Fruit kebab

Quick and Healthy dessert which looks beautiful , yummy and a different way to serve fruit . This is pretty good idea if you have a party at home and I am sure your friends will be impressed .

Ingredients

Seasonal fruits of your choice
Skewers / tooth picks

Process:

-Cut the fruits in the form of chunk and insert  the fruits in the skewers
-If you want you can serve it some interesting dips or sauce or sprinkle some sugar or chat masala or paprika of your choice

Black forest cake

Black forest cake

Recipe courtesy : Adpated from madhurakitchen.com

Ingredients

Chocolate sponge

1 1/2 cup maida / APF
3/4 cup high quality cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
3/4 cup cooking oil

Whipping cream
500 ml heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 tsp quality vanilla essence

Sugar syrup - cooled

Garnish
Cherries
Chocolate shavings

Process:
-Mix and sieve all dry ingredients such as maida , baking powder and soda , cocoa powder and set aside
-Take sugar and beat it with 3 eggs and then add milk , oil .
-Add the dry ingredients to the above-wet mixture slowly mixing well
-Now pour the batter in baking tray and bake for 180 deg C to 30 to 40 mins
-After cake is baked cool it for some time
-Take heavy whipping cream and add icing sugar partly along with the vanilla essence and whip it till thickens .
-After the cake cools down , remove the top crust make it flat and divide the cake by cutting into 3 sections
-Each layer should be brushed with sugar syrup and the cake should be little moist
-Then spread the whipping cream in each layer and complete by covering the entire cake smoothly
-Pipe some whipped creams and place cherry on top and grate some chocolate and spribkle over top

PIZZA

I would like to share a quick snack recipe when you have a Pizza base / Tortilla , Mozzarella cheese with you and of course some of the basic pizza making ingredients with you

Ingredients : 

Pizza base / Tortilla - 1 

Tomato sauce - 2 tsp

Pizza Sauce - 2 tsp

Chilli flakes - a small packet (1 tsp - optional) (spicy version)

Oregano /Dried mixed herbs - 1 tsp 

Onions -julienne  - 1 number

Tomato - deseeded - 1 number 

Capsicum - 1/2 into small cubes 

Toppings - of your choice .I use cooked chicken or leftover dried chicken from curries , paneer (mixed with curd , turmeric , chilli powder , garam masala ) 

Mozzarella cheese - 1/2 cup or depends on your choice 

Cooking Process :

-Spread the tomato /pizza sauce over the base or tortilla 

-Sprinkle some chilli flakes and oregano/dried herbs on the base 

-Grate some cheese just to cover the entire base lightly

-Assemble the vegetables mentioned above in layers and top it with your toppings 

-Sprinkle chilli flakes , oregano on top 

-Now completely cover it by Grating the mozzarella cheese . Top it completely if you really don't bother about calories ;) 

-Bake for 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is completely melted or mine I have a crisp mode and I turn it 90 Watts with crisp mode for 5 minutes . 

Tip : Keep the in freezer and take it and keep it out before 10 minutes of grating process . If the cheese is at room temperature it's really hard to grate and its breaks easily before you grate .Don't buy cheese slices as it doesn't  give good results with cheesy texture . 

Instant eggless chocolate pudding

Recipe source : Sharmis passion

Ingredients :

• Vanilla flavoured custard powder - 3 tbsp
• Cocoa powder - 2tbsp
• Milk - 1 and 1/2 cups
• Sugar - 2 to 3 tbsp
• Salt- a pinch
• Choco chips - 2 tbsp
• Vanilla essence - 1/4 tsp
• Chocolate sauce - 1 tbsp (optional)

Method :

1. Take 1/2 cup of boiled milk and add it to custard powder , cocoa powder,sugar and salt  and mix to form a smooth paste .
2. Melt the chocolate chips in microwave or using a double boiler method.
3. Heat the rest of the milk in a pan and add the vanilla essence and custard mixture to it .Stir continuously to avoid forming lumps.
4. Now add the melted chocolate and chocolate sauce to it and stir continuously . 
5. The correct consistency reaches when the scraped the pan , the custard sticks to it.
6. Switch off the pan , once it reaches the right consistency and cool it in refrigerator for an hour .   

Tips : To make a vanilla pudding use the same recipe and avoid cocoa powder,chocolate chips and choc.sauce .And add Milk chocolate chips to get a better taste.

Chicken Sausage dry roast/Ularthiyathu

Quick , Easy and tasty Sauasge reecipe. Perfect dish for Roti, Chapthi ,Rice etc....

Adapted from : Erivum Puliyum.com

Ingredients:

Chicken sausage  - 6 (medium sized)

Onion - 1 big thinly sliced

Green chillies-3 ,Slit

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp

Tomato - 1 medium,chopped

Chilli powder - 3/4 tsp

Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp

Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp

Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp

Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp

Curry leaves

Thick coconut milk - 1 tbsp

Salt

Oil

Method:

1 .Thaw the sausages and cut into round slices.

