Coconut Ladoo

Two more days...... Wow! Time flies at the blink of an eye and you never feel like that... We must enjoy each and every moment.. no matter what happens. Coz the time passed now, will never return back... "Time and Tide, never waits for none". Thats very true! So, guys "Live Life King Size!!!" Even I believe, life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. So, its better "Live Love & Laugh".

Hey Guys! wanna let u know that we are planning to spend our New Year Eve at SFO.. I'm very excited... But as I'm not a party animal, so may be we will celebrate New Year at Golden Gate, holding each others hand, watching fire works and remembering all those good moments we had in the whole year.. Thats kinda romantic!! Woooooooow..

Well dreams apart... :D

This post is on "Coconut Ladoo" and if you are a fan of Ladoo then this one is a very quick recipe, provided all the ingredients are available with you.. :D
We made this on Diwali, I thought to add some creativity and I was quite happy with the outcome. But for my younger brother, they looked like "Eyeballs". Whatever!! Believe me, they taste "Yum!"..

So here we go with the recipe.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cup dessicated coconut
1 can condensed milk
1 tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp clarified butter ( ghee)
1 pinch of food color
raisins, to garnish (optional)

Method:

Fry the coconut with ghee until its just about to get slightly brown. This is just to remove the raw flavour. You can skip this step as well. Add condensed milk to the coconut mixture and cook at medium-low flame.

Stir until the mixture leaves the side of pan. This may take about 5-7 mins. In between add a pinch of food color. Mix well.

Let the mixture cool down for sometime. When reaches appropriate temperature to work with, start rolling into small ladoos. Apply oil or butter on hands, while working. This will prevent the mixture to stick to hands and ladoo will come in perfect texture.

Top the ladoos with raisins. That's for garnishing. You can use dry nuts too. Even if don't want to garnish, then too it will be yummy.

Refrigerate ladoos for sometime and then serve. This will help the ladoos to retain its shape.

This post goes to Torview's "Food Palette Series - White" event.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Nutty Pinwheel Cookies

Hurray... Countdown begins! I'm so excited for the new year... I've so many new year resolutions to go.. first and foremost... lose weight, no fast foods, regular exercise.. Believe me guys, these are the same resolutions I make each year...... Wawwwww... Apart from these, there are several more, will share them later on..
I know you guys too have your new year resolutions... Do share if you can, I would love to hear this from you..

This recipe was supposed to be posted on Christmas as I've scheduled it for the day. But unfortunately, it didn't! And I donno why? So to all of my dear fellow bloggers,I know its a bit late, I hope you all had a wonderful day.. Merry Belated Christmas!

Its true "What would Christmas be without home baked treats?"... I was quite curious to try myself on some baked stuffs, esp Cookies, as this was my never tried area... Last week, my neighbourhood friend prepared Bhakarwadi, its a spicy Indian snack. I've had this number of times, but this time the speciality about this snack was its appearance. The twin coloured spirals and the masalas popping out of them, that looks so cute. There I got an idea of trying this on cookies. I started searching about any such recipe of cookies that can lead me to spiral shaped Cookie... To my surprise, it exists " Pinwheel Cookies".. And I loved the pinwheel cookies at kraftrecipes. They look super cute!!

I  bookmarked this recipe and modified little bit by adding chopped almonds in the innermost layer.. So with this my "Nutty Pinwheel Cookies" were all set.. And this was my treat for Christmas.. Although, they weren't perfectly done but as this was first attempt, I'm quite happy will the final outcome!!

So here we go!

Ingredients:
Prepares 24 cookies

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup almonds, finely chopped

Method:

Using wooden spatula, beat the butter until it has smooth and creamy consistency. Stir in sugar and vanilla until they are evenly blended. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking powder. Add it to the creamy mixture and fold it gently until the dough is evenly blended.

Divide the dough into two halves and keep one half separate. To another half, add cocoa powder and mix well. Divide the chocolate dough into two half and place them in two plastic wrap, pat it into 1/2 inch thick square and then wrap the plastic. Refrigerate it. Repeat the process for vanilla dough too. Refrigerate them for 1-2 hours or until firm.

