~SPIRALLY RED~

CLICK RED.... 

 

STRAWBERRY FRAISE SPIRAL is my entry that goes to Jugalbandi. 

Had an option of the below one, found some flaws, found the above a bit better than second one, hence the one above  is being  sent across to CLICK.

An Apple A Day, Keeps the Doc Away, IF the Doc is Handsome, Put the Apple Away!

The pic above is of Chocoberry - Strawberry Shake, I blended a cup of frozen berries  with a tbspn of cream and sugar, topped with a layer of dark choc, whipped cream, dark chocolate shavings and piped the fraise on top. Initially I had wanted to send the entire glass full to CLICK, but didn't find it RED enough, so the topping was clicked. :) For all those comments who nudged me into giving the full pic n recipe...for you! (serves 2).

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A Quickie Breakfast, 3 min Garlic Bread MW Grill, MW Pedha

While thinking of a quick to assemble breakfast, this is the one that races mind. This recipe is from a friend of mine, Kavita. She had told us to try it few years ago, eversince its become a part of our breakfast when we need to come up with something very fast and less time consuming, yet filling. THANKYOU KAVI.

Ingredients :

Knorr Mayo-Chilli (Mayonnaise) (Its contains EGG )

Fresh Lettuce

Bread Slices of your choice (Multigrain, Brown, Normal Toast, Milk Bread etc)

Method :

Trim off the brown edges, spread mayo on each slice, sandwich the cut lettuce leaves in between.

Enjoyyyyyyyy!

(You can add regular veg/non-veg sandwich ingredients too --eg sliced tomatoes, onions, cucumber, boiled eggs/potatoes sliced etc.... all variations can be incorporated as per your taste!)

The second quickie appetiser/breakfast is THE famous GARLIC BREAD. No its not baked bread with garlic, its a French loaf bought from the store, cut diagnolly, then processed. Here goes the recipe from a friend again, Lalitha, who inspired the enthusiasm in cooking beyond what was already known! Thanks Lali.

The GRILL function of MW is used in the making of this dish.

Ingredients :

1 medium french loaf/ baguette

100 gms/1 stick salted butter (Amul) at room temperature

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 cloves crushed garlic(big)

1 tbspn parsely / coriander (finely chopped)

Mozerrella Cheese grated

Method :

Slice the loaf diagnolly, two inches each slice. In a bowl, take the softened (not melted) butter, mix pepper powder, crushed garlic and coriander leaves uniformly. Spread this mixture on both sides of the slice. Arrange it on the grill stand and sprinkle the grated moz. cheese as per your need. (If using salted butter, no need to add salt, if not..please check on salt)

Place the grill stand in MW carefully. Set the grill function and timer to 1 minute. Again set the time to 1 min. Lastly 20-30 secs, keep a close eye on the slices, the moz shd just melt and turn golden on top. DoNOT remove immediately, give some standing time, as the grill is hot and working. Take the grill out carefully after a minute, serve hot with sauce.

Once the time is set, for second round, remember to REDUCE the time, in my case, 2 minutes as the grill is very hot. The subsequent rounds are done faster.

We like to have this home made one as BREAKFAST over appetiser. :D

ENJOY with a dollop of sauce and do not forget to have hot tea/coffee alongside!

Thirdly, this yummy MW pedha, which my friend Kavita had first told me about around 2 1/2 years back. Since we made it several times, we got fed up..now its about after 2 years I have made these getting inspired by Usha@VegInspirations - HERE. We had prepared it in the same manner with those two basic ingredients. One has to remember only one point here, DONOT eat it fresh, it tends to be chewy/sticky, keep it refrigerated for upto 2 days(if the room temperature is below 25C, ie. its winter, then keep them in foil/clingwrap/ziplock outside) and then it would taste like shop wala pedha! :D I have used cookie mould to shape them in this picture. Got around 16 pieces.

Ingredients :

200 gms sweetened condensed milk

3/4th Cup fortified milk powder

1 pinch saffron

2 tsp cardamom powder

Method :

In a MW safe bowl (8" diameter, deep by 3 " - the mixture bubbles up and rises double its height), combine the condensed milk n milk powder along with saffron and elaichi powder. On HIGH power, set timer to 1 MIN, give a minute of standing time, mix, keep it back, again set for 1 min...check closely for bubbling . Set timer again to 20 seconds -30 secs, depending on your mw. It should not brown / burn.

Give standing time of 10 mins before taking it out. Cool or semi-cooled, you can easily shape it, further refrigerate/keep wrapped in foil or wrap or ziplock bag for two days, once completely cooled.

USHAS TIP : USE DOODH MASALA...terrific idea.

MEERA's MW Pedha a lovely different version, yet to try HERE.

ENJOY the yummy flavour after 2 days. It won't be sticky or chewy.

