Spicy Pumpkin Soup

A very simple recipe for winter, yet so flavourful....!

1cup  pumpkin ( chopped )

1 onion, chopped 

2 tomatoes (chopped)

2-3 cloves garlic

1" piece ginger (unpeeled)

2 whole red chilli (dry)

750ml water

Salt to taste

Boil all the ingredients.

Cool..... Blend and strain.

Place back to boil, add 1 tsp butter. If its too thin mix cornstarch and water to thicken,

and if it looks too thick add some water to adjust the consistency.

Garnish and serve hot.

Garnish

Cheese, grated

Chilly flakes

Oregano

Pepper

Casserole

Ingredients:

For the casserole:
chopped mixed veggies-
corn/peas/carrots/green beans
chopped green chilis
1/2 cup finely chopped mushrooms
1Tbs  maida
1 cup milk
Oil for saute

For the topping:
1 boiled potato-cut in thin slices
Some grated cheese

For the base:
whole wheat bread, toasted and cut into cubes

Method:

-Heat oil in a pan and add the chopped  mushrooms and veggies to it. Saute for about 5 mins and then add the maida and saute till the raw smell of maida goes away. It should not brown.
-Add the milk to it and stir, till the sauce thickens.
-Season with salt and red chili black pepper powder.
-Keep this  sauce aside.

-For assembling the casserole, take an oven proof dish and line the bottom with the toasted/cubed bread pieces. 
-Make a layer of the sauce-covered veggies over the bread. 
-Finally, cover the top of the casserole with the sliced boiled potatoes and sprinle the cheese on it.

-Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 mins, till the cheese is melted and the potatoes start browning.

Grilled Vegetables and Feta Rice

Grilled Vegetables and Feta Rice

(makes 4 servings) 

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion (chopped) 

1tsp ginger (grated)

2 cloves garlic (chopped) optional 

2 big cardamoms (whole or crushed)

1 cinnamon stick (small)
1cup grilled vegetables (eg red bell pepper, eggplant, mushroom, zucchini.. .sliced) 
1 teaspoon oregano (chopped or 1/2 teaspoon dry) 
salt and pepper to taste 
1 cup long grained rice or brown rice
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth or plain water 

1/4 cup feta cheese (crumbled) 

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a pan.
2. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes. 

3. Add ginger and garlic cardamom and cinnamon and saute for 2 mins more
4. Add the grilled vegetables and oregano and season with salt and pepper. Add less salt if using broth
5. Add the rice and broth and bring to a boil.
6. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the rice is cooked, about 20 minutes (40 minutes for brown rice). I used the Rice Cooker.
7. Remove from the heat and mix in the feta. 

Lemon Brownies.....

3/4 cup all-purpose flour(maida)
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice


Lemon Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp lemon zest


Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F).  Grease an 8-by-8-inch (20cm) baking dish or line it with baking paper


Zest and juice a lemon, set aside.


Add flour, sugar, salt and softened butter to a bowl and beat well until combined. 



In a separate bowl, whisk  eggs, lemon zest and lemon juice. pour into the flour mixture and beat until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. 



Pour mixture into the baking dish and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until just starting to turn golden around edges and a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before glazing. 



When brownies are cooled completely, make the glaze by whisking together all three ingredients. Spread over the brownies with a rubber spatula, cut into bars, and serve! Sprinkle some zest on top of the glaze. 

Cranberry and Walnut Cake.....

Whisk 1 cup margarine,1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup brown sugar.Then add 3 eggs and 1tsp vanilla essence and mix together.



Now add 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour(maida), pinch of salt, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 cup (toasted and crushed) walnuts, 1 cup dried cranberries and mix it all slowly till well incorporated.



Bake at 200 C for 35 mins....then turn down the oven temp to 180 and bake for 20 mins more. Cool it on a wire rack for 15-20 mins.

Cut into pieces ...

Mixed Lentils

Heat 2 tbs olive oil and add 2 dry red chillies,1tsp cumin ...when it crackles add 3-4 chopped garlic cloves and fry till light brown.










Now add 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp chilli powder,1 tsp coriander powder and 1 tsp garam masala .Fry for a few seconds....

Now add some mixed vegetables (I used the frozen ones)and fry with the masala for 1-2 minutes.

Wash and rinse 1 cup mixed Lentils in a seperate bowl.

Add the washed lentils and about 4 cups of water and salt ...Pressure cook it for about 20 minutes on a medium heat .

Serve with plain rice....!

Savoury Pancakes with Shrimps

Mix One Egg, 3tbs All purpose flour, some shrimps (chopped or whole),2 tbs chopped spring onion,1 green chilli chopped, 1tsp minced ginger, salt and pepper to taste and some water, to a pancake like mixture.

