A Chef's Melody

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups All purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa (i used Hershey's) 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp vinegar 1/2 cup oil 2 tsp pure vanilla 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips 1 cup cold water (i stored a cup of water in refrigerator for 30 mins) Here's what you need to do: Grease and line 15 muffin cups and preheat the oven to 325 deg F. Sift the flour,cocoa,baking soda and salt thrice. In a bowl mix the water,oil and vanilla. Add 1 tbsp of the dry mix to the chocolate chips and mix till they are coated well.Set aside.This prevents the chips to sink at the bottom. Add the dry ingredients to the water mixture and gently fold until you get a smooth batter.If you want to store the batter for later use this is the perfect time.Drop the batter in a clean airtight container and store it up to a week. Add the vinegar and mix well.Fold in the chips. Pour the batter in the muffin cups until they are...

Ingredients 250 gms paneer cubed 1 large red onion,cubed (or 2 medium onions) 3 large tomatoes 4 garlic cloves 1 inch ginger 1 inch cinnamon stick 1 tbsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp kitchen king masala 1 tbsp kasoori methi,crushed between your palms 5 cashews ,soaked for 30 mins 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp kashmiri mirch powder 2 tbsp oil 1/2 cup whole milk (or cream) 1 tbsp butter/ghee 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro Here's what you need to do Wash the tomatoes and make a not so deep + on one of their narrow side. Boil 1 1/2 cups of water in a sauce pan and drop the tomatoes . After 4 mins,switch off the heat cover the pan and set aside for 10 mins. Fish the tomatoes out.Peel the skin and chop them roughly.Reserve the juice they release while chopping. Put the sauce pan along with the  remaining water back on stove and let the water come to a boil. Now add the cubed onion and cook covered till they...

Ingredients For buns 3 cups All purpose flour 1 packet of  Active Dry Yeast 2 Tbsp Sugar 3 Tbsp Butter 1 tsp salt 1 1/4 cup warm milk 1/4 cup lukewarm water 2 tbsp milk for brushing 3 tbsp white sesame seeds 1 tbsp of oil For stuffing 1 cup boiled potato 1 cup cauliflower 1/2 cup green peas 1/2 cup carrot 1/2 cup green pepper 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tbsp kitchen king masala salt to taste 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp cilantro.finely chopped 1 small onion,finely chopped 1 tbsp oil 1 tsp cumin seeds Here what you need to do: For stuffing: Heat oil in a pan,when hot add cumin and when they change colour, add onion and saute till they turn translucent. Add the cauliflower,carrot ,peas and green pepper and cover and cook until they are almost done. Add the red chilli,turmeric,coriander powder,kitchen king masala and salt.Cover and cook for 2-3 mins. Add the potatoes and cov...

Ingredients 1 cup yellow moong dal 1 inch ginger 2 green chillis (adjust as per your taste) 3 tbsp curd/plain yogurt -preferrably sour 1 tbsp sugar 1/4 tsp turmeric salt to taste 1 1/2 tsp eno fruit sat For tempering: 1 tbsp mustard seeds 1 tbsp sesame seeds 1/8 tsp hing 7-8 curry leaves 1 green chilli,finely chopped 1 tbsp oil 2 tbsp of finely chopped cilantro for ganishing What you need to do: Soak the dal in 4 cups for water for 4-5 hours. Drain and grind in along with the ginger,chillis and curd to a smooth batter ans set aside for 5-6 hours, preferably over night to ferment. Pour water in the steamer ,close the lid and let the water come to a rolling boil. Grease an 8 inch deep plate/thali with a tsp of oil. Add turmeric,salt and sugar to the batter and mix. When the steamer is ready ,add a mixture of 1 tbsp of water and eno to the batter and mix gently. Pour the batter in the thali. Place a wired rack or inverted plate at the...

Ingredients 1 cup soya nuggets (I used Nutrella brand) 2 tbsp curd/plain yogurt 2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder 1/4 tsp turmeric 2 medium red onions, finely chopped 1 large tomato, finely chopped 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste 1 tsp coriander powder 3 tbsp dessicated dry coconut-dry roated until light golden 1 tbsp crushed kasuri methi 5 whole cashew nuts 4 tbsp oil 2 cups hot water 1 tsp sugar 4 tbsp milk 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro salt to taste whole masala: 1" cinnamon stick,3 cloves,4 black peppers Lightly dry roast the above whole masala for a minutes. What you need to do: Add 1 tsp of salt to hot water and drop in the soya chunks.Set aside for 1/2 an hour. Gently squeeze the chunks to remove the water and cut them in half. In a bowl beat the curd with turmeric , a tsp of chilli powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Drop the soya chunks in this and gently mix till they are coated with the mixture.Set aside til...

Ingredients 2 cups fresh strawberry puree 3 tbsp +2 tbsp  sugar 14 oz can of condensed milk 8 oz tub of Any brand whipped topping such as CoolWhip 3 strawberries, finely chopped What you need to do In a glass bowl mix together strawberry puree,3tbsp sugar,condensed milk with a hand mixer for 3 mins on medium speed till well combined. Fold in the whipped topping and beat with a hand mixer for 2 mins on low speed. Don't overmix or else the whipped topping will fall flat. Pour in a airtight container,place the lid and freeze it for atleat 5-6 hours. In a small bowl, mix the chopped strawberries and 2 tbsp sugar and refrigerate for 2 hrs. Remove the ice cream from the freezer 5 mins before it needs to be served. For serving,scoop the icecream in a small glass bowl and drizzle the sugar strawberry mixture on the top. Have a wonderful dessert. Variation: You can add few chopped strawberry pieces in the ice cream itself. I have tried mango ice cream with the ...

Ingredients 1/2 lb tindora,ends snipped off and sliced into thin circles. 1 medium onion,finely chopped 1 small potato chopped into small cubes 1/2 tsp ginger,grated 1/2 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp turmeric salt to taste few curry leaves 1 tsp mustard seeds 1/8 tsp hing/asafoetida 2 tbsp oil What you need to do Heat a tbsp of oil in a pan,when hot drop in the sliced tindora and stir fry for 3-4 mins on medium heat.Add 1/2 tsp each of salt and turmeric.Mix. Cover and cook on low flame for 15 mins.Give them a couple of shakes so that they don't burn. After 15 mins remove them in a plate and in the same pan heat the remaining oil,when hot add hing,mustard seeds. When they splutter add curry leaves ,ginger and mix. Add the onion and cook till they are pink. Now drop in the potato,1/2 tsp  each of turmeric and salt. Saute for couple of mins and cover and cook for 2 mins. Add in the tindora ,coriander powder and chilli powder.Combine and c...