Mathura ke Dubki Maar Aaloo ki sabji

This recipe is surely a show stealer. You can have it with pooris,kachoris or parathas.
The tastes comes from the mixture of freshly grounded dry recipes.
I made this with the dal and pyaz ki kachori.

Ingredients:
4-5 Par boiled potatoes (peeled and roughly cubed)
1tsp Hing
1tbsp Mango Powder
1tbsp Turmeric Powder
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander chopped
Water 2-3 cups

For the fresh dry Masala
2tbsp Coriander Seeds
2 Whole Red Chilies
1 Cinnamon stick
1tbsp Cumin seeds
2 black cardamom
2 green cardamom
6-7 cloves

Other Ingredients:
3 tbsp Oil
1tsp Kashmiri Red chilly powder

Procedure:

• Dry roast all the whole masalas.
• Blend it keep it aside.
• Heat oil in a kadhai. add in hing.
• Lower the flame add in turmeric, mango powder and fresh grounded maslaa.
• Mix well, add in the chopped potatoes, mix
• Let it cook for 5 minutes.
• Add in water.
• Add in fresh coriander.
• Let it simmer on low flame 7-10 minutes.
• Serve hot with dal pyaz ki kachori, poori or paratha
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Dal Pyaaz ki Kachori

I really miss the kachori's and samosas that you get in the north part of India. I am always skeptical of buying these at any store in Pune, as you very well know at the back of the mind that you wont get the same taste.
So then I decided to make these at home,and saw  the recipe from a fellow blogger. bingo, I went in the kitchen , checked my pantry, Had all the ingredients in hand, and started my hand at it.

It was a Sunday morming, hubby at home wanted him to surprise him with something new. So here is my version of Kachori. I served it with dubki maar aloo.

Ingredients:
For the outer cover:
1 cup Maida
1 1/2 cup Wheat Flour
1tsp salt
8tbsp Ghee or Oil

For the filling:
1 large onion (finely chopped)
1/2 cup of moong dal (soaked overnight and then blended)
2tbsp oil
A pinch of hing (asfoetida)
1tbsp Fennel Powder
1tsp Red chilly powder
1tsp Turmeric Powder
1tsp Cumin Powder
1tsp Mango Powder
1tsp Coriander Powder


Procedure
For making the outer cover 

• Mix both the flour together, then add in the salt.
• Add in the ghee or oil. Rub it with the fingers so that the oil and flour are mixed well.
• Knead using enough water to form a medium firm dough.
• Cover it with a damp cloth. set aside.

For making the filling:

• Heat oil in  a pan , add the chopped onion.
• Once it browns add the coarsely grounded moong dal.
• Cook for 7-10 minutes. keep stirring
• Now add all the dry masalas in it.
• Mix well.

Assembling of kachori:

•  Divide the dough into 15 balls or as per your preference. If u want mini ones then it would make about 20 .
• Roll out the ball, put in a a spoonful of the masala.
• Make into a ball again, sealing the joints well. 
• Flatten with hands to form a disc.
• Heat oil.
• Deep fry these kachoris on medium flame.
• Make sure the oil should not be very hot as they will change color from outside but remain uncooked from inside.
• Once done take it out on a kitchen paper to remove the excess oil.
• serve hot with chutney or dubki wale aaloo ki sabji.
• yOU CAN STORE IT AN AIR TIGHT CONATINER ALSO FOR 2-3 DAYS.

Gajar ka Halwa.... (Carrot Pudding)

Yet another winter favourite desserts. Winters will be over in another 15 days, but the craze for the winter vegetables would still remain. I really relish the red carrots available in this season. I make sure that I use in all possible means in my meals. Made pickles, used it in mix vegetables, and the most popular way is halwa.
A rich and creamy desert with goodness of nuts and milk.
I have again made it in a traditional way just like moong dal halwa which was my previous posts.

Ingredients:
1 kg Carrot
1.5l milk
1 tsp cardamom powder
1 katori mixed dry fruits (almonds+ cashew nuts + raisins + chironji)
2 tbsp coconut shredded
1/2 kg khoya
2 tbsp ghee
6 tbsp sugar



Procedure:

• Shred all the carrots and keep aside.
• Take a wide pan or a kadahi. Pour in the milk.
• Let the milk boil add in the cardamom powder.
• When the milk starts boiling, add in the shredded carrots.
• Let this cook for 40-50. so that the milk and the carrots are cooked well.
• After this add in the khoya + mix dry fruits
• Let this cook for another 20 minutes.
• After this add in the sugar..
• Let all this cook for another 30 minutes.
• Keep stirring the halwa from time to time so that it does not stick to the base.
• After all the milk has evaporated add ghee.
• Mix well.
• Let it cook for another 15 minutes.
• Serve hot.

