Gajar halwa/ Carrot Halwa with Vanilla ice cream

"Beta aaj maine tumhare liye Gajar ka Halwa banaya hai"....a typical old Bollywood movie dialogue. A dessert so typically 'Bollywood' that I actually think...Bollywood moms only knew how to make one dessert....Gajar ka Halwa!!

So...my 'beta' (son) for the past few days has been demanding this dessert....especially with Vanilla ice cream. The combination of warm 'carrotty' halwa melting the cold vanilla ice cream..could be anybodies dream! Can't wait to see his smile when he gets home from school and has his favorite bite:))

Ingredients:
4 Big carrots shredded
1/2 to 3/4 cup Sugar (adjust according to sweetness of the carrots)
1/2 cup Milk powder
1tbsp Ghee/clarified butter
1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
1 tbsp golden raisins
1 tbsp cashews
2-3 Pistachios sliced for garnish
Silver leaf/ varkha for garnish

Vanilla ice cream

Method:
1) In a pan, heat the ghee. Add the cashews and fry till slightly golden.
2)  Add the shredded carrots and saute for 1 min.
3) Add the sugar,cardamom,nutmeg,raisins and mix. Add the milk powder, mix, and cook till the carrots are cooked.Cover with lid for 2 mins. The milk powder will cook with the liquid from the carrots and turn into something like 'khawa/khoya/ mawa'.
4) Before serving garnish with chopped pistachios.
Serve the warm halwa with cold vanilla ice cream.Enjoy!

Indo-Chinese "American Chopsuey"

Indo- Chinese is one of a kind cuisine! It is nothing like Indian nor authentic Chinese. The dish names ...the flavors...everything is unique. What "American Chopsuey" (similar to Chili mac- macaroni with beef) is to a American, is very different from the Indo-Chinese "American" chopsuey. I have no clue...why the word "american' was in the dish name!! Maybe anything 'american' sounded cool ;) In Pune, I have even had a "American" Shev Batata Dahi Puri!!! Instead of puris, the base was something similar to 'Ritz' crackers.
The Indo-Chinese American chopsuey is a spicy-tangy thick soup with vegetables topped with crunchy fried noodles. There are many variations in this recipe too, depending in which part of India you get it!

 So here goes my recipe for a "Indo-Chinese Vegeterian American ChopSuey":

Ingredients: makes 6-7 servings
1 cup Bean sprouts ( I used caned ones, but fresh are great!)
1/2 cup finely chopped cabbage
1/2cup finely chopped carrots
1/2 cup bamboo shoots (I used caned ones)
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup chopped green onions
3tbsp  corn starch
2tbsp Light soy sauce
1tbsp Hot and sweet sauce
1tsp Ginger-garlic paste
1tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp Sambal Olek chili paste
1/2tsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2tsp oil
salt
Cilantro for garnish
4-5 cups water

"La Choy" Chow mein noodles

Method:
1) Soup: In a large pot, heat 2tsp oil, add the chopped vegetables and saute.Add the ginger garlic paste and the water.
2) Mix the cornstarch into smooth paste in little water. Add to the above pot and stir. Add the sauces,spices salt and stir. Check for seasoning. The soup should be mildly sour and spicy to your taste.
3) Let it boil till it thickens.
4) Serve hot! While serving, place the soup in the serving bowl, top with the crunchy chow mein noodles, cilantro and chopped green onion.

Enjoy a steaming bowl of this spicy-tangy-crunchy bowl of "American Chopsuey" !

Spinach-Corn cheesy 'Biscuit' Oysters/ Foldovers

I love making different shapes out of food.I think it is a 'fun' way to eat and kindles your creativity too!
I have experimented with 'shapes' before, and here a few examples--
Phyllo "Potlis":
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/12/appetizers-phyllo-potlis-with-spiced.html
Pumpkin Shaped Pedhas:
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/11/pumpkin-shaped-pedhas.html
Spooky Halloween Pasta:
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/10/spooky-halloween-pasta-spaghetti-with.html
Potato balls with Spicy green peas filling:
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/12/appetizers-potato-balls-with-spicy.html

 But this time, I am going to be honest....I didn't mean to make them into "Oysters"....I wanted them to be just 'foldovers'. But then, the dough unfolded while baking (probably because I didn't press it hard enough), and Viola....there were these beautiful...Spinach-Corn cheesy Biscuit Oysters!!!

