Grilled-Sandwich

Grilled Sandwich

Grilled Sandwich

Sandwiches are quick and easy meals for breakfast, lunch or tiffin. It makes good snack too. Sandwiches do not require much cooking skills. Even you can involve your kids to make sandwiches. Sandwiches are also one great way to feed vegetables to our children. Just mix some veggies and seanoning or Mayo and you are done. You can make different shape of sandwiches. You can serve sandwiches with tomato sauce,coriander chutney and a hot cup of tea.

Ingredients:

Bread 10 to 12 slices
Onion 1 finely chopped
Carrot 1 small finely chopped
Capsicum( green and red) 2tablespoon finely chopped
Butter or olive oil as required
Salt to taste
Processed cheese 2tablespoon grated
Now you can add some leftover spicy chicken if you want.... mix them with your veggies, it tastes awesome.
Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon
Chilli flakes 1/2 teaspoon

Directions
In a nonstick pan heat oil.
Add onion and fry for few minutes till it changes color.
Now add the other veggies, salt and freshly ground pepper and saute.
Pre heat oven at 180C
Now take the bread and trim the edges.
Cut them in different shapes.
Apply little Butter on the bread pieces.
Take 1teaspoon of the prepared veggies and sprinkle some grated cheese.
Now cover this stuffed bread with another slice of bread.
Prepare all the bread in the same way.
Place them in a Baking tray.
Bake them for 10 mins.
Take out and serve hot with tomato sauce or green chutney.

Milk-Cake-Recipe

Milk Cake Recipe

Milk Cake

This is a simple old fashioned Milk cake which tastes surprisingly good. Light and fluffy ,this cake is like a simple vanilla cake but it tastes awesome because of the milk,butter combination. Mostly raisins are not added but I have added little, you can skip if you want. This is a Christmas time which means cake time so I keep on baking different varieties of cakes , pastries and loafs. Lets start

Ingredients:

Butter 1/2 cup

Eggs 4

Milk 1 cup

Vanilla essence 2 teaspoons

Sugar 1-1/2 cup

Flour 1- 1/2 cup

Baking powder 2 teaspoons

A pinch of salt

Raisins 1 teaspoon

Directions

Pre heat the oven at 180 deg C. 

Grease and flour a 13 inch x 9 inch baking pan.

In a large bowl beat eggs till thick for 5 mins.

Gradually add sugar, beating until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Beat in vanilla.

Combine flour and baking powder.

Add to the sugar/butter mixture gradually and beat at low speed until smooth.

Now in a small saucepan heat milk and butter until the butter is melted.

Add this to the batter and combine well.

Add the raisins.

Pour in baking pan.

Bake at 180 deg C for 30 to 40 mins or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Serve hot.

Eggless-Butter-Cookies

Eggless Butter Cookies

Eggless Butter Cookies

Its really difficult to find eggless recipes when it comes to baking. To retain the texture and taste is another difficult thing without eggs for cakes and cookies. But thanx to my baking teacher who taught me a very simple recipe for Butter cookies. It is fluffy, light and simple cookies for teatime which will fill your kitchen with wonderful aroma  of baking. So lets start

Ingredients

Sugar 1/2 cup

Butter 1/2 cup

Milk 2 tablespoons

All- purpose flour 1 cup

Vanilla essence 1/2 teaspoon

Baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons

Directions

Pre heat oven at 180 deg C.

Now combine sugar and butter and mix until it gets fluffy and lighter.

Add vanilla and milk to the butter/sugar mixture.

Mix well.

Combine the dry ingredients( flour and baking powder)

Now combine the dry and wet ingredients using spatula or hand.

You can add little extra flour if the mixture is sticky.

Form 10 to 12 equal size balls and flatten them little.

Bake for 15mins or till the bottom is golden.

Serve Butter Cookies with tea or coffee.

Sponge Cake Recipe

Sponge Cake

A basic sponge cake is the first step in cake baking. Whether you want to make a simple vanilla cake with butter cream icing or an elaborate cake for some special occassion ....all depends on the sponge cake. This is a rich cake with eggs but eggless can be made too. I will share an eggless recipe later.