HAPPY BDAY MAHA(Eggless MW Chocolate Cake)

Mahalakshmi and I have been close friends ever since our college days, today is her Birthday hence a virtual cake which compliments your nature--

For you Maha...Cheers to you , Wish you the very Best in Life. HOPE U LIKE IT! 

Am posting this SUPERMOIST MW Cake for you to bake at home...and enjoy your day!

This is a cake from Divya/Easycooking which I loved completely, though the Mocha (coffee) icing is not liked by all, it can be skipped/substituted with cocoa powder. A yummy cake which my kids enjoyed thoroughly despite coffee :D. Thanks Divya for posting this! Would surely bake the cake again! 8 mins is all it takes! 

(The only change I did was to use 160 ml evaporated milk + 40 gms fine white sugar in place of condensed milk and skipped coke altogether. The mw deep dish needs good amount of greasing, which I did with butter flavored veg ghee instead of actual butter..THE CAKE STAYS SUPER MOIST EVEN THE FOLLOWING DAY! )

I used sprinkles in place of nuts as kids find it more attractive. THEY DID! 

HAVE A GREAT YEAR AHEAD MAHA! 

Ambyacha Sheera (Mango Sheera)

Sheera ...yum...something which being raised in Mumbai or Maharashtra can not overlook. 'Prasad' in many temples here seems incomplete without this delectable semolina dish, and versatile that it is can be made plain or with dry fruits or  uses up many fruits in combination like A Ripe Banana (For Prasad), Pineapple, Apple or Mango King-Alphonso too..the latter 3 being used for pure pleasure of having dessert! 

When I read at Anupama's Food-N-More blog, here, I was just smitten by the beauty of it depicted by her lens, her mould making it more scrumptious than ever, the directions so clear and was soon into the kitchen to fulfil that craving. This is the umpteenth time thereafter that I have made this using up mango pulp. (Previously had used the fresh pulp of Alphonso!)

Coming to this recipe, I have not used cup, but katori/vaati  as measure.

Ingredients :

1 vaati fine rava/semolina

2 vaati alphonso mango pulp (In this I used the thawed pulp of alphonso)

2 vaati milk (whole milk heated upto boiling temperature)

1 1/2 vaati fine sugar

1/4 vaati tup/ghee

2 tsp elaichi pud/ cardamom pwdr

1 big pinch / half tsp saffron (which I mixed in the hot milk)

Few sliced almonds for garnishing (optional) 

Method :

In a wide bottom kadhai,  melt ghee, add rava to it, roast on low flame constantly stirring till the rava changes color evenly and a beautiful aroma emanates. Alongside, heat the milk on low, once it boils put off the flame.  Once the rava is roasted, milk boiled, start pouring milk in the rava mixture while still stirring in circular motion so that the entire milk blends well with rava, see that no lumps are formed, also remember to take a tall spatula for safety of hands. Cover with lid and let it cook in its steam for around 5 minutes. Uncover and add sugar. Mix well. The sugar will dissolve, cover and let it cook for another few seconds. Put off the flame, add the mango pulp, cardamom powder in quick succession and combine well. Allow to cool. 

In my side of family,  a ghee-greased thaali is taken , the semi-cooled SHEERA is patted on the plate, with aid of flat spatula which again is greased with a bit of ghee so that sheera doesn't stick to it and scored with knife into diamond shape. It is served in this shape when its completely cooled. :D 

KINDLY COLLECT YOUR SHARE! 

(THIS is a special post for MEERA/ ENJOY INDIAN FOOD on COMPLETION OF 500+ YUMMY MEANINGFUL POSTS!! CHEERS MEERA! )

 

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HAPPY 2009!

WELCOME 2009

(Eggless Chocolate Cake,  Ganache filling, Whipped cream with Alphonso Puree Icing)

(Brownies with Vanilla Scoop) frm here

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

Some Cakes n Sweets to welcome the New Year!

Microwaved Besan Laddoos - Frm 

Tee/ Bhaatukli

HAVE A WONDERFUL YEAR AHEAD, MAY ALL YOUR LOVELY WISHES COME TRUE!

(PS : Does anyone have problem with blogger during loading pics or placing them near right text or deleting them?I seem to be having difficulty since past few months. Any solutions, kindly do comment, would be of great help!)

My Fave Gadget : Kitchen Treasure Hunt

                                             BATTERY OPERATED BEATER/WHISK

MILK FROTHER-ORIGINAL NAME

My Drink of  Hot Coffee-frothy as I like it!

For my kids-Foamy Chocy-drink

I am hurrying this post across to Dibs@Chitra Amma's Kitchen. 

For the event hosted by them, I can think of only this fave. gadget of mine which is used several times in a day! :D 

The gadget of my choice is a Kitchen Appliance - a small battery operated Beater/Whisk from IKEA, which can be inserted into the cup or bowl for whisking the coffee / chocolate drink with milk or beating eggs within a jiffy. 

