Watermelon Juice..

Watermelon juice. A watermelon contains about 6% sugar and 91% water by weight. As with many other fruits, it is a source of vitamin C. The amino-acid citrulline was first extracted from watermelon and analysed. Watermelons contain a significant amount of citrulline and after consumption of several kilograms, an elevated concentration is measured in the blood plasma; this could be mistaken for citrullinaemia or other urea cycle disorders. Watermelon is mildly diuretic and contains large amounts of carotenoids. Watermelon with red flesh is a significant source of lycopene. Preliminary research indicates the consumption of watermelon may have anti-hypertensive effects... Source from Wikipedia..

Ingredient's.

1 watermelon 

2 to 3tsp sugar (if watermelon is not sweet)

8 to 10 ice cubes

1tsp lemon juice.

Method of Preparation.

Takw out flash from watermelon. Remove the seeds. Cut the melon into small pieces and put them into a mixer/blender, add Sugar, lemon juice and ice cubes blend it fine.

Serve cold.

Basic Sponge Cake/ Vanilla Sponge Cake.

Happy New Year 2014 to all my readers and blogger friends.. I know i'm 1 day late to wish you all, what to do I was very lazy for 2 weeks because of my hubby's holidays and was not feeling like posting or doing anything.. Last 2 weeks it was like a honeymoon period for me, not much to cook or do household work, was just shopping, eating outside and roaming and for him also it was the best time to rest after a very hectic work schedule. This was the best new year I had after very very long time... Actually I had feeling that I would be doing this only once his holidays starts, because of that only I had baked this cake before and took the pictures, so when I bake it again on new year I don't have to take the pictures.. The cake had turnout very tasty and soft. I serve it with some whipped cream and fruits you can serve as you like..

Ingredient's.

1 cup all purpose flour

1tsp baking powder

2/3 cup melted butter

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1tsp vanilla essence

1/2 cup milk

1tsp lemon zest

1tsp lemon juice.

Baking Method.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Butter the round baking pan and keep it aside.

Stir together the flour and baking powder in a large bowl, set it aside.

Beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the melted butter and blend for another 1minute. Add the milk and vanilla essence in a small bowl and mix it well, then add it to the egg mixture and blend for another 30 to 40sec.

Add the dry ingredients and with the speed on low mix together slowly by making sure not to over mix. Mix everything with a spatula from the bottom to incorporate any bit that wasn't mixed.

Pour the batter into buttered pan and bake for 30 to 31minutes. Allow it cool before taking out from the pan, then cut and sprinkle some icing sugar on top.

Serve as you like..

Rasmalai..

Rasmalai is a very famous milk-based dessert of India.This dessert is rich in its texture, flavour & can be made easily by everyone at home. I had made this Rasmalai along with few more sweets on Diwali to impress my hubby and his college close friend and his wife. As I have mention in my earlier post that this is my hubby first diwali away from home, that to in a unknown country. Thank god we had his friend family and little kid to make it even more special, we really had a blast and never felt like we are not in india... I can easily count this diwali into one of the most memorable day of my life..

 Ingredient's For Paneer

5cups whole milk

2tbsp sugar

1tbsp lemon juice

4cups water.

Ingredient's For Rasmalai (milk mixture)

4cups whole milk

1cup sugar

10 to 15 saffron strands

1/4cup chopped almond and pistachio (for garnishing).

Cooking Method For Paneer.

Boil the milk in a heavy bottomed pan over medium-high heat. As the milk comes to a boil, add the lemon juice slowly and stir the milk gently. The curd will start separating from the whey, turn off the heat.

Once the milk fat has separated from the whey, drain the whey using a strainer line with cheesecloth or muslin cloth.

Wrap the curd in a muslin cloth, rinse under cold water, and squeeze well. This process takes out the sourness from the lemon.

To take out the excess water squeeze the cloth till all the water has come out.

Once the paneer is drained, place on a dry, clean surface and knead the paneer for 3-4 minutes until the paneer is almost rolls into smooth soft dough.

Knead the paneer by dragging the palm of your hand hard on the paneer. Keep scooping it back to together and knead more. 

Divide the dough into 10 equal parts and roll them in smooth balls.

Mix the sugar and water in a pressure cooker on medium high heat and bring to a boil.

Add the paneer balls and close the pressure cooker. After the pressure cooker starts steaming, turn the heat to medium and cook for about seven minutes.

Make sure the cooker is large enough to accommodate the (rasgullas), as they will expand to about double in the volume while cooking in the syrup!

Close the heat and wait a few minutes before opening the pressure cooker.

Then take out the rasgulla from the syrup and squeeze them lightly,and keep aside.

Cooking Method For Rasmalai (milk mixture)

Boil the milk, sugar and saffron strands in a deep frying pan on medium heat until the milk reduce to about 2 cups.

