Spice Ur Senses

Qubani Ka Meetha (Stewed Apricot Dessert) SNC Challenge For The Month Of May2013

2013-05-15T01:56:00.000-07:00

Qubani Ka Meetha. Though I'm from south india but never heard of this sweet before. One more thing just want to add I don't like apricot at all. When i saw my email this was the challenge for this month, for some time i thought i will skip this month challenge. But my hubby told me without trying how can you give up and it was a real challenge for me to cook this sweet. I asked my hubby will you eat this if i cook and he replied "You are asking me will i eat sweet". Then suddenly i realize OMG, he can eat sweet in any form and i should not be worrying so much to cook this... Belive me my whole flat was smelling of this sweet only while cooking and i did not like the smell, but my hubby was really enjoying. I serve with vanilla ice cream and it turn out to be the hit in my family. It was tasting so good even i was tempted to have one bite.... All thanks to Roha from Hyderabadi Cuisine for hosting this month challenge and give me opportunity to try out some thing new and yummy..

This is the wonderful thing in SNC group, where you get to try every month new new varieties. Thank you Divya Pramil for stating this group and making every one proud to be a part of this group.

Ingredients
½ Cup Dried Apricots
3 tbsp Sugar- As per taste
2 Crushed Green Cardamom( Elaichi)
1 tsp Lemon juice.

For Garnishing
Apricot kernels
Slice of roasted and blanched Almonds and Pistachios
½ Cup vanilla ice Cream.

Cooking Method
In a deep bowl wash and add dried Apricots cover with water and soak overnight.
Once the apricots is moist and swollen, remove apricots with a slotted spoon and then drain the apricots from the soaking liquid water aside.(The soaking syrup is used for preparing the meetha)
Then de-seed and keep aside.
Do not throw away the Apricot seed/pit crack the seed remove the (Apricot Kernels) for garnishing
In a non-stick saucepan at a medium heat, Add soaking liquid and plump apricots.
Allow to boil for 10- 15 minutes.

Add sugar and stir until it has completely dissolves. At a low heat add few drops of lemon juice to prevent caramelisation , add the crush cardamom.
Stir often to prevent burning, if required, sprinkle little water or milk to prevent from burning.
Meanwhile crack the seed with a nutcracker to extract the nuts and blanch nuts in boiling water for 1 minute and remove the skin and keep aside.
Then mash apricots with spoon occasionally, Do not cook on a high heat, stir occasionally until apricots are soft and pulpy and mushy if needed add water or milk. Remove from the heat when it reaches the desired thick consistency or into thick Compote.
Allow Qubani to cool.
Garnish with apricot kernels, Almonds and Pistachios and with ice cream.
Serve warm or cool and Enjoy..

Home made Mushroom Pizza With Tomato Sauce (Challenge#1 For The Home Bakers Challenge)

2013-05-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

Home Made Pizza. There is new group challenge has been started by our one fellow bloggers Priya from a Priya's Versatile Recipes. The main aim of this group is to learn and bake together. When i saw this group on Facebook immediately i joint the group. and i was very happy to see that this group has been started by the queen of baking, there was no second thought about this. I need to thanks to Divya Prakash also for giving this month challenge as pizza, and hardly you can find people who don't like to eat pizza.

I have baked pizza many times, but never tried making every thing from the scratch at home.. Making pizza at home is real fun and when it come out from the oven, i can't say anyhting. I'm sure this month challenge has inspired many housewife's and blogger's to bake and serve happiness to their families... I enjoyed it to the core. Did you? Here goes the recipe bake and enjoy :)

Ingredients For The Pizza Base
Makes 1 Large Pizza Base
1/2 cup warm water (100 degrees to 110 degrees)
3tbsp warm milk
1/4 tsp sugar
1+1/8 tsp active dry yeast
1+1/2cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/4 tsp salt
2tbsp oil, plus more for bowl.

For The Topping
Pizza Sauce ( recipe follows)
3 button mushroom, 1 large tomato, 1 medium onion, 1 small capsicum (thinly sliced)
12 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced.

Ingredients For The Tomato Sauce
Make For 2 Large Pizza
2 tsp oil
6 large tomato's
3tbsp tomato puree
3/4 tsp Italian seasoning
3/4 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper.

Directions For The Pizza Base
Pour warm water and milk into a small bowl. Add sugar, and sprinkle in yeast. Using a fork, stir the mixture until yeast is dissolved and water has turned a tan color. Let yeast stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, add flour and salt. Then add yeast mixture and oil. Mix until the dough comes together, adding more flour as needed until dough is smooth, not tacky, when squeezed. Transfer to clean surface; knead for 5 to 10 minutes.

Brush the inside of a medium bowl with oil, and place the dough in the bowl, smooth side up. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and place in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1hour. Remove plastic wrap, and press your fist into the center of the dough to punch it down. Fold the dough back onto itself four or five times. Turn dough over, folded-side down, cover with plastic wrap, and return to the warm spot to rise again until the dough has doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

Punch down the dough, and transfer to a clean surface. Knead the dough four or five turns into a ball. Lightly flour a clean surface, place the dough pat into a flattened circle, cover lightly with plastic wrap, and let rest 5 minutes. Using your fingers, begin to flatten and push the dough evenly out from the center until it measures about 7 to 8 inches in diameter. Do not press the dough all the way to the edges. Leave a slightly raised border, about a half-inch wide, around entire circumference of pizza dough.

