Shamrock Milk Shake Cup Cakes..

Shamrock Milk Shake Cup Cakes... The shamrock refers to the young sprigs of clover or trefoil. It is known as a symbol of Ireland, with St. Patrick having used it as a metaphor for the Christian Trinity, according to legend. The name shamrock is derived from Irish seamróg, which is the diminutive version of the Irish word for clover (seamair) meaning simply "little clover" or "young clover. (Source from wikipedia)

 

 

 

Recipe adopted from Laura Vitale.
Makes-12

 

Ingredients

1 cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 cup of Unsalted Butter, softened at room Temperature
1/4 cup of Vegetable oil
2 Eggs
2tsp Vanilla
2 tsp of Baking Powder
1/8 tsp Salt
1 1/3 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/3 Cup Whole Milk.

 

 

For the Frosting
1 Stick of Unsalted Butter, softened
1/2 tsp of Mint Extract
4 cups of Confectioner Sugar

Pinch of green food color.

 

 

 

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, and baking powder, set aside.
In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugar, oil and butter. Add the eggs and vanilla, 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 the frosting combine together all the frosting ingredients and mix together to combine. Add the frosting in a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

Soya Kheema Kofta Curry!!! Made By Hudson Canola Oil.

Yesterday afternoon i received a courier and i kept thinking that what did i order. The pack was very heavy and it was written fragile on the box. Then i thought may be my husband has given me a surprise, I opened fast fast, what i'm seeing, after i opened the courier, a oil bottle.... Then suddenly i realized, ohh Sushil had told me about this oil few weeks back that they will courier me a bottle for a taste and review...

I was planning to cook Soya Kheema Kofta Curry for dinner and veg kofta i always deep fried before putting into the curry. I mostly use olive oil for deep frying, because the fried items comes out very lite and soft. My oilve oil bottle was empty and i was planning to go and buy, After i received this oil, i dropped my plan after reading the benefits of the oil and i thought of giving a try. I must say this try was worth, because the kofta had come out so lite and perfect. They had not absorb oil and when you touch by hand it was not at all oil... I'm definitely going to be a regular customer for Hudson Canola Oil.... and the price is also very reasonable for the quality we pay money and this is the right product to pay so much of money... Here are the few important benefits of Hudson Canola Oil.. 

Hudson Canola is a standard edible vegetable grade oil, a light oil with neutral taste and flavour. Hudson Canola can be used for all types, methods and varieties of Indian cooking: frying, roasting or grilling. Canola is neutral in flavour and aroma with no distinctive taste or smell. Canola Oil is extruded from the seeds of the yellow Canola flower. I must say this oil is very good and lite. Canola Oil has the lowest saturated fat amongst all oils, very high monounsaturated fat, very high Omega-3 and rich Vitamin-E content..

Ingredient's For Kofta
100 gram soya chunks (soak and grind to paste)
1 boiled potato (peeled and smashed)
1 small onion, 1 green chilli ( finely chopped)
2tbsp finely chopped coriander leafs
1tbsp chick peas flour
1/2tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1/2tsp garam masala
Oil for deep frying (Hudson canola oil)
Salt to taste.

Ingredient's For Curry
1 large onion (finely chopped)
3 large tomato, 2 green chilli (grind to a smooth paste)
1/2tsp cumin seeds, 1 green cardamom, 1 clove, 1 cinnamon stick
1/2tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1/2tsp coriander powder, 1/2tsp garam masala
1tbsp ginger garlic paste
2tbsp thick cream
2tbsp oil
Salt to taste
Hand full of chopped coriander leafs for garnishing.

Cooking Method For Kofta
In a large mixing bowl, add all the above kofta ingredients and mix them every thing together and make a small size round balls and set a side. In a deep frying pan add enough oil for deep frying and fry the kofta to golden brown and set it aside..

 

Cooking Method For Kofta Curry.
In a deep frying pan,add oil, when the oil is hot, add cumin, cardamom, clove and cinnamon stick, when they start splutter, add chopped onion and fry to golden brown. Then add red chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, garam masala and ginger garlic paste, fry all the masala for 2 to 3minutes.
Then add green chilli and tomato paste and fry till the oil start separating from the corners. Add 2cups of water and bring the curry to a boil and then add fried kofta and simmer on a low flame for 4 to 5minutes.
Add chopped coriander leafs and cream from top and Serve hot with Roti's or Rice..

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..

