baketitude

Chocolate Mousse Cake-Real Chocolate and Real Mousse and Melt in your mouth "Mousse"ness!

2013-05-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Stress!

And some more...

You read about the stories of Marie Antoinette and how the teenagers in my class only remembered her for her faux statement of "Let them eat cake!"

Well ,now its payback time!!!

They paid me back!

Hence,the overdose of chocolate!

After Marie Antoinette and all her shenanigans...it was time to talk about how Poland became a democracy....Yes grade 9,Social Science!!!!
Solidarity...
Solidarity is more than just a word here...
It was a complete movement ...
That helped place democracy in Poland...
And after spending more than 12 classes on that ,I get "Solidarity is a group of sailors." in a test...
I mean What the f@#%#@^#$& !!!
Argh!

Hence the double dose of chocolate!
Something firm under the soft and silky chocolate mousse!
Pure and blissfully simple chocolate mousse...
Made with dark chocolate, whipping cream and whipped egg whites...
Something to take away the pain...
The pain of those emotional speeches of and about Lech Walesa and the awe on the face of the (now that I know) almost recalcitrant children...
Awww...
What a waste...

So we let this land on our waists...
A wee bit of sweetness,a touch of the bitter...and the almost there quinelle( a pretty shape made with two spoons) of chocolate mousse on the tiny square or the soft One bowl eggless chocolate cake with water ...
Thank god for small mercies!
Thank god for dinner parties!
To serve 8 people...

for the

Chocolate Mousse Cake-Real Chocolate and Real Mousse and Melt in your mouth "Mousse"ness! and a compensation...

you need

One 1/2 cake http://baketitude.blogspot.in/2013/05/one-bowl-eggless-chocolate-cake-and.html
250 mils non dairy whipped cream
250 gms dark chocolate
5 egg whites
a few drops of lemon juice
3-4 tbsp icing sugar -if needed

Start with the half cake...
Sliced and placed on the serving platter...

That's the cream and the chopped chocolate...
Yes,with the meat cleaver...actually it sliced through the chocolate like a dream...its 40C on an average day these days...

Bring the cream to an almost boil...I do it on a double boiler...and tip in the chocolate after you take it off the heat.Stir to blend well and then pop in the freezer to super chill for a few hours.
In the mean while let the egg whites sit out...
Add a few drops of lemon juice... And begin to whip ...till they quadruple in size and more.

After a few hours..the chocolate cream...

And the stiff peaks in the egg whites...
This is what will give the form to the mousse...so make sure they are STIFF!

Like wise,whip the chocolate cream...to about a a little more than what it was...it should be SMOOOOOTH!

Now fold in the whites...

And check if the mousse needs sweetening...ideally whip the sugar into the egg white...but this is not an ideal world...there fore the fact that solidarity is made of a group of sailors!

Pour over the ring mould...if you don't have a ring mould...use a glass bowl to set your mousse or...just use glasses!

About a small bowl full as leftovers...
And set in the fridge...

A Little bit of the chocolate fudge sauce I had in my fridge, I warmed and poured over.
Spread sprinkles...
And served...
No pictures of the slices ...as there were no leftovers...
So the remaining half of the cake and the left over chocolate mousse were used for the pics...

After doing the dishes...
Midnight desserts...

So aside from the teaching of social sciences and baking ,I am also a midnight dish washer!
Glass washer...

But chocolate always makes it worth your while...
Mwaah!

So what are you baking today???

Tribute to Mom...for her...

2013-05-20T06:11:00.001-07:00

My mom is a never-ending song in my heart

Of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the

words ...

But I always remember the tune.

- Graycie Harmon

Happy Mother's Day to my mum and all the other super moms in blogosphere!
I know ,for a fact that my mum is the best...I always manage to send her flowers -even though she pays the flower delivery boy most of the time-but this time...I wanted my words to bring a smile to my mums face...hey ma...you are smiling right??
My mum is super...always has been- I know that I could not have achieved so much without her prodding and pushing and constant support.
Mum...
You may have been unrelenting and persistent,
But that was only because you wanted me to achieve something.
You have been my inspiration and support...
I'm sure sweet sister will echo that...
We may have been stupid and may have sulked...but at the end of the day...
Mum YOU ROCK!
Your heart is like a bottomless pit, you are so forgiving and simple...and you have such an amazing capacity to love...
Even your grandchildren are always vying for the lions share of your love.

Nani!!!!!!!

I want to talk to Nani!!!!!!!!

Thank you for being you.Any time and every time!

I love you mum!

Always!
You are so,so happy at the smallest of our accomplishments....
Let this one be yours!

google

‘I am writing a Tribute to Mom in association with Parentous.com‘

Berry Lassi/Smoothie And Hot days of Summer

2013-05-14T07:21:00.002-07:00

Summer...
Shivers of apprehension...
Not because of the temperature...
No way...
It is so warm 41C today...
And nothing cools like yogurt and lassi(Sweetened or spiced buttermilk).

Yes,different glasses...these were try outs...
And when you add to it the beautifully tart red strawberries...
Its like manna from heaven.

Cooling ,refreshing, nutritious,tangy and yummy...

Meets all requisite food groups.
As to why the tiny red rose is sitting pretty...we ate the leftover strawberries.
The guy who runs the cafeteria in school will vouch for that...
Sworn Coffee drinkers are now hooked to Amul Masti Spiced Buttermilk...

The heat saps your energy...
Your electrolyte levels.
You really need it...
I'm teaching the transition to democracy in CHILE,South America...
And I feel the need to be chilled...
Strawberries are almost on their way out...
And one needs to sweeten the lassi...Or Smoothie...
The berries are big.soft and squishy!
And are apt to make the yogurt a pretty pink...

So pretty please with sugar on the top...
Lets make the...

Berry Lassi/Smoothie And Hot days of Summer...

you need

1 punnet /200 gms strawberries
2 tsp sugar or honey
a few leaves fresh mint
200 mils fresh yogurt

The strawberries were large...and sweet ,but a little mushy...
So hull and quarter them...remove the top and cut into 2/4 pieces...

Like so...

Into the blender,with the powdered sugar...save a few berries to add in the end...
OK ,I used a wee bit more than 2 tsp...

Ahhhh....the pure puree...
So we can sorbet it, right here, right now...

Add in the thick yogurt...

With a few leftover strawberries for the texture

A few whizzes and we are done...

3 glasses...one down and the others in a steel bowl into the freezer...

To be had like frozen yogurt...

Or drunk to kiss away the sun and its heat...

PS,the darker drink is yet to come...

Experiments in the sun...trying to create a fire with a magnifying glass...and succeeding!

Summer...
And the ways to combat it...
We are being baked...literally ,when we have to wait at the railroad crossing for the trains to cross...to or from school...
Still reeling from the sun...

So what are you baking today???

Ignorance is Bliss WOW post for Blogadda May 10, 2013

2013-05-12T04:00:00.001-07:00

“Forgetfulness is a form of freedom.” ― Kahlil Gibran

Sweat ran down her forehead...
Trickling into her hairline...
Eerie did not even come close to defining that dream...
But then, was it???
Yeah...
What was it?
Every morning ...that feeling of same old, same old...
Close but no cigar...
She felt around her bed side,yes she did need her spectacles!
Sometimes she even wondered if it would help if she slept with her spectacles on...
Maybe then, she'd be able to see and hopefully ,remember that bone chilling -supposedly eerie dream ,that always made her sweat...
Time for class!
Was it Monday or Tuesday...white or black shoes...
Aw ,she didn't want to be a defaulter again...
Mummmmy...
Where is my uniform???
Whack!!!
"What the f@#$?"
"Mummy is at home dear...wake up and make your bed yourself.The matron will pound you into pieces first thing Monday morning!"
Ah...one problem solved...
Monday ,it is!
What was it the counsellor told her??
Diary or a journal...
And a pen,to be her appendages 24*7...
But she'd rather hold a brush...
And not be slave to the alarm clock...
Blindly she followed the other girls out of the dorm ...she did not even realise that she was on auto pilot...she'd dressed and wore the right shoes...hallelujah!
But not the mess...she followed her nose to where the still fresh smell of turpentine lingered...
The mural...
She worried ,maybe the warden would have her expelled as she had apparently defaced school wall...
But that tree was just taking shape...
Maybe today...
She donned her smock...
That was the one thing she never forgot, and began...
The smoothness of the paint...
And its music as it walked on the canvas that was the wall...
Sometimes,she forgot that her hand was supposed to lead the brush...
But the forgeting allowed her to follow the colours...
The images danced and sang before her eyes and placed themselves in tune with the story the mural was destined to tell...
Suddenly she heard the cacophony...
The torch beams and the din...
They were taking her name...
Sunaina walked to the door of the attic and pulled it open,and called out to the general source of the noise...
What happened...
Suddenly the warden was running up...
Whack!
"What the f@#$?"
That was twice in a day...
"Where have you been all day...you never reported to the mess or to class...the entire staff has been looking for you here and in the grounds adjoining the forest ,we were now looking for the mangle remains of your body...What is this?"she whispered...the warden had never seen colours or images like this before...
Were they for real??
Was Sunaina for real...
So that was why she forgot...
The mural was breathtaking...
Suddenly she wished she could forget ...
And inhabit this unreal world...
Where time and classes and food did not matter...
And live this reality of psychedelic colours...
Maybe this was actually bliss!
To forget...and inhabit the world of colours...