In a mean time pre-heat the oven for 20 minutes at 250c.
Lift the dough off the surface, and center it on top of your fists. Hold your fists about 1 to 2 inches apart. Begin to rotate and stretch the dough, moving your fists until they are 6 to 8 inches apart and the dough is several inches larger. Then place your fists under the inside of the outer edge, and continue to stretch the dough a little at a time until it reaches about 12 inches in diameter. The dough will drape down over your forearms. At this stage, it is important to keep your fists along the inside of the outer edge and watch that the dough does not get too thin or tear in the center. At the same time, make sure to maintain the slightly raised border on the edges. The dough is surprisingly resilient and will not tear if this step is done carefully and slowly.

Arrange the pizza dough into a circle on top of the baking flat tray. Leaving the raised edge uncovered, pour 8 to 9 tsp of the pizza sauce onto the dough. Using the back of a tablespoon, evenly spread the sauce leaving a half-inch border of dough uncovered. Arrange half of the mozzarella slices on top of the sauce and arrange all the veggie's on top, then cover with left over mozzarella slices.

Bake until the crust is golden brown and crisp on the edges and the bottom, 10 to 15 minutes, turning the pizza halfway through baking. Using a pizza wheel, slice the pizza into eight pieces, and serve immediately.

Directions For The Tomato Sauce
Pour oil into a large skillet, and place over medium heat. Using your hands, squeeze tomatoes to crush them. Add to the warm oil, along with the remaining ingredients. Cook over medium-low heat, breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon, until the sauce is thick, 40 to 50 minutes. Allow it to cool and grind it to a smooth paste...

Sauce is ready to use, after using the sauce to pizza you can store the remaining sauce in a fridge for the next time use..

Pink Prech Fish Curry With Coconut..

2013-05-07T04:35:00.000-07:00

Pink Prech Fish Curry.. This fish curry can be cooked with any kind of fish which finds in the market. In my mom's place they usually cook this curry with a Rohu fish that also taste very good. I had in my mind to cook fish curry from few days, i went to buy fish from a shop, but he was not having rohu fish. He only had Pink Prech, Mackerel etc. I thought for a minute then i decided to buy pink prech fish only and cook the same way how i use to have before...

During summer vacation we mostly use to visit my granny's place Mysore. As soon as my grand father comes to know we reached home, while coming from his work he use to carry lots of Pink Prech, Rohu and Mackerel fish. My mom granny and aunty's use to cook this fish curry for the dinner. Still can't forget those days, some time i feel like i should go back to those days again...

Ingredient's
3 pink prech fish (clean and wash)
1 large onion, 5 steam of coriander
2 large tomatos
1/4 cup coconut paste
3tbsp tamarind paste
1tbsp ginger garlic paste
1tsp red chilly powder, 1tsp coriander powder, 1/2tsp turmeic
3tbsp oil
Salt to taste.

Cooking Method
Grind the onion, tomato and coriander to a smooth paste, and set it aside.
In a deep frying pan, add oil, when oil is hot, add grind paste, and coconut, fry for 1 to 2 minutes, then add turmeric, red chilly powder, coriander powder and ginger garlic paste. and give a quick mix to all the masala.

Now add the fish and stir very gently. Season with and add tamarind paste and 2cups of water, again mix it very gently and close the lid and cook on low flam till the fish is cooked..
Serve hot with plain Rice..

Pepper Chicken!!!

2013-05-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Pepper Chicken.. This is my all time favorite chicken, it goes well with ghee rice and this is like the combination made in heaven.. When ever I'm down, this chicken works like a battery for me and i can finish the plate in a minute. This recipe has come from my granny's home and my mom use to make it quite often, i still cant forget that taste what my mom use to make, i can say even i make good but not as her... Anyways my husband says i'm the best cook :) thats more then enough for me..

Ingredient's
1/2kg chicken
1 onion, 2 tomato, 3 green chilli's
1/2cup coriander leafs (Freshly chopped)
1tsp black peppercorn
1tbsp ginger garlic paste
1/2tsp turmeric, 1/2tsp coriander powder, 1/2tsp red chilly powder
2tbsp oil
Salt as per taste.

Cooking Method
Marinate the chicken with ginger garlic paste, turmeric, coriander powder, red chilly powder and salt, set it aside for 30minutes.
In a grinding jar add tomato, onion, green chilli's, coriander, peppercorn and make a smooth paste.

In a deep frying pan, add oil, when the oil is hot add the marinated chicken and fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Then add the masala paste and fry till the oil separates. Now add 1/2cup of water and adjust the salt, close the lid and cook till the water is observed and chicken is coated with masala well..
Serve with Roti or Ghee Rice..

Smoky Tomato Soup!!!

2013-05-03T04:03:00.000-07:00

Smoky Tomato Soup. This recipe i have taken from a GoodFood magazine, and made few changes to taste better.. This soup is very quick to make and yummy to eat.. The original recipe says we have use vegetable stock, but i was not having vegetable stock at home and i was not in a mood to make. So decide to use warm water and it really didn't make any difference the taste was simply awesome... Now i know you can make soup without any kind of stock.... Before when ever i plan to make soup i use to always buy or make stock at home so that i can use for the soup.. But after seeing this result i don't need stock any more... Do try out this recipe and i'm sure you will love it...

Ingredient's
1 onion, 1 small carrot, 1 celery sticks, (roughly chopped)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2tsp smoked peprika
6 medium tomato, chopped
1tbsp tomato puree
300ml warm water
2tbsp double cream
1/2tsp dried oregano
2tsp oil
Salt and Black pepper for seasoning.

