Hot Chocolate Recipe

Hot Chocolate Recipe

Ingredients
Full fat milk - 1 cup
Cadburys cocoa powder - 2 tsp
Sugar syrup to taste

Hot Chocolate

Method
1. Warm milk in microwave or on stove top until hot.
2. Combine hot milk, cocoa powder and sugar syrup in a blender or milk shake maker.
3. Run until frothy, pour into mugs, top with marshmallows and serve.

Hot Chocolate

Grilled Chicken Salad

Grilled Chicken Salad

For chicken marinade ingredients
Chicken tenders - 250 gms
Lemon juice - 4 tsp
Dried oregano - 2 tsp
Red chiili flakes - 1/2 tsp
Black pepper crushed - 1/2 tsp
Cilantro ( coriander leaves) chopped - 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
Water few tbsp
Oil - 1/4 cup

Salad ingredients
Iceberg lettuce ( torn into pieces) - 1no
Salad dressing - your favorite ( I used Spicy Ranch)

Spicy Chicken Salad

Method
1. Marinade chicken with other ingredients given under chicken marinade preferably overnight or for at least 2 hours.
2. Pre-heat your grill, drain chicken from marinade and cook on grill until chicken tenders are cooked.
3. Place lettuce in a salad bowl, top it with grilled chicken pieces and your preferred salad dressing.

Buffalo Chicken Nuggets

Buffalo Chicken nuggets

Ingredients

Chicken cut into bite size pieces - 300 gms

Maida / All purpose flour - 1/2 cup

Corn flour - 1/2 cup

Baking soda - less than 1/4 tsp

Oil to deep fry

Ingredients for Buffalo Sauce

Hot sauce (any brand) - 1/2 cup

Vinegar - 4 tbsp

Red chilli powder / Paprika powder - 1 tsp

Butter ( melted) - 1/4 cup

Cornflour - 1 tsp ( mixed with 2 tbsp water)

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Buffalo Chicken

Method

To make chicken nuggets

Mix in maida, cornflour and baking soda in a bowl. Dust the chicken pieces well in the flour mixture and deep fry in hot oil till golden brown and crisp. 

To make Buffalo sauce

In a sauce pan mix in all the ingredients given for buffalo sauce.

Simmer the sauce on low heat for 3 mins. Finally add cornflour paste to the simmering sauce and remove pan from heat.

Toss the prepared chicken nuggets in buffalo sauce and serve immediately.

Tips

Use chicken wings instead of chicken nuggets for Buffalo chicken wings.

Any brand of hot sauce will do good, hot sauce is available in many supermarkets.

Strawberry Muffins Recipe

How to make strawberry muffins

I had adapted this easy strawberry muffin recipe from here and made many changes to suit my taste. I love my muffins to be moist and nicely browned, the outcome was excellent.

Strawberry Muffins

Ingredients

Maida/ All purpose flour- 1 and 1/2 cups

Sugar- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp

Salt- 1/2 tsp

Baking powder- 2 tsp

Egg- 1 no

Milk- 3/4 cup

Oil- 1/4 cup

Vanilla essence- 1 tsp

Strawberry chopped- 1 cup

Moist Strawberry Muffin

Method

Preheat oven to 200° Celsius. Grease an 12 cup muffin pan or use paper cups. 

Combine oil, milk, vanilla essence and egg in a bowl and beat well with fork.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in large bowl and mix well.

Now add chopped strawberries to the flour and stir to coat with flour.

Reserve some chopped strawberries to top the muffins.

Pour in the milk mixture to the flour in bowl and stir together until smooth.

Fill the muffin cups. 

Bake muffins at 200° Celsius for 12 mins or until the tops bounce back from the touch. 

Cool 10 minutes and remove from pans.

Strawberry Muffin

Sending this recipe to Valentine's day recipe contest held by Priya's Versatile Recipes

Eggless Banana Walnut Cake

This an basic Eggless Banana Cake recipe, this recipe can also be prepared in muffin molds to make Eggless Banana Muffin recipe. I have added chopped walnuts( akrot) to this recipe try adding chopped almonds( badam), cashew nuts or any nuts of your choice.