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

One Bowl Eggless Chocolate Cake And Water and some French History

2013-05-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

Marie Antoinette...

And all the gory details of the French revolution!

School!

And Cake!

Chocolate Cake ...
Moist and wet and dreamily yummy!
And egg less!
If you have been keeping track of my bio...you will know that I am now gainfully-as in an economically viable-y employed in a high school and that I teach history to senior school boys and girls.
Boys and girls who haven't the faintest interest in their own history...let alone the french revolution.
But then...some one has to do this dirty job...
Make the French Revolution palatable!

With chocolate cake...

Well what ever history says about Marie Antoinette and her air head comments ...about letting them eat cake...it is so not true.

But that caught their attention...30 ninth graders...

And me...

I went all out telling the stories of what all I have ever read and seen on celluloid...

And what should have taken only 15 classes took more than 22!

But the cake was not for them...

They got pearls of my wisdom-sic!

This was in honour of general happiness...

Missing friends and trying to fit into the new staff room..the staff room that has many pure no egg eaters.

So a small offering...and a display of my prowess...that water makes for a fantastic cake too...

yes!

for the

One Bowl Egg less Chocolate Cake And Water and some French History...

you need

3 cups plain flour

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp soda bi carb

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup vegetable oil or melted butter

2 tsp vanilla essence

1 tbsp vinegar

For the frosting...

One recipe chocolate fudge sauce

150 gms semi sweet chocolate

50 gms butter

sprinkles

Simple...

Grease and flour a 10 inch square cake tin...

Pre heat your oven to 175C/350F.

Sift the dry stuff twice...

And keep your wire whisk ready.

Heat the water and add the sugar to dissolve...
You need tepid...warm to the touch- water.

Once the sugar dissolves ,Add in the oil, vanilla and the vinegar.

Pour the wet into the dry and whisk batter...

And pour into the tin...
pop into the oven for 35 minutes,check only when the cake comes away from the sides...If you want to poke with a metal skewer...clean out and its done.

This is for the frosting...
I could not possibly take a naked cake to school,now could I?
This was left over chocolate...Amul Zoo chocolate...

Pretty shapes...

See the cake...clean and so shiny!Run a knife around it and invert after half an hour...

Melted chocolate in the microwave...

One recipe of my famously easy Chocolate fudge sauce...find the recipe here...

Blend in while still warm...

to get this....

Into which I added the butter...

And cooled the sauce...
Next morning...cake sliced in half...
Sauce slathered on...

Covered...and drool factor on...
Yum! Yum!

Pretty Sprinkles to make you happy...

Tupperware'd for school...

And some leftovers stashed for pics and midnight chocolate cravings..

Cravings which make you lick spoons with a dreamy look in your eyes and a satisfied smirk on your face...

Things that make you go mmmm......
Don't mind Marie Antoinette and her shenanigans...

So what are you baking today???

Laughter and Light-WOW for blogadda again

2013-05-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Judged a WOW post...

The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed.

Nicholas do Chamfort

Its back again...

And I missed the first one!

So ,as I aim to please ...myself...

I'm back again!

If you could have one day repeat over and over again for the rest of your life, which day would it be? Why?

Attentiveness!

Assiduity!

Grandeur!

Prepping sweet child for a spellathon!

And wondering about what to cook for dinner...

Ever wonder that the most difficult job on the surface of this earth is that of a woman?

You are called a home maker work like unpaid bonded labour...only to be repaid with abundant love...as if that ever filled some body's tummy!

So one tends to wonder...

About the delightful days of youth...not that I will ever grow old!

No sir, I do not believe in aging...

I will be 23 till I turn 50!

The delightful days of youth ,spent under the aegis of the of the PARENTS,Inc.

And a fellow linguist...sweet sister Jiya!

One evening that I could have repeat over and over,I'm sure that my partner in crime(actually,I took real advantage of the fact that I was elder ...)will agree...

Daddy dear is sometimes short tempered...

I'm sure many have faced the same situation in their respective woefully short childhoods...

Our daddy dear is certainly one with a short fuse!

At least he was once upon a time,when all men are apt to be angry young men!
As days go...that day was fairly uneventful...
Boring even...
General verbal sparring like two cats ...
Totally normal for us two kittens...
Only apparently daddy dear was simmering...
And then the giggles started...generally post midnight...
With racy novels and comics to keep us company...
One giggle and then the laughter exploded...
Sweet mom slept on,with nary a care...
But as the guffaws grew more hysterical and feet began thumping on the ground...with tears and tummy aches and stitches in our sides to keep the footwork company...
When one of us started banging on the wall while laughing...I don't remember..
Suddenly ...
Daddy dear peers from a crack in the doorway...
With his trade mark "dirty look"...
And then there was darkness...
With a threat!
"You girls don't deserve any light!"
The connection to the room had been severed...
And we still laughed...
And we laugh about it regularly...
With veiled innuendos...
That was the one day I wish remains unending...
The laughter that keeps us going...
And the memories of being carefree and happy and gay!

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

Of WaterMelon Margaritas and the trails of the Balls

2013-05-01T08:04:00.001-07:00

Summer is here and how...

I am beginning to realise the gravity of my actions...
Gravity...
That makes your morale sag right down to your ankles at the end of the day...
School...
It should read ,School??
Why?
Because...at the end of the day,I realise that its not so easy anymore.
I went back to school because I missed the energy...
Never realised that it will take so much more to keep up..
But my favourite word now is Whatever!
And those who have had the pleasure of being part of my math classes know...how much fun they are...
Some one's got to say it!
So, at the end of the day...gravity or no...my morale is flying high!
Thanks to the ubiquitous watermelons...

But do we eat them??
No ...
We drink them...
Ball them first ...Some has to have the balls to do it??
Make the margarita...
That is!

Watermelon tastes best with another of my favourites...
Green Apple Triple Distilled from Smirnoff!
Dunked and drenched!

Without further ado...welcoming the summer and the sun kissed fruit!

Of Watermelon Margaritas and the trails of the Balls

you need (to serve 2)

500 mils fresh watermelon juice-strained
2 tsp honey
juice of 3 lemons
45 mils Green Apple Triple Distilled from Smirnoff
balls made with the melon baller
wedges of lemons
fresh mint leaves
Crushed ice
a dash of Tabasco

Ball the melon...

The rest..use!
If you are making the juice yourself,just dump roughly chopped watermelon ,seeds and all, with the mint leaves and honey into the blender jar.

Whiz,till the fruit is totally juiced.
Strain out into a cold bowl, remove the seed residue...If you get the white bits of the seeds...no worries you are only increasing the health quotient of your drink!
Yes ,healthy seeds!

Now, add some ice, and the lemon juice to the bottom of the glass...
Pour over the watermelon juice...
Now half the vodka...
And the dash of Tabasco...
Voila..
Ready to kiss summer hello...
The remaining balls I added to the Green Apple Triple Distilled from Smirnoff in a shot glass...

And the shot!

Instant chills...
I don't like to dilute my drink...
So I don't add the ice...

Cheers!

And, this was to keep the heat at bay while I baked this fudge laden decadent,egg free low cal super soft cake for my colleagues in school!!!!!

So what are you baking today???

I am young and I too have a dream to own My Dream Business with Office 365

2013-04-21T06:12:00.004-07:00

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Indiblogger and Office 365 have come together and prompted this blog post...

They are asking me to dream...
Dream my dreams aloud...
For all and sundry to read...
I left the secrecy and the "in the closet" desires a long, long way back...way before I began blogging...
Now,I write for anyone to read ...
My heart out on my sleeve or rather plate...
Is it scary???
NO!
Not at all!
That is the best part of being an emancipated woman!
I Stand by my man...
And when the world least expects it...
I will Rise and shine!
I have just gone back to teaching high school students after a sabbatical of 4 years...still wondering if I made the right choice...
But the fact ,that I get the chance to touch so many lives and make a difference is what keeps me going back everyday...to wait at that railroad crossing...
Each morning I drive to school...
20 precious minutes earlier than I should-only because the school is on the other side of a railroad crossing...
And more often than not the guy manning the gates just brings them down as I am about to cross over to the other side...
With a sadistic grin on his face...
And I have to count the minutes ,hoping against hope that I manage to park my car and sign in before the bell rings...
And then the wait begins anew in the afternoon...
And the wait is made bearable while I access Baketitude and read my mails on my phone...some times there are just trashy mails asking me to waste some more money ...
And then there are mails from my readers...with things that make me smile...
Today...
At this point in time ,I am happy being a wife ,a mother, a home maker and now a teacher...
But I am young ,I too have a dream.I dream of a Shalini-strong ,self reliant...
(to quote Mr Rajiv Gandhi)
I want to do so much more...

Office 365 offers me a chance to being the walk in that direction.
I dream of setting up Baketitude-a Cakes and Dessert Catering Business from my house...
I know I am good at the baking and decorating part of the job-the execution...
I dream of being able to make the prettiest of cakes...those with and without fondant...
So maybe Office 365 can help me design them...
I dream of the fluffiest of desserts...
The most sinful and the most decadent of chocolate cakes...
And the lightest of mousses..
I dream...
And I can do...
But...
The problem will come with the administration and the paper work...
I have been researching all about the Office 365 and have checked out the price...per month or yearly fees -extremely cheap at less than 500 rs a month.
And then here are the features...