 

Home made Mushroom Pizza With Tomato Sauce (Challenge#1 For The Home Bakers Challenge)

Home Made Pizza. There is new group challenge has been started by our one fellow bloggers Priya from a Priya's Versatile Recipes. The main aim of this group is to learn and bake together. When i saw this group on Facebook immediately i joint the group. and i was very happy to see that this group has been started by the queen of baking, there was no second thought about this. I need to thanks to Divya Prakash also for giving this month challenge as pizza, and hardly you can find people who don't like to eat pizza.

 

 

I have baked pizza many times, but never tried making every thing from the scratch at home.. Making pizza at home is real fun and when it come out from the oven, i can't say anyhting. I'm sure this month challenge has inspired many housewife's and blogger's to bake and serve happiness to their families... I enjoyed it to the core. Did you? Here goes the recipe bake and enjoy :)

 

 

Ingredients For The Pizza Base
Makes 1 Large Pizza Base
1/2 cup warm water (100 degrees to 110 degrees)
3tbsp warm milk
1/4 tsp sugar
1+1/8 tsp active dry yeast
1+1/2cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/4 tsp salt
2tbsp oil, plus more for bowl.

 

 

For The Topping
Pizza Sauce ( recipe follows)
3 button mushroom, 1 large tomato, 1 medium onion, 1 small capsicum (thinly sliced)
12 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced.

 

 

Ingredients For The Tomato Sauce
Make For 2 Large Pizza
2 tsp oil
6 large tomato's
3tbsp tomato puree
3/4 tsp Italian seasoning
3/4 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper.

 

 

Directions For The Pizza Base
Pour warm water and milk into a small bowl. Add sugar, and sprinkle in yeast. Using a fork, stir the mixture until yeast is dissolved and water has turned a tan color. Let yeast stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, add flour and salt. Then add yeast mixture and oil. Mix until the dough comes together, adding more flour as needed until dough is smooth, not tacky, when squeezed. Transfer to clean surface; knead for 5 to 10 minutes.

 

Brush the inside of a medium bowl with oil, and place the dough in the bowl, smooth side up. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and place in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1hour. Remove plastic wrap, and press your fist into the center of the dough to punch it down. Fold the dough back onto itself four or five times. Turn dough over, folded-side down, cover with plastic wrap, and return to the warm spot to rise again until the dough has doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

 

Punch down the dough, and transfer to a clean surface. Knead the dough four or five turns into a ball. Lightly flour a clean surface, place the dough pat into a flattened circle, cover lightly with plastic wrap, and let rest 5 minutes. Using your fingers, begin to flatten and push the dough evenly out from the center until it measures about 7 to 8 inches in diameter. Do not press the dough all the way to the edges. Leave a slightly raised border, about a half-inch wide, around entire circumference of pizza dough.

 

In a mean time pre-heat the oven for 20 minutes at 250c.
Lift the dough off the surface, and center it on top of your fists. Hold your fists about 1 to 2 inches apart. Begin to rotate and stretch the dough, moving your fists until they are 6 to 8 inches apart and the dough is several inches larger. Then place your fists under the inside of the outer edge, and continue to stretch the dough a little at a time until it reaches about 12 inches in diameter. The dough will drape down over your forearms. At this stage, it is important to keep your fists along the inside of the outer edge and watch that the dough does not get too thin or tear in the center. At the same time, make sure to maintain the slightly raised border on the edges. The dough is surprisingly resilient and will not tear if this step is done carefully and slowly.

 

Arrange the pizza dough into a circle on top of the baking flat tray. Leaving the raised edge uncovered, pour 8 to 9 tsp of the pizza sauce onto the dough. Using the back of a tablespoon, evenly spread the sauce leaving a half-inch border of dough uncovered. Arrange half of the mozzarella slices on top of the sauce and arrange all the veggie's on top, then cover with left over mozzarella slices.

 

Bake until the crust is golden brown and crisp on the edges and the bottom, 10 to 15 minutes, turning the pizza halfway through baking. Using a pizza wheel, slice the pizza into eight pieces, and serve immediately.

 

 

Directions For The Tomato Sauce
Pour oil into a large skillet, and place over medium heat. Using your hands, squeeze tomatoes to crush them. Add to the warm oil, along with the remaining ingredients. Cook over medium-low heat, breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon, until the sauce is thick, 40 to 50 minutes. Allow it to cool and grind it to a smooth paste...

Sauce is ready to use, after using the sauce to pizza you can store the remaining sauce in a fridge for the next time use..