Ingredients for sponge cake
Butter( unsalted) 1cup
Sugar 1cup
Eggs 4
Vanilla extract 1tablespoon
Cake flour 3cups (spooned and levelled)
Baking powder 1tablespoon
Butter milk 1and 1/2 cup

Directions

First bring every cold ingredients in room temperature.
Butter should be soft but not melted.
Now using an electric mixer beat the sugar and butter till light and fluffy.
Next beat the eggs adding one at a time into the sugar mixture.
Add vanilla essence or extract.
In another large bowl whisk cake flour and baking powder.
Add it to the sugar Butter mixture only 1/3.
Beat to combine.
Now add buttermilk and the rest of the flour and fold carefully.
Pour batter in a prepared pan( line the cake tin with parchment paper)
Bake in a preheated oven (180C) for 30mins at a temperature of 180C.
Cut the cake and serve with tea or coffee.

Egg-recipe-Omelette-curry

EGG-OMELETTE-CURRY

Omelette Curry with Rice

You must be thinking "what! Omelette in a gravy?" Believe me it is a very delicious dish yet easy and you can make it when you don't want to cook something fussy or elaborate.  When you make an omelette and put it in gravy it becomes fat, juicy and super soft. Most of the Bengalis know this recipe but I want to share this with all the egg LOVERS. So let's start

Serves 3

Preparation time 10minutes

Cooking time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Eggs 3

Onion 2 (medium size finely chopped)

Tomato 1(medium size)

Garlic 1tsp( grated)

Potato (1 medium size) cut lengthwise or diced

Green chilly 2 to 3 finely chopped

Cumin powder 1tsp

Coriander powder 1tsp

Kashmiri red chilly powder 1tsp

Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp

Garam masala powder 1/2 tsp

Sugar 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Vegetable oil 2 tsp

Method:-

First we will make the omelettes. 

Break one egg in a small bowl add little salt, chopped onion(some) and green chilly. Whisk. Now take a nonstick frying pan add little oil. 

When heated put the egg mixture and spread it evenly in a round shape. 

When one side of the omelette is done flip it and cook the other side in low flame. 

When done fold it and keep aside. 

Repeat the same process with the other eggs.

To make gravy heat oil in a pan, add onion (chopped) and fry. 

When the onion changes color add potatoes and stir well.

 Now add turmeric powder and stir for few minutes. 

Put the grated garlic and cook until the raw smell has gone. 

Now add cumin powder, coriander powder  and chopped green chillies.

Cook them properly for 2 minutes and add tomatoes. 

Stir and cook for few minutes. 

Add kashmiri lal mirch powder stir and add 2 to 3 cups of water to make gravy. 

Cook until the potatoes are soft and the gravy thickens. 

When almost done add salt, sugar and omelette and cook them for 3 minutes. 

Add garam masala powder and switch off the flame. 

Serve hot omelette curry with plain white rice.

Indian-Scrambled-Eggs

Indian scrambled eggs

Scrambled eggs

Scrambled eggs or egg bhurji is another egg recipe where the eggs are cooked with veggies and masala. It is a very easy and quick recipe with onions, tomatoes and bell peppers. Normally egg bhurji or scrambled egg is eaten with bread or rotis. It is a healthy breakfast and can used as a sandwich filling. You can also add veggies of your choice. Eggs are always saviours…… because if you are not in a mood to do elaborate cooking or don't have anything in your kitchen…. then go for this recipe.

Prep time 5 min

Cook time 15 min

Serves 2

 Ingredients

 Eggs 3

Onion 1( chopped)

Tomato 1( chopped)

Bell peppers 1/2 cup( I have mixed green and red) (chopped )

Coriander powder 1 teaspoon

Cumin powder 1 teaspoon

Garam masala powder 1/2 teaspoon

Green chillies 2 to 3 ( chopped)

Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon

Oil 2 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Directions

In a nonstick pan put oil. 

