Monday, June 21, 2010

Roasted Chicken

Ingredients:
Chicken – 1 kg

Marinade:
Chilly powder – 3 tsp
Coriander powder – 2tsp
Turmeric powder- 1 tsp
Gingergarlic paste- 1tsp
Garam masala powder – 1tsp
Salt- 1 tsp
Lemon juice -1 tsp
Curry leaves-1

For Paste:
Onion – 2
Cinnamon- 2 inch piece
Cloves-5to 6
Pepper- 15 to 20
Fennel seeds- 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds- 1 tsp
Ginger- 2 inch piece
Garlic-5
Grated coconut - 1/2 of a coconut(Optional)

1.Wash chicken properly , cut into small pieces and marinate for minimum half an hour with the marinade.
2. Coarsely crush cinnamon, cloves, pepper, roasted fenugreek seeds ,fennel seeds,ginger and garlic along with onion and cocnut and mix it with chicken(onion doesn’t have to be a fine paste)
3. Add some oil in your cooking vessel and when it heats, add the chicken mix. Cover and cook for 15-to 20 minutes.
4. Remove the cover and allow it to become dry stirring occasionally.
5. Once the water from the chicken is evaporated stir continually, until it is roasted and become brown in color.(stir gently so that the chicken pieces retain its shape).

Shrimp Roast

Shrimp -1 lb
Chilly powder -4 tsp
Termeric powder-1/2 tsp
Garlic paste-1/2 tsp
Salt – 1 and ½ tsp(or to your taste)
Lemon juice- 1 tsp
Curry leaves-1
Onion 1 big
1.Clean the shrimp and marinate it with chilly powder, turmeric powder ,garlic paste, salt and lemon juice for minimum half an hour.
2. shallow fry the shimp.
3.Saute chopped onion in the same oil till it is soft, add some curry leaves and garam masala(optional) and mix it with the fried shrimp.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Black Forest Cake

Ingredients:
For  cake:
All purpose flour -  1/2 cup (120 ml )
Cocoa powder - 1/2 cup
Powdered Sugar-1 cup
Egg-6 nos
Butter-1 cup
Vanila Essence-1 tsp
For decoration:
Candied cherries- 1/2 cup
Whipped creme- 2 cup
Rum(or any other alcohol) - 2 tbsp
For the sugar syrup: Sugar -1/2 cup,Water-1 cup
For chocolate curls- 1 chocolate bar
Method:
1. Sieve the flour and cocoa powder.
2. Melt the butter, just till it becomes liquid. Keep aside
3. Take 6 eggs into a bowl .Add 1 cup of powdered sugar and vanilla essence . Beat it thoroughly with a blender till the egg becomes fluffy and gets a creamy texture.
4. Fold in the all purpose flour and cocoa  into the above mixture with a spatula. Just until no dry flour left out.
5. Incorporate butter into this and  fold in with a circular motion.
6. Butter a cake pan , add the mixture and bake it for 30 mins in 350 F. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle of the pan. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. If not, bake for another 5-10 mins and check again.
7. Take the cake from the oven and let it cool.                                      
8. Cut the cake horizontally into 3 (or more as you like).Try to make  even layers as much as possible.
9. Make the sugar syrup by adding 1/2 cup sugar into one cup water, Boil until it changes slightly from the watery texture. Dont make to too thick.
10. Add 2 tbsp alcohol to this syrup ,for the flavor.
11. Pock each layer of the cake with a fork,so that the syrup to goes in easily.
12. Wet each layer with the sugar syrup.
13.Take the whipped creme or make the whipped creme if you have whipping creme powder , according to the instructions in the tin.
14. Keep the bottom layer of the cake on a cake stand ,add a layer of whipped creme on top it and add some pitted cherries to it, make other two layers as well in the same way.

15. When all the layers are done add the whipping creme in the sides as well, as even as you can make.
16.Make chocolate curls by peeling the chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler and decorate the  cake.Add cherries on top
17. Keep it refrigerated for few hours to set it properly .Serve chilled.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Tiramisu

A classic Italian dessert.

