"Sweet Treats"- Eggless Banana Almond Muffins

I was scared of 'eggless' baking till now.I tried to avoid that route when baking.My friend 'S' who baked some excellent cakes, taught me how to bake a 'Eggless Cake' and Viola!! Now I am totally into it!!
Sometimes baking involves 'luck' too, along with the 'technique'. At times my baking just fails...no matter how well I follow the recipe.For now....I can say....baking 'luck' is with me:))

Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cup all purpose flour (sifted)
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1 tbsp Honey
2 medium ripe bananas mashed
1/3rd Cup Canola oil
1tsp Baking soda
1/2tsp salt
1 and 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tbsp Vinegar(add few drops less than 1tbsp)
1/2 cup cold water
Sliced almonds for garnishing

Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 350F (preheating is very imp). Grease muffin pan with vegetable shortening. Apply liberally in all corners.Dust with all purpose flour to coat the pan.Or use cup cake liners.
2)First sift flour, sugar separately.Then by a spoon add to the measuring cup to measure exact amounts.Level with a knife.DO NOT pack the flour into the cup.The ratios will change and the cake will not come out as good.
3) Mix all the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls.
4) Mix them together in a single direction.Bubbles will appear as vinegar reacts with baking soda.Do not over mix.But all the lumps should be gone.Add the mashed bananas.Mix.Add to the muffin pan till 1/2 full.Garnish with almonds.
5) Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 mins.Do not open the door for first 12 mins atleast.
6) Check with a tooth pick, if the cake is done.The inserted toothpick should come out clean.
7) Flip on a serving platter carefully after cooling

Enjoy every bite of the Spongy moist banana muffin !!!

" Everyday Cooking"- Pulav with Chicken Kheema balls( Kolhapuri Goli Pulav)

I wanted to try this 'Goli Pulav' out for so long!!! Finally last night for dinner I made it and it was a biggggg hit!!!Even my little 'E' and 'A' had it!!! I had 'Goli Pulav' once when I was in Kolhapur and that too many years ago... but the  taste still lingers in my mind!!!
 There they make the Goli /Kheema balls with Mutton Kheema and cook them along with other spices with the rice.I made it with chicken kheema and cooked the kheema balls and rice separately. It came out really well and was lip smackingly tasty!

 

For Pulav:

1 and 1/2 cups basmati rice

2 and 1/2cups water

1/2tsp Shah jeera

2tsp dried mint leaves

1/4tsp whole black pepper

1 stick cinnamon

4-5 cloves

1 bay leaf

1 star anise

1 tsp turmeric

1/2tsp Chili powder

salt

1 tbsp oil

Sliced almonds

1 Finely sliced onion, fried till golden brown and kept aside.

1) Wash the rice and keep aside for 30 mins.
2) Boil the water.
3) Heat 1 tbsp oil, add the spices and fry few seconds.Add the washed rice and stir for 1 min.
4) Add the boiled water, salt etc and cook for 10-15 mins till the rice is fluffy and cooked. Keep aside.

For the Kheema Balls:

1lb minced chicken/kheema

1 medium onion chopped finely
 1tsp ginger garlic paste
1tbsp chopped cilantro
1tsp chicken curry masala
1/2tsp Kolhapuri Kanda Lasun masala/Garam masala
1/2tsp chili powder
1/4tsp turmeric
1/2tsp cumin-coriander powder
1/4tsp black pepper
1tbsp chopped cilantro

salt to taste
oil to brush hands
 Oil to fry
Optional- 1tbsp chopped mint

1) Gently mix together all the above ingredients.Do not over mix....otherwise the kheema balls come out tougher and chewy.Just mix till everything is combined well.
2) Brush  hands with oil
3) Take small amount of kheema mixture and roll into cherry sized balls.
4) Shallow fry the kheema balls till golden brown from all sides and cooked through. Drain the oil well and keep aside.

For the baked version:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/11/appetizers-chicken-kheema-balls-minced.html

5) These Kheema balls can be served by themselves as appetizers along with some fried onions...

6) While serving- Mix together the Pulav, the kheema balls, fried onion and garnish with sliced almonds and cilantro.