I make this halwa in large quantity so tat it sits in my fridge for a good 4-5 days. And whenever I have sweet cravings I just need to warm it and devour it.

Moong dal halwa (Yellow lentils Desert)

Of all the halwas, Moong dal halwa is my favouirte. I just wait for the winters to make this delectable sweet which is rich in flavours.
This halwa helps us to keep our boday warm in winters, tats what our elders tell us.
This halwa requires a lot of patience while making, as the dal is cooked in ghee on low flame. The more you roast it well the more flavoursome it becomes.

Moon Dal Halwa

I guess you will get to taste this desert in alomost all the weddings and celebrations.

Ingredients
250gms Moong Dal
300gms (Khoya) or mawa
1 cup sugar (according to taste u can differ)
4 cups of water
1/2 cup ghee
9-10 almonds (chopped in flakes)
5-6 cashew nuts (chopped)
10-12 Raisins
2 tbsp chironji

• Soak the moong dal in enough water for 4-5 hrs preferably overnight.
• Take the dal, remove the water and blend the dal in the food processor.
• Now in a kadhai, melt the ghee. Once its done add in the grinded dal in it.
• Stir the dal well so that it does not stick to the base of the kadhai.
• Keep on stirrimg the halwa on a low flame till the raw smells of the lentil disapperas.
• The fat should get separated and the lentil changes its color.
• This whole process will take around 40-45 min.
• It can be more also.
• In order to save some time, I roast my khoya in a separte pan.
• For this you need to take a pan, and dry roast the khoya.
• After 45 minutes when the lentil is cooked properly, add in the roasted khoya in it.
• Mix them well and keep on stirring till the lentil and khoya is cooked properly.
• In the meanwhile prepare a sugar syrup with 4cups of water and 1 cups of sugar.
• When the sugar and water mixture starts boiling add in the halwa mixture.
• Mix well and keep on stirring.
• Add in the dryfuits.
• Let it cook for 15-20 minutes
• When the ghee starts appearing on top, this shows that the halwa is cooked well.
• Garnish it with almond flakes.
• Serve hot.

Onion Bhajiyas (Onion Fritters)

Winters have set in. In the evening you crave for everything that is hot and spicy along with a hot cup of tea or may be with a simple bowl of tamatar ka shorba.
This was one day, when I had a deep urge of making these wonderful cripsy bhajiyas to go along my hot bowl of shorba.
So I went in the kitchen wore my apron. and made these beauties in just 20 minutes.

Hope you all will enjoy making these too.

Onion Bhajiyas

Ingredients:
3-4 Onions (Finely sliced)
2 Green Chilies (Finely chopped)
1tsp Ginger (Finely chopped)
4tbsp Gramflour (Besan)
1tbsp Rice Flour
1tsp Carom seeds (aijwain)
Salt to taste
1tsp Turmeric Powder (Haldi)
1tbsp Cumin Powder
1tbsp Coriander Powder
1tbsp Mango Powder
1tbsp Garam Masala
Chat masala to sprinkle over the bhajiyas once fried.

Procedure:

• Finely slice the onions. 
• Take a bowl, add in the sliced onions, green chilies and ginger.
• Add in all the dry masalas.
• Add in the gramflour and rice flour.
• Mix 
• Gradually add in water to make the batter
• The batter should be of medium thick consistency.
• Heat oil in a kadahi.
• Add spoonfull of batter in the hot oil.
• With the help of a slotted spoon flip the pakodas.
• So that i is cooked from both the sides.
• When the bhajiya is half cooked remove them from oil.
• Press it with the back of the spoon and fry again this will make the bhajiyas really crispy.
• Do the same with the remaining batter.
• Sprinkle the bhajiyas with chat masala powder.
• Serve hot with green chutney.

