Dahi kebabs

The post name may not attract you...but I am sure the recipe would definitely. Dahi kebabs are my hubby's one of the favourite item. We have tasted this yummy at many places ....some places it was hit and other places it was total miss. Whenever we used to like it.... We tried to thought what all should have gone inside....till the time it melted in our mouth.. 

So, Google search started & after many trial & error, this one set our taste buds. This actually melts in the mouth & it's perfect crunchy from outside. So, this recipe is for sure gonna stay with me :)

Ingredients :-

Curd- 400gm ( hang it for 2hours and keep in refrigerator all the while) 

3 slices of bread

10-15 cashew nuts

Onion - 1-finely chopped (optional)

Green chillies -1 finely chopped (optional)

Coriander leaves - a small bunch finely chopped

1 tbsp cornflour 

Black pepper powder to taste

Salt to taste

Method :-

Grind cashew nuts and keep aside.

Remove the brown from side and grind it.

Take hung curd, add half of bread crumbs, cashew nuts powder, cornflour & everything else.

Mix & make balls and keep it in freezer ( yes in freezer) for 20-30 minutes.

Take a flat nonstick pan, drizzle little oil and put the flame low.

Take balls out, flatten them & roughly sprinkle bread crumbs and shallow fry in pan till golden brown.

The dahi ke kebabs are ready...enjoy them with sliced onion and coriander chutney. 

Vanilla Butter Cookies

From long I have been thinking, how to preserve the yummy recipes, the ones which I try & comes out perfect. So, finally I thought why not here....at least the awesome recipes can be saved here...which I have tried. Recipes are from various sources....but I will try before posting here.... :)              So, after long time....the first recipe I am noting down is simple Vanilla Butter Cookies.....but let me tell you, it's tricky to get the perfect texture too......anyways I am sure....just like me ..even you will enjoy making it & eating it with hot cuppa coffee or Icey chilled cold coffee... :)

 Ingredients:-                
 All purpose flour- 1 cup
 Unsalted butter- 1/2 cup    
 Powdered sugar- 1/4 cup  
Vanilla extract/ essence- 1/2 teaspoon

For Chocolate 
Semi sweet chocolate or 2 tbsp of chocolate chips.
Microwave it, stir in between. Make cone, just like you make it for mehandi, pour chocolate inside & lock it with rubber band.

Method:-
Take soften butter add powdered sugar and beat till creamy & smooth with electric beater.... If using hand beater ask ur man to help you :)
Add vanilla extract & mix.
Add flour in 3 times and just mix it slowly ....with a spoon....till everything gets mixed up properly.
Drop the mixture in plastic wrap & slowly roll it & give shape and chill it in refrigerator for 1/2 an hour.
Gently roll & cut ( circles, square, triangle).
Preheat the oven till you do the above procedure..
Use parchment paper / butter paper .....since I didn't had... I didn't used any..
Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes( different oven have different timings)
Let the cookies cool & then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Once, it's completely cooled, make designs from the chocolate & refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!!!!

NOTE...... Now comes the cheat sheet ;) yes that's how I made it...
1st- I used 60:40 ratio of wheat flour: all purpose flour
2nd- I used half of butter given in the above recipe & 1/2 of chilled milk....
So, what you say....isn't this healthy ??? I am sure you will agree & eat 2 instead of 1.
Would love to hear, what you think about it, try it & surely let me know .... :)

   

Shaam Savera

As the name suggests, its opposite to each each other shaam(evening) savera(morning)...so as the dish. This dish is full of different flavors....opposite to each other yet together... Spinach & Panner Balls in Red Tomato Gravy. It's Sanjeev Kappor recipe ...I had this dish many times at his resturant... but tried for first time. Since i didn't had few ingredients as needed, i mended the recipe accordingly.

Hubby, the best critic for every situation gave thumbs up for the taste.... believe me, he has got some awesome taste :)

Ingredients:-
For the balls- 
1/2 cup of paneer grated/mashed, add little salt & a pinch of cardamon powder. Make small balls,around 5 & keep aside(since i prepared little early, i kept in fridge)

Bunch of spinach- washed, boiled, drained & pureed. Take pan, heat 1tbsp of oil, add 2 tbsp of besan/gram flour. Fry till golden brown, add the pureed spinach, salt & stir well till all the water evaporates. Turn off the gas when done... Let it cool. Make 5 balls. Take little oil in palm, flatten the spinach ball, put the paneer ball in between & cover it properly. Once all done.... dip them in a mixture of cornflour + water & fry in hot oil. Please handle carefully, I fried 2 at a time... It will take few seconds or a minute to fry.
Keep aside.

