Paneer Makhanwala

You Need
250 gms firm paneer
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. cream or malai
1 large tomato quartered
1 medium tomato finely chopped
1 small capsicum finely chopped
1/4 cup cabbage shred coarsely
10 cashews
1 tsp. wheat flour
1 stalk curry leaves
1 tbsp. coriander leaves finely chopped
1 tsp. red chilli powder
1/2 tsp. coriander seed powder
1/4 tsp. garam masala powder
1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
1/2 tsp. sugar
salt to taste
2 tbsp. oil

Grate 2 tbsp. paneer, keep aside for garnishing.
Chop remaining paneer into thick cubes.
Heat one tbsp. oil in a heavy frying pan.
Lightly fry 5 cashews, drain, keep aside.
Add quartered tomato, cabbage, to same oil.
Stirfry till cabbage is limp, stir in toast pieces, take off fire, cool a little.
Wet grind above mixture along with unfried cashews, in a small mixie, using little water.
Heat remaining oil in same pan.
Add chopped capsicum and tomato, stir fry for a minute.
Add all dry masalas, ground paste, flour (dissolved in 1 tbsp. water).
Cook till gravy is thick, add sugar and salt.
Add paneer pieces, fried cashews, butter, cream, mix gently.
Pour into serving dish, garnish with grated paneer, coriander.
Serve hot with rotis, parathas.

Cranberry Chutney

Time 4 sm chatpati chutney

You Need
1 packet of Cranberries
A spoon of Red Chili Powder
Half a tea-spoon of Methi Powder
Quarter tea-spoon of Turmeric Powder (haldi)
Half a spoon of Mustard Seeds
Salt to taste
4-5 spoons of Oil
Curry leaves (optional)


Wash the cranberries and set aside to dry.
In a saucepan, heat the oil.
Add the cranberries to the pan, stir and cover with a lid. Stir occassionally. Within minutes, the cranberries will turn mushy.
At this point, add the salt, haldi, chilli powder and methi powder. Stir, cover and cook for some more time till the cranberries have totally disintegrated and the oil has separated from the sides.
Crackle the mustard seeds in some oil with the curry leaves, in another pan, and pour over the chutney.
Since cranberries are very sour, you might want to taste the chutney and add more salt or chilli powder, according to taste.
Take the chutney off the stove and allow to cool in a dry container.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

You Need:
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pecan halves
1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
Whipped topping

1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. Stir together sugar and cocoa in medium bowl. Add eggs, corn syrup, butter and vanilla; stir until well blended. Stir in pecans. Pour into unbaked pie crust.

3. Bake 60 minutes or until set. Remove from oven to wire rack. Cool completely. Garnish with whipped topping. 8 servings.

Kachori

Missing the garam kachoris hot out of kadhai and the chutney to make it yummier.....
No more sobbing herez the recipe..

You Need
For Covering:
Refined flour 100 gms.
Soda Bicarbonate ¼ tsp.
Semolina 50 gms.
Ghee 2 tbsp.
Salt 1 tsp.
Water (to knead the dough)
Oil For frying
For Filling:
Split Green Gram (moong dal)225 gms.
Ginger 1" piece
Coriander leaves 1 cup
Green chilies 5 nos.
Asafoetida ½ tsp.
Coriander-cumin powder ½ tsp.
Ghee 3 tbsp.
Saunf 30 gms.
Coconut ¼ cup.
Chili powder 1 ½ tsp.
Turmeric powder ¾ tsp.
Lime 2 nos.
Sugar 1 tsp.
Salt To taste

1.Wash the split green gram and soak overnight.
2.Grind coarsely in circular grinding stone to whip in some air.If ground in an
electric grinder, be sure to whisk it with an egg beater to make it fluffy and light.
3.Scrape the skin off the ginger and grate.Chop the green chilies and set aside.
4.Grate the coconut and set aside.
5.Sieve the refined flour and set aside.
For the filling :
1. Heat the ghee in a frying pan and add the split green gram and saute over
medium to low heat until cooked.
2. Add the grated coconut, coriander leaves, green chillies, turmeric, chili powder
and salt to taste.
3. Now mix in the asafoetida, ginger and cummin-coriander powder.
4. Stir and add the lime juice and sugar and cook for a few minutes longer making
sure that he mixture is moist but completely devoid of extra water or liquid.
5. Adjust seasoning to taste, remove from the flame and add the saunf. Set
aside and start preparing the covering.
For the Covering :
1. Add salt to the sieved flour and rub in the ghee, add the rawa and enough
water to make stiff dough.
2. Keep the dough covered with a damp cloth for 45 minutes. Knead well and
divide the dough into equal portions.
3. Roll each portion, as for puris of 4" diameter and put some of the filling mixture
in the centre. Bring all the edges of the puri together and seal using little water.
Pinch the edges together.
4. Heat the oil until quite hot in a frying pan and deep-fry the kachoris on medium
heat until golden brown.
5. Drain off the excess oil and remove the kachories onto paper towels.

To Prepare the chutney
You Need
tamarind 1/2 cup
sugar/jaggery 2 tbsp
salt,red chilli powder 1 tsp each
roasted cumin powder 1tsp
garam masala powder 1 tsp

Soak tamarind for 20 mins.
Add plenty of water and boil for 10 mins.
Strain and remove all unwanted material.
Add all other ingredient and cook on low heat for 5 mins till a semi-liquid paste forms.
Vary ingredients according to taste.

Mughlai Potatoes

You Need
small potatoes 10-12 nos.
Cloves 4 nos.
Poppy seeds 2-3 tsp.
Green cardamoms 2 nos.
Green chilies 2 nos.
Fresh root ginger,grated 1 cm./ ½"
Garlic 3 cloves
Natural yogurt 150 ml.
Ghee 50 gms.
Grated onions 2 nos.
Ground coriander 1 tsp.
Ground cumin 1 tsp.
Chili powder 1 tsp.
Turmeric ¼ tsp.
Water 450 ml.
Peas 100 gms.
Single cream 2 tbsp.
Sugar ½ tsp.
Salt To taste

1. Scrub, scrape or peel the potatoes, then prick them thoroughly using a cocktail
stick/toothpick. Soak in cold water for about 10 minutes.
2. Grind the cloves, poppy seeds, cardamoms, chilies, ginger and garlic to a
paste.
3. Drain the potatoes, then mix them with the Curd/Yogurt, paste and salt. Allow
to stand for 1 hour.
4. Melt the Ghee in a heavy-based saucepan and fry the grated onion in it for a
few minutes. Add the coriander, cumin, chili powder and turmeric.Continue to fry
for 2-3 minutes.
5. Stir in the potato mixture and water, heat to simmering point and cook,
uncovered, until the potatoes are tender. This should take about 15-20 minutes.
6. Add the peas, cream and sugar, stir well and cook for a few minutes until the
peas are tender, then serve hot.
Note: If you like, you can first fry the potatoes in ghee until golden brown all over.

Coconut Rice

You Need
1 can coconut milk (or grind and extract milk from 1 coconut)
1 cup grated fresh coconut
1.5 cups basmati rice
whole garam masala(bay leaf,cinnamon,cloves,peppers)
1/2 cup fine chopped onions
2 tbsp ghee

Wash rice and soak in coconut milk.Add extra water an needed.
Heat ghee in a pan.Add whole masalas n allow to splutter.
Add onions and saute till translucent pink.
Add rice and cook till done.Each grain should be separate.
Garnish with grated coconut.
This itself is delicious but u cud couple it with kadi or solkadi.