Pound Cake

Baking insect has bit for a while now. These days my house only smell of vanilla essence, sugar, and everything related to baking.
A classic pound cake has always been my all time favourite. Its simple and tastes great when eaten with evening tea or coffee and a great breakfast option too when served with whipped cream and fresh fruits.

Pound Cake

Ingredients:
3 Large eggs
3tbsp Milk at Room temperature
1tsp Vanilla Essence
1tsp baking powder
150gms  Castor Sugar (White)
150gms All Purpose Flour
185gms Butter

Procedure:

• Pre-heat the oven for 15 minutes at 180degrees.
• Line the cake mould with parchment paper.
• Whisk together Milk + eggs + Vanilla essence
• In another bowl mix together all the dry ingredients, All Purpose Flour  + Baking Powder.
• Now mix in half of the wet ingredients into the dry mixture on low speed. 
• Add in the remaining mixture. Whisk it for 30 seconds so that everything comes together properly.
• Pour the batter into the mould and smooth en the top with a spatula or a palette knife.
• Bake in for 40 -45 minutes or till the tooth pick comes out clean.
• If the top starts browning cover it with aluminium foil.
• When its done remove it From the oven
• De mould and place it on a wire rack.
• Allow it to cool.

I served the Pound Cake with homemade orange sauce.

How to make orange sauce:

Take 100ml of orange juice fresh or canned

2tbsp sugar

Pound Cake

Take a pan reduce the juice and sugar mixture till it becomes thick.

It should be of flowing consistency just like any sauce.

D`2Wrizzle on top of the cake

Serve

Kalakand

Finally its the day :4 and tomorrow My Ganesha will go away. Hoping he goes happy and promise to come back next year. For today's Bhog I prepared this milky Kalakand. Its one of my favourite mithai of all time.
The slight crumbly texture and the intense cardamom taste makes it a sweet to die for.
I have used freshly homemade paneer to make this.
The recipe is inspired by one of the fellow bloggers Priyanka Sushant Verma from Cook with Priyanka.

Kalakand

Ingredients
1cup Paneer (Homemade Paneer)
200ml Condensed Milk (Milkmaid)
1tbsp Cardamom Powder
10-12 Chopped Pistachios


Procedure:

• Make the fresh paneer using the recipe in the link.
• Now in a pan, add in the paneer and the milkmaid.
• Mix well.
• Keep stirring till it starts to leave the pan.
• At this point add in the cardamom powder.
• Mix well.
• Cook till most of the moisture goes away.
• Switch off the gas.
• Take a tray, grease it with ghee.
• Pour the mixture on the tray.
• When it cools down, cut into pieces. 



Kalakand

• Serve. 

Besan Ladoo

There is lot of Activity going on in the house these days. Ganpati at home so busy in making him happy. Preparing meals for him all day. Its the day : 3 and I prepared Besan Ladoos. I had made sure that everyday will make a new sweet for his Bhog. I am enjoying each and every day of Ganpati celebration at home, with loads of cooking going on.
This recipe is adapted from the Raks Kitchen.

Besan Ladoo

Makes 15 Ladoos

Ingredients:
1 CUP Besan Flour (Gram Flour)
1/2Cup Ghee
1Cup Powdered Sugar (You can also use Boora Sugar for preparing Beasan Ladoos )
1tbsp Cardamom Powder
8-10 Chopped almonds (keep few for garnishing)

Procedure:

• There is on traditional way of preparing Ladoos. Put ghee in a wok and roast besan in it.
• I have used a different method all together.
• Dry roast the besan in a kadhai till the raw smell of besan goes away.
• Make sure it does not start Browning from bottom so keep stirring.
• This whole process will take around 20-25 minutes.
• Now remove the flour from the stove.
• Sieve it.
• After sieving put it on the flame, add in the powdered sugar. mix well.
• Melt the ghee.
• Put it gradually seeing that it does not become too wet, as shaping them would be difficult. mix well
• Switch off the gas.
• Add in the cardamom powder and chopped almonds.
• Make them into ladoos once they become easy to handle.
• Garnish them with chopped almonds.
  

Fried Modak (Fried SWEET Dumplings)

Somebody has rightly said that there is always a first time to everything, Being a Punjabi, born and brought up in the North part of India have never celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi. Since I have been in Bombay and now in Pune, the whole atmosphere of Ganesh Puja have always attracted me. How people have so much faith in Ganpati, the elaborated celebrations for 10 days, ceremonies, decorations, So all this more, forced me to celebrate Ganpati this time.

