Thumbprint cookies

Thumbprint cookies filled with jam of your choice makes a great tea time goodie...

Ingredients:

Salted butter:75 grams

Icing sugar:90 grams

Self-raising flour:90 grams

Custard powder:90 grams

Vanilla essence:1/8 spoon

Baking powder:1/8 spoon

Milk:50 ml

Mixed fruit jam:50 grams

Preparation:

Take a bowl and first add butter and mash it and then add icing sugar and mix them thoroughly..

Now add baking powder in the self-raising flour and then add them to the bowl and again mix all the contents well..

Now add custard powder and then the vanilla essence..

Finally add the milk and mix thoroughly until it becomes a smooth dough..

Keep the preapred dough aside for about 10 minutes..

Take a oven tray and grease it with little butter on its surface and spray some self-raising flour also on it..

Now take a small quantity of the prepared dough and make small balls and place them on the tray…

Press the balls with your thumb one by one until your thumbprint creates a print on each of them..

Keep the tray in the oven and bake them for 5 minutes at 180 degrees C…

Now take the tray out and put small quantity of jam in the dips of thumbprints and again bake them for 15 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees C…

Carrot cake

Carrot cake is a delicious cake..Try making this at home and enjoy every bite..

Ingredients:

Eggs:4

Vegetable oil:1 and ¼ cups

White sugar:2 cups

Vanilla extract:2 tsp

All purpose flour:2 cups

Baking soda:2 tsp

Baking powder:2 tsp

Salt:1/2 tsp

Ground cinnamon:2 tsp

Grated carrots:3 cups

Butter:1/2 cup,softened

Preparation:

Preheat an oven to 175 degrees C…

Grease and flour a baking pan…

In a large bowl beat together eggs,oil,white sugar and vanilla…

Mix in flour,baking soda,baking powder,salt and cinnamon…

Stir in the carrots…

Now pour this in the prepared baking pan..

Bake this in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in to the centre of the cake comes out clean…

Let it cool for 10 minutes and then turn out on to the wire rack and cool…

Enjoy the carrot cake…

Cabbage pakoda

Cabbage pakoda - Ever tried making pakodas with cabbage??Try this version and enjoy with a cup of chaai!

Ingredients:

Cabbage:200 grams,chopped

Gram flour:2 tbsp

Mint leaves,curry leaves:1/4 cup,chopped

Ginger-garlic paste:1/2 tsp

Red chilli powder:1/2 tsp

Garam masala powder:1/4 tsp

Coriander powder:1/4 tsp

Salt to taste

Oil for frying

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients except cooking oil in a bowl until it becomes a paste by adding little water and keep this aside..

Keep a pan on the stove and pour the oil and heat it..

Once the oil is hot,shape the mix as small balls and deep fry until they turn in to brown colour on medium flame…

Transfer these fried pakodas on to a plate..

Remove excess oil by placing these pakodas on tissue papers..

Enjoy the hot cabbage pakodas!!

Related recipes:

Cauliflower pakoda

Onion pakoda

Bread pakoda

Bonda

Dry fish curry - Karuvaadu kulambu - Onnakameen curry

Dry fish curry is enjoyed with hot rice..My mother loves it..i like it fried though!

Dry king fish:200 grams

Brinjal:4,small,slit on top

Cumin seeds:1 tsp

Fenugreek  seeds:1 tsp

Coconut milk:1/2 cup

Coriander powder:1 tbsp

Turmeric powder:1/4 tbsp

Cumin powder:1/4 tbsp

Pepper powder:1/4 tbsp

Red chilli powder:1/2 tbsp

Onion:1,chopped

Tomato:1,chopped

Green chilli:1

Few curry leaves

Gingelly oil:little

Salt to taste

Preparation:

Wash the dry fish in lukewarm water and keep it aside..

Heat a pan and add the gingelly oil..

When hot add the cumin seeds,fenugreek seeds,curry leaves and chopped onion..

Saute onion till golden brown and then add chopped tomato and smash it well..