Gujiya

You Need
1 cup maida
2 tsp rava
4 tsp ghee

For filling
2 tsp rava
few cashews,almonds,raisins cut into tiny pieces
karonji,
poppy seeds (khus)
2 tsp coconut powder or flakes
1/2 cup jaggery powdered

Knead a hard dough of maida,rava,ghee using either warm milk or water.Cover with cloth n keep aside.
Roast rava,poppy seeds,coco flakes slightly n separate.DO NOT burn!
Mix all ingredients for filling very well.Possibly mash them.
Make small balls of the dough and roll into circles.Use oil to help roll them instead of dry flour.
Place a spoon ful of filling in the center and close the rolls into semicircular arcs.
Bind the ends very well using lil water on fingertips.
Deep fry in ghee or oil.
Let cool and store in airtight containers.

Kofta Biryani

You Need

Cabuli chana (chikpea) 1 can
Mozzarella Cheese 1/2 pack
Basmati Rice
Green Chilly 1
Salt
1" Ginger
Tomato 2
1 tbsp Onion paste
Onion 1/2 cut in to small pieces
1/2 tsp Jeera powder
1 tsp Chilly powder
Garlic 2 cloves
3 tbsp Oil & Ghee
Bread Two pieces
Saffron soaked in milk- half cup
1 tsp Biriani Masala
2 tbsp Milk Cream

Make a paste of cabuli chana, ginger, green chilly and salt.
Now add mozzarella cheese & two pieces of bread to the mixture and make dough.
Make small balls and bake it in oven at 350^oC for 30 min.
Heat a pan add oil, fry onions add tomato, jeera garlic ginger paste, chilly powder, turmeric powder and biriani masala. Fry the masala then add water, bring it to boil. At the end add baked cabuli chana koftas, cook for another few min and put off the stove. Add cream to the kofta.
Prepare basmati rice separately.
Grease a baking dish with ghee, add a few tejpatta, spread one layer of rice, add one layer of kofta with gravy and then add another layer of rice.
At the top add saffron soaked in milk and then sprinkle ghee over the rice. Cover with an aluminium foil, put it in the oven at warm for half an hour.

Jalebi

Remember the motu halwai sitting behind a huge kadhai n frying those crispy jalebis 4 u..couple this up with mirchi bhajji.......uuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
You Need

Maida 300 gms
Green cardamom powder ½ tsp.
Curd (yogurt) optional
Sugar 500 gms.
Color (optional) a few drops- i dont like it..so managed without it..
Soda bi-carb 1 tsp.
Ghee for deep frying

1. Mix flour, cooking soda and Curd/Yogurt. Add some water and make a smooth
batter.
2. Leave it overnight to ferment.
3. Mix it, add a little water if required and make it into a pouring consistency.
4. Prepare sugar syrup with equal quantity of sugar and water. Add green
cardamom powder and cook it for 20-25 minutes.
5. Heat Ghee in a Kadhai. Pour batter into a jalebi cloth and then pour it into
medium hot Ghee giving jalebi shapes.
6. Cook it from both sides. Remove and keep it in sugar syrup for at least 5
minutes before serving.
Tip: For jalebi cloth, take some stiff cloth and make a 3 mm hole in the center.I managed with a thick plastic :) its a bit messy with the batter dripping from the hole n u never notice....just like babies wetting ur dress n smiling in the lap ..he he he..

Fudge Topped Brownies

You Need
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, melted
2 cups sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 cup chopped nuts
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

Stir together butter, sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, eggs, milk and 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla in large bowl; beat well. Stir in nuts. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake 40 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Just before brownies are done, in heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and remaining 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Immediately spread over hot brownies. Cool in pan on wire rack. Refrigerate. Cut into bars. About 36 brownies.

You can do without the chocolate chips.Just use cocoa powder and sugar with condensed milk.

Cheese Omelette

Ever wondered why the Waffle House omelets tastes so delicious..I got the secret..

You Need
2 eggs
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp cheese
salt n pepper to taste

Heat butter in microwave for 10 seconds.
Spread in the bowl.
Beat eggs in a separate bowl and pour in the greased bowl.
Sprinkle salt n pepper.
Microwave for 2 mins.
Sprinkle cheese on top and microwave for 45 seconds.
Enjoy with toasted bread.

You could make variations by adding chopped veggies of your choice.Weight watchers could do without cheese as well.It tastes gr8 anyways!

Broccoli Kofta

You Need
for kofta
1 medium broccoli
1/2 cup besan
cumin seeds
salt to taste
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp red chill pwd,turmeric pwd
oil for deep frying

gravy
1 huge onion
2 tomatoes
1/2 cup milk cream
1 tbsp GGP
1 tsp red chilli pwd,turmeric
salt 2 taste
2 tbsp oil

Steam broccoli, let cool and mash properly.
Add rest of the ingredients and mix well. check for consistency, it should be just as for pakoras.
Deep fry on medium flame till golden brown.

Grind onion into a paste.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard n cumin seeds.
Add onion paste and saute till golden.
Add GGP n tomato puree.
Saute for few more mins and add all the masalas.
Switch off and stir in milk cream.
Dip all koftas in and serve hot with fulkas.

Aloo Gobi Tahri

Had a blast eating this one!

You Need

Rice (Basmati) 300 gms.
Potatoes 300 gms.
Cauliflower 300 gms.
Whole garam masala 1 tsp.
Red chili powder 1 tsp.
Cumin seeds 1 tsp.
Turmeric powder ½ cup
Bay leaf 2 nos.
Garam masala powder ½ tsp.
Ghee/Oil 1 tsp.
Salt To taste

Wash and soak rice for about half an hour, drain and keep aside.
Peel potato. Cut into one inch cubes. Cut cauliflower into small florets.
Heat oil in a thick bottomed pan. Add bay leaves, cumin seeds and Whole
Garam Masala. When they begin to crackle, add ginger paste, red chili powder,
turmeric powder and Garam Masala Powder.
Cook for a minute, add potatoes, cauliflower and soaked rice. Stir lightly (remember not to over do this else all rice grains vil break) and
add hot water enough to cover the rice and vegetables and should be about one
inch above the rice. Season with salt. Bring it to boil and stir from time to time.
Reduce flame and cook covered on a slow fire till rice and vegetables are
completely cooked.Do NOT increase the flame to get the best results; let it cook on low and keep stirring occasionally so that it doesnt not stick to the bottom.

Do couple this up with raita of your choice for lesser heart burns later on.

Dahi Aloo

You Need
2 huge potatoes boiled,peeled
1 cup curds
1 tsp each turmeric,red chilli powder
salt to taste
1 tsp each cumin n mustard seeds
a pinch hing/asofaetida
few curry leaves
1 tbsp oil

Mix curd n dry powders,salt and mix well.
Mash 1/3rd potatoes fine. Cut the rest into 1 inch sq pieces.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add cumin n mustard.Allow to splutter
Add hing n curry leaves
Take the pan out n let cool for few mins
Add curds mix, heat on medium flame and STIR Continuously till it boils
Add potatoes, cook for some more time and tk off.
Serve hot with puris or rice.

Green Pulav

All Nature Lovers..greenery is in your plate..