2 . Heat oil and splutter fennel seeds, add onion, curry leaves , green chillies till onion becomes golden brown.

3.Add ginger garlic paste and saute until raw smell dissapears.

4.Add chopped tomatoes and cook until mushy

5.Add the spices and add the sausage into it.

6.Cook for 5-10 minutes and then add coconut milk to it ans give it a nice stir until it is nicely coated.

Kerala chicken roast

Kerala chicken is a must try dish and easy to prepare. Chicken along with semi caramalised onions is a great treat ...Yum Yum Yum ....

                             Kerala chicken roast -1

                                       

            Kerala chicken roast -2

Recipe adapted from :cookingandme

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kilo chicken (Cut into medium size)
• 2 tbsp coconut oil/ghee
• 3-4 large onions cut lengthwise
• 4 green chillies slit lengthwise
• 1 tomato chopped
• 4 tbsp curd
• 1 tsp cloves+cardamom+cinnamon pound together
• 1/2 tsp fennel seed
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tsp coriander powder
• 2 tsp redchilli powder or kashmiri chilli powder
• red food colour (optional)Note: If using kashmiri chilli powder skip food colour
• 1 1/2 tsp chicken masala powder
• 2-3 strands of curry leaves
• 3 tsp freshly crushed garlic
• 1 tsp freshly crushed ginger

Method:

1.Marinate chicken pieces with curd,red chilli powder,turmeric powder and salt  for 30 minutes or leave longer.
2.Heat oil/ghee in non stick pan ,add mustard seeds,fennel seeds and let it crackle.
3.Add onions and greenchill, fry until golden brown
4.Once onion turns golden brown add coriander powder,cloves mixture powder  and fry for few seconds.Then,add crushed garlic and ginger to it and saute until the raw smell dissapears.
5.Add the tomato,food coloring and curry leaves to it and mix well and cook tomato turns soft.
6.Add the marinated chicken and cook until chicken is roasted .Stir in frequently (.Adding water is not necessary as chicken itself seeps out the water from it and cover the pan to speed up the process)
7.  When you almost reach the desired consistency,add the chicken masala and keep for a minute and mix well.

Best accompaniment for ghee rice.

Jam cookies (Eggless)

Recipe Source : here
Makes 15 to 20 cookies
Ingredients:
Maida/APF- 3/4 cup
Custard powder(vanilla)-3/4 cup
Corn flour - 4 tbsp
Butter - 1/2 cup 
Icing/powdered sugar- 1/2 cup
Yogurt -  3 tbsp
Vanilla extract- 1/2 tsp
Mixed fruit jam for filling or any jam of your choice

Method:

1.Cream the butter along with the powdered sugar.
2. Add vanilla essence to it.
3.Then add Maida , Custard powder , corn flour and yogurt to form a smooth dough.
4.Roll out the dough to 5 mm thickness and cut with the cookie cutter.Make a thumb impression and fill it with the jam in the center
5.Place the biscuit in a greased baking tray and bake the biscuits in a preheated oven at 180c for 15 minutes or till done.

Cakes ,Cakes and Cakes

Plum cake/ Fruit cake

Recipe adapted from: www.cookingandme.com

Ingredients:

1 cups plain flour
1 & 1/2 cup brown sugar or white sugar( I used brown sugar to get my cake brown, because I didn't caramelize)
1/2 cup dry fruits(Raisins, Tutti fruti , dates, cherries, dried orange peels ....)
1/4 cup black raisins or sultanas
1/2 cup chopped cashewnuts
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract or (1 tsp orange/lemon zest -tastes better)
1 tsp powdered spices of(nutmeg,cinnamon,clove,cardamom) or all spice powder
2/3 cup butter
3 eggs
pinch of  salt
1/4 cup water

Method:
1.Caramelize the sugar .Melt the sugar in a pan with medium heat until it turns dark brown .Once it is dark brown add water to it and the sugar hardens.Now put the same pan back on stove and slowly heat until sugar dissolves and take it and cool it for 10 minutes.
2. Pre heat the oven meanwhile at 180C or 350 F
3 Now take the dry fruits ,nuts in a plastic bag,add some flour to it and shake the bag until the nuts and dry fruits coat completely in order to prevent the dry fruits from settling in the bottom of the pan.
4.Mix together the flour , powdered spices , salt and keep aside.
5.Now beat the butter with sugar till light and fluffy and add vanilla extract to it.
6.Add egg ,beat it and add flour to it.Alternate this egg and  flour mixture until completely used.
7.Pour the caramel into this mixture and gently fold.
8.Grease a baking tray and pour the batter into it.
9.Bake to 40-50 mins until done or till the tooth pick  inserted comes out clean.

