Paneer Paratha for the Novice Cook

Very easy recipe for a stuffed paneer paratha..I have always wondered whether I could make these kind of recipes..But after trying out..its really very easy..

Ingredients:

For Stuffing :
Grated Paneer - 1cup
Green Chillies - 2 - chop it finely
Coriander leaves - few leaves
Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp - Optional
Salt

For Paratha :
Wheat Flour - 2 cups
Salt
Warm Water - 1 cup
Oil - 2tsp

How to Prepare:
--In a mixing bowl add 2 cups wheat flour,2 tsp oil,salt..knead well into a round ball and keep it aside for 30mins
--After 30 mins..again knead the dough well and divide the dough into small round smooth balls.
--Take a wooden board and lightly flour it(to avoid sticking) and roll out the balls and spread it flat and add 2tsp of grated paneer mix to the roti.
--Now lift the edges and form like a pouch and close it(With the paneer stuffed inside).
--Now press it with the hands and slowly roll out the stuffed dough ball with the rolling pin.Dont worry about the stuffing coming out of the dough and also about the shape of the dough.It is not a problem at all.
--Take a griddle and heat it.Add 1/2 tsp of butter and fry the paratha in a medium flame.Flip it to other side and spread it with butter and cook well till its golden brown

Tips :
--For kneading the dough,Dont add too much of water
--Before u start kneading the dough..rub ur hands with a tsp of oil - This will avoid the dough sticking to ur hands and fingers,nails..

Bhelpuri/Puffed rice snack

Bhelpuri or puffed rice snack - a delicious instant dish..can made in few mins..when u get some unexpected guest..this snack will be really very handy..

Ingredients:
Bhelpuri Mix - 2 cups
Bhelpuri mix has puffed rice,sev,roasted peanuts - Instant method to make bhelpuri
Onion - 1 large
Potato -2 large- thinly sliced
Carrot - grated
Tomato - 1 large - finely chopped
Green Chutney - to mix with bhelpuri :
Mint Chutney - store brought..this was really very tasty

Sweet/Sour Chutney - From tamarind extract to mix with bhelpuri:
Tamarind Paste -Concentrated - 4 tsp - (Store brought)
Sugar - 2tsp
Chilli Powder - 2tsp
Salt

How to prepare:
--Boil the above ingredients in medium flame for 3mins..turn off the flame.
--So now lets see the mixing segment with bhelpuri :
--first heat 2 tsp of oil in a pan and fry the onions till they light pink..I always prefer to fry the onions..it will really give good taste..
--Take a Pyrex bowl :
--Add potatoes,Carrot and microwave it for 5mins - (now the vegetables will be cooked and tasty)
--Now to that bowl,add bhelpuri mix(puffedrice,sev)
--Add 2 tsp mint chutney and 2 tsp sweet/sour chutney(which is already prepared)salt - if needed and now..mix all the ingredients
--Add the onions,finely chopped tomatoes and again heat in the microwave for just 1min
-- serve it hot in a bowl

Tips:
Always add the bhelpuri mix - puffed rice with the other ingredients(And also heat it ) just 3mins before serving..otherwise the puffed rice will become soggy..

Upma Recipe

An easy breakfast item..Absolutely nutritious recipe

Ingredients:
Cream of wheat/Sooji - 1cup
Mustard Seeds
Channa Dal
Onion - 1 large
Carrot - 1 - grate it
Beans - 8 to 10 - chop it into half
Peas - 1/2 cup
Water - 1/2 cup
Curry Leaves
Salt

How to Cook:
--Heat oil in a pan.Fry mustard seeds,channa dal,curry leaves,asafoetida.saute them well
--Now add all the cut vegetables and cook them till it become soft
--Add 1/2 cup of water and bring it to boil for 5 mins orelse to save the cooking time..(add boiling water)
--Now add salt and then add the cream of wheat little by little and stir well - if u think it needs more water..just add it little by little..
--Stir well till the mixture becomes dry
--Serve hot with chutney,sugar,tomato ketchup

Tips:
Donot add too much of water..then it will be like kichiddi..
If u feel lazy to cut all the vegetables..Use Frozen mixed vegetables..

