Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY BELOVED READERS

Lemon juice

This lemon juice will help alkalize the body.  I like to drink it through a straw to protect my teeth:)

Ingredients :

1. 1/2 Lemon
2. A glass of water
3. Sugar to taste
4. A pinch of salt 

Method :

Squeeze the lemon juice & add to a glass of water.  Add sugar & a pinch of salt.  Mix well & serve cool.

Banana Walnut muffins

Banana muffins are simple to bake by just combining both wet & dry ingredients together.  It taste little crunchy outside and very moist inside when served immediately.  Outside layer tends to become softer when stored & served next day, yet taste delicious & perfect for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

Ingredients :

1. Walnuts - 1 cup
2. All purpose flour - 1 3/4 cups
3. Sugar - 3/4 cup
4. Baking powder - 1 tsp
5. Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
6. Salt - 1/4 tsp
7. Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
8. Eggs - 2 nos 
9. Unsalted butter, melted & cooled - 1/2 cup
10. Large bananas - 3 nos 
11. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp  

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven at 180 C & line up the muffin pan with paper liners.

2.   Sieve & combine together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon powder, salt, nuts & sugar.

3.   In another bowl, combine together the mashed bananas, melted butter, lightly beaten eggs & vanilla extract.

4.   Now fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined.

5.   Spoon the batter in the prepared muffins pans & bake it for 20 - 25 mins or until done.

Serve warm.

Bitter gourd curry - spicy & tangy

Good, healthy and nutritious vegetable.  Due to medical values, we try to have it once in a week.   Boiling and deep frying the bitter gourd removes the bitterness and taste delicious with rice and rotis.  

Ingredients :

1. Bittergourd - 100 gms
2. Oil - 1 tbsp
3. Onion - 2 large sized
4. Tamarind pulp - 1 tsp
5. Jaggery (or sugar) - 1/4 tsp

For Dry roast :

1. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
2. Urad dal - 1 tsp
3. Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
4. Black pepper corns - 1 tsp
5. Corriander seeds - 1 tsp
6. Red chillies to spice (arround 3 to 4)
7. Ginger - 1 inch piece
8. Garlic - 2 pods 

Grind them to smooth paste by adding little water.

Method :

1.   Boil the water and switch off the flame.  Put the chopped bitter gourd in the water & cover it for 10 mins.

2.   Drain the bitter gourd and deep fry them in the oil.  Keep aside.

3.   Heat oil in the pan, add onions and saute till tender.

4.   Add the grounded paste, tamarind pulp & cook.

5.   Add the fried bitter gourd and jaggery & cook for another 5 mins on low flame.

Serve with rice.

Dairy-free chocolate cake with chocolate frosting

Best dairy free chocolate cake which turns out to be the best all the time.  This rich and creamy frosting makes this cake more delicious.  Merry christmas to all my readers.

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 3 cups
2. Salt - 1/2 tsp
3. Baking powder - 1 tsp
4. Baking soda - 1 tsp
5. Cocoa powder - 2/3 cup
6. Sugar - 2 cups
7. Vinegar - 2 tbsp
8. Chilled water - 2 cups
9. Vegetable oil - 2/3 cup
10. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

For frosting :

1. Unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped - 120 gms
2. Unsalted butter - 2/3 cup
3. Icing sugar - 1 1/3 cups
4. Vanilla extract - 1 1/2 tsp
5. Toasted almonds for surrounding the cake
6. Golden & pearl sugar balls for decoration

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven to 180 C.  Lightly grease and flour the cake tin.

2.   Sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa into large bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

3.   Pour into prepared tin and bake for 40 to 45 mins.  

For the frosting :

4.   Melt the chocolate & allow it to cool completely.

5.   Cream the butter until light and fluffy.  Add sugar & vanilla extract.

6.   Add the melted chocolate and mix slowly until incorporated.

7.  Cut the cake horizontally and spread the frosting & finally over the cake.

8.   Now decorate the cake with toasted almonds in the side & on the top.

Happy baking :)

Meat balls in spicy coconut gravy

Ingredients :

1. Kheema - 400 gms
2. Cashews - 13 nos
3. Salt to taste
4. Cinnamon stick
5. Cloves - 3 nos
6. Cardomom - 2 nos
7. Onion - 2 nos
8. Riped Tomato - 1 large or 2 small
9. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
10. Chilly powder - 2 tsp (adjust according to ur spice level)
11. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
12. Coconut paste (I used 1/2 coconut)
13. Corriander leaves

Method :

1.   Grind the kheema along with the salt.

2.   Make small kheema balls resembling like a golf ball & stuff one cashew in the middle & keep it aside.

3.   Heat oil in the heavy bottomed pan, add cinnamon, cloves, cardomom and onion.

4.    Saute them for few mins till onion turns golden brown, add ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder.