When done, unwrap one piece of vanilla dough, place another plastic wrap over it and roll it with rolling pin into rectangle. It may measure somewhere around  9 by 7 inches. Repeat the procedure for one piece of chocolate dough. Remove the top piece of plastic wrap from both the doughs and invert the chocolate dough over the vanilla dough. And remove the plastic wrap from chocolate dough. Spread the finely chopped almonds over the chocolate dough.

Now lift the vanilla dough by the plastic wrap underneath it and tightly roll both the layers, peeling away the plastic wrap as you go. When done, wrap the roll with plastic wrap and refrigerate for another 1 hr or until firm. Repeat the procedure with remaining dough.

To get a perfect texture and shape, you need to wait until it is not chill and firm. So it is worth waiting. But silly old me, out of curiosity, I didn't wait for long and started slicing the rolls. And, yeah, the shape of my cookies are not perfect. So guys! thats my advice " Its worth waiting!"

Preheat oven to 375F. By that time slice the rolls into 1/4 inch thick rounds. Line the baking sheets with parchment paper and arrange the cookies about 1/2 inch apart. Place them inside the oven and bake for about 10-12 mins or when the edges will just start turning into light brown color.

When you take them out of the oven, they will be still soft to touch. But let them cool on wire rack, they will harden by that time. 

I know the procedure may be bit confusing, but believe me when u guys will work on them, you'll definitely find them very easy.. Only take care, when you are working on the dough, they need to be firm.

Now as this is going to be posted on Tuesday, I would like to send this as a entry to Priya and Aipi's Bookmarked Events.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Choco Lava Cake

During my trip to India, I, with my 11 yr old younger brother went to Domino's Pizza outlet and while we were going through the menu, we both stopped at a point "Choco Lava Cake". We didn't have second thought and ordered two choco lava cakes. When we got our hot molten choco lava cake, believe me guys! Me n my brother were drooling over those gorgeous hot and oozing chocolatey goodness. It was a Yum Yum dessert! And that was the first time we left the Pizza outlet without ordering any pizza.. :P Sorry Domino's Pizza! It's all because of your Choco lava cake.

My brother is die-hard fan of chocolate and now choco lava cake is his "Favourites". He ordered another Choco lava cake as parcel, so that he can have it while we are driving back home. This act spoiled me again and even I ordered another one for me.. Wao Wao!

As I'm a curious cat, I started browsing for the recipe and learnt that it is a french dessert. Also, the recipe is quite easy and I thought "Why not give it a try?".. Well babe! not a bad idea..... After couple days, when every ingredient was available with me, I prepared it and yeah! I succeeded in getting it in right texture, that too at my very first attempt.. Yippie! It was without doubt irresistible with a perfect liquid center. When my brother was back from school, he was jumping for joy seeing those oozing chocolate lava... I will agree to him. This is an excellent dessert for entertaining your guests and that too in 10 mins..

So here we go with the recipe!

Ingredients:

100g dark chocolate (I've used Hershey's dark chocolate bar), cubed
1 tbsp unsalted butter, for melting chocolate
1 tsp butter, for greasing the ramekins
2 tbsp powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp all-purpose flour
unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting

Method:

Preheat oven to 375F (that's what I prefer for my convention). Adjust as per your oven.
Butter the ramekins. If you want the cake to come out of ramekins easily, after baking, grease ramekins generously. Well I'm ready to take the risk.

In a bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until pale and frothy.

Melt chocolate using double pan method. Let me explain the method.

Double pan method : Take a saucepan, heat water to a simmer. Then place an additional bowl on top of the simmering water. This gives the heat a bit of depth and allow chocolate and butter to melt at a slower rate, minimizing the risk of burning. Ensure the top bowl is not touching the hot water below. Do not allow water or steam to touch or enter the bowl. This can cause the chocolate to become unworkable. Slowly stir as the chocolate and butter melts to ensure a smooth and even result

For the beginners, you may not have control over the process or may be running out of time, you can melt the chocolate in microwave. It just takes 5 mins but do watch the chocolate and stir as needed.

Pour the melted chocolate-butter mixture to the egg mix. Add in the flour. Evenly mix everything to form a smooth batter.