Office 365 will allow me to look even more professional than I really am.
Design customised marketing materials.
Market my business with a website-easy to update and set up ,without additional hosting fees.
Hold impressive online meetings and video conferencing-using my HD camera.
Design my cakes and desserts.
Access professionals from around the world .
Allow me to track and access my suppliers to and supplies.
Keep my inventory up to date and remind me when I need stocking up.
keep my paperwork up to date and help with my taxes.
With Lync I'll be able to stay in touch anywhere.
Use skype to keep in touch with my employees(you didn't think I'd be doing all the work-did you?)
Use Yammer to keep my business in every body's minds...

That means - the logo, business cards and letter heads,designing, menus, packaging slips, sales receipts, purchase orders, billing and invoice statements ,business flyer's, brochures and more will all be handled by Office 365.

Leaving me free to be at my creative best ...baking and decorating and delivering smiles and a ton of calories and a sugar rush to people.

Let me begin the dreaming already...
Missed the blogger meet- I don't live in Delhi so ...

Thank you Indiblogger...

For the start of a dream...

So I begin to blog and to dream...

Knowing that I have the power to let my dreams come true!

And bring on the food!

So what are you baking today???

Cookies-Singhare Ka Atta cookies with cardamom -Invoking the goddess and some detoxifying

2013-04-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

That time of the ear again...
Time to invoke your faith in the goddess and all things holy...
Time to bring your gratitude to the fore and pray for the goddess to keep you safe and happy ...

And refrain from all things that are made of grain and are irresistible...
Like cookies and bread and all things meaty...
So we fast and and feel good...

And midweek we start getting cravings...
Cravings that will drive you nuts...
Cravings for cookies...

Am I the only one??
I know there are laddoos available and then there are Indian sweets galore...but the satisfaction that one cookie with a cup of coffee gives you...beats all else.
And in the middle of the fasting...I missed the bite of the cookie with my cup of coffee.
There had to be an easy way...right??
Then I remembered ...last Navratras..I made Buck wheat flour Crackers-crackers with kuttu ka atta and sesame seeds...
But I was dying for sweet cookies...
So sweet with cardamom ...
Like Whole wheat atta and semolina cookies.
So ...
Now with singhare ka atta- or flour made from water chestnuts...dried of course.
Singhare ka atta is used a lot in Shivratri...Specially for the halwa...
But I decided to cookie it.

for the

Cookies-Singhare Ka Atta Cookies with cardamon-Invoking the goddess and some detoxifying...

1 1/4 cup singhare ka atta
1/2 cup sugar powdered with 4 cardamom
1/2 cup clarified butter or desi ghee

You cant use butter here, as butter has salt...so ghee it is.
I put back a tbsp of the clarified butter or desi ghee into the container and replaced it with ...water!At least make an effort at lo cal...My cookies were thus not that crisp...a little hard -but what ever!
The clarified butter or desi ghee I creamed and added the powdered sugar. I didn't want to use icing sugar as it contains some cornflour...

Now creamed in...you can see the cardamom flecks and I could smell it...

Now the singhare ka atta in...

Oven preheated to 180C/350F.
Atta kneaded together with a bit of water... I reduced the clarified butter or desi ghee...you can go with a wee bit of ghee more...

Small balls of dough flattened on the cookie sheet.

That's how I made the balls...uneven they were...but whatever... was just dying to bite into the cookies the shape was immaterial!

Mid way though the cookies smelt fine,but didn't look cooked enough. So I flipped them over and baked them for a further 10 minutes...

And Now out of the oven cooling...I had a few cookies while they were still warm and tempting...

And ready for the photo shoot!

Enough to last me the next 4 days???
I'll eat a real cookie after my prayers on Friday...so I think I'll last till then.

Jai mata di!

So what are you baking today???

Lock Karo,Rock Karo -Product Review...Sunsilk Straight Hair Shampoo And Conditioner

2013-04-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

Samples arriving at my doorstep...
The benefit of being an indiblogger...
Goodies...
In the form of Sunsilk Straight Hair shampoo...

I had been planning to go and buy it ...the temptation of the poker straight hair without the straightening iron was just too strong.
And then...
Like a little bit of manna from heaven...
It landed on my doorstep...
Oozing out all the goodness...
Yup, the bottle of shampoo had opened in transit and was a wee bit leaky!
Nonetheless...it smelt great and looked great.
Meet the lady...
Yuko Yamashita...

Who has worked magic and chemistry and made sure that our tresses get locked...in straight position.
Sure!
Well...
Wet hair and all...ready to try it...
Slathered on and washed off after a minute.
And then its buddy, conditioner Sunsilk Co-Creations Perfect Straight Nourishing Conditioner applied to the hair strands...not roots mind you and left it on for 2 minutes...
And then with a lot of hope and with my fingers crossed...
I washed it off.
The only thing different I did...was that I combed my hair while it was still wet...
And after an hour or two...
My hair was straighter OK...
But not poker straight.
But then I guess,as this was the first time...maybe they will get straighter with regular use.
But with fly away,wavy hair like mine...
Straighter was a big deal.
Happy!
Yes ,I am.
But I would have been happier if the fragrance were not so concentrated...the hair will be straighter by and by.

Shampoo...
The cost for 80 mls Rs 56 only.
Should be good to go for at least 10 washes.
Conditioner...
The cost for 90 mls Rs 56 only...
Totally worth it...

Coming up...
Food!

So what are you baking today???

I'm the MAN! Soldier for Women-an initiative by BlogAdda

2013-04-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

Sleepless...
Clueless...
Ever since BlogAdda started the quest to find the soldier for women...I've been wondering...
I am fortunate enough to not know anyone who has ever needed to protect women from any kind of violence -domestic or otherwise...or even hear of a situation like so...
But ever since BlogAdda has been calling for entries and the last date for submission rings closer...I find myself unable to sleep-and that is weird-coming from me...
I am a person who will sleep in the middle of a power cut and after the scariest of movies...in short there is not much that will deter my beauty sleep...
So this campaign was an eye opener(pun unintended).
Then I began thinking...and realised that I knew no one -no man or woman-who had ever risked his life and limb to save the honour of a woman...
Because my life has been privileged and protected...and that this situation has touched me not yet-touch wood!
Fortunately for me!
Then I realised...
ME!

I am me!
A strong ,opinionated,compassionate,dedicated,focused, honest individual with courage of conviction!
I will not be unjust or stand for any injustice...
And I have courage and integrity ...
And I am glad I was moulded this way!
I was born to a man who never let me or my sister -or for that matter -his wife-feel weak or helpless in any way.
We were instilled with confidence in ourselves from the beginning.
We were told that there was no job we could not do because we were girls.
We were taught to ride a bicycle by him.
He taught us how to drive a scooter.
He also taught us how to drive his car,never complaining if we were reckless and scratched his pride and joy.
He let us drive with josh and ensured that the Delhi Drivers never ,ever made us feel any less-because we are women drivers.
He taught us well...we don't have to stand at a bank counter and look helplessly at a form we can not comprehend...
We can meet up with any official and ensure that the work we need to be done,will be done.
We have never needed to act as damsels in distress...he taught us how to change a flat tyre too and a fused bulb and a plug...that is a different story that we have never needed to...men always fall at our feet ...for being allowed to change a punctured tyre.
We know that we don't ever have to follow-we have the ability to lead.
The parents ensured that they brought us up with a lot of love...never ever regretting that they did not have precious boys...
Because they know that their daughters are stronger and will never be cowed down.
Men like him are true soldiers...
Men like him ensure that their daughters never feel any less privileged to be their children than if they were boys...
Men like him ensure that their daughters know that every problem can be surpassed...
Men like him ensure that their daughters will be strong enough to withstand all pressures in life...
Men like him ensure that their daughters will not need soldiers to protect them...
Men like him ensure that their daughters will be the soldiers to protect all humanity...
Men like him need to be saluted...
For they have ensured that their daughters are better than the sons of many others!
Thank you papa...
For giving us the best gift you could have given us...Love and confidence!
We love you!

"Fathers teach their best lessons to their children, by the way they handle life when confronted with adversities."

Linda Lovejoy

This post is a part of #Soldierforwomen in association with BlogAdda.com

So what are you baking today???

A contest WIN -the first prize -for a change!

2013-04-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

A win!
A win!
A win!
And the first prize to boot!

And the dish that won the first prize...
A special meal with the parents...
Schezuan Stir Fried Chicken and Veggie Noodles.

Schezuan Stir Fried Chicken and Veggie Noodles ...
A special meal with the parents ...
The meal is now special...
Even more ...now that the meal is the winner of the Fortune rice Bran Oil..

Thank you ,thank you...
Thank you blogadda.com for wonderful opportunities and Fortune!
Yay!!!!!
I am taking a bow!
And those of you who havent ...
Try the recipe and try Fortune rice Bran Oil!!!!!
In the mean while...I'm going to let the feeling sink in...
And make Schezuan Stir Fried chicken and Veggie Noodles Again...

So what are you baking today???

Afghani Gravy Paneer- Paneer or Indian Cottage Cheese in White Gravy

2013-04-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

Cottage Cheese or Paneer...
And a dreamy ,silky sauce...
Or should it be called a gravy...
On maybe a curry...
Whatever.After all a rose will always be a rose.

This is one of my absolute vegetarian favourite curries...

As smooth as silk...

With a slight tang of yogurt...

And a wee bite of the chillies...

And the after taste of fenugreek leaves...

Mild enough that a chili virgin can enjoy it without getting the mandatory tears in their eyes...

Yes...

