Lemon Rasam

Preparation time: 15 mins
Makes 3 servings
Cooking time: 3 mins

Ingredients:

Toor Dal - 1 tbsp
Lemon - 1/2
Tomato- 1 chopped finely.
Peppercorns - 1tbsp
Green Chillies - 2 nos
Cumin Seeds - 1tsp
Rasam powder - 1 tsp
Ginger - 1" piece
Asafoetida - a pinch
Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
Water
Salt
Cilantro - 1 handful
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig

Procedure:

1. Cook toor dal with 1 cup of water. Mash it up and retain water.
2. Grind the peppercorns, 3/4 tsp of cumin seeds in a mortar & pestle or coarsely grind in a mixer. 
3. Chop green chillies finely & crush it along with the ginger ; keep it aside.
4. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a kadai and add mustard, 1/4 tsp of cumin seeds and curry leaves. 
5. Add the tomatoes and saute till it becomes mushy.
6. To this add the crushed ginger-chilli & ground pepper-cumin mixture. 
7. Saute it for a minute and now add the tamarind water.
8. To this add asafoetida , rasam powder and salt.
9. Add the toor dal water to it and add extra water as required.
10. Let this mixture boil for just about a minute. Do not let it boil too much.
11. Switch off the heat & add lemon juice to this, mix well.

Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves & serve hot with steamed rice. :)

Milagu Rasam / Pepper Rasam

Preparation time: 15 mins
Makes 3 servings
Cooking time: 3 mins

Ingredients:

Tamrind - 1 lemon sized ball
Peppercorns - 1tbsp
Red Chillies - 4 nos
Cumin Seeds - 1tsp
Rasam powder - 1 tsp
Garlic - 2 pods
Asafoetida - a pinch
Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
Water
Salt
Cilantro - 1 handful
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig

Procedure:

1. Soak the tamarind in warm water for 10 mins.Mash and strain it.
2. Grind the peppercorns, 2 redchillies and 3/4 tsp ofcumin seeds in a mortar & pestle or coarsely grind in a mixer. 
3. Also crush the garlic pods & keep it aside.
4. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a kadai and add mustard, 1/4 tsp of cumin seeds, curry leaves and remaining red chillies. 
5. To this add the crushed garlic & ground pepper-cumin mixture. 
6. Saute it for a minute and now add the tamarind water.
7. To this add asafoetida , rasam powder and salt.
8. Water can be added, as required. 
9. Let this mixture boil for just about a minute. Do not let it boil too much, it spoils the taste.
10. Switch off the heat & garnish with chopped cilantro leaves.

Super hot spicy rasam is ready to be served with steamed rice.

Simple Vanilla Cake

Preparation time : 15 mins
Makes 1 medium loaf
Cooking time : 35-40mins

Ingredients:


All Purpose Flour - 1.5 cups
Granulated sugar - 1 cup
Eggs - 2
Baking Powder - 1 tsp
Milk - 1/2 cup
Butter - 1 cup or 1 stick ( in room temperature)
Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp
Vegetable shortening or butter - 2 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp

Procedure:

1. Preheat Oven to 375 F 
2. Sift together flour & sugar into a mixing bowl. 
3. To this add butter, salt, egg and mix it well.
4. Add milk & vanilla extract to the above mixture and mix it well till all lumps dissolve and it comes to a thick batter consistency. 
5. Coat your baking pan with a little butter or vegetable shortening.
6. Pour the mixture into the pan and let it bake in the oven for 35-40 mins. 
7. After 40 mins, take the cake out and transfer it to another pan. 

Pretty sure your kitchen will be filled with the wonderful aroma of a great-tasting cake. :)