When heated add onion and fry till it turns pink. 

Now add tomato,bell peppers and sauté for 2 to 3 mins. 

In the mean time break the eggs in a large bowl, add salt and whisk till light and fluffy. Keep aside. 

Now add coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder and the chillies. 

Sauté for another 2 minutes. 

Mix the masala and add the whisked eggs. 

Keep stirring the mixture continuously until the eggs starts coming together and becomes crumbly. 

Don't stop stirring , it shouldn't stick.

When cooked completely check salt and serve the scrambled eggs hot with bread, rotis or even pita bread.

Stir-Fry-Chicken-with-Vegetables

Stir Fry Chicken with Vegetables

Stir fry chicken with vegetables

A healthy weeknight meal with only few ingredients…..chicken and vegetables, just make a stir fry sauce and your meal is ready. Add vegetables of your choice, skip chicken if you are veg and add tofu or paneer( Indian cottage cheese). Asian dishes are easy to make. I often make noodles with stir fried chill veg. They are quick and easy meals. I love this recipe. Impressed my husband's colleague and his family. Important thing is I can prepare the whole thing in half an hour. Lets start with the recipe.

 Serves 2

Ingredients

Boneless chicken 250gms

Mixed vegetables( green bell pepper, carrot, beans, red bell pepper) chopped 1 cup

Onion 1( chopped)

Garlic 3 to 4 cloves

Green chilli 3 to 4 slit

Soy sauce 1 teaspoon

Red chilli sauce 1 teaspoon

Cornstarch 1 teaspoon

Vegetable oil 1 tablespoon

Chicken broth 1/2 cup

Directions

Heat oil in a wok.

 Add chicken and garlic and fry for 10 mins.

Now add onion, sauté and add all the vegetables, salt and stir fry for 10 minutes

Add the chicken broth.

In a small bowl mix soy sauce, red chill sauce,water and cornstarch.

Stir into vegetables and cook till the chicken is tender. 

Serve hot with veg fried rice or plain rice.

                                        

Vanilla-Ice-Cream-with-MIxed-Fruits

Vanilla Ice cream with Mixed Fruits

Fruit and Ice Cream

Fruit salad is a delicious dessert but if combined with ice cream it becomes YUM. Kids and adults both will love to have this dessert after dinner. Its a super easy dessert so lets learn how to make it

Serves 1

Ingredients:

Vanilla ice cream 2 scoops
Mixed fruits 1 cup ( Apple, kiwi, strawberries and cherries chopped)
Hershey's syrup for decoration.

Directions
In a bowl mix all the chopped fruits.
You can add roasted nuts if you like.
Now in a serving glass put one scoop of ice-cream.
Top with fruits.
Put another scoop of Ice Cream.
Add Hershey's syrup.
Serve chilled.

Cajun-potato-recipe

 Crispy Cajun Potato Recipe

Crispy Cajun potato

In India  a very popular restaurant  serves this dish. When few years back I first tasted cajun potatoes in this restaurant, it was like Love at first bite. It's not possible always to visit a restaurant only because of a particular dish so I thought why not try it at home? May be I will be able to make it. Believe me it turned out great and delicious with only few ingredients from our kitchen and the most important thing is in restaurant they serve cajun potatoes in deep fried oil but at home it can be prepared in less oil. So healthy cum delicious. Honestly its not a rocket science. You will be amazed by the simplicity of this recipe." Oh yummmmmy!! Please don't stop serving mom"….. my son said when I made crispy cajun potatoes yesterday for dinner. Its an easy recipe so can be served at parties and get together too. So lets learn how to make this amazing dish.

Ingredients

Baby potatoes 10

Oil 2 tablespoon

Eggless mayonnaise 3 tablespoon

Garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon

Red paprika powder 1/2 teaspoon

Dried oregano or mixed italian herb 1 teaspoon

Chilli flakes 1/2 teaspoon

Salt to taste

 Direction

Start with boiling the potatoes. Boil them until 3/4th done. 

