Gulab Jamun

Making home made gulab jamun is not as hard as it looks. Try the recipe below and enjoy the sweet delight. 

Gulab jamun through different phases of preparation

Ingredients 

• 1 cup powder milk
• 1 Tbs ghee
• 1 Tbs flour
• 2 tsp baking powder 
• 1 egg
• 1 and 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• Some cardamom seeds
• oil for frying 

Directions

Gulab jamun in the making ;-)

1. Add the water, sugar and cardamom seeds together to prepare the sheera. Let it simmer while you go ahead with the rest of the procedure.
2. Mix powder milk, flour and baking powder in a bowl. 
3. Add ghee and oil to the mixture. Mix together to form a dough.
4. Make small balls and put in the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
5. Heat up the oil. It should only be mildly warm before you add the balls to it. 
6. Deep fry the balls on low flame till they turn brown. Do not overcook to a dark shade.
7. Immediately transfer to the hot sheera.
8. Let the balls absorb the sheera for 30 minutes and then take them out or you can just let them soak up the entire sheera. 

Aloo Qeema

This tempting and spicy desi dish is everyone's favourite:-). I particularly enjoy it with Paratha. Do try it!

Ingredients

• 1/2 kg mutton or beef mince
• 3 medium sized potatoes
• salt according to taste
• red chilli powder according to taste
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tsp coriander powder
• 2 tsp garlic paste
• 2 tsp ginger paste
• 2 large tomatoes
• 1 medium sized onion 
• 2-3 chopped green chillies 
• some chopped coriander leaves
• ghee or oil for cooking

Directions

1. Grind the onion to make a fine paste.
2. Heat oil in a cooking utensil. Cook till light brown.
3. Add 1 tsp ginger and 1 tsp garlic paste. Stir. The contents and cook for 1-2 mins.
4. Add the mince. Turn the flame high otherwise a lot of water will be released from the mince and it will turn hard.
5. Cook the mince till it turns brown. Turn the flame to medium now and keep cooking till the color becomes darker.
6. Grind the tomatoes and add the paste to the mince. Add all the spices along with the remaining ginger garlic paste.
7. Cut the potatoes into small cubes. Add them right after the tomato paste.
8. Cook till the tomato paste thickens and separates from the oil. Now add only a little water and close the lid.
9. Cook till the all the tomato paste and water has been absorbed and the potatoes have been cooked.
10. Add the chopped green chillies and corriander leaves. Turn the stove off and close the lid to let the flavour fuse.

Enjoy with raita and fresh salad :-)

Spicy Moong Daal Fried

If you are in the mood of something desi, spicy yet simple, try this moong daal recipe for lunch and serve it with bondi raita :). Plus, as it is full of protein and fiber, it serves as a great meal option if you are on a diet. 

Spicy Moong Daal Fried Served with Boondi Raita

You just need a few ingredients and the cooking procedure is very simple. So, on days when you are not in the mood of spending too much time in the kitchen, just prepare this tasty daal.

Delicious and Healthy Moong Daal

INGREDIENTS: 

• 2 cups Moong Daal 
• 2 large tomatoes
• Salt according to taste
• Red chilli powder according to taste
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tsp corriander powder (dhania powder)
• 2 fresh green chillies
• 1/4 tsp chaat masala
• Ghee or oil for cooking

DIRECTIONS

• Soak the daal in luke warm water and let it stand for at least 1 to 2 hours before cooking.
• Grind the tomatoes and make a paste. 
• Heat up ghee/oil and add all the spices (salt, red chilli powder, turmeri powder and corriander powder) to it. Do not add the chaat masala yet.
• Cook the spices on medium heat for just one to two minutes to get rid of their raw flavour. Stir once or twice to distribute the heat evenly.
• Add the tomato paste and cook on medium flame till the tomato paste thickens and the ghee/oil separates. Keep stirring from time to time to prevent the contents from sticking to the bottom of the cooking utensil. There is no need to add water.
• Add the daal now. Add only 1/4 cup of extra water, stir the contents well once and close the lid. Cook on low flame. The extra water will be absorbed and the daal will become tender. Avoid stirring the contents too much as the daal might get mashed up. Stir only occasionally if needed. Do not add extra water until necessary. 
• When all the water has been absorbed and the daal looks dry, add finely chopped green chillies. Close the lid to let the flavour of the chillies fuse with the daal. Cook for one minute on very low flame. Then turn the stove off but let the lid remain closed till its serving time.
• Take out the daal in a serving dish. Sprinkle chaat masala over it.
• Serve with boondi raita. 