I have been subject to that...

Chili Virgins!

Two Grown Men...

After a dinner of the super fiery Rajasthani Lal Maans(Mutton cooked with red chillies-that colour the gravy red),the two men had watery eyes...

The tears were assuaged with bowls full of yogurt raita and my astonished apologies...

Lessons learnt...

Whenever you invite people ...keep the spice factor low!

The one lesson I follow to date...

And with the leftovers...

A tadka-or a tempering of red hot chillies to up the ante!

With or without a tadka...

Try the Afghani Paneer...

Mild-I use a similar gravy for the Cream Chicken.Just replacing the chicken with the paneer -or Tofu for that matter.

Let's start...

PS why Afghani...Inspired by the afghani gravy dishes that are available in restaurants-no chillies and high in nut based creamy gravy-mine-totally low in calories and HEALTHY!

Afghani Gravy Paneer- Paneer or Indian Cottage Cheese in White Gravy...

you need

500 gms paneer or Indian Cottage Cheese

1 kg/1000ml slightly tangy yogurt(Regular-not Greek yogurt)

1 tsp refined vegetable oil/olive oil

1 tsp shahi zeera/black cumin

1 tsp garlic paste

4 tbsp onion paste/grated onion

salt,red chili flakes to taste

1/2 cup cashew nuts soaked in warm water for half an hour

1 tbsp kasuri methi/fenugreek leaves

1 tsp cornflour

1-2 dried red chillies-optional

Start with the cashew nuts and the Kasuri methi/dried fenugreek leaves to make the creamy nut paste.

In the wet grinder jar of your mixer, place the soaked nuts and the kasuri methi/fenugreek leaves with a little warm water and buzz till you get a fine fine paste.

It will stick to the blades and refuse to let go of the security of the jar...ease it gently off with warm water...gently...ever so gently!

Now the yogurt ...

Whisk it well...there should be no...no lump.Dissolve the cornflour into it and set it aside.

Heat the oil in the pan and add the shahi zeera/black cumin and red chillies -if you are using them-and allow them to pop and sizzle.

Now add the onion mix to the pan and the garlic paste and the salt...

And keep stirring ..you just want the raw smell to go ,not to colour/caramelise the onions...add in the red chilli flakes...

Now add in the cashew paste that you have liquefied with water...

And cook stirring, you'll know its done when the paste thickens to a puree like consistency...the greenish he is thanks to the fenugreek leaves...not some alien blood...

Stir the yogurt well...

Now add the yogurt mix to the cooked paste and stir...

You'll need to stir gently till the yogurt mix comes to a boil.The cornflour was added only to help the yogurt stay together...

The yogurt will not split...

Now check the seasoning.

Cube the paneer into one inch pieces and

Add them to the gravy.

Allow this gravy to simmer for about 15 minutes...

This tastes best when allowed to stand a while...

So for a dinner ,make this in the morning.

Best served with Naan Bread or Tandoori roti or normal roti...Or even hot buttered Toast...

Garnish with coriander or tempered red chillies...

And enjoy!

So what are you baking today???

Whole Wheat Bee Hive Bread and going Back To School

2013-04-05T10:06:00.001-07:00

Bee Hive Bread ...

Back to School...
So where is the connection???
There is something that is called a profession and then there is a passion...I'd call it my calling.
School has always been fascinating for me...only after I graduated from there, mind you...
The best part of school...children!
And the cacophony and the laughter and the arguments and the pressure an d the stress ...
I only realised how much I missed it all when I went back to school after 4 years and a day.
So I am back teaching...maths...to high school children...
What warmed my heart so much were the concerns of the people who follow my blog...

The blog stays...
I just have something more to do...
Like this whole wheat and milk bee hive bread.
It looks so pretty...a total attention grabber!
It will do so well on a dinner table, with various kinds of breads and rolls in its belly...so even if you run out of rolls..you can eat the container that contains the rolls!
And the Nigella seeds and Poppy seeds look really pretty!
The bread was soft and yummy and almost too pretty to eat...
This was for breakfast with mum and dad...we added salami and tomatoes and with this for good measure...
It was so easy to make...despite looking totally complicated,you'll never know until you try...
Like with everything else in life!

for the

Whole Wheat Bee Hive Bread and going Back To School...

you need

2 tsp dried yeast
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp soft butter
1/2-1 cup tepid to warm milk-save a little to brush the bread with before baking
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups plain flour/maida
1 tsp nigella seeds/kalonji
1 tsp poppy seeds/khus
A 1 1/2 l dome shaped bowl
butter/oil to grease the bowl

Start with the yeast. Blend half the sugar with a few tablespoons of warm milk in a small bowl and add the yeast. Gently mix together and set aside to froth.
In the mean while place the salt and flours and the remaining sugar in a large bowl...

The yeast is all nice and frothy by now...
All you knead to do is knead the dough with the frothy yeast and warm milk.

Once the dough is done...knead in the half the soft butter into the dough...

After the butter is incorporated...just turn out the dough onto your worktop and knead till the dough is smooth and elastic...it took a vigorous 10 minutes...and mum was sympathetically telling me to not make the effort..mums...they want everything to just fall into your lap...
Bless them!

Set aside for 15 minutes while you set up all else...
The bowl, overturned on the baking tray and greased with olive oil...

The dough out on the work top again....cut into 16 pieces...why 16??easier to handle ...

And taking 2 pieces...roll them into a small rope...

And twist them to form a small rope...like so...

Place this to surround the bowl and wrap...make thin rolls of each piece and continue the rope...

Make more rope and roll around...till you reach the top!

Now cover the bee hive with cling film and let it prove...
After about 20 minutes turn the oven on to 230C/450F and let it heat...
In about 10 minutes, brush the bee hive with some milk and sprinkle the seeds in whichever order...
Pop it into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes...I knocked on the hive with a spatula and heard a hollow knock...we knew the bread was ready to come out of the oven...

Brush the hot bread with the remaining butter to polish it...My brush was in my pantry...so we let the butter slip and slide in and on the bee hive...the warm yeasty bread aroma with butter melting...what could be a better breakfast???

That's the view from the bottom...we had to owl.wait about 10 minutes before we could peel the bee hive off the bowl with out breaking the bread of mum's bowl...sweet child came and went at least 10 times...
Patience is not a virtue!

All in all,totally worth the effort...all the extra handling made the bread soft and crusty...
really good to mop up the juices off the plate...

The crevices held the perfectly roasted seeds and melted butter...and warmth to surround your soul...
Try something fancy...
Like the L'oreal Blurb...
You're worth it!

So what are you baking today???

Coming up...the best ever Sunday lunch Mutton Biryani...

Time spent the parents always makes food taste better!
Cheers!

Genoise au Chocolat and Some Growing up and the Magic of Rose

2013-04-02T08:27:00.001-07:00

Fancy Schmancy!

Chocolate cake!

Just 3 tablespoons of fat!

Light as a kiss of air...

Directed by the queen of baking herself...

And then I had to go and weigh it down with butter cream frosting and crushed oreos and Fondant!

Why???

Because I can!

And because a bunch of 30 seventh graders working hard ,cramming for their final exams,wanting to party just this last one time together deserved it!

This was a short notice ,last minute demand from sweet child...I would have rather helped him revise than spend time over a beater...but he insisted!

And I gave in.

What else does poor mum do!

Except extend best wishes for sweet child and his class mates in the seventh grade.

With a Genoise au Chocolate.

Genoise ,is a light as a feather cake -a sponge cake made faithfully with Rose Levy Bernanbaum's Cake Bible.

Something that I had been planning and procrastinating about for the longest time...as I am doing so now...

to blog or not to blog...

I have been meaning to make /bake so much stuff ,but with fewer friends around here...the thought of a full fridge is not so inviting.

Any ways this cake is worth the effort...light in calories and super light in texture...

less guilt and quick to disappear.

This cake was less...but I had less time...

So if you need to feed 30 chocolate deprived kids...make double!

for the

Genoise au Chocolat and Some Growing up and the Magic of Rose...

you need

3 tbsp beurre noisette -fancy name for desi ghee or clarified butter

3/4 cup cake flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1/4 cup boiling water

1 tsp vanilla essence

5 large eggs-to make 1 cup

1/2 cup sugar

Before you start out...read instructions at least twice...it seems a little complicated the first time,the second time is easier!
Cake flour- 1 cup plain flour ,from which two tables spoons are removed and replaced with cornflour.Simple.

Education comes from many places...buerre noisette-is just clarified butter where the butter is to be heated till the milk solids become brown and lend a lovely nutty aroma and flavour to the liquid!Simple.

I generally forget to turn off the gas on time while making ghee,so mine is generally noisette!

To be kept HOT! at 120 F or about as 45C.

Pre heat the oven to 180C/350F.

Grease a 9 inch cake pan.Cover the bottom with non stick paper and grease and flour it again.

Whisk the cocoa with the boiling hot water and vanilla and set aside-cover with a lid or cling film.Leave the whisk/fork in-you'll need it later.

Bain Marie...

A bowl over a pan of simmering water...

Place the eggs and the sugar-exactly measured out...Exact 1 cup!

I took the recipe literally-in the bowl and beat.

Place over the bain marie and continue to beat till the eggs triple in volume. At no time should the bowl touch the water or you will have sweetened scrambled eggs left behind.

5 minutes...and off the bain marie.