You Need
1 bunch spinach
1 cup green peas
10 french beans
1.5 cups rice
salt to taste
2 green chillies
1 tbsp garam masala powder
1tsp lemon juice
1tbsp oil

Cook rice so that each grain is soft yet separate and keep aside.
Wash boil and grind spinach into a fine paste.
Wash and cut french beans.
Heat oil in pan.
Add green chillies.
Add beans and after 2 mins add peas.
Saute for few mins.Add the spinach paste.
Add lil water if reqd.
Add salt n garam masala.
Cook for few mins,add lemon juice and switch off.
Mix thoroughly with rice and serve hot.

Gatte Ki Sabzi

You Need
For gatta
1 cup besan
3 tbsp oil
salt
1tsp cumin seeds
1tsp each turmeric,chilli powder
a pinch hing/asofaetida
1/2 cup hot water

For gravy
2 cups curds
1 tsp each turmeric,red chilli powder,salt
1 tbsp oil
few curry leaves
few chopped coriander leaves

Mix all dry ingredients for gatta.
Prepare a dough with oil and as lil water as possible.
Make small parts of dough and roll into cylinders.
Heat water in a vessel.
When it starts boiling add the cylinders.
Boil for 5-10 mins till cooked.
Drain and cut into rings.
Do not throw away the water.

Mix curd and dry powders.
Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard n cumin seeds.
Allow to splutter.Add curry leaves and switch off.
Let cool for 2 mins and then add curds.
Add the boiled water from gattas as necessary
Reheat on medium flame and stir continously till it boils.
Add gattas n cook for few mins.
Garnish with coriander and serve hot with fulkas.

Cold Coffee

Sometimes white is most colourful...likewise Plain Old Java Object-POJO (ok non-java guys dont kill me..:P) k i meant cold coffee is as tasty as it can get..

You Need
Nescafe Taster's choice (light to medium)Coffee powder 2 tbsp
sugar 3 tbsp
milk 2 cups chilled
ice 1 cup
warm water 1/4 cup

Mix coffee powder in warm water.
Put sugar,coffee mix,milk in blender and blend for 5 mins
Add ice and blend another 5 mins.
Enjoy this detox cooler :)

Besan Laddu

You Need
4 cups besan (chick pea flour)
2 cups sugar (powdered)
1 cup ghee(clarified butter)
2 tablespoons dryfruits powdered (walnuts,almonds,cashews)

Roast besan for 5 mins stirring continuously.
Heat ghee and add the roasted besan.
Cook till a nice aroma comes in and besan changes its colour to slight brown.Typically 10 minutes. See that it doesnt burn.
When cooked add dryfruits mix and stir for a minute.
Add sugar and mix well.Cook till sugar dissolves.Keep stirring continuously else lumps will be formed.
Cool down for 5 mins.
Apply lil ghee to palms and shape into laddus.

Jeera Rice

This one is for Dale and his wife

You Need
Basmati Rice 1 cup
2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons salt
Few sprigs of Coriander/Cilantro leaves


Wash and Soak rice for 30 minutes in 2 cups water
Add salt and microwave for 18 minutes
Once cooked,spread immediately on a plate and let cool down.This helps each grain to be separate.
Heat ghee in a pan.
Add cumin seeds.Allow to splutter
Mix well with rice.
Add finely chopped cilantro leaves and serve hot with lenthils dal.

Mocha Shake

Mocha- This is one of my faves in Starbucks,CCD,Barista....
You Need
1/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons Cocoa
1 tablespoon sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee
1/2 cup milk
2 cups vanilla ice cream

1. Place water, cocoa, sugar and instant coffee in blender container. Cover; blend briefly on low speed. Add milk.

2. Cover; blend on high speed until thoroughly blended. Add ice cream. Cover; blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Malpuwa

Malpuwa is a sweet made in most parts of northern india.

You Need
1 cup wheat flour
3 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup water
oil or ghee for deep frying
grated dryfruits
cardamom powder

Mix wheat flour,sugar and water and let be for 30 minutes
Heat oil in a flat bottom pan and keep on medium flame
Fill a serving spoon with the mix and slowly pour in the oil
Deep fry till crunchy and brown from both sides
Drain excess oil and decorate with dry fruits and cardamom powder

Check for the consistency of the mix.If its too thin, it might scatter out in oil.If its too viscous,malpuwas might be thick and uncooked from inside.

Hazelnut Chocolate Coffee Milk Shake

Long name huh??dont worry the recipe is simple

You Need
1/2 cup hazelnut(u cud as well substitute with walnuts)
3 tbsp cocoa powder(if u dont have this, use hersheys or dairymilk chocolate bar)
2 tbsp coffee
1/2 cups milk chilled
1/2 cup milk cream
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups Vanilla icecream
2 cups Chocolate icecream
1/2 cup coconut milk (optional)

Mix all the ingredients except chocolate and vanilla icecream and run in a blender for 10 mins taking breaks in between
Add Vanilla icecream and blend for 5 mins
Serve into conical glasses and top with Chocolate icecream

A cool summer dessert is ready!

Lettuce Wrap Casserole

7-8 large whole lettuce leaves
1 cup rice, washed soaked in salted water
1 tbsp. Coriander leaves chopped finely

For filling:
4 large potatoes, boiled
4-5 green chillies
1" piece ginger
1 flake garlic
2 sprigs mint leaves, chopped
1 tbsp. Coriander leaves, chopped
1 tsp. Lemon juice
1/4 tsp. Turmeric powder
3 pinches asafoetida powder
1/2 tsp. Each cumin & mustard seeds
1 tbsp. oil
salt to taste

For gravy:
1 bunch spinach leaves, chopped roughly
1 cup bottle gourd, grated
1 onion sliced
1 green chilly
1 flake garlic
1 tsp. Wheat flour
1/4 tsp. Turmeric powder
salt to taste
2 tbsp. Butter

Boil rice, cook till done, but not mushy.
Drain, cool, keep aside.

For filling:

Crush ginger, garlic, chilli

Chop potatoes

Heat oil, add seeds, asafetida, allow to splutter.

Add crushed mixture, stir for a few seconds.

Add turmeric, stir, add potatoes.

Add salt, lemon, coriander, stir and cook for a minute.

Take off fire, keep aside.

For gravy:

Heat 1/2 tbsp. butter in a pan.

Add onions, stir fry till transparent.

Wash and drain spinach leaves.

Add to onions, with bottle gourd.

Cover and simmer for 2 minutes.

Remove, cool, put in small electric grinder.

Add all ingredients, except salt and butter.

Grind to a paste, which is a little grainy, keep aside.

Do not add water.

Heat remaining butter, add gravy.

Add salt, stir and bring to a boil.

Cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes till a little thick.

Keep aside till required.

Use 2/3 filling, keep aside remaining 1/3.

Spread out lettuce leaf, place filling along central line.

Wrap to make a Frankie like long cylinder.

Mix remaining 1/2 filling with rice.

Spread all over base of casserole.

Arrange lettuce rolls over rice.

Pour gravy over rolls and rice, not necessarily covering all over.

Cover with aluminum foil or loose lid.

Bake in preheated oven at 300^oC for 10 minutes.

Garnish with coriander, serve piping hot.

My Tip : You could as well use cabbage instead of lettuce. If using cabbage, just dip in boiling water for 15 seconds each leaf so that it is tender.

Chinese Fried Rice With Gravy

Truly Chinese

You Need
1 bunch spring onions finely chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped fine
1 cube ginger chopped fine
2 green chillies chopped fine
2 red chillies chopped fine
1/2 cup each cabbage,onion,beans,carrots chopped very fine
1 cup bean sprouts
1 1/2 cups rice
1 tbsp corn flour/starch
4 tbsp soy sauce
salt
4 tbsp oil

For Rice
Cook rice for lil less time than regular so that the grains are separate and lil hard
Heat 3 tbsp oil in a pan
Add green chillies, half of garlic and ginger
Add mix veggies and saute on high flame
When done, add salt and 2 tbsp soy sauce
Mix rice well.