Cooking Method
In a deep fry pan, add oil, when the oil hot, add garlic, onion, celery and carrot, cook till they are soft.
Then add smoked paprika and cook for another 1 minute. Add tomato, tomato puree, oregano and warm water. Season to taste and simmer for 15 minutes.

Then cool it and Whizz in a blender. and pour into same pan.
Now add cream and mix well. Just warm the soup before serving..
Serve warm with an extra swirl of cream and some parsley..

Bread Pudding!!!

2013-04-28T00:27:00.000-07:00

Bread Pudding.. Like every sunday, today also i woke up at 10am and made ginger tea. Then i woke my husband, with the tea and news paper... Before reading main news paper, i always read the Times Life first in Sunday edition. I was just reading and looking all those glossy pictures of beautiful homes. Then suddenly i saw a coloum about Terrance Lewis, Choreographer. It talked about his childhood days and his favorite cuisine etc. During his childhood days his mom use to bake bread pudding on every Sundays lunch, and this is his favorite pudding and he loves to eat every time.

The picture was looking so appealing and it tempted me to bake it right away... I have never baked a bread pudding before and this recipe was very simple and easy. With no preparation i baked this bread pudding as i had all the ingredients at home and that made my job easy and filled me with lot of joy after seeing the result.. Simple to bake and delicious to eat... Here goes the recipe.

Serves-3

Preparation Time-5 to 10 minutes

Baking Time-40 minutes

Ingredient's
4 slice of bread
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2tsp vanilla essence
1/2tsp cinnamon powder
3tbsp sugar
2tbsp raisins
1tbsp butter.

Baking Method
Pre-heat the oven to 175c.
Slice bread into small pieces (any shape you want) and place them into baking dish (I have used rectangular baking dish). Drizzle melted butter and some raisins over them.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Pour over bread, and lightly press down with a fork until the slices are completely covered and soaked in the egg mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped.
Serve Hot or Warm.

Pistachio And Lemon Zest Cookies!!!

2013-04-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

Pistachio and Lemon Zest Cookies. Last week i was just searching on internet for some good cookies recipe, then i came across with this recipe from Anjana Aunty in Maayeka Blog, I'm a fan of her blog and i follow her blog very sincerely. Pistachio and lemon was a very unique combination for me, without giving second thought i baked this cookies by following her exact steps and ingredients.... The cookies had come out so well and the taste was simply awesome with lemon zest.. Thanks to Anjana Aunty for a wonderful recipe...Everyone loved it in my family...

Ingredient's.
Makes 12 Cookies
Refined flour-3/4 cup
Cornflour-2 tbsp
Baking powder-1 tsp
Salt-1/4 tsp
Soft butter-100 gms
Sugar-1/2 cup
Lemon rind-1/2 tsp
Pistachio-20
Chilled milk -3 tbsp.

Baking Method.
Mix refined flour,corn flour,salt and baking powder in a bowl and sift together.
In an another bowl mix sugar,butter and lemon rind ,beat and mix well.
Now mix the flour mixture in the butter mixture and mix together.
Add milk(add 1/2 tsp at a time)and make a smooth dough.
Make a roll /log from the prepared dough and keep it refrigerated for 20 minutes.

Take out the roll from the refrigerator and slice it to make medium size pieces.
Dip and gently press one side into crushed pistachios and arrange in a baking tray.
Bake in a preheated oven on 180 degree for 15-20 minutes or till golden in color.
Take our from the oven and let them cool completely.
Store when cooled completely.

Instant Eggless Chocolate Mousse...

2013-04-24T02:33:00.000-07:00

Instant Eggless Chocolate Mousse.. Every time i wanted to make chocolate mousse but i use to always think twice should i make it or not. Because as i have mentioned in my last post my hubby don't prefer to eat raw eggs. That was the main reason i never even wanted to try chocolate mousse at home... I have searched many websites to find some simple recipe but most of them were using eggs only. After many days of thinking, I realize why don't i make using china grass, i had only 3 the ingredients at home (Chocolate, china grass and whipped cream).... By using those 3 ingredients only i successfully made chocolate mouse and my hubby loved it and happily finished the full glass.. When you haven't got time for overnight setting in the fridge or you don't want to use raw eggs, this mousse is perfect and it is chocaliciously gorgeous...

Ingredient's
125grams good dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces
3gram plain china grass
60 ml hot water
1cup double cream.

Method
Put the chocolate on to the double boiler and melt the chocolate.
In the other sauce pan add water and china grass, cook as per the instruction on the pack. Remove from the heat and cool the china grass as soon as possible in a ice cold water. Then mix it with a melted chocolate and set it a side.
Then whip the cream until thick, (Take out 2tbsp of whip cream for garnishing) and then fold the whip cream into the cooling chocolate mixture until you have a smooth mixture.
Pour into 4 glasses, and garnish with whip cream and cherry, and chill until you want to eat. The sooner the better!!

Black Forest Cupcake..

2013-04-17T00:21:00.000-07:00

Black Forest Cupcake. In my family usually they love to eat black forest cake, but this time to give a twist instead of making cake i made black forest cup cake... Fortunately on the same day i even got a order for black forest cupcake from my hubby's office. Like there is saying in Hindi "Sona Pe Suhaga" happily i made few extra cupcakes for my family members too, they enjoyed it to the core... This cupcake is filled with cherry's, chocolate and topped with fresh vanilla cream.. this combination is made in heaven, i just love it :)
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes
Serving: 8to10 cupcakes.

Ingredient's
1/2cups all-purpose flour
1/6 cup cocoa powder
1tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1egg, room temperature
1/4 cup ruffly chopped cherry's.