For the gravy-
Grind 2 large tomatoes, 1 green chillies, 1/2 inch ginger, 2tbsp of melon seeds, red chilli pwd as per taste, coriander pwd1 tsp, turmeric pwd 1/2 tsp.
3-4 bay leaf
1 cardamon
1 clove
Malai/ fresh cream -1 cup.
fenugreek leaves/kasuri methi

Method-
Heat oil in kadhai, add bay leaves, cardamon, clove & the tomato puree. Mix well till oil leaves its sides.Add salt as per taste. Add cream ,shimmer for a minute or two. Crush kasuri methi ...sprinkle it n cover it(I believe if we cover the kadhai, the smells of leaves stay in it). Turn off the gas.

Now...pour the gravy in serving bowl, halves the balls, place on the gravy & serve immediately. Enjoy!!

I noticed its a no-onion, no-garlic recipe....yet it came out very yummy!
Till next time...
Hv fn..Tk cr :)

Stuffed Garlic Bread

Hey all.....There are many post which are lying in the draft...too lazy to finish them up.. anyways...i am just too busy these days,
  1. My baby having his summer holidays....running after him all day,
  2. Experiments in kitchen... ;)

Yes, so without rambling much i am sharing the recipe. The yeast madness is on me...  have made ladi pav/ buns, Herbs loaf (may be will soon post the recipe) & the Garlic Bread... The stuffed one got finished in blink of an eye(Hubby asked for second round).....yummm..

Ingredients
1 cup wheat flour(guilt free ..lol)
1 cup flour
1 tbsp olive oil
7-8 pod grated garlic
salt as per taste
2 tsp of active dry yeast
1 tsp of sugar
1 cup milk
1 tbsp Butter
Garlic pwd(optional)

Filling :-
Mozzeralla cheese chopped in cubes/ shredded
Corn  boiled
Oregano
Chilli flakes
Black pepper pwd

Take hot milk add sugar add yeast...mix ..rest it for 10 minutes.

On kitchen slab(yes i like working there..... its the best place to mix it) put both the flour , add the salt, garlic, olive oil & now the yeast (use only if fermented....else throw it & try again) . Mix well

Add butter & keep on mixing around 8 -10 minutes... if its little sticky...its ok... or else add little more milk n keep on mixing from the pressure of your palm.

Now oil a large bowl spread little oil n put the dough in it. Cover it n keep in warm place for 45 minutes to an hour.

The dough will rise. Punch the dough & fold it, if its sticky add little flour, but don't mix too much..just fold it.

Now divide the dough into two.. spread from your hand or use rolling pin..  Spread the filling ingredients on the half side & cover it with the other half(semi-circle).

Now, with the second portion ...make same or make garlic loaf..for that oil the baking tray ...put the dough.. & cover it with wet kitchen towel & put it in warm place for another 15 minutes ...After that take out & bake it.(Do apply milk before baking & butter after baking...for glaze & softness)

Spread little milk over it ... Sprinkle garlic pwd, oregano over it & bake it in pre-heated oven for 10-15 minutes at 180-200 degree.
  Enjoy!

To tell you the truth...its too easy to make....you only need to check with the yeast...that's it... Do try !! :)

Till next time ...
Hv fn tk cr :)

Spices + Chocolate Cookies

The cooking bug have long bitten me.....1st time when I was in Class 2 ....I made Spring onion veggie(mom says)....& it continues.. I don't like to prepare the regular dal-rice-roti-sabji combo.... i feel sick if i don't give any twist & turns to it. I even enjoy the regular khana but only when I don't want to stay in kitchen for long(more on this later).

As i completed a year of blogging this month,same very date, i am quiet happy.... I am not pro in cooking, never wrote anything more than few line of essays, fashion i studied from heart,styling i do from mind, just bought my first slr 4 months back...so photography in learning phase. With all these i admire all the beautiful comments, advises, love i got here.. I never planned what i am going to do when i started putting my words down... But, i am happy hows it's shaping now. Thank you all for reading ,commenting & appreciating it & special thanks to critics also(it means i have to work harder). Keep showering love!

