Sending a Lil Valentine Love Your Way !!

Dear friends,

I'm so thrilled & happy to announce my first blog event after 4 months of blogging :) Thanks a lot for all your support & encouragement!  I know you all will be pretty excited to prepare lovely, appealing & romantic dishes for your loved ones on Valentine's Day. Even though some people won't celebrate much, they'll surprise their beloved ones with something cute on this day. So get ready to make your day special with your homemade delicacies.   Send in your cute, colourful & romantic 'sweet delicacies' to my event :) I'll be eagerly waiting to see your scrumptious yummy treats !!

Rules of The Event

1. Prepare a recipe which ''Tastes Sweet & Looks Romantic'' (Cakes, Cookies, Shakes, Smoothies, Ice-creams, Puddings etc )
2. Any number of entries can be sent. (old and new posts accepted)
3. Only Vegetarian dishes accepted (eggs are allowed)
   
4. Usage of logo is much appreciated as it helps to spread the word. 
5. Make sure that the entry is linked back to my event announcement page. 
6. Bloggers & Non-Bloggers can send their entries to 'yummydelights@hotmail.com'' with subject as ''Valentine's Day Event'' in the following format:

• Your Name:
• Blog Name: (if applicable)
• Recipe Name: 
• Recipe URL: (if applicable) 
• Pic of the Dish: (as attachment)

The round ups will be posted on my blog as well as it'll be published on my Facebook page(Yummy Delights) with your blog links. Wishing you all, the best Valentine's Day ever !!

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'' Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.''

                                                                                                                -1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

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Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the most popular dishes in Indian cuisine. A really delicious dish which goes perfect with Naan/Chapati. My friends in Washington love this a lot. Whenever we go to an Indian restaurant, this is a dish they can't avoid ordering. So I thought of uploading this recipe for them & for my blogger friends so that you all can give it a try at home when there is a craving! You have to prepare Chicken Tikka as in my earlier recipe and then prepare the gravy as explained below. Hope you'll enjoy preparing & enjoy eating as well :)

Check Chikken Tikka recipe here (Prepare without Bell pepper(Capsicum))

Ingredients for the masala

• 3/4 cup finely diced Onion 
• 1 tsp Ginger-Garlic paste 
• 1/2 tsp Garam masala 
• 1 1/2 tsp Coriander powder 
• 1/2 tsp Kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves) powder
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp Kashmiri chilly powder 
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• 1/4 tsp Cloves powder
• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp Garam masala
• 1/2 tsp Cumin 
• 1/2 cup chopped Tomatoes
• 4 tbsp Cashew paste
• 1/2 cup Heavy cream
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1/4 cup chopped Cilantro leaves
• Salt as required

Directions

1. Take a pan and pour oil. When oil is slightly hot, add cumin and bay leaves,. Then add onion, ginger-garlic paste, salt and saute till golden brown.
2. Add cloves powder, cinnamon powder, cardamom powder, coriander powder, kasuri methi, chilly powder and saute for some more time.
3. Add tomatoes and saute till mushy. 
4. Once everything is cooled, take off the bay leaves and blend.
5. Take a pan, pour oil and saute the blended mix. Stir in cashew paste, lemon juice & cook for few min.
6. Reduce flame and stir in heavy cream and garam masala.
7. Mix in the prepared chicken tikka pieces into it. Close and cook for 5 more min.
8. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with Naan, chapati or fried rice.

Mixed Fried Rice

This is one of my favorite mixed fried rice preparation. I've used egg, chicken & vegetables. If you add beef, it'll be more tasty. No side dish is needed as this itself is tasty & tummy filling. You can just have it with tomato sauce & green chilly sauce. It's damn easy & perfect for serving guests !!

Ingredients

• 2 cups Basmati rice
• 1 cup cooked chicken pieces  
  
• 1/2 cup chopped Carrot
•  1/2 cup chopped Cabbage
•  1/2 cup Peas
•  1 cup chopped Onion
•  4 Elachis
•  1/2 tsp Cloves
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder
•  2 Eggs
•  1 tbsp Soya sauce
•  1 tbsp Green chilly sauce
•  2 tbsp Tomato sauce
•  2 tsp Black pepper
•  1/4 cup Ghee
•  1 tsp Ginger Garlic paste
•  Salt as required

Directions

1. Cook rice in salt & allow it to drain.
2. Prepare egg scramble & keep aside.
3. Saute onion & capsicum in ghee.  Add ginger garlic paste, cinnamon powder, cloves & elachi. Saute for some more time.
4. Mix in the vegetables with little water and cook till the water evaporates.
5. Add the scrambled eggs, chicken pieces, 3 sauces, black pepper & salt to the above.
6. Add the cooked & well drained  rice and stir for sometime.
7. Garnish with fried bread pieces & cilantro.

