"Everyday Cooking"- Zucchini Masala Rice

It was last months potluck..and I was out of ideas.What could I make...that would be easy, tasty, fulfilling and 'not so common'?? Because everyone is looking forward to some new dishes and recipes in the Potluck party!
I remembered the "Capsicum Masala rice" that my friend 'P' makes.....
Here is the recipe for the "4 Colored Capsicum  Masala Rice" that I had posted earlier...
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/09/everyday-cooking-4-colored-capsicum.html

I did not have the colored Capsicums ....and this time ...The 'neglected" zucchini can be the centerpiece of my dish!! It may not be every ones favorite veggie..but I like it! You can use it in so many ways...in Pastas, In sweet Zucchini breads, in curries , in roasted vegetables etc etc. It is very versatile.
It was funny...when my mom thought it was a 'cucumber' and made raita out of it!!! LOL!

Recipe :
http://www.vahrehvah.com/indianfood/capsicum-masala-rice/
Substitute the Capsicum with sliced Zucchinis

1) Prepare white basmati rice and let it cool.Grains should be separate.
2) Slice the Zucchini into half moon shape. Dry roast the 'masala' ingredients given in the recipe. Grind the masala ingredients.

3 ) Fry the Zucchini for just couple mins. It should remain 'crisp'. Add the masala powder and fry for few seconds.
4) Add the cooked rice.Toss. Add 2 tsp Ghee.Toss again.

 Serve hot along with cool yogurt or curries or your favorite soup. Enjoy!!!

"Aroma From a Guest Kitchen"- (Guest- Soniya Keskar)- Shahi Tukda

Guest Recipe by: Soniya Keskar
This recipe comes from my friend Soniya, who these days I call....'The Queen of Sweets" ....she makes amazing desserts of various kinds. She made this delicious luscious Mango dessert for a party. I already got this wondeful recipe of Mango Cheese Cake from her-
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/07/aroma-from-guest-kitchen-guest-soniya.html
Then the other day she made a 'Cake pudding' similar to bread pudding..but with pound cake,nuts and chocolate.It was sooo good....everyone was tempted to go for seconds:)
The 'Shahi Tukda" was her first attempt and a wonderful dessert I thought after a traditional meal.
 It consisted of bread cut into heart shape and fried to crispy golden brown.Then it was dipped in sweetened milk and topped with 'Malai - Kesar Pedha mixture. The crispy bread soaked in milk and topped with smooth sweet malai....was heavenly combination!

Ingredients:
White slice bread
oil/ butter/ghee to fry the bread
Milk- sweetened like basundi and flavored with cardamom/ Saffron etc
Malai mixture-Ricotta cheese, milk powder, sugar, saffron.
Garnish- chopped nuts/ almonds/ sliced cherries

Method:
1) Cut the bread with a cookie cutter into heart shapes. Deep fry in Butter/ Ghee/ oil till golden brown and crispy.

2) Heat milk and add sugar, cardamom.Let it cool to 'luke' warm temperature.
3) Make the Malai mixture by this recipe. Keep the consistency little loose than the 'Pedha' , so that the malai mixture can be easily spread on the bread.
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/10/treats-for-diwali-ricotta-cheese.html

4) Just before serving....dipped the fried bread in warm milk and place on the serving plate. Spread the malai mixture on the bread and garnish with chopped nuts/almonds.

Serve this 'new' dessert along with your traditional meal and 'wow' your guests!

"Pat a Cake"- Eggless Mandarin Orange Cake with Orange Glaze

Now that I have the 'perfect' recipe for eggless cakes.....I am trying all sorts of flavors with a little modification to the same recipe!!! And the best part is.....every time it works!! Best eggless cake you ever had...moist, spongy and delicious!!! I can't thank my friend 'S'..enough...for the eggless cake recipe:))

You got to try this Mandarin orange cake out....I am sure you will love it too!!!

 Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cup all purpose flour (sifted)
3/4th cup Granulated Sugar
1/3rd Cup Canola oil
1/4 th CUP of cut up canned Mandarin oranges in 'light syrup'(cut into tiny pieces)-[Add upto 1/3rd cup for more orange flavor]
1tsp Baking soda
1/2tsp salt
1 tbsp Vinegar
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup 'light syrup' from the canned mandarin oranges
Orange zest of one orange(add more for stronger flavor)

Method:
Preheat the oven to 350F (preheating is very imp). Grease the 8 inch round pan or a Bundt pan with vegetable shortening. Apply liberally in all corners.Dust with all purpose flour to coat the pan.
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 wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls.Add the chopped up mandarin oranges and 1/2 of the orange zest to the batter.Save the remaining for the glaze.
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
5) Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 mins.Do not open the door for first 20 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
8) Let it cool for 1hr or so before glazing


Glazing:

1/2 stick unsalted butter
3/4th cup powdered sugar
2tbsp milk
orange zest
Melt butter and mix powdered sugar, milk, orange zest. Mix till smooth and shiny.
Pour over the cooled cake
Sprinkle some orange zest over the zest for garnishing.