Now add brinjal as whole and all the powders one by one and saute the mixture well..

Add green chilli and dry fish and let the curry  cook for a few minutes..

Finally add coconut milk and a small amount of salt as dry fish already has salt..

Let it boil for 3 minutes..

Enjoy the dry fish curry with hot rice!!

Hot chocolate souffle

Hot chocolate souffle is a yummy dessert that everybody loves..Dig in to the chocolate souffle and enjoy!

Ingredients:

Sugar:1/4 cup

Bittersweet chocolate:8 ounces

Unsalted butter:6 tbsp

Heavy cream:2 tbsp

Egg yolks:4,large

Egg whites;7,large

Cream of tartar:1/4 tsp

Vanilla:1 tsp

Pinch of salt

Preparation:

Butter six souffle cups and coat with sugar…

Finely chop the chocolate..

In a small saucepan melt the butter over low heat..

Add cream and bring just to a boil..

Remove pan from heat and add chocolate …

Keep stirring until smooth..

Transfer this mixture to a large bowl and stir in the yolks…

In another large bowl beat the egg whites with an electric beater along with cream of tartar and a pich of salt until they hold stiff peaks..

Now gradually add the sugar and beat well until combined..

Stir one fourth whites in to chocolate mixture first and combine…

 Then fold in the remaining whites and combine well..

Divide the souffle mixture among small ramekins or souffle bowls and smooth the tops with a knife…

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F..

Bake souffles on a baking sheet for 20 minutes till the surfaces are puffed and cracked…

You can add some whipped cream on top if you desire…

Enjoy the hot chocolate souffle!!

Related recipes:

Easy chocolate cake

Homemade chocolate ice cream

Chocolate fudge brownie

Mocha truffles

Chocolate fudge

Chocolate tart

Mushroom garlic gravy

Mushroom garlic gravy is a great side dish for rotis,paranthas and rice..

Ingredients:

Tinned mushrooms:250 grams

Garlic:8 pods,half sliced and half ground to paste

Onion:1,medium,finely chopped

Tomato:1,medium,finely chopped

Green chilli:3,finely chopped

Cashews:8

Garam masala:1/2 tsp

Cumin powder:1/4 tsp

Turmeric powder:1/4 tsp

Oil:2 tsp

Water:2 cups

Salt to taste

Kasoori methi:1/2 tsp

Preparation:

Boil the cashews in little water for a few minutes and grind them in to a fine paste…

Heat the oil in a sauce pan..

Add the chopped garlic and fry..

Add chopped onion and fry till light brown..

Then add the garlic paste and chopped green chillies and fry for some time..

Now add the chopped tomato and fry till the oil starts leaving the mixture…

Now add the turmeric powder,cumin powder,salt and garam masala powder and fry for little time…

Slice the mushrooms vertically and fry them gently in the above mixture for 5 minutes…

Add 2 cups of lukewarm water to the pan and cover it..

Let it simmer for 10 minutes..

Lastly add the cashew paste and kasoori methi and heat the curry for another 2 minutes…

Serve hot with rotis,paranthas or rice…

Egg halwa

Egg halwa can be made easily with this recipe..Enjoy the easy breezy egg halwa!

Ingredients:

Bread crumbs:1 cup,powdered

Eggs:2

Milk:1 glass

Sugar:1 cup

Ghee:4 tbsp

Cardamom powder:1 tsp

Preparation:

Powder bread crumbs in a mixer…

In a pan put the ghee and let it melt..

Add the powdered bread crumbs and roast on low heat until golden brown..

In a bowl whisk together the eggs,sugar,milk and cardamom powder…

Add this mixture to the bread crumbs and stir well until smooth and thick in consistency…

Enjoy the egg halwa!!

Dates delight - Dates biscuits - No bake dates biscuits

These Dates biscuits are easy to make as it does not involve any baking..They taste great with the goodness of nuts in them..They are also low in sugar and rich in iron...