Fill the ramekins 3/4th full with chocolate mixture and bake it in oven for about 10 mins.
Take out from oven and let it cool for 2 mins. Use a blunt knife to loosen the edges. Take a serving plate and carefully invert the cake onto it.

Serve with your choice of accompaniments. It can be dusting icing sugar over the cake or with a scoop vanilla ice-cream or with whipping cream or just like that, gooey cake with its molten chocolate lava.

Note: If you prepare the batter much in advance, refrigerate it and before baking, remove it from refrigerator and let it come to room temperature.

This entry goes to "Announcing Kid's Delight - Chocolate Feast" by Srivalli.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Banarasi Kemami Kheer

Well to the viewers of Star Plus - MasterChef India, "Banarasi Kemami Sewai" by Zebi is quite popular and appreciated among everyone. This dessert was shown at the time of audition and it became the big hit of that show. Even I was curious to know the recipe as this was liked by all the judges. I still remember, at that time, like every other fan I've searched the recipe of this dessert in google and to my surprise, you just need to type "Banarasi Ki..." the list "Banarasi Kimami Sewai" appears itself. So, with this u can just imagine how hit was this dessert.

Then later on, Zebi showed the procedure and recipe of this dessert and I was like dancing... "Mom! I'm going to prepare this for diwali... Please please!!" and then after long break she said " Ok Fatto!!!" buaaaaaaaaaaahh... "That was too rude of her"... I mean it!!

Anyways I bookmarked this recipe.. On the day of Diwali, when I started preparing, I found this will be bit less in quantity and then I added plain milk and little condensed milk and with this it became " Bananrasi Kemami Kheer"... :D This dessert is a royal one and with every spoonful of this kheer, you will definitely encounter any of your dry fruits... For one moment, I felt like, whether it is a Sewai Kheer or Dry Fruits Kheer. Well whatever, it was tremendously WOW!!

So here is the recipe, all in one place!!!

Ingredients:

1/2 kg Banarsi Sevai (Vermicelli)
1/2 kg Khoya
1 litre Milk
1small can Condensed milk
1 1/2 kg Sugar
3-4 tbsp Pure ghee (clarified butter)
3 drops Kevra essence (Pandanus flower essence)
10 pieces Green cardamom
1 piece Nutmeg (jaifal)
100 g Makhana (fox nut) chopped
1 tbsp dry Coconut, chopped
100 g Cashewnut
100 g Almond, chopped
100 g Raisins

Method:

In a pan add ghee and roast the sewai till brown. Add sugar, water, khoya and 1 cup milk to a pan and bring to a boil till you get a four string consistency.

Shallow-fry the dry fruits in oil. Add the roasted sewai to the dry fruits and sugar syrup. Also, pour the remaining milk and condensed milk.

Cook on a slow flame till you get the desired consistency. Remove from heat and then add kewra essence (3 drops) in the mix. Season with cardamom powder and nutmeg powder, rest it for 4 minutes. Decorate fried dry fruits before serving.

Note:
-> You can use regular sewai, if Banarasi sewai is unavailable.
-> Adjust quantity of sugar and ghee, as per taste.
-> You can adjust quantity of any ingredient as per your taste and calorie intake limit,  coz this is dessert is a reserve of high-high calories. So, if you are on a diet-watch, better change your diet chart.... :P Seriously, how can someone resist such a yummilicous and sinful dessert...

This post goes to Torview's "Food Palette Series - White" event.

Also, to Aipi and Priya's Bookmarked Recipes - Every Tuesday - Volume 21.

 

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Apple Triffle

Last night, I was browsing through some the blogs and came across Mehnaz Kapadia's "The Triffle Event". Gosh! It's long time I had tasted my favo Triffle... I jumped off my chair, ran towards my work place "Kitchen" to search if I can find any fruit available and there it is.... Yeah my "Mr.Loyal Fruit - Apple" was blinking in the fruit basket.... "Here Babe! I'm waiting for u"........... I love it! This is a fruit that is always available in my kitchen, when I'm craving to make some dessert, unexpectedly!!!!

Alas, it was bit late and I felt this is not the right time to have a Triffle. It's better I can go for lunch, tomorrow..