Vegetable Soup

This is a refreshing soup especially perfect for winter season. Its healthy as its prepared using just the veggies. The more time you cook, the more tasty it will be :) I'm planning to prepare a chicken soup sometime next week. Will be uploading that soon. Try this vegetable soup & keep your body warm in this chill climate !!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Tomato
• 1/2 cup chopped Carrot
• 1/4 cup chopped Cabbage
• 1/4 cup chopped Celery
• 1/4 cup Peas
• 1/1/4 cup Milk
• 1/2 tbsp Butter
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 tbsp All purpose flour (Maida)
• Salt as required

Directions

1. Cook all the vegetables in 2 1/2 cups water for 20 to 25 minutes.
2. Saute flour in butter and then mix in milk. Sieve the solution to avoid the lumps.
3. Pour the solution  with the boiling vegetables. Add pepper & salt.
4. Boil for some more time & serve the soup hot !

Happy New Year !!!!

Finally back to blogging after a small gap. Happy New Year to my blogger buddies. Hope you all had a fantastic X'mas & New Year :) I enjoyed my holidays in Vegas for 3 days. It was really a different experience. Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada (U.S. State). It is popular for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city is known as The Entertainment Capital of the World and is also popular setting for films and tv programs. There are numerous outdoor lighting displays on Fremont Street, as well as elsewhere in the city. The major attractions we visited are the 'Bellagio fountain', 'Bellagio Gallery of Fine Arts', 'The Eiffel Tower experience at Paris', 'Hoover Dam', 'Stratosphere Tower Observation Deck', 'Mob Experience', 'Madame Tussauds Interactive Wax Experience', 'Roy's Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat', 'GameWorks' and a lot of casino resort hotels. Then we watched two shows: One was the 'Michael Jackson-The Immortal World Tour which was mind blowing and 'Disneys The Lion King' at (Mandalay Bay Theatre). Still there are lot more attractions to cover. Maybe in our next visit :) The eat outs which i loved the most were  Hard Rock Cafe, The Buffet at Wynn, Pampas Brazilian Grille, P.F. Chang's and Mon Ami Gabi  . If anyone is planning to go to Vegas, you should definitely try out these! The ambiance & food was just awesome! I'm just sharing few of my trip snaps too. Have a look below :) :)

Las Vegas during the Day time

 Nightlife

 Inside the Casino Resort Hotels

The Christmas Decorations

Baked Chicken with Creamy Mashed Potatoes

So, here is my X'mas special dish ! I'm posting this early because me & my hubby will be going for a trip to celebrate our holidays :) and i'll be unable to post my recipes on X'mas eve. This is such a delicious recipe and perfect for a brunch, lunch or dinner. Herbs add more flavour to the chicken breast so i've used Parsley. A dip with the Creamy Cheesy Mashed Potato makes this dish more tastier. Do try it out & let me know the result. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas in advance. Hope you all will have a Blessed, Happy & Lovely Christmas !! I'll be back with more delights once i return from the trip :) Happy Holidays my dear friends !!!

Ingredients for baking chicken

• 2 Chicken Breasts 
• 4 tbsp chopped Parsley 
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese 
• 1 cup Breadcrumbs 
• 2 tsp Black Pepper 
• 2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 6 tbsp Butter
• 1 tsp Salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Make a mix of parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, parsley, black pepper & salt.
3. Melt butter & mix with garlic powder.
4. Dip the chicken breasts in 'butter & garlic mix(3)' and coat with 'breadcrumbs mix(2)' evenly.
5. Place in a baking pan & pour the remaining 'butter & garlic mix' on top of the chicken.
6. Bake for 30 to 35 min.

