Dark temptation - Chocolate cookies

 After the shortbread cookies thought will try my all time favourite - rich , dark and melt in mouth chocolate cookies. I like my cookies to have a nice chocolate flavor, must be like biting into a crisp choco-truffle ;) (yup  something like yummy pure magic). So to get that flavor I used dark chocolate.

-

• Nutralite or unsalted butter - 1/2 cup

• Flour - corn flour               - 1/4 cup

                      maida                    - 1/2 cup

• Chocolate shavings (dark)  - 1 tbs
  
•  Drinking chocolate             - 2 tsp
• Cocoa powder                   - 1/2 tsp
  
• Powdered sugar                 - 1/3 cup
• Baking powder                   - 1/4 tsp

1. Sieve together flour, cocoa powder and baking powder.
2. Melt butter and to it add the drinking chocolate powder and chocolate shavings.
3. Mix well to make a smooth paste and to it slowly add the sieved flour.
4. Make a nice soft dough (like a chapathi dough).
5. Roll out on a clean surface (has to be little thicker than chapathi) cut to desired shape (use tumblers or cups with sharp rim)
6. Transfer to greased baking trays and bake at 150C for 20 minutes.

p.s

• Donot overbake as cookies will crumble
• 1 tablespoon (tbs) is equal to 3 leveled  teaspoons (tsp)
• I use nutralite for baking as I dont get good white butter and it also has less cholesterol ;) 
• If possible buy cooking grade dark chocolates as they will  give a better flavour and be cheaper
• If you dont hav dark chocolate substitute it with milk chocolate (1/2 tbs) and add 3/4 tsp of cocoa powder instead.
  

Tangy tomato

 After all the butter, spice and sugar overdose, thought will post something healthy.Will start with the all time favourite starter, cream of tomato.
I am not a big fan of soup but once in a while on a rainy day would love to sit back and enjoy tangy, creamy tomato soup with lots of pepper and chopped coriander.

INGREDIENTS
serves 2

• Tomato        - 3
• Onion          -  1
• Carrot         -   1
• Garlic          -  1 clove (optional)
• Milk            - 1/4 cup or more depends 
• Water          - 1 - 1 1/2 cups
• Salt
• Pepper
• coriander
• Cornflour (optional)

1.  Pressure cook whole tomatoes, chopped onions,garlic (optional) and diced carrot in 11/2-2cups of water.
2. Remove the skin from the tomato.
3. Liquidize the cooked vegetables along with the water left in the cooker.
4. Strain and the thick pureed mixture has to be warmed (cook in slow flame and stir).
5. Add the salt and pepper.Cook for a minute or two.
6. Remove from flame and add warm milk (how much to add depends on your taste)
7. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander.

p.s
In case your soup is too watery then add 1 tsp of corn flour dissolved in warm water before you add salt and pepper.
Warm the pureed mix and add milk just before serving.
Once you add milk if necessary warm it slightly but do not boil.
Fresh cream can be added instead of milk if you want a richer texture.
For extra flavor add a tsp of butter .
Can be served with fried bread pieces.
Can be made using microwave too.

Pav bhaji - Mish-mash of cooked veggies!!!

In about every corner of the street you would find a food stall in India.Such is the popularity of the street food or chat. One of the most popular chat is Pav bhaji. Buttered pav buns are had with vegetables cooked in a rich tomato gravy that is nicely spiced and has a mild butter flavor.This modest street food from Maharashtra is no longer just a snack, its gaining popularity as a main course too.
The taste of the bhaji lies in the spices.Therefore, to get a delicious bhaji use a good pav bhaji masala (instead of garam masala).

Ingredients

Simply vanilla

Sponge cake is my all time favorite and is very easy to make. This eggless sponge cake makes a good tea time snack. Generally, it is tougher to make eggless cakes as they wont rise well and  have to be made thinner to ensure that they bake well.To get a soft, fluffy cake the flour and baking powder have to be sieved well twice or thrice.

INGREDIENTS

• Flour (maida)      -  1 cup (about 125g)
• Condensed milk  - 200g (1/2 can)
• Baking powder   - 2 tsp
• Butter/nutralite     - 60ml(melted)
• Water                 - 75 ml
• Vanilla essence   - 1 tsp 

1. Sieve flour and baking powder together thrice.
2. In a bowl added the sieved mix, condensed milk, butter, water and vanilla essence. Beat well  till it forms a smooth paste.
3. Grease a baking tray and pour the mixture.
4. Bake at 200c for 10 minutes and then at 150c for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. The cake is done when an inserted skewer comes out clean or when the cake leaves the sides of the tray.
6. Cool the cake for 5 to 10 minutes. Loosen the edges, invert and tap.

p.s
Recipe courtesy Tarla Dalal
Make sure you add the right amount. Use measuring cups if possible.
To make chocolate sponge cake add 1 tbs cocoa powder and 1 tbs chocolate powder to maida before sieving.
1tbs is equal to 3 leveled tsp.
Toss in some chopped walnuts on top before baking the cake.

SANDWICH ALSA MALL ISHTYLE !!!

The desi style veggie chutney sandwich is finger licking good , healthy and easy to make. Though I have had it numerous times, the one i had at Alsa mall is the best (thanks to Deepak :)). Fresh vegetables, tangy chutney and the mild flavour of butter makes them irresistible (Its a typical Bombay chutney sandwich).