So, with this Mr.Appy was all mine and yummilicious Triffle was all ready for "Lunch!!" Well, generous me... I prepared it for my chubby-hubby too...........

This is a quick fix dessert when u've unexpected guests for lunch or dinner, with fruit of ur choice, custard and sponge cake, it's all yours! Apart from this you may need whipping cream, fruit sauce and caramalised bread croutons. But it depends on your wish... Coz, this dessert is even best with its basic ingredients...

As,I was having plenty of time to work on my "Apple Triffle", I tried to make it as much rich as possible.. So, now let us move on to the recipe.... Here we go!!

Ingredients:
( Servings : 2)

1 apple, peeled, cored and cubed
1 apple sliced
2 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp vanilla custard pudding
2 slices sponge cake
2 bread slices, diced
1 tbsp butter
whipped cream, to garnish

Method:

Prepare custard pudding, as per instruction mentioned in the packet. Leave it to cool. Custard must be of thick consistency.

Blend the cubed apples and 1 tbsp sugar. Take a small pan on medium flame and put 1 tsp butter. Pour the apple paste and stir it to give a lumpy apple sauce. Leave it to cool.

Thanks to cold weather, it doesn't take much time to get them cool down.... :D

Take the bread pieces in another frying pan, toast it until they began to colour. Add remaining sugar and butter, continue stirring on low flame so that the tiny bread pieces caramalise evenly and without burning. When done, remove from flame and again let it cool... Again it won't take much time...

Assembling:

Take a glass serving bowl or individual glasses, line them with cake slices... use only half of them, coz you will need them for further layers. Pour spoonful of pudding over it. Layer this with apple sauce followed by apple slices. Repeat the procedure once again and top the final layer with caramalised bread croutons. Garnish with whipped cream.

Serve and Enjoy!

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Hot-n-Sour Noodle Soup

It's a big time pleasure to start your lunch with a warm soup especially when it is raining outside. I really enjoy to watch my hubby making a sound "Surrrpppp!" with every sip of soup and ends with his golden phrase "Mazza aa gaya!".

And today was the perfect soup day. Also, we had a complete meal... starting with soup n starters, then main course and finishing with a dessert.

I've already prepared tomato soup number of times, so I thought "Why not go for a hot-n-sour noodle soup?" and when it comes to Noodles.. they are the all-time favourite......... Luckily my kitchen was having, everything required for this soup, with it.

To my surprise, it was very quick... If every ingredient is right there with u, then it won't take more than 10-15 mins and your soup is "All set!!".

So, here you go for the sizzling recipe of hot-n-sour noodle soup.

Ingredients:

1 packet whole-wheat noodles
2 tbsp grated ginger-garlic
1-2 tsp fresh red chilly paste
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 cup vegetable stock
1 tsp dark soy sauce
2 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp corn starch mixed in 2 tbsp cold water to make a paste
1 cup chopped vegetables ( carrot, mushroom, beans, peas, cabbage)
2 spring onions, sliced
Salt, to taste

Method:

Take a small pan of water and bring it to boil. Add noodles to it and cook as per the instructions on the pack.Drain excess water and rinse noodles under cold running water. This is to stop the noddles to cook further.

Heat a pot/wok over high heat and add oil. When it starts to smoke, add grated ginger-garlic. Saute for sometime. Add the chilly paste and saute again. Add vegetable stock, bring it to a simmer, add vegetables (except mushrooms). Season with soy sauce and rice vinegar. Let the vegetables to cook for sometime.

Add mushroom and cook for another 1 min.  Add corn starch paste, simmer and stir until thickened.  Add cooked noodles to it. Sprinkle salt and stir again. Scatter sliced spring onions over it.

Serve it hot.

Note: You may adjust the seasoning as per taste.

Enjoy!!

This post goes to "Winter Warmers" event hosted by "The Veggie Hut".

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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The Three Months' Journey

On 10th September, I left LA for my hometown. If you'll ask me, how was I feeling at that moment? The answer will be "Confused!!!!!!!!!". Coz at one moment I was so excited that I was jumping for joy but then I will be upset as I was leaving Sree alone.

