Choco Chip Muffins...

Choco Chip Muffins.. Nowadays Muffins are very famous in every Indian families, specially with kids... I prefer to make this kind of food at home only, because we know what ingredients we are adding and it is always a better option. Choco chip muffins are my favorite, i bake them very often and finished it in a 2 to 3days.. They go very well with hot cup of tea for breakfast.

 

 

Ingredient's
1/2+1/6 cups all-purpose flour
1tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1egg, room temperature
1/4 cup choco chips.

 

 

Baking Method
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 9 cup muffin pans with paper baking cups.
Stir together the flour, baking powder and choco chips in a large bowl, set it aside.
Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the egg and blend for another 1minute.
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 about 45 minutes...

You can them in a air tight container for 2 to 3days.

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..

 

Bread Pudding!!!

Bread Pudding.. Like every sunday, today also i woke up at 10am and made ginger tea. Then i woke my husband, with the tea and news paper... Before reading main news paper, i always read the Times Life first in Sunday edition. I was just reading and looking all those glossy pictures of beautiful homes. Then suddenly i saw a coloum about Terrance Lewis, Choreographer. It talked about his childhood days and his favorite cuisine etc. During his childhood days his mom use to bake bread pudding on every Sundays lunch, and this is his favorite pudding and he loves to eat every time.

 

 

The picture was looking so appealing and it tempted me to bake it right away... I have never baked a bread pudding before and this recipe was very simple and easy. With no preparation i baked this bread pudding as i had all the ingredients at home and that made my job easy and filled me with lot of joy after seeing the result.. Simple to bake and delicious to eat... Here goes the recipe.

 

 

Serves-3

Preparation Time-5 to 10 minutes

Baking Time-40 minutes

Ingredient's
4 slice of bread
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2tsp vanilla essence
1/2tsp cinnamon powder
3tbsp sugar
2tbsp raisins
1tbsp butter.

 

 

 

Baking Method
Pre-heat the oven to 175c.
Slice bread into small pieces (any shape you want) and place them into baking dish (I have used rectangular baking dish). Drizzle melted butter and some raisins over them.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Pour over bread, and lightly press down with a fork until the slices are completely covered and soaked in the egg mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped.
Serve Hot or Warm.

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.

Black Forest Cupcake..

Black Forest Cupcake. In my family usually they love to eat black forest cake, but this time to give a twist instead of making cake i made black forest cup cake... Fortunately on the same day i even got a order for black forest cupcake from my hubby's office. Like there is saying in Hindi "Sona Pe Suhaga" happily i made few extra cupcakes for my family members too, they enjoyed it to the core... This cupcake is filled with cherry's, chocolate and topped with fresh vanilla cream.. this combination is made in heaven, i just love it :)
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes
Serving: 8to10 cupcakes.

 

 

Ingredient's
1/2cups all-purpose flour
1/6 cup cocoa powder
1tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1egg, room temperature
1/4 cup ruffly chopped cherry's.

 

 

 

For Frosting

1 cup whipped non dairy fresh cream
1tsp icing sugar
1/2tsp vanilla essence
few cherry's (cut into 2pcs)
1tbsp finely chopped chocolate.

 

 

Baking Method
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 9 cup muffin pans with paper baking cups.
Stir together the flour, baking powder, coco powder in a large bowl, set it aside.
Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the egg and blend for another 1minute.
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 about 45 minutes before frosting.

 

 

 

Method For Frosting
In a chilled small mixing bowl combine whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla. Beat with chilled beaters of an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add the frosting in a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. Then place the cherry on top of the cream and sprinkle chopped chocolate on top..
Black Forest Cupcake is ready

 

 

Vanilla Vanilla Cupcake!!!!

Vanilla Vanilla Cupcakes. This is my first colorful frosting on vanilla cupcakes, i had never tried food color with my frosting. This time one of my cupcake buyer requested me to make some colorful frosting for cupcakes. Actually i don't like colors for my food, but what to do you have listen to them. After thinking for a very longtime i decided to chose my 2 favorite colors(edible food colours- chemical free) and kept the design very simple, so that they look pretty and colorful too.... I think when you add color they look very pretty and I have fallen in love with these cupcake frosting, from now on i will play with more color...

 

 Ingredient's
1/2+1/6 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup butter
1/3cup sugar
1tsp vanilla essence
1tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1egg.

 

 

 

 For Vanilla Butter Cream
1/4cup butter
1cup icing sugar
2tsp cream
1tsp vanilla essence
pinch of food color of your choice.

 

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, salt, vanilla and baking powder, set aside.
In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Add the eggs 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 about 45 minutes before frosting. 

 

To Make Butter Cream
In a mixing bowl add butter and beat till fluffy and slowly add sugar and beat for 1minute. Then add vanilla, cream and food color. mix together to combine well for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the frosting in a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

 

 

Stuffed Pav Buns.. (Stuffed Dinner Rolls)

Stuffed Pav Buns!! After Getting the gloripan yeast my baking has become so easy and perfect. I'm very happy because even i can bake a perfect buns and breads. When ever i use to see people baking delicious looking bread, I use to always feel why i'm not able to bake and literally i use to cry, after seeing my bread which is not baked properly. Thanks to my hubby for supporting me and making me to try baking after every time of disaster and he tells me every time one word, "The more you try, the perfect you become" but now i'm very happy for myself :) 

Ingredient's

1+1/2 cup all purpose flour

1+1/8 tsp dry active yeast

1/8 cup luke warm water

1/2+1/8 cup milk

1+1/2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp sugar

1/4+1/8 tsp salt.