Ingredients for the Creamy Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

• 2 Potatoes 
• 1/2 cup Milk 
• 1/4 cup Butter 
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 
• 1 tsp Black Pepper 
• 1 tbsp Parsley

Directions

1. Cook Potatoes well & mash it.
2. Mix butter & milk into it.
3. Stir in cheese, pepper, parsley and mix well with a fork
4. Garnish with Parsley. Creamy Mashed Potatoes can be served with the above mentioned baked chicken, peas, carrots, lettuce etc

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Wishing you the joys of the season and hope you'll have the best X'mas ever !!!! 
MERRY CHRISTMAS :) :)

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Turkey Salad

A healthy salad with Turkey pieces, Lettuce, Cashew nut, Pineapple pieces, Tomato & Onion. Sprinkle pepper & salt to taste :)

Mashed Potato Mini Pizzas

I had made some creamy mashed potatoes for baked chicken and was confused what to do with the left overs. Then i tried as a spread on my mini pizzas. It was awesome! Here is the simple recipe. Will be posting my savory oven baked chicken soon !

Ingredients for the Pizza base

• 1 cup All purpose Flour (Maida) 
• 1/4 oz (7g) Pizza yeast 
• 1 tsp Sugar 
• 3/4 tsp Salt 
• 1/2 cup Warm water 
• 3 tbsp Oil

Ingredients for the Topping 

• Chopped Green bell pepper(Capsicum) 
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes***
• Cooked Chicken pieces  
• Sun Dried Tomatoes  
• Red pepper flakes 
• Tomato sauce  
• Chopped Spinach 
• Diced Tomatoes
• Chopped Onion
• Black pepper
• Cheese
• Salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Combine flour, yeast, sugar & salt in a large bowl. Add oil, water & mix thoroughly.
3. Add little additional flour if the dough is too sticky.
4. Roll out  the dough for 3 mini pizzas & transfer to the pizza pan.
5. Spread tomato sauce & then the creamy mashed potatoes.
6. Combine onion, tomato, sun dried tomatoes, capsicum, spinach and chicken with black pepper & salt.
   
7. Spread the mix(6) on top & sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 10 to 12 min on the bottom oven rack.

*** Click here for Creamy Mashed Potato recipe.

   


Appliances useful for this recipe:

Healthy Sandwich for Kids

To make your little kids have healthy food, the only thing which will work out is to try out making food with different shapes & garnish in such a way that they'll grab the food ! As you can see, this is a star shaped healthy sandwich, spread with fat free mayonnaise and topped with Lettuce, Onion, Tomato and Carrot. It wont even take more than 5 minutes to prepare. Make use of your cookie cutters for preparing sandwiches too ;) Give it a try. Your kids will love it !

 
Appliance useful for this recipe:

Muffin Omelette

Omelettes are perfect for a breakfast or a brunch. When it is a muffin omlette, it looks more lovely & presentable especially kids who don't prefer egg as breakfast will surely grab this special muffin. If you wanna pack your breakfast this one is more convenient than the normal preparation. You can include any meat of your choice. I have used bacon coz it gives a different taste. I got this idea while i was preparing cupcake & craved for omelette at the same time but when i googled, to my surprise lot of people have already tried making it!! Anyways thought of sharing with you all. Do try it out & tell me the result :)

Ingredients

• 3 Eggs 
• 4 tbsp Milk 
• 3 tbsp chopped Red Bell Pepper (Capsicum) 
• 3 tbsp chopped Onion 
• 3 tbsp Spring Onion/Celery 
• 3 tbsp small pieces of Bacon 
• 2 1/2 tbsp Fat free Mayonnaise 
• 1 tsp Black pepper powder 
• 1/2 tsp Salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Whisk egg, milk, mayonnaise, pepper and salt together.
3. Mix in other ingredients & combine carefully.
4. Take a muffin pan & spray vegetable oil on 4 cups.
5. Pour in the egg batter & bake for 40 min.
6. Enjoy the tasty muffin omelette !! 

***Sharing this recipe with Christmas Delicacy event hosted by Julie.

Mini Beef Patties

Ingredients

3/4 cup Ground beef

1/2 cup Bread crumbs

2 tbsp Parmesan cheese 

1/2 cup chopped Onion

1 tsp garlic powder

2 1/2 tsp pepper

3/4 tsp Oregano

2 tsp Paprika

2tsp Basil

1 Egg

1 1/2 tsp Salt

Directions

1. Mix thoroughly all the above ingredients, make small round shapes and grill the beef patties with desired veggies. This is the same recipe as the meatballs and i loved it.
2. Serve it with tomato sauce on top & enjoy.