From this mix, pour about 2 cups into the cocoa mix and whisk well to get a light and creamy chocolate liquid mix. This chemistry helps the cocoa mix well and not sink to the bottom of the cake making for a super feathery light cake.

Sift the flour over the eggs and fold in with a metal spoon or a spatula.

I'm not that confident about the folding yet...so I used a whisk also...
Quickly poured into the prepared tin and popped into the oven...the cake wont rise much...but will be softer than a sponge cake for sure!

Exactly 30 minutes...the cake began to come away from the sides...you don't need to poke the skewer into the belly of the cake to check out that the cake is done...if it moves away -its done!
All you need to do is wait for 5 minutes, run your knife around the cake and overturn the cake...
And turn it over again...

Et Voila!
Since I was short of time...sliced and set to cool and frost with butter cream frosting from here .Crumb coated Centre and all around and then stashed in the fridge...

Oreo Butter Cream Frosting from here...
this cake was for 30 seventh graders..it had to be sugar high...so that they could get a sugar rush....
APT!
Then a wee bit of fondant and ...

All my best wishes...
OK the exams ended and the results are out...the kids did well and start with the eighth grade this week...
So this cake carried the wishes...long for them...

Kids ...have a wonderful year and do well!

So what are you baking today???

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes-Daring Bakers March Hidden Veggies

2013-03-31T04:23:00.002-07:00

Every body's got a dark side...Do you love me??? Can you love mine???
No body's picture perfect, but we're worth it...
Will you love me??? Even with my dark side???
Kelly Clarkson-dark side

Those words coming from a plain and simple zucchini...
and the dark side???
Chocolate!

Daring Bakers threw quite a challenge this month....hidden veggies!
And where were you supposed to hide the veggies???
In a cake or a cookie or a pudding...
I saw suggestions of turnip and spinach filled cakes...
Pumpkin, can be pie"d"...but who is to piper the pumpkin pie???

We tried to hide beet roots in a red velvet cake ...but the velvet was not even pink and tasted foul....
I'd almost given up when I spotted Zucchini Cupcakes in Rose Levy Brenanbaum's The Cake Bible ....
The chemist to the rescue...
If she says its a cake ...so it must be a cake...
But ginger and cinnamon still made zucchini visible...
So dump the ginger and add some magic...the dark side...Chocolate -cocoa powder!

Yes my little zucchini...I will still love you...with your dark side...you see you will melt with all the power the dark side has over you...
And no one will even know you were there...Hidden!

See...not a trace...

I know you don't believe me...
so read on!

Blog-checking lines: Ruth from Makey-Cakey was our March 2013 Daring Bakers’ challenge host. She encouraged us all to get experimental in the kitchen and sneak some hidden veggies into our baking, with surprising and delicious results!

I tweaked The cake lady's recipe a bit....
to yield some extra special magic!!!!!

for the

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes-Daring Bakers March Hidden Veggies...

you need

2 cups grated zucchini
1 1/2 cups(less tbsp) plain flour
3/4 cup caster sugar-if you do not intend to frost these cuppies,add another two tbsp sugar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda/baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 heaped tbsp cocoa powder'
1/2 cup neutral vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
2 eggs

One bowl cake-simple...
These cuppies do not rise too much..so you will get around 16-18 cup cakes or a doz extra mini muffins...
Oven on at 175C/350F
Start with a humble zucchini...One was enough for 2 cups...

Peeled and grated.
Sift the flour,cocoa powder,salt,soda bi carbonate and the cinnamon powder once and set aside...

In another bowl, add the eggs,oil and the sugar. I had 2 egg yolks left over from my royal icing, so I reduced the oil by a tbsp and added the yolks...did not want left over yolks in the fridge...

The whisk was unnecessary...in fact a wooden spoon would have done it....
Add in the sugar and the zucchini...
See the veggies...two cups full!

Now add in the dry flour mix...simple!

The batter was a little wet...and needed to be poured a bit carefully...the grated zucchini was falling out...but I added only 3/4 full...

The cuppies did not rise...maybe because of the zucchini...but it melted...there was no sign of the veggie!
And they tasted OK straight out of the oven..

.but after an overnight rest...they were...FAB!!

The texture was soft ...spongy and ready to french the frosting...I only stuck the royal icing roses...with a wee bit of royal icing...
Tell me the roses are pretty...
Tell me!
Almost real...

I frosted...and piped and made roses...overnight ...left to dry...
A perfect contrast to the chocolate and the dark side...
Thank you daring bakers for a wonderful challenge...

So what are you baking today???

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies with Candy

2013-03-20T10:15:00.001-07:00

Cookies are made of butter and love.

~Norwegian Proverb

Cookies and Candy...

Dished out together...

Spell love backwards or forwards...

Only when you love so much,can you put so much chocolate into a cookie.

And I also added m&m 's and Snickers Bars...

Little coloured bits of goodness and chocolate!

Added to the chunks of chocolate that are just about melting in your mouth... then there were some with cut up snickers bars in their centres...

Mush and more!

I'd hoarded a packet of m&m's and some fun size snickers bars for a while now...trying not to eat them because of the calories they contain...

And then I thought...WTH- I can do a few more rounds of yoga...

There were the aromas of melting butter and warm chocolate and melting caramel and peanuts...
My whole house was brimming with the goodness...
Sweet Child was trying his best to study for his last exam -science...all that chemistry and those chemicalk reactions going on in the oven were wrecking havoc with his chemistry lesson...
Well...
These too were important!
Chocolate and candy always is!
These were a wee bit healthy too!

for the

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies with Candy...

you need

225 gms or 1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups ground sugar
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cup plain flour
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips( I used semi sweet dark chocolate and white chocolate)
2 tsp soda bicarb/baking soda
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup m&m's and 5 fun size bars snickers or whatever candy you have or ...dont!

I was de stressing...
Making dough when all the people at home had gone to sleep...working in a sinisterly,whispery,quiet way...tip toeing around the kitchen...
Fortunately, my kitchen is a good 20 yards away from the bed rooms...so even the falling lids and stuff dont disturb ...the only thing I'll abstain from is baking...the aromas fly!
I had company, sweet dog Romeo kept me company all throughout...baring his uneven denture and licking his lips when he smelt the candy and the butter and the chocolate...I did drop some cookie dough...just to keep him happy!
Well, I thought Id be able to cream the butter and sugar with my whisk...hands are better...

That btw is powdered sugar...
Add in an egg at a time and the vanilla and whip in...

It will be smooth and creamy...
Now to plop in the flours...

And now mix it together into a soft dough...and divide into two...

One part...add in the chocolate chips and the m&m's...

ANd now bring it all together by kneading the sweet stuff into the cookie dough...

And ideally shape the cookies now...whether you intend baking now or freezing them and

ANd now bring it all together by kneading the sweet stuff into the cookie dough...
And ideally shape the cookies now...whether you intend baking now or freezing them and baking later...I made a roll...and I had to shape the cookies the next day...pointless!

So the next day...

Just in case ...the m&m's looked sooooooo cute!

I chopped the snickers bars into three and kneaded the chopped white chocolate into the second part of the dough...

The snickers I enclosed into the cookie dough...

Got 12 cookies filled with snickers and 12 with m&m's...Dumped in the fridge over night.

Next morning...
Oven pre heated to 180C/350 F...
I did not wait for the cookies to come to room temp...just laid them bare on the cookie trays and ....

Cookie trays in and cookie trays out...

15 minutes...and out at the soft stage...The cookies should be soft and just a wee bit undercooked...they cook while cooling too!
Lift them off with a metal spatula and Cool on a wire rack...
I drizzled some melted milk chocolate over the the still warm snickers cookies...
Proof!

Dunked in milk or without!!!!!!

And thanks to Kanchan Bhartari for the pretty sprinkles...

They will add the pretty oomph factor...

And make some little girls very happy!!!!!!!
I managed to make 24 cookies in all...the same size as the cookies available at cafe coffee day!

Soul satisfying!!
Left over candy or no...
These are fun to make and fun to share...
Make em!

So what are you baking today???

Schezuan Stir Fried Chicken and Veggie Noodles and a contest

2013-03-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

This post is a part of Healthy & Tasty Recipe Contest with Fortune Rice Bran Health Oil & BlogAdda.com

A contest!

OK, so I am in all probability the last...but in no way am I the least!!

Desi Beats...
Desi Chinese with Noooooodles...
Long, long strings that promise a burst of flavour...

Topped with a lusciously silky gravy ...drenching slivers of fried chicken...
So the slurp...
And a bite...
And a contest!!
Yay!
I love Contests...

And I love Chinese...
With an Indian tadka...
And the promise of less fat content and low cholesterol!
All thanks to...

I tried this oil for the first time yesterday...generally only use refined vegetable oil for deep frying and baking only-hubby dear is a mustard oil and desi ghee purist.
Food cooked in Refined Oil is a big no no!
So whenever we do Italian or Chinese, we use olive oil or Saffola...
This oil left no after taste...and was absorbed less...
Saffola is good too,but there is that taste and smell...
I bought a litre of Fortune refined rice bran oil...
And this was the first try...In a non stickpan...less than a quarter cup of oil...two dishes...The chicken and the noodles...