Make sure to frequently stir the milk as the milk burns easily in bottom of the pan.

Once the milk is ready, switch off the flame, then add the rasmalai into milk. and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours

Garnish with chopped almonds and pistachios.

Rasmalai is ready to serve.

Serve the Rasmalai chilled.

Chicken Bezule.. (Mangalorean Street Food)

Chicken Bezule..Chicken bezule is a popular appetizer which is sold in the streets of Mangalore. These are perfect little bites fit for a cocktail party or even as a snack... I adopted this recipe from Vah Chef, I really like watch his videos on youtube, not because he cooks good, I like the way he eats after finishing his cooking, that makes my mouthwatering... I watch his videos quite often and never try any of them, but this chicken bezule video tempted me so much that I tried it immediately. It was tasting like the same chicken which I had in mangalore long back... This is one of the best chicken starter to serve on a rainy day or even when you have guest at home. Make this street food at home by adding your love and serve...

Ingredients:

1/2kg chicken (bite size pieces)

1tsp ginger garlic paste 

1tbsp lemon juice 

1tsp curd 

1tsp chilli powder , 1/2 tsp cumin powder, 1/2tsp coriander powder, pinch of turmeric

2 strands finely chopped curry leaves 

2 finely chopped green chilli

pinch of red food colour 

2tsp all purpose flour (maida)

1tsp corn flour 

Oil for deep frying.

Cooking Method.

Combine all the above ingredient's and Marinate for 2 to 3hours 

Heat oil in a deep frying pan and Fry the chicken pieces to crispy. Do not over crowd the pan. fry in a lesser quantity.

Then in the same oil deep fry few curry leaves and strain excess oil and sprinkle over the chicken..

Serve hot with sauce of your choice..

Lemon Zest And Vanilla Muffins..

Lemon Zest And Vanilla Muffins...I baked this muffins on Monday just to get my hands on oven, because I have been always using OTG not oven and I was very scared to try also it took me a long time to start baking here... I have baked this muffins many times but I have not got the result as this muffins gave me, evenly raise and perfect colour. Now I know why people prefer Oven then OTG. I have made myself very clear once I go back to India (i don't know when will that happen) I'm going to buy a oven first... I started enjoying my baking again and very happy with results...

Yeilds: 8 to 9 medium Muffins

Preparation time: 10minutes

Baking time: 20 minutes.

Ingredient's.

1/2+1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup butter

1/3cup sugar 

1tsp vanilla essence

1tsp baking powder

1/3 cup milk

1tsp lemon zest

1egg.

Baking Method.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line your cupcake tin with liners and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour, lemon zest and baking powder, set aside. 

In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Add the eggs, vanilla and cream together until you get a smooth mixture.

Add the dry ingredients and with the speed on low mix together and slowly add the milk and just mix everything to combine. DO NOT OVERMIX! Make sure you give everything a good stir with a spatula from the bottom to incorporate any bit that wasn't mixed.

Scoop the batter into your lined cupcake tin, make sure it's only filled ¾ of the way up because they will rise. Bake for 20 minutes and let cool for sometime.

Lemon Curd Rice..

Lemon Curd Rice... Usually I cook curd rice for my H lunch box and keep little for me to for my lunch.. When I cooked this time, I did not keep it for me thinking that will cook something else later.. But I ended up cooking curd rice again, with a touch of lemon. It was just a experiment and I never thought this will taste very good. I had keep little lemon curd rice for my H too and after eating he said next time you make this curd rice only, it taste much like a lemon rice with curd... If you like adding more lemon and less curd go head and cook. I'm sure it will taste awesome..

Ingredient's

1cup cooked rice

1 1/2cup curd

1 onion, 2 green chilli (finely chopped)

1tbsp lemon juice

2tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Salt to taste.

For tempering

1/2tsp mustard seeds

2 red dry chilli

8 to 10 curry leaves

1/4tsp channa dal

1/4tsp urad dal

2tsp oil.

Cooking Method

In a large mixing bowl, add all the above ingredients (except tempering ingredients) and mix them nicely and set it aside.

In a tempering pan, add oil, when the oil is hot, add channa dal and urad dal, when they start turning golden, add mustard, red chilli and curry leaves, fry for 2 to 3sec. Then mix it with curd rice mixture nicely...

Serve with Pickle and Papad...

Qubani Ka Meetha (Stewed Apricot Dessert) SNC Challenge For The Month Of May2013

Qubani Ka Meetha. Though I'm from south india but never heard of this sweet before. One more thing just want to add I don't like apricot at all. When i saw my email this was the challenge for this month, for some time i thought i will skip this month challenge. But my hubby told me without trying how can you give up and it was a real challenge for me to cook this sweet. I asked my hubby will you eat this if i cook and he replied "You are asking me will i eat sweet". Then suddenly i realize OMG, he can eat sweet in any form and i should not be worrying so much to cook this... Belive me my whole flat was smelling of this sweet only while cooking and i did not like the smell, but my hubby was really enjoying. I serve with vanilla ice cream and it turn out to be the hit in my family. It was tasting so good even i was tempted to have one bite.... All thanks to Roha from Hyderabadi Cuisine for hosting this month challenge and give me opportunity to try out some thing new and yummy..

