Rusky Pudding

Had made this along with my friend and it came out excellent..:). Makes around 12 pcs of the size shown in the photo


Ingredients-

1)3 large eggs
2)6 heaped tbsp rusk crumbs
3)4 level tbsp sugar
4)1 tbsp desi ghee
5)1 level tsp baking powder
6)1/2 tsp vanilla essence
7)3 tbsp walnut-broken into small pcs
8)2 tbsp kishmish
9)1 cup hot milk

For the apple custard sauce-

1) 2 1/2 cups milk
2)1 heaped tbsp custard powder(make it a huge heap..;))
3)4 tbsp sugar
4) 1 apple-cut into small pieces

Method-


1)Preheat the oven to 200°C
1)Grease a baking dish with butter. I used a rectangular dish.Much easier to manage the cutting..:P
2)Arrange the walnuts and raisins so that they cover the base of the baking tin.Keep aside.
3)Beat the egg whites in a dry dish till stiff. Mix in egg yolks and beat again.
4)Add the rusk, sugar, ghee, baking powder and vanilla essence. Beat well. The mixture should be of thick pouring consistency. Don't worry if it is too thick because hot milk is added later to make the pudding spongy...:)
5)Pour the mixture into the arranged greased tin.Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

This is how it looks when its fresh out of the oven..:)

6)When baked, cut into pieces of desired size and pour the hot milk all over the pudding. This makes it softer.Keep Aside.

Apple Sauce-

1)Prepare custard by dissolving custard powder in 1/2 cup of cold milk
2)Heat 2 cups of milk with sugar. When it boils, add the custard mixture, stirring continuously.Add the apple pieces. Cook for 2-3 minutes till it coats the spoon.(It is very important that you put the apples at the right time because otherwise the custard does not get the taste of the apples and its just plain custard with apple pieces..:P)


Pour the apple sauce all over the pudding and refrigerate for atleast 2-3 hours and serve cold...
Garnish with raisins and broken walnut pieces...
The pudding is ready!! :D

The final dessert.

Juicy Chicken Lollypop

INGREDIENTS-

1)4 chicken wings-cut into lollypops
2)1 tbsp chilli-garlic sauce
3)2 tbsp soya sauce
4)1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
5)a pinch of ajinomoto
6)red color-optional
7)2 tbsp maida
8)1 tbsp cornflour
9)1 egg
10)salt-to taste

METHOD-

1)Marinade the chicken with chilli-garlic sauce, soya sauce, ginger-garlic paste, ajinomoto and red color.
2)Keep in the fridge till required
3)Just before frying, mix in the egg, maida and cornflour.
4)Season with salt.
5) Deep fry(Make sure the oil is not too hot so that the chicken inside cooks well)
6) Your chicken lollypop is made!!

Easy Peasy Bread Pudding

INGREDIENTS-

1 egg
1 cup milk
1 bread slice
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp sugar for caramalization
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp raisins(optional)

METHOD-

1)Boil the milk, bread and sugar.
2)Cool it and then blend.
3)Add the vanilla.Add raisins.
4)In a small baking dish, add 1 tbsp of sugar and caramelize it by heating on medium heat.
I have added a video on how to caramelize sugar...however it is not absolutely necessary to have a thermometer! i do it without it and it works just fine! You will know when to stop heating the sugar by the color of the liquid.HAS to be golden brown....

5)Pour the blended mixture into the dish with caramelized sugar and then steam for 20 minutes or till it leaves the sides.

6)Turn the dish over....I have decorated it with chocolate syrup....can use anything..:)

YOUR BREAD PUDDING IS READY!! YUMMMYYY!!!   :D

KITCHEN TIPS-5

Cleaning Mushrooms

Normally mushrooms get cleaned easily just with water..However if they are too dirty, rub them with some flour and then wash normally...The dirt goes easily!! :) 

KITCHEN TIPS-4

Self-raising flour

I realised that since self-raising flour is not available everywhere it will help to put the substitute here!! This recipe yields 1 cup of self-raising flour.

Ingredients-

1) 1 cup all purpose flour(maida)
2)11/3 tsp baking powder
3)1/3 tsp salt

Method-

1)Combine all ingredients by sieving together....:P

You can use this right away or store in an air-tight container....:)

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Basic Chocolate cupcakes

These chocolate cupcakes are really yum and get done fast too!! Makes 24 mini cupcakes

INGREDIENTS-
1)125 gms butter, softened (has to be softened and not melted!! i made that mistake and the butter ended up separating out...so i got really dry cupcakes the time that i melted the butter!)
2)125 gm + 1 tbsp powdered sugar
3)2 medium eggs
4)2 tbsp milk
5)100gm self raising flour
6)3 level tbsp cocoa(this can be varied to around 2.75 tbsp cocoa...3 tbsp cocoa is a bit towards the darker side. ;) )

METHOD-

1)Preheat the oven to 190 degrees.
2)Beat together the butter and sugar in a bowl,until light and fluffy..Again..make sure the mixture doesn't separate out...:P
3)Add the eggs and milk, and sift over the flour and cocoa. Beat until the mixture is smooth.Dont worry if the texture feels thick....Thats how its supposed to be!