With full zeal and happiness we have brought our Ganpati for 5 days, hoping that these days are full of his blessings.

So today I prepared Modaks. I have made the fried version as my family prefer those over the steamed ones.

Fried Modak

Ingredients:
2 cup of Wheat Flour
2tbsp Ghee
1/2 salt
Warm water/milk to knead the dough


For the filling:
1.5 cups Grated Jaggery
2 cups Grated Coconut (Fresh or sukha coconut) I have used the sukha one
1tbsp Poppy Seeds or khus khus
3tbsp Chopped almonds
3tbsp Chopped cashews

1tsp Cardamom power
2tbsp Water

Procedure:

• Make a smooth dough, with the ingredients mentioned above for the outer covering.
• Keep it covered for 20-30 minuted before preparing the modaks.

For the filling:

• Take a pan, add in the poppy seeds, dry roast them for 2-3 minutes.
• Add in the coconut and the jaggery.
• Cook them till the jaggery melts.
• Add in the chopped almonds and cashews. mix them
• Let it cook till the mixture is completely dry and cooked.
• Add in the cardamom powder.
• Keep it aside and allow it to cool.

For the Modaks:

• Divide the dough into small size balls.
• This would yield 20 modaks approximately
• Roll the ball into 3-4 inches diameter.
• Take this circle in your palm.
• Add in a spoon full of mixture in the center.
• Now start pinching the edges one by one.
• Bring all the pinched edges together.
• And press it in the center.
• Do the same with all the remaining dough.
• Deep fry on low flame and make sure it does not remain uncooked from inside.
• Drain and serve Hot.

Ganpati Bappa Moriya

Chocolate Chip cookies

I happen to be a huge fan of cookies. I need it with my cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of milk. One will always find a bunch of cookies in my cookie jar.
This craziness for cookies forced me to try out these sweet devils myself.
 I followed the recipe from the big book of treats by Pooja Dhingra. It was my first time so followed it to the core. It came out really well, just the way it should be. Gooey and chewy.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
75gms Butter
1tsp Vanilla Essence
1tsp Baking Powder
65g Brown Sugar
50g Castor Sugar
1 egg
175g Flour
175 Dark Chocolate Chips

Procedure:

• Whisk together the butter, brown sugar, Castor sugar and Vanilla essence till soft and fluffy.
• In a separate bowl lightly whisk the egg.
• Slowly add in the sugar and butter mixture.
• Whisking Properly.
• Sieve the baking powder and flour together.
• Fold in the flour in the sugar and butter mixture.
• Mix in the Dark Chocolate Chips.
• Cling wrap the mixture and place it in refrigerator for 2 hrs.
• Preheat the oven at 165 degrees.
• Make the baking tray ready, either by greasing it or line it with a parchment paper.
• With a tablespoon or an ice cream scoop, scoop out the dough on to the baking tray in medium sized rounds.
• leaving a 2 inch gap between the cookies.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes or till the edge starts browning.

Important Tip:

• Cookies tend to spread, in order to stop this to happen, keep the prepared dough overnight in the fridge  or
• Make the balls. keep it on the baking tray.
• now place this tray in d freezer for 10-15min before baking.
• this would refrain it from spreading.

Honey Chili Potatoes

So much to do in so little time. These days I am so overworked, with a small baby at home. Time just flies. I just tend to sneak sometime for me to blog and to cook and experiment something new. Whenever he sleeps i get some time to pen down the recipes I make in the whole week.
I am quiet a fan of these sweet and savoury honey chili potatoes. I love them as starters with drinks or a cup of hot soup.

Honey Chili Potatoes

Ingredients:
2 Potatoes
3-4 tbsp cornflour
Salt to Taste
1tbsp Red Chilly Sauce
1tsp Red Chilly Powder
Oil to fry

For the Gravy:
1tsp Oil
1 large Onion (cubed)
1 Capsicum (cubed)
1tbsp Garlic Paste or juliennes
3tsp White Sesame Seeds (optional)
2tbsp Honey
1tbsp Soya Sauce
1tbsp Red Chilly Sauce
Salt to Taste

Procedure:
For Marination:

• Peel and cut Potato into wedges.
• Now in a bowl add in the potatoes + cornflour + salt + Red chilly sauce + red chilly powder. mix well.
• Keep it aside for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes fry these potato slices till golden brown or till crispy.