5.    Add tomatos, chilly powder & salt to taste.

6.   Now arrange the khemma balls inside. Cover & cook for 15 mins, till kheema becomes tender.

7.   Add coconut paste & cook for further 10 min.  Garnish with corriander leaves.

Serve with rice.

French Toast

French toast most popular american breakfast can be prepared with lots of different flavors and variation.  

Sometimes I like to add cinnamon or vanilla essence for little variation.  This can be served by dusting the powdered sugar or just like that.  Kids will love it :)

Ingredients :

1. Bread slices - 4 to 5 nos
2. Milk - 1/2 cup
3. Egg - 1 no
4. Sugar to taste
5. Cinnamon powder (optional) - 1/2 tsp
6. Butter / oil  for frying
7. Powdered sugar (optional) for dusting

Method :

1.   Whisk together the milk, egg, sugar & cinnamon powder.  

2.   Heat the pan,  now dip the bread slices in the egg mixture & cook them till golden brown in either side.

3.   Dust it with powdered sugar and serve.

Serve warm.

Gingerbread - Christmas celebration starts

My christmas baking starts with this delicious gingerbread.  It taste delicious with the flavour of ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg powder.  There are many ways to decorate this gingerbread.  Here  I used the confectioners frosting for the decoration.  Instead we can use the raisins and nuts too.  And this recipe is adopted from "Joy of Baking".  

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 3 cups
2. Salt - 1/2 tsp
3. Baking soda - 3/4 tsp
4. Ginger powder - 2 tsp
5. Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
6. Nutmeg - 1/4 tsp
7. Cloves powder - 1/4 tsp
8. Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup
9. Sugar - 1/2 cup
10. Egg - 1 large no
11. Molasses - 2/3 cup  

Frosting :

1. Powdered sugar / Icing sugar - 2 cups
2. Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup
3. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
4. Light cream or milk - 1 1/2 tbsp 

Method :

1.   Sieve together the flour, baking soda, all spices and salt.  

2.   Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the egg and molasses and beat until well combined.

3.   Gradually add the flour and mix.

4.   Divide the dough  and wrap it and refrigerate it until firm (atleast 2 hrs)

5.   Roll the dough into desired shape.  Preheat the oven at 350 F and bake it for 10 mins or until done.

For the frosting :

6.   Beat the butter and add vanilla extract.  Gradually add the powdered sugar & finally the milk and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.

7.   Decorate the gingerbread with the frosting.

Merry christmas :)

Strawberry Milkshake

Refreshing, creamy, rich & delicious milk shake just perfect for kids after school.

Ingredients :

1. Strawberry - 1/4 cup 
2. Sugar - 2 tsp
3. Vanilla ice cream - 2 scoops
4. Milk - 1 cup

Method :

1.   Place strawberries in the bowl of a blender and blend until finely chopped.

2.   Add milk and blend until almost smooth.  

3.   Add ice cream and sugar and continue blending until thick and well combined.

Serve immediately. 

Pickled onions - Perfect for tandoori chicken

This pickled onions are perfect when served with tandoori chicken, grilled food, hot dogs & in the burgers.  All we need to do is slice the onions & soak it in the boiling water and finally mix it with lemon juice and salt.  Very simple & easy to make yet taste crunchy and delicious.  

Ingredients 

1. Onion - 1 no, thinly sliced
2. Red chilly powder to taste
3. Salt to taste
4. Red color - a pinch
5. Lemon juice - 3/4 cup, enough to submerge onions

Method :

1.   In a saucepan, boil a cup of water.  Once the water is boiled, switch off the flame and add the sliced onions and cover the pan with the lid.  Let it rest for 30 mins and then drain the water thoroughly.

