DULCE DE LECHE CARAMELS AND A TRADITIONAL POLKI BANGLE GIVEAWAY (don't miss it)!

I first read about dulce de leche at David's blog several months ago and I must admit it has been on my mind ever since,... then why has it taken me so long to actually make it?, because I was scared!, scared of all those calories in the can of condensed milk and of the long cooking process, so I finally hit upon a really easy way- dulce de leche in 3 minutes flat!, what could be better??, I took these to work and believe me I have people asking me for more everyday, these caramels are beyond delicious, rich, silky, gooey,melt in the mouth...

My mom once made some kind of toffee from a can of condensed milk, it was cooked on the stove top is all I remember and I absolutely loved it, now I think it must be something like dulce de leche caramels, so I did get a taste of them as a child!

I made these in the microwave, and they came out perfect, no long hours of baking, no danger of explosions, this was like a walk in the park!, to make these I took one can of condensed milk and emptied the contents into a LARGE microwaveable bowl, large because the milk bubbles and rises to the top-

Place bowl in the micro and set on medium for 3 minutes, remember that you have to keep a CONSTANT EYE ON IT, do not leave unattended, pause and stir initially at 30 second intervals and then at 15 second intervals, after 3 minutes you will have something which resembles curdled milk, don't be scared just whisk well and it will form into a silky paste-

If you are looking for the runny dulce de leche, stop here but if you are planning to make caramels, cook for a further 30 seconds, as you can see in the picture below, the milk starts pulling away from the sides and forms a lump upon cooling.

Shape into small rounds when slightly warm and roll in clear sheets, like toffees, pop one in your mouth, enjoy! beware they are highly addictive!!!

This is my 100th post for this year and my second blog anniversary whizzed by recently, so to celebrate both I am giving away this beautiful traditional polki bangle, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, I will ship this anywhere in the world so everyone can participate :)

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EASIEST COCONUT LADDUS IN THE WORLD!

In my previous post I had mentioned about how our childhood influences our tastes and preferences towards food, this is another one of those recipes which is unforgettable and a childhood favorite, these coconut laddus are probably the easiest, practically fool proof and delicious way of making laddus in minutes with just two ingredients!.They are on the table in a jiffy when unexpected guests arrive or when I am feeling lazy but craving something sweet, inspite of the simplicity of the recipe there is absolutely no compromise on the taste and they simply melt in the mouth.These laddus are really luscious and gooey which means that kids just love them.To make these you need-

• Dessicated coconut- 2 cups


• Condensed milk- 5-6 tbsp

Toast coconut lightly in a heavy bottom pan, add the condensed milk and cook for 2-3 minutes till it leaves sides of the pan and forms a lump, let cool a little, shape into small laddus, roll in some more coconut and serve when completely cooled.ENJOY!

These laddus are off to Indrani for her event-Festive snacks of Navratri and Diwali and to RV for her kids special event.

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QUICK CHINJABI PANEER

Chinjabi the word comes from Chinese+Punjabi! ha ha!!,Isn't that what we are used to? :),the common Indian can find a chowmein stall at every street corner,and a newer version of every possible chinese dish in every mushrooming restaurant a common example being gobi manchurian,chilli paneer and so on....I guess now only a few of us are left with a taste for the authentic and adapting it to suit one's palate is the norm :), not that I am all for it, but what the heck, if it tastes good then it should not matter where it originated from!! At the end of the day it should just be a healthy, satisfying, fun meal for friends and family!RIGHT? Do YOU know of any CHINJABI DISHES??

Ingredients-

• Fresh cottage cheese(paneer)-250gms


• Onion-(1 large, roughly chopped)


• Tomato-(1 large,chopped)


• Capsicum(1 large ,chopped)


• Oil-2 tsp


• Soya sauce- 1tsp


• Chilli garlic sauce-1 tsp


• Roasted cumin seeds-1 tsp(ground)


• Salt to taste

Method-

Heat oil in a pan, add the onion,tomato and capsicum and stir fry till soft, add the rest of the ingredients and toss well, serve hot....

SCORING POINTS OF CHINJABI PANEER :)

This is a delicious quick fix dish excellent if you are not in the mood to cook or if guests drop by unexpectedly, can be made with tofu too, is excellent with chapatis or bread, great for fussy kids, leftovers can be used as a filling for sandwiches the next day!

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SIMPLE CURRIED POTATOES

This is probably the simplest,easiest and most satisfying of all potato curries.The use of curry leaves brings out the flavour of the potatoes and the tomatoes add a tang to it!

