Christmas crunchy bars

Its Christmas time and what better way to begin this festive season on a sweet note! I took down this recipe from a television show and absolutely loved them. Since I was a kid, my grandmother made a tradition of presenting "Christmas" food to neighbours and friends and it continues till date... Try packing them in fancy plastic bags and gift them to your loved ones.. They'll love it!

Ingredients:

350 grams dark chocolate (pieces)

125 grams soft unsalted butter

200 grams tea biscuits (avoid the salty ones)

100 grams mini marshmallows

3-4 tbsp golden syrup or maple syrup

Cooking Process:

1: In a sauce pan melt the chocolate, golden/maple syrup and butter.

2: Take out 1/2 cup of the chocolate syrup and keep aside.

3: With a rolling pin bash the biscuits in a plastic bag. Avoid bashing them completely into crumbs.

4: Add in the biscuit crumbs and pieces and then the mini marshmallows into the chocolate mixture in the saucepan.

5: Place this mixture into a foil tray, pour over the chocolate syrup that was set aside, flatten as much as you can with a spatula. 

6:Cover and leave to set to refrigerate for 3 hours or over night.

7: Once set remove from the foil tray and cut into squares, preferably bite size pieces and dust with icing sugar if you desire.

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Spaghetti with meat balls

Its one of the most popular and classic old italian recipes. Simple to make and a feast for your taste buds! Italian cuisine is a personal favourite and this tops my list. Try cooking it for friends or family and i'm sure they'll ask for more!

Ingredients:

For the meat balls:

300 Grams Minced mutton or lamb
1 small onion
Bread crumbs
3-4 cloves garlic
Parsley or coriander
Rosemary leaves
Parmesan cheese
Salt to taste

For the sauce:

3 cups tomato puree
1 medium onion
3-4 cloves of garlic
1 bunch of fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried oregano
3-4 leaves of fresh basil
1 bay leaf
Rosemary leaves(few)
2 Tbsp olive oil
Pinch of sugar
Salt to taste
Black pepper

Cooking Process:

For the meat balls preparation:

1: Boil spaghetti with a little salt according to packet instructions. It usually takes about 10 minutes.

2: Blend onion, parsley/coriander, rosemary leaves and garlic in a food processor.

3: Take a bowl and mix the minced mutton/lamb with the prepared onion mixture, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese,salt and shape them into small balls by priorly wetting your palm so that it doesn't stick.

4: Sear the meat balls in olive oil for a few minutes and add them into the simmering sauce( given below).

For the sauce preparation:

1: In a pan add olive oil and fry the onions, garlic and bay leaf.

2:Pour in the tomato puree and add 2 cups of water or packaged tomato juice, oregano, basil and rosemary and cook for about 15-20 minutes.

3: Lastly season with salt and pepper and a pinch of sugar.

4: Add the fried meat balls and cook on simmer for about 15 minutes.

5: Serve with the boiled spaghetti.

Tip: 

You can use canned tomatoes for the sauce if not fresh.

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Tips and tricks for the Kitchen

Kitchen tips can be very handy and helpful. Every now and then i'm gonna post a few of them(may be 5 at a time) that i've been taught since a kid by elders and specially by my mom.
So here we go...

1: For free flow of salt from a salt cellar add a few grains of uncooked rice, it will never block the salt from flowing.

2: To get rid of odour from the microwave, place a bowl of water with a lime wedge and keep it on for about 10 minutes.

3: To avoid butter from burning in a pan, add a few drops of oil.

4. To keep herbs like coriander, mint, dill or chives fresh for a longer period of time, place them in brown paper bags and stash them into the freezer.

5: Another way is to place herbs into a vase with a little water. It keeps them fresh and looks decorative as well!

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Dark Angel

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I came up with this recipe after baking some disastrous chocolate brownies which turned out as hard as rock! Did'nt want them to be thrown away so i created a lip smacking desert! Its creamy and melts in your mouth with each scoop. And so my husband named it Dark Angel, as it has dark chocolate and white luscious double cream! Next time you call some guests for dinner, think about this one.

Ingredients:

3 cups double cream or low fat cream
7-8 pieces of chocolate brownie/cake
1 cup marshmallows
2 tbsp unsalted butter

Steps:

1: In a saucepan melt the cream, marshmallows and the unsalted butter stirring non-stop until a smooth texture is formed and set aside to cool.

2: Mash the chocolate brownies/cake with a rolling pin and mix in some ready-made or home-made chocolate sauce.

3: Layer the mashed brownies/cake and the creamy mixture one by one (as many layers as you want) and refrigerate for about 2-3 hours.

4: Serve chilled.

Tip:

You can mash the brownies or cake into complete powder or muddy form or keep a few mini chunks like the one in the picture.

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Pumpkin Soup

Soups any day are best tasted during winters as they are warm and comforting. The pumpkin soup that i have made is total comfort food and will calm you down after a hectic day at work/home. So tuck yourselves into your blankets and cosy up on the sofa and take charge of that remote to watch your favourite show with a bowl of some hot pumpkin soup for company!