 Moong Daal

Simple Chocolate Muffins Recipe

Here is a recipe for some really soft muffins which will just melt in your mouth :).

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups flour
2. 2 tsp baking powder
3. 1 egg
4. 1 cup milk
5. 1 cup ground sugar
6. 1/4th cup oil
7. 1/4 cup cocoa powder 

How to Make:

1. Preheat the oven
2. Use an electric beater to mix ground sugar and oil together.
3. Add the egg to the mixture and beat it well until it is fluffy.
4. In a separate bowl, add all the dry ingredients together (flour, baking powder and cocoa powder).
5. Now combine both the mixtures in one bowl. Mix with a fork and then use the beater (only for around 30 seconds) to form a smooth mixture. 
6. Add half cup milk. Beat again till the mixture is smooth. Add the rest of the milk and repeat. 
7. The final mixture should be smooth. It will be a little more runny than your usual cake batter. 
8. Grease your muffin tray and sprinkle some dry flour in each compartment. This will ensure that the muffins do not stick to the tray when it is time to take them out.
9. Now pour the batter into each muffin compartment and put the tray into the oven.
10. Baking time will depend on the type of oven and temperature. To check whether the muffins are done, use a matchstick. Insert it into a muffin, if it comes out clean, the muffins are ready. 
11. Let the muffins cool down a little before you take them out.

TIP: Use a butter knife to loosen the muffins at the sides. Be careful, these muffins are too soft and can easily break if you take them out while hot. 

Chicken Manchurian Recipe

This is not the conventional chicken manchurian. It is my own variation - quick to prepare and very very tasteful :).

Chicken Manchurian

The main variation here is that instead of preparing the chicken from scratch, I use KNN's chicken pops. You can use any other company's chicken pops which just need to be fried before you eat them. This adds a different flavour and a different texture to the typical manchurian you usually make.

Servings: for 2 people

Ingredietns

1. KNK's Chicken Tender Pops .................................. 5 to 6 large pieces
2. Oil ........................................................................... for frying and 2 Tbs extra
3. Ginger paste .............................................................. 2 tsps
4. Tomato ketchup ....................................................... 2 Tbs heaped
5. Chilli garlic sauce ....................................................... 1 Tbs heaped
6. Soy Sauce ................................................................ 2 Tbs
7. Vinegar ..................................................................... 2 Tbs
8. Sugar ......................................................................... 1 tsp
9. Table salt .................................................................... 1/4 tsp
10. Chinese salt ................................................................ 1/4 tsp
11. Red chilli powder ........................................................ 1/4 tsp
12. water ........................................................................... 1 cup
13. cornflour ...................................................................... 1 Tbs
14. Capsicum (optional) .................................................... 1 small

How to Make

1. Fry the tender pops. Cut each one into half and set aside. 
2. Heat up 2 Tbs oil in a pan. Add garlic paste and fry on medium flame for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add 1 cup water to the pan.
4. Add tomato ketchup, chilli garlic sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, both the salts and red chillie powder. Mix well and let the water come to a boil.
5. Add the tender pops. Cover the pan and let the contents simmer on low flame for 4-5 minutes.
6. In the meanwhile, mix cornflour in a little water. 
7. Add the cornflour to the pan. But do not add all of it at once. Let the mixture boil and see if you have achieved the desired thickness. If you want it to be thicker, then add more cornflour. Let the contents simmer till you have the thickness that you want.
8.  Cut the capsicum into thin, long strips. Add it to the pan and close the lid to let the flavour of capsicums fuse with the manchurian. The stove should be off now.
9. Keep the lid closed till its serving time.
10. Pour out the contents in a dish and serve with rice :)