For Gravy
Mix 1 tbsp corn flour in 1 cup water
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan
Add red chillies, remaining garlic and ginger
Add spring onions
Saute for few minutes
Add 1 cup water
When it boils add the corn starch mix and salt
Add soy sauce.Simmer for few mins
Serve hot with rice

Coconut Sandesh

You Need
paneer made of 1gallon milk
1 cup coconut grated
2 cups sugar
cardamom powder
1 tsp ghee

Dry coconut for an hour by spreading on a plate
Grind paneer and mix coconut and sugar
Heat this mixture on low heat stirring continuously
When it thickens and leaves the sides of the pan,switch off
Grease a plate and spread this mix evenly
Cut into desired shapes when cold

Mushroom Peas Masala

You Need:
1 cup mushrooms washed and chopped
1 cup peas
1 onion
1 tomato
1/2 cup curds
1 tbsp GGP
1 tsp each turmeric,red chilli n garam masala powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp mustard n cumin seeds
1 tbsp oil

Grind onion into puree
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard and cumin seeds
Allow to splutter and add onions
Saute till golden
Add tomato puree
Saute till oil separates
Add curds and saute for few mins
Add all the masalas,mushroom and peas.
Simmer till well cooked.

The Trio Burfi

You Need
3 cups Til(sesame seeds)
3 cups jaggery
1 cup peanuts
1 cup dry grated coconut
1 tbsp ghee

Grease a plate and keep ready
Dry roast Til and peanuts seperately
Peel peanuts and grind.
Grind Til coarsely
Heat ghee in a pan and add jaggery
When it liquifies add til,peanuts,coconut
Before it cools down,mix well and spread on the plate
Cut into diamond when it solidifies.

Burritos

This one looks lengthy and complicated but is really quick and simple.

You Need
Flour tortillas 4 nos.
Refried beans ½ cup
Shredded lettuce 1 cup
Salsa Fresca ¼ cup
Avocado dip (Guacamole) ½ cup

Before we proceed to main recipe, sub-recipes are here

Refried Beans:

You Need
Black beans 2 ½ cups
Onion, diced 1 no.
Melted butter ½ cup
Salt As required

1.Rinse the beans, place in a large bowl and soak in cold water for 12 hours &
then drain.
2.Place the soaked beans and onion in a pan with enough water and bring to a
boil.
3.Reduce heat, cover and simmer until beans are tender.
4.Drain, reserving 1 cup of the liquid.
5.Coarsely puree the beans, stir in the butter and return mixture to the pan.
6.Cook, stirring continuously till the butter is absorbed & season with salt.


Salsa Fresca
You Need
Green chilies, chopped 2 tsps.
Fresh red chilies, chopped 2 tsps.
Onion, Chopped ½ cup
Spring onion, chopped ¼ cup
Tomatoes, chopped 1 cup
Lemon juice 3 tbsps.
Freshly ground pepper ½ tsp.
Salt To taste

1.Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
2.Add salt and pepper according to taste.
3.For variation, add capsicum (red, green or yellow).
4.You may also add corn or other seasonal vegetables.
5.To store, refrigerate the salsa in tightly sealed glass jars.

Avacado Dip
1 large or 2 small avocados
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
1/2 c. diced fresh tomato
1/4 c. finely diced onion
1 tbsp. lemon juice

Mash avocado and cream cheese in a bowl and cream until smooth.
Add tomatoes and onions and lemon juice, salt to taste.
Stir in just as much hot sauce to suit your taste.

Main Recipe
1.Heat tortillas on a griddle plate (tawa) until hot, pliable and make sure it does
not become dry.
2.Place about 2 tbsps. of refried beans and Avocado dip, a little below the center
of the tortilla.
3.Top it up with the salsa fresca and fold sides of tortilla over filling to center.
4.Fold bottom over filling and roll up, enclosing filling completely.
5.Serve immediately as burritos tend to become soggy very soon.

Laapsi

Laapsi is a sweet prepared in North India specially in NavRatri

You Need:
Crackled wheat (called baat (t as in takkar)in marwadi) 1 cup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup jaggery
1/2 cup pure ghee
1 cup water

Heat ghee in a cooker.
Saute the crackled wheat for a few mins.
Mix water, jaggery and sugar.
Take a whistle and switch off.

Simple and quick sweet for those unexpected guests for dinner :)

Stuff Mirchi

Hot Hot Baby!! he he he..when u want some smoke coming out of ears...try this one..

You Need
5 Big Green Chillies(the ones used for mirchi bhajji)
1 cup besan (chickpea flour)
1 tsp cumin seeds
salt to taste
1/2 cup water
4 tbsp oil

Mix besan,salt,cumin seeds and water and 1 tbsp oil
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan.
Add the above mix and stir continously till it turns solid.Take extra care not to stick it to the bottom of the pan.
Slit the chillies vertical.
Fill in with the above mix.
Heat the remaining oil in pan.
Add chillies and saute not to burn them.
Enjoy with hot rotis or rice.

Strawberry Pudding

You Need

Half Liter milk
1 box strawberries
1 cup custard powder
1 cup sugar

Keep a cup milk separate and boil the rest of it.
Mix custard powder in that cup of milk.
Mix slowly in the boiling milk and cook till it thickens.
Add 3/4 th of the sugar and mix well.
Let cool down.
Wash and cut strawberries into small pieces.
Mix the rest 1/4th sugar and strawberries and keep aside.
When the pudding has cooled down to room temperature, mix the strawberries.
Chill and serve.
hhhhhhmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnn yummy !!!

Muthiyas

You Need
1 cup - wheat flour
1 cup - leftover cooked rice(preferably small grain)
5 to 6 - spinach leaves, finely chopped
1 cup - bottle gourd, grated
1 - green chilli, crushed
salt to taste

For seasoning:
1 sprig - spring onion with greens, finely chopped
2 to 3 flakes - garlic, crushed
1/2 inch - piece of ginger, grated or finely chopped
1 tsp - soya sauce
1 tbsp - tomato sauce
1 tsp - red chilli garlic sauce
2 tbsp - water

For Moothiyas:

1. Put flour and rice in a large bowl.
2. Press out bottle gourd well, add to bowl.
3. Add spinach, chilli, salt.
4. Mix lightly to form a rough lump.
5. Shape portions of mixture into long 1 inch wide long cylinders.
6. You could either bake this in oven or steam it like dhokla for 25 mins.
7. Serve piping hot with curds, OR
8. Cool and cut into 1” thick slices.

To Proceed Before Serving:

1. Heat a nonstick pan, add all sauces and water.
2. Add ginger, garlic, salt it required, bring to a boil.
3. Add chopped slices of spring onions, toss well.
4. Serve hot and fresh with sauce or chutney or curds.

Sprouts Pulav

You Need
1 cup rice
1 cup sprouts
2 cups milk/coco milk
whole garam masala-cloves,cinnamon,peppercorns,cumin,bay leaf etc
2 green chillies
2 tbsp oil
1 onion finely chopped
1 tsp GGP
salt to taste

Heat oil in cooker.
Splutter garam masala in oil.
Add onions and saute till golden.
Add GGP.
Add sprouts.
Add rice.
Add milk and salt.
Pressure cook for a whistle n turn off. Open only after all the steam exhausts.