Noodles...are thin and bunched Chow Chow that you generally get in east India...only wheat flour and water,no egg, no salt and no colour. Cook in two minutes and absorb all the flavours without getting soggy!
Perfect!
Schezuan Stir fried chicken is a rip off from the Fujiya (Malcha Marg Delhi) menu. My family and I have been visiting that restaurant since the 1980s...and little has changed...the food is still amazing and leaves you feeling happy and Chinese full!
This is not lamb...a little problem getting fillets of lamb to slice, so chicken breasts had to do!

for the

Schezuan Stir Fried Chicken and Veggie Noodles and a contest...

you need

500 gms chicken breasts, sliced thinly
3 tbsp cornflour
1 egg white
salt ,pepper,red chilli flakes to taste-optional a pinch or two aji no moto(I did'nt use it)
3 dried red chilies
1 spring onion sliced
1 green/red /yellow capsicum-cut into squares
1 tbsp sesame seed oil
3 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tbsp finally diced ginger
2 tsp or more vinegar
2 tsp soy sauce
1/4 cup Fortune Refined Rice Bran Oil

Chicken should be sliced and marinated for a few hours. 20 -25 minutes if you are short of time.

Just add the salt, pepper, red chili flakes, 2 tbsp cornflour and the egg white to the chicken and mix well.
This is proof that an egg separater is a must have...slime has no behind!

Cover and set aside.

Heat the 1/4 cup Fortune Refined Rice Bran Oil in a non stick pan and add a third of the chicken at a time and cook till the chicken curls and looks cooked.

Beware the splattering oil!
Drain on a kitchen towel and set aside, from prying m\noses and eyes..you want the chicken in a gravy , not eaten up as a snack even before you have begun!

You will be able to save about half the oil. Remove to a bowl and return only 1 tsp of the oil back to the pan.
In the bowl that you marinated the chicken in, place the ketchup, ginger(save a pinch or two), vinegar, soy sauce, sesame seed oil and mix well. Add the remaining cornflour and a cup of water.I added a dash of tabasco to make it spicier...

Into the hot pan, add the chillies and the saved ginger and let them change colour. See any oil??Hmm?Hmm??

Pop in the peppers/capsicum and the diced spring onions and toss to coat the flavoured oil.

Add the chicken and toss,toss to combine and let the flavours amalgamate. I just toss to improve my tossing skills. Awesome-not a drop on the counter.

Not withstanding the attacks on the chicken....
Now sauce mix in...

Stir ,allowing the sauce to coat the chicken and the peppers....just a minute and we are done...

What I love about Chinese, desi style ...flavours, colours and a burst of textures...
And the drama...

In the meanwhile 3 litres of water was bought to a rolling boil for the noodles.
So now the Veggie Noodles...
The famous Chow Chow noodles!

Veggie Noodles...

4 bunches chow chow noodles(If you can manage chow chow-maggi without the taste maker is good too-or regular hakka noodles)
left over Fortune Refined Rice Bran Oil from frying the chicken
salt,pepper,red chilli flakes to taste
pinch aji no moto-did'nt use again
2 cups assorted chopped veggies-(sliced onions, 1 carrot,6-7 beans 1/2 cup shredded cabbage and 1 sliced capsicum)
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tbsp vinegar

When the water boils tip in the noodles and pay close attention to them. Make sure you leave a bite-a little al dente like pasta.

Drain through a collander and ensure you rinse them well with cold water to stop the cooking and to ensure that the noodles are excess starch free.

Fortune Refined Rice Bran Oil -leftovers into a wok.
Add in the veggies one by one-onions, beans, carrots ,capsicum and the cabbage.

Toss and mix in the salt and pepper.
Now the soy sauce and then in with the noodles...

Mix well on high heat taste.
Add in the vinegar and adjust the seasonings...
Ready in a jiffy!

Serve with the Schezuan Stir Fried Chicken and enjoy the meal-knowing its high in fibre and heart healthy!

Crisp Chicken and crisp Veggies in yumm noodles...
Hardly and left overs and some satisfied tummies....

Super Shiny and glossy and easy on the palette...
Simple and healthy!

So what are you baking today???

Spicy Onion and Sesame Crackers Daring Bakers Part II

2013-03-02T06:34:00.001-08:00

"You have bRaINS in your head .

You have FeET in your shoes.

YOu can steer yourself any direction you

chOOse."

Dr Seuss

I choose to go the sweet and savoury way!

I never read Dr Seuss while I was young...
Dr Seuss for me ...is me reading stories aloud to sweet child at bed time...
That was when I discovered the magic of Dr Seuss...
My favourite...
Yertle the turtle...
That was when I started the sing -song, read- along tone...and sweet child absolutely adored ...adored me for it...and Dr Seuss-courtesy Sweet Sister...who now has her hands full with a two year old and is trying her hand at baking too.
Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!
Thank you for spreading so much happiness!

If you havent gone the sing song way yet...
GO!
Any ways back to the crisp crisps...
This was the daring bakers challenge for february...
And a little thank you to you too Sarah..

This months inspiration is from Sarah...

Ta-da!!!!!

Blog checking lines: Sarah from All Our Fingers in the Pie was our February

2013 Daring Bakers’ host and she challenges us to use our creativity in making

our own Crisp Flatbreads and Crackers!

OK so, this is part II,executed in 15 minutes ,baked in 25 and gone in a day...
Super Yummy, Super Desi ,Super Slim and Super Onion-y...
Crisp like something that has just come out of a deep fat fryer...
And spicy...
Just like a little tadka -tempering has been given to them...
Yummy!
Truth be told...
I was contemplating...
To be sweet or not to be sweet...
That is...
The Crisps...
I was dicing onions and chillies for the tempering-I was doing Maa ki DAL...that is black dal and red rajma...
Extra onions and chillies led the way...
As if they had brains of their own and my feet followed...
I got this from here when I was searching for onion crisps...

So simple!

for the

Spicy Onion and Sesame Crackers Daring Bakers Part II...

you need

2 cups plain flour
1/4 cup warm water
1 tsp salt
4 tsp toasted sesame seeds
4 tbsp melted butter
1/3 cup oil
2 medium onions finely diced
2-3 green chillies finely diced
hand full of chopped coriander-I had none and was none the worse for it
1 tsp bicarb of soda/baking soda
2 tsp sugar-which I totally forgot to add

Oven on at 170C/325F.
That's the finely diced onion...yes my chillies were so aged that they turned red!

And I toasted the sesame in my tadka pan...
I made half the recipe as I have little space to store and place my Tupperware...
Half the onions at one time along with all the ingredients into the bowl(except the water).
That is the melted butter in the tadka pan...

Lightly mixed together .

And then the remaining onion added.
The dough was a little soft and the recipe advised to roll the dough between the devil and the deep sea-actually between two sheets of film-but it is murder trying to get the cookies off...
So I made little balls...

And pressed them onto my prized cookie sheets with my pretty little hands...
Pricked them with a fork all over and...

And popped them in the oven...
Mid way I flipped them over...and in 25 minutes they were ready to harvest...er...eat...
So out on a wire rack to rest before they became our snack...

Pretty soon they were demolished...
Pretty and thin and crisp...

These are now history...
need to redo!
In the meanwhile sweet Child starts his grade VII exams...
So a beat of luck wish for him and his class mates...Class party...
Coming up -Genoise au Chocolat with Fondant and Oreo Butter Cream Frosting...
Coming up...

Math exam next...

So what are you baking today????

Daring Baker Again- Seedy Raincoast Crisps and more!

2013-02-27T08:07:00.000-08:00

Crackles and Crunches...

A cup of hot java to dunk it into...

Loads of seeds...

Zero Fat!!

And Totally less Sweet!

The Daring Bakers Challenge after two months...

Totally difficult to do while you are shifting houses...

That was one thing I missed...every time I checked out the stuff to be made for that month...

At last , now,I'll be faithful to my cause celebre...

Bake Pretty Stuff and Eat Pretty Stuff...

I love crisp crackers...especially stuff you can dunk into coffee or tea...

And with this months challenge, I loved the fact that the only added fat was the fat /oil used to grease the baking pan...

All the fat in the nuts and seeds is great fat!

So that will do!

So beautifully crisp that thecrackers stood up like a house of cards...
Lace like and delicate...
I' m proud of my prowess!
And to beat the sadness of not being part of teh daring bakers , I made savoury Onion and sesame seed crackers.
How is that for a double whammy!
Rustic and simple and Spicy and Yummy ....Yummy...
OK that is the next post...

This months inspiration is from Sarah...

Ta-da!!!!!

Blog checking lines: Sarah from All Our Fingers in the Pie was our February

2013 Daring Bakers’ host and she challenges us to use our creativity in making

our own Crisp Flatbreads and Crackers!

for the

Daring Baker Again- Seedy Raincoast Crisps and more...

you need

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda-bicarb of soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter milk(I added 1 tsp vinegar to 1 cup milk)
1/8 cup packed brown sugar-I used gur ki shakker
1/8 cup honey
1/2 cup raisins
1/ 4cup chopped pecans-I didn't use any...walnuts were an option ,but I decided against
1/4 roasted pumpkin seeds-I used watermelon seeds
1/8 cup ground flax seeds
1/8 cup roasted sesame seeds
1 tbsp fresh rosemary-I used dried rosemary

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F...and grease a loaf pan lightly-8 inches by 4 inches...
I started just before dinner that day, as the crisps had to be baked as a loaf and then cooled and sliced and re baked...
So one day was not possible...
These are the watermelon seeds roasting-also called MAGAJ.
A little heat and they begin to pop and smell heavenly...
done!
Do the sesame seeds too...

Into a bowl all the seeds and stuff...

And the popped seeds...

And lastly the butter milk mixed in...