As part of celebration i am trying some healthy chocolate cookies....but with twist.
Chocolate cookies get a slight makeover with the desi(Indian) spices. The aroma hit the nostrils & the flavor melt in the mouth with chocolate. What better if cookies are made of wheat flour.Have it with a glass full of chilled milk or a tub of vanilla ice-cream. :)

Ingredients:-
Wheat flour-1/2 cup or as required
Sugar- 2 tbsp
Cloves- 2-3(crushed/powdered)
Cardamon 2-3(crushed/powdered)
Nutmeg- a pinch
Butter -25gm (i used Amul)
A pich soda
1tsp of baking pwd
Cocoa pwd- 1 tbsp
Choco-chips
Milk as required

Method :-
Mix butter & sugar.. add all the spices, soda & baking pwd. mix well... it will be light & fluffy..enjoy the aroma
Add wheat flour..mix well.. add milk .prepare the dough
Clean wrap the dough & in fridge for 20-30 min
Sprinkle cocoa & roll over the dough.
Make small balls. Put choco-chip as required & bake in greased tray for 10-15 min at 200 degree.

 Ready to go inside the oven...

 Aroma.......ummmm

 My toddler taking pic...just like mumma ;)

Enjoy the yuumy-ness of spices & chocolate all in one!

Cucumber-black grapes Popsicles

So, the lollies saga will continue in this post also :)
Will jump straight towards the recipe section, no more inspiration talk today. If you haven't read the last lollies saga, read it HERE, you will know whose provoking me to make all this ;)

Ingredients :-
Few thinly sliced cucumber
Few sliced black grapes
Mint Lemonade( Few crushed mint leaves + lemon juice+water)
Chat masala

Method :-
Arrange the cucumber & black grapes in the container properly.
Pour the Mint lemonade over it.
Cover the container & freeze it, if there's no lid, use cling film or aluminium foil. Let it set for few hours & then insert the stick.
Sprinkle generous amount of chat masala....  enjoy every bite or lick it up..... as per your choice ;)

Soft & Crunchy Popsicle

I had to bite before taking more piks ;)

Watermelon ice-lollies

Finally, summers are here and so are the juicy fruits.

Admit it when you read the word ice-lollies, you were instantly transported back to school, feeling nostalgic.....same here.! I remember, my mom made Rasna(instant drink mix) in all colors & weekend was the time when we had all colored & shaped ice-lollies with cousins. That was one great time...aah!

The history is repeating. But, now the Rasna will be replaced with fresh fruits & the cousins counting may go down by few numbers... yet the power of ice-lollies will stay in its place. ;)

My baby forced me to try this for him. While coming back from playschool everyday, he started demanding for ice-cream.... day or two is fine...but everyday... no MOM will allow.. so HOW can I.?

Now let me stop all the talking & share the quick recipe which won't take even 5 minutes..

Ingredients :-

Watermelon- roughly chopped(i even used the white part)

1/2 lemon juice or as per your taste

Rock/Black salt -2 pinch

Mint leaves- 10 leaves roughly torn out with hands

Chat Masala- optional

Method :-

Blend watermelon to juice. Sieve it twice.

Add rock salt, lemon juice & mint leaves

{*Just drink your watermelon lemonade :) }

Put in any container of your choice(i am using tupperware which has cover).

If you are using anything without cover, cover it with cling film or aluminium foil, put the stick in after its little set, so it can hold.

And let it set for few hours before you become a kid with your kiddo ;)

Just for more taste sprinkle little chat masala over it..

I have already checked my freezer several times in an hour...Impatient me! ;)

Till next time...
Hv fn..Tk cr :)

Spongy Yummy Rosogulla

I don't know what's keeping me so busy these days... but, it's definitely keeping me away from here where i share my thoughts, my style, my world.!

Sharing a Recipe of very famous Rosogulla(i like the bangali pronunciation). Bought up in Kolkata, this mishti have special space in my heart & my taste buds can never refuse it, you can found this in every nook & corner of the Kolkata streets.
This is not my innovated recipe. But it's a fool-proof recipe. I have never gone wrong with it. So, sharing it!

