Kesar Shrikhand. (Low Calorie Yogurt Dessert)

Kesar Shrikhand is healthy Indian dessert made from strained curd. This is a low calorie, rich and creamy yogurt. Shrikhand is generally flavoured with saffron, cardamom and dry fruits even it is served with fresh fruits or as a standalone dessert... I was not knowing what is shrikhand and how it taste, I had heard about it but never tasted before I meet my H, I still remember that day when he had got a pack of Haldiram's shrikhand and I told him that why did you get such a expensive curd, you should have just bought a pack of curd which will not cost more then 10rs. He look at me and said you don't know what is this? and I told him yes ofcourse I know this some weird color curd. He started laughing and said this is shrikhand my dear and I can't belive you have still not tasted this and my reaction was ohhh this is shrikhand from then I know what is shrikhand and how it taste like..

I made this dessert last week and it tasted better then the store bought and I did not get the perfect color of saffron while I was taking pictures and I did take the pictures soon just because I knew that it will be over and I was not sure when I will make this dessert again.. After 2 hours I had got the perfect saffron color and it was looking beautiful... Do try this wonderful low fat dessert and serve as you like...

Ingredient's.

2 cups yogurt

1/2 cup powdered sugar (add more if you like)

10 to 15 saffron strands

3tbsp finely chopped dry fruits (pistachio, almond, raisin and cashew)

2tsp milk

Pinch of cardamom powder.

Method.

Spread clean muslin cloth on a big plate. Place yogurt in the center. Wrap and tightly tie muslin cloth.

Hang yogurt for 2 to 3 hours or until all water is drained off from yogurt. It should become very thick.

After that untie muslin cloth and transfer thick strained yogurt to bowl.

Add sugar and cardamom powder and mix well until smooth.

Dissolve saffron in milk and add it to the yogurt mixture and mix well. Then refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hour before serving.

Garnish it with dry fruits nuts and serve chilled.

Hot And Sour Chicken Soup..

Hot And Sour Chicken Soup.. This is my most favourite soup and it's must on our table when we go to restaurant. I'm a big fan of Chinese food, Soups, as I have mentioned in my earlier post that nowadays I'm not allowed to eat outside and to full fill my Chinese craving I cook at home. The weather is also very cold in Coventry (UK) and that makes it even more better to have hot hot soup any time of the day.. I have added knorr hot and sour vegetable soup to give more taste but you can skip that and use the normal process to make this delicious hot and sour chicken soup.

Ingredient's.

1/3 cup chicken (very finely chopped)

2 button mushroom (finely chopped)

2tbsp very finely chopped (carrot, cabbage, beans)

1 medium egg

1+1/2tbsp corn flour

1+1/2tbsp dark soya sauce

1/2tsp crushed black pepper

1tsp white vinegar

2tbsp knorr hot and sour vegetable soup (optional)

3cups chicken or vegetable stock

2tsp oil

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

In a deep pan, add oil and sauté the chicken with little salt and pepper. then in the same oil sauté the mushroom, carrot, cabbage and beans with little salt and pepper. 

In a mean time beat the egg and keep it aside and in a small bowl take little water and mix the corn flour and knorr soup and set it aside. 

Once the vegetable are slightly done, add the chicken back in to it and stir. Now add the chicken stock and bring it boil. Then add the soya sauce and corn flour mixture and keep stirring. Add the vineger, black pepper and salt.. Boil it on a medium flame for about 10 to 12 minutes.

Then take a tea strainer and pour the egg slowly from top with help of spoon and boil for another 1 minutes.

Hot and sour chicken soup is ready..

Serve hot hot with extract black pepper, soya sauce and vinegar.

Mango Pickle/ Aam Ka Achar.. (Home-Made)

Mango Pickle.. This was my first attempt to make mango pickle at home and it turn out to be very delicious and perfect. It is not like I don't know to make pickles I use to help my mother alot to make pickles every time and she makes the best pickles in the world. It has been a 4 years I dint help her and I also use to buy pickles from market or get it from my mom's place, that's how I never got a chance to make at home. I made this in very small batch to see how it will come but I must say it taste very similar..

