Month: June 2021

MINT(PUDINA)-CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

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This mint is not peppermint, or spear mint, it is the mint used for biriyanis etc.To make it clear only I had bracketed in

the title.

Well…the taste and colour was good and something different .As I baked this for the first time I made 3 varieties ,one

with almonds to top, another with cashews, and finally only chocolate chips.Confused to endorse rankings as all 3

tasted good.Soon to try the salt recipe and post.

Let’s get into today’s recipe….

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup mint leaves only

1 egg

100 gm butter (room temperature)

100 gm sugar (white.. if you want the look of green)

200 gm flour mixed with 1 tsp baking powder

a pinch of salt (if using unsalted butter)

chocolate chips

nuts of your choice

METHOD

Blend the sugar and mint well.

Beat the butter till creamy and add the mint mix.

Beat egg lightly and add to the butter mix.

Lightly fold in the flour and blend well.

You can add the chocolate chips finally or just press on each cookie before baking.

If you get a sticky dough, cover and leave in the fridge for some time.(20 minutes)

Divide into portions and place on a greased baking tray 1 inch apart.

Bake in 180C oven for 15-20 minutes and allow to cool.(cookies will turn crisp after it has cooled ).

NOTE:You could dip half of cookie in melted chocolate for a visual treat ..!

Would love to get your comments and experiences on how the recipe turned out for you ..Happy baking!

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HORSE GRAM CURRY LEAF CHUTNEY (South Indian breakfast)

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Horse gram is not only the feed for horses but beneficial to man too.A storehouse of energy helps to burn fat,removes

phlegm,relief for heavy coughs and many more if you tap the search button for its benefits.This gram can be used to

make soups,rasam,iddli/dosa ,iddli podi,sprouted and added to salads and many more recipes. Check my previous

posts on horse gram.

Curry leaf is equally considered good to reduce cholesterol, sugar and pressure .

Present prevalence ‘work from home’ scenario and the non availability of the time to exercise,may cause an increase

in weight which has to be taken care of seriously.Foods like this help to maintain your health and should be included at

least once or twice a week.

This chutney for iddli/dosai …is a blend of roasted horse gram, curry leaves, and raw mango .You can use amla,

tamarind or lime juice opting out raw mango.

Do try this healthy and tasty chutney and post in your comments and suggestions!

INGREDIENTS

3-4 tbsp horse gram dal

a handful of curry leaves

1/2 cup raw mango pieces

2 tsp oil

3 cloves garlic

1 tsp cummin seeds

3-5 dry red chilles

a pinch of asafoetida

a tsp of jaggery

salt to taste

METHOD

Heat oil and roast the dal till you hear a cracking sound (3-4 minutes).

Next add the spices, garlic,and curry leaves and saute for 1 minute.

Add the raw mango slices, jaggery,salt and grind to a paste .

Serve with iddli/dosa.

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD FROSTED CAKE

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This is an easy and moist cake with a frosting like a chocolate custard.Left in the fridge after a couple of slices relished

it was more delicious as the days passed …(daysss…I meant was 1-2 days )

There are many types of chocolate cake in my list to be posted, but whatever the recipe may be when it is chocolate

cake it surely does have a splendour of its own.So do try this moist cake and post in your comments and how you liked

it.

To the recipe….

INGREDIENTS

4 eggs

2 cups flour (teacup)mixed with 2 tsp baking powder+1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 cup brown sugar (powdered)

1/4 cup coffee (liquid)

1 tsp vanilla essence

1/2 cup oil

1 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

METHOD

Mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients in 2 different bowls.

When mixing wet ingredients, first beat the eggs with salt and then add the rest of the wet ingredients.

Pour in the wet mixed wet ingredients, into the dry ingredients gradually mixing lightly with a spatula.

Once well corporated pour into a greased cake tray and bake in a preheated oven (180C)for 30-35 minutes.

For the frosting

You can cut the cake into 2 layers or just pour on the top and allow to set.I poured the whole icing on the top.

Ingredients

75 gm butter

2.5 cups milk

3/4 cup sugar (not icing sugar)

4 tbsp flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

Put all the ingredients in a thick bottomed pan and heat on a medium flame stirring all the while till thick.