2.   In a bowl, mix together the onions, red chillypowder, salt, red color & lemon juice.  

Ready to serve.

Pesto Trapanese

Most popular Italian dish which is highly nutritious and healthy.  Crunchy taste of almonds with fresh basil and tomatoes makes this pasta more delicious.

Ingredients :

1. 13 oz dried pasta
2. 2 garlic cloves, peeled
3. 1 1/4 cups basil leaves, plus extra for garnishing
4. 2 fresh red chillies, seeded
5. 1 1/2 cups roughly chopped ripe tomatoes
6. 1 cup almonds with skin on, coarsely grounded
7. 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
8. Salt
9. Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to serve (optional)

Method :

1.   Cook the pasta in a salted boiling water according to the package instructions until done.

2.   Meanwhile, put the garlic cloves, basil, chillies and tomatoes in a food processor and process until finely chopped but not smooth.  Stir in the ground almonds and oil, and season with salt.

3.   Drain the pasta and return to the pan.  Add the pesto and stir thoroughly.  Serve immediately with a sprinkling of grated cheese and garnish with basil leaves.

Enjoy.

Cumin Seed Cooler

This drink is usually served as a pre-dinner appetizer.  You can adjust the seasoning to your taste, although the final drink should be a mixture of sweet, salty and spicy.

Ingredients :

1. Cumin seeds - 2 tsp
2. Tamarind paste - 1 tbsp, mixed with 6 tbsp of water
3. 600 ml water
4. Grated jaggery - 2 tbsp
5. Black salt - 1/2 tsp
6. Finely chopped corriander leaves - 4 tbsp
7. Curry leaves -  1 tbsp

Method :

1.   Dry roast the cumin seeds in  a small saucepan for a minute or so, until they start to darken.  Crush them to a fine powder.

2.   Combine the tamarind, water, jaggery and black salt in a jug, stirring constantly until the jaggery has dissolved.  Stir in the ground cumin, corriander leaves & curry leaves.

Serve.

Sprouted Green gram sundal - Very healthy

Sprouted green gram sundal is very healthy & easy to make.  Even if we have no time to sprout the green gram, we can soak it for few hrs and make this delicious sundal.  It's really healthy :)

Ingredients :

1. Sprouted green gram - 2 cups
2. Oil - 1 tbsp (or ghee)
3. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
4. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
5. Urad dal - 1 tsp
6. A pinch of hing
7. Red chillies to spice (arround 3 to 4)
8. Curry leaves - 1 tbsp
9. Onion - 1 no
10. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
11. Chilly powder - 1/4 tsp (optional)
12. Coconut pieces - 1 tsp
13. Salt to taste

Method :

1.   Soak the green gram overnight, drain the water, tie them in the clean cloth & keep aside for one day for them to sprout)

2.   Microwave the sprouted green gram for 4 to 5 mins or until cooked.

3.   Heat oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, red chillies, curry leaves and pinch of hing.

4.   Add the finely chopped onion and saute.  Add turmeric powder, chilly powder, salt to taste and coconut pieces.

5.   Add the cooked green grams & saute.

Serve warm.

Onion Tomato raita -Perfect dip

Raita is always a good accomplishments with biryani, pulav & with parathas.  Addition of coconut to this raita brings more flavour & taste extremly delicious like served in marriage ceremonies.

Ingredients :

1. Curd / Yoghurt - 1 cup
2. Onion - 1 no
3. Tomato - 1 no
4. Green chillies - 2 nos
5. Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
6. Grated coconut - 1 tsp (optional)
7. Salt to taste
8. Corriander leaves - 1 tbsp
9. Chaat masala - a pinch (optional)

Method :

1.   Finely chop the onion & tomato.  If the tomato is riped, removed the seeds inside.

2.  Grind together green chillies and coconut.  

3.    Mix together the curd, finely chopped onion, tomato, coconut paste, cumin powder, salt to taste, corriander leaves & chaat masala (optional).

4.   Regrigerate it until served.

Note:

If coconut is not used in this raita, just add the finely chopped green chillies along with the onion.

