Marshmallow Rice Crispy - An Irresistible Treat

I find this highly irresistible...I wouldn't have found out about this, if one day I hadn't accidentally pressed the wrong button in the vending machine and got this crispy treats  instead of a chocolate bar....

Happy accidents do happen sometimes...and it comes in all size and shapes... and for me it came in the shape of this chewy treat one fine day....I instantly fell in love with this....

The sticky melted marshmallows can be pretty daunting at times...but if buttered well, these are super duper easy to make...and will be ready in less than 20min.

Recipe:

---------

1. Butter                   -  1/2 stick
2. Mini marshmallows  -  300 gms
3. Puffed rice            -  4 cups or little less depending 

1. Line a rectangular tin with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan(I used a non-stick) over low heat.
3. Stir the butter with spatula while it melts so that the spatula gets coated with the melted butter. This will reduce the stickiness on to it while stirring.
4. When the butter melts completely, add marshmallows and cook gently until they are completely melted, stirring constantly.
5. Now add the puffed rice, mixing everything together until well coated with melted marshmallows and the puffed rice are sticking together.
6. Press this mixture into the lined(or greased) rectangular tin.
7. Press it down into all the corners, flattening the top. 
8. Let the marshmallow crispy squares cool completely in the tin.
9. Once cooled and cut them into desired shapes.
10. Store it in air tight containers...

Kappa -- Spiced Tapioca

This month has been very kind to me so far. It was filled with a beautiful trip to San Diego, met my sister, went on a safari, an exciting trip back home  and then of course my finals and project...but the highlight of all this was the wild safari adventure I had on a Segway... Yeaa it was one trilling experience I will never forget...My first time ride on a Segway and it was truly awesome!!!

Now that my holidays have begun I started watching all the silly christmas movies to get into christmas spirits...I like watching all happy-happy  movies around this time of the year .. After all this is my favorite season of the year.

I decided to kick start my vacation with this addictive yet simple dish...

Yes, kappa(in Malayalam) / yuca / tapioca...is something I used to eat at least once a week at  home. My favorite combo is Kappa with red chili chutney...But now after all the 'chickenising effect' I now eat it with a nice spicy chicken curry....But the top and the most popular combination is eating it with Red fish curry.

Recipe:

---------

1. Kappa - 500 gms, peeled, cleaned and cut into small cubes (I used the frozen packet. It was already peeled and cut into cubes.)
2. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
3. Salt
4. Water
5. Coconut - 1/2 - 3/4 cup grated
6. Green chilies - 3-4

For tempering : Oil, mustard seeds, dried red chilies

Add turmeric powder and salt and lots of water enough to cover all the pieces on a big heavy bottomed vessel. 

Boil Kappa on medium heat with closed lid till kappa becomes very soft. 

Make sure it is completely cooked and there should be some water left to drain at the end.(take some 20-40min or more)

In the meantime, grind coconut and green chillies and set it aside.

Once the kappa is soft and cooked through, drain the water left.

Now lightly mash the soft kappa and add the grind coconut-green chili.

Mix everything together and place it back on medium heat source.

Let everything cook through for 2-3 min , stirring regularly.

Check for salt and switch off the heat.

In a another sauce pan, heat some oil.

Add mustard seeds, when the spluttering is over add 2-3 dried red chilies, let the chilies get a darker shade. Oil will be infused with the flavor of red chili by then. Switch off the heat and pour this over the cooked Kappa.

Serve it hot with Red Fish Curry or any spicy chili chutney.

Green Chutney/ Mint-Cilantro Chutney

I used to order the exact same breakfast everyday for almost six months when I was working in Pune. It wasn't anything exotic...just a vegetable sandwich with a green chutney spread.... It comes with little diluted ketchup and some potato chips…. Every time I indulge it, this gave me a lasting satisfaction...Many times it is such simple things that gives a profound effect on me....

I did try to recreate the same myself…but after some failures of making not so good green chutney, I gave it a rest.

Yesterday while I was doing my usual browsing I came across the recipe of Tarla Dalal, The addiction of onions and sugar was what I was looking for…You know I am not a big fan of the bitter taste of mint leaves…I knew onions and sugar will be the answer for that…and I was right…

For the recipe hop over to this link  Green Chutney (Chaat) by Tarla Dalal.

Only thing I did differently is, I used only 1 cup of packed mint leaves instead of 2 cups.

As for the sandwich its pretty easy,

1. Spread green chutney on the bread slice.
2. Place sliced cucumbers and tomato.
3. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on top of it.
4. Place another bread slice that is spread with the green chutney, on top of it.
5. Slice it diagonally and serve.

Sandwich was really good only thing that was missing was some potato chips, to crunch in between the sandwich bites...

Enjoy a nice and healthy sandwich...:)