For Frosting

1 cup whipped non dairy fresh cream
1tsp icing sugar
1/2tsp vanilla essence
few cherry's (cut into 2pcs)
1tbsp finely chopped chocolate.

Baking Method
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 9 cup muffin pans with paper baking cups.
Stir together the flour, baking powder, coco powder in a large bowl, set it aside.
Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the egg and blend for another 1minute.
Add the dry ingredients and with the speed on low mix together and slowly add the milk and just mix everything to combine. DO NOT OVERMIX! Make sure you give everything a good stir with a spatula from the bottom to incorporate any bit that wasn't mixed.

Scoop the batter into your lined cupcake tin, make sure it's only filled ¾ of the way up because they will rise. Bake for 20 minutes and let cool for about 45 minutes before frosting.

Method For Frosting
In a chilled small mixing bowl combine whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla. Beat with chilled beaters of an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add the frosting in a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. Then place the cherry on top of the cream and sprinkle chopped chocolate on top..
Black Forest Cupcake is ready

Rainbow Cupcake!!!

2013-04-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Rainbow Cupcake.. My hubby wanted me to bake this rainbow cupcake from so many days and i use to always tell him will bake some other time. I was thinking that making rainbow cupcake is very long process and it will take more time because of that only never baked... Last night we were watching late night movie and didn't sleep till 3am. Then sushil felt very hungry and told me to cook something, but i didn't want to cook anything, after having a very long discussion what to cook, then suddenly i told him lets bake Rainbow Cupcake now. He gave me a smile and told, at this time you want to bake? and my answer was yes!! If not now then it will be never. Some how i made him to help me and stand next to me so that i don't feel scared. Then i finished baking this cupcake at 4:15 am and gave him to eat 1 cupcake and then we slept. In the morning i clicked the pictures.... You know what, early morning cupcake were so tasty and delicious:)

Ingredient's

1/2+1/6 cups all-purpose flour
1tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1egg, room temperature
Edible food color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue)

For Butter Cream Frosting
1/4cup butter, room temperature
1cup icing sugar
2tsp milk
1tsp heavy cream.

Baking Method
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 9 cup muffin pans with paper baking cups.
Stir together the flour, baking powder, in a large bowl, set it aside.
Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the egg and blend for another 1minute. Then add the flour mixture and milk, mixing until just incorporated.
Divide the cake batter into five separate bowls. Add a few drops of food coloring into one bowl of batter and stir; add more food coloring, if necessary, to reach the desired shade. Repeat with the remaining colors and bowls of batter.
Using a different spoon for each color batter, spoon a small spoonful of each color into the cupcake liners, until 1/2 to 3/4 full. Do not mix the batter once it is in the cupcake liner. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Method For Butter Cream Frosting
In a mixing bowl add butter and beat till fluffy and slowly add sugar and beat for 1minute. Then add cream, milk and food color (of your choice). mix together to combine well for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the frosting in a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

Karupatti Appam (Palm Sugar Appam) SNG Event For The Month Of April.

2013-04-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

I don't think so i have to say anything about this SNG event running by Divya Pramil of You too can cook Indian Food , because this event is very famous now. If any body want to join the group please click the link here.

Karuppatti Appam. I have tasted this appam only once in Chennai and it was very delicious. After coming back from Chennai i totally forgot about it. When i saw in my email Karupatti Appam is a challenge for the month of April. All my old memory came back and i was very happy to cook this appam and serve it to my hubby, because he would be eating this appam for the first time and he loved it.... I should thanks to Shama from the Easy2Cook Recipe for giving this wonderful challenge and delicious recipe to learn..

Actually i was not having appam pan because of that only i made this appam in dosa pan. I will make sure to cook this again with appam pan and change this picture. I served this appam with Tamrind and jaggery chutney...

Ingredint's

1 cup Boiled rice
1cup Raw rice
1 handful Urat dal
250gms Karuppatti (Palm Jaggery)

Cooking Method

Make thick palm jaggery syrup .
Filter it and remove the impurities with a strainer once cooled.

Soak rice and dal for only 2 hours and grind it to a very smooth batter. No fermentation needed.
Finally , mix palm jaggery syrup with the batter without any lumps.
Heat aappam tawa or any non-stick pan . Pour a small ladle of batter in the centre and then hold its handle with both the hands and rotate the kadai , hence the ladle will spread like a dosa.
Spread a spoon of oil over it.
Cover with a lid . Cook in slow flame till done .
The centre part will be of and edges crispy . Just roll over and serve ho.

Vanilla Vanilla Cupcake!!!!

2013-04-04T23:04:00.002-07:00

Vanilla Vanilla Cupcakes. This is my first colorful frosting on vanilla cupcakes, i had never tried food color with my frosting. This time one of my cupcake buyer requested me to make some colorful frosting for cupcakes. Actually i don't like colors for my food, but what to do you have listen to them. After thinking for a very longtime i decided to chose my 2 favorite colors(edible food colours- chemical free) and kept the design very simple, so that they look pretty and colorful too.... I think when you add color they look very pretty and I have fallen in love with these cupcake frosting, from now on i will play with more color...

Ingredient's
1/2+1/6 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup butter
1/3cup sugar
1tsp vanilla essence
1tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1egg.

For Vanilla Butter Cream
1/4cup butter
1cup icing sugar
2tsp cream
1tsp vanilla essence
pinch of food color of your choice.

