Mocha Cake and Vanilla Cupcakes

The recipe is the same as for Victoria Sponge Cake

Just divided the batter into 2 parts, used half for making 6 cup cakes.

In the other half, added a syrup made with water, 1 tsp coffee powder and 1 tsp strong cocoa powder

Baked as usual, and browned the cup cakes for the brown colour to the top. (Got distracted with my kid,  and overbrowned a few!!)

Nevertheless, yummmm :)

Moong Dal Atta Ladoos

Simple to make, though I didn't fancy the flavour much, as compared to besan or atta ladoos

1/2 kg moong atta

1/4 kg besan

1-2 cups oats atta

Dry roast the above

Then add ghee as we do in normal ladoos, and roast. When done, turn off the gas and add some cardamom powder to taste and a pinch of jaiphal powder.

Cool and add powdered sugar as per taste.

Bind into ladoos :)

Mom's Bday Cake

Made an eggless cake and decorated it :)

Sevaiya Kheer (with besan)

Roast some sevai in ghee.
Then roast 1 tbsp of besan in ghee. Add to this 1/2 lt milk and stir well to avoid lumps.
Add some condensed milk (optional), milk malasa, crushed almonds, cardamom powder, saffron etc. Bring to boil, and add sevai. Simmer for 5 mins and serve

Coffeehouse scones

Tried this recipe, and got amazing results...

Coffeehouse Scones: 2 cups (260 grams) all purpose flour 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda   1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces 2/3 - 3/4 cup (160 - 180 ml) buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and place oven rack in middle of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.  Add the buttermilk and vanilla extract to the flour mixture and stir just until the dough comes together. Do not over mix.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead the dough gently and form into a 7 inch (18 cm) round that is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. Use a 2 1/2 inch (6.5 cm) round biscuit cutter to cut the dough into circles. Transfer the scones to the baking sheet and brush the tops of the scones with a little milk.

Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Can be stored at room temperature for a few days.

Makes about 10 - 2 1/2 inch (6.5 cm) or 8 wedge-shaped scones.

Ajmeri dahi curry

Saw this on a TV show, as a part of a Chaat dish, tried it out to sip as a curry. Don't remember the name of the dish :(

Take 2 tbsp of curd and 3 tbsp of besan, mix well, add 5 cups of water and keep aside.

In a vessel, heat 3 tbsp of oil, and add to it mustard seeds. When they splutter, add 2-3 peppercorns, 1 clove, 1 broken bay leaf, 1 piece of cinnamon, some red chilli powder, some garam masala powder, asafoatida (pinch), some turmeric, few curry leaves and raw mango powder.

To this add the curd mix and bring to a boil. Add to it some ginger-chilli paste. After 10 mins, when it thickens, add salt to taste and serve.

Quite tangy and chatpata.

Coconut cup cakes

100 gms (1 cup) maida
120 gms (3/4 cup) castor sugar
80 gms butter
2 eggs
60 gms desiccated coconut
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
According to consistency-cold milk

Seive flour & baking powder
Seperate eggs - beat  whites and keep aside
Beat butter, sugar and egg yolks, till creamy. Add essence
Fold in flour, baking powder and desiccated coconut
Add in stiffly beated egg whites
Add cold milk little at a time till mixture reaches dropping consistency.
Put mixture in paper cups lined in a tart tray
Garnish with a little coconut and bake for 15-20 mins at 180C

White Bread - 1st try

Quite good, but not perfect, so I'm not posting the recipe yet..

The Dough

After First Raising:

Punched and arranged:

2nd Raising:

Done!!

Buttermilk scones

2 cups - 225 gm maida
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter - I ignored the salt and used salted butter instead - chilled
3/4 cup buttermilk

Mix dry ingredients. Rub in butter till it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add buttermilk to make a soft dough. Knead lighty for 30 secs only. Donot over knead. Roll into the desired shapes, 1/2 inch thick.
Bake for 10-12 mins in a preheated oven at 220C.

Almond Cookies

Tried this again, and came out perfect..

