Tomato Egg Drop Soup

One fine day, I look upon and find nothing but tomatoes, what do i do, where does my mind go, to have that lip smacking delicious dish which my stomach juices linger on, to have more. There i go, I found it. The all so normal Tomato Egg Drop Soup. Its raining outside, and the thunders are calling out hard to prepare something that would tantalize my taste buds. Soups would be the best option.

Loads of tomato and the wonderful vegetable stock does the trick.

Ingredients

4 cups vegetable stock

1 cup diced ripe tomatoes

2 or 3 garlic cloves

1/4 cup cilantro leaves, chopped

2  tbsps Cornflour 

1 tbsp Tomato Sauce

1/2 tsp Oregano (Optional)

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

1  tbsp  vinegar

1 egg white, lightly beaten

Salt to taste

Directions 

Peel garlic cloves and chop them into tiny bits. Finely chop the onion and tomatoes. Take egg and separate the egg white and yolk. Beat the egg white and keep it aside. Mix cornflour in 1/2 cup of water.

Take a deep bottomed pan. Add oil to the pan and saute garlic for 30 seconds. Add onions and saute them till translucent.  Add the diced tomatoes and let it simmer for 3 minutes. Now add tomato sauce, oregano, salt to taste and white pepper. Cook it for 30 seconds and then add the vegetable stock. Let it boil for 5 to 7 minutes. 

Add the cornflour+water mixture slowly and mix it till it reaches the required consistency.

Now, very slowly, add the beaten egg and stir it continuously in clockwise direction to create thin streams or thready mixture. Add vinegar and coriander leaves and let it simmer for 1 minute. 

Serve it piping hot with bread toast or croutons. 

Linking this to the event "Lets Cook Soups" hosted by Nayna  and Monsoon of India hosted by Sayantani and Jagruti

                              

Pepper chicken (Kali Mirch Murgh)

Enjoying a sumptous meal on Sunday afternoon is an ultimate pleasure. Residing in a multi-storey building with so many families together has it own plethora of initiatives. The clock ticks 12"0 clock and you can sense different smells emanating from each home. Every woman busy in the kitchen, toiling hard to give the best food of the week to their family. Its the festive mood lingering in everyones mind that ticks their ribs to cook a mouth watering platter. What a wonderful way to begin a week!! 
Three cheers to my family, my mom who always had an edge over her generation to cook even the simplest two ingredient dish to a sumptous affair. My dad, the masterchef at our home always made me and my siblings to wait for Sunday for the exemplary food he cooked. Mutton Biryani, Liver and kidney curry, Mutton korma, Mutton fry, Raita, Rotis and Salad were laid on our table for the Sunday fests. 
Well, tried my best to reach atleast 10% of what my Mom and Dad used to do for me. Wish, i each time get inspired by my childhood memories and the neighbours around me to excel in what i cook for my husband. Love my best critic!! My Husband!!

Ingredients
500 grams of Chicken pieces
½ tsp. Turmeric Powder 
1 tsp. Ginger Paste
1 tsp. Garlic Paste
100 grams of Green Chilli Paste
Salt (to taste)
1 Lemon Juice 
2 tbsp Cooking Oil
1 ½ tsp. Cumin Seeds
4 Curry Leaves
2 medium Onions
1 ½ tbsp. Coriander Powder 
2 tsp. Crushed Pepper
A bunch of Fresh Coriander/Cilantro Leaves (Hara Dhania)


Directions
Marinate the chicken pieces with turmeric, ginger paste, garlic paste, green chilli paste, salt and lemon juice. Chop the onions and keep them aside.
In a kadai or heavy based pot, heat the oil and add the cumin seeds. When the cumin seeds crackle, add in the chopped onions and sauté until golden brown.
Now add the curry leaves, coriander powder and crushed pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes and add in the marinated chicken.
Sear on high flame, then reduce heat and cook for another 15 minutes - stirring occasionally.
Sprinkle in the chopped coriander leaves and cook for 2 minutes. Before serving garnish with more crushed pepper and coriander leaves. Serve it hot with Pulav or Roti, Naan and Paranthas.