Apr 3, 2013

Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza

Pizza made with whole wheat flour crust and topped with pepperoni slices, smoked beef sausage, jalapenos, onions and sun-dried tomatoes.

Total Time....1 hr 32 min (Prep-10 min, Bake-17 min, Inactive-1 hr 5 min)    
Yield.............1 pizza (12 inch)
Level.............Easy
Ingredients for the dough
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp oregano powder
  • 1 tsp dried basil leaves
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
Directions:
  1. Mix yeast and sugar in warm water. Keep aside for 5 min.
  2. Knead together wheat flour, oil, salt, parsley, garlic powder, oregano, basil and the above yeast solution.
  3. Place the dough in a big bowl and cover the bowl in plastic wrap. Keep aside for 1hr.
  4. Roll out the dough in round shape and place on a slightly greased pizza pan.
Ingredients for the topping
  • 15 Pepperoni slices
  • 1/2 cup Chopped Sausage
  • 1/2 cup Chopped Onion
  • 1 Chopped Jalapeno
  • 3 tbsp chopped Sun dried Tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup Pizza sauce (or Tomato Ketchup)
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper powder
  • Salt as required
Directions:
  1. Preheat the oven at 425 degrees F.
  2. Spread pizza sauce on the rolled out dough.
  3. Top with sausage, onion, jalapeno and sun-dried tomatoes. Sprinkle black pepper and salt.
  4. Top it with cheese and then arrange the pepperoni slices.
  5. Bake for 15 to 17 min. take out from the oven & add pepper flakes .
  6. Slice and serve hot with spicy chicken wings! :)

Apr 1, 2013

Saucy Beef Burger

Burger made with grilled beef patty, pickles, onion, lettuce and tomato flavoured sauce.

Total Time....25 min (Prep-10 min, Cook-15 min)    
Yield.............4 to 6 burgers
Level.............Easy

Ingredients for the sauce
  • 1 cup Tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup chopped Celery
  • 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
Directions:
  1. Take a pan, saute pepper and pour in ketchup. Add celery and cook for 2 min. 
  2. Divide the mix into two equal halves and keep aside.
Ingredients for the beef patty
  • 2 cups Ground beef
  • 3/4 cup Bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder 
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/2 tsp dried Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp dried Basil
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/2 cup chopped Onion
  • 1 tsp Black pepper powder
  • Salt as required
  • Vegetable Oil 
 Directions:
  1. Take a mixing bowl and combine beef, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, egg, oregano, basil, parmesan cheese, onion, pepper and salt.
  2. Mix thoroughly by adding half of the prepared sauce. Make round patties.
  3. Brush oil on both sides of patties and grill.
 Other ingredients
  • Pickled cucumber
  • Lettuce
  • Burger Buns
  • Chopped Onions
  • Mayonnaise
Directions:
  1. Spread mayonnaise on both insides of the burger buns.
  2. Top with lettuce, beef patty, other half of the prepared sauce, pickled cucumber and onion.

Mar 8, 2013

Pineapple Curd Cupcakes

Pineapple flavoured cupcakes with pineapple curd filling and cream cheese frosting!

Total Time......44 min (Prep - 20 min, Bake- 24 min)  
Yield...............16 cupcakes
Level..............Easy


Ingredients for the pineapple curd 
  • 2 Egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup Pineapple juice(**strained) 
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Corn starch
  • 1 tbsp Lime juice
Directions:
  1. Beat egg yolks, sugar and butter thoroughly.
  2. Mix in pineapple juice, cornstarch and lime juice.
  3. Take a shallow pan & transfer the contents. Place on a medium flame & keep stirring till you obtain a slightly thick consistency. Turn off the flame and allow it to cool.
** Grind pineapple slices with 1/4 cup of water and separate the juice using a strainer.
Ingredients for the cupcakes
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour(Maida)
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 6 tbsp Butter
  • 1 cup Milk
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 tsp Pineapple extract
  • 2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt 
  • Cupcake liners
  • Cupcake baking tray
  • Pineapple slices for decoration

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees F(176.67 degrees C).
  2. Take a bowl and whisk eggs, butter and sugar thoroughly.
  3. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt. Combine well by adding milk in between.
  4. Add  pineapple extract and mix everything thoroughly.
  5. Take cupcake tray and place the liners. Pour batter in each liners till 3/4th full.
  6. Bake for 22 to 24 min. Insert a tooth pick or a skewer. If it comes out clean, your cake is ready! Allow it to cool and then frost.