Pour over cake and sprinkle pecans or any nuts of your choice.

TENDER COCONUT CARAMEL PUDDING

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The idea of this pudding came up as there was much of the coconut meat after sipping the sweet water of the tender

coconut.

Normally when we buy tender coconuts only 1-2 will have thick kernels,but this time all the coconuts had thick fleshy

coconut meat,and I wanted to make something new.

I have tried and posted few desserts with tender coconut beforehand here’s the link to it..TENDER COCONUT JELLY PUDDING…TENDER COCONUT PUDDING.

Now an outline to today’s recipe with the nature provided ingredient.

I ground the tender coconut fine. Mixed with a little milk and few eggs and made this amazing dessert.

The taste and recipe is akin to a caramel pudding.So do try this dessert and post in your comments and suggestions!

INGREDIENTS

2 cups tender coconut meat ground with a pinch of salt

1 cup milk

5 eggs

3-4 tbsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

METHOD

Beat the eggs ,and add the rest of the ingredients.

Pour over prepared caramel and steam for 30-35 minutes, or until the dessert is firm at the top.

For the caramel

2 -3 tbsp sugar

2-3 tbsp water

a drop of lemon extract (to avoid crystallisation of sugar)

Cook the sugar and water on medium heat till it reaches a nice deep caramel colour,without stirring till the sugar is

dissolved.

Pour into the mould and swirl the syrup to coat the bottom well.

VALLARAI /BRAHMI/GOTUKOLA CHUTNEY(for iddli/dosa)

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A herb with a title of ‘brain booster’,because it is a powerhouse of valuable alkaloids which are stimulants to good memory.

It is also called the ‘ water hyssop’ ( English).This herb is widely used in Ayurvedic medicines.Capsules and powder of

this herb is available in any stores nowadays.

I have posted many recipes with this wonderherb and today’s recipe is a chutney for South Indian breakfast.

Previous posts related to this herbVALLARAI/GOTUKOLA /BRAHMI HALWA….GREEN KANJI (KOLA KENDA).

I have just given 2 recipes from my previous posts.

Look for more recipes if you are interested Vallarai/brahmi/gotukola an amazing and healthy herb which we should

compulsorily include in our family diets.

To the recipe…

INGREDIENTS

A bunch of the vallarai/brahmi/gotukola leaves

2 tbsp gram dal/urad dal

1 tbsp coriander seeds

1 tsp.cummin seeds

2-3 cloves garlic

5-6 peppercorns

3-4 red chillies (you can add more according to your spice levels)

2 -3 fresh amla/gooseberry/nelli (seeds removed)or raw mango or tamarind a small piece

salt to taste

1 tsp jaggery

1 tsp.gingelly oil/sesame oil

METHOD

Heat oil, and saute all ingredients except the leaves and amla.

Saute till the dal changes colour,and add the leaves at this stage and saute for just 1 minute.

Now add all the ingredients into a mixer jar and grind to a paste.

This can be served without tempering as we have tossed all the ingredients in oil already, but if you prefer to temper

you could do so.

As another variant of this chutney you could add a little coconut while grinding the chutney.

QUAIL GINGER MASALA

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Quail or kaada (Tamil) is a small bird with low cholesterol levels and high health benefits.

Even though they are small in size, they are comparatively rich in proteins similar to other animals.

They are a good source of iron,vitaminB6,VitaminB3 and zinc.

Today’s recipe is a masala with lots of ginger, slightly sweetened.

Before adding the meat to the masala it is slightly tossed in oil to seal its juices.Cooking freshly cleaned

meat is best, but if you have no option of getting fresh meat, thaw the meat well before you cook .

Now to the recipe

INGREDIENTS

5-6 quails cleaned and cut into 2

For the marinade

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

2-3 tbsp curd

juice of 1 lemon

salt

For the masala

2-3 onions chopped fine

2-3 tomatoes

1-2 tsp kashmiri chilli powder

1/2 tsp garam masala powder

1 tsp saunf /fennel seeds

2 tsp cummin seeds

3 inch piece ginger

1 tbsp jaggery or sugar

1 tsp coarsely ground pepper

salt to taste

gingerly oil or coconut oil 3/4 cup

curry leaves

METHOD

First marinade the meat for minimum 20-30 minutes.