Ingredients:

Dates:250 grams

Cashew nuts:1/4 cup,chopped

Almonds:1/4 cup,chopped

Pista:1/4 cup,chopped

Butter:1/2 tbsp

Dessicated coconut:1/4 cup

Preparation:

First remove the seeds from the dates and cut them in to small pieces..

You can use seedless dates also…

Now take the butter in a pan and melt it..

Add the chopped dates in it and warm it..

Keep on smashing and stirring till they become soft…

Now remove from the heat and add the chopped nuts in it..

Mix well and roll in to cylindrical shape..

Finally roll in dessicated coconut…

Keep this in the fridge for atleast 2 to 3 hours..

Cut the prepared cylinder in to thick slices..

Enjoy the dates biscuits..

Related recipes:

Dates halwa

Dum aloo masala

Dum aloo masala is everyone's favorite..Kids love baby potatoes...Goes well even with rice..

Ingredients:

Potatoes:10,small sized

Onions:2,medium,chopped

Tomatoes:3,chopped

Ginger-garlic paste:2 tsp

Green chillies:4,chopped

Yoghurt:1/2 cup

Coriander powder:2 tsp

Jeera powder:1 tsp

Chilli powder:1 tsp

Turmeric powder:1 tsp

Garam masala powder:1 tsp

Kasoori methi:1 tsp

Cashew nuts:6

Salt to taste

Oil for frying

Coriander leaves;1/2 cup

Preparation:

Steam potatoes for about 10 minutes..

Peel potatoes and deep fry them until golden brown..

For the gravy – grind onion,tomatoes,green chillies,cashew nuts,yoghurt and coriander leaves with little water to make a fine paste..

Now in a pan heat about 2 tsp of ghee and add the gravy masala and stir well…

Then add the coriander,turmeric,chilli,jeera and garam masala powders along with ginger-garlic paste and kasoor methi and stir well for 5 minutes…

Now add about half a cup of water and required salt and bring the gravy to boil..

Add the deep fried potatoes and allow the gravy to simmer for few more minutes..

Enjoy the dum aloo masala…

 Serve with rotis...

Mushroom and tofu stir fry

Mushroom and tofu stir fry goes well with roti or stuffed paranthas..

Ingredients:

Mushrooms:2 cups,sliced

Tofu cubes:1 cup

Cashews:1/4 cup,roasted

Onions:1/4 cup,thinly sliced

Ginger-garlic paste:1 tsp

Garam masala powder:1 tsp

Pepper powder:1/4 tsp

Chilli powder:1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder:1/4 tsp

Oil:1 tbsp

Salt to taste

Preparation:

In a pan roast the tofu cubes by adding few drops of oil and a pinch of chilli powder and keep this aside..

In the same pan add the rest of the oil and mushrooms,ginger-garlic paste,garam masala powder,pepper powder,chilli powder and turmeric powder and salt..

Stir fry for a few minutes till it becomes dry..

Then add the roasted tofu cubes,roasted cashews and stir to mix…

Now serve the mushroom and tofu stir fry and enjoy!

P.S:If you dont like tofu,you can replace it with paneer...:)

Icecream chocolate cake

Icecream chocolate cake - Chocolate cake and vanilla icecream..what a great combo to enjoy...

Ingredients:

Castor sugar:175 grams

Butter:175 grams

Eggs:3

Self-raising flour:175 grams

Cocoa powder:75 grams

Milk:150 ml

Vanilla icecream:500 ml

Pinch of salt

Frozen cherries:125 grams

For the chocolate coating:

Plain chocolate:125 grams

Golden syrup:60 ml

Fresh cream:15 ml

Topping on chocolate coating:

Whipped cream:65 ml

Glazed cherries:few

Preparation:

Cream castor sugar and butter together with an electri beater until light and fluffy..

Add the eggs to the creamed mixture one at a time…

Beat the mixture well …

Sift together the flour,salt and cocoa powder..