For the gravy and final honey chilly potato:

Honey Chili Potatoes

• Heat oil in a wok, add in garlic paste or Juliennes
• Add in onion. saute till it is cooked. but don't let the crispiness go.
• Add in capsicum. mix well.
• Keep it on high flame.
• Add in the potatoes. 
• Add in salt, soya sauce, red chilly sauce  + honey.
• Mix well.
• Let it cook on high flame for 5 min.
• Add in sesame seeds.
• Mix. keep it on flame for another 2-3 minutes.
• Remove from flame.
• Serve hot

p.s I never had sesame seed so I made it without them. Next time will surely use them in making these awesome savoury delight.

Panzanella Salad (Bread and Tomato Salad)

These days its been really hot. Temperatures are rising alogwith the urge to eat something light and healthy also increasing.
Yesterday I  flipped to so many magazines, cookbook, to try a simple and yet healthy salad.
There I come across this Panzanella Salad which is a sure delight. Its the best you can make in the Summers.
Its from the land of Tuscany which will give u goodness of tomatoes and crunchiness of the bread.

The salad is not only a feast for the stomach but also for the eyes. As it looks really beautiful..

Ingredients:

For the Bread:
French Loaf (Cut into Big Chunks) approx. 7-8 chunks
2tbsp Olive Oil
Salt
Black Pepper
7-8 Basil Leaves (Chopped)
4-5 Garlic(minced)
(If u r using some flavoured loaf of bread like garlic, cheese then omit garlic, salt and pepper)

For the salad:
1 ripe Tomato (Cubed)
I used Cherry tomatoes u can use the normal tomatoes too.

1 small Red Bell Pepper (Cubed)
4-5 Basil Leaves
1tsp Vinegar
Salt to taste
1tsp Black Pepper
1tsp Lemon Juice (Optional)

Procedure:

• Preheat oven at 180 degrees celsius for 10 min
• In a baking tray mix in the bread + garlic + basil leaves + salt + black pepper + oil.
• Mix it well.
• Let toast ofor 10 minutes at 180 degress, till it beconmes crisp.
• In the meanwhile, prepare the dressing for the salad.
• Mix in vinegar + salt + blackpepper + lemon juice + chopped basil leaves
• In the bowl add in tomatoes + bell peppers + toasted bread. Mix
• Now add in the dressing.
• Give it a gentel mix.
• Serve.
  

Chocolate Eclairs

Baking has become my passion lately, just want to experiment with new things. But still there is a long way to go.
But cooking or baking in this case is really challenging when u have a little one at home who just wants to play with u all the time and not sleep.
Nevertheless I keep pushing myself more and more.
I was seeing this food food channel where chef Shipra Khana made these awesome eclairs, which tempted

me then and there to try them out.
I checked my pantry, and hurrah!! I had all the stuff available.
so next step was to START.
I mad my little one sit in his bouncer, played some music and i was all set o bake this awesome delight.

Ingredients:
65gms Flour (maida)
1tbsp granulated sugar
55gms butter
120ml water
2 eggs

For topping
Whipped cream with vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache

Procedure:

• Pre-heat the oven at 200degree Celsius.
• Place a parchment paper on the baking tray.
• You can also use aluminium foil, brush it with butter. This is equally good as using a parchment paper.
• In a bowl whisk the flour with sugar.
• In a pan heat water and butter together.
• Close the flame add in the flour into it.
• Whisking regularly.
• Cook it till it starts  sticking to the pan.
• Remove from flame.
• Beat the mixture till it becomes lukewarm.
• Then add in the lightly beaten eggs.
• Continue to mix till the batter is a thick paste.
• Put the mixture in a pastry bag with a large pin.

• pipe the mixture in oblong shapes on the baking tray.