It is so simple that I am not specifying the quantity of ingredients also, just toss in according to your liking!

Heat 1 tsp oil in a pressure cooker, add 1/2 tsp of cumin and mustard seeds, some asafoetida and a pinch of deggi mirch(cayenne pepper), next add 1 roughly chopped tomato to it alongwith 1/2 tsp sambar masala and a few curry leaves.

Add 2 large roughly chopped potatoes and 1/2 cup water, close lid and give 2 whistles, let pressure drop by itself, season with salt and pepper.You can stir in some curd also into it at this time.

Vary ingredients according to taste, ENJOY!

Delicious with puris and paranthas!!!

Technorati Tags: simple curried potatoes,potatoes

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MICROWAVE MAGIC ~ MUSHROOM MALAI CURRY

Another delicious dish for those who want to use their microwave for simple, rustic everyday cooking, this dish is for the very talented Srivalli (http://cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com/2007/12/microwave-easy-cooking-with-side-dish.html)who hosts her MEC (Microwave easy cooking event) every month.The theme for this month is gravies.

           

                                              Mushroom malai curry

Ingredients-

• Fresh mushrooms- 1 packet ,washed and sliced
• Onion- 1 medium, finely chopped
• Tomato puree- 4-5 tbsp
• Garam masala- 1 tsp
• Ginger+garlic paste- 1/2 tsp
• Fresh coriander for garnish
• Fresh cream- 1 tbsp
• Desi ghee- 2 tbsp
• Cayenne pepper-1/4 tsp
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method-

Heat ghee in a large microwave proof dish, add onions+ginger and garlic paste and microwave on high for 5 minutes or till onions are slightly golden ,add all the other ingredients except for cream and coriander , alongwith 1/2 cup hot water and microwave again for 10-15 minutes , stir in cream , garnish with coriander and serve with hot chapatis or rice.... SIMPLE, EASY AND DELICIOUS!

Add tender peas too if you like!

Technorati Tags: mushroom malai curry

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SIZZLING LEMON CHICKEN

It's so very cold out here, so all I look for these days are quick winter-warming foods much like this Chicken recipe, which is  is a delight in all aspects and both me and my husband enjoy it very much,it has a lovely ginger-garlic infused, yogurt based masala and the fresh tang of lemons, an excellent snack with drinks.

                             Sizzling Lemon Chicken
The key to really making delicious food is the freshness of ingredients,so make sure that you get the best and freshest possible always.
Ingredients-

• Fresh chicken- 1 kg (small pieces)
• Yogurt/fresh thick curd- 2 cups
• Ginger-garlic paste-1 tsp
• Cinnamon- few sticks
• Cloves-2-3
• Butter- 2 tbsp.
• Fresh cilantro/coriander- a generous fistful
• salt and pepper to taste
• Lemon juice-2 tbsp

Method-
Melt the butter in a heavy skillet till bubbling, add the cinnamon and cloves as well as the ginger-garlic paste, saute for a few minutes ,next  add the chicken pieces and gently fry them till a light golden brown, add curd and transfer to a pressure cooker, put on heat , switch off the heat just before the whistle and immediately put the pressure cooker under running water to release steam.
Transfer again to the skillet and let all the juices dry up ,sprinkle lemon juice, garnish with the cilantro and some fresh lemon slices, serve hot and sizzling.

Technorati Tags: sizzling lemon chicken,snacks,chicken

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STUFFED GREEN CHILLIES

These big, stuffed chillies are a breeze to make and a pleasure to serve.The best part is that they are ready-to-serve in 10 minutes and will keep refrigerated for upto two weeks, so all lovers of spicy (teekha) food ,make these right away,they will perk up any meal!These are stuffed with a mixture of spices ,so serve as a pickle or a side-dish whatever you please!

                          Stuffed green chillies

Ingredients-

• Big green/red chillies-8-10
• Dry mango powder(amchur)-4 tbsp
• Refined oil-2 tbsp.
• Cayenne pepper powder(deggi mirch)-2 tbsp
• Mustard seeds- 1tbsp.
• Garam masala- 1 tbsp
• Salt to taste.

Method-

Slit the green chillies lengthwise, combine all the above masalas and stuff into the chillies carefully,heat oil in a skillet fry the chillies for two minutes ,let cool and bottle,serve.