Ingredients for the cream cheese frosting
  • 8 oz Cream cheese 
  • 4 tbsp Butter 
  • 3 to 4 cups confectioners(powdered) Sugar 
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Directions
  1. Combine cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract in an electric mixer. Add powdered sugar & beat thoroughly.
  2. Take the cooled cupcake. Scoop out the middle portion (3/4th deep) with a pointed knife and fill with pineapple curd. Place the top of the scooped portion back, to seal it.
  3. Start frosting the cake and decorate it with pineapple slices.

Mar 5, 2013

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Munch on this chewey cookie baked with oats, take a bite of raisins in between and get the aroma of nutmeg & cinnamon!

Total Time.....22 min (Prep-10 min, Bake-12 min)    
Yield.............15 to 20 cookies
Level.............Easy

Ingredients
  • 1 3/4 cup Oats
  • 1/4 cup Raisins
  • 3/4 cup All purpose flour (Maida)
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 tsp Vanilla essence
  • 3/4 tsp Cinnamon powder
  • 1/4 tsp Nutmeg powder
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
Directions
  1. Preheat oven at 375 degrees F.
  2. Take a bowl & whisk egg, butter and sugar thoroughly.
  3. Add cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, vanilla essence & mix well.
  4. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix thoroughly and then stir in add oats & raisins.
  5. Place parchment paper on baking tray. Using small ice-cream scoop, place cookie batter on the parchment paper with enough space leaving in between for the cookie to expand.
  6. Bake for 12 to 15min, allow it to cool and enjoy a chewy healthy cookie!

Feb 28, 2013

Sweet Potato & Beef Chili

Slow cooked Chili with Beef, Beans, Veggies, Tomato juice, Spices and served with Sour cream.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup cubed and cooked Beef
  • 1 cup Beef stock
  • 1/2 cup Garbanzo beans
  • 1/2 cup Pinto beans
  • 1/2 cup Kidney Beans
  • 1/4 cup Black Beans
  • 1/2 cup cubed Sweet Potato
  • 1/2 cup sliced Onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped Celery
  • 1/2 cup sliced Green bell pepper(Capsicum)
  • 15 oz(425g) diced Tomato with juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped Cilantro (Coriander leaves)
  • 7.5oz(212g) Tomato paste
  • 3/4 tsp Garlic paste
  • 1/4 tsp Cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp Oregano
  • 2 tbsp Parsley
  • 2 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Black pepper
  • 5 tbsp Soya sauce
  • Salt as required
 Directions
  1. Bake cubed sweet potato marinated with salt and pepper at  400 degrees F for 25 min.
  2. Take a shallow pan and saute onion and bell pepper in oil.
  3. Then add garbanzo beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, cubed sweet potato. Saute well.
  4. Mix in beef stock, diced tomato, tomato paste, garlic paste, cumin powder, oregano, parsley, paprika, black pepper, soya sauce and salt. Close an cook for sometime.
  5. Add cooked beef and cook in a low flame doe 30 min. Keep stirring occasionally.
  6.  When you obtain a thick solution, add celery, cilantro and cook for some more time. Serve hot with sour cream and celery on top!

Feb 26, 2013

Unniyappam

Traditional South Indian (Kerala) snack, prepared mainly with rice flour and bananas.

Total Time......5 hrs 40 min (Prep - 10 min, Cook- 30 min, Inactive-5 hrs)  
Yield...............25 to 30 Unniyappams
Level..............Easy


Ingredients
  • 1 cup Rice flour 
  • 1/2 cup All purpose flour(Maida)
  • 3/4 cup melted Jaggery
  • 2 over ripe Bananas
  • 2 to 3 tbsp dry Coconut pieces
  • 1/4 tsp Cardamom powder 
  • 1/4 tsp Baking Soda 
  • 1/2 tsp Sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp Ghee
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
Directions
  1. Fry coconut pieces in ghee and keep aside.
  2. Strain melted jaggery and allow it to cool. (Melt jaggery chunk with 1 cup of water).
  3. Mash bananas thoroughly. Mix with rice flour, melted jaggery, maida and salt.
  4. Add cardamom powder, sesame seeds, fried coconut pieces and water (if needed) for perfect consistency(similar to idli batter). 
  5. Keep aside the batter for 5 to 6 hours.
  6. Heat oil in an unniyappam pan. When oil is really hot, reduce the flame to medium and pour batter in each holes. Fry both sides till a golden brown colour is obtained.
  7. Place fried unniyappams on tissue so that excess oil is absorbed. Serve hot!