 My major worry was "What will he do?", when it comes to cooking, I can't trust him... But time waits for none and finally I boarded my flight and whosshhhh............ after long, long 26hrs I was standing in front of my parents... And yeah, I'm sure.... I was feeling "WOWY!!!".. But every excitment washed away as soon as I saw my mom's weird expression when she said " Hey fatto!! u gained lot n lot of weight!!!. I'm going to put u on strict diet.........."

Oh my! I felt like RUN!! I must take another flight and go back to LA.... No No, I don't want to be here, I don't wanna hear this again.... But," beta phass gaye tum to!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  ;)
But, to be honest I've gained only 5 or may be 10 pounds and that was all visible on my face........... :D

okie dokie... leave it... Coz  "Every classic movie starts with some boring scenes...."

These three months were FAB!!! I came across some very beautiful moments and some bitter ones as well... But again tats just ok.. "Coz they add spice to your cherished moments".. isn't so?

So lemme share with you, what I've treasured in this small episode of life!!!!!

First and foremost - I got admission for my Master's. So, from January I'll be back to school... Thanks to all of you... I still remember those wishes, during my exams... they were very motivating!! once again, thnk u all............ HUGS!!!

Then I was a part of some great occasions.... We had Dussehra, Durga-Puja, Diwali, my mom-dad's 26th anniversary, my sweetie sis's birthday, my mom's birthday, my best frnd/childhood frnd's marriage, met some of my very good frnds and lots n lots of efforts to make our trip to Gujarat, WORKING!!!!

And there is something terrific, "My Mom's Weight-Control Program" buaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh...!! This was the big reason I was unable to post any recipe, coz neither she will let me prepare something nor does she.... Thnk god! 10 days of diwali celebration saved me......

The pictures are some of my contributions to Diwali special and guys be ready to go for a photo tour that will narrate the story of my "The three months' journey".

This was a surprise to my sis by me n my bro..... lemme tell u that this cake is not prepared by me but yeah! the decoration over the cake is done by me.... Hey wait a minute.... By decoration, I mean those candles.. :P
Well did I hear "WOW"? thnk u thnk u............

Now we move to some of the Diwali blasts...... Rangoli (patterns or designs using powdered colors) by me, some sweets.. again by me!! and lighting crackers, ofcourse not by me... ;)

And, yes this plate is decorated by me... also I've decorated some glass bowls...



 Whew!!! the image above is the one  for which I'm going to bill the highest............ ;) I really worked a lot for this one.......

And finally the best moment was celebrating my mom's birthday.... It was special coz we were all present for this occasion and it happened after long time...

Well, this blackforest pastry is prepared by me... The reason why we celebrated a birthday with pastry? Answer to this is.. We all were saturated with sweets and cakes.... So anymore cakes... was a big No No!!!

Then I thought, Why not pastry? Small and Special!! So here is my blacky pastry.. :D

And after couple of days, I boarded my flight back to LA... Yes, again I was loaded with mixed feelings.. To add spice to my confusion, my domestic flight to Mumbai was cancelled.... OOPS!! Well they got us for another flight, no worries... But again, I've to board this flight 3 hrs before my previous one. Thnk god! we were there before time.. But Alas! I just have 30 mins to be with my parents.... buaaaaaaaaaaahhh. 

Gosh! I'm running out of time... and in that hosh-posh I was unable to say proper bye-bye to my parents.. To be honest, I was crying when my flight takeoff..

Again, after 28 long hrs, I reached LA and when I came out of the airport I saw Sree waiting there with that killing smile... Oh my!! I was so happy to see him after such a long time...!!!

Happy Ending................!

So, this was a short story of my vacation in India.. I hope you all had a great time in those three months and of course missed me too coz I missed u all...

Guys, all the diwali sweets, pudding and pastry recipes will be posted in my upcoming posts. So, stay tuned!!

And now, I would like to mention about "The LA foodie bloggers meet" that was organised on 4th December 2010 at Rajdhani restaurant in Artesia (Norwalk,CA). Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this meet and yes I'm quite jealous, when I saw those beautiful pics shared by Priya. Also, they are planning for another meet somewhere around in Spring 2011. So, I welcome everyone for this meet. Do let me know, if you can make yourself available for this meet. For further information, do visit  LA Foodie Blogger Meet.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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