Ingredient's.

2 large raw mango

1tsp cumin seeds

1/4tsp fenugreek seeds

1/4tsp black pepper corn

1/4tsp coriander seeds

5 dry red chilli

10 curry leafs

2tsp red chilli powder

1/2tsp yellow mustard seeds

10 garlic pods (crushed)

6tbsp Oil

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Cut the raw mango in to medium chunks and keep it aside.

Dry roast the cumin, fenugreek, black pepper, coriander seeds, curry leafs and dry red chilli and grind to a coarse powder.

Heat oil in a deep frying pan, add garlic, mustard, and red chilli powder and fry on a low flame for 1 minute.

Then add the grounded powder and fry for another 1 to 2 minutes, Switch off the flame and allow the pickle masala to cool.

Then add salt and raw mango and give a good mix and transfer it to jar and keep in the sun light every day..

Pickle is ready. You can start eating this pickle after 2 to 3 days.

Breakfast Chocolate Chunks Muffins..

Chocolate Chunks Muffins.. Muffins are very versatile you can keep on changing or adding the ingredients and they taste better every time. I have never baked the muffins by following the same recipe I keep the measurement same and change the ingredients each time I bake. Last week I bought a pack of chocolate chunks cookies from pound land and from there only I got this name idea and I wanted to add the cookies also in the muffins but unfortunately they were no cookies left, then I decided to save that recipe for one more day and just do with chocolate and cinnamon... I have added the dairymilk chocolate but I felt it was better if I would have added some other chocolate. No problem I will leave it to you all to choose from your favourite chocolate and enjoy this muffins for breakfast.

Preparation time: 10 minutes 

Baking time: 20 minutes 

Serving: 9 medium cupcakes.

Ingredient's.

1/2cups all-purpose flour

1/6 cup cocoa powder 

1tsp baking powder

1/4 cup chocolate chunks

1/4tsp cinnamon powder 

1/3 cup milk

1tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup white sugar

1egg, room temperature.

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 and cinnamon in a large bowl, set it aside.

Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat for another 1minute.

Add the dry ingredients and just mix together and slowly add the milk and just mix everything to combine. Add chocolate chunks and 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 18-20 minutes and let cool before serving.

Serve with whipped cream or just like that.

Omelette And Cheese Roll..

Omelette And Cheese Roll.. I'm not a big fan of cheese rolls, chicken rolls, egg rolls or any street food. It is not like I don't eat, I eat if there is no other option or someone else is eating and after seeing them if I can't control... Nowadays I'm trying out different types of breakfast with simple ingredients which is available easily at home. As my H leaves to office early morning by eating simple breakfast and I don't get a change to try out different dishes except on weekends. So I thought why don't I give a change to myself for eating good and different types of breakfast, in that way I'm happy and my H is also happy that I eat food... Sometime I don't even bother to take pictures after seeing the dish I feel so hungry I start eating there only... This is quick and simple rolls which kids and adults also can enjoy as breakfast or even as a snacks.

Ingredient's.

2 chapati (Roti)

1 egg

1 small onion, 1 green chilli (finely chopped)

Pinch of black pepper powder

2tbsp grated cheese

Salt to taste

2tsp oil.

Cooking Method.

Make a omelette by adding egg, onion, green chilli, pepper powder and salt. with 1tsp of oil and set it aside.

In a same frying pan, just heat both the chapati and divide the omelette into 2 position and keep it on the chapati and sprinkle grated cheese on both the chapati and roll it tightly.

Now again in the same pan, add the leftover oil and place the rolls and cook till the cheese is melted, That will take about 1 to 2 minutes. Take out from the pan and serve immediately.

Serve hot with Juice and some fruits..