Feb 11, 2013

Marbled Banana Nut Bread

 Cinnamon flavoured bread with banana, nuts & chocolaty marble designs.

Total Time.....1 hr 15 min (Prep - 15 min, Bake- 1 hr)
Yield...............1 Loaf
Level..............Easy


Ingredients
  • 1 3/4 cups All purpose flour(Maida)
  • 1/4 cup Wheat flour
  • 2 large ripe bananas
  • 7 tbsp Butter (room temperature)
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 tbsp or more Milk
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts
  • 1 tsp Vanilla essence
  • 2 tsp Cinnamon powder
  • 1/4 cup Cocoa powder
  • 3/4 tsp Baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp Baking Soda
  • 3/4 cup Sugar
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
Directions
  1. Take a mixing bowl, mash bananas and whisk egg, butter and sugar thouroughly.
  2. Sieve maida, wheat flour, baking powder & baking soda together. Add to the above little by little and mix well.
  3. Divide the batter in 2 separate bowls.
  4. Make a solution of cocoa powder by microwaving it with 1/4 cup water for 30 sec.
  5. Add the cocoa solution into 1 of the bowls and mix well.
  6. Grease a bread pan with cooking spray and add the batter in the 2 bowls alternatively.
  7. Using a skewer, slightly stir the batter to obtain the marbled design.
  8. Preheat oven at 350 degrees and bake for 1 hour.
  9. Insert a skewer in the middle of bread. If it comes out clean, then your bread is ready!


Nov 29, 2012

Pepper Fried rice and Pepper Chicken

Black pepper flavoured rice and chicken for a perfect spicy meal!

Total Time......2hrs 30 min (Prep - 10 min, Cook- 20 min, Inactive-2 hrs)
Yield...............4 to 6 servings
Level..............Easy

Ingredients for Pepper Chicken
  • 2 cups Chicken pieces
  • 1/4 cup Curd
  • 1 tsp Lime juice
  • 1 tbsp All purpose flour(Maida)
  • Puree of 2 Tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp Chilly powder
  • 1 tsp Ginger Garlic paste
  • 1 tbsp Pepper powder
  • 2 cups sliced Onion
  • 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
  • Salt as required 
  • Cilantro
Directions:
  1. Marinate chicken pieces with curd, lime juice, flour, chilly powder, pepper,  turmeric and salt. Keep aside for 2 hours.
  2. Heat oil in a pan and fry the marinated chicken.
  3. Take some oil in a pan & saute onion till golden brown.
  4. Add ginger garlic paste, pepper and salt. Saute for sometime.
  5. Mix in the tomato juice, 3/4 cup water and fried chicken Cook for 10 min.
  6. Add chopped cilantro and serve hot.
Ingredients for Pepper Fried rice
  • 2 cups Rice
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 3/4 cup Corn
  • 2 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Black Pepper
  • 1 cup sliced Onion
  • 1/2 cup Green peas
  • 1 tsp Ginger Garlic paste
  • Salt as required
Directions:
  1. Cook rice and keep aside.
  2. Saute Onion for 2 min. Add corn, peas, soy sauce, pepper and salt.
  3. Mix cooked rice to it. Saute for sometime and serve hot with the pepper chicken!

Nov 11, 2012

Fried Banana with Ice-cream

Banana is coated with cinnamon flavoured flour and coconut batter, then it is deep fried in vegetable oil. I got inspired to try out this combo when I once had a similar dessert from a Thai restaurant :) The combination of coconut ice-cream scoops and fried bananas gives this dessert a very unique taste!