Mix and pour into the tin...

Done in about 40 minutes...needed no poking as the sides gave way...so I knew it was cooked.
10 minutes later, turned out of the pan...

I wrapped this in a kitchen towel and in the bread box and left it to cool overnight...
Next day...
Filigree thin slices-2mm maybe 3 mm thick...

On two cookie sheets...the best investment made for my Morphy Richards oven...

Baked at 150C or 300F for 15 minutes on each side...
I managed to burn a few..
So you need to be careful...
But the crunch and the aroma of the seeds and rosemary baking was awesome...

Along with a cup of coffee...

Caramelised Raisins...

Crisp seeds...

Yumm!

I'm crunching through these raincoast crackers (hmm why raincoast??) carefully...my root canal treatment has left the right side of my face a little numb...

After two lidocaine injections...just opening my mouth is a pain...thank god these crisps are slim!

Slim...

The prospects of them staying in the jar for too long...

Slim...

Dreams...

Back sooner than you think...

Take the chance and try out for 5 free Tandoor Chef coupons ,wont you???

So what are you baking today???

Pan Seared Fungi-Mushrooms David Rocco Style

2013-02-25T05:50:00.001-08:00

Roald Dahl and Pan Seared Fungi...

Err...Mushrooms...

Got it off David Rocco again...

Hot Chef and Hot Fungi...

Great Combo!

Only he did not have button mushrooms...

And green walls...

New house and a wee bit of enthusiasm for painting walls...

Only this wall became too green...

Hubby dear literally shields his eyes when he passes from here to the bed room-I have to admit this wall does cast an eerie glow...but WTH...till I get the creative bug again this wall stays so green-its either that or hubby dear needs to pick up a paint brush-don't quite see that happening real soon...

So the Mushrooms were to please his palette.

Something Hot for the Hot (headed ) man!

An extra hot pan, a little bit of salt and pepper and these babies are done.

They taste of firmness and flambe'ed olive oil.

And Garlic...

Loads of it!

Super easy...will go well with bread and a bake or with dal and roti...or lie just as pleasantly on a pizza.

I also tried to clean them differently this time. Plain washing with water makes the mushrooms watery and limp...so I tried to wash them with flour/maida and found that they indeed absorbed less water.

Read on...

for the

Pan Seared Fungi-Mushrooms David Rocco Style...

you need

200 gms/1 pack button mushrooms-whatever is easily available

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp chopped garlic

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp butter

2 tbsp plain flour-to wash and clean the mushrooms-optional

My maid is back from her 6th day off this month-respite to my dish pan hands which were itching to do something extra, and my dentist just scheduled me for a root canal treatment...

Maybe he should have scheduled a psyche consult-Too much Grey's Anatomy???

I actually scrubbed each mushroom with a little flour to remove the dirt and fuzz...

Seriously??

Yes, seriously!

Each one-Ok there were only maybe 20 small ones...

That I then rinsed with water, drained and cut..

Fortunately this time the fungi was no worse for wear...

The mushrooms absorbed less water!

I placed the long handled pan on high heat while I chopped the garlic and mushrooms...

Just basically let the pan smoke.

I wanted the sear...

Collected all the stuff and got ready to cook.Need to work super fast now...

The oil in...

The garlic sizzling with all its might...

The mushrooms in..a third at a time- did not want to reduce the temperature of the pan too soon..

Toss ...

Spices in..

Toss

A little bit of flambe here...that the camera did not catch...

Not one mushroom on the counter top..I toss well...Thank you!

Sprinkle the salt just before the flame is turned off...

And ready to serve...

With the minimal of gravy...

And Roald Dahl was keeping me company..

I like!

Sanity is the most treasured thing when sweet child is preparing for his end of term exams...

He has taught himself to twist a pencil -and fast-in two fingers in the last two weeks a la Boris Grishenko
from Golden eye...

Ahh!!!!!!!!

Coming up...

The promise of Nuts and Zero Fat and absolutely low sugar...

What a crackling deal!!!

In the mean while ...comment for the 5 free Tandoor Chef coupons- Free Frozen Food!!

Come on...

So what are you baking today???

Carrot Halwa -Gajar Halwa/Gajerela in a Jiffy and a Tried and tested Short Cut

2013-02-24T02:50:00.004-08:00

Carrots are devine... You get a dozen for a dime, It's maaaa-gic! -Bugs Bunny

So what's up, Doc?

Yes ,I know I am dithering...

I have something and more coming up...

That seems to be the promise in every post...

But then in the words of my fave...Bugs Bunny-"Don't take life too seriously ,You'll never get out alive."

Obvious ,isn't it?

Only Bugs Bunny could put it so eloquently!

Carrots...

Any which ways!

I prefer Gajar ka Halwa/Gajerela.

Carrot Halwa...

A mushy ,sweet carrot pudding made with tons of love and milk and milk fats...

The best thing that you can eat on a cold winter day...

Hot or cold, with or without the mandatory tea or coffee...

Along with almonds and cashews and raisins or just plain...

The sweetness of the carrots drenched in cooked and coagulated milk ...

Awesome!

A single spoonful is never enough.

The only problem is that this is a labour and time intensive pudding or halwa.

Me?

I am certainly not a labour intensive person.

I love my food processor to bits ,and absolutely adore my maid.Her absence gives me dish pan hands that no amount of moisturiser or Moo Udder Cream seems to restore.

So this had to be quick!

And it was, what generally takes 5-6 hours of patient stirring took me less than one...and the result...WOW!

for the

Carrot Halwa -Gajar Halwa/Gajerela in a Jiffy and a Tried and tested Short Cut...

you need

2 1/2 kg carrots

1 tin -400 mils condensed milk-sweetened

3 tbsp Desi ghee-clarified butter

6 tbsp milk powder

handful of raisins, blanched sliced almonds-optional

Peeled,topped and tailed, I passed the carrots through the food processor grater...done in five minutes...

Cooker full of carrots.

How is that for quick?

Two whistles on full,steam let out through the vent before the pressure was released later...
I told you this was quick!
A lot of liquid to dry out...cook this on high heat if you are standing there itself.
If you have the time and the patience, you can simmer gently to reduce the carrot juices slowly...

About 15 minutes later, one tin of milkmaid poured lovingly in....
Truth be told...we had had quite a few spoons full of the condensed milk ...yum yum yum!
It was only 3/4 full...actually...

Cooked on a medium flame now...
Cooked till the water is almost dried out...when you tilt the pan , the liquid should not be too ready to leave the safety of the carrots...

Time for the short cut!
Khoya!
Something only north Indians understand.
Well,what with adulteration and all...
Home made Khoya is needed.
Ghee/Clarified butter or BUERRE NOISETTE(berr no -i-set)!
Yes, that is a fancy,cordon blue name for ghee...
Ghee and milk powder make Khoya-secret sweet mum divulged a long time ago...

Mix well-like so and add...

Add in and cook maybe five to ten more minutes on slow...
Done...see no liquid seeping out.
The Halwa is coked.
Ready to taste.

I added raisins when I added the milk maid, you can fry them in ghee and also add fried almonds and fried cashew...your call...
My cavities do not allow for too many nuts so I avoid.
I love the carrots soft and mushy without any nutty interference!

A spoon full of magic...
A spoon full of yumminess!
A spoon full of Desi carrot halwa or gajerela or gajar ka halwa...
Super Fast!

The short cut to khoya works any way you need it to...Cooked or uncooked.
So next time make khoya at home instead of buying it from dubious sources.
Bunny will be proud to see what I did to his magic carrots...

You will so be in carrot heaven after this...

So What are you baking today???

The Easiest Brownies Ever and a Comeback

2013-02-19T03:08:00.001-08:00

Chocolate: luscious, lumpy. loads of love......

Bad Photography and and a happy day!
A birthday and chocolate!
Happiness!

Somethings are better left to the nose and the olfactory senses...

Butter and chocolate and vanilla ...

The first time in the new house...

Should that be like a a ritual ???

The first time is always special...

Any which ways...

Is special!

This day the chocolate was as a way to satisfy some cravings...

And we had no chocolate!

So cocoa!

Get rid of the smell of turpentine...

I've just painted one wall green...

I love the hues of that colour...Hubby dear is more the white and bright kinds, he professes his deep and passionate love for white walls , all my lamps will be lit, casting beautiful shadows on ever body who is trying to hide something or the other-but hubby dear will still switch on the over head tube and strobe lights...

I've tried in vain to explain to him many, many times that less light hides imperfections...

But he says-" Life is like the brownies that you keep baking...

Tastier if cracked and brown on top!!!
And you need to see it like that!"

(But WTH! He has to go to work some time...so we paint-green and gold!)

In the words of Sanskriti Sawhney-The cracked top and brown brownies were Yummilicious!

In honour of Sanskriti Sawhney...on her second birthday!

May god bless you and may your many shenanigans bring smiles to every body's faces!!!

for the

The Easiest Brownies Ever and a Comeback...

you need

3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla essence

3/4 cup plain flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

4 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1/2 cup of chopped walnuts-optional-I obviously skipped.

Once you decide to let the lackadaisical attitude and its lazy bum rest in the quilt...turn on the oven to 175C/350F.Once the oven is heating...there is no way you'll want to stay away from it.

The best way to start...

Sieve the dry stuff on a sheet of paper- saves the cleaning up!

Twice...

That's the butter, a wee bit melted and a wee bit of vanilla essence into it added erroneously -before its time...