Baking Method
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line your cupcake tin with liners and set aside.
In a small bowl, mix together the flour, salt, vanilla and baking powder, set aside.
In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Add the eggs and cream together until you get a smooth mixture. Add the dry ingredients and with the speed on low mix together and slowly add the milk and just mix everything to combine. DO NOT OVERMIX! Make sure you give everything a good stir with a spatula from the bottom to incorporate any bit that wasn't mixed.
Scoop the batter into your lined cupcake tin, make sure it's only filled ¾ of the way up because they will rise. Bake for 20 minutes and let cool for about 45 minutes before frosting.

To Make Butter Cream
In a mixing bowl add butter and beat till fluffy and slowly add sugar and beat for 1minute. Then add vanilla, cream and food color. mix together to combine well for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the frosting in a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

Happy Holi 2013

2013-03-26T06:28:00.001-07:00

Wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous Holi.... Holi the festival of colors is undoubtedly the most fun filled and boisterous of Hindu festival. It's an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance and of course lots of bright colors!!

Like every year this year also i made Gujia, Namak Para, Chakli and many more.. Still thinking what to cook for tomorrow... To know the Gujia recipe Click.

Masala Potato Chips (Home Made)

2013-03-20T22:39:00.000-07:00

Masala Potato Chips. Who don't like potato chips, I think it is favorite of all. There is a potato chip store near my apartment and every time crossing it, i couldn't stop myself from thinking "how do they make it so tasty". One day i asked the person who works there, what all you add to make chips so tasty. He said you can stand here for few minutes and then see what we add... Then i was eagerly waiting there for couple of minutes to see what he adds. I kept staring him without even blinking my eyes, thinking that if i close my eyes then he will add something. But he added nothing except salt water. I was surprised by seeing that, just by adding salt water to frying potato they make chips so tasty.... I had no words to say, i just said "thank you" for telling me your secret... I had often tried making potato chips, but i use to add salt after frying, because of that only i never got that wonderful taste like chip stores.

I followed the same method what he had showed me and my chips were crispy and tasting exactly the way i get it from him... I added red chilly powder and chat masala to make it little chat patta.. This is a very simple method to make it at home and get the taste of store and healthy too... When you can make it at home why to buy from out..

Ingredient's

5 medium potato

1tbsp salt

1/2ltr oil

1/4tsp red chilly powder

1/8tsp chat masala.

Cooking Method

Peel and soak the potato in cold water for 10minutes.

Then slice the potato in slicer and again soak them in cold water for at least 15 to 20minutes. (Soaking potato in cold water helps to remove the starch and make the chips more crispy)

In a small bowl add salt and 2tbsp water and dissolve salt completely and set aside.

In a deep frying pan, add oil, when oil is hot, deep fry the potato, when they are half done then sprinkle few drops of salt water. Fry chips to lite golden brown. (fry them in batches)

Then take them out on a paper towel and sprinkle red chilly powder and chat masala, and mix them gently and allow them to cool completely..

Then you can store them in a air tight container for a week.

Masala Potato Chips is ready..

One Of The Best Day Of My Life.. Meeting Winner Of Masterchef Australia Kate Bracks!!!!

2013-03-17T01:46:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday (13March 2013) I saw an advertisement on internet about Kate Bracks visit to India for her "The Sweet life" book launch in Marriott hotel, Whitefield Bangalore. I felt so happy and sad too; sad because I had no idea how to meet her and this hotel is very close to my hubby's office, that’s where I felt he can do something. Then I told my hubby, do whatever you have do to I don't know but I want to meet her and he said I will try. Then he checked with few people and they told the booking is already filled but if you want to meet her then you can come on coming Saturday where she is going to demonstrate her favourite recipe to public and the entry is free and there will be a lot of crowd.

Then my H called me and said that and I felt it will be impossible to meet her in person in such a huge crowd, forget it will go to Australia to meet her only. I was feeling very sad; I didn’t talk to anybody whole day.

Next day morning as usual he was reading news paper and he again saw the ad. Then slowly he came to me and said, honey I think we can go and see what exactly she will do and then think of something ok... Whenever he says like that somehow he always does it for me and I also said yes. Then in the evening he checked with hotel people and they said you can just walk in. You can say I was very happy, but somewhere in my heart I was not that much satisfied.

Next day morning I woke up early and was doing nothing and just thinking that how can I meet her? I was planning what should I wear, if I wear my best cloths and if she doesn’t meet me then?? No no, I will save my best cloths to wear on when i will meet her in personal and the I decided to go ahead with just normal cloths. Then we left from home early at 1 o'clock so that at least we can get first row seats. We reached hotel... The hotel was awesome and very peaceful, we sat for few minutes and then we filled up registration forms and I was waiting when they will send inside the grand ball room.

In the mean while we were checking out the hotel around and clicking the picture. Then we met one staff in the hotel who was looking after this event arrangement. I told Sushil just check with him, is it possible to meet her in personal. Sushil went and ask and he said I’m not sure about today but you can come and meet her in personal tomorrow where she is hosting a Sunday's Brunch and the charges is 2500+taxes, you can register after this event.

After hearing that i was so so happy. No problem if I can’t see her properly today, tomorrow I will come and sit in front of her... Keeping that in my mind I went inside the ball room where they had arrangement for this event. Now see what god has given me. By luck We got the second row seat, and the host told everybody there are lot prizes to be won and you can ask questions to Kate too, but everybody will not get a chance. Only those of few will get a chance to ask question who has post-its under their chair. Then everybody started searching... With my fast heart beat I looked under my chair but It was not there. Disappointing moment!!! But you know what, there was one post-it under my husband’s chair. I screamed O My God I got it. I was literally flying in the air. Thank You god.