Heat 1tbs oil in a non-stick pan. Add spoonfuls of the mixture, and cook both sides till light brown, on medium heat.

Enjoy it with sweet chilli dipping sauce....!

Baguette Pizza

Cut the Baguette horizontally 
and spread some Ketchup.
Add chopped Veggies (Onion,Bell Pepper, Cabbage,Tomato) and some grated Cheese.
Sprinkle salt, pepper and Oregano/Italian seasoning. 
Grill in the Microwave or Oven for about 5 mins...
Yummy snack is ready in no time..!!

How to Peel a Garlic

Just roll it between a Silicon Sheet and voilà...the skin comes right off....and no smelly hands....:)

 li

Baked Chicken...KFC Baked Version

Marinate
 chicken 4-6(Thighs or Breast)
for few minutes to
overnight  in ...
1 tbs chilli garlic paste(sambal)
3 tbs pineapple or orange juice
pinch of salt

         

 In a seperate bowl mix

          3/4 cup bread      crumbs

3 tbs canola oil

1/2 tsp salt 

Coat each piece with the bread crumbs and bake for 12- 15 mins at 200 C

"I don't like gourmet cooking or "this" cooking or "that" cooking. I like good cooking." - James Beard

Baked Samosa

Mash some boiled Potatoes and add some chopped spring onion, shredded ginger, chopped green chillies, salt, cayenne pepper, turmeric, chat masala, amchoor powder.
Heat 1 tsp oil and saute this mixture till potatoes are slightly brown. Cool it.

Cut the (store bought) thawed Puff Pastry into 8- 12 rectangles. You can also make the puff pastry at home....

Put a little filling in the center. Dab the sides with a little water....

Close it and press it down with a fork to seal....
At this point you can also freeze it for later use.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20- 30 mins...
Serve the Baked Samosa with Coriander or Mint Chutney.

Savory Snack....Namak Para

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups All Purpose flour (plain flour or maida)
• 1/2  cup sooji (semolina )
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ajwain(carom seeds)
• 4 tablespoons oil
• 3/4 cup lukewarm water (use as needed)
• Oil to fry

Mix all the ingredients except the water.

Add the water little at a time, kneading into a firm dough.

Divide the dough into about 2 equal parts.

 Take each part of the dough and make a flat ball shape. Roll them into 28-30 inch circles.

Cut diagonally into strips.. .
the strips can be thinner or smaller in shape...

1. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat.
2. The frying pan should have atleast 1 1/2 inch of oil.To check if the oil is ready, put a small piece of dough in the oil. The dough should make the oil sizzle and come up slowly.
3. Fry a few namak paras at a time. Make sure to place just enough to cover the frying oil.

 Fry the namak parass until both sides are a light golden-brown.

 Take it out on a kitchen towel.

cool and serve


Namak para can be stored for a couple of months in airtight containers.

Baked Deviled Chicken....

8 chicken drumsticks or other parts

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup worcestershire sauce 

1 tb  mustard (preferably dijon)

2 tbs brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbs water

2 tbs oil

In a bowl combine ketchup,w.sauce, brown sugar, mustard, and water ...stir well.

In a pan heat oil and brown the chicken after sprinkling salt and pepper on it for 15 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the pan and place it in a baking dish.....

 In the same pan add the sauce mixture...and loosen the particles in pan.when it boils remove and pour this sauce on the chicken .

Cover with a foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 

Remove foil and bake furthur for 10- 15 minutes more.

Serve with Rice.....Super Delicious...!!

Quick Smoothie....

1/4 cup frozen Berries...(mixed or Strawberry/Rasberry/blueberry)

1 banana chopped 

2 cups milk

2 tbs thick yogurt(plain)

2 tbs ice cream(vanilla or strawberry)

2 tsp sugar

Blend everything together in a blender and pour into glasses....enjoy !

Collard Greens Stir Fry....

Ingredients
4 bunches of Collard Greens (washed and chopped roughly)
2 tsp oil
1 whole dry red chilli
3  garlic cloves ..chopped
1tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1 pinch asefotida(Hing).....optional

Heat oil and add whole chilli and chopped garlic ....
after1 minute add hing,cayenne and salt ..stir ...and immediately add the Collard Greens and cook uncovered till done ....about 10 minutes.

Fruit Chaat....recipe

Cut fruits and veg of your choice or that are in season.....

I used apples, bananas, kiwi, strawberry,grapes,carrots,cherry tomatoes, cucumber, shallow fried boiled potatoes...

Sprinkle some lemon juice and chat masala(available in Indian stores) and mix.

Fruit Chaat is ready....!