Using a wooden spatula fold in the sifted ingredients in to the creamed mixture little at a time alternatively with milk…

Pour the mixture in to a greased 2 litre decorative ring mould..

Microwave on high for 6 to 8 minutes and let it cool…

Now loosen the edges with a knife and turn out on a cooling rack..

Cut off the bottom quarter of the cake and set it aside..

Scoop out the centre of the cake with a spoon…

Now freeze the cake for 1 hour until firm…

Place the icecream in a bowl and microwave at 30 degrees for 1 minute…

Put the cherries in and mix well..

Fill the scooped out space in the cake with this icecream..

Now replace the bottom quarter of the cake that was set aside and turn the cake over..Place in the freezer…

Break the chocolate in to a small bowl and microwave at medium for 4 minutes..

Add the golden syrup and cram to the melted chocolate and spoon over the cake and freeze it again…

Finally decorate the cake with whipped cream and glazed cherries just before serving…

Cut in to slices and enjoy the icecream cake…

Sending this to my microwave recipes

Sweet and sour baked cauliflower

Sweet and sour baked cauliflower makes a great side dish..Who doesnt love cauliflower anyway!!?

Ingredients:

Cauliflower:1,medium

Ghee:5 tbsp

Onion paste:2 tbsp

Ginger-garlic paste:2 tsp

Coconut paste:2 tbsp

Chilli powder:1 tsp

Cashewnut paste:1/2 cup

Garam masala powder:1 tsp

Tomato ketchup:3 tbsp

Tamarind paste:1 tbsp

Yoghurt:2 tbsp

Tomato:1,chopped

Fenugreek seeds:1/4 tsp

Red chilies:4 to 5

Few curry leaves

Sugar:1 tbsp

Turmeric powder:1 tsp

Salt to taste

Preparation:

Cut the stalk of the cauliflower so that you can place it on a plate..

Wash the cauliflower thoroughly…

Marinate the cauliflower with salt and turmeric powder and keep it for half an hour…

Now simmer the cauliflower in hot water till it becomes tender..

Make sure the florets don’t separate..

Heat ghee in a pan and add the curry leaves,red chillies and fenugreek seeds…

After it splutters,add the onion paste and fry for 2 minutes..

Then add the other pastes one by one followed by the garam masala,chilli powder,tomato ketchup and yoghurt..

Now add the chopped tomato,sugar and salt…

Fry till oil seperates from the masala..

Add water as desired..

Now take the whole cauliflower and place it on a baking dish…

Spread the preapared masala mixture over the cauliflower…

You can prick or make tiny incisions on the surface so that the masala goes inside the cauliflower..

Place in a pre-heated oven at 170 degrees for 25 minutes..

Yummy and tasty sweet and sour baked cauliflower is ready!!

Enjoy with rice,pulao or paranthas…

 Sending this to my microwave recipes

Nutty carrot cake squares

Nutty carrot cake squares  can be made easily with this recipe..Indulge in this nutty carrot square and enjoy...

Ingredients:

Carrot:275 grams,grated

Walnuts:100 grams,chopped

Soft margarine:225 grams

Brown sugar:225 grams

Eggs:4,beaten

Self-raising flour:225 grams

Baking powder:1 tsp

Ground cinnamon:1 tsp

For the topping:

Orange juice

Orange rind

Cream cheese:225 grams

Icing sugar:50 grams

Preparation:

In a mixing bowl place all the ingredients and beat together until smooth..

Spoon the mixture in to a greased and floured  8 inch square tin..

Bake this prepared cake mixture in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 45 minutes until the cake is firm and golden..

Now remove zest from orange in to thin strips for topping..

Cut the orange and squeeze for juice..

Beat the cream cheese,icing sugar and enough juice to make a soft icing..

Spread this over the cake roughly..

Cut in to squares and sprinkle the zest on top..

Enjoy the nutty carrot squares…

Sending this to my microwave recipes

Spicy dal idli

Spicy dal idli can be made as a variation to the usual idlis...Easy to make too...