Once cooked press each baby potato so that it turns flat.

In a nonstick pan put oil and add the potatoes.

Cook for 2 to 3 mins each side. 

After 10 mins the potatoes turn crispy. 

Remove from pan and keep aside.

Sprinkle salt.

Now in a small bowl mix mayonnaise, garlic powder, red paprika, dried oregano and chilli flakes.

Mix well.

Serve the fried potatoes with the spicy mayo dressing. 

Do try and let me know your comments.

Healthy-Soup-Bean-soup-Rajma Recipe

Healthy Bean Soup recipe

Red kidney bean soup

This healthy  bean soup is a creamy soup made with red kidney beans or rajma and mixed herbs. This soup is healthy and meets your iron and protein requirement. It is an easy and flavorful dish.

Ingredients:(Serves- 2-3)

Rajma/ kidney beans 1/2 cup( soaked overnight)
Onion 1( finely chopped)
Green capsicum 1/2( chopped)
Garlic 3 cloves (chopped)
Tomatoes 2 (chopped)
Chilli powder ( optional) 1/2 teaspoon.
Instead You can use freshly ground black pepper
Dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon
Oil 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste.
Lemon juice 1 teaspoon

Direction:

First heat oil in a pressure cooker. 
When the oil is heated add onion and garlic. 
Saute on a medium flame for 2 mins.
Add tomatoes,green capsicum and mix well.
Cook for 2 to 3 mins.
Now add kidney beans, chilli powder,dried oregano and salt.
Add 2 cups water and pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles.
Allow the steam to escape.
Let the mixture cool and then put it in a blender to make a smooth paste.
Transfer the paste into a heavy bottomed pan, add 1/2 cup water and bring it to boil.
Let it boil for 2 to 3 mins stirring occasionally.
Add lemon juice and serve hot with garlic bread or tortilla chips.

Stir-fry-beans

Stir fry beans

Stir Fry Beans

These stir fry beans are quick, simple and are perfect for everyday meals. I personally like stir fry vegetables. They are easy to make and healthy too. Mixing different fresh vegetables and preparing healthy and tasty dishes by stir frying or grilling or roasting in oven is one of my favorite way to prepare dishes for my family for dinner. Stir fry beans are very easy to make. This dish only require few  ingredients. Lets start:

Ingredients

Green beans 100 gms

Sesame oil or any vegetable oil 1 tablespoon

Soy sauce 1 teaspoon

Vinegar 1/2 teaspoon

Honey or sugar to  1teaspoon

Freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon

Sesame seeds( toasted) 1 teaspoon

Direction:

Fisrt take a large pot and cook the beans in boiling water with little salt till crisp-tender.

When cooked, drain and transfer them in ice water . 

Keep for 3 minutes.

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed wok add green beans and stir fry for 2 minutes. 

Add soy sauce, vinegar, sugar/Honey and pepper.

Stir fry until sauce reduces and the beans are nicely coated with the sauce.

Add sesame seeds ,coat well and serve stir fry green beans hot.

Potato-Cheese-Cutlet

Potato Cheese Cutlet

Potato Cheese Cutlet

Potatoes and Cheese are two ingredients which can be combined to make Potato Cheese Cutlets with can be a hot favorite. Nobody will refuse. If you combine these two ingredients with little seasoning and fry it becomes delicious. This yummy cheesy Potato Cheese Cutlet is a very simple and easy to make snacks. 

Ingredients:

Potato 5 ( small to medium size)

Cheese 100gm( grated)

Onion 1( finely chopped)

Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon( optional)

Salt to taste

Cornflour 2 tablespoon

Freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon

Breadcrumbs 1 cup

Oil to fry

Directions:

First boil the potatoes.

When cooled mash them.

Add grated cheese, salt, black pepper powder, onion to the mashed potatoes.

Make medium size balls and flatten them to give cutlet shape.

Heat oil in a nonstick pan.

Make a smooth paste with water and cornflour. Keep the batter aside.