Paneer Pakora Snack

Ingredients:
Paneer-200 gms
Ginger Garlic paste -1 tsp
Red chilli powder-1 tsp
Garam masala powder/Tandoori masala-1/2 tsp
Chat masala/Amchur powder-1/2 tsp
Curd-1tbsp
Salt
Oil for deep frying
Method:
1.Cut the paneer into cubes
2.Add curd ,Ginger garlic past,chilli powder,Garam masala,Chat masala,,Salt and mix together to form a paste.
3.Coat the paste onto the paneer and deep fry them in a  heat oil

Crispy onion rings

Ingredients:
1. Onion  -4 large
2.1/4 cup Refined flour(maida)
3. 1 tsp corn flour
4.1 cup butter milk
5.1 tsp black pepper powder
6.Baking soda/Baking powder-pinch
7.Salt
8.Oil for deep frying

Method:
1.Cut the onions into roundels ans separate it.
2.Combine the flour,Cornflour,buttermilk,pepper powder Baking powder,salt and make a paste.
3.Dip the onion rings in the hot oil till golden brown colour.
4.Sprinkle with chat masala and serve.

Choclate ganache cake

Use good quality of chocolate slab.I use Morde's choclate slab. The best I get here.

Ingredients:

For cake: Recipe here

Ganache:(Adapted from Veena art of cakes)
Dark chocolate/Milk choclate ganache:

Filling between layers:

1 cup heavy cream
1 cup dark chocolate(preferably 70% cocoa)/Milk choclate
2 tbsp butter

Frosting to cover the cake:

1 cup heavy cream
2 cup dark chocolate/Milk chocloate
2 tbsp butter

White chocolate ganache:(Taste too sweet)

Filling between layers
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups white chocolate

Frosting to cover the cake:

1 cup heavy cream
3 cups white chocolate

Microwave method:
1.Break the chocolate and put it in a microwave in safe bowl and add the cream to it.
2.Heat the microwave for a minute and stir well with 30 seconds interval until you get smooth mixture and add butter to it.

Refrigerate this overnight or refrigerate for couple of hours and use it the next day .When using bring it to room temperature and use it.Fill this between layers and whip it for frosting. Do not over whip because its hard to spread.

Malabar ghee rice

  Ingredients:

  Rice:

1. Basmati rice/Seeraga samba rice/Kaima rice- 2 cups
2. Onion big-1 (thinly sliced)
3. Ghee/Dalda /Butter - 3 to 4 tblspn  
4. Cloves -4
5. Cardamom  -4
6. Bay leaf -1 
7. Cinnamon -1"pc
8. Water -4 cups or can use coconut milk 1 cup & 3 parts of water
9. Salt to taste

For garnishing: (If necessary.not shown in above picture)

Fried onions

Fried cashewnut & raisins

Fresh coriander leaves

Method:

1. Clean & soak basmati rice in water for 15-20 mins.
2. Heat ghee in a pan a saute all the spices(Cloves,cinnamon,bay leaf,cardamom) and then add onions and fry till it turns translucent .
3. Now add the rice and fry for few minuter.
4. Add the water or coconut milk water mixture and allow it to boil.
5. Then add rice and salt and cook till the rice is done
6. Garnish with the fried onions,cashwenut,raisins and chopped coriander leaves.

Rose swirl cake

Recipe:Refer to basic birthday cake and icing  here

For rose swirl icing decoration :
1.Star tip nozzle
2.Silver balls sprinkles.

Garlic buns

Recipe source: Raks kitchen

Ingredients:

1. Maida- 1& 1/2 cup
2. Dried Yeast - 3/4 tbsp
3. Warm Water -1/2 cup 
4. Salt - 3/4 tsp
5. Sugar- 1 tblsp
6. Olive oil- 1 tblsp

For garlic topping:

1. Garlic finely chopped    -5 flakes
2. Softened butter-2 tblsp
3. Chopped coriander leaves-1 tblsp
4. Chilli flakes - 1/2 - 1tsp
5. Milk for brushing.

Method:

1.Take warm water and dissolve yeast,sugar and salt completely and give it a nice stir after a minute to avoid lumps.

2.Take the flour in a bowl and make a small dent in the center and pour the yeast mixture into it.And,start kneading the dough using olive oil and add water if necessary and make a soft dough.

3.Cover the dough using wet towel or cling warp the bowl and keep it in a warm place.

4.After an hour,the dough should have doubled in Size.Then,again knead till soft.

5.Divide the dough into 5-6 equal balls  and  arrange it in a greased baking tray  and keep it aside for an hour again to make it double in size.

6.Meanwhile,for the topping mix garlic chopped,butter,coriander leaves and chilli flakes and keep aside.

7.Using your thumb press the center of the balls gently which has now doubled in size and place the topping in that impression.

8.Preheat the oven at 180c and bake for 25 mins and before the  last 5 mins brush the top of the buns with the milk to get a nice golden brown colour and serve the bun hot with cuppa tea or coffee.

Note:

1. To keep it in a warm place,you can switch on the microwave and place the bowl inside it ,so that it stays warm due to the heat of the lamp.
2. If the dough has not doubled in size,,please stop proceeding it furthur .Only if the dough has doubled,it means the yeast is alive and you get the proper bread/bun texture.
3. Brushing the milk on the buns give you a nice brown colour crust.