 

 

This is the wonderful thing in SNC group, where you get to try every month new new varieties. Thank you Divya Pramil for stating this group and making every one proud to be a part of this group.

 

 

 

Ingredients
½ Cup Dried Apricots
3 tbsp Sugar- As per taste
2 Crushed Green Cardamom( Elaichi)
1 tsp Lemon juice.

 

 

For Garnishing
Apricot kernels
Slice of roasted and blanched Almonds and Pistachios
½ Cup vanilla ice Cream.

 

 

Cooking Method
In a deep bowl wash and add dried Apricots cover with water and soak overnight.
Once the apricots is moist and swollen, remove apricots with a slotted spoon and then drain the apricots from the soaking liquid water aside.(The soaking syrup is used for preparing the meetha)
Then de-seed and keep aside.
Do not throw away the Apricot seed/pit crack the seed remove the (Apricot Kernels) for garnishing
In a non-stick saucepan at a medium heat, Add soaking liquid and plump apricots.
Allow to boil for 10- 15 minutes.

Add sugar and stir until it has completely dissolves. At a low heat add few drops of lemon juice to prevent caramelisation , add the crush cardamom.
Stir often to prevent burning, if required, sprinkle little water or milk to prevent from burning.
Meanwhile crack the seed with a nutcracker to extract the nuts and blanch nuts in boiling water for 1 minute and remove the skin and keep aside.
Then mash apricots with spoon occasionally, Do not cook on a high heat, stir occasionally until apricots are soft and pulpy and mushy if needed add water or milk. Remove from the heat when it reaches the desired thick consistency or into thick Compote.
Allow Qubani to cool.
Garnish with apricot kernels, Almonds and Pistachios and with ice cream.
Serve warm or cool and Enjoy..

 

Pistachio And Lemon Zest Cookies!!!

Pistachio and Lemon Zest Cookies. Last week i was just searching on internet for some good cookies recipe, then i came across with this recipe from Anjana Aunty in Maayeka Blog, I'm a fan of her blog and i follow her blog very sincerely. Pistachio and lemon was a very unique combination for me, without giving second thought i baked this cookies by following her exact steps and ingredients.... The cookies had come out so well and the taste was simply awesome with lemon zest.. Thanks to Anjana Aunty for a wonderful recipe...Everyone loved it in my family...

 

 

 

Ingredient's.
Makes 12 Cookies
Refined flour-3/4 cup
Cornflour-2 tbsp
Baking powder-1 tsp
Salt-1/4 tsp
Soft butter-100 gms
Sugar-1/2 cup
Lemon rind-1/2 tsp
Pistachio-20
Chilled milk -3 tbsp.

 

 

Baking Method.
Mix refined flour,corn flour,salt and baking powder in a bowl and sift together.
In an another bowl mix sugar,butter and lemon rind ,beat and mix well.
Now mix the flour mixture in the butter mixture and mix together.
Add milk(add 1/2 tsp at a time)and make a smooth dough.
Make a roll /log from the prepared dough and keep it refrigerated for 20 minutes.

 

 

 

Take out the roll from the refrigerator and slice it to make medium size pieces.
Dip and gently press one side into crushed pistachios and arrange in a baking tray.
Bake in a preheated oven on 180 degree for 15-20 minutes or till golden in color.
Take our from the oven and let them cool completely.
Store when cooled completely.

Mackerel Fish Fry!!!

Mackerel Fish Fry. Mackerel fish is a flavorful, firm-fleshed fish that is easy to cook, low in fat and full of nutrients. This fish is one of my very favorite, though i cook very less because of the smell, my hubby don't like this fish smell while cooking. So when ever i feel like having this fish i make it in the afternoon and wash all the dishes and spray room freshener at home, so that when he comes home there is no smell at all. Most of the time he will not know only, i had fish in the afternoon until unless i tell him.... This is one of very very easy fish fry, you can use any fish it will taste awesome and you don't need to marinate for hours. This fish will not take your precious time and yet gives you the best and delicious taste...

Ingredient's

3 mackerel fish (washed and slit on the top)

3tbsp red chilli powder

1tbsp lemon juice

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

3 to 4tbsp water

Salt as per taste

2tbsp oil for shallow frying.

Cooking Method

In a mixing bowl add all the ingredient's (except oil) and make a medium thick paste.

Then apply thoroughly on fish and keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 minutes.

In a hot frying pan add oil and shallow fry fish to golden brown, both the side.

Now hot fish is ready to serve. Serve hot as a side dish.