Easy Cabbage Kootu

A recipe after some time...this is an easy, quick to do recipe which tastes good, too.
Something you can make for dinner after work or on a busy day...got the thumbs-up from the husband.

All you need :

1/2 cup mysore dhall / dhall of choice, soaked for about an hour
2 cups sliced cabbage
1 large onion, sliced
1 tomato, sliced
2 cloves garlic
curry leaves
2 dried chillies
1 tsp mix spices / talipu
2 tsp sambar powder
1/4 tsp chilli powder / to taste
salt to taste
water - to boil dhall
water - for kootu

In a small pot boil water and cook dhall with garlic cloves and some salt till dhall is soft.

In another pot, heat some oil and sauté onion and curry leaves. Add cabbage, tomato, sambar powder, chilli powder, mix well. Add water just enough to cover ingredients and bring to a boil. Add salt. Once cabbage is cooked and gravy thickens, add cooked dhall with the garlic.
Meanwhile,  in a small wok, heat some oil, fry the dry chillies and mix spices. Add this to the kootu mixture, stir well to combine and turn off heat.
Easy cabbage kootu is ready. Can be served with rice / roti/ chappatis.

Visiting Bali With A Kid 2014 - Day 1

This is my 2nd visit to Bali and my husband's 1st. We have been planning this visit for quite some time now but planning a vacation with our 1 year old in tow is no easy task.

Finally we got some days off, things sorted out and was on our way for a family vacation after nearly a year. I booked the tickets and hotel thru Air Asia Go. It took weeks to decide on the right hotel, something not so expensive (as we'll be spending most of our time outdoors) yet it has to be comfortable enough for our kid, walking distance to shops, pharmacy, quiet with lovely grounds.

In the end we settled on Kuta Paradiso Hotel. You can read on reviews here .

Day 1.

Our flight was at 9.20 am and we had to leave home abt 6 am in order to be on time. This was my first flight from the new KLIA 2 and it was quite a walk from the check-in counters to the departure gate. It took us abt 30 mins (brisk walking and the kid on her stroller). I would suggest to those travelling through KLIA 2 to give yourselves enough time so as not to rush in.
We were glad to book the hot seats and was the first to be ushered in.

It was an uneventful flight though the little one was awake for the whole 3 hrs of the journey but couldn't keep her eyes open once we were at Bali Immigration. We were happy to be greeted at the airport by our friendly driver frm the hotel. It started to feel like a great start when you have someone carrying your bags and driving you around and all you had to do was sit back and enjoy sight seeing.

The hotel was near the airport and check-in was fast. The facilities were as stated in their site. Room spacious. TV channels very satisfactory and the little one had her fav Disney Junior. The hotel was very clean, toiletries, towels, water and such available upon check-in. I personally loved the pillows. Only thing was a need of furniture refurbishment in the room but overall a good hotel with lovely grounds.

Kuta Paradiso grounds

We spent the first day relaxing, taking a walk around kuta town, checking out the shops and had dinner at one of the smaller shops (warung) along Kuta Beach.

Chicken Satay

Indonesian Nasi Goreng



Indonesian Mee Goreng

The night was buzzing at Kuta with tourists and locals everywhere, restaurants were crowded and the weather pleasant. Though the day was hot, the night was cool with a lovely wind and truly pleasant to walk about.

We had an early night in being tired from the trip and as we have to wake early the next day for our day tour around Bali.

Thanks for reading Stay tuned for Day 2 at Bali ;)