After all this melodrama, Beautiful, Simple and very Energetic Kate Bracks arrives. I was just looking at her only, with my wide mouth open. Then she started talking how much she is loving India and the people. She had gone for shopping to Commercial Street, some local market and she ate Butter Chicken and tandoori rotis and she kept saying that how she can take tandoor on her flight back home. She liked one more thing the most is Pappdi chat, where she call it as Indian Nachos. After that she started her baking class, she baked her few Favourite recipes. "Chocolate Hazelnuts and Raspberry Muffins", "Chocolate Coffee Cake" and "Chocolate Terrine with Spiced Praline"

In between her baking, she was answering the questions also, few kids asked “what is her favourite food”, “favourite dish”, “what she like about Masterchef”, “what inspired her to take a part in Masterchef” etc etc..

"Then my turns comes, I asked her,

Me: What has changed in you from before Masterchef and after winning Masterchef?

Kate: Nothing as much changed in me, still I cook, make tiffens, clean home and take care of my 3 little kids. Yeah one thing has changed, I have become more confident.

The show went on and we dint realize how fast the time was passing, and at 6:30 she winded up and we all left for home. It became 7:30pm to reach home. It was worth watching and listening to her. She is the best chef I have ever met, very humble and down to earth. I was very much inspired watching on her Masterchef Australia show and because of her only I went to give the Masterchef India 3 auditions,

This was more than enough for me, god gave me this chance to meet and talk to my inspiration and stand next to her and take picture, what better I would have asked from god today.. I really need to thanks Love of My Life, he makes a everything possible for me and he is the lucky charm for me.. Thank you god and Sushil for making my dream come true... I will definitely visit Australia to meet her and spend a more time with her and I know this will happen....

Stuffed Pav Buns.. (Stuffed Dinner Rolls)

2013-03-10T23:14:00.002-07:00

Stuffed Pav Buns!! After Getting the gloripan yeast my baking has become so easy and perfect. I'm very happy because even i can bake a perfect buns and breads. When ever i use to see people baking delicious looking bread, I use to always feel why i'm not able to bake and literally i use to cry, after seeing my bread which is not baked properly. Thanks to my hubby for supporting me and making me to try baking after every time of disaster and he tells me every time one word, "The more you try, the perfect you become" but now i'm very happy for myself :)

Ingredient's

1+1/2 cup all purpose flour

1+1/8 tsp dry active yeast

1/8 cup luke warm water

1/2+1/8 cup milk

1+1/2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp sugar

1/4+1/8 tsp salt.

For Suffing

1/2cup boiled green peas

2 medium boiled potato (smashed)

1 medium onion, 1 green chilli (finley chopped)

1/2tsp turmeric

1/2tsp cumin

1tbsp oil

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method For Stuffing

In a deep frying pan, add oil, when oil is hot add cumin, onion green chilli, fry to golden brown.

Then add turmeric, potato, green peas and salt. Mix it well then cook for 1 to 2minutes.

Then cool it and keep it aside.

Baking Method

Warm the milk to lukewarm (not hot) and add the butter to it so that it melts in the milk. Set aside. Mix yeast and water together along with sugar. Give it a stir and set aside until frothy.

Now add the salt and milk+butter mixture to the yeast and stir well. Slowly add the flour to this mixture until slowly incorporated.

It will slightly sticky - dont add in more flour until really necessary. The stickiness will be replaced by smooth elasticity while kneading. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough very well, it will take about 8-15 minutes!!!!

Place the dough on a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a damp towel.

Place it aside in a humid place until doubled.

Turn out this dough on a floured surface and roll it out into a square.

Using a knife cut it into 9 pieces. Place the potato stuffing in center.

Roll each piece out in your palm to form a rounded shape. Place them side by side on a square baking tin (or as the shape baking tin you want). Place them aside once again to double. Its fine if they don't look perfectly round.

They will take a beautiful shape once they double again. They will also stick to each other once doubled giving that great square shape. Brush them with milk on top.

Now bake them in a pre heated 180c oven for 20-25 min or until golden brown.

Cool them for few minutes before serving them.

Happy Women's Day To All The Women's In The World!!!

2013-03-08T00:04:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a day filled with goodness and warmth, Wishing you happiness… today and forever,

Happy Women’s Day!

Knot Dinner Rolls.. (Egg-less)

2013-03-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

Knot Dinner Rolls. This was my very long time dream to bake knot dinner rolls, thought the knot din't come out so well, but still i tried my best to make them look good. These rolls were superb soft and yummy looking. I have added oil instead of butter. Earlier i had tried the dinner rolls by adding butter, they were soft but not that soft. Few days back i had tried baking with oil instead of butter and they were so soft, from there i have decided not to add butter to bread until your recipe requires... After getting the right yeast, i really enjoy baking bread and i have stopped buying bread from out. I bake lots of bread but some time i feel bore to click the picture. From now on I have told to myself what ever I bake, should take the pic and share with all my blog friends.. Do try this recipe:)

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Baking time: 15 minutes

fermenting time: 2 hours

Ingredient's

1/2 tbsp dry active yeast

1/2 cup warm milk

1/2 cup warm water

1 tbsp sugar

1+1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1+1/4 cup all purpose flour

2tbsp vegetable oil

1/2tsp salt

2tbsp warm water (if required)

3tbsp milk (for brushing on top)

Baking Method

In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in a warm water and milk, then add yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the salt, flour and oil, stir well to combine. Then add yeast mixture and make a dough . When has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10minutes. Place in a oil greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 to 2 hour.

