Date Brownies!

Hi Everyone,

Cooking and blogging are my greatest stress buster. I love both of these things. And of course...desserts. I can eat only desserts full day :-D. Sharing one of my favourite recipes with you all. Enjoy :)

Date Brownies!

Ingredients:

• 100gm Maida
• 90gm sugar
• 5 tbsp Chocolate Powder
• 1tsp Baking Powder
• 2 Eggs
• 100ml Oil/ Butter
• Vanilla essence
• Sliced dates

Method:

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, except the sugar. In a mixer, add oil/butter and sugar and give it a quick mix. Now add the eggs one by one and mix it for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla essence and pour this wet ingredients over the dry one. Using cut and fold method, mix them together. Now add the sliced dates. Pour them in moulds and bake them for 30 minutes in pressure cooker or for around 25 minutes at 160* deg c.
Tip: To check if the muffins are done, insert a toothpick in the centre of the brownies. If it comes out clean, they are done. Enjoy warm :)

Paneer Masala Exotica

Hi Everyone,

I have been trying quite a few recipes these days. Whenever I am in doubt or in a hurry, humble Paneer comes to my rescue. Its actually a life saver. There are very few people who do not like Cottage cheese or paneer. If you are one of them, then you can use tofu or soya in this recipe.

Paneer Masala Exotica

Ingredients

• 500gm Paneer
• 2 Tomatoes
• 2 Onions
• 4 Green Chili
• 1inch Ginger grated
• 1tbsp Garlic paste
• 2 Tej Patta
• 5-6 Whole Black Pepper
• 2 Green Cardamom
• 1 Black Cardamom
• 4 pcs Laung
• 1tsp Cinnamon Powder
• 4tbsp Milk
• 1tsp Turmeric powder
• 2tsp kitchen king/all spice powder
• Salt & Black Pepper : As per Taste
• Coriander for garnishing

Method: 

1. Put small slits on the tomatoes and put them in boiling water till the skin starts to remove slightly.
2. Put the tomatoes in cool water for 5 minutes and then remove the skin.
3. In a pan, put 2 tbsp oil. Fry tej patta, green & black cardamom, laung and whole black pepper.
4. Once the crackling sound starts, add grated onions. 
5. After a minute or so, add ginger and garlic. 
6. Saute them till the onions turn slightly golden.
7. Now add the boiled tomatoes. I prefer to remove the seeds too. Also, add green chili.
8. Cook for 5 minutes and then add Turmeric powder, black pepper, salt, all spice or kitchen king powder.
9. Once the raw smell is gone, add warm water according to the required consistency. 
10. Bring it to a boil and then add Paneer and cook it on low heat for 5 minutes.
11. Now add milk and cinnamon powder and again cook it for 5 minutes or till the gravy is of required thickness.
12. Garnish it with fresh coriander. You can also garnish it with browned onions and ginger.
13. Serve hot and enjoy with hot phulkas :)

Dry Chilli Mushroom!

Hi Everyone,

Have been so busy for past few days. Missed you all so very much. It feels great to share my kitchen experiments, "successful", with food enthu people :-D
Today's recipe is a greater starter-cum-snack. Amazingly delicious and super easy. Do try :)

Dry Chilli Mushroom

Ingredients:

• 1 packet mushrooms
• 1/2 Green, Yellow, Red Capsicum
• 4 Green chillies 
• 1inch Ginger
• 3 Garlic strands
• 1 Onion
• 2tsp Soya Sauce
• 1tsp Vinegar
• 2tbsp Tomato ketchup/sauce
• 1/2 tbsp Red chilli sauce
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper crushed to taste
• Oil

Method:

1. Dice the capsicums after washing, keep them aside.
2. Slice the onions, ginger & garlic. 
3. Wash mushrooms, peel off if required. Cut it in two halves.
4. Warm some oil in a pan, saute the mushrooms till golden brown.
5. Set it aside. Heat 1tbsp oil in another pan and saute onions, garlic & ginger together.
6. Once onion turns translucent, add the capsicums and chillies. 
7. Add salt & pepper according to the taste.
8. Now add soya sauce, tomato sauce and red chilli sauce. Cook for a minute.
9. Mix the mushrooms now and let it absorb all the flavors. Cook it for 2-3 minutes.
10. Finish off with vinegar. Dont cook after vinegar is added.
11. Serve hot :)