Priya's Aviyal

Vegetables:

1-2potatoes

1 cup yam

1 cup carrots

1/2 cuppeas

1 cup beans

1 plantain

1/2 cup pumpkin

Cut to the same length- cook in a small amount of water until they are cooked.

Grind- 1 cup coconut, green chillis,and cumin seeds. Mix into a cup of yogurt. Once the veggies are cooked - add yogurt...mix in make sure you take it of the heat soon.

Nilanjana's dudh Lau

1. chop lau into fine pcs
2. add oil to a kadai and heat
3. add a teaspoon of mustard seed and one dried chilli to the hot oil
4. when you hear the sputtering, add the lau
5. cover and cook until all water comes out
6. add salt to taste
7. turn off the heat
   
8. add 1/2 cup milk/cream
9. add a tsp of ghee before serving

Sagarika's mango ice-cream

This is another classic in my house that I have shared with friends for years now.All you need for this is alphonso mango pulp, cream and condensed milk.It takes about 20 mins( or less) to prepare and friends will think you slaved for ever.

To make you need:
1 can(8oz) mango pulp
1 8oz tub miracle whip ( fat free can be substituted as well)
1/2 can condensed milk

Mix all three ingredients, I usually use a fork but a beater could be used as well.Freeze until set. Serve with fresh mango slices for added flavor.

Padma's awesome chocolate cake

Ever since I started cooking 17 years ago,I have been asked for recipes. Sometimes I remember, but when I stop making something, I forget. I would like to start with one of the first things I ever cooked/baked.This was a recipe that I associate with my college days. No special occasion was complete without this cake. For years I baked this regularly, but after leaving India I stopped. It was only recently that I got back in touch with Padma and she sent me the recipe again :-) I hope to add recipes from all my friends so that when I forget I don't have to bug them. An added advantage,when my sons are ready to cook,they have an instant cookbook!

Happy Cooking!

Padma's Awesome Chocolate Cake
Sauce-

4 tbs cocoa

7 tbs sugar

2 cups milk

2 tbs cornflour

Dissolve cocoa, sugar, cornflour in milk. Cook till thickens.

Cake-

2 3/4 cups oil

1/4 cup water

2 1/4 cup flour (maida)

2/3 cup cocoa

3 eggs

1 2/3 cups sugar

1/4 tsp each of salt, baking powder and soda

v essence

Beat eggs until fulffy.

Mix all ingredients until light. Bake. While warm, cut it into two halves. Pour a mixture of - 1 cup milk, 2 tbs sugar and v essence- on the inner sides of the two halves. Pour the sauce and put the halves together. Pour the remaining sauce on top. Chill for two hours.