Onion Pakora/Pakoda

Onion Pakora or Onion Pakoda is an evening time snack..its a rainy day snack..When u feel very lazy and having no crispy snacks left in ur pantry..This should be a great delicious treat..

Ingredients:
Besan Flour - 1 1/2 cups
Rice flour - 1/2 cup for crispiness
Onion - 2
Red Chilli powder - 1tsp
Green chillies - 2
Asafoetida
Salt
Coriander leaves
Oil - for deep frying

How to Cook:
--Chop the onion into a thin slice
--Take a mixing bowl,add besan flour,rice flour,salt,chilli powder,green chilli - mix it well
--Add water little by little and make a very thick batter
--Donot add too much of water
--Next Step:
--Heat oil in deep bottomed pan and drop the batter little by little -(drop a spoonful of batter or just use ur hand)into the oil
--let it deep fry on both the sides until it turns golden brown
--Drain excess oil in a tissue paper
--Serve hot with tomato ketchup

ChickPeas Sundal/Kondakadalai Sundal

Sundals are festive recipe and very common in south indian cooking..esp during Navrathiri..Sundals are  a very nutritious recipe and really very good if taken daily for breakfast..Instead of seasoning with all the ingredients..Just sprout the chick peas and wash it well and drain the water..Add pepper and salt if desired..take 1 bowl full of sprouted chickpeas..once done take 1 cup of buttermilk(Thats a secret recipe for good glowing skin..)

Ingredients:
Chick Peas - 1 1/2 cups
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Grated Coconut - 3 tbsp
Urad Dhal - 1/2 tsp
Dry Red Chillies - 2
Curry Leaves - some
Asafetida - a pinch
Oil - 2 tsp
Salt

How to Cook :
--Soak the chick peas for 3 to 4 hrs in warm water(War water - if u want to cook the same day)
--Wash the soaked chick peas and drain the water and pressure cook it for 3whistles..
--Heat up the oil..fry the mustard seeds, urad dhal,Dry red chillies, asafetida,curry leaves. Add the cooked chickpeas,add the grated coconut,salt.Mix it well for 3mins and turn off the flame..

Tips:
U can also use the canned chick peas..ur job will be done instantly for an instant guest..

Spicy Veggie Pancake

Sweet pancakes..we can get it anywhere.same old regular pancakes will be really boring if we had tried even once a week.I wanted to try some alternate methods..So lets spice up our life with a spicy Veggie Pancake in Indian style...spice it up with all the ingredients from the cubbie and the refrigerator..It really came out well.

Ingredients:

Bisquick Pancake Mix - 2cups

Milk - 1 1/2 cups - (Skimmed Milk)

Salt - 2tsp

Cumin Seeds - 1/4tsp

Lettuce - Finely sliced

Carrot - grated

Green Chillies - slit it lenthy wise

Mint Chutney - 1/2 tsp(Store brought)

Tomatoes - 1 - finely chopped

How to prepare:
--Take a mixing bowl,Add milk to the pancake mix and stir it well until its smooth with no lumps..Add salt and all the other ingredients as mentioned in the list.The Pancake batter has to be in thick consistency just like dosa batter..If the batter is very thick then add some more milk..
--Cook on a hot greased pan, fill the ladle about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Add some butter on the top of the pancake batter when its getting cooked..Cook until a little dry around the edges and flip it over..u can see the other side has turned lightly brown..
--Serve it hot with Tomato sauce..

Home Made Sweet Pancake

Recently I bought the Bisquick heart smart pancake and baking mix..Its really very easy to make yummy pancakes...Most of us would be making their own homemade pancake mix..using ingredients like All-purpose flour,Instant non-fat dry milk,baking powder,salt,sugar..But I prefer using this brand and I still call it as Home Made Pancakes...excuse, I m not making any ad for bisquick here..just letting u all know abt it..


Ingredients:
Bisquick Pancake Mix - 2cups
Milk - 1 1/2 cups - (Skimmed Milk)
Sugar - 2tsp
Vanilla Essence - 2 drops

How to prepare:
--Take a mixing bowl,Add milk to the pancake mix and stir it well until its smooth with no lumps..Add sugar,vanilla essence..The Pancake batter has to be in thick consistency just like dosa batter..If the batter is very thick then add some more milk..
--Cook on a hot greased pan, fill the ladle about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Add some butter on the top of the pancake batter when its getting cooked..Cook until bubble breaks on surface and  a little dry around the edges and flip it over..u can see the other side has turned lightly brown..
--Serve it hot with maple syrup or honey..

