Achari Paneer Masala

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Soft Paneer cubes simmered in spicy and tangy gravy…. Perfect for weekend menu.

Ingredients:

200 gm cottage cheese (paneer), chopped in cubes

1/2 red capsicum, chopped

1/2 green capsicum, chopped

1/2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

1/4 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp onion seeds

1/2 tsp fennel seeds

2 dry red chillies

2 bay leaves

3 tbsp oil

3 large tomatoes, pureed

1 medium onion, chopped

1 tsp red chilli powder or to taste

1/2 tsp coriander powder

1/4 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp garam masala powder

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves, finely chopped

Method:

• Heat oil; add chillies and bay leaves. Add mustard, onion and fennel seeds.
• When seeds start crackle, add ginger-garlic paste and saute well.
• Add chopped onions, when they turn pink; add chopped capsicums.
• Cook on low flame till capsicums turn soft and tender.
• Add tomato puree and dry masalas. Stir and cook for 4-5 min or till oil separates.
• Add 1/2 cup hot water and salt and cook until gravy looks thick.
• Mix in the paneer cubes and cook covered for few minutes.
• Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with naan or rice.

Mini Black Grape Pie

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Tempting and pleasing pie filled with tangy-sweet grapes…. is a joy to make and serve.

Ingredients:

1 recipe pastry dough for 2 mini double crust pies

1 ¾  cups black grapes

2 tbsp melted butter

1 ½  tbsp all-purpose flour

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp castor sugar

Method: 

• Preheat oven to 200 deg C.
• For pie base, roll out dough to ¼ inch thick for bottom and bake pie bottoms for 10 min and keep aside.
• In microwave safe bowl, cook grapes at 100 % power for 3-4 min or until grapes turn soft. Stir in between.
• Sieve extra water from the grapes and add the flour and sugar to cooked grapes. (Preserve the water, it tastes great). Stir in the melted butter.
• Pour mixture into half baked pie shells. For top crust, roll dough to 1/8 inch.
• Cover pie with top crust and seal edges using little water. (You can design top crust with small cutters or make lattice pattern)
• Brush little milk on top crust of pie. Bake at 220 deg C for about 15-20 min. or till top crust turn golden.
• Sprinkle icing sugar and serve.

Red Velvet Creamy Pops

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This Valentine's day surprise your loved ones with these cookie pops filled with cream cheese frosting….

Ingredients:

120 gm all purpose flour

2 tbsp cocoa powder

50 gm castor sugar or powdered sugar

60 gm butter

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp milk

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Few drops red color (adjust according to the color brand, I used Wilton color)

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

2.5 oz. cream cheese

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

3/4 cup icing sugar + extra for sprinkling

Lollipop sticks

Method: 

• Shift flour, cocoa powder and baking powder together and keep aside.
• In a bowl, cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy mixture.
• Add vanilla essence and beat again. Add all the dry ingredients.
• Mix color and milk together and add to the flour mixture. Combine all the ingredients gently to form a dough.
• Preheat oven to 180 deg C.
• Roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thickness and cut into heart shape with cookie cutter.
• Place cookies on baking sheet and bake for about 7-8 min or till done.
• Cookies should be soft at this stage, not crisp. Cool them completely.
• Using an electric mixer beat the cream cheese and vanilla together.
• Slowly add the powdered sugar until smooth and thick.
• Turn bottom of the cookies over and spoon a little frosting in centre.
• Press a lollipop stick into the frosting, and then gently press another cookie on top.
• Keep cookies aside to dry a bit to hold sticks and while serving sprinkle some icing sugar.

Banana and Dates Muffins

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Banana and Dates Muffins are tender, moist and a perfect treat for anytime of the day.

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas

3/4 cup flour    

2 tbsp corn flour

1/4 cup dates, chopped           

1/2 cup powdered sugar          

1/4 cup sunflower oil

4 tbsp milk

1/2 tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp baking soda     

For topping: (optional)

1 tsp brown sugar

Few banana slices

2-3 dates, finely chopped

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180 deg C.
• Shift together flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix in corn flour and sugar.
• In a small bowl, mash bananas well with fork or grind into a paste.
• Add oil, milk to banana mixture and mix well.
• Fold the dry ingredients into the banana mixture. Add in chopped dates.
• Mix well, making sure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
• Line the muffin cups and spoon the batter to 3/4 th of it.
• Mix ingredients for the topping and sprinkle on each muffin cup.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes and a toothpick inserted in centre comes clean.
• Invert on wire rack and cool completely.

Veggies with Spring onion Crumble

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Delectable and healthy baked dish full of veggies with spring onion crumble….Bon Appétit  !!!

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups Mix veggies, chopped

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp red chilli sauce

1 tsp dried herbs

1 tsp olive oil

Salt to taste

1/4 cup grated cheese

For the crumble:

4-5 spring onion stalks, chopped

1 bread slice

1 clove garlic

1 green chilli

Salt to taste

1/2 tbsp oil

Method:

• Wash and chop all the vegetables. Blanch few veggies like potatoes, carrots and cauliflower.
• In a bowl mix together mayo, chilli sauce, dried herbs, oil and salt.
• Add veggies to the bowl and mix till well coated with mayo dip.
• Grind all the ingredients together for the crumble.
• In a baking dish, spread layer of veggies at the bottom.
• Cover with spring onion crumble and add grated cheese over the top.
• Bake in preheated oven at 180 deg C for 15-20 min or till cheese melts.
• Serve hot.

Baked Potato Soup

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Yummy and filling soup prepared from baked potatoes, a must try in the season ...

Ingredients:

4 medium potatoes, chopped 

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

1 medium onion, chopped

1 large tomato, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp chilli flakes

Salt & pepper to taste

1/2 cup milk

1 cup vegetable stock

1 bay leaf

2 tsp butter

Method:

• Preheat oven at 220 deg C. Grease a baking tray.
• Mix in salt, ½ tsp chilli flakes and 1tsp oil with chopped potatoes and keep aside for 5-7 min.
• Spread potatoes evenly on baking tray and bake for 20-25 min.
• Flip potatoes to other side after 10 min to get evenly baked. Keep aside when done.
• Heat oil+butter in a pan. Add bay leaf, onions and ginger-garlic paste, cook for a min.
• Add in tomatoes, salt, pepper and chilli flakes; cook covered for 2 min.
• Now add baked potatoes and vegetable stock. Cook for 5-7 min.
• Cool and grind to a smooth mixture. Transfer to the pan.
• Mix in enough milk and cook for 1-2 boil. Turn off flame.
• Serve hot with croutons.