You can comment below or on facebook if you have any questions or feedback :)

Chicken Manchurian Served Hot

Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Here is a delightful snack to satisfy your sweet tooth ;)

Delicious Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

1. flour ................................................................. 2 Cups
2. instant yeast .......................................................1 Tbs
3. sugar .................................................................1 tsp
4. milk ...................................................................1/2 cup
5. egg ....................................................................1
6. baking powder ..................................................1 tsp
7. cinnamon powder ..............................................1 Tbs
8. unsalted butter ....................................................1/2 cup
9. packed brown sugar ...........................................1/2 cup
10. Juice of 1 large lemon
11. Nuts and raisins (optional)

How to Make
Prepare the dough. Mix flour, baking powder, sugar and instant yeast together first. Beat an egg and add it to the dry ingredients. Mix well with hands. Then add warm milk slowly to knead the flour. You can change the quantity of the milk according to your requirement. The final dough should be soft yet firm. It should be well-kneaded.

Put the dough in an air-tight box, or cover with a damp napkin and set aside at room temperature for at least an hour. By that time the dough would have risen. Mix the butter, cinnamon powder, lemon juice, nuts and raisins together and put in a separate bowl.

When one hour (or more) has passed, it is time to roll out the dough. Divide the dough into half and make two balls. Roll out each of them one by one. The rolled-out, flattened dough should now be buttered. Apply evenly. Now fold the dough like a swiss roll. Cut it into smaller rolls of equal size. Place these into a greased dish and put into pre-heated oven. Your cinnamon rolls will be done in 15-25 minutes.

Enjoy at tea time. :)
Comment below or on the facebook page if you have any questions.

Sweet and Tangy Fruit Salad Recipe

Some info before the recipe :)

A fruit salad is one of the best alternatives for fattening desserts. I am not providing you with a completely sugar-free alternative here, but it is still much better than consuming a big serving of ice-cream or a slice of cake. You get fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants from this refreshing treat

This is one of the simplest and most commonly made fruit salads. But I have added some interesting variations to fuse a tangy flavour with the sweetness of the salad. Plus, it's also very syrupy. Hope you like it :).

Before I go on to the recipe, I would like to tell you that bananas (one of the key ingredients) are not fattening. In fact, they speed up your metabolism which is a process by which your body actually burns fats. Also, their high fibre content ensures that you feel full and do not keep on munching :).

Sweet and Tangy Fruit Salad

 The ingredients below will make 4-5 small servings.

Ingredients:

• Bananas ..................................................... 4 medium sized
• Apple ......................................................... 1 large
• Sugar .......................................................... 2 serving spoons
• black pepper ............................................... 1/4th tsp
• juice of one large lemon
• vinegar (for extra tanginess) .......................... 1 Tbs
• Orange flavoured Tang .................................. 2 tsp dissolved in 1/4th glass of water
•  Juice of one tangerine (optional/ according to season and availability)
• Kiwi fruit, or grapes or pineapple chunks for garnish

TIP: if you want to decresase the amount of sugar, add more bananas. Their sweetness will be a good substitute for sugar. 

How to Make

• Cut the fruits and mix them together in a bowl.
• Mix sugar, black pepper, lemon juice, tangerine juice and vinegar with the fruits.
• Dissolve 2 tsp of orange tang in 1/4 cup of water to prepare a concentrated orange drink. Drizzle it over the fruits and mix well.
• Finally take out the salad in a serving dish and garnish with your favourite fruit.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour and serve chilled. 

Garlic Bread Recipe

Garlic break makes a great side dish. The next time you make pizza, pasta, steaks or soup, do serve this tasteful, crispy and filling bread to compliment your main dish.

Home made garlic bread

Ingredients:

• Bread slices or small buns ................................................... 4
• Unsalted butter ................................................................... 2-3 Tbs
• Garlic paste ....................................................................... 1 tsp
• Finely chopped corriander leaves ....................................... a few
• Salt .................................................................................... a pinch
• black pepper ..................................................................... a pinch

How to Make:

Cut each bread slices vertically into two pieces. If you are using buns, cut each bun around the middle. Mix softened butter, garlic paste, salt, pepper and coriander leaves together in a small bowl. Now butter the slices or the buns with this mixture. Put in preheated oven for 5-8 minutes or till they turn slightly golden brown and desirably crispy.

