Few months ago, N and I had an opportunity to visit Kalachandji’s Palace temple in Dallas and we also had good ayurvedic- vegetarian food at the restaurant. I also wrote a review of the palace restaurant in one of my earlier posts here.

I was told at that time about the cooking classes offered at the palace. The class consists of a small group and one can select as many classes she/he wants, as there is no need to attend all the classes. And the best part is you get to be a part of the class- some students help in making chapatis, some chop veggies, the chef demonstrates the recipe and at the end all the students go home having dinner at the palace, ie., what was made in the class is not a sample recipe but is made for 20 or 30 students.

The classes for this year start in September 2010 and here is the schedule:

Kalachandji’s presents Gourmet Indian Vegetarian Cooking Classes Fall Session 2010

with Master Chef Manjuali Devi

8 classes for $150, or $25/class
Thursday evenings 7:00 – 9:00
Kalachandji’s Community Halll

Course Outline

Sep 23 Rajasthani Dahi Aloo Ki Curry (potato dish), Panir Paratha (flatbread), Madrasi Yogurt Rice, and Carrot Halvah (sweet)

Sep 30 Sambhar (South Indian soup), Idli (steamed rice cake), Dosa (savory crepe), and Coconut Chutney

Oct 7 Khichadi (rice and bean stew), Bengali Spinach Wadi Sabji, Mooli Makkai Ki Roti (cornflour and radish flatbread), and Tamatar Ki Laungi (tomato chutney)

Oct 14 Panir Pasande, Aloo Paratha (wheat and potato flatbread), Pachadi (yogurt salad), and Khandvi (chickpea flour pasta rolls)

Oct 21 Bengali Dal (soup), Kalachana (black chickpea curry), Harematar Ki Puri (puffed bread), and Green Tomato Chutney

Oct 28 Summer Cold Sambhar (soup), Methi Ki Paratha (flatbread), Matar Panir (peas and curd dish), and Besan Chella Ka Raita (yogurt salad with dumplings)

Nov 4 Bombay Curry Soup, Achar Panir Tikka (spicy curd dish), Tamatar Kasoori Pulao (rice dish), and Dahi Wada (dal cakes in yogurt sauce)

Nov 11 Bhelpuri (puffed rice appetizer), Sevpuri (chickpea noodle dish), Dahipuri (potato puffed bread salad), and Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Classes are Offered at:
5430 Gurley Ave, Dallas TX 75223. For more information call Danny at (214) 821 1048

Note: I am not involved with the restaurant or the palace, this is just an event announcement for interested foodies.

I remember the time when I was a little girl pestering my mom to bake cookies and cakes when we did not have an oven. She somehow managed to do so with her tava and cooker turned in to a baking dish! But given the kitchens we have now with built in ovens we all love baking and posting about it don’t we?

In the past few months whenever I want to bake something new or even bake a bread, instead of running over to food network website, I hop to Champa’s blog. You need recipes for no knead breads? She’s got it! Vegan cakes?? Sure! How about cake decorating? Yup, you can find that too, with step by step instruction. So Versatile is her Kitchen, I could only say yes when asked to host the event, baking from a book this month!

The rules:

Bake anything, I mean anything but it has to be from a book. That includes breakfast(cereals, breads, muffins) to pizzas to Naans to Italian (Eggplant Parm/ Baked Pasta/Bisctotti) to Cakes to everyone’s favorites- cookies.

Think about it, any recipe that you saw in a book that you tried successfully for your loved ones? Surprised hubby or daughter? Any recipe that you saw in a book but never had the chance to bake? Or your baking attempt was a disaster but you fixed it on your own the next time and feel proud about it? Great- Then share the story with me

The Baking From a Book event runs from today, August 16th to September 16th.

All entries(multiple entries welcome) must include a link to this announcement page as well as champas’s blog along with source of the recipe( feel free to write more about the book if you want to as well)

Once you have posted the recipe, send me a email to ruchikacooks@gmail.com with your

Name:
Recipe URL:
Name of the recipe:
Recipe Inspired from which book:
Picture of the recipe:

Non bloggers are welcome to participate too, you can send the details to ruchikacooks@gmail.com.