Almond Cookies

Crispy and mouth melting :)

Bruschetta

Quick Bruschetta

Ingredients:

Slice Breads
Olive Oil
Finely Chopped Tomatoes
Olives
Boiled Sweet corn
Cheese
Mixed herbs (fresh or dried)
Salt Pepper to taste

Procedure:
Cut the Bread Slices in two,so that you get a rectangular shape.Polish both the sides with olive oil.Add Chopped tomatoes,Olives and corn to it.Season with salt paper and herbs.Roast till the cheese melts; serve hot 

Bon Appetit
Ash

Bday Cake

This one was my husband's bday cake, earlier this month..

The recipe is the Victoria Sponge Cake, and I've used Pilsbury Icing

Simple - Aloo Toast

Boil potatoes in a big vessel, with enough water. When it comes to a boil, cover and lower the flame and continue to boil. Boil until a knife pierces through the boiling potato easily.
Turn off the gas, let it cool, and peel the potatoes and mash them.
Add to it, salt to taste, chopped green chilles, chopped coriander leaves. If you have, then add - red chilli powder, jeera powdersome chaat masala. The easy part is you can taste and change the proportion of spices accordingly. You can also add ginger garlic paste (available in pouches) if required.
Mix well and keep aside.
You can toast some bread slices in a toaster or on a tawa with butter, and stuff it with the potato filling.

This filling is good for aloo parathas, but you should know to make rotis first!!

Note: This is a part of recipes for my brother, hence the simple instructions

Simple Recipe - Khichdi

Serves 4 people
1 cup raw rice - washed
1 cup raw moong dal - washed

In a big vessel- take 2 tbsp ghee, and heat. Add in it 4-5 chopped garlic cloves, 1/4 tsp jeera, 1 pinch of hing, and 1 dry red chilli broken into 4-5 pieces.
Turn off the gas and add to it 4.5 cups of water, the washed dal and rice, 1 tbsp salt and 1/4 tsp of haldi
Turn on the gas, mix and cover and cook it done. Add water to the khichdi if necessary while cooking.
Serve with papad, which can be cooked in the microwave too.

Note: This is a part of recipes for my brother, hence the simple instructions

May Fiestas!!

The first was my anniversary cake..

A Victoria Sponge Cake:

The ingredients

The mixing..

 The oven!!

Done!!

 Cooling the sponge!

Cut it into shape & the icing (using amul fresh cream and cadbury!!)

Next: Almond Cookies.. my first cookies

Recipe from Bhavna's Kitchen

1/2 cup atta
1/2 cup maida
1 tbsp each of: gram flour, almond powder, rawa
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup white butter
1/2 tsp cardamom
pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp baking powder

Beat sugar and butter well
Mix the dry ingredients well and add, mix to form a foam like dough
Pre heat oven at 180C, bake for 15 mins
Bake for another 10 mins at 100C
Keep in oven for 20 mins after that and then take out to cool

 

In Law's Anniversary!!
This was the Eggless Milkmaid cake, and we used Pilsbury ready icing

Niece Birthday Cake

These are 2 no fat sponge cakes, made with eggs
4 eggs seperated
1 cup maida - 100 gms
1 cup sugar powder - 120 gms
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp vanilla essence

Mix & seive the baking powder and maida

Beat the egg whites till light and fluffy
Add sugar in 2-3 batches, beating till light, fluffy and forms peaks that stay when the beater is lifted
Then add the yolks and essence and beat till light and fluffy
Fold in the flour
Bake in a preheated oven at 180c for 25 mins

Tried my hand at marzipan flowers - almond powder, sugar powder and food color made into a dough with very little water

Made butter cream icing - home made white butter, icing sugar and vanilla essence
The choclate icing is Pilsbury..

Ready!!

Baked Macroni in White Sauce

White Sauce

Red Sauce:
Made a paste of 3-4 tomatoes, 2 onions, some ginger
Heat olive oil, add finely chopped garlic, red chilli powder, the paste, salt, mixed italian herbs and tomato ketchup

The Macroni:
Saute in olive oil - ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, mixed italian herbs and salt, with semi cooked mushrooms, sweet corn, baby corn, chicken sausages, and boiled macroni

Took a deep dish, and arranged layers of white sauce, pasta, red sauce...white sauce, pasta, red sauce and so on!! Topped it with grated cheese.
Baked in a preheated oven at 180c for 20 mins

 Ready to eat!

