Chocolate Cup Cakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour / maida
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 ounces melted unsweetened baking chocolate or 1/3 cup cocoa powder

 

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
• Combine all ingredients into large mixing bowl.  Mix at low speed for 30 seconds, and scrape bowl.  Mix at high speed for 3 minutes.
• Fill liners with 2/3 full of batter.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• You may frost these cute cup cakes when they are completely cool.

Cup Cake – Vanilla

As everyone is in a festive and a holiday mood, the smell of fresh bakes enhances the mood in the streets, shops and almost every houses. The kids enjoyment during this short vacation is doubled with the indulgence of hot hot cakes/pastries…and these cute cup cakes also plays its role in the festive excitements…As we all anticipate the arrival of a new year, let’s welcome it with some fresh bakes and hope the year is full of Triumph & new challenges in all aspects of our life…

These vanilla cupcakes are delicious with almost any kind of frosting, best is to try a fresh strawberry frosting, chocolate or creamy butter royal icing.

Prepare the batter

Fill the mould

Freshly Baked

Ingredients:

• 3 cups plain flour/maida
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• Butter (1 stick)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350°. Grease and flour muffin cups, line with muffin papers, or generously spray with baking oil/flour spray.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter on low speed to soften. Increase speed to medium and beat until smooth. Add sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla; scrape bowl then beat until smoot

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

Add the dry ingredients to the first mixture a little at a time, alternating with the milk. Continue beating on medium speed until smooth and well blended, scraping the sides of the bowl once or twice. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, until a wooden pick comes out clean when inserted in the center of one.

Brownie – A tempting treat

This is a simple and easy brownie recipe and can be quickly made for sudden guests / kids arriving from school…

The brownies which is prepared by using chocolate and walnuts is very much popular and are also known as cookies brownies. Adding flavor of nuts and raisins to this recipe will do and makes it more yummy.

You can eat this straight away from the oven either warm / after it has cooled down… but for a great dessert you may have it warm served with vanilla ice cream and dusted with some icing sugar…

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup butter
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 eggs
• ½ can NESTLÉ Sweetened Condensed Milk

Method :

• Combine eggs, sugar and butter and beat it together.
• Add to the mixture; flour, sifted cocoa powder, and baking powder. Beat until well combined.
• Add gradually the condensed milk and mix until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
• Pour mixture into a greased and floured baking pan and bake at 180 C till done.

Served with Vanilla Icecream & homemade chocolate sauce

Shall post the recipe for homemade chocolate and ice creams soon.

Vegetable Kurma – A perfect side dish for Indian Breads

For those who are unaware of this super dish…….Vegetable Korma is basically a medley of vegetables in a rich gravy. It is made with less spices and its best served with appam and chapatti.

Ingredients:

• Onion – 2
• Tomato – 2
• Potato – 1
• Green peas – ½ cup
• Beans
• Carrot – 1
• Cabbage – A medium piece
• Salt – 1/4 tsp
• Red chilli powder – 1/4 tsp
• Turmeric powder – a pich
• Grated coconut – 1 cup
• Fennel seeds – 1/2 tsp
• Poppy seeds – 1/2 tsp

Method

Chop the veggies into thin long pieces. Add the green peas to this and steam the vegetables in a pressure cooker. Grind the coconut, fennel seeds and poppy seeds into a nice paste adding minimum water. Chop the tomatoes and onions and fry them in little oil. Add salt, chilli powder turmeric powder and the cooked vegetables. Add the ground paste and stir and heat for a little while.

Chow Chow Curry

Vegetable Chow-Chow is a surprisingly quick and economical dish. It is sure to tickle your taste buds. Chow Chow / Chayote squash curry is so simple, can be cooked quickly and yet tastes great. This chow chow curry is a super healthy dish with very little oil packed with full of flavor.

Ingredients:

• Chow-Chow -  1 or 2
• Onion – 1
• Garlic – 10 pods
• Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp
• Chilli Powder – 1/2 tsp
• Aniseed – 1/4 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Bengal Gram Dal – 1 tbsp
• Oil for frying

For Seasoning:

• Mustard Seeds – 3/4 tsp
• Curry leaves – 1 or 2 strand
• Black Gram Dal – 1/2 tsp
• Red Chilli – 1

Method:
1. Dry roast bengal gram dal till golden and crush coarsely.
2.  Scrape outer skin and cut chow-chow into medium sized pieces.
3. Heat oil in a shallow pan, add seasoning then the cut onion.
4. Fry for 2 minutes, add cut chow-chow pieces & stir for another  minute.
5. Add enough water, turmeric powder, aniseed powder, salt, chilli powder, garlic pieces and cook till vegetable becomes tender. Close with a lid.
6. When vegetable gets 3/4th cooked & the moisture is still there, add bengal gram powder & close the lid again.
7. Cook till dal becomes soft & when moisture is fully gone, remove from fire.