Use of the logo is appreciated.

Round up will be posted by within a week after the end date, before the end of September.

Any questions, you can contact me at the email ruchikacooks@gmail.com or leave a comment.

So, what are you waiting for? Head to the library or dig in to your recipe collections and lets get baking!

Anita gave me the opportunity to host the vegetable marathon event and I chose Drumstick. Needless to say my blogger buddies rose to the occasion and have sent mouthwatering recipes.
Thank you friends! Shall we start the round up then?

Jay’s spicy Drumstick Vathakozhambu, my all time favorite!

Premalatha’s Aviyal, a mixture of veggies with drumstick, very colorful isnt it?

Pavani’s Munkaya Sambar, with some aloo curry I think this is the best sambar rice combo!

Fajeeda’s very unique Drumstick Parippu curry inspired from Kerala!

Premalatha’s tasty and spicy Karakuzhambu

PJ’s Drumstick Leaves soup comes next.

Sangeetha surprised me with her combination of drumstick, eggplants and prawns in this curry ! Looks delicious does’nt it?

Sadhana Valentina’s Drumstick Poricha Kozhambu/ Kootu

How about some Kara kozhambu with drumstick. Premalatha shares here recipe for drumstick karakoahambu here

How about a Kootu with drumstick? That’s what Sangeetha has shared in this drumstick bengal gram kootu.

Drumstick leaves can also be cooked- they are very rich in Iron! Padhu has a simple curry that packs a punch in this drumstick leaves curry.

PJ sends us this delicious and healthy ragi adai with herbs , she is so lucky to have a drumstick plant in her backyard!!

Sara’s rich and aromatic drumstick vathakozhambu

Vidya’s Drumstick Spicy Curry (Kozhambu)

A true feast- Priya’s marathon of recipes for cooking with drumstick. Priya always supports the events hosted in this blog with her delicious and unique entries. Thanks a ton for the support! You rock!!

Sprouted Moong, Sprouted Black-eyes Peas & Drumstick Leaves Dosa

Drumstick Clear Soup

Drumsticks, Brinjal & Jackfruit Seeds Curry

Ragi and Drumstick Leaves Adai

Microwave Cabbage & Drumstick Leaves Stir fry

Drumstick leaves and oats Paratha

Last entry is my Drumstick Stir fry (Poriya) to go with rice dishes.

I have checked my inbox and spam, but in case If I have missed any entry, please leave a comment and I will update it asap.

Stay tuned for more- another exciting event starts here next week

Yup! After a long break I am back to blogging. Thanks to all my friends who kept in touch through emails/comments. Apologies in advance if I haven’t replied to your emails as I was traveling.

Anita of Anita’s kitchen has given me the opportunity to host the Vegetable Marathon for this month. I had to choose a vegetable that starts with the alphabet “D” and my choice is Drumstick.

Here are the Rules to participate in this event:

1) Prepare any dish with vegetable-Drumstick as the main ingredient. It can be either Vegetarian or non-vegetarian.
2) You can send as many recipes as you want.
3) I will accept the old entries, if they are updated and reposted with the logo and linked back to Vegetable Marathon event( that is – to this announcement and also to anita’s kitchen)
5) Using the logo is a must. Any recipe without the logo will not be included in the round up.
6) This event runs from today(July 10) to August 10, 2010.
7) Round up will be posted within a week, atleast by mid august.

Here is how you can send your entry:

Once you have posted a recipe, send an email to ruchikacooks@gmail.com with these details:

Your Name:
Name of the recipe:
Recipe URL(Link):
Category of the recipe:
Photo:

Non bloggers can also participate in this event. Just send me the details of the recipe, with or without a photo of the recipe to ruchikacooks@gmail.com and you entries will be included in the round up.

This event runs from today, July 10th, till August 10th.

Any questions, please leave a comment or send me an email(ruchikacooks@gmail.com)