                          

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FINGER ~ LICKIN ' FRIED CHICKEN

This is my husband's favorite snack and he can have loads of it! In fact now he prefers to have chicken this way rather than the regular gravy chicken, try it out you will know why!This is my desi version of fried chicken -very rustic and simple!

                                                             Finger~lickin' fried chicken

Ingredients-

• Fresh chicken- 1 kg
• Deggi mirch (cayenne pepper)- 1/ 2 tsp
• Garam masala- 1 tbsp.
• Ginger-garlic paste- 1 tbsp.
• Chaat masala and lemon juice for sprinkling over
• Onion salad
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Oil for deep-frying

Method-

Marinate the chicken in all the above ingredients( except for lemon juice and chaat masala) for 15-20 minutes, deep fry ,sprinkle lemon juice and chaat masala, serve hot with onion salad YUMMY AND UNBELIEVABLY SIMPLE!

Technorati Tags: chicken , snacks

                                            COUNTDOWN TO DIWALI - 7 DAYS TO GO !!!

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RAVA MASALA UTTAPAM

This is a lovely quick and easy snack, don't worry if you do not have sambhar and chutney-it's just as delicious with Tomato Ketchup!

There are times when you just want to have a limp, fluffy uttapam and not that crisp ,good-looking dosa!, right??, just tailor-made for those times,another comfort food from my kitchen to yours!

    

    Rava Masala Uttapam with Sambhar and Tomato Chutney 

Ingredients-

• Rava/Suji/Semolina- 1 cup
• Flour- 2 tbsp
• Curry leaves- 4-5, chopped
• Curd/yogurt- 2 tbsp
• Tomato- 1 chopped
• Onion- 1 chopped
• Green chillies- 2-3, chopped
• Salt and red chilli pwdr to taste

Method-

Combine everything together in a large bowl, add enough water to make into a pancake like consistency.Spread ladlefuls onto a hot non-stick griddle, pour little oil along sides ,let sizzle , flip, then let turn golden brown.

Serve hot with sambhar and chutney.

             COUNTDOWN TO DIWALI-  9 DAYS TO GO !!!             

Technorati Tags: rava masala uttapam , south indian

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EK TAZAA ACHAAR (A FRESH CHILLI,LEMON,GINGER PICKLE)

Delicious, digestive, fresh, and spicy- I guess that totally sums up this pickle andddd of course EAZEE!!

Ready in under 5 minutes, make it- it's yum!!

I always keep a huge stock of so many pickles since I love them so much - so I have mango, mixed, stuffed red chilli, cauliflower-carrot-turnip,green chilli, mushroom, garlic, hot tomato, chilli garlic- the list just goes on and on.....! LOL

BUT I TOTALLY LOVE THIS ONE :)

                                                      Fresh chilli,lemon,ginger pickle

Ingredients-

• Fresh lemons-6
• Fresh ginger- 1 large piece
• Green chillies- 15-20
• Oil- 1 tbsp.
• Deggi mirch(cayenne pepper)- 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds- 1 tsp.
• Salt to taste

Method-

Chop everything into bite size pieces , reserve the juice of 1 lemon,mix everything together along with the lemon juice and add salt, transfer to a clean jar and refrigerate. THIS PICKLE CAN BE KEPT FOR UPTO A WEEK IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

Enjoy with everything and anything! at least that's what I do!!!!

                    

                   Ek tazaa achaar

Technorati Tags: tazaa achaar , fresh pickle , lemon chilli ginger pickle , instant pickle

 

 

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MICROWAVE MAGIC SNACK~PAPAD ROLLS

etizersThis is a wonderful- quick, easy and Instant snack with unlimited variations, whip it up in a hurry ! ,when unexpected guests arrive or hunger pangs hit at mid-night !

It makes great use of leftovers too....and is ready in 2 minutes !

                                                                    Papad Rolls

The recipe is so easy and versatile I don't even need to write down quantities, all you need is a- couple of ready-made papads and a filling of choice-

• mix vegetable-mashed up
• paneer bhurji
• mashed potatoes like we use in paranthas or
• leftover aloo subzi mashed
• any other leftover/cooked vegetable you prefer

Method-

Wet the papad slightly, carefully put a couple of spoons of filling and roll-up, the papad will stick together nicely like so-

 

the rolls- ready to go into the microwave

Microwave on HIGH for 2-3 minutes,  cut into pieces, let cool, the papad will become CRISP, serve with tomato ketchup/chutney.

