Tuesday 12 February 2013

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake


Ingredients:-        
         For Crust                                              
  • Digestive Biscuits - 200 Gms
  • Melted Butter - 50 Gms                      
        For Topping: 
  • Fresh Strawberries - 1 Cup
  • Cream cheese(softened)- 100 Gms
  • Castor Sugar - 1/2 Cup
  • Vanilla Essence - 1 Tsp
  • Fresh Cream - 1 Cup
  • Gelatin powder - 1 Tsp



Method to Prepare:-

Crust:
  • Place digestive biscuits in food processor and turn on until crumbs are very fine.
  • Add melted butter & mix until well combined.                    
  • Press into 9 inch pie plate.
  • Refrigerate for about 1/2 hour.



Topping:

  • Dissolve gelatin powder in 1/2 Cup of warm water/milk
  • Combine all ingredients for cheesecake, except strawberries, in a large bowl and mix with hand mixer,mix until well combined and smooth.
  • Decorate the top with sliced or whole strawberries.Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
  • Unclasp the sides & bottom of the pie tin and cut them into slice & serve

Tips:-
  • Pie tins with loose base or spring form pans can be used.
  • Strawberry Essence also can be used instead of vanilla essence.

Monday 11 February 2013

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Ingredients:-                         

For Topping:-      
  • Pineapple slices - 1 Tin
  •  Glazed Cherries  - 1/2 Cup
  •  Brown sugar - 1/2 Cup
  •  Butter - 1/4 Cup
For Cake:-
  •  All purpose`flour - 1 1/2 Cups
  •  Eggs - 2 Nos.
  •  Baking powder - 1 Tsp
  •  Vanilla Essence - 1 Tsp
  •  Butter - 1/2 Cup
  •  Sugar - 1 Cup
  •  Salt - 1/2 Tsp
Method To Prepare :-
  • Preheat an oven to 200'C. Butter a 9-inch round cake tin.
Topping:-
  •  Melt the butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat simmer,stirring occasionally a few times.
  •  Remove from heat and pour into the bottom of the prepared cake tin.
  •  Arrange pineapple & cherries on top of caramel.
Cake:-
  • To make the batter, mix in together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside
  • In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form and set aside.
  • In a another bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, add the egg yolks and vanilla essence & beat until smooth.
  • Add the flour mixture & beat on low until just blended,fold in the egg whites very gently without beating it too hardly.
  • Pour batter over the pineapple topping and spread evenly.
  • Bake in a preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool 5-10 minutes before inverting onto a cake platter.

Tips:-
  • Serve with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream.
  • Glazed cherries can be substituted by  dried raisins as well

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

 

  Ingredients:-
  •     Maida - 2 Cups
  •     Apple - 1 Large
  •     Brown Sugar - 3/4 Cup
  •     Baking Powder - 1 Tbsp
  •     Unsalted Butter(melted) - 1/2 Cup
  •     Cinnamon Powder - 2 Tsps
  •     Chocolate chips (optional) - 1/2 Cup
  •     Milk - 3/4 Cup
  •     Eggs - 2 Nos.(lightly beaten)


 Method to Prepare :-
  • Preheat oven 200 degrees C and place the oven rack in the middle of the oven.
  • Apple should be peeled & diced to small cubes & tossed in 2 tbsps sugar  that is mixed with a 1/4 tsp cinnamon,Keep it aside.
  • In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder and cinnamon powder.
  • Use a whisk to combine,set aside.
  • Mix in the brown sugar and lightly beaten eggs.
  • Add melted butter and mix until well combined.
  • Add 3-4 additions of flour alternating with milk and ending with flour.
  • Just mix till the flour is combined in the batter. Do not over beat.
  • Fold in the chocolate chips and diced apple (that has been tossed in cinnamon sugar).
  • Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin liners till 3/4 full.
  • Bake for about 23-25 minutes at 165'C or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Place on a wire rack to cool and remove muffins from pan.

Tips :-
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.
  • Can be stored at room temperature for 24 hrs.& refigerated for 1-2 days.
  • Makes 12 muffins


Eggless Chocolate Cake


Ingredients:-
  • All purpose flour - 1 1/2 Cups
  • Sugar - 1 Cup
  • Cocoa powder - 1/4 Cup
  • Baking powder - 1 Tsp
  • Baking Soda - 3/4 Tsp
  • Salt - 1/4 Tsp
  • Unsalted Butter(melted) - 1/3 Cup
  • Water(warm) - 1 Cup
  • Lemon Juice - 1 Tbsp
  • Vanilla Essence - 1 Tsp

Method to Prepare :-
  • Preheat an oven to 180'C and place the rack in centre of the oven.
  • In a bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking powder,baking soda, salt and cocoa powder.
  • Add melted butter, water, lemon juice and vanilla essence.
  • With a fork blend all the ingredients together until well blended.
  • Bake in a pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes at 150'C or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Ganache:
  • 170 gm Dark Chocolate(chopped) - 150gms
  • Cream - 3/4 Cup
  • Butter(unsalted) - 1 Tbsp. 
Method to prepare chocolate ganache:-
  •     Place the chopped chocolate , cream and butter in a heat proof bowl.
  •       Place over a sauce pan of simmering water and melt until smooth.(double boiler method)
  •       Remove from the heat and stand at the room temperature until it is of pouring consistency.
  •       Then pour this over the cooled cake. Let stand until  ganache has thickened.