You will love this moist, spongy,orangy cake...with extra dash of orange flavor in the glaze!!!

"Sweet Treats"- GulabJamun with Sweet Ricotta filling

A Twist on the old favorite!

To keep up with the ever changing tastes of the world...you have to change yourself ....so that you accommodate within the new world....

 Recipe Idea: Manisha

Like you see many sweets getting a new face and getting served in different combinations....these "Gulab Jamun with Sweet Ricotta filling' serve as a perfect example.....( Gulab Jamun with Malai pedha in the center) The others would be- Gulab Jamun with Vanilla ice cream, or warm Vermicelli kheer with cold icecream or Burfis molded into shapes of fruits and vegetables, Rasgulla sandwiches...

I had seen,'M' made these for her daughter's birthday and everyone was crazy about these little bundles of goodness! She had made the Gulab Jamun's little larger than usual and fried them on more darker side to get a good visual effect of brown jamun's with plain white ricotta filling.

Ingredients:

1) Gulab Jamun mix of your choice( Gits/ Deep/ Chitale)

2) Sugar syrup ( 1 and 1/2 cups sugar and 1 cup water) Add rose essence/ Saffron/ Cardamon

3) 1/2 cup Ricotta cheese

4) 3 tsp milk powder

5) 3-4 tsp sugar

6)1/2tsp ghee

Method:

1) Make the Jamun's as directed on the packet

Make the Jamun's the size of a small table tennis ball and fry them a little longer than usual to get a dark brown color

2) Soak into the sugar syrup which is little thicker than normal.( 1 and 1/2 cup sugar to 1 cup water)

3) After 15-20 mins, carefully pull out the jamun from the syrup and let it sit on a plate

4)Ricotta Filling: Meanwhile heat a non stick pan and heat 1/2tsp ghee.Add the ricotta cheese and let it cook for 15-20 mins on low flame till it solidifies. Add the milk powder and sugar and continue to cook till dough like.

Detail recipe:http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/10/treats-for-diwali-ricotta-cheese.html

5) Cut the Jamun in the center about 3/4th through.Fill with 1/2tsp of the ricotta filling

6) Do the same for the remaining Jamuns.

"Sweet Treats"- Orange- Almond Biscotti with white and dark chocolate drizzle

My First Recipe for the blog from my brand new Kitchen.It had to be Sweet.... and my favorite- -Biscotti!!!
Love Love Love Biscottis....any flavor and every flavor!!
I tried this combination of Orange and Almonds for the first time and it tasted ..just awesome!!

I found the guidelines for the recipe here....and a 'neat' idea to drizzle chocolate on the biscotti.It was pretty cool to do it this way!
http://www.lolfoodie.com/archives/2010/12/almond-orange-biscotti/

Since I modified the recipe here and there, here is how I made it:

Ingredients:
3 and 1/2 cups All purpose flour
5 Tbsps unsalted butter at room temperature
3 large eggs
1/4cup sliced almonds
1/4cup oil
1and 1/4th cup granulated sugar
3tsp Baking Powder
1/4tsp salt
2tsp orange zest
1/4cup orange juice
1tsp Vanilla essence
For Chocolate drizzle:
1/4 cup White chocolate
1/4cup Dark chocolate

Method:
1) Cream together butter,oil,salt and sugar.Add the eggs and beat again till well blended and smooth
2)Preheat oven to 350F and grease a cookie sheet.
3) Add rest of the ingredients to the creamed butter.Make into a soft dough.
4) Roll into logs and flatten them. Bake at 350F for 25 mins

5) Slice horizontally or at an angle with a sharp knife.

6) Place the cookies flat on the cookie sheet and 're bake' at 325 F for 10-12 mins until slight golden

7) Let them cool on the cookie sheet it self.
8) Chocolate Drizzle-

1) Microwave white/ dark chocolate chips in a small bowl for 20 secs. Stir and microwave again for 30 secs.
(I tried microwaving the chips in the zip lock bag as told in 'lolfoodie' recipe...but the bag bursted as I was squeezing it while piping the chocolate.)
2)  Fill the melted chocolate in a ziplock bag and press it shut

3) Cut a tiny hole in the bag corner and squeeze the bag to drizzle the chocolate on the Biscotti

You can do white chocolate only or dark chocolate only or a combination of both ...

Dunk and enjoy this sweet crunchy Biscottis with your favorite cup of Coffee or tea....

Coming soon...."MyKitchensAroma" from a brand new Kitchen!

A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.....

We finally moved to our new home...and soon, MyKitchensAroma will be coming from my brand new kitchen:))

"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!