Turkey Rolls

This is a roll with some turkey and vegetable mix filling. You can replace it with chicken if you don't have some.

Cooked turkey - 1 cup (cubed)

Any mix of cooked vegetables -1/2 cup cut [ i used potatoes and snow peas]

Cream cheese - 2 or 3 tbsp

garam masala - 1/2 tsp

pre made crescent roll dough- 1 can [a can will have 8 pieces, you can find it in refrigerator section of supermarket]

Cook turkey and vegetables separately with salt.

In a pan, add them and garam masala and cream cheese. Mix it well and heat through.

Take out the crescent dough, open it up and cut up the triangles.

Arrange it in a baking sheet. Add a spoon of filling into each and wrap it over.

Bake in 375F for 12 - 15 minutes.

note: its an easy appetizer which you can vary with any filling of your choice.

Pazham Unniappam

This is a very easy evening snack. And it needs over ripe banana. So do not throw them away:)

Banana's are plentiful in kerala houses. So my grandma used to make this often.

Banana - 1 (nice ripe or over ripe)

sarkara / brown sugar cane- about 1/2 cup grated (add more if u like it more sweet)

APF or maida - 5 or 6 heaped tbsp

baking powder - 1/4 tsp

salt - a small pinch

oil -for frying

Peel banana and mash it well with a fork. Add grated brown sugar cane and mix well.

Add a pinch of salt and baking powder and mix.

Keep adding flour 1 tbsp at a time and mix.

Stop adding flour when the batter is not runny.

Not too thick not too loose.

Heat oil in medium low fire. Spoon batter into oil and deep fry.

It will only take a couple of minute.

Drain and enjoy.

konjum mangayum(dry shrimp mango curry)

This a nice kerala recipe with dry seafood which goes well with some steaming boiled rice.

Here in US we can get dry shrimp from kerala stores or korean stores like Hmart.

dry shrimp - 1 cup

raw mango - 1/2 (I used frozen, use 4 or 5 slices)

ginger - a small piece

small onion - 5 or 6

tomato - 1

green chilli - 1

coconut grated - 3/4 to 1 cup

cumin seeds -1/4 tsp

turmeric powder -1/4 tsp

chilli powder 1/2 tsp

mustard - 1/2 tsp

curry leaves - 1 or 2 sprigs

oil-2tsp

salt to taste

Wash and clean the dry shrimps. If its very salty type soak in water for a few minutes. Remove its head part and discard. we need only the body part.

Slice small onions, tomato, chilli, mango and ginger.

Cook the shrimp with all the above sliced ones and turmeric powder, chilli powder and some water. Let it the shrimp cook.

Grind together coconut and cumin seeds.

Add it to the cooked shrimp.

Add salt after checking for it. Because the dry shrimp will give out some salt.

Continue cooking for another 5 minutes.

Heat oil for seasoning. Add mustard and curry leaves. Pour over shrimp curry and mix.

Done.

Diamond Cuts

Its a simple snack from kerala. The dough is rolled out and cut into diamond shapes and hence the name.

All purpose flour or Maida - 2 cups

Sugar - 2 tbsp

salt - a small pinch

Egg - 1 (optional)

Black sesame seeds or Ellu - about 2 tsp

water - about 1 cup

Oil for frying.

Make a dough like you make for poori with flour,sugar,salt,ellu,water and egg if using. Let it rest for 15 minutes.

Roll it out nice and thin and cut into diamond shapes.

Deep fry in oil until nice and crisp. Keep the flame medium or less.
Be with it moving them around.

Strain,cool and keep in air tight container and enjoy..

To make a sweet version: after you make the diamond cuts, make a syrup with sugar and water, boil it until sticky, put the diamond cuts into it, coat them nicely and take it out and let them dry.