    Tips :-
    •  Decorate the cake with candies/decorations of your choice
    • Chocolate ganache topping can be used for any cakes

    Channa / Chole Masala Gravy



    Ingredients:-
    • Kabuli Channa -1 cup                    (soaked in water for 8 hours or overnight)
    • Ginger - 1 inch piece
    • Garlic - 5-6 pods
    • Onion - 1 small
    • Tomato - 3 small
    • Jeera - 1/2 Tsp
    • Onion Chopped - 1 large
    • Green Chillies - 2 sliced
    • Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tsp
    • Coriander Powder - 1 Tbsp
    • Cumin Powder - 1 Tbsp
    • Red Chilli Powder - 1 Tsp
    • Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 Tsp
    • Chole Masala Powder - 1 Tsp
    • Coriander Chopped- 1/2 Cup
    • Cooking Oil
    • Salt as per taste

     

    Method to Prepare :- 
    •  Pressure cook the Channa till soft and set aside.
    •  In a mixer/blender blend together ginger,garlic,onion,tomato,jeera & soaked & cooked    Channa(1/2cup) into a paste.
    • In a pan heat about 3 Tbsps. of cooking oil saute in the chopped onions,green chillies, fry till a little browned,add in the paste and saute till the raw smell has gone.
    • Add in the dry ingredients salt,turmeric,coriander,cumin,red chilli,garam masala & chole masala powders ,mix well by adding a little water as per required.
    • Now add in the pre-cooked Channa & chopped coriander & cook on simmer for about 10 minutes
    Tips:-
    • Garnish with Butter,Coriander,ring Onions and Tomato.
    • Serve with Bhaturas,Puris, Parathas, Chapatis or Rice.

    Tuesday 8 January 2013

    Mangalore Buns






      Ingredients :-
    • Maida - 2 Cups
    • Ripened mashed Bananas - 1/2 Cup
    • Sugar - 2 Tbsp
    • Curds - 2 Tbsp
    • Baking soda - 1/4 Tsp
    • Cumin seeds - 1/2 Tsp
    • Pepper powder - 1/2 Tsp
    • Oil for deep frying
    • Salt as per taste





    Method to Prepare :-
    • In a bowl add maida, sugar, salt, cumin seeds,pepper,soda,curds & mashed bananasand a few teaspoons of oil ,knead well into a stiff dough (The amount of flour specified is approximate,add enough to make a stiff dough.)
    • Cover it and leave for about 4-6 hrs.(or overnight)
    • Heat cooking oil in pan.
    • Take small balls of dough and roll into small puris (atleast 1/2cm thickness each),deep fry as you fry regular pooris pressing lightly till it puffs up .
    • Serve with coconut chutney.

    RAW BANANA CUTLET

    Ingredients :-
    • Raw Banana - 2 Cups(peeled,boiled & mashed)
    • Green Peas - 1 Cup(boiled & mashed)
    • Coriander Leaves Chopped - 1/2 Cup
    • Green Chilli Paste - 2 Tsp.(as per taste)
    • Coriander Powder - 1/2 Tsp.
    • Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 Tsp.
    • Aamchur Powder - 1/4 Tsp.
    • Turmeric Powder - 1/8 Tsp.
    • Whole Cashews for decorating
    • Salt as per taste
    • Oil for deep frying - 300 ml

    Method to Prepare :-
    • In a bowl mix in the mashed raw banana & green peas,add in chopped coriander, green chilli paste,coriander powder,red chilli powder,aamchur powder,turmeric & salt ,mix well to form a ball
    • Lightly grease your hands,make an oval or round shape and keep it aside.
    • Press in a whole cashew each into each cutlet
    • Heat enough oil for frying & start frying 5-6 at a time
    • When both sides of cutlets are golden brown, remove from the oil.
    • Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

    Tips :- This cutlets can  either be shallow fried in a flat pan with lesser oil.

    MOOLI PARATHAS


    Ingredients :-
    • Whole wheat flour - 2 cups
    • Grated white radish (mooli) - 3/4 Cup
    • Chopped Coriander - 1/4 Cup
    • Curds - 3/4 Cup
    • Turmeric powder - 1/2 Tsp
    • Red chilli powder - 1 Tsp
    • Oil - 1 Tsp
    • Salt as per taste
    • Extra oil for frying
    Method to Prepare :-

    •     Mix in wheat flour,grated radish,chopped coriander,turmeric powder,red chilli powder,salt,curds  and knead into a soft dough, adding a little water if required.
    •     Divide the dough into equal portions, roll out each portion thinly into a circle.
    •     Heat a non-stick pan / tawa
    •     Fry each paratha on both sides on a non-stick pan/tawa, dribbling a little oil on each side, until brown spots appear on the surface.
    •     Serve hot or cold with curds & pickle.