Brownies mit pecan

Are you new in baking?    You don't have electricmixer?    Are you a chocolate lover?   Then here is the recipe which you need to try.  Crispy top crust & moist texture with wonderful chocolate flavour along with a pecan crunch.  All we need is just a bowl to melt the chocolate and butter and mix all other ingredients together using the wooden spoon.  It taste wonderful with a scoop of vanilla icecream.  The coffee lovers can replace the cocoa powder with coffee powder for different flavour.  Good way to start the baking :)

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 3/4 cup
2. Sugar - 1 1/4 cup (for bittersweet chocolate or 1 cup for semi-sweet chocolate)
3. Bittersweet (or semi-sweet) chocolate - 150 gms
4. Butter - 1/2 cup
5. Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
6. Unsweetened cocoa powder - 2 tbsp
7. Eggs- 3 nos
8. Salt - 1/4 tsp
9. Pecans - 1/2 cup (chopped)

Method :

Preheat the oven at 180 C and line up the baking pan with wax paper.

1.   Sieve the flour & salt together.  Keep aside.

2.   Melt the chocolate and butter together over a saucepan of simmering water.

3.   Remove from heat and stir in the cooca powder and sugar.  

4.   Whisk in the vanilla essence & eggs one at a time.  

5.   Finally, stir in the sifted flour & chopped pecans.  Bake it for 25 or 30 mins or until done.

Happy baking :)

Peanut Chaat - Quick & easy snack

Quick and easy chat which serves as a best starter for the get-together parties.  We can make many variations in this by adding tamarind chutney, green chutney, papadis, yoghurt, sev, boiled chick peas, potatoes or even pani puris.  It taste really yummy :)

Ingredients :

1. Roasted peanut (or boiled peanut) - 1 cup
2. Onion (Finely chopped) - 1/4 cup
3. Tomatoes (Finely chopped ) - 1 no
4. Green chillies (very finely chopped) - 1 no
5. Red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp (to taste)
6. Finely chopped corriander leaves - 1 tbsp
7. Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
8. Chaat masala - 1/2 tsp
9. Dry mango powder - 1/4 tsp
10. Cucumber (finely chopped) - 1 tbsp
11. Salt to taste

Method :

Mix together all the ingredients & serve immediately.

Phirni

As the festival season is approaching, most of the houses will be flavoured with different sweets & savouries items.  And this is one of the famous Indian dessert made by soaking and grinding the rice & boiling them in the milk with the flavour of cardamom powder and saffron strands.  Very easy to make & taste delicious.  Perfect sweet for diwali :)

Ingredients :

1. Rice - 1/4 cup
2. Sugar - 3 tbsp or to taste
3. Milk - 3 cups
4. Condensed milk - 1/4 cup
5. Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
6. Blanched almonds - 3 tbsp
7. Saffron strands (optional)

Method :

1.   Soak the rice for one hour and grind them coarsely.

2.   Bring milk to boil in the heavy sauce pan & slowly add the rice and sugar to taste.  Stir constantly till the milk reduces to half the quantity.  

3.   At this stage add the condensed milk, saffron strands (optional) and cardamom powder.  

4.   Remove from heat and add almonds.  

Chill & serve.

Gobi Capsicum Sabzi (Partially Microwave)

Flavour of cauliflower and capsicum go well together & taste absolutely delicious for rotis, chapathis & naan.  Cauliflower and bell peppers are more nutricious and very rich in vitamin & fiber.  Try this & you will like it :)

Ingredients :

1. Gobi / Cauliflower florets - 2 cups
2. Green capsicum / Bell peppers - 1 cup 
3. Oil - 1 tbsp
4. Onion - 2 nos
5. Tomato - 1 no
6. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
7. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
8. Chilly powder to spice
9. Salt to taste
10. Garam masala - 1 tsp
11. Corriander leaves for garnishing

Method :

1.   Clean the cauliflower florets & microwave for about 7 to 8 mins or until cooked.

2.   Meanwhile heat oil in the frying pan, add finely chopped onions and saute till tender.

3.   Add turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste, chopped tomatoes and salt to taste.  Saute.

4.   Add chilly powder & capsicum.  Cook for 2 mins.

5.   Finally add the cooked cauliflower florets, garam masala & cook together for about 2 mins. 

6.   Add finely chopped corriander leaves.

Serve with rotis.