Ingredients:-
Milk -1 litre
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 cup Sugar
3 cup Water
Few saffron strands(optional)

Method:-
Boil milk add lemon juice. The milk will get curdled, let the whey get seperated properly.
Strain the water.
Put in muslin cloth & drain all excess water. or, leave it for half an hour.
Take the smallest jar of mixie, put the cottage cheese add few strands saffron n churn.
1-2 minutes, it will form like a dough....soft dough. (Or knead it with hands ..this takes longer time)
Take that out, now make small balls out of it.(almost it gets double)
Put water & sugar in pressure cooker and boil till sugar gets dissolved in it.
Add few more strands of saffron.
Add the balls.
Put lid, give 1 whistle, low the flame & keep it for 8 minutes.
After 8 minutes off the flame & put the pressure cooker directly on the cold running water.
Open the lid the transfer it to bowl.
Put in the fridge for 3-4 hrs before eating ...so the sponge balls soak all the sweetness.
Enjoy !!

Will try to click one by one step & update it .. :)

Healthy yet-not-so Healthy Bread Pakora!

I am being a lazy bums all these days(just lazy here....!!) Occupied with many stuff ...most important..the school... My toddler has joined play group... & its such a pleasure to drop n pick him all smiling. :)
Ok, more of it in another post.. ;)

As the name suggest you get confused...what is fuss is all about. Well, to tell you the truth the final outcome even surprised me. I was making a normal Tiranga bread pakora with just tomato sauce & coriander chutney but saw some stuff randomly and wanted to add it....discovering a new yummy breakfast or you can say a tea time snack.

Ingredients:-
3 slices of Bread
Thinly sliced veggies- Bell peppers + Cabbage + add little salt + black pepper pwd + chilli flakes + oregano
Grated carrots - 2 spoon
Coriander chutney
Tomato sauce

Grated carrot is for carrot pudding aka gajar ka halwa

Batter :-
Gram flour/ Besan -1 cup
Salt
Red chilli pwd
Saunf/Fennel seeds
Garam masala
Mix all with water & make batter... not too thick & not too liquidy

Assemble
Take a slice of bread spread tomato sauce(i used maggi hot & sweet) spread grated carrot on it.
Put another slice on it.
Apply Coriander chutney. Spread the Mix veggie. Cover it with 3rd slice.
Now dip it into the besan batter & fry in hot oil.
Cut & serve
Yummmy!!!

          Look at the amazing colors!

I know it's fried but you can add more veggies of your choice and enjoy!!
Till next time...
Hv fn.. Tk cr :)

Beetroot Shahi Tikki

Happy New Year!

There's always fight between your mind & heart.. It's hard to decide whose correct & who isn't.! I am rowing in same boat only. My Mind wanted "Fashion" post & my Heart said "Travel" or "Recipe" post as the first one for the year. As usual Heart took over mind  :D
Have taken recipe from Sanjeev Kapoor and given my touch to it.. Hope u enjoy it.!

Beetroot Shahi Tikki

Ingredients :-
1 Beetroot- Boiled, Grated & excess water squeezed.
2 Large size Potato- Boiled & Grated.
2 Amla(Goosebeery)- Grated
1 Onion- Chopped finely
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cornflour- 2 tbsp( make paste with 4 tbsp of water)
Sooji(Semolina)
Oil

"Shahi"- portion
Paneer- 1/2 cup crumbled
Almonds & Cashew- 1/2 cup - Grind them into powder
Mix them.

Method :-
Saute onion in little oil till its translucent in color.
Add beetroot n salt saute for few minutes till all the moisture evaporates
Add potato... mix well. Add amla.
Season it with pepper & few drops of lemon juice.
Cool the mixture.
Flatten the cooled mixture on your wet/oiled palm.
Put little shahi mixture & wrap it properly.(scroll down to see the pictures)
Dip each piece into the cornflour & roll over sooji.
Now, a- U can preheat oven n roast it in them
           b- Fry them, or
           c- Roast them on tawa/griddle with minimum oil. I did this with olive oil.

Serve it with Coriander/dhaniya(-onion-garlic-ginger+lemon juice+salt+cumin) chutney.
It's nutritious, healthy n yummy too.