Baigan Fry

For those who think brinjal is a strict no no! or a yikes!!! this is an tongue opener :P

You Need
Brinjal : 1 large about 200gms.
Potato : 1 medium about 50 gms peeled and cut into small pieces
Tomato : 1 chopped
Garlic : 4 cloves shredded
Corriandar leaves : 1 bunch chopped
Coriander powder:2 tsp
Cummin seeds : 1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp
Sugar : 1/2 tsp
Oil : 4 tsp
Chilli powder & Salt to taste

Wash and cut brinjal into medium sized pieces.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add cumin seeds and allow to splutter.
Add garlic and saute till golden.
Add potatoes and after 2 mins add brinjals.
Add salt,sugar, chilli n turmeric powder.
Saute well till the veggies r tender.Keep the lid closed and stir occasionally.
Add tomatoes and coriander powder.
Saute for few mins and switch off.
Garnish with coriander leaves.

My tip : Instead of garlic cloves u cud as well add GGP.It tastes gr8 too.Just that if u use GGP,instead of adding it to oil directly add it to the potato-brinjal mix when half done.

Vangi Bhaat

This ones a maharashtrian trad..
You Need
1 huge or 3-4 small brinjals
1 cup mixed veggies of your choice
5-6 cashewnuts
1 tbsp gram dal
2 tbsp grated coconut
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 cup rice
2 tbsp sambhar powder
2 green chillie vertically slit
a pinch of turmeric powder
1 tbsp tamarind concentrate
1 tsp jaggery(optional)

Cook rice so that each grain is separate
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan.
Add mustard seeds.Allow to splutter.
Add green chillies.
Add gram dal and saute for a min.
Add coconut.Saute just till its golden brown and remove this mix from the pan.
Heat the other tbsp of oil.
Add all veggies n brinjal.Add turmeric and saute till veggies r tender.
Add tamarind and jaggery.
Now add the coco mix and cooked rice.
Mix well and serve with onion raita.

Gobi Manchurian

You Need

1 caulifower cut into beautiful florets
1 small bunch spring onoin finely chopped
2 tsp. ginger finely chopped
1 tsp. garlic finely chopped
1/4 cup plain flour
3 tbsp. cornflour
1/4 tsp. red chilli powder
2 red chillies, dry
3 tbsp. oil
1 1/2 cups water
1 tbsp. milk
2 tbsp soy sauce

Boil the florettes for 3-4 minutes in plenty of water, to which a tbsp. of milk has been added.
Drain and pat dry on a clean cloth.
Make thin batter out of flour and 2 tbsp.cornflour, adding 1/4 tsp. each of ginger and garlic and red chilli powder and salt to taste.
Dip the florettes in the batter one by one and deep fry in hot oil. Keep aside.
Heat a tbsp oil, add remaining ginger, garlic and crushed red chilli and fry for a minute.

Add salt and spring onions.

Stir fry for a minute. Add 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil.
Add 1 tbsp. cornflour to 1/4 cup normal water and dissolve well.
Gradually add to the gravy and stir continuously till it resumes boiling.
Boil till the gravy becomes transparent. Add florettes and soya sauce.

Boil for two more minutes and remove.
Serve hot with noodles or rice.

Chocolate Mountain Cake

I made this for my hubby's bday..Here goes the recipe..

You Need
2 cups sugar
1 3/4th cup all purpose flour
3/4th cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
1 cup boiling water
2 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp salt
1 packets M&Ms
1 bar Hershey's chocolate

Mix sugar,all purpose flour,cocoa powder,baking powder,baking soda,salt.
Beat eggs with vanilla extract.
Put the dry mix, eggs, veg oil, milk, boiling water in a blender and blend for 5 mins.
The mixture will be flowy liquid.
Now grease 4 microwaveable boxes of reducing shape to form steps.
Place the mix in all the boxes so that each oh them would come out to be of equal height.
Microwave the largest box for 5 mins. And then reduced a minute for each box.
Take care that you dont microwave longer than required...else cake would dry out. Insert a butter knife and check that it comes out clean.That is an indication that it is done.
Once done, allow them to cool for 15 mins.
Invert each of them.
Now place the largest base cake and apply frosting(recipe down the line) to cover the area of the smaller step.
Repeat the above process till you reach the tip of the mountain.
Decorate with M&M's as you like.
Now grate the Hershey choc bar and place the choco chips around the cake. Believe me, this adds a great taste.


For the Frosting
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup cocoa
3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa
Add sugar,milk and vanilla.
Blend or beat on medium speed.



My Tip - Add a tsp coffee to the frosting. This would give a great coffee flavour.

Corn Palak

Let me add a point here..This is an iron rich recipe, thnx 2 lots of spinach in it.Very imp 4 women..n yeah delicious too..

You Need
1 cup chopped spinach leaves
1 cup tender corn kernels
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
1 tsp GGP
1/2 cup tomato puree
salt to taste
2 green chillies vertically slit
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp mustard and cumin seeds each
1 tbsp milk cream

Boil spinach for 5 mins.
Drain, cool down n blend to make a puree.
Boil corn kernel for 5 mins.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add mustard and cumin seeds.allow to splutter.
Add green chillies.
Saute onions till golden brown.
Add GGP
Add tomato puree and saute till it leaves oil.
Add spinach puree and corn.
Add salt and simmer for 5 mins.
Switch off the flame and add lemon juice.
Mix well and cover.
While serving add a spoonful smooth cream and just whirl it once. This decorates and improves the taste too.

Tip :
Reuse the water used for boiling spinach to boil corn. Once done with that use this water to clean the blender with puree remnants and add it to the gravy. This water contains all nutrients, so never throw it away.

Corn Sandwich

You Need
8 slices of sandwich bread
1 cup corn kernels
1 cup milk
1 tbsp plain flour
1/2 cup cheese
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp pepper
2 green chillies chopped ultra fine
1tsp oil
1 tsp lemon juice

Microwave corn for 2 mins.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add plain flour and saute just till it changes colour slightly.Do not overdo or let it burn.
Add milk n let cook till it thickens slightly.
Add cheese.
Once it melts add corn,salt,sugar,pepper,green chillies and lemon juice.
Simmer for 2 mins and switch off.
Butter slices of bread.
Place the mix in between bread slices and put in sandwich maker.
Delicious corn sandwich is ready.

Salad Surprise

Its a surprise coz with each bite it tastes different..n u wud b wondering what the content is.

You Need
1 carrot grated
1 tomato chopped fine
1/2 onion chopped fine
1 cup corn steamed
1 cup peas steamed
1 orange peeled
1tsp salt
1 tsp butter

Mix all the above ingredients and serve cold.

Corn Peas Pulav

You Need
1 cup corn
1 cup peas
1.5 cups basmati rice
garam masala powder or whole garam masala like bay leaves,cinnamon,coriander seeds,cloves,pepper etc
1/2 cup onion chopped fine
1 tsp GGP
2 green chillies
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Boil Rice little less cooked than regular ones.
Heat oil in a pan
If you have whole GM add all of them.
Add onions.Saute till golden brown.
Add GGP.
Add peas n corn.
Add salt and garam masala if u r using powder.
Let cook till peas n corn are tender.
Cool down the rice so that all grains are separate. Add the above mix and steam for a minute before serving.
Couple this up with a nice raita.

My tip- Add a drop of oil or ghee to rice before cooking.This helps separate grains.