Grind the tomatoes, ginger ,saunf, and cummin seeds and set aside.

Heat oil in a thick kadai or wok and drop in the cut meat.(do not discard the marinated masala).

Fry the meat till the colour changes and set aside.

Remove half of the oil and add the onions with salt and sugar.

Saute till onion turns light brown.

Next add the Kashmiri chilli powder, the ground paste, and cook till oil separates and tomato is well

blended and mushy.

Now add the fried meat and the remaining marinated masala and cook till the masala coats the meat

well.(Quail meat cooks quick ).

Add the pepper powder and curry leaves and remove from fire.

BAKED BROCOLLI, CHEESE SANDWICH

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A dish to be endorsed as healthy and wholesome. Broccoli and cheese decked on one side ,egg and

home made mayonnaise on the other side, the taste is exemplary.A double decker sandwich!

The vibrant green florets is a visual treat I must say.This is a baked sandwich, easy and quick to make.

As I do not like too much crunch on a sandwich, had the broccoli tossed in a blob of butter before baking.

Mayonnaise and egg to be added after baking.

I used butter only to toss the vegetable as mayonnaise and cheese are used in this sandwich.(Trying to

cut down calories)

To the recipe …

INGREDIENTS

Broccoli florets tossed in a little butter,salt,and a pinch of nutmeg powder

Cheese slices(any cheese of your choice)

Egg (boiled egg slices/scrambled egg/poached egg

Mayonnaise

Bread slices

METHOD

Grease the baking tray with a little butter and arrange the bread slices.

Next the tossed broccoli florets, and cover with cheese slices.

Press on another slice of bread on each and bake in a preheated 200C oven for 10-12 minutes.

Keep the rest of the bread slices and bake with it (the slice to place egg and mayo).

Once baking is complete, add the egg and a drizzle of mayo and top with another baked bread slice.

Cut and serve.

ROASTED COCONUT-MEAT FRY

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This dish can be prepared with any meat.This is a side dish recipe for any meal.

Roasted coconut always makes any dish special and the key ingredient to this recipe is coconut.

First you have to cook the meat in a pressure cooker till tender,and then blend in with the ground paste

with oil or ghee added at intervals and cook till thick and brown.

Now to the recipe..

INGREDIENTS

500 gm meat cut into 1inch pieces

2 inch piece ginger chopped

1/2 cup coconut

4-5 cloves garlic

2 onions sliced and fried brown/ready made fried onions 1/2 cup

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder

1 tbsp coriander powder

1 tbsp cummin seed powder

1 stick cinammon

2 tbsp tamarind extract or vinegar

2 tsp sugar

salt to taste

few curry leaves

coconut oil /ghee/butter

METHOD

First cook the meat and ginger with 1 cup water till tender.

Separate the stock and meat.

Roast the coconut and garlic in little oil till brown not burnt.

Grind the coconut mixture and the fried onions to a paste.

Now add 2-3 tbsp of any oil you are using and add the remaining spices in the list with the meat and toss

till you see the meat change colour (5-7 minutes).

Next add the coconut onion paste and cook for a further10 minutes on medium flame.

Add a little stock (1/2 cup )and a little oil (1-2 tsp)and keep roasting till you get a nice brown mixture.

(REMAINING STOCK CAN BE USED TO MAKE A SOUP OR ANY OTHER DISH)

BLUE PEA FLOWER,COCONUT JELLY

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Blue pea ,or Sungoo poo (Tamil),Aprajita (Hindi)is a flower with many health benefits.Like green tea it has

loads of antioxidants,and many other health benefits.Blue pea flower has potent to calm and relieve

stress , lower blood pressure, good for diabetics….and many more health benefits worth searching.

This tea is a visual treat when steeped in hot water ,and has colour changing abilities to pink and purple

when lime or lemon grass is added.

This flower is widely used in Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.Like chamomile tea ,if taken

before bedtime gives you a good sleep.Though the extracts do not contribute much to taste, considering

the health benefits it’s best to include this at least once a day.