• Bake for 15 minutes at 200dregress and reduce it to 180 degrees.
• Continue to bake for another 25 minutes.
• Remove from oven and place it on a the wire rack

Assembling the eclairs:

• Slit open the elcairs lentghwise.
• Dip top part of the eclair into the chocolate Ganache.
• Fill the bottom half with whipped cream
• Place the other half on top of it.
• Chocolate Eclares are ready to be eaten. :)

Gobhi Parathas (Cauliflower with Parathas)

 Weekends are cheat days. You can indulge in all calorie-rich foods while lazing around in the house. Parathas make the perfect weekend brunch or Lunch. Being a true Punjabi, I relish the parathas with loads Lassi. I prefer making them in pure desi ghee, but some like to have it in refined oil too.
of butter, and a glass of chilled

Gobhi ke Parathe

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized cauliflower

Salt to taste

1tsp Aijawain (carom seeds)

3 green chilies

1tsbp Cumin powder

1tbsp Coriander powder

1tsp Garam Malsa

Wheat flour dough

Fresh Coriander leaves

Procedure:

• Grate the cauliflower.
• Add in salt. Keep it for 20 minutes.
• Extract all the water from the grated cauliflower.
• Now in a bowl, add in grated cauliflower, aijawain + cumin powder + coriander powder + garam masala powder + green chilies + coriander leaves.
• Mix well.
• Now divide the dough into 5 portions. it should be like ping-pong ball.
• Dust it with flour.
• Roll it with a rolling pin. in a 3' diameter size,add in small amount of cauliflower.
• Bring all the edges together. Press it in the center.
• Flatten it.
• Dust some flour.
• Roll it with a rolling pin.
• It should be done very lightly till u get a size of a chapatti.
• Place it over a hot tawa..
• Cook it till both sides are brown.
• Put some ghee on the sides.
• Cook till its done
• Do the same with the remaining dough and cauliflower.
• Serve it hot wid dahi, pickle, butter.

Shaam Savera (Spinach Kofta in Tomato Gravy)

A lot happened since my last post. I was blessed with a baby boy and time just with my little bundle of joy. I got so busy tat I had no time to cook and try new recipes or I never wanted to leave my baby alone. But now he is 4 months old so i am back with one of my most favorite recipes.
This is the dish which I always order whenever I go for dinner at Yellow Chili- Sanjeev Kapoor's Restaurants. Sham Savera is their signature dish. Made up of Spinach and rich tomato gravy this dish is surely the master of all the kofta recipes.

This recipe is adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor's website with little variations here and there.

Shaam Savera

Ingredients:
For Koftas:
500gms Spinach Leaves
2tsp Gram Flour (Besan)
Salt to taste
2tbsp Oil
1tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
1tsp Turmeric Powder
1 Green Chilly (finely chopped)

For the filling of Kofta:
100gms Fresh Homemade Paneer
Green Cardamom Powder
Salt to taste

For the tomato Gravy:
5 Ripe Tomato (made into puree)
1tbsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
3tbsp Cashew Nut Paste
Salt to taste
2tbsp Butter
1 Green Chilly

Procedure:
For the Koftas:

• In a bowl add in the grated paneer. 
• Add in green cardamom powder and a pinch of salt.
• Remove the stems of the spinach leaves.
• Boil them in 4 cups of water.
• When cooled finely chop them
• Take a pan, add in 2tbsp of oil, add in cumin seeds + Ginger garlic paste + Chopped Spinach + 2tbsp of besan. Mix them well.
• Cook till all the water evaporates.
•  Add in salt + turmeric powder.
• Remove from stove Allow it to cool down
• Divide the spinach and paneer mixture into equal balls.
• Now take each spinach portion, press it on your palm, place a ball pf paneer in it.
• Gather it together, make into a ball.
• Do the same with the remaining spinach and paneer mixture.
• Roll the balls in cornstarch if required.
• Heat a kadhai for frying these balls.
• Fry till golden brown.
• Drain on absorbent paper.

For the gravy:

• Heat 2tbsp oil, add in ginger garlic paste.
• Now add in tomato puree.
• let it cook till the oil separates.
• Add in salt + red chilly powder.
• Allow it to cook.
• add in cashew paste. mix well.
• Add in butter. Mix it well.
• Allow it to cook for 2 minutes.
• Half the koftas. Place on the gravy
• Serve

Strawberry Swiss Roll

I remember learning these super delicious Swiss rolls in my first bakery lessons around 6 years back. I was super excited to bake this then, as the way a sponge cake sheet is rolled with fillings of your choice.
I have tried this many times before, but finally created the best possible Swiss roll.
I hope my readers will enjoy this.