Now dip the patties in the batter,coat with breadcrumbs and fry them.

(Fry the patties just before serving otherwise they become soggy)

Serve hot with ketchup. 

Carrot-Tomato-Soup

Carrot Tomato Soup Recipe

Carrot tomato soup

Carrot tomato soup is the most easy and quick recipe. Winter is the best time for soups with fresh vegetables. In this recipe put the veggies in the cooker with little seasoning and it is ready within few minutes.

Ingredients

Carrots 3 small ( roughly chopped)

Tomato 2 small ( chopped)

Potato 1 medium size( roughly chopped)

Garlic 3 cloves( chopped)

Ginger 1/2 inch piece

Freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Butter 1 tablespoon

Vegetable stock 2 cups

Directions

First put butter in the cooker.

Add chopped garlic and ginger, stir.

Then add all the chopped veggies along with the salt, black pepper and vegetable stock( use water if you don't have vegetable stock).

Cover the cooker with the lid.

Turn the heat on.

Cook for 4 to 5 whistles. When the pressure goes down open the cooker and check whether the vegetables are tender.

Now put the vegetables in the blender and make smooth puree.

Put the smashed veggies back in the cooker and bring to boil.

Add more water to make soup consistency.

Check salt and pepper.

Serve hot with grilled bread.

Rava-Kesari-Dessert-recipe

Rava Kesari

Rava Kesari

Rava kesari is a popular South Indian sweet dish prepared during festive season. It is made from semolina and sugar syrup. A slightly different version of rava kesari is made in North India which is known as sooji halwa ( only Kesar) is not added in this version. Rava kesari is a simple recipe with very few ingredients. So lets start with the ingredients

Ingredients

Semolina/ sooji/ rava 1 cup( use fine rava)
Ghee 5 tablespoon
Sugar 1cup
Saffron or food color only a pinch
Cardamom  2 to 3 crushed
Cashews  5 to 6

Direction

First start with the sugar syrup.
Take sugar and water in a pan.
Boil the solution on high flame.
Add saffron to the sugar solution.
When it has start boiling, lower the flame and let it simmer.
Now in another pan put ghee.
Once the ghee is heated add semolina and stir.
 After 2 to 3 mins add the cashews and stir.
When the semolina starts changing color( light golden) add the sugar solution.
Now quickly start mixing the whole thing.
Keep stirring till the mixture thickens and starts to leave the edge of the kadhai.
Add crushed cardamom.
Switch off the flame and cover with a lid, allow the rava kesari to steam for 5 mins.
Remove the lid and serve the rava kesari hot.

Vegetable-Cutlet

Vegetable Cutlet

Vegetable Cutlet

Vegetable cutlet is a combination of mashed potato and vegetables which is crisp from outside but soft inside. This is stomach filling and mild spicy. I use carrots, potatoes, peas and french beans to make vegetable cutlet. It can be served with green chutney( coriander chutney) or tomato ketchup. I prefer shallow frying so this is a healthy snack.  

Ingredients

Carrot 1( medium size) boiled

Potato 1 large boiled 

Green peas 1/2 cup (boiled)

Ginger 1/2 teaspoon (paste)

Green chillies 2 finely chopped 

Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon( optional)

Garam masala powder 1 teaspoon

Cumin powder 1 teaspoon

Bread slices 2

All purpose flour 2 tablespoons

Bread crumbs for rolling

Salt to taste

2 tablespoon oil for frying

Direction

First boil potato,carrot beans and peas together. 

Take out the vegetables and let them cool.

Mash the veggies with a fork.

Now add ginger paste, green chillies, red chilli powder, cumin powder,garam masala powder and salt to taste.

Mix everything well.

In another bowl take all purpose flour and water. 

Make a smooth paste.

Now take the cutlet mixture and make small or medium round shaped cutlets by rolling and flattening the mixture.

Now heat 3 tablespoon of oil. 

Put the breadcrumbs in a plate.

Coat the cutlets one by one in the (all purpose) flour paste and roll in breadcrumbs.

