Thursday, 28 November 2013

Cheese Potato Sandwich


Enjoy breakfast with healthy, yummy and easy to make Cheese Potato Sandwich….




Ingredients:


8 Brown bread slices
4 medium potatoes, boiled & mashed
100 gm cottage cheese (paneer), crumbled
1 cup cheese, grated
1 tsp black pepper powder
1 tbsp parsley, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup capsicum, finely chopped
Salt to taste
Butter or Ghee

Method:

  • Mix potatoes, capsicum and paneer in a bowl and microwave for 30 sec on high power.
  • Add in parsley, salt and pepper.
  • Spread potato mixture on bread slice, add grated cheese and cover with another slice.
  • Apply butter on both sides and toast on griddle or in sandwich maker.
  • Cut diagonally and serve hot with milkshake or fruit juice.


Wednesday, 27 November 2013

Cottage Cheese Stuffed Aubergines


Soft and cheesy aubergines stuffed with Cottage cheese, capsicum and garlic is best to compliment with salad and soup….
  

Ingredients:

8 small  Aubergines / Brinjals
100 gm Cottage Cheese (paneer), crumbed
1 tsp garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp parsley, chopped
2 tbsp capsicum, finely chopped
½ tsp black pepper powder
50 gm mozzarella cheese, grated
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 tbsp lemon Juice
Salt to taste
50 gm bread crumbs

Method:

  • Cut into half length-ways and scoop out the insides with a knife. Keep aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 190° C.
  • Sprinkle the 1 tsp lemon juice over the aubergines to prevent discoloration.
  • Brush aubergines with little oil, season with salt and place in a baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 10 min.
  • In a pan heat oil and cook the scooped out aubergine insides for 2-3 min.
  • Cool and add in the cottage cheese, parsley, garlic, capsicum, cheese, lemon juice, salt & pepper.
  • When the aubergine shells are tender, remove and fill with the cheese mixture.
  • Cover with bread crumbs and drizzle some oil over, and return to the oven.
  • Bake for 5 minutes. Switch the oven function to Grill and cook for 5 min more or till the top is lightly browned.
  • Serve hot with salad and soup.

Monday, 25 November 2013

Hara Chana Patties


Make Nutritious and Crispy “Hara Chana Patties” to give a Healthy Treat…..


Ingredients:


1 cup Green Chickpeas (hare chane), soaked overnight        
1-2 Green chilli, finely chopped
1 medium Onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp Garam masala powder
1/2 tsp Cumin powder           
1 tsp Garlic paste
1/2 tsp dry mango powder
2 tbsp Yogurt
2 tsp Roasted chana dal powder
1 tbsp Fresh coriander leaves, chopped
Oil for shallow frying
Salt to taste

Method:

  • Boil the soaked chana along with salt, cool and grind.
  • To chana mixture add the remaining ingredients and mix well to a smooth mixture. (if mixture turn soft add 1-2 tsp roasted chana dal  powder)
  • Divide the dough into equal parts and shape them into roundels.
  • Heat oil in a pan and shallow-fry patties till golden brown on both the sides or grill.
  • Serve hot with ketchup or green chutney. 


Monday, 18 November 2013

Pineapple and Almond Cake


An exotic combination of pineapple and almonds make this cake everyone’s favorite….


Ingredients:


4 slices of tinned pineapple, chopped
1/2 tin (200 gm) condensed milk
3/4 cup flour
15-20 chopped almonds
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp pineapple essence
1 tbsp pineapple crush
1/2 cup oil
A drop yellow color

Method:

  • Shift flour, baking soda and baking powder in a bowl and keep aside.
  • Beat condensed milk with electric beater on high speed for 4-5 min or till light and fluffy.
  • Add pineapple essence and crush and beat again to mix well.
  • Add oil in small batches and beat well to combine all.
  • Add flour mixture and mix with a wooden spoon. Add color and mix again.
  • Mix in pineapple pieces and chopped almonds well.
  • Pour the prepared batter in greased tin.
  • Bake in preheated oven at 160 deg C for 35-40 min or until done.

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Rajma Tikki Sandwich


A filling and healthy sandwich…. has goodness of beans and vegetables.


Ingredients:


For Rajma Tikki:

1 cup kidney beans (Rajma)
1 onion, finely chopped
1-2 green chillies, chopped
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp chaat masala
Salt to taste
Oil for shallow frying

For Sandwich:

8 Brown bread slices
Cheese slices
Cucumber slices
Tomato slices
1/2 cup grated cabbage

Method:

  • Wash and soak rajma overnight. Drain and grind without water. Take out in a bowl.
  • Add in onion, garlic-ginger paste, green chili, and coriander, salt and mix well.
  • Mix in salt, red chilli, garam masala and chaat masala. Divide mixture in equal balls.
  • Shape balls and shallow fry them till golden brown on both sides.
  • Slightly toast the bread slices with some butter.
  • Place rajma tikki on one slice then layer all vegetables and top with cheese slice and final cover with another slice of bread.
  • Gently press the sandwich and serve hot with ketchup.

Friday, 8 November 2013

Apple Walnut Cake

Scrumptious Apple-Walnut cake, best to serve at your tea-time party….