Tip: You can change the amount of butter if you want to butter the bread slices more lavishly. But too much would make the bread too soggy.

Enjoy your garlic bread fresh from the oven. :)

Quick Bar-B-Q Pizza

Here is the recipe for a quick Bar-B-Q pizza which needs no dough. Plus you can use any left over chicken for the topping instead of preparing from scratch. So, the pizza will be ready within 10 to 15 minutes :)

Enjoy your quick bar-b-q pizzas with delicious garlic bread - Click here for the recipe.

Here, pita bread is used for the base. The topping consists of left over chicken tikka pieces from previous night's dinner. However, if you do not have any left over chicken, I have given you a recipe below for preparing a quick topping :).

Ingredients:

(I am not going to give you any measurements for the ingredients as you can vary them according to how many pizzas you are making - no hard and fast rules.)

1. Bar-b-q sauce (key ingredient)
2. Pita bread for the base
3. Shredded cheddar cheese or cheese singles
4. Mayonnaise 
5. Chopped Capsicum
6. Chopped Tomatos
7. Corns (optional - you can use any other vegetable you like for the topping, like onions). 
8. Oregano (optional - no worries if you don't have it in your kitchen cabinet)
9. Chicken for the topping

For the Chicken filling

1. Shredded Boiled Chicken
2. Mayonnaise
3. Salt
4. Black pepper

Preparing the Pizza

Let's prepare the chicken topping first. Mix the shredded boiled chicken with mayonnaise. Add salt and pepper for seasoning. There you go, the topping is ready. Only boiling the chicken will take time. Remember, the topping does not have to be too spicy. It is the bar-b-q sauce which will bring out the real taste. :)

You can take one large pita bread or small ones to make mini pizzas. Pour the bar-b-q sauce on the bread and then place your chicken topping over it. Now drizzle mayonnaise and sprinkle the assorted vegetables over it. Season with oregano. Finally, use pieces of cheese singles or shredded cheddar cheese as the final layer of the topic. Grease an oven dish with oil, place the pizzas in it and put in preheated oven.

Preparing the pizzas - chicken pieces placed over bar-b-q sauce base

 As the base and topping are already cooked, you don't need to keep the pizzas inside the oven for too long. Take them out as soon as the cheese on the top has melted. Leaving them in for tough long will make the break dry and tough. It should take around 10 minutes only :). 

Before going into the Oven :)

Hummus - Health Benefits and Recipe

Hummus is the healthiest sandwich spread for all weight watchers and health conscious folks. Replace all fattening mayonnaise based spreads, butter and unhealthy dips with this hummus and gain its health benefits.

Hummus originated in the Middle East. I tired it for the first time while my visit to the Middle East. There, at a buffet lunch, a bowl full of hummus was placed at the table among dishes of healthy salads.It was so beautifully dressed with olives and olive oil that I just couldn't resist trying it.

Once I tried it, its creamy and light texture made me want more :) and why not ... its healthy, its non-fattening and its also filling :)

Hummus at a Restaurant in the Middle East

So, here is a recipe taken from BBC Food. But first let me tell you about its health benefits so that you can be motivated to replace your mayonnaise and butter spreads with hummus :).

Health Benefits of Hummus

The main ingredients used for making hummus are chick peas, olive oil and lemon juice. Plus, it contains seseme seed paste which is called "Tahini" in the Middle East. Chickpeas are a rich source of proteins while Tahini provides us with methionine which is an amino acid.

Hummus is a non-fattening spread which is high in the following nutrients:

• protein
• vitamin E
• vitamin C
• fiber
• zinc
• iron
• vitamin B6
• aniti-oxidants

Therefore, apart from helping you watch your weight, hummus is also great from your skin and hair :). The antioxidants found in olive oil will keep you young ;). In addition, the fiber makes you fill full, curbing your cravings for unhealthy sugary snacks.