INGREDIENTS

• Bread
• Mint - coriander chutney
• Vegetables - boiled potatoes, onion, cucumber and tomato (thinly sliced)
• Chat masala
• Butter

Mint coriander  chutney

1. Take 1 cup mint leaves and 1 cup chopped coriander
2. 2-3 garlic cloves
3. A small piece ginger
4. 2 green chillies (according to taste)
5. Salt 1 tsp and sugar 1/2 tsp
6. Grind the above ingredients and then add juice of half  a lemon and 1/2 spoon chat masala (optional).

•  Take 2 slices of lightly buttered bread
• Apply the chutney evenly
• Layer the veggies on one slice.(usually cucmber, tomato, onion and then potato)
• Sprinkle chat masala
• Place the other slice on top
• Cut into 4 small squares and serve with sauce.

p.s- Can sprinkle alubhujia or sev on top of the vegetables if you like crunchy sandwich .
       Garlic in the chutney gives a very nice flavour so dont omit it.

AGRA

      

  

 

 

 

Scrumptious Cookies:)

Whenever I enter Spencer or Citi center I get bowled over with the smell of freshly baked cookies from Cookie man!!! Though you get a number of packed cookies there is nothing to beat the freshly baked. So one afternoon thought will try making some cookie that is simple, tasty and melt in mouth ;)

Flour, sugar, butter and vanilla essence is all you will need to make this soft yet refreshingly crisp shortbread cookies. A range of deliciously soft cookies can be made by making just a few variations to the original recipe like adding flavouring agents (pineapple essence, Chocolate , cocoa or instant coffee powder) nuts , raisins , chocolate chips(cooking grade) or even cinnamon.

Ingredients

Southern spice !!!

 All those people who have tasted Saravana Bhavan's Idiyappam and kurma will totally agree that they make the best. Recently, we went to SB in connaught place and after waiting in the queue for about 45 minutes was really disappointed when they said there was no idiyappam. After coming back when I searched for the kurma recipe came across this one. I tried and it was similar to SB's.
Sauf is the main spice and you have to add lots - about 1 tbs.Its a simple recipe but cooking time is more. The end result is tasty so worth a try :)!!!

Ingredients

grated coconut       -  1 cup
chopped onion       -  1/2 cup
chopped tomato     -  1 cup
mixed vegetables    -  1 to 11/2 cups (boiled peas, beans, cauliflower,carrot)
poppy seeds          -  1/4 cup (soak in water for 15 minutes)
sauf / fennel seeds  -   1 tablespoon
cashew nut             -   5 to 6 (soak in water for 15 minutes)
green chillies           -  3 ( you guys know how spicy my food will be lol ;) so add more if u want)
ginger                     - small piece
garlic                      - 1 clove

grind to paste the above ingredients

 onion       -  1/2 cup finely chopped
  tomato    - 1/2 cup finely chopped
  whole garam masala or garam masala powder
 bay leaf
 sauf / fennel seeds - 1tsp
 salt
 oil - 2 tablespoon ( yup !! it is too much so I added lill less)

1. In a kadai add oil 2 tablespoon or less
2. Add bay leaf, sauf.
3. Add onion, haldi and saute for 2 minutes
4. Add tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes
5. Add the boiled vegetables and cook for few more minutes till they become little soft 
6. Add the ground paste, 1/4 cup water , salt and cook till the oil splits and comes off the kurma (it takes a long time 20 to 30 minutes , keep in sim and mix it occationally)
7. Add 1/2 - 1 tsp garam masala powder , cook for 2 minutes and serve hot with sevai/idiyappam/roti :)

p.s
1 tablespoon (tbs) is equal to 3 leveled  teaspoons (tsp)
Instant sevai or rice noodles is a good substitute for Idiyappam :)
This is  little oily and spicy  but can be made once in a while !!

HUMAYUN'S TOMB

This weekend we decided to go to Humayuns tomb in Delhi.  Situated in the middle of the busy city, this huge Mugal architecture is a haven for tourist and Delhities

Say cheese ;)

Cheesecakes are one of the best desserts and simple to make.  Cheese that is used

For the sweet tooth - kesari

I love sweets so thought my first post should be some simple yummy sweet. The first thing that came to my mind was kesari.

Hi all!!
Suprised to see a lazy bum like me getting in blogging? Especially Divya and Lakshmi will be wondering the most coz I am too lazy to write (even my resignation letter was written by the 2 of them;)).
The Delhi heat has not got into my head. I am perfectly fine. The reason why I got into blogging is one, my blog is going to be mostly about FOOD ;) Two , simple I am jobless and I have ample time for all these crap ;)
I am a big foodie. Love cooking as much as eating. My first post is gonna be a bit of a bore coz all I am going to do is thank few ppl who made me realise how much I love food.
First and foremost SP!!! My PG friends. The whole lott used to be a big foodie. Lunch used to get over in an eye flick. At gangothri 9 hands used to dig into a single plate of bhelpuri.

And then comes Pinky my bessi bumchum lol ;). There is not a single eat out in bessi that we havent gone to. From chocolate truffle in cakewalk to salad in jelly belly we have indulged in everything.
Subhashini and Veda, while the former loves food and cooking and makes me relish the latter makes me feel very guilty. She has this pencil figure and all she needs to do when she is hungry is stare at the food and she ll be full.
How can I forget my dad, bro and Manoj. They have been my guinea pigs ;) jus kidding !! Love cooking for them. They have always appreciated even the little things i do (though I know they dont have a choice ;))
Mom and Paati coz I learnt everything from them.
The recipes that I post here are mostly not original. These are the once I found in another website, blog or cook books . I just try them and alter it according to my taste and convenience.
(So only the tried, tested and victorious ones gonna find its way into the blog, not the disasters ;))