Potato Curry

Everyone loves potatoes..Even kids who refuses to take veggies also love potatoes..Its really good as it has good amt of carbohydrates..But unfortunately Diabetes should stay away from it..

Ingredients:
Potato - 2large
Onion - 1 large
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 3tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Urad Dal - 1/2 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1tsp
Salt
Turmeric Powder - Just a pinch

How to Cook:
--Cut the potatoes into cubes
--Chop the onion
--Heat 2 tsp of oil in a pan,add mustard seeds,urad dal,saute them well
--Add the chopped onion and fry it till it turns golden brown
--Add the potato cubes,add red chilli powder,green chillies,salt,asafoetida,a pinch of turmeric powder and cover the lid for 3mins
--Open the lid and keep stirring it continously and add 1tsp of oil...roast it well in a medium flame
--Ready to serve with rice,chapathi,puri

Tips:
--Most of us will have gastric trouble after eating potatoes..Eating a small piece of ginger will really help to get rid of the gastric trouble..
--Those who dont like to eat ginger directly..Just make a ginger and take a quick gulp..

Puri - Puffy Puris

Puri is mainly served at breakfast or as an evening tiffin..though its completely fried in oil..everyone will love it..it can be done ocassionally..

Ingredients:
Wheat Flour - 2 cups
Oil - 1tsp
Salt
Warm Water

How to Prepare:
--Take a bowl,Add 2 cups of wheat flour and add 1tsp of oil,salt..mix well.Now add warm water little by little and knead it well to a firm dough..Cover it with a lid and Keep it aside for 15mins..
--Now again knead the dough well and divide the dough into round balls..
--Take a wooden board and rollout the ball,spread into flat shape with a rolling pin..
--Take a small round shaped lid and shape the rolled out dough
--Heat the oil in a heavy bottomed pan - heat it in a medium flame
--Fry the puri one by one..push it into the oil and the puri will puff out very nicely..
--Take it out with a ladle(Jalli Karandi) and blot the excess oil in a tissue paper..
--Serve it hot with choley or Potato subji or Moong Dal subji(Payatham Paruppu Kootu)

Stuffed Chapathi/Roti

Ingredients:

Wheat flour - 2cups
Water - warm water - as u need to knead the dough
salt -
Oil-2tsp

For stuffing:
capsicum - 1 large - chop it finely
Carrot - 2 - Grate it
Peas - 1/2 cup
Potato - 1large - chop it finely
Red Chilli Powder - 1tsp
Salt
Asafoetida
Garam masala powder - optional

How to cook:
--Add 2 cups of wheat flour and add water little by little and knead them well to a firm and moist soft dough.Cover it and keep it aside for 15mins..
--Now Heat a pan with 1tsp of oil and add all the chopped vegetables,red chilli powder,salt,asafoetida a pinch,garam masala powder and cook it well
--Now again knead the dough and make 2 small round balls.roll out the balls with a rolling pin and make it flat.Now u will have 2 chapathis..
--Now spread 2 tsp of the cooked vegetables on one chapathi and cover it with another chapati. flatten it softly.Now slowly close/seal the edges of the chapati..dip some water in the finger and seal it well
--Heat up the pan and fry the chapathi evenly on both the sides.Add 1tsp of oil or ghee on one side..
--Serve it hot with tomato chutney/tomato/thakkali thokku

Sweet Appam/Vella Appam

Sweet appam or Vella appam is a traditional recipe that is made as neivedyams for Vinayaga chathurthi,Gokulashtami... Sweet appam is really a fav food for Lord Krishna...

Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup
Urad Dal - 1/4 cup
Jaggery - 1cup
Coconut - 1/2 cup shredded coconut
Cardamom

How to Cook:
Saok rice and urad dal for 1hr..later drain the water and grind it coarsely..
--Powder the jaggery(Heat it in microwave for 15secs and powder it for easy preparation) orelse
--Dissolve the jaggery in boiling water all in a medium flame
--bring it to string like consistency
--add the grinded mixture to it,add coconut,cardamom powder a pinch
--mix it well -  it will be like a thick batter consistency
--Now take the kuzi appam mould and pour 1tsp of oil in each mould
--Now fill the mould with 3/4th of appam batter
--Carefully turn the appams slowly with a skewer(that comes with the appam pan) or a spoon and let it cook evenly on each side..