Alu Ka Seera

You Need
2 huge potatoes boiled,peeled and mashed
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup pure ghee

Heat ghee in a pan
Add the potatoes and fry till golden
Add sugar and simmer for 2 mins.
Serve hot

Cabbage Sabzi

You Need

1/2 cabbage copped fine.
2 tomatoes chopped in cubes.
2 tspoons oil
1 stalk curry leaves.
1 tspoon each mustard and cumin seeds.
2 green chillies vertically slit.
1 tspoon each red chilli powder, turmeric powder.
3 tspoons coriander powder
2 tspoons salt
1/4 cup chopped cilantro/coriander leaves.

Heat oil in a deep frying pan.
Add mustard and cumin seeds.Allow to splutter.
Add green chillies and curry leaves.
Add cabbage and tomatoes.
Cover the lid and let cook for 10 mins.
Add turmeric powder,salt,red chilli powder,coriander powder.
Mix well and cover for 10 mins.
Remove from heat and add the chopped cilantro/coriander leaves.
Serve with indian bread.

Indian Bread

This one is specially for my friend Patricia.

You Need
2 cups wheat flour.
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
3/4 cup water

Process
Mix flour, salt and 1/2 spoon ghee. Knead a soft dough with water of proper consistency.The dough shouldnt be too hard or too soft. Let soak for 15 mins.
Apply little ghee on your palms. Make ping pong balls of the dough.
Apply dry flour around the balls and roll on a flat surface with rollint pin just till it becomes flat.
Apply little ghee on the surface.
Fold it into a semicircle and refold it to make a triangle shape so that there are four layers now.
Apply dry flour on both the sides and spread it to make a thin bread.Keep applying flour in between so that it is not sticky and you can spread it smoothly and evenly in all directions.
Heat a flat surface pan with low edges.Maintain medium heat.
Place the bread on the pan.When slightly cooked,flip and apply ghee on both the sides.
Serve with Indian curries.

Goan Potato Curry

You Need

1 large coconut, scraped, (Ready made coco-milk is also fine)
2 tbsp. coconut grated coarsely
2 green chillies
2 red chillies
4 flakes garlic peeled
1 large potato boiled
1 cup mixed boiled vegetables
2 tomatoes, boiled, pureed, strained
1 capsicum chopped into chunks
2 onions chopped
1 tbsp. coriander finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh cream
5-6 cashews
1" stick cinnamon
2 cloves
1 bayleaf
2-3 peppercorns
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
1/2 tsp. mustards seeds
salt to taste
2 tbsp. ghee or oil

Dry roast cinnamon, pepper, cloves, bayleaf and cumin.
Grind to a fine powder, keep aside.
Stirfry onion in 1 tsp. ghee, till transparent.
Stirfry grated coconut in 1 tsp. ghee till browned lightly.
Grind coconut with 2 cups water, strain to get a thick milk.
Grind together tomato, red chilli, half of fried onions, fried coconut, garlic to a paste.
Grind cashews to a powder, keep aside.
Heat remaining, ghee, fry potato chunks till golden, drain keep aside.
Fry capsicums, drain keep aside.
Add mustard seeds, allow to splutter.
Add mixed veggies, stir for a minute, add ground spices and mix.
Add fried onions, ground paste, cashew powder, coconut milk,salt and stir till it starts to boil.
Add fried potatoes and capsicum, simmer to thicken.
Stir in fresh cream, garnish with chopped coriander, serve hot.

I got this from a site n tried it yest.If u r going 4 this remm 2 things,
Follow the recipe as written(i got amazing results by this).
Prefer using ghee instead of oil for this recipe. That really makes a lot of difference in taste.

I had a ball of a time eating this..the taste lingers 4ever :)

Gatte ka Pulav

You Need

1 cup rice basmati
1/4 cup boiled peas
2 bay leaves(tez patta), 3-4 cloves
1" stick cinnamon
2 cardamons, 1 stalk curry leaves
1 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp dhania powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
salt to taste
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp cashews
2 tbsp ghee (or oil)
1/2 cup gatta pieces
1 tbsp each cumin and mustard
seeds

For Gattas
1/2 cup gram flour
1/2 tbsp oil
Chilli powder, salt to taste

For Gatta
Mix flour, oil, chilli powder, salt and
cumin seeds, add 1 tbsp water.
Make a hard dough. Break off a
piece and roll into shape and size of
a finger.
Put plenty of water to boil.
Submerge gattas (the rolls) and
boil till done. (About 1/2 hour)
Drain, cool and chop into round 1-1
1/2 cm. long. Keep aside.

For Rice
Boil rice in plenty of water. Each
grain should be separate.
Heat ghee in kadai (pan).
Add mustard and cumin seeds, cashews,
bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon,
cardamons and curry leaves.
Add gattas and peas.
Add masalas, lemon juice and salt.
Stir fry till ghee separates. Add to
the rice.
Mix slowly and well. Heat either in oven or
cooker for 2-3 mins.
Garnish with coriander.
Serve hot with curds or kadhi.

Sol Kadhi

This is a konkan style refreshing drink..dunno y its called kadhi as there is no curds or gram flour invloved..doesnt matter..wht matters is the delicious drink

You Need
7-8 kokam pieces
1 cup coconut milk
1 tspoon GGP
1 tspoon salt
1 green chilli crush
1 tspoon sugar (optional)
chopped coriander leaves

Soak kokam pieces for an hr.
extract the juice and add to coconut milk.
add ggp,salt,chilli and leaves.
i like it lil sweet so i add sugar too.

Serve cold. I generally couple this with pulavs or khichdis.

Egg Frankie

Thinking of a Sunday dinner that is something different and appealing...Any clues???

You Need
6 eggs
1 cup maida
1 cup wheat flour
2 cups chopped veggies of ur choice - cabbage,carrots,brocolli,mushrooms,onions,potatoes
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tspoon chilli sauce
2 tspoons salt
1 tspoon GGP
2 tablespoons oil

Knead maida,wheat flour,a pinch salt and 1 tspoon oil into a smooth dough. Ideally this is made of just maida but i combine it with wheat flour to make it healthier.
Heat oil in a pan.
Saute onions till golden brown.
Add GGP.
Add all veggies and cook till soft.
Add salt,soy sauce n chilly sauce.

Beat the eggs and add salt and red chilly powder.
Make 6 omelettes
Make 6 chapatis from maida-wheat dough.
Place one omellete over chapati. Place 1 spoonful of veggies on the omelette. Make a roll out of.
Tasty tasty frankie is ready.

Apple Walnut Pie

You Need
1 egg
1/2 cup maida/plain flour
1 cup chopped apple
1/2 cup copped walnuts
1/4 cup sugar
1tspoon vanilla extract
1tspoon baking powder
1/2 tspoon salt


Mix baking powder maida n salt.
Beat egg and mix sugar and vanilla extract.
add the maida mix to this n beat till smooth.
add apple n walnut pieces
grease a tin and fill in the above mix
heat in a preheated oven at 350F for 10 mins
Serve hot

Stuffed Mushrooms

You Need
10 large mushrooms
1 potato mashed
1 onion chopped fine
turmeric,red chilli n garam masala
salt
1 tspooon lemon juice
1 tablespoon oil

get set go!
Wash and Destem mushrooms
heat oil in a pan
add onions n suate till brown
add potato and all masalas,lemon juice n salt
stuff in the mushrooms and microwave for 5 mins
serve with chapatis

Black Currant smoothie

The process is lil wierd but i made this a couple of time n love it

You Need
Black grapes 1 cup
chilled milk 1 cup
1 tablespoon milk cream
2 spoons yoghurt
1 tablespoon sugar

boil/microwave grapes in lil water for 5 mins
allow to cool n then blend
add milk,youghurt,sugar,milk cream and blend for 5 mins
black currant smoothie is ready.
u cud top this up with ice cream or whip cream

Fruits in Dip

Fruity creamy yummy,.......

