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Colorful Jalapeño and Red Bell Pepper Paneer Rolls

Here's another colorful recipe (green, white, and red) in my summer food series to serve as an appetizer or to just enjoy as a spicy hot meal on a hot summer day. A light yogurt drink like cumin chaas or lassi or a fizzy lemonade are great accompaniments with this fun dish that reminds of me of high school days and street food in India.

Serving size: 8 medium sized rolls as shown in photo

Ingredients for the Paneer Stir Fry
1/4 cup basil leaves finely chopped (Thai Basil is even better)
1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves finely chopped
1/2 cup green spring onions chopped in to fine rings
150 grams or 11/2 cups paneer cut in to tiny delicate 1/2 inch cubes
1 large or 2 small jalapeños finely diced
1 small or 1/2 large red bell pepper finely chopped
2 green chillies finely chopped
1 tbsp. ginger finely chopped
1 tbsp. garlic finely chopped
1/2 cup Heinz or similar baked beans in tomato sauce
1 tbsp. oil

Spices for the Stir Fry
1 tbsp. cumin
11/2 tbsp. chat masala for marinating onions and for the paneer sauté
1 tbsp. cumin-coriander powder (dhania-jeera powder)
A pinch of garam masala (optional)

Other Ingredients
Green mint and coriander chutney
8 thin whole wheat rotis or tortillas (best if they are a day old and slightly dry for a crispy crust when pan fried)
Olive oil spray or 1 tbsp. olive oil for roasting the rolls
Maggi Hot and Sweet Sauce or similar to serve
Slice a red onion in to thin strips and mix with some chat masala; keep on the side

Paneer Stir Fry Steps

1. Start with oil and cumin seeds in a pan. 
2. Add spring onions and finely chopped garlic and ginger when cumin seeds begin crackling. Sprinkle some salt for cooking the onions. Watch the green onions until they become slightly transparent; don't let them burn or turn dark. 
3. Add the jalapeños and red bell peppers and cook for 3-5 minutes until they are soft.
4. Add the baked beans with tomato sauce and mix well. Make sure you mix with a light hand and not break the beans. 
5. Add paneer cubes and stir to mix everything well. 
6. Add green chillies chat masala, garam masala (optional), cumin-coriander powder, and salt to taste. 
7. Turn off the flame and add the coriander and basil and mix well. Your paneer stir-fry is ready.

Making the rolls

1. Take a roti on a board or a plate. Apply a long strip tsp. of chutney in the center.
2. Place a few chat masala red onions in line along the center.
3. Place a full table spoon on the paneer stir fry in a strip in the center and roll up the roti. 
4. Place the roti in a pan with some olive oil. Press gently on the top to flatten the roll slightly while the roti becomes crisp. Use your fingers and carefully turn it around after the first side is golden brown. 
5. Both ends of the roll will be open. So, make sure to handle the roll carefully so the filling doesn't fall out.  
6. Serve rolls with Maggi Hot and Sweet Sauce or a creamy yogurt raita with cucumbers to compliment the spice. 

Bon Appetite!

Traveling to travel somewhere cool? Come home with great memories.

Travel photography Tips For Great Photos

Phase 1: Before you Travel

Anytime of the year is a good time to travel. You'll always find a part of the world that has good weather and good deals. The key is to find the right time to visit a place when you can avoid crowds, take in a local festival, and get good deals on flights and hotels. But, of what use is a great experience if you don't bring back beautiful memories of your trip! The digital revolution in photography has put a camera and the ability to take great shots in every one's hands. Take advantage of it. With a little awareness and some planning you can have art for your walls, an entry to a competition, or your own personal illustrated coffee-table book.

There are three phases, in my view, to set up your equipment and yourself for making great memories.

1. The planning and research before you leave for your trip
2. The way you maximize light, your camera functions, and basic shooting techniques while you are traveling
3. The way you organize and compile your photos when you return to create meaningful memories to share and treasure

Here's a list of things to remember before you embark on your journey. 

Phase 1: Before you Travel

A few of my favorite things...

• Get Power: Charge batteries; keep extra ones. Carry them along, don't leave them in your hotel room.
• Get Set-up: A good sturdy camera strap, a camera case for point-and-shoot cameras with space for extra batteries, a lightweight tripod for ambitious photographers, and a lint cloth to clean your lens - there are some basic things you need to be carrying in your backpack. In my view, Lowepro makes the best camera backpacks while Caselogic has the cases for most gadgets.
• Get Memory: The same goes for memory cards. You should have at least one extra card with you that you don't carry along. I often switch between cards every other day and don't carry all my cards with me when I am sightseeing. If you lose a card, you lose all your lovely memories. So guard them well, don't fill them up all the way and format them completely BEFORE you start using them. This will give you a clean slate and no data clutter. If you travel with a laptop or an iPad, it's always a good idea to download all your photos at the end of the day to you computer as a back up.
• Get Research: Find out what the weather is like, sunrise and sunset times, if there are any festivals or special things going on and be ready to take advantage of the colorful backdrop these things can provide for your photos.
• Get Inspired: Look at photographs of the places you will visit on Flikr.com or galleries of popular photographers. The National Geographic Traveler website is always a topper on my list of inspiring sites to see.
• Get A Story: Is there something that has pulled you to the place you are visiting? It may be the food, the architecture, or simply the beaches and good weather. Whatever it is, find your story and make a theme for your photos. Shoot pictures of your co-travelers, kids, and friends who are with you in the theme you choose. Having a story makes the experience a worthwhile memory.
• Get to know your camera well: Spend time with your camera and understand all the buttons and menu items. You don't have to be a pro photographer to take awesome photos. A lot of it is understanding what you camera can do for you and putting it to use at the right time. Take note of the automatic functions your camera offers you - landscapes, macro for flowers and bugs, portraits, etc. Learn to turn the flash on and off manually. The manual is a good place to start. Canon and Nikon have great online learning centers and you can find tips online for most camera models. Read up and experiment around the house. Have a complete command over your gadget. You rule your camera - not the other way around.
• Get around and shoot: If you are enthusiastic about bringing back good photos, it’s not a bad idea to take a morning off and go out and experiment. Go to a local historic area, an outdoor space, shoot pictures of your family members, shoot inside and outside your home to get comfortable with your camera, it’s settings and exposure quality.

You are set to go. Now it’s time to familiarize yourself with composition, exposures, and a few techniques for your winner shots. Stay tuned for phases 2 and 3 and more on making your own photo books.