 Beetroot mixture

Shahi mixture

Enjoy it.!
Till next time.....
Hv fn.. Tk cr :)

Running Errands !

Running Errands?...  Everyday!. So what we wear? Those yoga pants or jeans n tee n feel like trapped because we can't wear anything fancy. But, who said that.. We can wear anything while running errands.. only important thing is we need to be comfortable in what we wear.

I am a housewife & mother of a toddler... if i"ll be wearing my pj's whole day..i feel low(i know it's most comfortable piece of cloth on earth),i will sit on the couch whole day, though my baby won't let me ;). So, i choose to wear something comfortable rather than pj's.. i feel confident, energetic and specially i feel good :)

This is what i wore while grocery shopping, making lunch, running errands, and shopping with my friend the other day. I just loved the colours i am wearing turquoise green/blue+ coral. What your say about it?? What do you wear while running errands??

Ok.. Did i tell you i am making lot of healthy stuff these days... like onion fritters(pyaz bhajia).. ;)
Ya, you read it right.. just bake them instead of frying... brush the tray with little oil..spread the mixture & spray little more oil... Perfect n yummy.. Do try..n let me know :)

Dress/Tunic- W
Bag- youshine seen here & here
Neon bracelets- Globus
Shoes- G.K.Mkt.

Stuffed Gatta Curry.

I love Rajasthani gatta's in every form...be it steamed or fried..This is one of those thing that i can eat anytime anywhere..So coming straight to the point...Here is the Stuffed Gatta Curry recipe which i like ....n i made it yesterday(sunday dinner)..... do try .. This recipe may seem too long..but its one of the easiest recipe..n best when you run out of veggies ;)

Ingredients:-

For dough-
1 cup besan(gram flour)
salt to taste
red chilli pwd to taste
asafoetida/hing- a pinch
fennel seeds/saunf- 1/2 tsp
dried fenugreek leaves/kasuri methi-1 tsp
oil-5tsp
water as required
Mix all expect water..rub it with hand properly..now add water & make soft dough.
cover it and keep aside.

For stuffing-
Grated Paneer-3/4 cup
salt n red chilli pwd as per taste
crushed coriander seeds/saboot dhaniya-1/2 tsp
Mix well n keep aside..

Oil for frying.

Now take the dough n roll it like roti.. spread the paneer mixture all over
Dip your finger in water n put it on all over the edges.
now start rolling from one side ....very slowly n very properly..till the end.
cut it diagonally.
Now deep fry it on low flame.
Take it out n keep aside.

For Gravy-
Oil- tsp
Saunf, Rai,Kalonji- 1tsp
Paste of garlic-2-3 tsp(according to taste)
Green chilli, ginger, onion paste- 1 large spoon
Curd- 2 tb sp
haldi/turmeric pwd
salt n red chilli pwd as per taste
garam masala- 1 tsp
amchur/ dry mango pwd- 1 tsp
Little kasuri methi

Method:-
In heavy botttomed pan/kadhai put oil... when it warms up add the saunf, rai, kalonji..
add garlic paste..saute it.. add onion-ginger-chilli paste.. saute till oil leaves the side..
add all the dry masala leaving amchur
add 2 cups of water(or as required).. let it shimmer for while..
add curd ..mix it properly...
add amchur n kasuri methi... cover it.. n take off from the flame..

Serving:- (Important part).. put the dry gatta only 1/2 an hour before serving... else all the gravy will get absorbed :) Have it with roti of ur choice :)
The fried ones can be eaten like this only..as a snack... n you can store them for 1-2 days.

Chole Rice Kebabs !

Hey all...
I know its kinda different.. we all eat chole rice (especially in north india) but its different..I tried this recipe on Tuesday morning when i had some leftover chole rice from my last night dinner... It came out pretty well..so thought of sharing the recipe... Do try..

Ingredients:-
1 cup prepared chole(chickpeas)
1 cup steamed rice
1 large boiled & mashed potato
salt n pepper to taste
oregano
chilli flakes
bread crumbs (made from 2-3 bread)
oil

Method:-
Grind rice n chole separately in grinder ...
Take them out in one mixing bowl..add mashed potato..
Add all the seasoning according your taste..
Now make small ball n roll them in bread crumbs...
Give the shape of tikki..
Put little oil(i used olive oil) on griddle/non stick pan and shallow fry.
Enjoy it with coriander chutney or tomato sauce ...