Ingredients: Makes 10 foldovers

1 Can Pillsbury Jr Biscuit
2 cup chopped Spinach
1/2 cup Corn kernels
1/2cup Shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 garlic clove minced
1tsp olive oil
1/4tsp Red pepper flakes (add more for spicier taste)
1/8tsp ground black pepper
salt
Some all purpose flour
Marinara sauce/ Ketchup/ Maggie hot and sweet sauce


 Method:
1)  Filling: Heat the olive oil, add the garlic and chopped spinach, corn, red pepper flakes and black pepper.Saute till cooked and the water evaporates.Add little salt. Keep aside.Let it cool completely.Add the cheeses and mix.
2) Pre heat the oven to 375F. Spray a cookie sheet with oil spray.
3) Open the biscuit dough can, separate the biscuits. Roll each biscuit in all purpose flour and roll out to make a circle.Place a spoonful of the filling in the center and foldover.

4) Press the edges slightly with a fork till the Foldovers are closed completely.

5) Bake at 375F for 12-14 mins till golden brown

6) Serve hot with your favorite sauce!

Eggless Custard Fruit Tart

A recipe...long due to be written. Finally, here it is!! I never had a 'tart' pan before. The other day at Target...I found this colorful cool looking one! It has a removable bottom...which is perfect!!

So, this tart was going to be a 'dessert' for a friends birthday party...and many of them happen to be 'vegetarian'...and so I was hunting for 'Eggless' Tart recipes.Where else do you find a good baking recipe???....My favorite 'go to' site: www.joyofbaking.com

Shortbread crust:
I baked the crust, just like how they tell to...there is even a video for it. It comes out so buttery and flaky..it will just melt in your mouth!!
The only think I changed was the baking temperature: I baked the crust at 350F for 20-22 mins (The pan had those instructions)
http://www.joyofbaking.com/EasyFruitTartRecipe.html

Custard filling:
This one..I made up.Just like the custard made with 'custard powder', in the 'fruit salad with custard recipe....it is similar ...just needs to be 'thicker'.
 Ingredients:
2 Cups whole milk
4tbsp Custard powder
4tbsp sugar
1/2tsp vanilla extract
4tbsp cream cheese(optional- if you want a little 'tart' flavor)

Method:
1)Mix the custard powdered with 1/2 cup milk and mix till smooth and all lumps are gone.
2) Heat the remaining milk. When it is warm, slowly add the custard powder mixed with milk.Stir continuously on medium-low flame till it thicken up.
3) Add the sugar and mix.Boil more for couple mins.Stir constantly till thick.Add vanilla extract and mix. Take off the flame. Let it cool completely. Stir after every few mins, when it is cooling.It will thicken more.
4) Meanwhile bring the cream cheese to room temperature.Whisk it into smooth paste.Add to the cooled custard and whisk till well incorporated.
5) Pour the cooled custard into the baked cooled tart. Smoothen it with a spoon. Chill in the refrigerator covered till ready to decorate with fruits.

Fruits: (of your choice. More colorful the better!)
Strawberries
Blueberries
Kiwis
grapes
mandarin oranges
You can decorate the tart in any pattern. Fill the tart with fruits.Do this few hours before ready to serve.Chill in the refrigerator,covered with plastic wrap.

You can glaze the cut up fruit with 'sugar syrup' or apricot/ or any other fruit preserves.This will prevent the fruits from drying up and they will appear fresh for longer!

Ciabatta Bread and Spicy Guacamole sandwich

Had 'Ciabatta' bread before???  It is a crusty chewy white Italian bread. I love crusty and chewy breads!! They make great sandwiches and paninis.When I saw it at Jay-C the other day, couldn't keep my hands off of it:)....though 'white'....it's OK to eat 'white bread' once in while ...agree???

For a simple meal....this sandwich is easy to make, versatile and super delicious!!

Ingredients:
4 Ciabatta bread rolls
2 firm tomatoes sliced
1/2 cup shredded cheese
 Ground Black pepper
Salt

For  Spicy Guacamole
1 Avocado
1/4 Red onion
1 green chili/ Jalapeno finely chopped
 1/4 tsp Cumin
2tsp lemon juice
2tsp chopped cilantro
salt

Method:
1) Slice the avocado and scrape out all the flesh.
2) Finely chop the red onion
3)  Spicy Guacamole: Mix together Avocado,red onion, green chilies, salt,cumin, cilantro,lemon juice and mix.
4) Cut the ciabatta bread in the center. Apply 2tsp Guacamole. Place tomato slices.Sprinkle salt and black pepper. Top with shredded cheese.
5) You can grill it into a Panini or have as it!