These are rolling off to Srivalli ,thanks for hosting the event, and somehow I really wanted to participate inspite of the fact that I have recently picked up a new job which is very demanding BUT my love for blogging, will always be there so see you till next time and more quick,easy, instant recipes !.

http://cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com/2007/10/microwave-easy-cooking-with-basics.html

Technorati Tags: Instant snacks , snacks , papad rolls

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CUTE LIL' COCKTAIL IDLEEZ... with Sambhar and Rasam

A lazy weekend brunch, of IDLEEZ-(EASY IDLIS / IDLIS WITH EASE!) is something that satisfies and soothes, I am giving you the recipe for exactly that kind of thing, and it's sooooo easy!

The Idleez are ready in minutes, are soft and spongy , and look real cute, recipe of sambhar I am not including since all of you are experts at it, recipe of Spicy tomato rasam you can find here.

                                        Cocktail idleez with sambhar and rasam

for the Idleez-

(makes 22 bite sized one's)

• Semolina/suji- 1/2 cup
• Sour curd- 3 tbsp.
• Soda-bi-carbonate- 1/2 tsp.
• Cashews/almonds- 2 tbsp.
• Desi ghee/clarified butter- 1 tsp.
• Salt to taste

Method-

Heat ghee in a skillet, add the broken cashews/almonds , roast till golden brown, add suji , dry roast , stirring continously till light creamy brown.

                  

                     dry roasting the suji

Add the curd and enough water to make into a thick batter like consistency, add baking soda and salt.Grease cocktail idli stand(which is the same as a regular idli stand but the molds are much smaller, to give you bite-sized idlis) add 1  teaspoon of the batter into each little mold, steam for 10-15 minutes, serve with sambhar and rasam.

I ate them by alternately dipping one idli in sambhar and one in rasam and polished off at least 10 of these beauties at one go!                                       Cocktail Idleez, sambhar and tomato rasam

Another variation I love to do for a packed lunch/snack is - heat a tsp of oil, add mustard seeds and a few curry leaves, as well as juliennes of veg. like carrot, beans and capsicum some sliced onions and green chillies ,add idlis, toss around and pack it up for a healthy idleez tiffin/snack.

FEELING TOO LAZY FOR EVEN THIS ???- THEN USE THIS!!

              

                 MTR Rava Idli Instant Mix

Did you know that Rava Idlis were first invented by MTR , during World War II ,when rice was in short supply, MTR experimented and came up with the enormously popular- "Rava Idli".

The packet contains a dry mixture of suji, hydrogenated veg. oil, bengal gram dal, cashewnut, curry leaves, mustard ,green chilli and ginger, just add curd and steam, makes 10-12 idlis of about 45-50g each.Serve with coconut chutney and potato sagu.

Another MTR product I use all the time -my beloved Sambhar powder              

                MTR Madras sambhar powder

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INSTANT ITALIAN THIN-CRUST PIZZA

that too made from a scratch!, including the base, all ready in 15 minutes, what more can you ask for!, In my previous post about Instant Donuts I mentioned Instant gratification, this is again one of those recipes that gives me exactly the right dose of it and let me tell you I am very pleased with the results this recipe gives a perfect, crisp base and a delicious cheesy taste,but MAKE THIS RECIPE INTO A THIN CRUST BASE ONLY which is what I PREFER not a thick one, it is simply not designed for that and you will be disappointed., so no waiting hours for the dough to rise! Get ready to switch on the oven right now....

PIZZA-There is agreement that pizza may have been developed by peasants in Naples,Italy. This early pizza consisted of flattened bread dough with olive oil, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese.NOW it is a Universal favorite.

Ingredients-

(makes 3 medium sized one's)

• Refined flour-1 cup
• Olive oil/butter- 2 tbsp.
• Salt-1/4 tsp.
• Sugar-1/4 tsp.
• Baking powder-1/2 tsp.
• Milk- 7-8 tbsp.or as required

For the Topping- use as per your requirement and liking

• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Capsicum
• Tomato ketchup
• Mushrooms
• olives
• pineapple
• sweet corn
• pepperoni/shredded chicken
• chicken/paneer tikka/chilli chicken bits
• Any kind of cheese(provolone/gorgonzola/ cheddar/mozzarella)
• Oregano/italian seasoning- as desired
• chilli flakes
• anything else you like

Method-

Pre-heat oven. Combine all the ingredients for the base together (except milk),slowly add milk to make into a soft ,pliable dough, divide into three balls, roll out thinly like a chapati, prick with a fork , bake for ten minutes.            

the rolled out pizza base

Take out the base, spread out about 2-3 tbsp. of ketchup first and then all the toppings (chopped up/sliced) that your heart desires sprinkle the oregano, or

for Pizza Margarita-use only  ketchup ,spread 1/2 cup grated cheese, sprinkle oregano and bake

.

                  grating the cheese

Bake for 20-25 minutes or till base is crisp and crunchy, and cheese is golden and bubbling.... bite in...YUM!                                                      Instant Italian thin-crust pizza

 

Good things in life-Flowers and Hot Pizza!