Punch down dough and divide into two, divide each portion into 8 to 9 roll. Roll the pieces into 9 inch ropes and tie into knots. Place the rolls 2 inches apart on greased baking tray. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Then apply the milk on top and

Bake in preheated oven) for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter.

Serve warm.

Mackerel Fish Fry!!!

2013-02-27T05:02:00.000-08:00

Mackerel Fish Fry. Mackerel fish is a flavorful, firm-fleshed fish that is easy to cook, low in fat and full of nutrients. This fish is one of my very favorite, though i cook very less because of the smell, my hubby don't like this fish smell while cooking. So when ever i feel like having this fish i make it in the afternoon and wash all the dishes and spray room freshener at home, so that when he comes home there is no smell at all. Most of the time he will not know only, i had fish in the afternoon until unless i tell him.... This is one of very very easy fish fry, you can use any fish it will taste awesome and you don't need to marinate for hours. This fish will not take your precious time and yet gives you the best and delicious taste...

Ingredient's

3 mackerel fish (washed and slit on the top)

3tbsp red chilli powder

1tbsp lemon juice

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

3 to 4tbsp water

Salt as per taste

2tbsp oil for shallow frying.

Cooking Method

In a mixing bowl add all the ingredient's (except oil) and make a medium thick paste.

Then apply thoroughly on fish and keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 minutes.

In a hot frying pan add oil and shallow fry fish to golden brown, both the side.

Now hot fish is ready to serve. Serve hot as a side dish.

Paal Kolukattai.. Rice Dumpling In Sweet Coconut Sauce

2013-02-18T01:13:00.000-08:00

Everyone is aware of this wonderful event running by Divya Pramil of You too can cook Indian Food . If not please click the link here to join. I'm very happy and excited to participate in this challenge. I would like to thanks to Divya Pramil for giving me a chance to be a part of this wonderful SNG group.

Paal Kolukatti... This name was very different and the recipe is very new to me, though i'm from south India , but i have never heard of this recipe. When i came to know this is the challenge for the month February, i was very excited to cook this and serve it to my family. They all just love it very much. Thanks to Sasi from the Tamil Kitchen for giving this wonderful challenge and delicious recipe to learn..

Ingredient's.

2 cups Rice flour

1 big sized Coconut

1 cup Sugar

1/4 tsp Cardamom powder (optional)

Salt 1/2tsp.

Cooking Method.

Shred the coconut and extract the coconut milk. Take one glass of the first thick milk and keep aside.Then extract the rest as thin.

Take the flour in a wide bowl and add required salt for the flour and use enough water to make a soft dough.(Don’t make it hard else it will be hard to roll to kollukattai . If you made it sticky you can cover it with a cotton cloth to observe excess water.)

Spread a cotton towel. Apply oil on your palm and take a small amount of dough in your hands and roll them in to kolukattais (as shown in the picture). Roll the rest as same and as small as possible in desired size, if you roll it in to big size then it may taste bland when cooked in coconut milk.

Allow the rice balls to dry in the room temperature, it will take 2 hrs ( Don’t let them dry under the fan or in sunlight as it will make the rice balls harder and will not cook easily. Just keep in room temperature for few hours)

Transfer the rice balls in to a plate. Set everything ready to make pal kolukattai.

Take a kadai and pour the thin coconut milk and allow it to boil.

Keep in medium flame and add half of the rice balls and don’t disturb them for 2 mins and slowly use a laddle.

Now add the rest of the rice balls and let it boil for another 2 mins and stir it with a laddle.

Allow them to boil in medium flame for 7-8 mins (untill the rice balls get cooked , stir in between to avoid sticking).

Now add the sugar and a pinch of salt and allow to boil .

The sugar will dissolve and the consistency will become thin , allow to boil for another 8 mins untill you get a thick consistency, Stir in between to avoid burning .

Now pour in the thick coconut milk and give it a stir and switch of the flame.

Serve cold or warm.. I prefer warm..

Valentine's Day Special.. Double Chocolate Muffins!!!

2013-02-13T05:03:00.003-08:00

Last Valentine's day my hubby had surprised me with a very beautiful gift, but this time i will surprise him by baking his favorite muffins and buying him a gift, which actually i have still not decided, will finish deciding it by tonight for gift. I wanted to bake something with strawberry for valentines day and chocolate for my birthday which is on 17th feb. Thinking that i went to buy strawberry in the morning and bought only 1pack and they were so beautiful and tempting i couldn't not control myself and i finished it all except 2 strawberry, which i have decorated my chocolate muffins... This is the best gift i can give to my hubby and i'm very excited to see his reaction.. Happy Valentine's Day to all my friends :)

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 eggs

1 large banana

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup choco chips

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1tbsp choco chips (for sprinkling on top)

1/2 cup milk

2/3 cup (150 g) butter (room temperature)

Baking Method

Preheat oven to 350 deg F (180 deg C).

Grease muffin tins (paper muffin bake cups are recommended) or 12-15 medium cups.

In a bowl mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and choco chips together and keep it aside

In a different bowl beat the butter with sugar till fluffy, then add eggs and banana. beat for 1minute. Now add vanilla and milk. beat for another 1 minute. Then fold in the flour mixture and mix it nicely.

Then pour the mixture into a grease muffin tins and sprinkle choco chips on top. Bake at 180c, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes for XL muffins, about 20 minutes for medium size muffins. Make a little cream roses and decorate with strawberry. The Chocolate Muffins may be served hot or at room temperature.

Buttery Dinner Rolls..