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo pumpkin
1 onion
4-5 cloves garlic
1/2 cup cream
3 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Nutmeg (optional)

Cooking Process:

1: Peel out the skin of the pumpkin and cut into medium sized pieces.

2: Take a non stick deep pan and fry the onions and garlic until they turn translucent. Do not fry them until golden brown. Add salt at this point itself to prevent them from burning.

3: Add in the pumpkin pieces, freshly ground black pepper, some grated nutmeg and fry on medium heat for about 10 minutes.

4: Pour 1 litre of chicken or vegetable stock into the pan and bring to boil.

5: Add in the cream and mix well for 2-3 minutes.

6: Set aside and allow it to cool.

7: Transfer the pumpkin mixture into a blender and puree in batches until smooth and cook for about 20-25 minutes on low flame.

8: Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream or double
 cream and fresh mint/coriander.

Tip:

You can use an electric hand blender if you have one and puree the pumpkin mixture in the pan itself while cooking. Makes your job easy!

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Spicy Chicken

This is a recipe given to me by Afreen, a very close friend of mine. She once invited us over to her place for lunch and all of us were literally licking our fingers!! She's such a fab cook and has got this gift from her mom who according to me cooks the most tasty dishes! Her khatti dal with fried chicken that we would have during our college days still lingers in my mind.. Though I've cooked this a number of times it still doesn't taste as good as hers!

Ingredients:

For the marination:

1/2kg boneless chicken
1 egg white
Ginger garlic paste
3tbsp Chilli garlic sauce
2tbsp soy sauce
2tbsp worcestershire sauce
2tbsp red Chilli sauce
1tbsp cornflour
Pinch of red colour
2tsp cumin powder
Red Chilli powder
Salt to taste

For the gravy:

3 cups yogurt
3tbsp Chilli garlic sauce
2tbsp soy sauce
2tbsp red Chilli sauce
3tbsp tomato sauce (ketchup)
1tsp ginger garlic paste
Pinch of cornflour
Red colour
Fresh coriander
Salt to taste

For the tadka:

2tbsp oil
Curry leaves
Green chillies
Cumin seeds

Cooking Process:

1: Deep fry the marinated chicken in small batches and keep aside.

2: In a deep frying pan add all the sauces and fry for about 3-4 minutes.

3: Mix the yogurt thoroughly to maintain a smooth texture. Pour this into the pan of sauces and add in the cornflour, salt and red colour and cook for about 10 minutes till the oil separates.

4: Now place the deep fried chicken into the yogurt mix. Cover and cook for another 10-15 minutes.

5: Take a small pan and fry the cumin seeds, curry leaves and green chillies and pour over the chicken curry.

6: Sprinkle fresh coriander and serve hot with rice or roti/naan.

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Banana and Chocolate Pancakes

Pancakes are one of our family favourites and i usually cook them for brunch on lazy weekends.This particular recipe of pancake is chocolate based and kids are gonna love it, just for this simple reason. Make it for breakfast, brunch or for desert, it will never disappoint you!

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups Flour (maida)
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg lightly beaten
1/4 cup maple syrup
2/3 cup milk (preferably low fat)
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
1tbsp butter
1/2 cup dark or semi sweet chocolate chopped finely

For the Sauce:

1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup maple syrup

Cooking Process:

1: In a bowl mix all the dry ingredients i.e; flour, baking powder and salt.

2. In another bowl combine the egg,half amount of the maple syrup, milk, butter and the mashed bananas.

3. Pour the egg mixture into the flour and mix well. Add the finely chopped chocolate and fold in.

4: Take a non stick pan and pour the batter with a deep round spoon and cook for about a min or two on each side until bubbles form at the edges. Do not use oil to cook.

5: For the sauce cook the blueberries and maple syrup for about 5 minutes till it blends well and thickens.

6:Lay them onto plates and pour the prepared blueberry sauce or fresh banana slices with honey or maple syrup.


Tip:
You can have your pancakes thin or thick as per your desire. I personally like them a little thinner than the usual size.

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Banoffee And Blueberry Smoothie

Smoothies are one of the most healthiest, easiest and the yummiest to make. Its good to go with your breakfast or can be had for desert. Either ways it works wonders and is packed with vitamins and proteins! Combine various fruits together for more variety and taste, like a combination of raspberries,blackberries and blueberries with a dash of packaged watermelon juice, or banana and apple, etc.. 

Ingredients for Blueberry Smoothie:

1 Cup Yoghurt

1/2 Cup Blue berries

Honey or Powdered sugar

Steps:

1: Blend the blueberries, honey or powdered sugar with the yoghurt till all the ingredients mix well.

2: Pour into glasses and garnish with few blueberries on top for a decorative look.

Ingredients for Banoffee Smoothie:

Banoffee is a mix of bananas and coffee with a dash of cinnamon.

1 Cup Yoghurt

1/2 Cup Mashed Ripe Bananas

Honey
1Tsp Espresso powder
Pinch of Ground cinnamon

 Steps:

1: Blend all the ingredients together till everything is mixed well.

2:Pour into glasses and serve chilled.

Tip:
You can skip the powdered sugar and use honey or just leave it with the fruit's natural sweetness. Good for health as well!

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