Tips:

Drain the excess oil with a tissue paper.Kids will surely love it..

Tomato/Thakkali Thokku or Pickle

Tomato/Thakkali thokku  or pickle is one of my favourites..My mom always bribes me with this thooku to get any work done..Just irressistible..sometimes I feel like diving into the tomato thokku swimming pool..its that addictive and can be done very very easily..So lets take a dive into the thakkali thokku now..
Any type of tomatoes will be good for this recipe.But I prefer grape tomatoes..very easy to cook..

Ingredients:
Tomatoes - Grape Tomatoes - 1 small box
Urad Dal - 1tsp
Dry red chillies - 6(according to the spicy taste u need)
Fenugreek powder - just a pinch
Asafoetida
Salt
Gingely oil - 4 tsp

How to cook:

First step:

--Put all the tomatoes in the blender - keep it aside

Second step:
--Heat 2tsp of oil and fry urad dal and red chillies..saute them well..then transfer it to the blender..and grind it along with the tomatoes
--Now take a deep bottomed pan and heat 3tsp of oil and add the grinded mixture..add salt and cover the lid for 3mins..
--Now open the lid and keep stirring continously until u see the oil separating from the thokku..
--once its all done.
--Heat 1/2 tsp of oil and add a pinch of asafoetida and add it to the tomato thokku and add a pinch of fenugreek powder (no need to fry this powder)

Tips :
--How to make fenugreek powder..
--Take 1/4 tsp of fenugreek seeds and dry roast it without oil and grind it to a powder..it will enhance the flavour.
--Gingely oil will always give good traditional taste to the recipe...

This recipe goes to Sireesha's Pickles'N Chutneys Event

Bread with Chana Masala

Bread,butter,jam - boring combination..so bread with a indian style side dish..Chole/Channa Masala

Ingredients:
Breads - 4 - Cut into 8 slices
Butter - 4 to 5 tsp

Channa Masala Ingredients:
Kabuli Channa - 1 cup
Onion - 1 large
Tomato - 2 large
Peas - 1/2 cup
Ginger-Garlic Paste - 1tsp - optional
Channa Masala powder - 1tsp - store brought
Salt
Coriander Leaves - for garnishing
Oil - 3tsp
Butter - 4tsp

How to cook:
--Heat 2 tsp of oil in a pan and add onion..saute well till it turns golden brown
--Then add tomatoes,salt fry well
--Transfer the contents to a blender..grind it for just 2secs
--Now take the pan and fry the peas well and later transfer the contents from the blender to the pan
-- Add salt,channa masala powder
-- Finally add the pressure cooked kabuli channa
--bring it boil for 3mins and turn off the flame
-- Garnish it with coriander leaves and add the 4tsp butter on top

--Once this is ready..
--Now toast the sliced bread in 1 tsp of butter/ghee on both the sides until it turns light brown..
--Serve it hot with channa masala

Kids loving Kaju/Cashew Halwa

Kaju Halwa - Kids will love it..Some kids dont prefer to take cahsews..To make them eat..this is the easy way..esp my kid loved this..for the first I am seeing my kid tasting a sweet very happily..

Ingredients:
Cashews - 50 gms - I guess 1 cup cashews
Sugar - 2 cups
Cardamom - just a pinch
Pista - a handful(which is very optional)

How to do:
Soak the cashews for 2hrs
--Drain the water and grind it in a blender to a smooth paste
-- Transfer the content to a microwave bowl and heat it for 3mins
-- Now add 2 cups sugar to the content and again heat it for 2mins
--Take a heavy bottomed pan,Add 2tsp ghee and add the mixture
--Stir well until the ghee separates from the pan and mixture will thicken without sticking..
-- Thats it ready to serve..

Optional Step:
--Let the content cool down for sometime
--Grease a plate with a tsp of ghee and spread the mixture
--Slice it and serve

Tips:
buy a mini cup cake liner and spoon the mixture into it and serve it to ur kids..saying Kaju/cashew cup cake..