Strawberry Swiss Roll

Ingredients:
For sponge Cake:
2 Eggs
50gm Sugar (Grained)
50gm Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
Salt (a pinch)
30ml Water
1tsbp Vanilla Essence

For the Strawberry Filling:
As it is not season of strawberries, I used strawberry syrup. You can use strawberry jam too.

Whipped Cream
Strawberry Syrup or Jam
Sugar Syrup to moisten the sponge sheet.

Procedure:

• Preheat the oven at 225 degree Celsius.
• Line a cake tray with butter in which you need to make the sponge sheet.
• Sieve Flour and baking powder together.
• Whip eggs and sugar for 5 minutes with help of an electric blender till it turns fluffy and moo use like.
• Add all the other ingredients (sugar + flour+ baking powder+ Vanilla Essence).
• Beat the mixture till it becomes smooth and fluffy. ( Do not over mix the batter)
• Fold in water with the batter very lightly
• Pour the batter into the greased tray and bake it for 15 minutes or till it becomes brown from the top.
• Keep checking it from time to time.

For the Filling:

250 ml whipping cream

Food color (Pink) (a pinch)

1tbsp Icing Sugar
Strawberry Syrup (I used Mapro)

Procedure:

• Take 250 ml of any whipping cream.
• Whip the cream with the help of a beater. Make sure the cream is cold
• Add the pink color and the strawberry syrup.
• Fold it in.
• The filling is ready to be used in the roll. 

For assembling the rolls:

Strawberry Swiss Roll

•     Remove the sponge from the tray once it is cooled down.
•     Place the sponge over a butter paper.
•     Moist the sponge with sugar syrup. (You can add strawberry essence in the syrup if u want to)
•     Apply the whipped cream with a palate knife.
•     Spread it all over smoothly.
•     Now roll the sponge alongwith the butter paper with light hands.
•     Seal it from both ends. 
•     Keep it in the freezer for 30 minutes so that it sets and cutting the Swiss rolls becomes easier.
•     After 30 minutes remove the butter paper.
•     With the help of a pallate knife do the icing of the Swiss roll with the remaining cream.
•     Cut into slices and serve.
• 
  

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Kurukuri Bhindi with Rich Cashew Gravy

I tasted this kind of Bhindi for the first time in Pune, Maharashtra. I came to know tat this is some speciality in the restaurants of Pune.
I got bored of making the regular bhindi so tested this one at home. Its different. The crispiness of the ladyfinger when it blends with the smooth and tangy tomato and cashew nut gravy gives a very rich taste.

Kurkuri Bhindi with rich Cashew Gravy

Ingredients
250gms Ladyfinger (Bhindi)

For frying the Ladyfinger
2tbsp Gramflour (besan)
Salt to taste
1tsp Red Chilly Powder
1tsp Mango Powder (Amchur)

For the Gravy

3 medium sized onions
2 medium sized tomatoes
2 green chillies
1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste
12-15 Cashew nut
Milk to soak the cashews
2 tbsp Fresh Cream
Salt to taste
1 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Red Chilly Powder
1 tsp Cumin Powder
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1 tsp Cumin seeds
2 Whole Red Chilies
Fresh Coriander Leaves
1 cup water (or as you want the consistency of the gravy to be)
1 tbsp Ghee

Procedure:
For Frying the Bhindi:

• Cut the bhindis lengthwise.
• Sprinkle besan + salt + amchur + red chilly powder. Mix it well.
• Heat oil for frying
• Deep fry the bhindis till its crispy.
• Remove on towel paper.

For the gravy:

• Soak the cashew nuts in milk.
• Peal the onions, finely chop them.
• Heat ghee in a kadahi, add in the cumin seeds + whole red chillies. when they stop cluttering add in the chopped onion + green chillies + ginger and garlic paste.
• Mix them well, let it cook on low heat till the onion turns pink.
• Then add the tomato puree. 
• Add in salt + turmeric powder + cumin powder + coriander powder + red chilly powder.
• Mix all this well. Cover the lid so that the tomatoes are cooked properly stirring continuously.
• When the mixture is cooked. Switch off the gas stove.
• Let it cool.
• Then put the mixture into the blender to make it a fine paste.
• Again in the same kadahi, add in 1 tsp ghee again then add in the cooked onion tomato paste + the cashew paste.
• Mix it well. let this mixture cook for 10 minutes.
• Then add in fresh cream and 1cup water. 
• Add in the coriander leaves.
• Close the lid let it simmer on low heat for another 5-8 minutes.
• Put the gravy in the bowl.
• Top it wid the fried crispy bhindi.
• Serve hot with Chapatis.