For Suffing

1/2cup boiled green peas

2 medium boiled potato (smashed)

1 medium onion, 1 green chilli (finley chopped)

1/2tsp turmeric

1/2tsp cumin

1tbsp oil

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method For Stuffing

In a deep frying pan, add oil, when oil is hot add cumin, onion green chilli, fry to golden brown.

Then add turmeric, potato, green peas and salt. Mix it well then cook for 1 to 2minutes.

Then cool it and keep it aside.

Baking Method

Warm the milk to lukewarm (not hot) and add the butter to it so that it melts in the milk. Set aside. Mix yeast and water together along with sugar. Give it a stir and set aside until frothy.

Now add the salt and milk+butter mixture to the yeast and stir well. Slowly add the flour to this mixture until slowly incorporated.

It will slightly sticky - dont add in more flour until really necessary. The stickiness will be replaced by smooth elasticity while kneading. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough very well, it will take about 8-15 minutes!!!!

Place the dough on a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a damp towel.

Place it aside in a humid place until doubled.

Turn out this dough on a floured surface and roll it out into a square.

Using a knife cut it into 9 pieces. Place the potato stuffing in center.

Roll each piece out in your palm to form a rounded shape. Place them side by side on a square baking tin (or as the shape baking tin you want). Place them aside once again to double. Its fine if they don't look perfectly round.

They will take a beautiful shape once they double again. They will also stick to each other once doubled giving that great square shape. Brush them with milk on top.

Now bake them in a pre heated 180c oven for 20-25 min or until golden brown.

Cool them for few minutes before serving them.

Knot Dinner Rolls.. (Egg-less)

Knot Dinner Rolls. This was my very long time dream to bake knot dinner rolls, thought the knot din't come out so well, but still i tried my best to make them look good. These rolls were superb soft and yummy looking. I have added oil instead of butter. Earlier i had tried the dinner rolls by adding butter, they were soft but not that soft. Few days back i had tried baking with oil instead of butter and they were so soft, from there i have decided not to add butter to bread until your recipe requires... After getting the right yeast, i really enjoy baking bread and i have stopped buying bread from out. I bake lots of bread but some time i feel bore to click the picture. From now on I have told to myself what ever I bake, should take the pic and share with all my blog friends.. Do try this recipe:)

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Baking time: 15 minutes

fermenting time: 2 hours

Ingredient's

1/2 tbsp dry active yeast

1/2 cup warm milk

1/2 cup warm water

1 tbsp sugar

1+1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1+1/4 cup all purpose flour

2tbsp vegetable oil

1/2tsp salt

2tbsp warm water (if required)

3tbsp milk (for brushing on top)

Baking Method

In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in a warm water and milk, then add yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. 

In a large bowl, combine the salt, flour and oil, stir well to combine. Then add yeast mixture and make a dough . When has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10minutes. Place in a oil greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 to 2 hour.

Punch down dough and divide into two, divide each portion into 8 to 9 roll. Roll the pieces into 9 inch ropes and tie into knots. Place the rolls 2 inches apart on greased baking tray. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Then apply the milk on top and 

Bake in preheated oven) for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter.

Serve warm.

Paal Kolukattai.. Rice Dumpling In Sweet Coconut Sauce

Everyone is aware of this wonderful event running by Divya Pramil of You too can cook Indian Food . If not please click the link here to join. I'm very happy and excited to participate in this challenge. I would like to thanks to Divya Pramil  for giving me a chance to be a part of this wonderful SNG group.

Paal Kolukatti... This name was very different and the recipe is very new to me, though i'm from south India , but i have never heard of this recipe. When i came to know this is the challenge for the month February, i was very excited to cook this and serve it to my family. They all just love it very much. Thanks to Sasi from the Tamil Kitchen for giving this wonderful challenge and delicious recipe to learn..

Ingredient's.

2 cups Rice flour

1 big sized Coconut

1 cup Sugar

1/4 tsp Cardamom powder (optional)

Salt 1/2tsp.

Cooking Method.

Shred the coconut and extract the coconut milk. Take one glass of the first thick milk and keep aside.Then extract the rest as thin.

Take the flour in a wide bowl and add required salt for the flour and use enough water to make a soft dough.(Don’t make it hard else it will be hard to roll to kollukattai . If you made it sticky you can cover it with a cotton cloth to observe excess water.)

Spread a cotton towel. Apply oil on your palm and take a small amount of dough in your hands and roll them in to kolukattais (as shown in the picture). Roll the rest as same and as small as possible in desired size, if you roll it in to big size then it may taste bland when cooked in coconut milk.

Allow the rice balls to dry in the room temperature, it will take 2 hrs ( Don’t let them dry under the fan or in sunlight as it will make the rice balls harder and will not cook easily. Just keep in room temperature for few hours)

Transfer the rice balls in to a plate. Set everything ready to make pal kolukattai.

Take a kadai and pour the thin coconut milk and allow it to boil.

Keep in medium flame and add half of the rice balls and don’t disturb them for 2 mins and slowly use a laddle.

Now add the rest of the rice balls and let it boil for another 2 mins and stir it with a laddle. 

Allow them to boil in medium flame for 7-8 mins (untill the rice balls get cooked , stir in between to avoid sticking).

Now add the sugar and a pinch of salt and allow to boil .

The sugar will dissolve and the consistency will become thin , allow to boil for another 8 mins untill you get a thick consistency, Stir in between to avoid burning .

Now pour in the thick coconut milk and give it a stir and switch of the flame.

Serve cold or warm.. I prefer warm..