Eggless Banana Walnut Cake

Ingredients

Banana ripened- 4 nos( Dole or Morris variety)

Powdered Sugar- 3/4 cup

All purpose flour or Maida- 1 and 1/2 cup

Butter- 200 gms( at room temprature)

Banana essence or Vanilla essence- 1 and 1/2 tsp

Baking powder and Baking soda- each 3/4 tsp

Walnuts chopped- 100 gms

Banana Nut Cake

Method

Mash the banana well without any lumps to puree.

In mixing bowl add butter, powdered sugar, banana essence, banana puree and mix well until sugar is dissolved and everything blended well.

Sieve all purpose flour along with baking powder and baking soda, add this sieved flour to the mixing bowl with banana puree and gently fold the batter until everything blended well and creamy cake batter is formed.

Add the chopped walnuts to the banana cake batter and fold well, reserve some chopped walnuts for garnishing top of the cake.

Grease loaf pan with 1/2 tbsp butter, pre-heat oven at 350°F or 180°C, fill 3/4th of the loaf pan with cake batter and top it with chopped walnuts.

Place the batter filled loaf pan in the center rack of the oven and bake cake for 55 mins until the top of the cake is golden brown

( insert a knife in the center of the cake to check if it is done, if the knife comes out clean then cake is done).

Allow the cake to cool for 20 mins before removing it from pan, after removing the cake place on wire rack and allow it to cool again for 10 mins.

Enjoy Eggless Banana Walnut Cake with chocolate sauce if preferred.

Eggless Banana Cake

Savory Egg Muffins.

Savory Egg Muffins

Ingredients

Eggs- 4 nos

Milk- 1/4 cup

Onion large minced- 1 no

Tomato large finely chopped- 1 no

Capsicum/ Bell pepper medium chopped- 1 no

Green chilli finely chopped- 2 nos

Coriander leaves or Parsley chopped- few tbsp

Salt and Pepper to taste

Savory Egg Muffins

Method

In large bowl whisk milk and eggs together until frothy. Add minced onion, chopped tomatoes, chopped capsicum, chopped green chilli, chopped coriander leaves, pepper and salt to the beaten eggs and milk mixture. Mix well.

Pre- heat oven to 300 degree F.

Lightly grease the muffin pan and pour the prepared egg mixture upto 3/4th of each muffin cup.

Place the muffin pan in the center rack of the oven. Bake for 10 to 15 mins or until the savory egg muffins are well cooked and done.

Serve Hot Savory Egg Muffin with hot toast or sandwich between Croissants and English Muffins.

Egg Muffins

Tofu and Crispy Fish Sandwich.

This is a great protein rich, no carb sandwich. Ideal for dieters and people avoiding carb. There is no compromise in taste, its very delicious and filling. I prepared these sandwiches for our guests and it was big hit, everyone complemented me for inventing such delicious and healthy recipe.

Ingredients for Sandwich

Crispy fish slices-2

Pan seared tofu slices-4

Lettuce leaves-2

Ketchup/Hot sauce/Buffalo sauce- couple of tbsp

Ranch- couple of tbsp

Ingredients for Crispy fish

Fish slices( boneless and skin less)

Lemon juice-1tsp

Paprika/ Red chilli powder-1tsp

Salt to taste

Bread crumbs/ Corn meal-2 cups

EVOO oil/ Canola oil-2tbsp

Ingredients for Pan seared tofu

Firm tofu-1 pack( cut into 4 thick slices)

Garlic powder-1tsp

Pepper and Salt- to taste

EVOO oil/ Canola oil-2tbsp

Method for Crispy Fish

In a small bowl add red chilli powder, salt and lemon juice and mix well. Rub this paste on fish slices on both sides. Spread corn meal on a plate, coat well the fish slices with corn meal. Heat evoo oil in a pan, when oil is hot add the fish slices and cook on both sides until golden brown and crispy.

Method for Pan Seared Tofu

In a small bowl add garlic powder, evoo oil, pepper and salt and mix well. Rub this paste on the tofu slices. Heat a non stick pan or griddle, when pan is hot add the tofu slices and fry on both sides until golden brown.

Method to place Sandwich

Place one pan seared tofu slice on a plate, place a lettuce leaf and top it with ranch sauce. Next place one crispy fish slice on the lettuce leaf and top it with ketchup( I used buffalo sauce). Place one more tofu slice on top of the fish slice and complete sandwich( insert a tooth pick in the middle of the sandwich to keep the sandwich secure).

Indian Style Chicken Meat Loaf.