You need
i bowl cut fresh fruits of ur choice
my choice would be red seedless grapes,apple,banana,peach,kiwis,pineapple
1 cup very very think yoghurt
1/3 cup milk
1 cup whipped cream
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon honey

mix yoghurt,milk,cream,honey,sugar well to remove any lumps
mix fruits n serve chilled

if u want to keep it as separate dip n eat, cut fruits into larger pieces and place in a separate plate n let the dip b in the bowl.

Summer cooler - cold veg soup

With summer aroud the corner dry throats r always hanging.....
whenever i make single dish dinners like noodles,khichdis or pulavs i need sth 2 drink with it. In this season soups r out of question..its already so hot.. try drinking the soup chilled..i know it may sound strange but bliv me...try it once..i liked it instantly..

You need
1 cup of chopped mix veggies-choice is yours- i tuk broccolli (its my personal favourite for soups n salads),cabbage,carrot,mushroom,potato,onion.
salt,pepper
1 tspoon maida/plain flour
1 tspoon corn flour
1/4 cup milk
1 tspoon butter

ready in 5 mins
pressure cook or microwave veggies till properly cooked
blend as u need..if u want soup to be coarse blend 4 a lesser time else make fine paste.
mix cornflour in cold water to form a liquid paste.
heat butter in a pan
add maida n saute till it starts changing to brown.
add the cornflour paste n cook till it boils
add milk n cook till it boils
add the veggies mix
add as much water u want..if u wanna drink it like a juice add lots of water..n if u wanna sip it like soup add less water
add salt n pepper
refrigerate n serve chilled.

tht was a healthy summer drink n thirst quenching too.

Muli ka takku

Here comes sth for the pickle lovers..
personally i dont like raddish except in 2 things - muli ka paratha and muli ka takku
takku is a kind of pickle made of finely grated raddish or raw mango.

You need
1 raddish
2 table spoons mustard powder
1 tspoon each mustard n cumin seeds
1 tspoon turmeric n salt
2 tspoons red chilli powder
2 table spoon oil
Bas 5 min
peel n grate raddish fine.
mix lil salt n keep for around 10 mins
till then heat oil in a pan
add mc seeds n allow to splutter
let the oil cool
add turmeric,salt,chilli and mustard powder
squeeze raddish till the last drop of juice comes out..show ur muscle power :P
mix it in the oil n masala mix.
all set..it tastes gr8 with hot rice and lots of ghee :)
in summer its preferable to refrigerate it. it stays for around 10-15 days.

health tip- do not throw away the raddish juice tht u squeezed out. use it in kneading dough 4 chapatis or as water to cook rice..bliv me it doesnt mk much diff in the regular taste n u r nt wasting the valuable juice.

Mujadarah

Surprised by the name ??
That is a mediterranean term for Masoor daal khichdi. I have cooked this khichdi for years but gotta know the term recently from a resto here. Used that name just to spice it up :)

You Need
1 cup whole masoor daal (red gram)
1 cup rice
1 huge onion
1 whole red chillies
GGP
2 table spoons garam masala
1 tspoon salt and turmeric
1 table spoon oil
1/2 cup yoghurt

Soak masoor dal for 6-8 hrs
soak rice for 1 hr
put oil in cooker n heat on low flame
saute red chillies n onions till golden brown
add youghurt n cook till it boils
add GGP.
put daal n rice
add water an inch above the mixture level.
add garam masala,salt and turmeric
cook with weight till one whistle.
lower the flame or 5 mins and then turn off.
open only after steam escapes completely
you could garnish this with chopped coriander leaves n 1 table spoon ghee.

i generally couple this with my style gujju kadhi. so u have something to sip occasionally b/w delicious bites of the mujadarah.
ok recipe 4 the gujju kadhi is also coming soon :)

Daal Makhni

This is gud dish to be prepared when u have guests at home n couple it up with jeera rice.

You Need
2 cups black urad dal
1/2 cup rajma (kidney beans)
1/2 cup chana dal
puree of 2 tomatoes
1 cup yoghurt
2 tablespoons oil
2 whole red chillies
1 tablespoon each of coriander powder,turmeric,garam masala
1 table spoon fresh cream or butter
1 table spoon ginger garlic paste (GGP)
1 table spoon mustard n cumin seeds (MCS)
kick off
soak all dals n rajma for 6-8 hrs. you could as well make it instant..but soaking increases the volume,reduces cooking time and when cooked daal is more consistent than it wud have been without soaking.
pressure cook all 3 till 2 whistles
heat oil in a pan
put MCS n allow to splutter.
add red chillies.
add tomato puree n cook till it separates oil at the corners of the pan
add GGP
stir n add yoghurt/curds
stir till it boils
add the daal mix n rest of masalas.
bring to boil.
top up chopped coriander leaves.
swirl this with fresh cream or butter before serving.

Ready to serve :)

Virgin PinaColada

b4 the first time i made this refreshing cooler i never thot i cud do this at home..but yeah...its POSSIBLE..n bliv me its simple too..

You Need
1 cup fresh cut pineapple
1 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup ice


Just blend everything in a blender and your fav mocktail is ready.
Now ppl who drink alcohol cud add 1/2 cup martini to this one n remove the word "virgin" from it.
ok i am going to my patio 2 sip a tall glass of it.

Eggless Chocolate Sponge Cake

I love baking cakes n cookies..Its so much fun to check out of the oven wht happened???

You Need
1/2 tin condensed milk (200gms)
2 3/4 cups plain flour (240gms)
40 gm cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda (soda bicarb)
2 tsp icing sugar
1/2 cup butter melted (60gms)
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
100 ml milk
100 ml Coke or Thums Up


Sieve flour, baking powder, baking soda,
sugar, cocoa all together 2 to 3 times.
Keep aside.
Pour condensed milk in a bowl. Add the
butter, and beat well till smooth. Add Vanilla essence.Add the
flour spoon by spoon, mixing into the
condensed milk mixture. In between,
add milk as required if the butter begins
to get too stiff. [Stir the mixture in one
direction only all the while. This will
incorporate more air and make the cake
lighter].
Once all the flour is used up, beat the
batter as above till light (5-7 minutes).
Add the coke or Thums Up and mix
gently till smooth.
Pour into a greased cake tin. Do not
smooth with a spoon etc. If the consistency
is right this will not be needed.
Pre-heat over to 300o c. Place tin inside.
Bake at 200o c for 5-7 minutes and
150o c till done. (35 to 40 minutes).