Total Time......15 min (Prep - 5 min, Cook- 10 min) 
Yield...............5 to 6 servings
Level..............Easy

Ingredients
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour(Maida)
  • 1 cup unsweetened Coconut flakes
  • 4 large size ripe bananas
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 tbsp Salt
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder
  • A pinch of salt
  • Vegetable oil 
  • Hershey's chocolate syrup 
  • Coconut ice-cream
Directions
  1. Take a bowl and beat egg thoroughly. Add flour, coconut flakes, cinnamon powder, sugar, water and salt. Mix thoroughly.
  2. Heat oil in a shallow pan. Then slice bananas and coat with the batter. 
  3. When oil is hot, fry the bananas till golden brown colour & place on a paper towel so that the excess oil is absorbed.
  4. Serve with coconut ice-cream and Hershey's syrup!

Nov 6, 2012

Chicken Biryani

Biryani  is one among the most popular lunch/dinner item on the Indian menu, that brings the aromatic flavours of Indian spices! It can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian, and is made by preparing rice & masala(gravy) separately. And finally layering them brings the contrasting taste of the 'flavored rice' and the 'spicy masala'. The best way of eating Biryani is with Raita, Papadum and Lime Pickle! 

Total Time......2 hr 30min (Prep - 15 min, Cook- 1 hr 15 min, Idle- 1 hr)
Yield...............4 to 5 servings 
Level..............Intermediate

(I) Ingredients for the Rice
  • 1 1/2 cup Basmati rice 
  • 4 Bay leaves
  • 5 green Cardamoms
  • 5 Cloves
  • 1 medium sized Cinnamon  
  • 5 Pepper corns
  • 2 tbsp Ghee
  • Salt as required
Directions:
  1. Wash rice 3 to 4 times and drain the water. Take a vessel and lightly fry rice in ghee for 2 to 3 min.
  2. Cook rice with bay leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, pepper and salt. 
  3. When rice is fully cooked, remove all spices(if needed) and keep aside.

(II) Ingredients for the Chicken Masala
  • 2 pounds Chicken pieces
  • 3 cups sliced Onion
  • 2 Tomatoes 
  • 3 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste
  • 3/4 tsp Cinnamon powder
  • 3/4 tsp Cloves powder
  • 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder 
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin powder
  • 5 green Cardamoms
  • 2 tsp Garam masala
  • 1 tsp Coriander powder
  • 4 Bay leaves
  • 4 tbsp Yogurt(Curd)
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper powder
  • 1 tsp Red chilly powder
  • 2 Green chillies
  • 1/2 cup chopped Coriander leaves (Cilantro) 
  • 1/2 cup chopped Mint
  • 5 tbsp Ghee 
  • 2 tbsp Lime juice
  • Salt as required
Directions
  1. Marinate chicken pieces in 2 tbsp yogurt, turmeric powder, 1 tsp chilly powder, lime juice & salt. Keep aside for 1 hour.
  2. Take a pan and pour ghee. Saute onion with salt till you obtain a brown colour. Then add ginger-garlic paste, chopped green chillies, tomatoes and saute for sometime.
  3. Add cardamoms, cinnamon powder, cloves powder, corriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala, pepper powder, chilly powder and turmeric powder. Saute for 2 min.
  4. Mix in marinated chicken pieces & saute for 3 minutes
  5. Add 1 1/2 cup of water, chopped cilantro, mint, bay leaves, lime juice and salt. Close the lid and cook for 15 min in low flame. (Stir occasionally)
  6. Then mix in remaining yogurt and cook for 5 more min or till you obtain a thick gravy. Take off the cardamom pods and bay leaves (if needed). Keep aside.
 (III) Ingredients for the Raita
  • 1 1/2 cups Curd
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced Onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced Tomatoes
  • Salt as required
Directions
  1. Mix onion with a pinch of salt.
  2. Add tomato, curd and a pinch of salt into the above mix. Combine well and keep aside. 

(IV) Other Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Raisins and Cashew nuts (lightly sauteed in ghee)
  • 4 boiled Eggs 
  • Fried onions (1 cup sliced onion fried in ghee)
  • 1/4 cup chopped Coriander leaves (Cilantro)
  • Papadums (fried in vegetable oil)
  • Lime Pickle 
Layering 
Take a shallow pan, spread little ghee and start layering as shown below:
  • Layer a) Rice                                         
  • Layer b) Chicken masala, few Cashew nuts, few Raisins and chopped Cilantro
  • Layer c) Rice 
  • Layer d) Chicken masala and eggs
  • Layer e) Rice 
Keep in a low flame and let it cook for 10 to 15 min. When it is ready to serve, garnish with fried Onions, remaining Cashewnuts, Raisins and chopped Cilantro. Serve the delicious Biryani with Papadum, Lime Pickle and Raita!


