Tandoori Chicken

Ingredients :

1. Chicken legs -  6 pieces
2. Yoghurt -  7 tbsp
3. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
4. Chilly powder - 2 tsp (to spice taste)
5. Cumin powder - 1 tsp
6. Garam masala - 1 tsp
7. Corriander powder - 1 tsp
8. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
9. Black pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
10. Oil - 2 tbsp
11. Kastoori methi - 1 tsp
12. Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
13. Salt to taste
14. Red color 
15. Onion slices (sliced & cooked)
16. Corriander leaves

Method :

1.   Clean & cut the long splits in the chicken pieces.  Mix together the lemon juice, chilly powder - 1 tsp & salt and apply it over the chicken & set aside for 15 mins.

2.   Meanwhile mix together yoghurt, red chillypowder, coriander powder, garam masala, cumin powder, kastoori methi, turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste, pepper powder, salt to taste & red color.

3.   Apply this marination over the chicken pieces & set aside for at least one hour.

4.   Preheat the oven to 425 F and cook it for 35 mins or until done.

5.   Serve the tandoori chicken with the shallow fried onion slices & coriander leaves.

Serve & enjoy :)

Orange & Vanilla cake with toasted almonds - Perfect Party Cake

Almonds, orange and vanilla give this special cake its delicate flavour, which can be further enhanced by drizzling over orange liqueur.  To get the full citrus tang of the fresh orange you will need a food processor to grind the orange rind finely.

Ingredients :

1. Butter - 1 cup (200g)
2. 2 small oranges 
3. Toasted almonds slices - 1 cup
4. Light soft brown sugar - 1 cup
5. Eggs - 4, lightly beaten
6. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
7. Self raising flour - 11/2 cups
8. Icing sugar - 1/4 cup
9. Orange liqueur (optionnel)- 1 tsp
10. Whipped cream icing

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven to 180 C.  Grease & line up the baking pan with the parchment paper.

2.   Peel the oranges in strips, then put in a food processor.  Process for a few seconds until the peel forms a fine powder, then put into a bowl.

3.   Process the almonds until fine, then mix with the powdered rind.  Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Whisk in the eggs gradually, adding 1 tsp flour with each addition to prevent the mixture from curdling.

4.   Fold in the remaining flour with the almonds and rind mixture until smooth, then spoon into the tin.

5.   Bake for about 40 mins or until golden and firm to the touch.

6.   Meanwhile squeeze the juice from 1 orange and put in a small pan with the icing sugar and 3 tbsp cold water and simmer for 10 mins or until syrupy.  Add the orange liqueur, if using.

7.   Prick over the top of the cake with a skewer and spoon the syrup over, then leave to cool in the tin. Cut the cake horizontally.

8.   Spread the cut cake side with the icing.  Sandwich the other layer on top and decorate.

Happy baking :)

Peerkangai thogayal (Ridge gourd Chutney)

Ridge gourd chutney is simple & easy to make.  It taste great with plain rice, curd rice or with rotis too. This thogayal is really healthy & it is made without coconut.  

Ingredients :

1. Ridge gourd - 1 big sized
2. Red chillies -3 to 4 nos (to spice taste)
3. Tamarind  - 1 tsp
4. Salt to tase
5. Urad dal - 1 tsp
6. A pinch of hing
7. Oil - 1 tsp

Method :

1.   Peel the ridge gourd skin off.  Cut the skin into small pieces.

2.   Heat oil in the pan, add urad dal & red chillies.  

3.   Add the ridge gourd skin, hing, tamarind & salt to taste.  Cook them till done. 

4.   Grind the ridge gourd skin to a fine paste.

Serve with rice.

Mcqueen car frosted sunflower carrot cake

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 21/2 cups
2. Baking powder - 21/2 tsp
3. Ground ginger - 1 tsp
4. Ground nutmeg - 1 tsp
5. Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
6. Salt - 1/2 tsp
7. Vegetable oil - 1 cup
8. Brown sugar - 11/4 cups
9. Eggs - 3 nos
10. Grated carrots - 2 cups (250 g)
11. Coarsely chopped hazelnuts - 1 cup
12. Sunflower seeds - 2 tbsp
13. Fondant for covering & decorating the cake

Orange frosting :

1. Cream cheese - 3 ounce
2. Butter, softened - 2 tbsp
3. Grated orange zest - 1 tbsp
4. Icing sugar - 2 cups

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Lightly grease & line up the baking pan with parchment paper.

2.   Combine the flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.  

3.   Beat the oil, brown sugar and eggs in a large bowl until smooth.

4.   Beat in the carrots, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds & the dry ingredients.  Spoon the batter into the prepared pan & bake for 70-80 mins or until done.  Cool the cake completely.

5.   To prepare the frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter and orange zest in a medium bowl until fluffy.  Beat in the icing sugar.  Spread the cake with the frosting.  And cover the cake with the fondant & serve.

Happy baking :)