Roasted / Steamed Corn – A healthy corn indulgence

Corn is a super crop that is very tasty, filling and liked by adults and children alike.  These days we could find steamed corns served in a cup with a variety of seasonings and butter in almost all the malls both in India and abroad and it is gaining as a popular snack everywhere.  There are n no of ways to enjoy this rich fibre crop and I have listed very few here….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One is the popular method is grilling directly on the fire which is a must have indulgence whenever we visit marina beach in chennai and now as Chill Chennai demands a hot hot snack, this grilled corn on the direct fire is one of the healthy way to quench that desire . It is an tasty way to roast/grill the corn on fire and application of some lemon juice and salt with chilly powder to rub on it…. hmmmmmm…it’s yummilicious especially during this winter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those who doesnt like the above taste can opt for steam cooking which is a quick and easy way to cook fresh corn and the taste is yummy with different toppings or seasonings as per one’s tastebuds.  Steaming them takes much less time compared to boiling them, and it allows the corn to retain its flavor, nutrients and color. Follow these steps to steam corn.  Fill a large pan/cooker with enough water and a tbsp of sugar added to it and place the corn, cover the lid and steam for around 10 mts till done. If you add salt to the water, it hardens the corn so avoid it. You can cook corn in a microwave too.

steamed corn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once steamed apply a dollop of butter, white pepper, lil salt and enjoy the steamed corn. You may also add different seasoning or herbs as a topping. You could try honey roasted corn too and the options are endless and it only needs your creativity. Have a great corn indulgence!!

Corn is a super crop that is very tasty, filling and liked by
adults and children alike.  These days we could find steamed corns
served in a cup with a variety of seasonings and butter in almost all
the malls both in India and abroad and it is gaining as a popular snack
everywhere.  There are n no of ways to enjoy this rich fibre crop and I
have listed very few here….

One is the popular method of grilling directly on the fire which is
a famous must have whenever we visit marina beach in chennai and now as
Chill Chennai demands a hot hot snack, this grilled corn on the direct
fire is one of the healthy way to quench that desire . It is an tasty
way to roast/grill the corn on fire and application of some lemon juice
and salt with chilly powder to rub on it…. hmmmmmm…it’s
yummilicious especially during this winter.

Just hold the corn on direct fire rotating each side

Roasted Corn

Those who doesnt like the above taste can opt for steam cooking
which is a quick and easy way to cook fresh corn and the taste is yummy
with different toppings or seasonings as per one’s tastebuds.  Steaming
them takes much less time compared to boiling them, and it allows the
corn to retain its flavor, nutrients and color. Follow these steps to
steam corn.  Fill a large pan/cooker with enough water and a tbsp of
sugar added to it and place the corn, cover the lid and steam for around
10 mts till done. If you add salt to the water, it hardens the corn so
avoid it. You can cook corn in a microwave too.

Steamed Corn

Once steamed apply a dollop of butter, white pepper, lil salt and
enjoy the steamed corn. You may also add different seasoning or herbs as
a topping. You could try honey roasted corn too and the options are
endless and it only needs your creativity. Have a great corn
indulgence!!

Shahi Paneer

Shahi Paneer is a very popular and rich vegetarian recipe and goes as a great accompaniment for Shahi Pulao/ Jeera Rice/Roti/ Indian Breads. It is a preparation of paneer, cream, tomatoes and spices. Thick, creamy and lil spicy, it is a mainstay of  Indian cuisine and is one of the popular dishes in North India.  This will be a sure hit in your house. Try it out.

 

Ingredients:

• Paneer as required
• 1 onion
• 3 tbsp. ghee/butter
• 1/2″ ginger 
• 4 tomatoes
• 2 green chillies
• 2 cardamoms
• 1/4 cup beaten curd
• 1/2 tsp. red chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala
• salt to taste
• 1/2 cup milk

Method

• Chop the paneer into 2″ size.
• Heat half the ghee. Add onion,ginger, green chilli and cardamom. Fry for 3-4 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and cook for 7-8 minutes, covered. Add curd and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup water, cool & blend in a mixie till smooth.
• Heat remaining ghee, add gravy and other ingredients except milk and paneer. Boil to get a creamy gravy.
• Add milk and paneer fingers and boil for 3-4 minutes.
• Garnish with chopped coriander and grated paneer.