Now to today’s unique dessert …Mixed the tea infusion with coconut milk and gelatine (you could use

agar agar ),and made a top layer with tender coconut and gelatine.It was a good combination of

coconut and tender coconut jelly .Do try this recipe and send in your comments and suggestions.

To the recipe

INGREDIENTS

7-10 dried blue pea flowers steeped in 1 cup hot water

2 cups coconut milk

Sugar to taste

3 tsp gelatine soaked in 1/2 cup water

METHOD

Strain the steeped tea and squeeze the remaining flower to get a darker shade .

Add bloomed gelatine and the sugar to the tea and heat till gelatine is well mixed.

Add the coconut milk whilst hot and remove from fire.

Pour into mould and allow to set.

After it is set add the tender coconut layer.

For the tender coconut layer

1 cup tender coconut water

sugar to taste

2 tsp gelatine soaked in a little water

1/4 water

Method

Heat the water and sugar till sugar is dissolved, and add the gelatine.

Add the coconut water and remove from fire.

Mix well and allow to cool .

Pour over set blue jelly.

Can be served with cream if you like.

CARAMELISED MEAT ROAST RICE

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This rice recipe is an innovation by me. The amusing part was …only after a day I was able to decide the

title to this dish.

It’s not like blowing my own trumpet, the only thing I could say about this recipe is that it was an excellent

dish, served for a Sunday lunch.

You have to cook the rice in coconut milk with mint separately, and the roasting of the meat with lots of

onions separately. Then pour the curry in the centre of the rice and allow a little heat (optional)for just

2-3 minutes and serve.A salad accompanied is good to serve with.

I used 2 pressure cookers to cook the rice and the meat.Chicken,mutton or any meat can be used to

make this rice.

If you are using chicken,i would suggest to partially fry and then add to the caramelised onions.

Do try this recipe and post in your comments and how you liked it.

To the reciep

INGREDIENTS

For the rice (serves 4)

200-250 gm basmati rice/seeraga samba rice soaked for minimum 10 minutes

1 onion chopped

2-3 green chillies slit

a handful of mint leaves

whole spices (2 inch cinnamon,4-5 cloves,4-5 cardamons,10 peppercorns,1 tsp saunf)

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

1/4 tsp turmeric

3 -4 cups coconut milk (1st +2nd extract)

Lemon grass 1 piece (optional)

3 tbsp coconut oil +ghee or butter mixed

METHOD

Heat oil in a thick bottomed pot or pressure pan ,add the whole spice, lemon grass and onions and saute

till onion turns brown.

Next add the soaked and strained rice and sauce for 5 minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients except coconut milk and saute for another 5 minutes.

Add coconut milk (1 inch above rice level ),salt to taste and cook on a low flame till done and remove

from fire.

For the meat masala

Ingredients

400 gm boneless meat preferably or your choice

4-5 big onions sliced fine

2 pieces cinnamon

1 tsp red chilli powder

2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp pepper (to be added at the final stage)

1 tomato (coarsely ground )

1 tsp cummin powder

1 tsp garam masala powder

1-2 potatoes quarters (optional)

2 tbsp vinegar

few coriander leaves , 2 green chillies,7-8 almonds ground to a paste

extract of 1/2 lime

salt to taste

3 tbsp coconut oil

METHOD

Heat oil in a pressure cooker, and add the cinnamon,onions. Allow the onions to brown.

Next add the sugar, chilli powder and all the ingredients except pepper .

Mix well,and pressure cook for 5-6 whistles.

The meat should be tender and the curry should be thick .(no water should be added).

Arrange the curry in the centre and sprinkle pepper .Cook covered for 2 seconds (cooking again is

optional ).

Garnish with coriander leaves.Ghee fried cashews, fried onions and raisins may be added to serve.

BLUEBERRY ‘N’ VANILLA PUDDING

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Blueberries in season now,and in India this berry resembles the size of an olive .Fleshy,sweet,moist,and

a deep purple fruit.A berry containing many health benefits,whether eaten only with a sprinkle of sugar or

without sugar is very sweet and tasty.This wonder berry can be made into lovely desserts, cakes,

milkshakes,pancakes,waffles,smoothies,salads…….

Today’s recipe is an easy dessert with a biscuit base,vanilla custard in the centre, and a pannacotta with

blueberry compote to the top.

