Chicken Tikka

                         One of the best, simple and easy dishes to include in your barbeque menu

Ingredients:

2  lbs  cubed boneless chicken breast or thigh
1  cup  yogurt
1 tbsp  tandoori masala or chikken tikka masala (I used Shan chicken tikka masala)
2 tsp lemon juice.
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp jeera powder
1 tsp coriander powder
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste
ghee for basting

Method:
Marinate the chicken with all the above ingredients except ghee, for about 2 hours in the refrigerator.
If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water for atleast half an hour before you grill. 
Thread the chicken pieces in the skewers and place it on your preheated outdoor grill. Baste ghee all over the chicken pieces while it is cooking. It is ready to eat in less than half an hour. Serve it on a platter.Enjoy!

Sarkarai pongal

    Sarkarai pongal is a sweet dish made out of rice, moong dal and jaggery. Traditionally, our neighbours in Nagercoil send this to us every year during Pongal and we all love it.

Ingredients:
1 cup- raw rice
a fistful of moong dal
1 1/2 cups- dark jaggery
3 cups- water
1 cup- milk
2 cardamom
1 clove
a pinch of ground nutmeg
1/2 cup ghee
1 tbsp -broken cashew

Method:
Dry roast the rice and dal for  a couple of minutes and wash them well.
In a pot add the rice , dal and water.
Bring them to a boil, cover the pot and reduce the flame. Let it cook for 15 minutes .
Once the rice is soft, add milk and the powdered jaggery and mix well.
Heat ghee in a pan and add cashew and fry till golden brown. Pour this over the rice mixture.
Finally, add the crushed cardamom, cloves and nutmeg . Stir well and serve hot.