"Appetizers"- Quick Puff Pastry Cheese Straws

Looking for a quick appetizer or a side dish???? This one is sure to please you!
Puff Pastry is my favorite ingredient to work with.You can make either sweet or savory dishes with it, it readily available in USA, tasty delicious..buttery..flaky and you can mould it into so many shapes and wow your guests...

Ingredients:
1 sheet Pepperidgefarm puffpastry sheet
1/2  to 1/3rd cup grated Parmesan cheese
1tsp Italian seasoning
1/2tsp dried Basil
1/2tsp Red chili powder
1/4tsp black ground pepper

Method:
1) Thaw the puff pastry sheet as directed.Pre heat the oven to 400F
2) Cut the puff pastry into thin strips with a knife
3) With one end in each hand , twist the strips to get to spiral shape.
4) Mix together the cheese, seasoning, chili powder, black pepper in a large plate
5) Roll the spirals/straws into the cheese and place on baking sheet as you make them.

6) Bake for 15 mins or till golden brown.

7) Serve with your favorite dipping sauce like- Marinara sauce, Sundried tomato Pesto etc.

"Sweet Treats"- My Little MasterChef -Eshan's 'Ice Cream Sandwiches"

My Little Master Chef:  Eshan Thete

This recipe comes from my own Kitchen.....but made by my little 'Eshan'!!! I think I did manage to pass some 'foodie' genes to him and yes... once in a while he loves helping me out in the kitchen.His favorite thing to do.... Roll out chapatis and decorate stuff with sprinkles....and yes...peeling boiled eggs...and DID I MENTION the... Making MESS yet???? Hahhah!
So....since we were not having the 'typical' Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving day.....we made our day special and sweet, with these little treats...
I thought this was a fun treat.....kids would love making it....and of course the whole family can enjoy a special dessert!!
For us.... Eshan made these cute sandwiches

Ingredients:
4 Cookies (We used oatmeal cookies to 'up' the nutrition)
2 scoops of your favorite ice cream ( We used the black walnut ice cream)
Sprinkles, chocolate chips or chopped nuts etc

Method:
1)  Place the cookies in the freezer for 15 mins to chill them.
2) Make a sandwich by placing a scoopful of ice cream on one cookie and covering with the second cookie.
3) Press the upper cookie just a little to make the sandwich compact.
4) Roll the sandwich into sprinkles or chocolate chips or chopped nuts.
5) Done!!!

Enjoy the special treat of crisp crunchy cookies and cold ice cream in between!

"Appetizers"- Bruschetta Bites and Toast with Sweet Ricotta and Pineapple

My favorite appetizer!!!! I already wrote a post on this one before...on how to pronounce it and how I got mad at a waitress when she corrected me ...when infact I was the one who pronounced it right!!
(http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/10/everyday-cooking-bruschetta.html)
Anyways...
I found this really cute little bread called "Party Cocktail Bread" at Kroger the other day. They came in various flavors like white bread..sour dough etc.But I bought the plain white one.The slices were a perfect size for making 'Appetizer Bites' and looked sooo fancy!

I made two types of appetizers with this bread....Bruschetta and Toast with Sweet Ricotta cheese and Pineapple topping.

Bruschetta:

Ingredients:
8 slices of party cocktail bread
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4cup chopped  Roma plum tomatoes
1/2tsp Basil(dried or fresh)
1/4tsp black ground pepper
1/2cup shredded mozzarella (fresh is best)(I used Pepper jack)
1 tbsp olive oil
1clove garlic crushed
1tsp Balsamic Vinegar
salt
 Cilantro/parsley or fresh basil for garnishing

Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2) Mix olive oil and crushed garlic.Apply liberally on the bread slices.Toast in the oven for 5 mins or so till slightly golden.Let them cool.
3) Mix onion,tomatoes,basil,black pepper and salt.Place a spoonful on the garlic toast

4) Add the shredded cheese on top.Drizzle few drops of balsamic vinegar. Done!

Toast with Sweet Ricotta cheese and Pineapple topping

 Ingredients:
8 slices of party cocktail bread
1 tsp melted/softened butter
1/4 cup Ricotta cheese
1/4cup pineapple pieces
2-3tsp sugar

Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2)Apply butter liberally on the bread slices.Toast in the oven for 5 mins or so till slightly golden.Let them cool.
3)  Mix together ricotta cheese and sugar
4) Place a spoonful of the ricotta cheese on the toast and garnish with pineapple pieces.