Nachni Malpua

A quick and very healthy breakfast option for kids .. My 19 month old baby enjoyed it :)

Makes one malpua

3 tbsp nachni atta
1 tbsp atta (wheat)
1-2 tbsp finely chopped jaggery
a pinch of turmeric
salt to taste

Mix all the ingredients in water so as to get a batter of a runny dosa consistency
Heat a tawa, grease it with ghee, and pour the batter. Cook on both sides (applying ghee) till done (Color changes from brown to a little white when done)
The gur gives a very nice flavour!

Tzaziki/Chachik

Tzaziki is a traditional Greek dip which is made from cucumber and yogurt.It could be an accompaniment to food or a salad also.I had seen this recipe in Master chef Australia and had tried it in 2010.It was yummy

Cacık is a turkish form of dip which is a variation of Greek tzatziki,


Ingredients
yogurt (Supposed to be from goat's milk but u can try cow/buffalo milk too),
cucumber,
salt,
garlic peeled and finely chopped,
mint
honey
olive oil
lemon

Peel the cucumbers and grate it corsely on to a tray covered with a clean cloth so the liquid from the cucumber can drain in to the tray. Then sprinkle it with the salt and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. The extra liquid will get separated..so now squeeze it and transfer in a mixing bowl
Add the yogurt,garlic,lemon and honey.Season with mint leaves

Cool it in fridge before serving

Pasta in Pesto Sauce with Mushrooms

Ingredients:
Fresh Basil leaves
Pine nuts if available,if not walnuts and almonds
Garlic cloves peeled
Salt
Pepper
Grated cheese
Olive oil
Pasta cooked All dente
Mushrooms roasted in olive oil
Black olives pitted
Cream/milk
Additional oregano /thyme as per taste


Procedure:
For Pesto sauce,put fresh basil leaves,Nuts,cheese and garlic cloves in a blender.Add olive oil and puree till smooth.
Now mix the Roasted Mushrooms,Olives,Cooked pasta together.Add the above sauce to this mixture.Top it with Cream,grated cheese.Cook on medium flame till cheese melts.Add salt ,pepper additinal herbs.

Serve hot with garlic bread

Poha "Risotto Style"

Accidentally prepared this when had extra Poha left..turned out to be yummmy



Ingredients:
... Poha washed and a bit damp
Olive oil
Onion chopped
Garlic cloves peeled and cut
Boiled corn/baby corn
Mushroom stock
Chopped Vegetables like cabbage,capsicum,mushroom etc as per your choice
Herbs
Cheese Grated
Milk
Salt
Ground Pepper

Procedure
In olive oil fry onions and garlic..till golden brown
Add all vegetables
Add the poha now..let it fry a while
Now add vegetable stock
Add some milk
Let it gain the right consistency
Add salt pepper and herbs
Top up with grated cheese.
Cook till cheese melts

Serve hot..Enjoy this Italian version of Maharashtrian Poha

Salad this week

Chopped carrots
Chopped cucumber
Lettuce leaves

Add to it a dash of olive oil, pepper powder and/or oregano, lemon juice and salt to taste!

Sauted Exotic Vegies & Chicken

Ingredients:
1/2 cup each of chopped:
Mushrooms (already sauted in butter, till all the water is dried)
Brocoli (steamed)
Zucinni

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp olive oil

ready to eat chicken (like nuggets/kebabs etc) - shallow fried and chopped

Heat oil in a pan, and add the ginger garlic paste. Add the zuccini & cook for 2 mins. Then add rest of the ingredients, and cover and cook for 3-4 mins. Finally add salt, pepper & a dash of lemon juice.
Very simple, and tasty. Of course, you can add any seasoning as per your liking!