4)Divide the mixture between paper cases and bake until the cakes have risen and are just firm to touch in the centre.(Takes approx 10-12 min).

5)Remove the cakes and transfer to wire rack to cool!

Your mini cupcakes are done!!! Ideal for picnics!! :D

Garlic Butter Shrimp

This is an extremely simple recipe if you are pressed for time :) Just 4 ingredients...mix it all....and you are done!!!!

INGREDIENTS-
1)10 pcs shrimp
2)Butter-50gm
3)Garlic-5 cloves(You can use how much ever you want! I recommend the butter SHOULD have a strong taste of garlic)
4)Salt-to taste
5)Juice of 1/2 lemon(optional)

METHOD-

1)Soften the butter for around 20 seconds in the microwave.
2)Crush the garlic into the butter and add some salt.
3)Heat the butter in a frying pan/sauce pan and add the shrimp to it.
4)Cook the prawns in the garlic butter till the prawns turn a lovely shade of pink and curl.(That's how you know they are cooked! ;))
5)Add the lemon juice if using...mix well and remove from fire immedeately.

Your shrimps are done and in less than 10 minutes!! :D

I had the shrimps with garlic bread...but it can be had on the side of practically anything(Salads,Pasta or Rice)!

Hope you liked the recipe!! :)

Mashed Potato

Was absolutely yummy!! had it on tostadas with salsa and cream cheese!!!


INGREDIENTS-

1)Potato-5 nos
2)1 tbsp butter(or more if u want it to be richer!)
3)1/2 cup milk
4)1tbsp pepper or to taste
5)1 tbsp salt or to taste
6)8 garlic flakes(can be more or less depending on your taste

METHOD

1)Boil the potato and then dry off the excess water.Mash the potato well so that no lumps are left
2)Heat the butter and add the garlic to it..Keep cooking till you get the smell of garlic..Add the milk to the garlic butter and let boil
3)Immedeately add the hot milk mixture to the ashed potato and mix well with a wooden spoon..

YOUR Mashed potato is done!!!!

An alternative to heating the butter and milk is to mix ingredients 2-6 in a flat dish and heat it at HIGH power in the microwave for about 2 minutes.....This works fine too!!!

Lemon Shortcake Slice

For those of you that did not know....shortcake is a "sweet biscuit".....Extremely tasty...tried it out for the first time and absolutely loved the texture of this one!! Do try it out!! :)

INGREDIENTS

For the base-

1)225g plain flour

2)100 g castor sugar

3)175g firm butter-cut into cubes

For the topping-

1)3 eggs

2)225g castor sugar

3)50 ml juice and grated rind of 3 lemons

4)40g flour

METHOD-

1)Preheat the oven to 180C. Line the base of  a baking tin with baking paper.

2)BASE- Mix the flour and sugar well.Add the butter and rub together till the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Press the crumbs evenly on the baking tin and bake for 20-25 minutes till golden brown.

3)TOPPING-While the base is cooking, whisk together the egg and sugar  using an electric beater till the mixture is thick and pale. Stir in the lemon juice and rind and then fold in the flour. 

4)Pour the egg mixture over the base and bake for 30-40 minutes at 140C

5)Allow to cool in the tin before cutting out squares.

Recipe from-Big Book of Sweet Treats

Watermelon and Mint Sorbet

INGREDIENTS

1)100g caster sugar
2)150ml water(1 teacup )
3)30g fresh mint leaves
4)1.2 kg watermelon-cut into chunks and and seeds removed
5)pinch of salt

METHOD

1)Combine the sugar, water and mint in a heavy bottomed sauce pan.Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 5 minutes.Remove the pan from heat and cool.

2)Puree the watermelon.

3)Strain the syrup and discard the mint.Add it into the watermelon puree.The mixture should be sweet.Add a pinch of salt. Mix well. Cover.

4)Chill the mixture in the freezer for about an hour in the coldest part of the freezer. Remove from the freezer and mix well so that a soft slush is formed. Return to the freezer and repeat the process of mixing at intervals of 1 hour another 2 times. Your sorbet is ready!!

5)Alternatively you can also our the sorbet mixture into ice lolly moulds and freeze.

Hope you liked this recipe.....awesome on a hot summer day! :D ENJOY!!