Asoka - A Traditional Sweet Of Tanjore

Asoka sweet is very famous in Tanjore side esp in Thiruvaiyaru..RamIyer hotel and also Andavar Stores are very famous for this sweet..

Ingredients:
Payatham Paruppu/Moong Dal - 1cup

Sugar - 2cups
Cardamom - a pinch
Kesari Powder - a  pinch
Ghee - 1cup
wheat flour - 2 tsp
Ghee - 2tsp to roast the wheat flour
Cashews - 6
Ghee - 2 tsp to roast the Cashews
Raisins - To garnish Asoka

Things to keep ready:
--Pressure cook the moong dal with 2 cups of water for 3 whistles..
--Take a pan,add 2 tsp of ghee and roast the wheat flour till it turns very light brown..
--Turn off the flame and immediately transfer it to a small bowl..

Next Step:
--After u open the pressure cooker..Smash the moong dal well
--In a heavy bottomed pan,Add 5 tsp of ghee and add the well smashed moong dal

--Add 2 cups of sugar to the content and mix well
--Add ghee little by little and keep stirring continously
--Cook well until the ghee starts to leave the sides of the pan and the mixture starts to thicken without sticking to the pan
--Roast the cashews in 3 tsp of ghee and add it to the asoka and sprinkle some cardamom powder..
--Garnish the asoka with ghee roasted cashews,Raisins

Tips:
--If u want u can add milk to the mixture after adding the sugar..
--Adding milk reduces the shelf life of Asoka
--So I didn't add milk..

Plain Dosa/Indian Pancake

Dosa - Just like Idli this is another famous south indian recipe.Kids will love it..U can attract them by making the dosas in different shapes..

Ingredients:
Ponni Par Boiled Rice - 4 cups
Urad Dal - 1 cup
Fenugreek Seeds - 1 tsp
Raw Rice - 4 tsp
Poha(Aval) - 1tsp - for crispiness(Optional)

Soak all the ingredients for 2hrs..In winter season soak it for the same 2 hrs but in warm water

Grind it well for 45 mins in a mini ultra grinder..Add salt to the batter..

The batter has to be well fermented so leave it inside a oven(which will be a warm place - Just turn on the light alone)..CAUTION : DONOT HEAT OR TURN ON THE OVEN..

How to Cook:

--Heat up the pan..Add 1tsp of oil and spread it.
--Pour 1 ladle of batter,spread the batter with the back of the ladle into a round shape and pour 1tsp of oil around the batter..
--When one side is cooked,flip to the other side
--now fold it and serve it hot with chutney,sambar or milgai podi..

Tips :
--For some people first few dosas might not come out well..Dont panic..once the pan gets into a right temp..the dosas will come out very well..
--If u want a very crispier paper dosa..just cook on oneside for 2mins..the dosas will turn out to be cripsy like a paper..just fold it and serve it hot...

Soft Idlis - Steamed Rice Cake

Idli -  A very famous South Indian Recipe..Batter fermentation is very important for making good soft idlis..I have a professional secret about making soft idlis.."Soak the urad dal just for 15mins" that will do the trick..

Good thing is..Idli goes well with any type of side dishes..Idli Sambar,Idli Chutney..
now lets see how to make good soft idlis..

Ingredients :

Ponni Par Boiled Rice                  - 4 cups
Urad Dal                                     - 1 cup
Fenugreek Seeds/Methi Seeds     - 1/2 tsp

Soak the urad dal separately just for 15mins - first grind it separately in mini ultra grinder for 45mins..Add very little cold water in between to smoothen the batter..


Soak the par boiled rice for one and half hr - Grind it separately in mini ultra grinder for 15mins add some methi seeds to it and grind it along with it..
 
Then mix the grinded par boiled rice mixture to the urad dal..Add some salt as per the taste and Keep it in a warm place..
 
Warm place would be the oven..keep it inside the oven..it will be warm inside - just turn on the light alone-Let it ferment well for 8hrs..Make sure the batter has raised its level..Double the level(DONOT HEAT OR  TURN ON THE OVEN - that will be very funny)
 
Like if u keep it tonight 8.00pm..the idli batter will be ready to cook for next day morning 7.00am..