Ingrdients:
Mascarpone cheese(or Cream cheese)- 1 cup (250g)
Heavy whipped creme - 1 cup
Expresso or any other coffee - 1/2 cup
Any liquor (preferably a coffee based liquer like Kahlua or marsala wine) - 3 tbsps
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Cocoa powder/Chocolate powder- 1/2 cup
Chocolate bar -1
Sponge cake / lady finger cookies - 1 packet

Method:
1. Make strong dark coffee and let it cool.
2. Add 2 tbsp of the liquor to this.Keep aside
3. Blend thoroughly cheese and sugar on a bowl.
4. Fold in with the whipped creme.
5. If using the sponge cake, make 2 or 3 layers of it by cutting it horizontally
6. Take a flat dish and pour the coffee liquor mix.
7. Dip the lady finger/sponge into the cofee mix , dont make it too wet so that it can break
8. Plate the cake/cookies in a dessert bowl.
9. Add a layer of of cheese mix and spread it.
10. sprinkle a layer of cocoa powder
11. repeat the steps 7,8,9,10 for all the layers.
12. Refrigerate it at least for 2 hours.
13. Serve it adding some more cocoa powder and a layer of grated chocolate and on top.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Reshmi Kabab

Ingredients:
* 1 kg boneless chicken cut into 2" cubes
* 2 tbsp garlic paste
* 1 tbsp ginger paste
* 1 cup fresh coriander leaves
* 2 large onions chopped
* 1/2 cup fresh yogurt
* 1/2 cup almonds
* Juice of 1 lemon
* Salt to taste
* Butter or cooking oil

Method:

1. Soak the almonds in hot water for 10 minutes and remove the skin.
2. Mix the almonds, coriander leaves, onion, ginger and garlic pastes and grind in the food processor to form a smooth paste. Add salt to taste, the lemon juice and mix well.
3.Pour this paste and the yogurt over the chicken and mix well to coat all the pieces. Cover and keep to marinate in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
4.Put the marinated chicken pieces on skewers and grill. Lightly brush with oil to keep from sticking.
5.When the chicken is cooked, remove from the skewers and serve with Mint-Coriander Chutney and thinly sliced onions

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Chicken Cutlet

Ingredients:

Ground chicken – ½ kg
Onions – 2 chopped
Potatoes – 3 big
Green chillies – 5 chopped
Ginger– 2 tbsp chopped
Garlic – 2 tbsp chopped
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Curry leaves – 2 sprigs
Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
Black pepper – ½ tsp
Bread crumbs – 2 cups
Egg(beaten) – 1 no
Lemon Juice -1/2 lemon
Oil - for frying

Method:

1)Mix the chicken with turmeric powder, salt, pepper and little bit of ginger-garlic paste and half cup of water and cook.
2)Boil potatoes and mash.
3)Heat oil in a pan.
4)Splutter mustard seeds and sauté onions, until light brown.
5)Add curry leaves, coriander leaves, green chillies, ginger and garlic.
6)Add the mashed potatoes and the cooked chicken. Keep it on low flame, until the entire water is absorbed.
7)Allow the mixture to cool thoroughly.
8) Add lemon juice
9)Take a handful of this mixture and make small patties out of it.
10)Dip it in the beaten egg and then roll in the breadcrumbs.
11)Shallow fry it in oil, till both the sides turn golden brown.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Green Bean Casserole

A perfect side dish for a thanksgiving dinner.

1 can  Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tbsp butter
1 teaspoon soy sauce
ground black pepper
4 cups cut green beans
chicken broth-2 cups
1/2 medium onion
1 1/3 cups  French Fried Onions--(recipe below)


  • cook greean beans in chicken broth for 10 mins
  • saute onions in butter
  • Stir soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and sauted onions and half of FF onions in a  casserole.
  • Bake at 350°F. for 25 minutes or until the bean mixture is hot and bubbling.  Stir the bean mixture.  Sprinkle with the remaining onions.
  • Bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

French Fried Onions


Ingredients 

1 large onions sliced into thin rings

  3/4t cups milk

3/4 cups all purpose flour

oil (for frying) 

salt

Directions 

Soak the onions in the milk for 5 minutes.

