A Chef's Melody

My family enjoys Roasted Red Pepper hummus with baked pita chips or in wraps with pita,tahini, falafel  (my style) or just as a dip for crackers or baby carrots. Ingredients 1 16oz. can Chickpeas ½ cup plain yogurt(low-fat,non fat or whole) 1 tbsp Tahini (recipe follows) 3 fat cloves of garlic 1 large red pepper ½ tsp cumin powder ¼ tsp paprika 1/8 tsp pepper Salt to taste   What you need to do:           Roasting the pepper Wash and pat dry the red pepper. Scrape off the sticker if any. Preheat the oven to 450 Deg F and arrange the pepper on a cookie sheet lined with an aluminum foil. Let the pepper roast turning every 15 mins until done , about 25-30 mins.  I throw in the 3 cloves of garlic with the skin on and wrap them in an aluminum foil, along with the pepper to roast. But roasting garlic is optional. After the pepper is done, drop it in either in a bowl and cover the bowl with a cling wrap or drop it in...

Ingredients 5 cups rice Krispie Cereals 1/2 cup raw peanuts 10-12 curry leaves 2 tsp mustard seeds 1/4 tsp asafoetida 2 tbsp broken cashews (optional) 1/2 tsp turmeric 1/8 tsp amchur powder 1/2 tsp freshly ground coriander-cumin powder 1 1/2 tsp chilli powder (or adjust to taste) 2 tsp sugar 2 tbsp oil salt to taste What you need to do: In a heavy bottom pan heat 1 tbsp oil till hot.Turn the heat to low,add the peanuts and cashews and fry till light golden.Drain and remove with a slotted spoon. Add the remaining oil.When hot add asafoetida and mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds crackle, add curry leaves and fry for 30 secs. Add turmeric,chilli powder,amchur powder,coriander-cumin powder and fry for a min. Add the sal.Mix and switch off the heat. Drop in the rice krispies,peanuts,cashews and sugar and mix well till all the spices coat each grain of rice krispie. When cooled store in an airtight container. Variation Add 2 tbsp of golde...

Ingredients 3 Cups Bread Flour +about  1/2 cup for dusting (I used King Arthur) 1 pack dry yeast,about 2 1/4 tsp (I used Red star Quick rise instant dry yeast) 2 tsp sugar 1 1/2 tsp salt 3 tbsp oil 1 1/2 cup warm water 1/4 cup water at room temperature Cooking oil spray 2 tbsp sesame seeds(optional) What you need to do Place 1/4 cup room temperature water in a microwave safe bowl and warm it for 10 secs. Stir in 1 pack yeast and sugar.Mix well and set aside for 15 mins. At this stage,the yeast mixture should be really frothy,if not the temperature of water is not right for yeast.Start over again. In a large bowl, mix 3 cups bread flour and salt. Make a small well at the center of this dry mix. Add 2 tbsp oil to the yeast mixture and mix Drop the yeast mixture in the well of dry mix. Use warm water little at a time to form a sticky dough.Do not use too much water.You will need about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups water depending on the flour quality. Spread some fl...

A great way to serve couscous to your kids.Quick and easy one pot dish.Ready to be served under 15 mins. Ingredients 2/3 C Couscous 2 tbsp white/brown sugar (or adjust to taste) 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp vanilla 2 tbsp silvered almonds 1 tsp unsalted butter/clarified butter 1/8 C  mixture of nuts and dry fruits of your choice.(optional) 1 1/8 C Water What you need to do Place the water,sugar and cinnamon in a saucepan and bring it to boil.If you would like to add nuts and dry fruits,add them to the water before it come to a boil. Drop in the couscous and butter. Mix well and remove the saucepan off the heat. Cover and let it rest for 5-10 minutes so that all the water get absorbed by the couscous. Lightly fluff it with a fork.Garnish with almonds and serve. Variation: Replace water with orange juice and cinnamon with orange zest for a yummy orange flavored c...

Ingredients For the white dough 3/4 cup unbleached All purpose flour 1/4 cup+1 tbsp sugar 1/4 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature) 1/8 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp vanilla For the brown dough 3/4 cup unbleached All purpose flour 1/4 cup+1 tbsp sugar 1/4 cup unsalted butter(at room temperature) 1/8 tsp baking soda 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 tsp vanilla What you need to do: For the white dough Sift the flour and the baking soda twice. In a bowl,cream the butter and sugar until smooth.Add in the vanilla and mix well. Add in the flour in a small quantity at a time mixing slowly to form a smooth dough ball. If you are unable to form the mixture into a ball,add in a little more butter. Once the mixture forms a nice smooth ball,wrap it in a plastic wrap and let it chill in the refrigerator for   half an hour. For the brown dough Sift the flour,baking soda and cocoa together twice. In a bowl,cream the butter and ...

The first Holy festival which marks the beginning of the New Year, new month and new day for the Hindus falls on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. It is known as Gudi Padwa (in Maharashtra), Ugadi (in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh). Baisakhi (Punjab), & Cheti Chand (Sindhi). On this very day Lord Brahma created the Universe. Therefore for Hindus, this day carries special importance. In Maharashtra,the day is celebrated with an auspicious bath, followed by decorating the doorway with a 'toran', performing ritualistic worship and hoisting the Gudi.A neivedyam of shrikhand ,poori,boiled potato sabzi and dal rice is offered to God. So today on this occasion I am preparing amrakhand. Amrakhand as the name suggest  is a mango flavored shrikhand. Ingredients: 8 oz Greek yogurt  (low fat or full fat) 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar 1 ripe medium size mango,cubed 1/4 tsp cardamom powder/elaichi 1 tbsp each sliced almonds and sliced pistachios What you need to do: Puree the ch...