2013-02-10T04:01:00.000-08:00

Buttery Dinner Rolls. Every time when i use to see this rolls in others blogs, i use to always think that when will i be baking this rolls. After buying gloripan yeast, i really feel that i'm in heaven. Now my baking has become so so easy and better i have no words to say. When ever i bake i have a big smile on my face after seeing the result... All thanks to my loving husband for searching this awesome and perfect yeast for me and making me proud of my cooking skills. Actually i was planning to bake square rolls but i was having a small square baking tin only, so i decide to bake in round baking tin. You can choose the tin shape of your choice..

Ingredient's

1+1/2 cup all purpose flour

1+1/8 tsp dry active yeast

1/8 cup luke warm water

1/2+1/8 cup milk

1+1/2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp sugar

1/4+1/8 tsp salt.

Baking Method

Warm the milk to lukewarm (not hot) and add the butter to it so that it melts in the milk. Set aside. Mix yeast and water together along with sugar. Give it a stir and set aside until frothy.

Now add the salt and milk+butter mixture to the yeast and stir well. Slowly add the flour to this mixture until slowly incorporated.

Place the dough on a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a plastic wrap. (or damp towel).

Place it aside in a humid place until doubled.

Turn out this dough on a floured surface and roll it out into a square.

Using a knife cut it into 6 pieces.

Roll each piece out in your palm to form a rounded shape. Place them side by side on a baking round cake tin (or as the shape baking tin you want). Place them aside once again to double. Its fine if they dont look perfectly round.

They will take a beautiful shape once they double again. They will also stick to each other once doubled giving that great roll shape.

Now bake them in a pre heated 180c oven for 20-25 min or until golden brown.

Cool them for few minutes before serving them.

Sheer Khurma. (Sevai And Milk Sweet)

2013-02-06T22:12:00.000-08:00

Sheer Khurma. This is one of the very famous sweet dish in every muslim family's. I still remember when ever any festival comes my elder sis use to cook sevai first and then other things, and that is the first dish we all use to eat in the breakfast. I always use to fight with my sis why do you serve sweet first, as you know i don't like sweet and her reply use to be start the day with sweet so that your day is good as sweet. I have already one post of sheer khurma, that is the thick version. To make it little different from the usual one, I have added more milk and khova so that it can been serve as a cold sevai drink...

Ingredient's

1/2 thin sevai

1/2ltr milk

5tbsp sugar

2tbsp khova

1 cardamom, 1 clove

3tbsp ghee

4 to 5 tbsp dry fruits (almond, cashew, Rinsin)

Cooking Method

In broad pan, add ghee, when the ghee is hot, add cardamom, clove and 2tbsp of dry fruits. fry them to the lite golden brown.

Add khova and fry till the khova is melted, then add milk, mix it and bring to boil

When the milk is boiling, add sugar, low the flame and add sevai, allow them to cook for 2 to 3mintues, keep stirring in between.

Take sevai of the stove, and add left over dry fruits and cover the lid. allow them to cool it down.

Sreve Warm or Cold.

Chocolate & Cinnamon Bread Rolls!!!

2013-02-04T06:02:00.001-08:00

Chocolate and Cinnamon Rolls. This is my new innovations and it was very good try, i was very happy with the result, and it was looking beautiful and soft. Actually i have used less sugar and less chocolate to have it with honey, i felt this was tasting good with less sugar as it less in calories. Next time i really want to try with little more sugar and chocolate to see how it taste.. I served this for next day breakfast it was just tasting very yummy.. Here is the recipe.

Preparation time- 2h 40minutes

Baking time- 30 to 35minutes

Serve-3

Ingredients.

For the dough

1/2cup Warm milk

1tsp Sugar

1tsp Active dry yeast(I used Gloripan Yeast)

1 1/2cup All purpose flour

1tbsp Butter(soft at room temperature)

2tbsp Milk + a couple of tbsp to brush over the bread.

For the filling

1/2 cup grated chocolate or Choco chip

1tsp cinnamon powder.

Baking Method

In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar and the yeast in the 1/2 cup of warm milk. Keep aside for about 5 minutes till the yeast mixture bubbles up.

Put flour and softened butter in a large bowl mix.

Then add the yeast mixture and the 2tbsp of milk and knead till you have a soft, smooth and elastic/ pliable dough which is not sticky. Add a little extra flour if your dough is sticking, but only just as much as is necessary.

Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a well-oiled bowl, turning the dough to coat it completely with oil. Cover and let it rise for about 1 1/2 hours or until almost double in volume.

Dust your work surface lightly with flour. Deflate the dough, shape it into a square and roll the dough out into a larger square that is about 12’ by 12”. Brush the surface of the square with the melted butter. Evenly sprinkle the chocolate and cinnamon powder.

Then fold the dough slowly from top to end.

Using a sharp knife, cut straight down through the folded dough dividing it into 10 equal pieces (10 round stacks).

Grease and lightly flour the round cake tin. And arrange the rolls in a tin, leaving some space in between.

Cover the cake tin rolls with a towel and allow them to rise for an hour. Lightly brush some milk over the top and sprinkle some sugar from top.

Bake the dough at 180C (350F) for about 30 to 35 minutes. Until it is done and the top is golden brown.

Chocolate and Cinnamon Rolls are ready. Serve as you like.

Spice Ur Senses 3rd Year Celebration With Black Forest Cake

2013-02-03T01:44:00.000-08:00

With all the support and love from friends and food lovers, today Spice Ur Senses completes 3years. Thanks to all of you for your wonderful comments and feed back which encouraged me to experiment with food and and share with all. Keep supporting me like this. To celebrate this wonderful day i tried to bake "Black Forest Cake". Here are the few picture of my cake, will post the recipe next time :)