Tuesday, September 15, 2009

PAU BHAJI

Nutritious Pau Bhaji (Serves 4)
6 buns or pau
25 gm butter
Bhaji
1 cup cabbage (very finely chopped)
1 cup carrot (very finely chopped)
1 cup beans (very finely chopped)
1 cup potato (boiled and mashed)
2 onions (finely chopped)
2 cups tomatoes (finely chopped)
1 ½ tsp ginger-garlic paste
2 tsp pau bhaji masala
3 tbsp butter
1 tsp salt, or to taste
Method
Cook the cabbage, carrots and beans in a pressure cooker with ½ cup water and ½ tsp salt for 2-3 minutes after the first whistle.
Heat 2 tbsp butter in a kadhai, add the onion, keep frying on mediun flame.
Add ginger-garlic paste.
When the onion turns brown, add the tomatoes and ½ tsp salt and fry well till the tomatoes are very soft.
Add the pau bhaji masala and mix thoroughly.
Add the mashed potatoes and mix well.
Add all the boiled vegetables along with their water, if any. Mix thoroughly and fry till it is of required consistency.
Cut each in half bun. Slightly roast the buns on butter.
Serve hot with the bhaji.

BROKEN WHEAT(DALIA) UPMA

Dalia Upma (Serves 4)
Ingredients
1 cup roasted dalia
¾ cup water
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
½ " piece ginger (finely chopped)
1 small onion (chopped)
1 small carrot (chopped)
½ capsicum (chopped)
1 tbsp green peas
1 potato (chopped)
1floret of cauliflower (chopped)
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
juice of ½ lemon
salt to taste
Method
BoldSoak the dalia in ¾ cup of water for half an hour.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
Let them splutter for 30 seconds.
Add ginger and onion. Stir for 1 minute.
Add the vegetables and stir well for a minute.
Add salt. Cook covered on a low flame till the potatoes get cooked.
Drain the dalia and add to the vegetables. Stir for 3-4 minutes.
Add 1 ½ cup of water. Cover to cook on low flame for 2-3 minutes or till the water is completely absorbed.
Add lemon juice and sprinkle coriander leaves on it. Serve hot.

Monday, September 14, 2009

QUICK COFFEE CAKE

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
Method:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Grease 13x9" pan and set aside.
In medium bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon and butter and mix together until blended. Stir in oatmeal until crumbly.
Set aside while preparing batter.
Crack eggs into large bowl and beat with a fork until combined.
Add milk and mix well with a wire whisk or eggbeater.
Add sugar, oil, and vanilla and mix until blended.
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
Add to egg mixture and mix with a spoon for 20-30 strokes just until combined and all dry ingredients are moistened.
Batter will be lumpy.
Pour batter into prepared 13x9" pan.
Sprinkle oatmeal mixture evenly over batter.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes until puffed and golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Serve warm. 12 servings

Oat Bran Muffin Mix

This muffin mix recipe is a great gift (and inexpensive too) to give to health conscious friends, along with a muffin tin, measuring cups, a timer, and some decorative plates in a basket.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
4-3/4 cups flour
4 cups oat bran
3 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in large bowl and store in airtight container.
For gift giving, place 4 cups of this mix in a decorative jar and attach the following instructions:
Oat Bran Muffins3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup currants or raisins
2 cups Oat Bran Muffin Mix
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners and set aside.
Combine milk, oil, egg, and nuts and raisins in large bowl and mix well.
Then stir in the Muffin Mix and stir just until dry ingredients are moistened; the batter will be lumpy.
Spoon into prepared pan.
Bake at 400 degrees for 13-15 minutes until muffins are golden brown.
Remove from pan and cool on wire rack. 12 muffins
Calories: 200Fat: 11 gramsSodium: 130 mg

Brownie Mix in a Jar



Give this excellent mix as a Christmas gift.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
2-1/4 cups sugar
2/3 cups unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup chopped pecans or any nuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1-1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
METHOD:Pour sugar into a clean one quart jar with screw-top lid. Press down firmly. Add cocoa powder and press down firmly. Pour in chopped pecans, making sure pecans are evenly layered in the jar, then pour in chocolate chips. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Pour into jar and seal.
Attach the following directions to the jar: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Empty mix into large bowl. Use your hands to mix thoroughly. Add 3/4 cup softened butter or margarine and 4 slightly beaten eggs. Mix until completely blended with spoon. Spread batter into a greased 9x13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until set. Cool in pan. 24 brownies

HOMEMADE COOKIE MIX

Give this wonderful mix along with the recipes for a Christmas gift.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
5 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
1 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 cup butter
Method:
In large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Mix well until blended.
Cut in shortening and butter with pastry blender, two knives or your hands until the mixture resembles cornmeal and shortening and butter are evenly distributed.
Store in the refrigerator in a tightly covered container for up to 12 weeks.
When you want to make cookies, measure amount needed and let it come to room temperature before using.
RECIPES
Sugar Cookies

4 cups homemade cookie mix
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
Combine all ingredients in large bowl until well blended.
Divide dough in half, then cover dough and chill at least one hour or until dough is easy to handle. Roll out dough, one half at a time, on a floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness.
Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
Arrange cutouts 1-inch apart on a greased or parchment lined cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with sugar.
Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes until cookies are set but not brown.
Cool on wire rack.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
2-1/2 cups homemade cookie mix
2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and blend until well mixed.
Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 375 oven for 8-10 minutes until cookies are light golden brown.
Cool on sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool.