The gadget is very economical (KWD 0.600 or approx 90INR)  considering the rough daily use, requires two rechargeable pencil batteries which last for a month to me. This gadget is two year old. 

Here  I  have taken pics of the gadget at work.... 

Original, unflavored  soy milk,  added a tsp of sugar, a tsp of chocolate powder, spoon kept in  the mug /cup so that when the beater is churning the milk, its spill force is controlled by spoon thus preventing a spill. Works and mixes best in 15 seconds. 

Similarly, I do not make coffee like majority do. I take a cup of milk,  mw it for 1 min add sugar, coffee pwdr and use this gadget to give me the perfect foam, perfect temperature and perfect taste that I crave for. 

I am not able to post the complete set of stepwise pics due to some problem. Would try to update more pics here as soon as possible. 

Am sure many of you would love this time saver gadget be it beating eggs or stirring sugar in your cuppa! Whatsay?? :D 

This post is off last minute to DIBS to join the carvan of  Kitchen Treasure Hunt. 

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A CENTURY -Barbie Doll Cake : Over-Studded with M&Ms (Eggless, Butterfree, Chocolate)

Hello dear friends n fellow foodies! Absolutely unplanned but just could not post anything.

My family's deep and heartfelt 'Shraddhanjali' to the brave and victims of 26th Nov '08 tragedy. (I am in no position to comment on what happened to our dear city hereafter! Just praying that this brutality ceases. )
Coming to the food post, this being my 100th post, would like to keep it short and simple.
Thanking all the lovely food bloggers whom I visit, the one's who know me, who have inspired me in cooking a variety and also made me bake, thankyou to all, for those lovely and encouraging words that makes me try for more and moreso thanks for trying out the recipes you found user-friendly :D

This is a birthday cake, I baked, constructed and decorated for my daughter Kriti, on her 4th Birthday (8th of Nov) in accordance to her instructions. Am glad that not only was she proud of the looks (which are visibly beginner's) but also relished it over a store bought one.

This post is being dedicated to my absolutely mindblowing daughter for all her support from this age to me!


This is an EGGLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE - from Hetal, Anuja @Show me the curry -ORIGINAL RECIPE here- have not made any changes.
Its not only eggless but moist and butter free too! **HAVE BAKED IT THRICE NOW**

Ingredients for Choco Cake:
1.5 Cups All purpose flour/Maida
3 tbspn Cocoa powder (dark)
1 tsp baking soda
1 Cup fine sugar
1/2 tsp salt

5 tbspn vegetable oil
1 tbspn white distilled vinegar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 Cup cold water

Method of Baking it:
In a large bowl, sift together maida,cocoa and baking soda, mix the sugar and salt well.
In another bowl, mix the cold water, oil, vinegar, vanilla essence. Make a well in the center of the
dry ingredients, add the liquid mixture, whisk well or until uniform, should be free from bubbles. In a pre-heated oven, at 180 deg C - 9" by 9" square bake for 30 - 35 mins till inserted toothpick at center of the cake comes clean. Transfer onto a wire rack cool it completely.
*This was the basic Recipe*

Assembling :
I had baked double measure, One in a bowl shaped steel vessel and another in a pan.
Shaped them into three concentric circles. Video help from - here.
Made ganache to glue them -

Ganache -
200 ml whipped cream, bring to a boil. Chop and keep 200 gms bitter sweet bar.
Take the saucepan with simmering cream off heat source, add all of the chocolate and keep stirring in circular motion, till a dark chocolatey concoction of body lotion consistency is reached - add a tablespoon of honey. Mix well. Keep aside. Arrange the large circle of cake on a waxed paper pour ganache in center, spread with spoon leaving half cm along edges. Repeat with other parts.


Keep the abdomen above part of Barbie doll ready and insert it neatly into the top part. Remeber to say 'hands up Barbie' if you don't want her to spoil her would be dress! :D
Pour ganache over the body as in this pic to dress the upper part of her body. Use tooth pic for applying straps. Leave this to dry for few hours.

Icing - Swapna/Swapna's Cuisine was of great help for making this. Used her PERFECT icing.
100 gms butter, 200 gms powdered sugar, few drops vanilla essence, few drops red color.
Mixer with stand- In a bowl take room temperature butter, add sugar powder... speed medium ...time 2 mins beat, add the vanilla and coloring and beat well. Those who are good with piping can pipe designs with nozzles..should go for double measure of icing stated here.
I applied the icing to the doll's body as well as over studded it with two packets of M&M large.
Then moved the doll on a foiled cardboard, slowly with a sharp knife cut the excess of waxed paper below the BARBIE Doll's Gown.

Thats it..we are done. Many hours assorted, but a life time of contentment!!

Enjoy the cake as visual treat.


Thankyou!!

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Egg Substitute Event - Vinegar Round Up