Recipe from-Big Book of Sweet Treats.....
Picture Courtesy www.kitchendaily.com

Chicken Lasagne

INGREDIENTS-

1)Lasagne sheets(8 sheets ready made)-boiled till cooked(cook like pasta)
2)20 spinach leaves- stalks removed, blanched in boiling water and drained.
3)Cheese-grated

FOR THE LASAGNE BOLOGNESE(tomato sauce prepared from tomatoes and minced meat)

1)500 gm tomato-blanched and chopped
2)2 tbsp tomato puree
3)250 gms chicken mince
4)1/2 tsp garlic paste
5)1/2 tsp oregano
6)1/4 cup fresh coriander,chopped
7)Salt to taste
8)1/2 tsp pepper or to taste

FOR WHITE SAUCE

1)3tbsp butter
2)3tbsp maida
3)2 cups milk
4)1/2 tsp salt
5)1/2 tsp pepper


METHOD-

To prepare the bolognese sauce-

1)Heat 3 tbsp oil in a pressure cooker.Add garlic paste and cook for 2 minutes.
2)Add mince and cook for 5-7 minutes til it browns well.
3)Add coriander,oregano,salt and pepper.Mix.Add the tomato puree and chopped tomato. Add 1/4 cup of water and close cooker. Keep for 3 whistles.Remove from fire and let pressure drop by itself.

To prepare the white sauce-


1)Place the melted butter in heavy saucepan over low heat and stir in the maida,salt and pepper.
2)Saute till the mixture darkens slightly.
3)Remove from heat and add the milk and stir in order to remove the lumps.
4)Return to moderate heat and stir until it boils.Cook till it forms a custard like frequency.

To assemble the lasagne-


1)Spread half of the tomato sauce at the bottom of the baking dish.
2)Place 2 pasta sheets on top of the tomato sauce.
3)Spread 1/3 of the white sauce on the top of the sheets.
4)Spread another layer of lasagne sheets.
5)Spread spinach leaves and then 1/2 the cheese on top.
6)Put another layer of lasagne sheets, and then the final layer of the bolognese.
7)Put the final layer of pasta.
8)Last layer of bechamel sauce and then spread remaining cheese.


9)Place the lasagne in a preheated oven at 180C and bake for around 25 minutes or till top is slightly brown and a knife comes out clean.

YOUR LASAGNE IS DONE!!! :D

Tandoori Chicken

INGREDIENTS-

1)2 chicken thighs
2)4 tbsp Tandoori Chicken Masala
3)6tbsp curd(You can add some more for a better texture of marinade)
4)1-1 1/2 tsp chilli powder
5)Little kasuri methi
6)finely chopped cashew nuts
7)Juice of 1 lemon
8)Salt to taste

METHOD-

1)First make some slits deep into the chicken so that the marinade goes deep into the chicken.Keep aside.
2)Add the lemon and some salt to the chicken.Mix well.Refrigerate for approximately half an hour.
3)Make the marinade with the curd,tandoori powder, kasuri methi, chilli powder,little more salt, and cashew.Mix well. (Make sure the marinade salt is a bit on the higher side).You can add some garam masala too at this stage.
4)Put the chicken into the marinade and mix well making sure to put marinade into the slits too. Keep for approximately 2 hrs in the fridge.
5)Preheat the oven at 180C. Put the chicken in a dish and cook for 30 minutes(or till cooked properly).
Keep turning the chicken every 15 minutes.
6)When you are sure the chicken is done..You can put the chicken in the oven mode for around 2 minutes each side for a crunchy top layer....(Just a suggestion...Havent tried on this recipe though i have before...:))

YOUR TANDOORI CHICKEN IS READY!!
Hope you liked it...Any suggestions will be welcome..:)

Carrot Cake

A simple and nutritious cake that appeals to everyone's taste buds....:)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup (100 grams) pecans or walnuts

3/4 pound (340 grams) raw carrots (about 2 1/2 cups finely grated)

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar

1 cup (240 ml) safflower, vegetable or canola oil (or other flavorless oil)

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

METHOD-


1)Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven.
2)Butter or spray two - 9 x 2 inch (23 x 5 cm) cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with a circle of parchment paper. 
3)Toast the pecans or walnuts for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely.
4)Peel and finely grate the carrots. 
5)In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon.
6)In bowl of electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the eggs until frothy (about 1 minute). Gradually add the sugar and beat until the batter is thick and light colored (about 3 - 4 minutes). 
7)Add the oil in a steady stream and then beat in the vanilla extract.
8)Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. With a large rubber spatula fold in the grated carrots and chopped nuts. Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  
9)Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. After about 5 -10 minutes invert the cakes onto the wire rack, remove the pans and parchment paper, and then cool completely before frosting. 





NOTE-You can use cream cheese frosting for this cake