Ingredients

Minced chicken-500gms

Onion medium minced-1

Green chili minced-2

Fried cashew nuts( broken to small pieces)-25

Red chili powder-1tsp(+/-)

Turmeric powder-1/4tsp

Salt to taste

Oil required

Egg beaten- 2( one for the minced chicken and other for egg wash)

Masala paste ingredients 

( grind below ingredients to fine paste adding couple of tbsp water)

Ginger minced-2"

Garlic clove minced-6

Shredded coconut-1/4cup

Cumin/ Jeera seeds-1tsp

Fennel seeds/ Sombu-2tsp

Cloves-4

Green cardamom-1

Cinnamon stick-1"

Method

1.In a large bowl combine minced chicken, minced onion, minced green chili, ground masala paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, fried cashew nuts, 1 beaten egg and required salt. Mix all ingredients together well with the fingers.

2.Grease a meatloaf or cake pan with required butter or oil. Pr- heat oven at 400F, place the chicken mixture inside the meatloaf pan( make sure they are loosely packed, otherwise chicken may not cook perfect). Brush top of the chicken meatloaf with a beaten egg.

3.Place the meatloaf pan in the center rack of the oven. Bake chicken meatloaf for 20 to 30mins until the top turns to golden brown color. Once the chicken meatloaf is fully cooked, place meatloaf on a wire rack and allow to cool.

4.Cut meatloaf into thick slices, serve with rice, roti, bread or enjoy as it is.

Variation:

Indian Chicken Patties for sandwiches and burgers.

Use the above minced chicken mixture to make yummy chicken patties for sandwiches or burgers. Follow the above method till step one, shape the minced chicken mixture into equal sized balls. Flatten these balls in between palms to make patties, heat a griddle or a tawa, place the chicken patties on the hot griddle and smear with butter or oil. Cook these chicken patties on both sides until it turns golden brown and tender.

For Indian Chicken Sandwich-take 2 slices of toasted bread, place a chicken patty on one bread top with grated cheese and ketchup, place a lettuce leaf on chicken patty and cover with another slice of bread.

For Indian Chicken burger-Do the above sandwich method with burger buns.

Lemon Garlic Herb Chicken.

Ingredients

Whole chicken( cleaned)-1

Onion small( minced)-1

Garlic cloves( minced)-6

Juice of lemon-1

Soy sauce-1tsp

Red chilli powder-2tsp(+/-)

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh rosemary( chopped)-2tsp

Fresh thyme( chopped)-2tsp

Olive oil-1/4cup

Method

In a medium bowl add minced onion, minced garlic, lemon juice, soy sauce, red chilli powder, chopped rosemary, chopped thyme, olive oil, salt and pepper. Whisk well and check the seasoning. Rub this marinade over the whole chicken until coats well on all sides. Prick the top of the chicken with fork so that the marinade reaches inner meat. Place the whole chicken in a deep dish, pour the excess marinade over the chicken, cover with lid and marinate in refrigerator for 4 hours( I always prefer overnight marinade for added taste). Pre heat oven at 400 F. Remove the marinaded chicken from the refrigerator, reserving the marinade, place whole chicken on a roasting pan and place inside center of oven. Keep basting the chicken with reserved marinade occasionally until the chicken is fully roasted and cooked.( To know if the chicken is done, insert a instant read thermometer into the thickest part of thigh should read 180 F).  Serve hot with mashed potatoes or side of your choice.

Courtesy

Picnics and Tailgates- Williams and Sonoma. 

Garden Wrap.

Ingredients

Spinach Tortillas( cooked)-6

Carrot Julienned-1cup

Cucumber Julienned-1cup

Roma Tomato Cubed-1/2cup

Lettuce shredded-2cups

Bread Croutons-1/2cup

Graden Cream Cheese-1pack

Ranch-1/4cup

Olive oil-2tbsp

Salt and Pepper- as required

Method

In a mixing bowl combine carrots, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, ranch, olive oil, salt and pepper. 

Give a good stir and add the bread croutons.  Place the cooked tortillas on kitchen countertop. Spread 2tbsp of cream cheese on each tortillas. Place required amount of vegetable mixture in the center of each tortillas. Roll the tortillas into wraps, slice them into halves and serve.

Brownie Home-Style.