 Recipe

Here is the simplest recipe of Hummus Taken from BBC Food website.

Ingredients:
Boiled Chickpeas ........................................................  200 grams
Extra Virgin Olive Oil ................................................... 2 Tbs
Lemon Juice ................................................................ 2-3 Tbs
Paste of seseme seeds .................................................. 100 ml
Crushed Garlic Cloves ................................................. 2
Ground Cumin.............................................................. 2 tsp
Salt .............................................................................. a pinch
Water............................................................................. 4 Tbs
Paprika .......................................................................... 1 tsp

How to Make:
Blend all the ingredients together in a food processor to make a smooth and creamy paste. Add more paprika, lemon juice and ground cumin if you like stronger seasoning. However, keep the salt content low. Drizzle with olive oil and enjoy as a dip or spread :).

Ras Malai Recipe

Making Ras malai at home is both rewarding as well as economical. Please your family with this delicious traditional delight :)

Ingredients

You will need the following:

1. Milk powder .......................................................  1 cup
2. Baking powder ....................................................  2 tsp
3. Egg             .........................................................   1
4. Flour           ......................................................... 2 Tbs
5. Oil            ............................................................ 1 Tbs
6. Milk (liquid) .......................................................... 1 Liter
7. Sugar          ............................................................ According to taste
8. Cardamom ............................................................... 3-4
9. Almonds and pistachios for garnish

Recipe

Start preparing the balls. At the same time, put the liquid milk in a  wide-mouthed pot, add cardamoms and let it simmer on a low flame.

For the balls, mix the powdered milk, baking powder and flour together. Beat the egg and add it to the dry ingredients along with the oil. Mix the ingredients together and form a dough. The dough should be neither too sticky nor crumbly. Now make small balls. You can either make them round, oval or flat.

By this time, the milk would have boiled and would be simmering. Add sugar according to taste. I use two serving spoons. Now add the balls to the pot. The moment the balls are added to the warm milk, they will start swelling.Their color will also start changing to pure white and you will also notice a difference in the texture. Let them cook on a low flame till they are completely done. Half hour should do.

Finally, take out in a serving dish and garnish with crushed almonds and pistachio.

Tips and Tricks

The recipe mentioned above makes it look as if Ras malai is very easy to make. No doubt it is! Plus, it is also an quick recipe. But, things can also go wrong, making you end up with undercooked or broken ras malai. So, here are a few tips and tricks to help you do the job perfectly :)

• Make sure you use exactly 2 tsp of baking powder and not more than that. Otherwise, the balls will swell up too much and will break.
• If the dough is too sticky, the balls will take more time for cooking. On the other hand, if it is too dry and crumbly, your balls will break when you cook them.
• As soon as the balls touch the hot milk, their color and texture starts changing. Do not be fooled into thinking that the ras malai is done. If you turn off the stove at this point, the balls will remain undercooked from the inside.
• Keep the size of the balls small. Flat balls will be even better. A small size and flat shape will ensure that the balls are properly cooked from the inside.

The rest you will learn from experience :). Luckily for me, when I made Ras malai for the first time ever five years back, it turned out PERFECT. But then i faced some problems when I tried again. So, only experience can teach you how to overcome all the problems.

Have fun cooking... and EATING! :) :)

Continental Chicken Steaks

Continental Chicken Steaks Recipe

Here is a simple recipe for tender and juicy chicken steaks. 

Continental Chicken Steaks

 

Ingredients

For steaks

1. Chicken breast pieces .................................. 4-6

2. Cornflour ...................................................... 2 Tbs

3. Salt ............................................................... according to taste

4. Chinese salt ................................................... 1/2 tsp

5. Black pepper ................................................. 1/2 tsp

6. Soy sauce ...................................................... 2 Tbs

7. Lemon juice .................................................... 1 tsp

8. Bread crumbs ................................................... as needed

9. Yogurt  ............................................................ as needed (for sticking the bread crumbs on the chicken)