Now to the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

For the base

1 cup digestive biscuits

1 tbsp melted butter

2-3 tbsp sugar

Crush the biscuits sugar and melted butter .Press the mixture on a springform pan or dish at the bottom

and sides evenly and refridgerate till filling is prepared.

Vanilla filling

2 .5 cups milk

2 tbsp cornflour mixed in a little milk

2-3 tbsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

Heat the milk and sugar, and when it reaches a boiling point add the cornflour mix and essence.

Keep stirring as the mixture will thicken quickly.

Once thick remove from fire and allow to cool .

Once cool pour over the biscuit base ,and return to refridgerate,till the blueberry layer is made.

For the blueberry pannacotta filling

2 cups blueberries lightly boiled with 2 tbsp sugar,seeds removed mashed and strained(1 cup )

1 cup cream

1 cup milk

2-4 tbsp sugar or to taste

3 tsp gelatine soaked in a little water

Heat cream and milk till warm.

Add gelatine and heat on a low flame .

Remove from fire and add the blueberry mix and stir lightly .

Pour over the vanilla custard and allow to set in the fridge(minimum 2 hours)

Your preferred choice to serve with blueberry sauce.

LEMON-SPEARMINT CUSTARD TARTS

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The combination with a little menthol flavour and a tangy taste of the lemon custard was divine.!

As peppermint and spearmint contain menthol which create the much loved cooling effect in the mouth,

and have a whole slew of medicinal benefits which soothes sore throats,……and many more,i plucked a

few leaves from my culinary patch and included as garnish and the Sunday dessert was splendid!

Coming to the shape of the tarts’ i have the fluted, and the plain tart moulds .I wanted to make this circle

shaped ones without the mould.No big deal folks…its a circle and a strip to line .Cut the circle to the size

of any ramekins, and make strips (cut to nearly 1 inch )and line it on the sides(do not forget to grease

before you place the dough.Seal the edges at the bottom .Prick the bottom with a fork and bake .These

baked tartlets can be stored in the fridge, and used to make quick desserts with your favourite fillings.

A note about the filling -It is lemon custard not lemon curd,and the quickest to make than lemon curd.

Moving to the recipe now….

For the tart pastry

1 cup all purpose flour

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp powdered sugar

a pinch of salt

enough cold milk to bind the dough

Method

Bind all the ingredients to a firm and soft dough .

Wrap with cling wrap and allow to stay in the fridge till filling is prepared.

After the resting time, roll out as instructed above and bake in a 180C oven for 15-20 mins.

For the lemon custard

3 cups milk (condensed milk can be used)

2 tbsp cornflour

extract from 2 -3 lime/lemon

1 tbsp grated rind of lime/lemon

5-6 tbsp sugar or to taste

spearmint leaves cut for topping

a little whipped cream to serve.

Method

Heat the milk and sugar lightly.

Mix cornflour in a little milk/water and add to the milk.

Cook till custard is thick .

Add the lime juice and the rind gratings and remove from fire.

Allow to cool and fill in the baked shells.

Top with the mint leaves and a little fresh cream.

(I had no time to decorate with cream,just poured a little to serve.You could decorate with whipped cream )

ORANGE-WHITE CHOCOLATE BLONDIES

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Blondies are nothing but a variant of a brownie without the dark chocolate.This tastes more of a cookie.

This recipe that I’m going to share with you today has a mix of orange juice, orange rind and white

chocolate chips.The combination was absolutely excellent.

An excellent bite for tea!So do try this combination and post in your comments and suggestions.

To the recipe

INGREDIENTS

100 gm butter

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp cornflour

1 heaped cup brown sugar(100-125 gm)

Juice of 1 big orange

Grated rind of 1 orange

1/4-1/2 cup white chocolate chips

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

a pinch of mace powder

METHOD

Melt butter lightly and add the sugar.

Beat well,add orange juice, eggs and continue to beat for 2 minutes.

Sift the flour, cornflour,baking powder together, and add to the prepared egg mixture.

Mix in the remaining ingredients,and mix lightly using a spatula.

Transfer to a greased and lined tray.

Bake for 30-35 minutes at 180C.

Addition of nuts is your preference.