Oct 31, 2012

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken pieces simmered in Chicken Broth with tender Egg Noodles, 
Carrots, Onion and Celery.

Total Time......35 min (Prep - 10 min, Cook- 25 min)
Yield...............2 to 3 servings 
Level..............Easy

Ingredients
  • 1 cup cooked & shredded Chicken
  • 3/4 cup cooked Egg noodles
  • 1/2 cup sliced Onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced Carrot
  • 1/2 cup chopped Celery
  • 1 1/2 cups Chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp chopped Cilantro
  • 1 tsp Black pepper powder
  • 2 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 3/4 tbsp Cornflour
  • 2 tbsp Butter 
  • Salt as required
Directions
  1. Melt butter in a medium sized cooking pot. Saute onion in a low flame.
  2. Then add carrots, cooked chicken, chicken both, black pepper and salt. Cook in a low flame for 15 min.
  3. Make a solution of cornflour in 1/2 cup water separately and add to the  pot.
  4. Stir in cooked noodles, soy sauce, celery, cilantro and cook for 5 more min. Serve hot on a chill day!

Oct 19, 2012

Sausage Sandwich

Simple Sandwich made with grilled Beef Sausage, fresh Lettuce, pickled Cucumber, red Bell pepper and tomato Ketchup.

Total Time........13 min (Prep - 5 min, Cook- 8 min)
Yield..................4 servings 
Level.................Easy

Ingredients
  • 4 Sandwich Buns
  • 4 Beef Sausages
  • 1/2 cup chopped Cucumber Pickles
  • 1/4 cup chopped Red Bell pepper(Capsicum)
  • 1 tbsp Black pepper
  • Mayonnaise as required
  • Lettuce as required  
  • Ketchup as required
  • Salt as required
Directions
  1. Season sausage with pepper and salt. Grill them according to the package instructions.
  2. Cut the sausages into 1/2 inch thick slices. 
  3. Spread mayonnaise and fill the bun with lettuce, sliced sausage, pickle, bell pepper and ketchup.

Oct 7, 2012

Beef stew

Beef and vegetables cooked in aromatic spices, creamy coconut milk and served with  Palappam (laced rice pancakes).

Total Time....25 min (Prep - 5 min, Cook- 20 min)
Yield..............3 to 4 servings
Level.............Easy

Ingredients
  • 1 cup cubed Beef
  • 1 cup thinly sliced Onion
  • 1 cup cubed Potato
  • 1/2 cup cubed Carrot
  • 1/2 tsp Ginger garlic paste
  • 2 Green chillies
  • 1 Tomato
  • 1/2 tsp Cloves powder
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder
  • 4 Cardamoms
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 cup Coconut milk 
  • Salt as required
  • Oil as required
  • Curry leaves (optional) 
Directions
  1. Cook the beef in a pressure cooker with 1/4 tsp pepper and salt.
  2. Take a pan & pour oil. When oil is hot, saute curry leaves, green chillies and crushed cardamoms. Add onion, ginger garlic paste & saute for few min. 
  3. Mix cooked beef, potato, carrot, cloves and cinnamon. Saute.
  4. Then add 3/4 cup water,  pepper, salt and close the lid. Cook for 10 min in medium flame.
  5. Add chopped tomato and cook. Then reduce the heat, add coconut milk and simmer for about 5 minutes.
  6. Serve this tasty dish with crispy laced Palappam for breakfast!
Note: 
  • Palappam mix is available in Indian stores. Usually special 'appam pan' is used for making the laced appam but it can also be made like pancakes too. You can prepare perfectly by following the package instructions carefully. The main ingredients needed other than the palappam mix are coconut milk, yeast and sugar.
  • Beef can be replaced by chicken for making Chicken Stew :)
 


Sep 27, 2012

Chicken Pot Pie


Chicken stew baked with a biscuit crust and served with salad.  