Cookie Press Cookies
4 cups homemade cookie mix
3 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
2 egg whites
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mix with a fork until blended.
Fill cookie press with dough and form cookies 1-2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes until set (cookies should not brown much).
Cool 1 minute and remove from cookie sheets. Cool on wire rack.

Spice Cookies
2-1/2 cups homemade cookie mix
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Follow directions for Chocolate Chip Cookies. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes until light golden brown.

Peanut Butter Cookies
2 cups homemade cookie mix
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
Follow directions for Chocolate Chip Cookies. Form dough into balls, place on ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten with a fork dipped in sugar.
Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

CAPPUCCINO MIX


This is an excellent beverage mix recipe .
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup milk powder
1 cup instant sweetened chocolate drink mix
2/3 cup instant coffee powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well with a wire whisk.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Makes about 3 cups dry mix.
To prepare one serving:
Add 3 tablespoons mix to 6 ounces of hot water and stir well to blend.

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

This should be made as you use it - the milk doesn't store well. One recipe equals one can of store bought sweetened condensed milk.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup boiling water
3 Tbsp. butter
Preparation:Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and beat well with wire whisk until smooth.
Use in place of canned sweetened condensed milk in recipes.

Butterscotch Pudding Mix

Butterscotch Pudding Mix is a delicious and easy way to make pudding from scratch.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup milk powder
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla powder
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients and store in container with tight-fitting lid.
Makes 3 cups mix, yielding 24 servings of prepared pudding.
Stir mix well.
For two servings:
combine
1/4 cup Butterscotch Pudding Mix
2 Tbsp. butter
1 cup milk
in a small saucepan.
Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils.
Boil gently, stirring constantly, for one minute.
Pour into serving dishes and chill until thickened.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Make up a big batch of hot chocolate mix recipe and you'll be ready for winter
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
10-2/3 cups powdered milk
6 oz. jar powdered nondairy creamer
4 cups powdered sugar
2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir gently to mix well. Store in an airtight container in a cool dark place.
For one serving, stir 3 tablespoons Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix into 1 cup of hot water or milk until dissolved.

Hot Cocoa


  • This recipe is with a chocolate syrup that makes the hot cocoa especially rich and delicious.
    Ingredients:1/2 cup sugar
    1/4 cup cocoa powder
    pinch salt
    1/3 cup hot water
    4 cups whole milk
    1 tsp. vanilla
    METHOD:
  • In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and salt and mix well.

  • Stir in water and beat with wire whisk to blend.
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils.
  • Boil and stir for 2 minutes.
  • Then add milk and stir with wire whisk until well blended.
  • Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until hot but not boiling.
  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, then beat with wire whisk until foamy.
  • Serves 4.

Chocolate Pudding Mix

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2/3 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients and store in container with tight-fitting lid Makes 3 cups mix, yielding 12 servings of prepared pudding.
Stir mix well.
For two servings, combine 1/2 cup Chocolate Pudding Mix, 4 tsp. butter, and 1-1/3 cups milk in a small saucepan.
Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils.
Boil gently, stirring constantly, for one minute.
Pour into serving dishes and chill until thickened.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

BASIC CHOCOLATE SAUCE

BASIC CHOCOLATE SAUCE
Ingredients
2 ounces/ 60 gms semisweet baking chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
dash salt
Method
Melt chocolate in a double boiler.
Stir in butter, then boilingwater, then sugar and salt.
Cook stirring occasionally, for 15minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.
The sauce is best when served warm.
Either serve immediately or reheat in double boiler for 10 minutes or microwave for 1 minute.
To store pour into sterilized glass jars. Allow sauce to coolbefore refrigerating. It will keep for 6 months in therefrigerator.
Variations:
Add any of the following flavorings in place of or in additon tothe vanilla
1 tsp orange extract
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tsp mint extract
1/8 cup crushed strawberries or rasberries,
chopped raisins or nuts
1 tbsp Creme de Menth
1 tsp instant coffee

HOW TO CARMALISE SUGAR

HOW TO CARMALISE SUGAR
Caramelizing sugar is to heat sugar so as to get a brown golden syrup - mostly used in desserts and cakes.
Heat a small heavy bottomed container for a minute on medium flame.
Take 5 tbsps sugar & add two tbsps water (use as per recipe) and heat it in the vessel, over low heat.
Swirl the utensil so that the water mixes well, but don't stir.
Brush the sides of the container with a brush dipped in cold water.
Bring it to a boiling point and see that the colour changes to golden and use as per recipe.