Rich Paneer in corn and peas

Paneer is the evergreen in my family.And its easy to cook too.Paneer has many health benefits too .Paneer is the storehouse of calcium and makes your bones stronger and helps men and women as they age against brittle bones.Including paneer in one’s daily diet helps to give protein required by the body for growth and renewal.

A simple recipe which tastes super freaky awesome and is easy to make

Ingredients
Sliced Paneeer
Chopped Onion
Maggie Hot and Sweet Tomato Ketchup
Garlic paste
Carom seeds(ajwain)
Turmeric
Red chilly powder
Kitchen King Masala
Corn boiled
Green peas boiled
Milk and Cream
Kasuri Methi rosated
Cashews and Dried brown grapes
Salt

Procedure:
Fry Onion in Oil.Add garlic paste.Fry till golden.Add carom seeds.Fry a bit.Now blend it in blender to make a paste.Fry this paste again.Add some tomato ketchup.Add salt,turmeric,chilly and Kitchen king Masala.Now add boiled Peas and Corns.let this fry a while.Now add some water and milk.Add the sliced Paneer.Let it boil a bit

Season with dried roasted Kasuri methi.Add Cashews and Dried Gapes and cream.

Serve with paratha/chapati/bread

Souper Soup Time : Broccoli Soup

The word broccoli, from the Italian plural of broccolo, refers to "the flowering top of a cabbage"Broccoli also has health benefits like prevention of heart disease ,cancer and is also proven being rich in Vitamin C.

This is a very easy soup to make and tastes yummy

Ingredients:
Chopped onions
Chopped Potatoes
Broccoli chopped
Garlic cloves
Mixed herbs
Pepper
Milk
Water
Salt


Procedure
Mix all ingredients except Milk and Cornflour.Pressure cook till approx 2-3 whilstles.
Now blend everything in blender.Take a pan and put blended mixture in it .Add Milk and Cornflour.Season with herbs .Serve pipping hot

Bon Appetit
Ash

Souper Soup -French Onion Soup - A quick approach

Its winter in Mumbai.Time to bid au revoir to the fans and ACs.This is a famous french soup called "Soupe à l'oignon" and is famous all over the world. I tried this simple French onion soup in this weather and it turned out to be fantastic.

Ingredients
Olive oil
Onions thinly sliced
Ginger Garlic paste
Pepper
Cornflour
Vegetable/Chicken stock
Croutons
Cheese
Salt to taste
Very little Brown Sugar
Additional seasoning herbs like thyme,rosemary,basil,oregano


Procedure:
Fry Sliced onions in olive oil.Add Ginger Garlic paste,pepper,brown sugar and salt.Fry till dark brown but not till burnt.

Add vegetable stock once the onion become brown.Add cornflour and let it boil for around half an hour.Keep stirring in between to avoid lumps.Once the miture boils well add croutons and cheeses on the top.

Cook till cheese melts.Serve hot.Add herbs for additional seasoning


Bon Appétit
Ash

Winter special Wheat Flour ladoos

1 kg wheat flour - roasted
400 gms pure ghee (I used home made ghee)
300-400 gms jaggery (or as per requirement)
8-10 cardamom - ground
50 gms poppy seeds (khus khus) (lightly roasted)
Gond (gum resin) - roasted & powdered
1 cup almonds - powdered
1 tbsp methi/ fenugreek seends - roasted and powdered
Dry ginger (Sounth) - powdered
3-4 (chwara) dry dates - deseeded & ground/chopped
1/2 jaifal - powdered

Heat ghee in a big vessel. Mix the atta in the ghee, let it heat evenly.
Then all all the remaining ingredients. Turn off gas and add jaifal. Then add grated jaggery while it is hot.
The ladoos will have to be made while still warm, so that the jaggery is melted and distributed evenly.
Very healthy & tasty! Enjoyed by my 1 1/2 yr old baby too :)

Ladoo - Oat & Wheat Flour

1/4 kg oats - ground to flour & roasted
1 kg - coarse wheat flour - roasted
1/2 kg pure ghee
10-12 cardamoms powdered
1 cup powdered - almonds, pistas and walnuts
1/4 to 1/2 kg jaggery