A Chef's Melody

Ingredients 1 cup cauliflower florets 1/4 cup carrot,cubed 1/4 cup green pepper/capsicum,cubed 1/4 cup green beans,cut an inch long 1/4 cup green peas 1 medium potato,cubed 1 large onion,sliced lengthwise 1 1/2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste 1 tbsp coriander-cumin powder 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp chilli powder,adjust to taste 1/4 tsp turmeric powder 1/2 tsp kashmiri chilli powder 1 tbsp crushed kasoori methi 1 tbsp white poppy seeds/khuskhus 1 bay leaf 2 medium tomatoes,blanched and pureed 3 tbsp chopped cilantro 2 tbsp oil 2 tbsp ghee/butter 1/2 tsp sugar 1 tbsp lemon juice salt to taste What you need to do In a kadhai/pressure cooker,heat 1 tbsp of oil.When hot,add the onion and cook till translucent. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for couple of mins. Add tomato puree,coriander-cumin powder,poppy seeds and chilli powder and cook till the mixture oozes oil. Add cilantro and turn off the heat. Let the mixture cool.Grind it to a smooth paste. In the same cook...

Ingredients 8 slices of white sandwich bread 1/4 cup+3 tbsp of sugar 1/8 tsp cinnamon powder 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1.5 cups milk What you need to do Pulse the bread slices in a food processor to form course bread crumbs.Alternately,make small bit size pieces. Warm the milk for a minute in microwave. In a bowl,add the bread crumbs,milk,cinnamon powder,1/4 cup sugar and vanilla.Mix well and set aside. Set the idli cooker/pressure cooker(without whistle) for steaming.Add 1 cup of water in the cooker ,cover with its lid and place in on medium heat.I place a small inverted thali inside the cooker so that the food to be cooker does not come in direct contact with the heat. Heat a deep saucepan,add a tablespoon of water and 3 tbsp of sugar.Stir continuously on low heat till it turns golden.Switch off the heat. Pour this mixture in the container you intend to prepare the caramel.Tilt the container so that the mixture spreads well. Pour the bread mixture in this container....

Ingredients 5 slices of white sandwich bread 2 large eggs,at room temperature 1 tsp ginger garlic paste 1/2 tsp chilli powder 1 tbsp cilantro,finely chopped 1/4 tsp garam masala 1/4 tsp turmeric powder 3-4 tbsp of oil salt to taste What you need to do  Cut each bread in 4 equal squares. In a bowl,lightly beat the eggs.Add the ginger-garlic paste,turmeric,cilantro,garam masala,salt and mix well. Heat a skillet,brush it with a tbsp of oil. Dip each bread square in the egg batter one at a time so that it is coated well from all sides with the egg batter and place it on the skillet.Do not overcrowd the pan.Place the squares 1 inch apart. Let it cook on one side for 2 mins.Then flip it and cook the other side for another 2 mins.Cook on medium low heat.Use oil as necessary. Serve hot with ketchup. Variation Add finely chopped onion to the egg batter. Substitute chilli powder with green chilli paste.

 Ingredients 1 cup All purpose flour 1 tbsp corn starch 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 cup sunflower oil 1/8 tsp salt 3/4 cup orange juice,preferably fresh 1 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp orange zest What you need to do Preheat the oven to 350 deg F.Grease a loaf tin. In a bowl,sift the flour,baking soda,baking powder,corn starch and salt.Set aside. In another bowl,cream the oil and sugar until smooth. To this sugar mixture add the orange and lemon juice and mix well. Now add the flour mixture and orange zest.Fold gently.Make sure there are no lumps in the batter. Pour this batter in the prepared loaf tin.Pat the tin couple of times on the counter to release air bubbles,if any. Bake in the preheat oven for 35-40 mins or until the toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake. When warm,unmold and let it cool on a wire rack until cooled complete.Store in airtight container. Note: You can use any store bought orang...

Ingredients 3/4 cup all purpose flour 3/4 cup +2 tbsp quick oats 1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/3 cup salted butter* 1 cup Semi sweet chocolate chips 1 large egg * 6 Tbsp granulated sugar 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup raspberry jam * at room temperature What you need to do Microwave 1/2 cup chocolate chips in the microwave until melted. In a bowl,combine the flour,oats,cocoa and baking powder. In another bowl,combine softened butter, sugar and egg. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy.  Add the flour mixture and melted chocolate and beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.  Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Make indentation in center of each cookie with thumb and fill each indentation with about 1/4 teaspoon jam. Bake for 12 minutes. Let stand 2 minute on ...

Ingredients 1 cup All Purpose flour 1/4 cup oil 1/4 cup water 2 tbsp crushed kasoori methi 1/2 tsp chilli powder 1/4 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp ajwain (optional) salt as per taste oil for frying What you need to do Heat 2 tbsp of oil,when warm add the kasoori methi,chilli powder,turmeric and salt.Saute for 30 secs. In a bowl,add flour,the above mixture,ajwain and remaining oil and mix well.Using water form a hard consistency dough. Cover and rest the dough for 30 mins. Make small balls of the dough. Roll each into a thick roti and cut out shankarpali( diamond shape) using a knife. Heat oil for frying.Fry the cut diamond on a medium heat until golden. When cooled,store in an airtight container. Note: You can sprinkle some chaat masala on the still warm shankarpali.

                                                Happy Makar Sankranti! Ingredients For dough 1 cup whole wheat flour/atta 1 cup all purpose flour/maida 2 tbsp besan 2 tbsp oil 1/4 cup milk 1/2 cup water 1 tsp salt For stuffing/filling 1/4 cup white sesame seeds 3 tbsp khuskhus/poppy seeds 3 tbsp roasted peanuts 1 cup powdered jaggery 1/4 cup besan 1/8 cup coconut powder/dessicated coconut 3-4 tbsp ghee 1/4 tsp elaichi powder 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder What you need to do  for dough In a bowl,combine the 3 flours and salt. Mix the milk,water and oil in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for a minute. Add this warm mixture to the flour-mixture and make a smooth dough.Knead for atleast 5 mins. Cover the dough and let it sit aside for an hour. for stuffing/filling Dry roast the sesame seeds,poppy seeds and coconut powder till light go...