Total Time....55 min (Prep - 10 min, Cook- 45 min)
Yield..............4 to 5 servings
Level.............Easy

Ingredients for the stew
  • 1 Chicken breast
  • 1/2 cup sliced Onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced Potato
  • 1/4 cup sliced Carrot
  • 1/4 cup Green peas
  • 1/4 cup Celery
  • 2 Bay leaves
  • 1 cup Chicken broth
  • 3/4 tsp Black pepper
  • 1 tbsp All purpose flour (Maida)
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1/2 cup Milk
  • Salt as required
  • Oil as required
Ingredients for the biscuit crust
  • 1 1/4 cup All purpose flour (Maida)
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 cup Milk
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Butter
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Oil 
  • Egg white 
Directions
  1. Preheat oven at 375 degrees C. 
  2. Take a shallow pan. Add water, potato, carrot, onion and cook with a closed lid. 
  3. Season chicken with oil, salt & back pepper. Bake for 25 to 30 min.
  4. Take another shallow pan, add butter, flour & milk mixture, pepper and salt. Stir well until thick.
  5. Take out the cooked chicken and preheat oven at 450 degrees F. 
  6. Add the cooked vegetables, pulled chicken, bay leaf, celery, green peas, amd chicken broth.
  7. Cook in a low flame till you obtain a thick gravy & till everything mix well.
  8. Then take a food processor & put all the ingredients for the biscuit crust and blend till you obtain a soft dough.
  9. Make small balls and then flatten in round shapes(1 inch thick) to fit inside the ramekins. Leave little space when arranging so that there is space for the dough to rise.
  10. Take ramekins and pour the vegetable stew. Place the round dough on top and brush with egg white
  11. Bake for 10 to 15 min. Serve hot with salad!


Sep 16, 2012

HAPPY 1st ANNIVERSARY TO ''YUMMY DELIGHTS'' !!!


I still can't believe that 1 year is over after I started blogging (Sep 15, 2011)! It was a thrilling experience to be in the Bloggers World :) I want to thank my family and friends for all the encouragement they have given me. I am really grateful to all my 223 blogger friends for their immense support through their lovely comments, awards and event participation!! Hubby was the one who gave me the confidence to start my own blog & criticized my cooking experiments :) My brother, sister & best friend were the ones who criticized in my food photographs, giving me the best suggestions and support to move forward with more perfection. And last but not the least I thank all my 926 Facebook fans for their support too :) Thanks a million to each and every one of you and I'm hoping that you all will keep on encouraging me :) Given below are some of the major happenings:
As part of my Blogoversary celebration, I made a special cupcake that I got inspired to make when I once had from ''Cupcake Royal'' :) It was so so YUM!! Eventhough I couldn't beat them, I've tried to make something similar ;) Hope you all will love this!!

Total Time....1 hr (Prep - 10 min, Cook- 35 min, Inactive-15 min)
Yield..............5 to 6 cupcakes
Level.............Easy

Ingredients for the Chocolate Cupcake
  • 1 3/4 cup All purpose flour(Maida)
  • 1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 1/4 cup Sugar
  • 3/4 cup Cocoa powder
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 cup Milk
  • 1/2 cup Oil
  • 2 tsp Vanilla essence
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven at degrees 350 degrees F(175 degrees C).
  2. Sieve flour, baking powder and baking soda together.
  3. Take a large bowl and mix butter and sugar thoroughly. Then add eggs and whisk.
  4. Make a solution of cocoa powder and milk. Mix in this solution and flour alternatively.
  5. Add vanilla essence, oil and salt. Mix everything thouroughly.
  6. Bake for 15 to 20 min.
Ingredients for the Caramel Sauce
  • 2 Egg Yolks
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Butter
  • 1/2 cup Water
  • 1 tsp Vanilla essence
Directions:
  1. Beat all ingredients and heat in a shallow pan & stir till it boils and become thick.
  2. Allow it to cool.
Ingredients for the Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 8 oz Cream cheese
  • 4 tbsp Butter
  • 1/2 cup Caramel sauce (Prepare as shown above)
  • 1 tsp Vanilla essence
  • 3 1/2 to 4 cups Powdered sugar
Directions
  1. Whisk butter and sugar well. Then mix in caramel sauce.
  2. Add cream cheese, vanilla and whisk thoroughly.
  3. Frost & decorate the cupcakes once they are completely cooled.

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