoes. 6-8 cashew nuts 1 cup fresh milk 2 tsp. kitchen king ( MDH ) 1/2 tsp. garam masala 1 tsp. coriander powder, 1tsp. turmeric powder salt to taste 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 2 tbsp oil. Cut the paneer in cubes and keep aside (here we have fried it because my nephew like it this way, but its very tasty without frying also) Grind the onions. & ginger together Put the oil in pan and add the onion paste and ginger and saute it. grind tomatoes and cashewnuts together. When onions become golden brown add tomato and cashewnuts paste and saute it then add all the spices and stir it for 1 min. then add ...

This was the staple diet in winters in my childhood. Actually we started making this only from Ganga Dusshehra and stopped it from Shivraatri . My mind found this logic in this ritual..its considered hot...gives heat, so once the winter is gone..its not good to eat ..may be. Ingredients: 1cup Urad cchilka (black urad ) 1 and half cup rice. 4 cup water. 1tsp. turmeric 1+1/2 tsp. salt or to taste. green chutney, curd papad Radish ..cut into long pieces and sprinkle salt and lemon juice on them. Desi ghee Put daal , rice, water, turmeric and salt together in a cooker and put it on the gas. After one whistle slow the the fire. keep it for 3 minutes and switch off. let it cool for 5 minutes. Now open it , and serve it hot with dollops of ghee and accompaniments. I love it with radish and curd. My dad always used to like it after a little shallow frying...for this take a fry pan, put some ghee and add khichdi , and shallow fry it, till its a little crisp. Its like Indian fast food...co...

laddoo with wheat flour.... This was the most favourite dish of my children, when they used to go to the hostel, they always wanted to take it with them. so I learnt making it INGREDIENTS; Besan ...3 cups Desi ghee..3/4 cup Sugar..2 cups(grind it finely), this is the general choice, I put 1 and 1/2 cup, as i like a little less. Cardamom powder.1 tbsp. 2 tbsp.. cashewnuts 2 tbsp almonds for garnishing..... 4 big cardamom-grind them 2 tbsp. coconut powder. Take a saucepan, and put besan and Ghee and roast on medium fire, stirring all the time. When it is done it leaves the ghee., then add chopped almond and cashew nuts . While you are roasting..its sort of solid mass, but when its roasted..it starts becoming a little liquid and give an aroma. Now add cardamom powder and take it off the heat. let it cool for a 3-4 minutes. now add sugar and make balls. While making the balls take some stuff and rub it between two hands, then round them. spread cardamom and coconut powder in a plate. Pu...