My Tip :-
You can top this with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Remember this would be yummy when the cake is still hot :)
choc sauce is quite easy to prepare - just add 3 spoons cocoa powder to hot water n heat for a while.
Ok next time i am gonna post a cake recipe that includes eggs.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Wonder how simple n quick it is to make the delicious garlic bread u can eat endlessly

You need
Bread(sandwich/plain) preferably white
grated cheese
garlic salt (u can find this in walmart/sams)

SAII (Simple as it is)

toast the bread in toaster for 2 minutes
spread cheese overloaded to get tht thick layer
sprinkle garlic salt evenly all over
microwave for 10 seconds till the cheese melts
you can couple this with a soup..
ok thtz coming soon :)

for weight watchers
u cud exclude the cheese n just apply lil low-fat butter

Walnut - Chocolate Cookies

time for some snacky cookies

You need
800 gms. plain flour
200 gms. walnuts, powdered coarsely
2 tbsp cocoa powder
500 gms. sugar powdered
500 gms. solidified ghee dalda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1-2 tbsp. warm milk if required
1/2 cups broken bits of chocolates

ok lets do it
If ghee if not solidified, then refrigerate for some time.Take in a large deep plate,
run in circular direction with a flat palm.
Rub enough to make ghee white, fluffy and light.Sieve baking powder, cocoa
powder with flour. Add sugar to ghee and mix till light.
Fold in sieved flours, walnut powder till well mixed. Sprinkle some milk if dough
seems too dry to hold.
Mix with a light hand. Do not knead too much . Coarse
dough will make better and lighter cookies.
Shape in small rounds, arrange on baking sheet. Preheat oven to 200oC, before
putting in cookies.
Press on chocolate bit on each cookie in centre. Bake at 180oC for 7-8 minutes
or till very light golden.
Remove, cool on a wire mesh or rack till completely cooled. Store in airtight
container, in dry place.
Remm not to disturb the cookies when they r hot..as they r very brittle.also add more choc chips it tastes yum!!

Pasta in Alfredo sauce

All the italian food lovers........
you need
2 cups pasta in penne/spagetti form
white alfredo sauce(if u dont hv this, u can mk it easily at home...vil post a recipe later)
basil leaves (optional)
1 carrot grated
1 potato boiled and grated
1/2 cup grated cheese
salt
1 dried red chilly coarsely powdered (optional)
1 tablespoon butter (soft)

Simple n str8
boil pasta in water with lil salt n oil for 15 mins approx.
strain and mix with alfredo sauce.
add a pinch salt and red chilly.
mix well n place in a deep microwavable bowl.
mix the grated potato,carrot n butter.
decorate this on top of the pasta mixture
spread cheese to cover the mix
microwave till cheese turns slightly brown
serve with bread/rolls.

i loved this one

Noodle Wrap

For those who love some chinese n want it in a lil diff way

You Need
chinese noodles 200 gms
veggies- cabbage,carrots,beans,bean sprouts,onions 1/2 cup each chopped vertical n slender
soy sauce
chilli sauce-if u dont hv this use green chillies instead
ginger-garlic paste(ggp)
salt to taste

all-purpose flour/maida
curds
salt
1/2 tspoon baking soda
salt

For the wrap
knead maida,baking soda,salt,curds in a soft dough. use lil warm water if reqd.
cover n let be for 2-3 hrs

For the noodles
boil 1/2 ltr water in a pot with some salt n 1/2 tspoon oil added.
half-cook noodles in this n strain once done.
run the noodles thru cold water and strain.

take 3 tspoons oil in a pan.
add green chillies and onions. saute on high flame.
add ggp and all other veggies after onions r slightly brown.
once veggies r cooked, add noodles,soy sauce and salt.
mix them well. cook with cover for 2 mins n switch off stove.

heat 300 ml oil in a frying pan.
make pin pong balls out of the dough.
roll them to make squares of medium size.
place the noodles and close the squares in shape of an envelope.
use water to close the sides and keep aside for two minutes.
deep fry in oil and serve with ketchup.

SPDP

non-puneites stop guessing i vil tell u whtz SPDP -Sev Puri Dahi Puri
this is my version of whtever kinda chaat u say..papdi chaat or sev puri or dahi puri..:P
one short term here
TP - cut into tiny pieces like wht u need 4 a chaat
You Need
1 potato bolied TP
1 onion TP
1 tomato TP
tamarind sauce - puree of tamarind n lil salt,red chilli n sugar added to tht
1 cup yoghurt
2 table spoons chaat/panipuri masala
2 cups nylon sev
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
10-15 Tostitos - ok this is a kind of tortilla.it comes in a scoop form. if u dont get this u cud as well make small puris of semolina/rava and top things up.
my tip - use broken puris from the panipuri packet.

Get rolling
arrange the tostitos in a plate.
put lil of each - potato,onion,tomato.
put 1/2 teaspoon of tamarind sauce,yoghurt in each tostito.
sprinkle chaat masala, sev and coriander evenly across the puris..
all set..a gr8 evening snack is ready :)

Daal Baati

Daal Baati is a marwadi entree made on festivals.

You need
200 grams of wheat flour
2 table spoons rava/semolina
salt to taste
300 grams of pure ghee
1 tea spoon ajwain
1 tspoon baking soda

50 grams each of
green (split) moong dal
black (split)urad dal
yellow chana dal
tur dal
yellow moong dal
lemon juice
salt
2 red chillies (whole)
1 tspoon red chilli powder
2 tspoons garam masala powder
2 tspoons dhaniya powder (coriander)
mustard n cumin seeds
1/2 tspoons turmeric powder
a pinch asafeotida/hing

Daal :
wash and soak dals for 3-4 hours.
pressure cook for 3 whistles.
heat oil in kadhai/pan, let mustard n cumin seeds splutter.
add hing/asofeatida.
add whole red chillies.
add the cooked dal mixture.
add all other spices mentioned above and let boil for 15 mins.
you may add lil whipped cream or ghee in before serving. that gives a delicious treat.
Thtz it!! daal is ready simple isnt it??

Baati
here comes the tougher part...
mix wheat flour,rava,ajwain,salt and baking powder well.
warm and pour 75 grams of ghee to the mix and knead the dough well.use some warm water to make it smooth. if you prepare chapatis you know the consistency of the dough. this one needs to be lil harder than the chapati dough.
cover and keep for 10 mins.
preheat grill oven (not microwave,i never tried in mc n nt sure whether it works with tht) at 400F
make ping size balls of the dough n press lil in the center so tht it flattens lil. do not press it too much to make a cookie. well, i vil upload a pic of how it looks and u vil get an idea.
place these balls on the baking sheet and bake at 400F till golden brown in colour. approx 20 mins.
dip the baatis when done in rest of the pure ghee.

how to eat:
when serving take 2 baatis at a time and crush lil in ur plate. pur dal over it n relish the taste :)
weight watchers may drain the ghee n serve else it tastes better with lots of ghee in the plate.
now there is a set of other cookeries made with daal baati called gatte ki sabzi and choorma.
recipes for these r "Coming Soon!!"

The First One

The Story behind how this blog started
Special Thanks to my love for cooking n trying out new recipes. What is prepared 2-3 times is registered in my RAM, but there r some recipes u hv 2 keep coming bac 2. I had 2 file this smwhere. Instead of calling mom everytime (calls 2 india hv the time constraints)
or googling y nt maintain my cookbook. And then i thot y nt blog as u all may read it n like it..n then experiment it in ur lab as well. This is a gr8 ans 2 my q most of the evenings - aaj khane mein kya banaye??
This is a very specialised category running across multiple cuisines depending on wht satisfies my palate. My major interests are in Marwadi (yeah thats a cuisine), NorthIndian, South Indian (thnks to my telugu ex-roomy n my best fren ever).
Some of maharashtrian , italian and thai are my faves too.
Futures n Options (thtz a term from stocks) consider mexican.

Warnings
There is no guarantee the recipes might work well for (if u r ever going 2 try them).If they do, comment ur feedback.All The Best :)