Dust the excess breadcrumbs. 

Keep the cutlets on the pan for frying.

The cutlets should be golden and crisp from both the sides.

Drain the cutlets on kitchen paper towel.

Serve vegetable cutlet with tomato ketchup or green chutney.

Butter-Chicken

Butter chicken Recipe

Butter chicken

In India it is hard to find any Resturant which does have butter chicken in their menu card, a mild chicken curry with onion and tomato. It is one of the most popular dish among Indians. Since butter chicken is specially a non spicy dish so even kids love this dish. Butter Chicken is mainly preferred with Naan( type of Roti) , vegetable pulao or tandoori roti. 

In this preparation I have used pureed cashew paste rather than cream. It gives a different flavor. I normally make Butter Chicken for my son and pair it with vegetable pulao. Ingredients used in this recipe is quite simple and easily available. 

Ingredients

Chicken 1/2 kg with or without bones

Onion 3, minced

Tomato 2( pureed)

Tomato paste or sauce 1 tablespoon

Butter 1 tablespoon

Oil 1 tablespoon

Ginger paste 1 teaspoon

Garlic paste 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder 1 teaspoon

Garam masala powder 1/2 teaspoon

Kashmiri red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon

Dried kasuri methi leaves 1/2 teaspoon

Cashew paste 2 teaspoon( soak and grind cashew nuts)

Salt to taste

Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon

Directions

Marinade the chicken with turmeric powder and little salt and keep for 5 min.

Heat oil in a pan. Put the chicken pieces and fry for 2min.

Now heat butter in a pan. Add the minced onions, ginger and garlic paste.

Fry till the raw smell disappears. 

Then add coriander powder, Kashmiri red chill powder, turmeric powder and salt.

Fry for 1to 2min. 

Now add the pureed tomato and tomato paste.

Saute for 3 to 4 minutes.

Now add the chicken.

Cook for 10mins.
The chicken will let out more water, so stir the chicken, cover and cook for another few mins.

Check if the chicken is tender.

If the gravy is too thick add some hot water. 

Now add kasuri methi leaves and cook for 1min. 

When done add garam masala and cashew paste. 

Stir and cook for only a min. 

Don't boil. 

Adjust salt.

Remove from fire and serve with plain hot rice

Butter Chicken With Plain Rice

Fish-Cutlet-or-chop-Recipe

Fish Cutlet or Machher Chop

Fish 'n' Chips

This is a favorite bengali snack….I learnt this recipe from my elders. In India we make various types of cutlets( with cooked mutton, fish or chicken). Fish cutlets are cooked with chopped onion, garam masala, green chillies and sometimes boiled potato is also mixed. Most of the Indian houses have their own recipe for cutlets. 

Lets start so that you can make fish cutlets at home easily

Ingredients

Fish 400 gms( I took rohu fish, any type of fish is fine)

Potato 1 large( boiled)

Onion 1 large (finely chopped)

Ginger/garlic paste 1 tablespoon

Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander powder 1 teaspoon

Cumin powder 1 teaspoon 

Red Chilly powder 1/2 teaspoon or 2 to 3 chopped green chillies

Garam Masala Powder 1/2 teaspoon

Cornflour 1 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Egg 1( beaten and kept aside)

Breadcrumbs 1 to 2 cup 

Oil for deep frying

Fish Cutlet

Directions

Wash the fish properly. 

Boil and cook the fish with salt and turmeric powder.

Cool and de-bone them. Mash the fish with the boiled potato.

Now add chopped onion, ginger/garlic paste and mix well. 

Then add the dry masalas, salt and cornflour. 

Mash and mix well.

Now make small round balls of the cutlet mixture and shape into patties. 

You can make round, oval, heart shaped etc.

Now keep the patties in the refrigerator for 10 min.

Take them out and dip the patties in the beaten egg, coat it with breadcrumbs and fry.

If you want to avoid frying then bake them. 

If frying then fry both sides till golden.

Serve with chips, green chutney or ketchup.