 Heat the oil in a large skillet or deep fryer. 

Take a handful of onions and run them through the flour with a fork to coat

 Fry in batches in the oil, stirring as needed to brown evenly. 

Drain on paper towels and season to taste.

 


Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Thanks Giving Turkey

Turkey 12- 14 pounds
Marinade:
 1/2 Cups chicken broth
 1/2 Cup lemon juice
 3/4 Cups soy sauce
 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
 1 1/2 Cups water
 1 tsp Pepper
 Salt to taste

Basting:
 Butter 1 tbsp
 garlic paste- 1/2 tsp
 soya sauce 1/2 tbsp
 salt
 lemon juice-1/2 lemon
 herbs- dry rosmary, thyme and basil [optional]

Stuffing:
 1 ½ onions, chopped into quarters
 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
 2 garlic bulbs, cut in halves
 1 lemon, cut into quarters
 A few celery tops
 some rosemary
 some thyme
 40 ml olive oil
 salt and pepper.
  



1.Mix the ingredients of the marinade, put it in a resealable bag, place the thoroughly washed turkey in the bag and keep in fridge overnight turning the sides several times.
2. Take out of refrigerator one hour prior to roasting, discard the marinade.
3. Preheat the oven to 200 C/400 F
4. Prepare the Stuffing
American:     

Add to a bowl the onions, garlic, carrots, lemon, rosemary, rock salt, thyme, celery tops, and a little olive oil. Mix them all together by hand and set aside.
Indian:
Stuffing the turkey with Biriyani!!!
Cook the basumathi rice with 1:1.5 rice water ratio. Mix  yougurt, cilantro,mint leaves and biriyani masala.Mix rice with the masala. 
5.Prepare the basting mixture-mix the ingredients for basting 
6. Fill the bird
Place the stuffing  into the main cavity of the turkey, stuffing it lightly. 
7. Tie the bird
Start with a 1 metre piece of string.
Place it around the turkey's neck and wings. Cross the legs together .Wrap one side of the string around the legs and then wrap the other side. Pull them together and tie a knot. 

8. Prepare for oven
Place the bird on the rack. Pour some olive oil over its skin and rub it in well, covering the entire surface. Season well with salt and pepper. Turn the bird onto its side and season again. Repeat until the whole bird is coated and leave it on the rack, breast-side down.
9. Roast
Allow for 10-15 minutes for each pound. After 30 minutes, lower the temperature to 180°C/360F and cook for about 1.5 to 2 hours more.Apply the basting mix in ever half an hour.

10. Check the turkey
At this time, test your turkey with a meat thermometer. Place it into the thigh first and then into the breast. The temperature should exceed 80 C /175 °F for the thigh and at least 75 C/165°F in the breast. Once these temperatures are reached, remove the turkey and turn it breast-side up so it will brown. Increase the oven to 220°C /430 F and let it cook for 10 minutes more. At this time, remove the turkey from the oven, cut the string, and let it rest for 20-30 minutes
Don't forget to save the drippings for the gravy from the oven tray!
11.Carve and Serve

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Newyork Style Cheese Cake

For Crust:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2  tablespoons ground cinnamon(optional)
 
For Filling:

2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup sour creme
2 eggs at room temperature, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla

For Topping:
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 325 0F.
2.Mix incredients for crust.
3.Line the baking pan with foil with ends of foil extending over sides of pan and press the crust mix to firmly to the botton of the pan..
4. Bake for 10 mins,set aside to cool.
5.Reduce oven temp to 300 0F.
6.Blend creme cheese,sugar and vanilla essence to a smooth paste.Add sour creme and blend
7.Add eggs one by one and blend.
9.Pour the mixture to the crust.
 10.Bake for 45 minuts.
11.Mix topping mixture.
12.Add to the cake and bake for 10-15 minuts.
13.Let it cool on counter,after that refrigerate for 3 hors or overnight.