Red Velvet Cupcakes !!

I was very much excited to decorate with my new cake decorating set! Thought of using it first for frosting red velvet cupcakes for my birthday. This was so easy to make & it was a different cupcake recipe with sour cream. In some recipes butter milk is substituted for sour cream.  I had fun frosting the cupcakes and the decorating set was also a cool one!  I used the green & red combo to give it a festive touch :) So this is an X'mas special cake too !!! Here goes the recipe :) :)

Ingredients

• 2 cups All-purpose flour (Maida) 
• 1 3/4 cup Granulated sugar 
• 1/2 cup Cocoa powder 
• 1 tsp Baking Powder 
• 1 tsp Baking Soda 
• 2 cups Sour cream 
• 8 tbsp Butter 
• 1/2 cup Milk 
• 2 tbsp Red Food colour 
• 2 tsp Vanilla essence 
• 1/2 tsp Salt 
• 2 Eggs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange 24 paper cups in a cupcake baking tray.
2. Beat egg, butter, sugar & salt in an electric mixer.
3. Add milk, sour cream, vanilla essence, red food colour & beat again.
4. Now beat in sieved ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking powder & baking soda).
5. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly & pour the batter to make the paper cups 3/4th full.
6. Bake for 25 to 30 min. Allow it to cool completely.
7. Prepare the below mentioned icing recipe & start frosting the cake.

Butter-cream Icing

• 2 cups Powdered Sugar 
• 4 tbsp Vegetable shortening 
• 5 tbsp Butter 
• 4 tbsp Milk 
• 2 tsp Vanilla essence 
•  Food colours

Directions

1. Take an electric mixer & cream the butter, shortening & vanilla essence.
2. Add sugar, milk & beat thoroughly.
3. Transfer in separate bowls & mix with different colours and start decorating your lovely cupcakes !

My Wilton Cake Decorating Set !!

All set for my Birthday celebration :) :)

 

Sharing this recipe with:

• Bake with your Heart event hosted by Khushi. 
• Food of the month event (Festive/Party theme) hosted by Amy
• Holiday Baking event hosted by Srav's Culinary Concepts. 
• 'Only'- Cookies and Cakes event hosted by Foodelicious. 
• Sinful Delights event hosted by Vardhini.  
• Jingle All the Way event hosted by Kavi.  
• Decorating challenge event hosted by Amy.

Turkey Sandwich

I made this sandwich on Black Friday with the left over Thanksgiving Turkey. Today only i noticed that i forgot to post ;) This is a very simple sandwich which can be easily prepared in your busy days! Prepare a mix with mayonnaise and basil leaves and spread on one side of each slice of bread and  layer the lettuce, turkey slices, tomato and cheese slice. Take a bite & enjoy !!!!

Polka Dot Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups All-purpose Flour (Maida) 
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon 
• 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder 
• 1 tsp Vanilla essence
• 8 tbsp Butter
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 Egg

Directions

1. Preheat oven at 325 degrees F.
2. Whisk egg, sugar, salt, vanilla essence & butter thoroughly.
3. Add sifted flour & baking powder, cinnamon powder  and mix thoroughly till a dough is formed.
4. Roll out the dough and cut different shapes using cookie cutters.
5. Arrange the cookies on baking sheets on a tray and bake for 13 to 15 min.
6. Take out the cookies & allow it to cool so that it becomes hard.
7. Decorate with icing. Icing can be prepared by mixing powdered sugar, few drops of vanilla essence, little water & food colour. 

Sharing this recipe with:

• Bake with your Heart event hosted by Khushi. 
• Holiday Baking event hosted by Srav's Culinary Concepts.
• 'Only'- Cookies and Cakes event hosted by Foodelicious.

Pineapple Milkshake

Its been a long time since i've made shakes or smoothies.  Had some pineapple in my fridge, so thought of making a milkshake. Here goes the simple recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 cup Pineapple pieces 
• 1 1/4 cup Ice cubes 
• 1 cup Milk 
• 2 tbsp Sugar 
• 2 scoops Vanilla ice-cream

Directions

1. Crush ice cubes in a blender.
2. Add remaining ingredients & blend till it is thick & smooth.
3. Transfer into a glass, sip & enjoy !