Kurkuri Bhindi with rich Cashew Gravy

Marble Cake

Being pregnant makes you indulge in all that is rich in calories. I had this terrible craving of eating a freshly baked homemade cake. And nothing better than eating a cake which has a blend of both vanilla and chocolate flavours.
Its the best alternative, if you  cannot decide on to what flavour you want to have in cake. The cake is rich in its flavours, buttery and moist.
Normally it is baked in a bundt pan, but due to its unavailability, I baked it in a normal round baking dish.
If u have it then go for it.

Marble Cake

Inspired by : Joy of Baking Website

Ingredients:
295gms Plain Flour (Maida)
170gms Butter (Salted or Unsalted) at Room Temperature
250gms Castor Sugar
3 Large eggs
2tsp Vanilla Extract
2tsp Baking Powder
1/4tsp Baking Soda
120ml Milk

For the chocolate batter:
140gms of Semisweet Dark Chocolate

1 Baking Dish
Butter or non stick spray for lining the pan

Procedure:

• Pre-heat the oven at 180 degree Celsius for 20 minutes.
• Butter the pan in which you need to bake the cake.
• Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl using the double boiler method or simply heat it in a microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• In a separate bowl mix all the dry ingredients together (Flour + Baking Powder + Baking Soda)
• Now, with the help of a hand blender beat the butter until smooth.
• You can even use your hand to cream the butter. I prefer using hand and blender both
• Now add eggs one at a time, make sure it does not cuddle up.
• After the eggs alternately add the maida and the milk.
• Keep stirring slowly.
• Now divide the mixture into two portions. Depending on to which portion you want more, vanilla or chocolate.
• Now in one portion mix in the melted chocolate.
• Place the batters into the Pan which u have prepared alternating with vanilla and chocolate batters.
• In the end with help of a knife or a fork draw light swirl to give the marble effect.
• Place it inside the oven.
• Bake it for about 35-40 minutes or till the toothpick comes out  clean when inserted.
• Remove from oven and place it over a wire rack till it cools down completely.
• De-pan it.
• Dust it with icing sugar or cocoa powder.

Slice of Marble Cake

Tips:

• While baking when u see the color starts to appear, cover the cake with a sheet of aluminium foil, so tat it does not become too dark.
• Marble cake is the best accompaniment with evening tea or coffee.

Kashmir: A Dream Destination

I always wanted to visit Kashmir, but was always apprehensive about the safety issues there. We always thought that going as a couple is not safe one should always go as a group so that if something happens one has people to support. But all these apprehensions disappeared into thin air, when we were actually there.

I am too inspired by movies ;p snow clad  mountains, heroines dancing wearing a saree, bornfire and so on, so we decided to visit this beautiful place during winters, when the temperatures are low, snow everywhere.
So Feb was the right time.

To get to Srinagar the summer capital of Jammu and Kahmir we boarded a flight from Mumbai to Srinagar a direct flight of 2.30 hrs

At the Mumbai airport Good Times Bar

. We finally reached Srinagar and it snowed just 2hrs before our flight landed. The temperatures were already freezing.

Snow at the Srinagar Airport

We spent our first night on a 100-foot houseboat with carved cedar interiors on Nagin Lake., named as Gurkha Houseboats, a property of Welcome Heritage Group. 
Superb display of hospitality was seen at the houseboat. 

Inside view of the Houseboat

Speciality of Kashmir Paper Mache Handicraft

Dinner Laid out.

Just before the sunset we took a shikara ride on d dal lake, the captain of the shikara showed us various places on the lake like the floating garden, kabootar khana. These r the places where many bollywood movies were shot. we saw mughal gardens, which had no flowers but yes snow was all around.

Shikara Ride @ Dal Lake

An awesome view

Dal Lake in the evening

Shopping on the Dal Lake

Few Purchases

Floating Restuarants @ Dal lake

After a fantastic stay at the Gurkha Houseboats we shifted to enjoy the hospitatlity of the Taj Group of Hotels. A beautiful property on the hills. 

Taj Srinagar

Front View of Taj

Coffee Shop @ Taj