Add in the sugar and try to whip it with all the force possible ...
Yes the electric beater was still in the cartons...packed!

One egg at a time, all 4 in...one by one whipped in well, and now the remaining vanilla essence...

And now, the flour and cocoa and baking powder and salt mix...
Lightly folded in...

A square tin, lined with parchment paper..My brownies have a history of not coming out totally from the dish...I love them gooey, you see...
Its almost as if the still gooey ,partially uncooked batter is a bit afraid of debuting ...coming of age!
Coming of age is such a problem with all- no body wants to let go of youth!
Neither do I.
I know the batter still looks a little grainy, the sugar isn't all dissolved in...I don't bother with that , the heat of the oven brings the sugar to its knees...always!

The batter on the spoon and some more was licked off raw...the rest we spread and popped into the oven...
Waiting for the magic smells for about 50 minutes.

50 minutes and many pokes in the tummy- the brownie had been poked atleast 5 times to see if it was done-sweet child could not wait..

Sliced and snowed upon with icing sugar...
A toast to the little angel who does not want to go to "Kool" (school)and who is scared of Baby Sitting and likes her new teacher "Miss Sharon"...
Happy To you -Birthday!
Live a long , happy and stress free, chocolate and cup cake filled life!

Bad lights yet...

And bad photographs...

But that does not take away from these EASY brownies...

Brownies never taste so good without semi sweet chocolate...but we hardly missed the silkiness and the moistness in these decadent bites out of chocolate heaven!

So easy , my little baker girls and boys can make them...
Try them out ...you'll love theses!!
A promise to be more regular with blogging and baking...now that the spring is in the air...and the fumes of paint are in my house!

So what are you baking today???

Palak Paneer a la Tandoor Chef and my first Giveaway!

2013-02-12T04:11:00.002-08:00

Palak Paneer.

Tandoor Chef.

Synonymous?

Yes!

Sweet Sister and most of her friends think so.

Well ,this is the first give away on baketitude.

Give away of 5 gift coupons from the makers of the Delicious foods at Tandoor Chef!

These coupons can get you free Palak Paneer to dunk your hot Naans or Tandoori Rotis into.

However , you need to be a resident of the United States of America to avail the giveaway.
So , if you do live in the US of A, all you have to do is like Tandoor Chef on facebook, like baketitude on facebook-see the link on the right panel,post a comment on this blog post and comment on the tandoor chef face book page,saying that you like Tandoor Chef.
Yes , you have to do all 4 things to get the 5 coupons from Tandoor Chef!

Spinach-Palak Paneer-This is my favourite green vegetable...easy to make , glamorous enough to serve to a dinner party and wholesome and healthy enough to be a complete meal.

Popeye ...

and his favourite food...

Palak Paneer...

Its a wondrously silky concoction that just melts in your mouth? It helps that the dish is made of a puree and soft, very soft fresh cottage cheese-paneer.
It is tempered with sweet spices that are wonderful for your metabolism and your constitution. Full of vitamins and fibre, this is the promise of a good, hearty, healthy meal. I need to make this from scratch or depend on a few good brands or takeaways but those of you who can, can just take Tandoor Chef off the shelf, onto your table and into your plate.
Hot!
If you are making it from scratch-this is my way. Make it the best way...
My way!

for the

Palak Paneer and my first ever Give Away...

You need

1 bunch fresh spinach leaves-(about 500 Gms you can also use frozen spinach –

Just get 1 cup puree)

½ cup finely diced onion

3/4 cup blanched and peeled chopped tomatoes

1 tsp ginger paste

1 tsp garlic paste(I pound the ginger and garlic together)

3 tsp mustard oil or any neutral vegetable oil

2-3 dried red chillies-optional

1 tsp coriander seeds -lightly crushed

2 tsp fresh cream/heavy cream

1 tsp each Salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder

200 Gms fresh Paneer /cottage cheese or plain tofu cup into cubes

for the tadka or tempering-optional

2-3 red chillies

1/2 tsp clarified butter/desi ghee

First off, if you are using fresh spinach, break and keep the leaves and wash them well.Place them in a heavy based sauce pan, after shaking off most of the water, and cover with a lid.

Place on medium heat for about 5-7 minutes. The leaves will wilt and shed their moisture and cook partially. Turn off the heat and leave till the leaves cool.

Now squeeze out the excess liquid to get a ball of the soft spinach leaves. Puree or process these without any extra liquid. If you do need some liquid, use ¼ cup of cold milk. The spinach liquid can be used to make your breads or roti dough-excess water will mean a longer cooking time that totally ruins the delicate taste of spinach.

I throw it away without any guilt...there is always some other way to get the vitamins in.

You can either deep fry the cubed cottage cheese /tofu of lightly fry them on a non stick pan with a few drops of oil or just leave it soft and white.

If you do fry them, be sure to pour some hot water over them to keep them soft while the dish is cooked. Like so...

Heat a wok or a non stick kadai-I used a wide mouth pan.

Add the oil. Next to go in are the coriander seeds and the red chillies. You can throw the chilli seeds if you are worried about the heat, but honestly, this dish is mellow and comforting and the chillies will only raise your metabolic levels. So be a dear and add them whole.

To the sizzling spices add the onions.

Lightly sauté and wait till they turn translucent –pink.

Now is a good time to add the ginger and garlic pastes. Fry them out on low heat and add the salt-start with ½ tsp. add more, if you think so later.

Now dump in the tomatoes. A can of chopped tomatoes will be good enough, if you don’t want to go fresh...I hate tomato peels in my Palak Paneer-so I blanch and peel. As fresh puree takes too long to cook, I prefer to dice and cook.

When they look soft,Add in the turmeric, coriander powder and the red chili powder. And stir together.

Once the tomatoes almost disappear and the Masala(cooked onion tomato mix in oil ) looks cooked, with the oil separated add in the spinach puree.

A quick stir and covered cooking, and we are ready for the Paneer.

Taste now, to check for the salt and chillies. Add in half the cream or fresh malai-if you don’t have cream, no worries...just add a dab of butter.

Ready to go...

And a quick tadka or tempering...

Just heat a wee bit of ghee or oil in the smallest pan you have and pop the dried red chillies in...Pour the oil and chillies over the Palak Paneer and Serve with Naans or roti...

Enjoy this as a main dish or a side...whatever...Palak Paneer is yummy.

Be sure to claim your 5 coupons from Tandoor Chef.

The give away closes on the 28th February 2013.

The winner will be announced on baketitude's face book page.

In the mean while check out other recipes from the Tandoor Chef Kitchen here.

Coming up, the easiest ever Chocolate Brownies...

In a bit.

So what are you baking today???

Turmeric Milk with Saffron-Haldi for all seasons...

2013-01-31T08:51:00.001-08:00

Turmeric.

Health.

Omnipotent.

Panacea for all ills.

Cold.

Sniffles.

Cough and Congestion.

Warmth...

Make sense???

Double ,double, toil and trouble

fire burn and cauldron bubble...

Somewhere these are all related.

And when they are mom -made to alleviate all aches and pains and allow you to sleep snug and warm at night...any potion is good.

And when it comes with the goodness of turmeric and the warmth of peppers and the ethereal saffron adding another zing along with the blessings of Her Holiness Herb Basil in a sweet milky muddle, whats not good about it?

I know its a little late in the day , the winters are almost over, but the infection struck us all at this moment, so there was not a lot that we could do...

Sniffling blocked noses, sore throats and sleepless nights...

At this point in time,even a whole lot of anti histamines and cold lozenges don't work.

This is when all ailments need to be shot, with a shot of turmeric flavoured milk.

I eavesdropped.

I was part of a boring party, when I overheard strains of cooking milk and saffron behind me...I heard carefully as the lady(who dabbles in naturopathy )repeated the method and the ingredients for others benefits and came home and headed for the kitchen.

The first night I used turmeric powder, but I called for fresh turmeric the next day.

Same process, different flavour.

Try this concoction-I verified all the ingredients with my mum...

All good!

And feels good ,even if you are not unwell...just a nice feeling of warmth and satisfaction.

for the

Turmeric Milk with Saffron-Haldi for all seasons...

you need

500 mils milk

2 tsp grated fresh turmeric or a teaspoon of turmeric/haldi powder

sugar to taste

7-8 black peppercorns

7-8 white peppercorns(I didn't have any so I doubled the black peppercorns)

7-8 leaves basil shredded-I used 1/2 tsp dried basil

a generous pinch saffron

sugar to taste

Start with the turmeric...fresh -this is what it looks like-available only in season-now!

Peeled-this is what it is like-does stain your hands mildly while you are grating it...but washes off.If you are not able to get fresh turmeric, use normal turmeric powder.

Into a heavy based pan,add the grated turmeric,the pepper corns and the basil leaves to the milk and sugar and let it come to a boil.

That sthe basil I used...

Simmer gently,for about 5 minutes and turn it off.

Let the mix steep for about 5 minutes while you go about setting the strainer and the cups.

Strain out the milk into the cups and sprinkle the saffron. Let it sit and prettily shed its colour and inhibitions in the milk.

Sip the comforting elixir for good health...

Just make sure you don't head out into the cold soon after you drink this , it just might backfire. The right time to drink this would be before you go to bed, but in the mornings, just wait about 20 minutes before you head out.

Bask and feel warm.

And Kanchan Bhartari,if you recognise the Irish Coffee Mug, then Cheers!!!

So what cauldron are you boiling today???