10. Mixed Vegetables (peas, carrots and potatoes) .... for garnish

For Garnishing Sauce

1. Water .........................  1cup

2. Cornflour .................... 2-3 Tbs

3. Ketchup ...................... 2 Tbs

4. Chili Garlic Sauce ........ 1 Tbs

4. Sugar .......................... 2 tsp

5. Chinese salt ................. 1 tsp

6. Red chili powder........... 1/4 tsp

7. Vinegar ........................ 2 Tbs

8. Soy Sauce .................... 4 Tbs

9. Ginger paste ................ 2 tsp

10. Lemon juice ............... 2 tsp

Note: All measurements can be adjusted according to taste and requirements

DIRECTIONS:

For the Steaks:

Take a bowl and mix cornflour with water to make a smooth paste.  Put all the other ingredients in the mixture except the yogurt and the bread crumbs.  Coat the chicken breast pieces and leave in the bowl for at least an hour. Overnight marination would be better. The marinade does not have to be in excess. It should be just enough to coat the chicken breast pieces. Do not put too much water in the cornflour as the mixture will then become too runny to coat the chicken. 

Coat the chicken in yogurt and then roll in crumbs. Make sure that the crumbs stick to the chicken evenly. You can press lightly with your hands to prevent the crumbs from falling off. When all the chicken pieces are done, put them in the freezer for around half an hour. This will ensure that the crumbs properly settle down on the chicken and do not fall off when you start frying.

TIP: 
Usually, beaten egg is used for sticking crumbs to something. But i have used yogurt instead as, you must have noticed, applying egg to chicken produces smell and an egg-like aftertaste which is really unpleasant. Use yogurt instead - there will be no smell and no strange taste.

Now its time to fry. Take oil in a deep pan for deep frying. The oil should be heated up moderately. If it is too hot, the crumbs will start burning while the chicken will remain undercooked. However, keep the flame medium as cooking on a low flame will cause the chicken to lose its tenderness, becoming hard and chewing as a result. Fry till golden brown and take out on a paper towel.

Prepare the Garnish

All the vegetables should be boiled before frying the chicken. In this way, you will be able to serve everything hot :). Spice up the peas a little. Lightly grease a pan and add the peas to it. Add salt and red chili powder to taste and cook for 2-3 minutes. Preferably, cook with the lid closed as the peas tend to jump up sometimes. You can spice up the potatoes as well the same way.

Now let's come to the sauce. This is my favorite addition to the steaks as it brings out a delicious flavor. Take a saucepan a put all the ingredients in it, except the cornflour. Just cook til the sauce starts boiling. Add a little cold water to the cornflour and then add to the sauce. This will prevent lumps. Cook for a while till the sauce becomes thick. You can add more cornflour if you want the sauce to be thicker. Plus, do taste it to check if its perfect. Sometimes it needs more vinegar, or sugar or soy sauce. It should be pleasantly sweet and sour.

Final Touches

Drizzle hot sauce over the freshly fried steaks. Garnish with vegetables the way you want. Sever while everything is hot ;) You can serve the stakes with pasta or rice. I chose simple rice and 7-up to have a complete fun meal. :) :)

A Fun Meal with Continental Chicken Steaks

Food, Health and Beauty - an Introduction to My Blog

Food, Health and Beauty

So here we go... my very first post on this blog :). Let me give you folks an introduction about what this is all about. Food, health and beauty - three common interests which most women share. We love to cook, we want to live a healthy lifestyle and, of course, we all want to look beautiful! 

So I will post recipes for you, share health tips and cool beauty tips with you along with beauty product reviews. Wait, that's not all... there will be much more... discussing fashion trends, online shopping tips, restaurant reviews and even reviews on the latest gadgets in the tech world... I will keep you updated about almost everything you can possibly be interested in ;). 

Some of the beauty products reviewed by me - coming up soon

Now something about me... I am not a dedicated cooking teacher or a skillful makeup artist. I am just an ordinary person like you and want to share my own experiences with the other girls out there. The recipes that I have tried, the places I have visited, health topics I have researched ... I want to share all this with you, hoping to make some difference in your life ;).

Some of my cooking experiments ;)

So, keep checking for updates. I will keep posting new stuff every now and then. Hope you find it useful and enjoy it as well :) .. c ya!