Ingredients:


1 ¾ cup flour  
1 cup apple
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
1 cup buttermilk (1/4 cup curd mixed with 3/4 cup milk)
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method:

  • Mix flour, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon powder in a bowl till well mixed.
  • Add buttermilk, oil, vanilla essence and stir till smooth.
  • Mix chopped apple and walnuts with 1 tsp flour and add to the cake batter.
  • Transfer batter to a greased baking tin.
  • Bake in a preheated oven at 170 deg C for 30-35 min or till done.
  • Let it cool and then serve.

Monday, 28 October 2013

Paneer in Almond Gravy


Fresh Paneer cubes indulge in rich and delicious Almond based gravy…..






Ingredients:


1 cup paneer, cut into cubes
1/4 cup tomato puree
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp coriander powder
1 bay leaf
1 black cardamom
1 tbsp fresh cream
3 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
1/2 tbsp chopped coriander
15 almonds, soaked in warm water
2 whole dry red chillies, soaked
1 medium onion, roughly chopped

Method:

  • Remove skin of almonds and grind with red chillies and onions to a smooth paste.
  • Heat oil in a pan; add bay leaf and black cardamom.
  • Add almond paste, ginger-garlic paste and cook till oil separates.
  • Mix in tomato puree, dry spices and cook covered for 4-5 min. (cook with some hot water, if gravy turn dry)
  • Add paneer cubes, cream and stir well. Cook for another 1 min.
  • Serve hot garnished with chopped coriander leaves.



Friday, 25 October 2013

Spinach and Corn Quiche


Enjoy weekend brunch with yummy and sizzling hot  “Spinach-Corn Quiche”…


Ingredients:


For Short Crust Pastry or the base:

1 ¼   plain flour
60 gm cold butter (cut in small cubes)
A pinch of salt
1-2 tbsp ice cold water

For Spinach-Corn Filling:

2 cups shredded spinach
3/4 cup boiled sweet corn kernels
2 tbsp butter
Half of onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp plain flour
1 cup milk
1/4 cup grated processed cheese
Salt and black pepper powder to taste
1/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Method:


For Short Crust Pastry or the base:
  • Sieve the flour and salt together. Rub butter into the flour with finger tips till you get crumbly mixture.
  • Knead lightly with cold water to form a dough. (Don’t over work)
  • Wrap in a damp cloth or cling film and refrigerate for 15-20 min.
  • Roll out dough into ¼ inch thick disc and larger than the size of the pie dish.
  • Spread rolled dough into a greased loose-bottomed tin. Pinch sides.
  • Prick lightly with a fork. Bake at 200 °C in a preheated oven for 20 min.


For the Spinach and Corn Filling:
  • Heat the 1 tbsp butter in a pan; add the spinach and saute till it wilts.
  • Add the corn and sauté for 1 minute. Keep aside.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat; stir in flour. Stir and cook for about 2 min.
  • Do not brown. Gradually stir in milk and continue cooking over low heat, stirring constantly, until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from flame.
  • Now add cheese, salt and pepper and mix well. Turn off the flame.
  • Add spinach-corn to the sauce and mix well.


For the quiche:
  • Spread the mixture over the short crust pastry.
  • Sprinkle cheese on top and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°C for 8-10 min or till the cheese melts.
  • Cut into wedges and serve hot with any soup….




Saturday, 19 October 2013

Pasta and Cheese Canapes


Quick and yummy recipe prepared from canapes filled with pasta and veggies…



Ingredients:


15-20 canape cases (I got ready made)
1/2 cup boiled pasta
1/2 tbsp dried herbs
1/2 cup finely chopped veggies (bell peppers, cabbage, onion)
Salt to taste (optional)
1/2 cup grated cheese

Method:

  • In a bowl, mix pasta, veggies, and dried herbs and keep aside.
  • Before serving, mix in salt and fill mixture in the canape cases.
  • Top with grated cheese.
  • Bake at 150 deg C for 5-7 min or till cheese start to melt and canapes turn crispy.
  • Serve hot with tea or coffee.
  • You can top same filling on bread or biscuits also.




Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Chocolaty Cinnamon Cookies

Celebrate "World Food Day"

Relish yourself with cinnamon flavored cookies dipped in a bit of chocolate…


Ingredients:


1 cup Flour
75 gm white butter
5 tbsp castor sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup semi-sweet grated chocolate
1 tsp butter

Method:

  •  Sift Flour, cinnamon powder, baking powder in a bowl and mix well.
  • In a large bowl, beat the butter by adding 1 tbsp sugar at a time till light & fluffy.
  • Add flour mixture and gently mix with light hands to form dough. (Add 1 tbsp of milk, if required)
  • Roll out dough into disc and cut into desired shape with cookie cutter.
  • Bake in preheated oven at 160 deg C for about 15-20 min.
  • Remove & cool on wire rack.              
  • Melt chocolate on double boiler; add butter and stir with a wooden spoon and until it has completely melted.
  • Dip one end of each cookie in the melted chocolate and place it on baking sheet. Repeat with all cookies.
  • Keep in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, or until the chocolate has hardened.