***Sharing this recipe with Milkshake Event hosted by Kokila.

Coffee-Cake Pops

December is my most favourite month of the year. December is always filled with decorations, gifts, cakes, chocolates & my mom's special preparations mainly because of....Christmas,  my parent's wedding anniversary, ending of another year and my birthday too :)  So to start of with the lovely month i made cake pops. This was my first trial. When  i thought of making i had no lollipop sticks in stock but i couldn't resist giving a trial, so i used normal straws. When you have a plan for making this get lollipop sticks in advance coz straws are not firm enough to hold the cake. Hope you'll love this. Gotta try more varieties in cake pops coz i absolutely enjoyed making it. More Christmas delicacies are yet to appear in my blog. Will be up with the next one soon !!

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour 
• 3/4 tsp Baking Powder 
• 1/2 cup Sugar 
• 2 tbsp Butter 
• 1 tsp Essence 
• 1/2 cup Milk 
• 1/2 tbsp Cocoa powder 
• 1 1/2 tbsp Coffee powder 
• 1 Egg 
• 3 tbsp Chocolate frosting 
• Sprinklers 
• Lollipop sticks 
• Chocolate frosting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Divide the milk into two portion & dissolve coffee powder & cocoa powder separately.
3. Whisk egg and vanilla essence.
4. Add butter and sugar. Beat thoroughly.
5. Pour in the coffee solution & the cocoa solution.
6. Sift flour & baking powder together and add to the above mix little by little.
7. Mix everything thoroughly & pour the batter into a greased pan.
8. Bake for 25- 30 min.
9. After the cake cools, powder it in a food processor and keep aside.

Ingredients for chocolate frosting

• 3 1/4 cups confectioners Sugar 
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder 
• 1/4 cup Butter 
• 3 tbsp milk 
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Directions

1. Beat all the ingredients in an electric mixer till smooth.
2. Take a bowl & combine the powdered cake with the 3 tbsp or more chocolate frosting for  making small balls and keep aside.
3. Dip the tip of the lollipop sticks in frosting and pierce into the cake balls.
4. Now its time for fun!! Dip the cake pop in the remaining frosting & decorate with sprinklers.
5. Place the pops on a cake pop stand or you can use thermocol to allow it to dry.
6. Then you can pack in a plastic wrap, tie up with a cute ribbon & serve your guests :)

Sharing this recipe with:

•  Bake with your Heart event hosted by Khushi.
•  Holiday Baking event hosted by Srav's Culinary Concepts.
•  'Only'- Cookies and Cakes event hosted by Foodelicious. 
• Jingle All the Way event hosted by Kavi.  
• Sinful Delights event hosted by Vardhini.  
• Christmas Delicacy event hosted by Julie.

Veggie Burger

Ingredients for the veggie patties:

• 1/4 cup cooked Chick peas or Garbanzo beans 
• 3 tbsp All purpose Flour (Maida)  
• 1/4 cup Cilantro (Coriander leaves) 
• 1/2 cup chopped Onion  
• 1/2 cup mashed Potato 
• 2 tbsp Spinach   
• 1/2 cup grated Carrot  
• 1/2 tsp Cumin powder  
• 2 tbsp Tomato sauce
•  1/2 tsp Chilly powder  
• 2 tsp Pepper  
• 1 tsp Salt  
• 1 Egg

Ingredients for the filling in between the patties:

• 2 Tomatoes finely chopped 
• 1 Jalapeno pepper chopped 
• 1 tsp Lime juice  
• 1/2 tsp Salt  
• Few Cilantro (Coriander leaves)

Other ingredients :

• 4 Burger Buns 
• Tomato sauce 
• Low fat Mayonnaise  
• Tomato  
• Onion  
• Lettuce 
• Olive oil

Directions

1. Mash Chick peas & mix with the 'ingredients for the veggie patties'. Mix thoroughly & make round patties to fit in the burger bun.
2. Take a pan & spray olive oil. Cook both sides  of the veggie patties  until brown colour is obtained.
3. Make a mix with the 'ingredients for the filling in between the patties'.
4. Spread low fat mayonnaise & tomato sauce on both sides of the burger bun.
5. First layer the lettuce,then place one patty topped with the tomato filling(3)
6. Now place the second patty topped with onion & tomato cut in round shapes.
7. Enjoy with homemade French fries & Tomato sauce.  

***Sharing this recipe with Healthy Cooking Challenge - Lunch hosted by Kavi @ Edible Entertainment.