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HOT TOMATO PICKLE ...and my cookbook

juicy-red tomatoes

Summer bounty- farm fresh tomatoes , most of the dishes I cook are based around it and I love adding it in ample amounts, so why not make something which is there in my fridge all the time to add an extra zing to my food, a hot tomato pickle based on a Nepali recipe from my cookbook featured below , this pickle or chutney is unbelievably marvellous with fresh, hot rice, chapatis , paranthas ,I even love it on my toast, have it anytime you want to tickle your taste buds.This pickle keeps well for over a week ,stored in the fridge.

Ingredients-

• Oil- 2 tbsp.
• Garlic- 6 cloves
• fresh ginger- 2' piece
• Sliced tomatoes- 3 large
• Green/dried red chillies(sliced)- 6-8 (adjust acc. to taste)
• Ajwain seeds-1/4 tsp.(lovage seeds)
• Juice of half a lemon
• salt to taste

Method-

Put oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat and sprinkle with salt.Add garlic and ginger ,cooking until they are light golden brown. Add tomatoes,sliced chillies and ajwain. Cover and cook slowly until tomato becomes a thick sauce, turn off heat and add lemon juice,mix well.

Hot tomato pickle

Nags of -The Cook in Me is hosting an event-"show me you cookbooks"-(http://cookingandme.blogspot.com/2007/09/announcing-show-me-your-cook-books.html)-show , the book below is my entry , it holds a special place in my heart since it was gifted to me by my brother whom I havent seen in well over three years since he moved to Florida,US.

book by- Association of NEPALIS in the Americas

The first page of the book- in my brothers kiddish handwriting (10th Nov. 2000)

GANESHA- REMOVER OF ALL OBSTACLES (pic from the book)

Remembering -the loved one's of all of us ,who are far away ,yet always in our hearts, may Ganesha always be with them.

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INSTANT DONUTS!

instant donuts

Donuts or Doughnuts they are definitely on my list of favourites, there's something so warming and comforting about them ,they smell gorgeous and taste heavenly, and i am craving for one right now ,right away, but wait! theres a problem ,they take an awful lot of time to make you know-using the yeast, proving the dough, several hours for sure. Oh! I despair -what to do??
Recently I have been experiencing these kind of cravings-Instant gratification! thats all i want, and thats how two of my recipes were born- Instant donuts! and Instant Italian Pizza(will post recipe of that soon) and believe me they are out of this world(I polished off the entire batch while making them!).Check them out!

Ingredients-
makes 8-10 donuts
Refined flour(maida)- 1 cup
powdered sugar- 1/2 cup(save 1 tbsp for dusting on top)
yellow butter- 1 tbsp
egg- 1
milk- 1 tbsp.
baking powder-1/2 tbsp.
vanilla essence- 1/2 tbsp
salt- 1/4 tsp.
pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon
vegetable shortening /vanaspati - for deep frying( i know the argument against trans-fat but to get the proper taste do try to use this only)

Method-
Combine egg and sugar and beat very well, sieve together flour, nutmeg and cinnamon, baking powder and salt ,add to the egg-sugar mixture lastly add vanilla essence and slowly combine milk a little at a time till you acquire a soft dough, (adjust quantity of milk if necessary). Roll out dough about 1/2 ' thick and cut either with a donut cutter or any round object ,cut out a smaller hole in the middle ,repeat with the remaining dough.Deep fry in fairly hot oil, they will rise up well, keep flipping quickly since they tend to brown soon,remove with slotted spoon as soon as they are a nice golden brown.
If you are planning to dust them with powdered sugar, sieve sugar on top of them the minute you take them off heat because its the excess oil that makes the sugar stick to them ,this is very important
for chocolate covered ones-dip one side of donut into the chocolate satin-glaze and leave on wire rack to set.
Just taste one ,they are sure to take care of your worst donut craving! instant gratification! lol

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