How to Cook:
Once the batter is ready..
--Take the idli plates and grease it with 1tsp of oil
--Fill the idli plate with 1 ladle of batter
--Steam cook the idlis for 8 to 10mins
--Turn it off
--Ready to serve with hot sambar,Any type of chutneys,Milagai Podi(Chutney Powder)

Punjabi Chole/Channa Masala

Ingredients:
ChickPeas/Garbanzo Beans/KabuliChanna - 11/2 cups
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp(Add it to the chickpeas before u pressure cook)
Channa Masala Powder - 1tsp
Onion -1 large
Tomato - 2large
ginger garlic paste - 1tsp
Green chillies-2
Oil - 3tsp
Salt

How to Cook:
--Soak channa for 4 hrs..After 4 hrs pressure cook it by adding a pinch of turmeric powder,salt..
Incase if u forget to soak the channa overnight..thats fine..anyway u can pressure cook it for 3whistles..Keep it ready before u start..

--Heat 2 tsp oil in the pan..Add ginger garlic paste,onion and saute them well till it turns golden brown
-- Add tomato then fry it well for 2mins..let it cool down

--Transfer the onion,tomamto into the blender and grind it just for 2pulse..

--Then transfer the grinded mixture again to the pan and add salt,channa masala powder

-- Now add the cooked garbanzo beans(chick peas)

-- Bring it to boil

-- Granish it with coriander leaves..
--Serve it hot with Puri,Chappathi,Naan,or even bread

Tips:
--If u dont have the chickpeas in stock..just get a garbanzo beans - Canned from a near by store..just 2 cans should be enough to serve 4
--It will be already cooked..so ur job will be much easier..
--But soaking the fresh chickpeas is always hygenic and the best..

Brinjal Curry

Ingredients :

Brinjal - 1lb
Urad Dal -1/2 tsp
Channa Dal - 1tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Red Chillies - 1
Turmeric Powder - a pinch
Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Coconut
Salt
Gingely Oil(Prefered)-3tsp
Curry leaves
         
How to Cook:

--Chop the brinjal and Keep it ready

--Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard ,urad dal ,channa dal. Once they start spluttering add red chillies.Then add the chopped brinjal

--Add turmeric powder ,salt,add red chilli powder,asafoetida..Cover it with a lid and let it cook well for few mins.If its well cooked u can see the vegetables turn light brown.

--Stir well.Now dont cover the pan..Add some 1/2 tsp oil ,Add coconut and mix well.

--Serve hot with rice and Sambar or rasam
 
Tips:
 
--After chopping the brinjal,put it in water until u start cooking(This is to avoid brinjal turning black color-Which is nothing but oxidation)

Ribbon Pakoda

Ribbon pakodas are anytime snack..Almost for all the festis it will the first snack everyone will love in the family..its really easy to make..

Ingredients:

Besan flour - 1 cup
Rice flour - 2 cups
Butter – 1 tbsp
Salt
Asafoetida
Red chillie powder – 1 teaspoon. (Based on ur taste)
Sesame seeds (optional)- Any color- but this will enhance the flavour
Cumin seeds(optional)
Oil - for deepfrying
Sev presser/Sev Sancha

How to Cook:

--Take a heavy bottomed vessel and heat the oil in a medium flame
Next Step :
--Take a bowl,Add besan flour,riceflour,butter(Melt it),salt,red chilli powder,salt,cumin seeds,sesame seeds,asafoetida - mix it well

--Now add water little by little and mix it slowly..

--Knead the dough into a firm and moist ball(moist ball will be easier to press)

--Now take the sev press with a vertical line holes and grease it with a 1/2 tsp of oil

--Fill the sev presser with the dough as needed and start squeezing the dough slowly into the hot oil

--The dough will turn golden color and flip it to the other side and fry well..

--Fry it in a medium flame orelse the pakoda will turn black quickly in high heat..

--Drain the excess oil in a tissue paper..

--Thats it..Thin crispy Ribbon pakodas are ready to serve..Crispy but it will melt in mouth..

Tips:

--If u want u can also add ginger-garlic paste,but this is very much optional based on the individual preference..I have not added it..

--Let it cool down and Store it in an airtight container