Ingredients 1:

Raw rice:1 cup

Boiled rice:1 cup

Tuvar dhal:1/2 cup

Chana dhal:1/2 cup

Urad dhal:1 tbsp

Wash and soak the above ingredients in water for three hours..

Soak them seperately..

Ingredients 2:

Red chillies:4

Salt to taste

Asafoetida powder:1/2 tsp

Coarsely grind the dhal and rice(ingredients 1)adding water with ingredients 2 to the consistency of idli batter and ferment it for 6 hours…

Ingredients 3:

Grated coconut:1/2 cup

Coriander leaves:1/4 cup

Ingredients 3 to be adding to the batter before making the idlies..

For seasoning:

Ghee:1/2 cup

Mustard seeds:1 tsp

Split urad dhal:2 tsp

Green chillies:3,finely chopped

Few curry leaves

Preparation:

Season the above ingredients in ghee and add it to the batter..

Put the batter in greased idli plates and steam for 10 minutes..

Serve hot with any chutney of your choice…

 

Chicken afritada

Chicken afritada is a healthy way of making chicken dish as the addition of vegetables makes it so...Kids alo will love this new flavour...

Ingredients:

Chicken:1/2 kg,cut in to pieces

Garlic:2 cloves,minced

Onion:1,medium,sliced

Tomatoes:2,medium,diced

Tomato sauce:1/2 cup

Water:1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Fresh green peas:1/2 cup

Potatoes:2,medium,diced

Carrot:1,diced

Fresh button mushrooms:1 cup

Yellow bell pepper:1,medium

Preparation:

Saute garlic till medium brown and add the sliced onions and tomatoes till it turns in to a smooth paste…

Put in the chicken and cook till medium brown..

Blend in the tomato sauce and water..

Now add the salt and simmer for about 15 minutes..

Add in the rest of the vegetables and continue to simmer till the vegetables are cooked..

Serve hot..

Tasty chicken afritada is ready..

Coriander chicken

Coriander chicken can be made at home easily with this recipe...

Ingredients:

Chicken:1 kg

Onions:4,chopped

Tomato:1,chopped

Ginger-garlic paste:4 tbsp

Pepper powder:1 tbsp

Cinnamon sticks:5 to 6

Clove:3 to 4

Fresh coriander leaves:2 to 3

Bay leaves:1 or 2

Red chillies:6

Turmeric powder:1 tsp

Oil

Salt to taste

Preparation:

Heat oil in a pan…

Add bay leaves and chopped onions and saute till onions change colour..

Add ginger-garlic paste and saute for 5 minutes..

Grind the fresh corinader leaves in a mixer to a fine paste and keep this aside..

Powder cinnamon,cloves,red chillies and add this mixture to the onions and fry for another 5 minutes…

Then add the chopped tomato pieces and turmeric powder..

When cooked add the coriander paste and saute for a few minutes…

Finally add the chicken pieces and salt and one cup of water…

Cook till the chicken pieces become tender..

Serve hot with rotis and naans..

Carrot fritters - Carrot pakoda

Carrot fritters - carrot pakoda make a great tea time snack..Carrot pakoda is raining heavily in my place..It is a great snack during rainy days..

Ingredients:

Carrots:3,chopped in to small pieces

Salt to taste

Flour:1 cup

Baking powder:1 tsp

Sugar:1/2 cup

Vanilla:1 tsp

Butter:2 tsp,melted

Egg:1,beaten

Olive oil:1 cup

Preparation:

Cook carrots in a small amount of salted boiling water for about 15 minutes…

The carrots must be tender…

Drain and cool the carrots…

Puree the cooked carrots in a food processor until smooth…

Now combine with the rest of the ingredients except olive oil…

Mix well..

Heat the oil in a pan..

Drop the carrot mixture by a tablespoon in to the oil..

Cook turning once until golden brown..

Drain on oil absorbent paper..

Enjoy the carrot fritters…

Related recipes:

Cauliflower pakoda

Bread pakoda

Oats pakoda