SIMMY'S SPICES & FLAVOURS

Banana chocolate chip bread is an easy,moist and delicious recipe that you can enjoy for dessert,breakfast or snack.This recipe is one of my husband's favorite. INGREDIENTS- Ripe Banana-2-3 Sugar-1/2-3/4 cup Unsalted Butter-1/2 cup Chocolate chips-3/4 cup All purpose flour-2 cups Vanila Essence-1tsp Baking powder-1tsp Baking soda-1tsp Oatmeal-1/2 cup Salt-1/4 tsp Egg-2 Milk-1/2 cup METHOD- 1-Preheated oven to 350 degrees F. 2-Spray a standard size loaf pan with non-stick cooing oil spray and set aside. 3-In an electric-mixture on medium speed whisk butter,sugar and egg until well combined. 4-Then add milk and vanilla essence and mix until blended.mix mashed bananas and beat for 2 minute on low-medium speed. 5- Mix flour,baking soda,baking powder,oatmeal and salt to the batter and mix for a few seconds until the flour is well combined.Add the chocolate chip and fold gently. 6-Then spread batter in prep...

In Odisha, Pithas are special delicacies in an Odia home.On traditional festivals sweet pithas form a part of celebrations.Even pithas are also routinely prepared and served in Odia homes in normal days.The pitha may be broadly put in the category cakes.During the return journey(Bahuda Jatra) of the Rath Yatra festival,the chariot of Shri Jagannath stops at Mousi Maa teemple and the deity is offered the favourite Poda Pitha.Poda pitha is a slow-cooked pitha made from rice flour with coconuts,dry fruits,jaggery and some spices.Its crust is slightly burnt,while the inside is soft and brown,mostly during festival of Raja parba. INGREDIENTS:- Rice powder(chaula chuna)-2 cups(I used store bought rice powder) Water-5 cups Jaggery-1/2 cup or to taste Cashew nuts-1/4 cup Shredded coconut-1/4 cup(I used frozen shredded coconut) Grated coconut-1/2 cup Cardamom pod-8-10 Whole black pepper-5-6 Fennel seeds-2 tsp Ghee-2 tbsp Salt to taste Banana leaf MET...

Prathamastami is celebrated on the eighth day in the month of Margasira (November-December) and is one of the most popular festivals of Odisha.This is widely observed throughout the State.On this occasion the eldest child of the family is honored.He or she is given new clothes and is made to sit on a wooden pedestal (Pidha).In front of him/her an earthen pot full of water (Purna Kumbha) is placed on handfuls of paddy.Above it a branch of mango leaves and a coconut is placed.Then,the mother or any other elderly lady wishes him /her long-life and good health by praying Sathi Debi,the Goddess who protects children from all kinds of evils.Before the first-borns get honoured,the mother and all other elderly women of the family offer all the prepared cuisine (Pitha and Khiri) to Sathi Devi first.Then they light the lamp (Arati with Dipa) before the Goddess.Followed by this the first-born get honored.A special variety of cake (Pitha) is prepared on this occasion called ‘Enduri’.The cake is ...

Baula Amabasya or Bakula Amavasya  is a festival of odisha which is observed during the Posh Amavasi and is dedicated to the Mango trees.In this days mango flower(we odia people called it "Amba Baula")Special food is prepared on the day and is offered in temples.The food is also offered to Mango trees. The ritual is performed to get more mangos during the ensuing mango season.In the occasion of Baula amabasya, we odia people prepare "KHIRA GAINTHA(MILKY RICE BALLS)"  in our house.This is a very tasty,healthy and delicious recipe.So let's start this recipe.... INGREDIENTS:- Raw rice-1 cup(instead of rice you can also use semolina(suji)) Water-3 1/2 cups Sugar-1 cup Grated Coconut-1 cup Milk- 1.5 ltr. Crushed cardamom-4 Bay leaf-2 Salt to taste METHOD:- 1-Soak the rice for 4-5 hours,then wash and drain all the water completely and then spread the raw rice in a soft towel and allow it to dry completely. 2-Then heat a pan and dry roast the ...