So next time when you have such leftovers..... u exactly know what to do ...
Till next time....
Hv fn.. Tk cr :)

Almond Cookies !!

Hey ...made this quick cookies for a friend(on her wedding anniversary) who loves cookies.... i make this especially in winters.. but who said you can't make them in summer(or in rainy season...whatever)... for now i just leave u with the recipe and pics.... its yummy ..its healty... do try it..

Healthy Almond Cookies:

Take 1/2cup of almond,5-7green cardamom n grind it till pwd.
Take 1n half cup of wheat flour mix the almond mixture, a pinch of baking pwd, 1/2 cup of powdered sugar,20-25 gms of softened anul butter. Mix well wid hands.
Add milk to make a dough.
Knead well.
Make small out of it. Flatten it n make sum design.
Grease baking tray n bake it in a preheated oven for 10-15 min or golden brown.
Take it out. Let them cool.
Now enjoy it with cup of coffee or tea. 

Do try it... n let me knw..how it came out...
Till next time..
Hv fn.. tk cr 

Tiramisu.. my way !!

Last weekend called for many celebration...

1. mummynheels.blogspot.in  crossed the pageviews much better than expected
2. Its 7 yrs years of knowing each other (read here my hubby) :)

Desserts always comes first when we think of celebration...same was here..so i made this easy-to-make Tiramisu.. the famous italian dessert.... but my way.. this i have made many a times n is actually liked by all.... its eggless, its easy, its healthy..


Ingredients:-
Healthy Aata Cake
Block of Vanilla Icecream
Coffee Pwd
Choco-chip

Method:-
Mix coffee pwd (1 tbsp) with water (2 tbsp) for coffee syrup
Slice the aata cake in between for equal layers.
Cut it again to make long fingers for serving bowl /small square pieces for ice cream cups.
In a serving bowl/ ice cream cup  ....Put a layer of Aata cake soak with coffee syrup now gently spread ur vaniilla icecream.. repeat again the Aata cake, coffee syrup n ice cream layer....sprinkle generous amount of choco-chip.
Deep- fridge it for several hours before serving

Note:- U can even decorate it with coffee pwd, chocolate pwd.

It's an easy recipe... do try it... tell wat all recipes do u alter n give your own touch.. would like to know..
Till next time..
Hv fn.. tk cr :)

Mint Rice + Chilli Raita !

U won't believe...this was my 1st movie of 2013. Yes, its "Yeh jawani yeh deewani" ...i went on the same day it released(yesterday)...i soo wanted to see it..best part..my baby also enjoyed the movie as i did...sigh..wat a relief!! I can now go often :)

Nways, today i am talking about raita (i made before going for the movie...for our dinner)... Chilli Raita.. i wanted to try it.. but not with the regular rice/biryani, so made Mint Rice... do try..its a nice combination  ....fresh and spicy...... definitely on my list for next time :)

Mint Rice
Ingredients:-
Rice (soaked for an hour)
Mint paste- 3 to 4 tbsp(can vary wid ur taste)
Garlic- 7-8 chopped finely
Garam Masala-1/2 tsp
Black Pepper-Freshly crushed
Salt as per taste
Oil
Onion -2 thinly sliced

Method:-
In a pan put oil add garlic, saute for few seconds then add mint paste..
Add drained rice and fold it with mint and garlic.
Add black pepper, salt, garam masala...n mix well without breaking rice.
Add water in the ratio 2:1. 1 cup rice:2 cup water (add hot water in case u need little more in between)
Cover it n let it cook..till rice is done.

Put little oil in a seperate pan ...add onions and saute till brown.
Keep it aside.

Arrange cooked mint rice in a serving bowl. Sprinkle onions on top.  Enjoy !!

Green Chilli Raita
Ingredients:-
Curd
Cucumber-1/2 finely chopped
Green chillies-6-7 finely chopped
Red Chilli Pwd-very little
Salt as taste
Cumin-Freshly grounded(for that lovely aroma)

Method:-
Mix all n serve chilled with Mint Rice. :)

Hey.. go and watch the movie if u didn't watched it yet... n do try this recipe..tell me about more flavours in raita...would love to know

Till next time...

Hv fn..tk cr :)