Ingredients

Butter( thawed)-8tbsp

Chocolate( broken into pieces)-225gms

Eggs-2

Sugar-1/2 cup(+/- according to the sweetness of chocolate used)

Vanilla extract-1tsp

All purpose flour-1/4cup

Method

Grease a baking pan with 1tbsp butter. Melt rest of the butter with the broken chocolate pieces by double boiling method. In a bowl beat eggs, sugar and vanilla extract together with beater until the egg mixture reaches whipped cream consistency. Now add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat well. Add flour to this mixture and beat at slow speed until the flour is well absorbed. Pour this brownie mixture into the greased pan. Pre heat oven to 375°, bake the brownie for 30 mins or until done. Slide a toothpick in the center of brownie pan, if the toothpick comes out clean then brownie is done. Allow the brownie to cool for 1 hour and cut into desired shapes. 

Recipe Courtesy: LadyJay, Big Oven.

Soft Dinner Rolls.

I would like to thank my Blogger Friends and Visitors for your continued support and encouragement on helping me to reach my 200th post and nearing 30,000 unique visitors.

Soft Dinner Rolls

Ingredients

2 1/2 tsp dry yeast

1 cup( 250 ml) milk

4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

2 tbsp sugar

2 eggs, beaten

4 cups ( 560gms) unbleached flour

2tsp salt

For egg wash

1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tbsp milk

Method

Heat milk till lukewarm. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in half cup of milk( 125ml) and rest aside for 15 mins until yeast reacts and rise.

To the other half cup of milk, add melted butter and beaten eggs, mix well until everything is well combined.

Sieve flour with salt, make well in the center pour both the dissolved yeast and butter mixed with  milk mixture. Knead the flour until smooth and elastic.

( If the dough is too sticky, add 1tbsp of flour at a time and knead. Do not add too much of flour, as the dough should be soft, not dry and hard).

Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with wet towel, rest aside for 1 1/2 hour until the dough doubles in size.

After 1 1/2 hour punch down the dough and transfer to working surface( cleaned kitchen table), and knead again for 10 mins.

Shape the dough into bow-knot rolls or snail rolls or the shape you desire. 

Place the shaped dough on buttered baking tray or buttered baking sheets and cover with wet towel. Set aside for 30 mins, proof until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C, brush each roll with egg wash and bake for 15 to 20 mins until golden.

Cool the dinner rolls on wire rack and wrap them in napkins to keep them warm.

Recipe Courtesy

Ultimate Bread Book

By

Eric Treuille and Ursula Ferrigno

Onion Rings

Ingredients

Onions big-2

All purpose flour/Maida flour-1cup

Corn flour-1tbsp

Baking powder/soda-pinch

Bread crumbs-1/2cup

Egg-1

Milk cold required

Pepper and Salt to taste

Method

Cut Onions into thick rounds. Separate each rounds into rings. In a bowl, combine all purpose flour, cornflour, breadcrumbs, pepper, salt and baking powder. Whisk together egg and milk. Add milk mixture to dry ingredients, blend well. Dip onion rings into batter, then deep fry in hot oil. Fry until golden brown, drain and set aside on paper towel for few seconds. Serve hot with sauce of your choice. Your Kids and Family will love it.

Crispy Fried Chicken

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts

2 cups bread crumbs

1 egg beaten well

1 cup milk

1 cup maida/all purpose flour

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Dash of paprika

Ground pepper and salt to taste

Vegetable shortening to deep fry

Ingredients for marination

2 tsp onion powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

Little water

Make a paste out of the marination ingredients, rub thoroughly on the chicken breasts allow to marinate for 4 hours. In a bowl mix egg and milk well. In a separate bowl mix breadcrumbs , maida, garlic powder, paprika, pepper and salt. Dip each piece of chicken into the milk until fully moistened and roll the moistened chicken in the flour mixture until coated. Deep fry in hot oil till Golden Brown.

Crispy Breaded Okra/ Crunchy Ladiesfinger

If your kids hate to eat okra, Try this. Its like nuggets kids would love it!

Ingredients

Okra-10 (Chop into thick slices)

Maida flour-5tbsp

Pepper- 2tsp

Salt to taste

bread crumbs- 1/2cup

Oil to fry

Method

Take a bowl, add maida, pepper, salt and little water mix into thick batter. Dip the okra slices into the batter and coat with bread crumbs. Deep fry the okra slices in hot oil till golden brown.Serve with Tomato sauce and Ranch.