Egg puffs .

EGG PUFFS; Spicy-Kerala Style!!!

It never occurred to me that i can make puffs at home !!!
I ended up making egg puffs which my hubby cant resist :) Its indeed a taste of home which we all love! Its quite simple to make with the store bought puff pasty.

1) I used the Pepperridge farm puff pastry sheets.Cut one pastry sheet into 4 squares each.

2) Boil 4 eggs, peel and cut into halves.

3) Put half of a boiled egg facing up and a spoon of onion mixture on top of it.
You dont need too much masala in each parcel.A lil bit with the egg tastes better, Or else it might end up like egg curry in parcels.

a) For the masala- Saute
- one finely chopped big red onion
- a teaspoon of fresh ginger paste
- half teaspoon of Tumeric powder
-one teaspoon of Coriander powder
-one teaspoon of Ground fennel seed
-One green chilly -chopped( optional)
-one spoon water
-salt and pepper

4) Fold the pastry into desired shape and transfer it to a baking tray lined with foil.
I used a Tin foil Baking tray.

5)Brush egg wash -(egg white and a teaspoon of milk or water beaten together) on the parcels.

6)Bake in 400 degree F or 200 degree Celsius oven for 20 minutes or till golden brown.

Let it cool thoroughly, before you bite into those flaky,spicy, crunchy, homemade, EGG PUFFS !!! ;-)

Chicken fried rice

CHICKEN FRIED RICE

This is my version of Chicken Fried rice :-) I must say it is Instant and easy Fried rice.Most of the ingredients are always there at home.
To start with
1) Saute
-Two springs of green onion or spring onion
-One spoon of minced ginger and garlic
-one cup of finely chopped carrot and cabbage
-one cup of shredded chicken pieces (I poached chicken in some water , I also use chicken stock sometimes )
-salt and pepper
-one spoon of soy sauce
-one pinch of onion powder(optional)

2) Stir fry this mixture together for few minutes and add in

-One and a half cup of boiled white rice.

(I used basmathi long grain rice-soaked it for 10 minutes and boiled it in water for 10 minutes and drained it)U can also use left over rice.

-Mix the rice with the sauteed mixture.

3) Now comes my secret part;) add in

- two spoons of chicken stock(i used the stock i boiled the chicken in)

-stir fry and add in one egg and mix all together.add in some more salt according to taste.

- when you serve,cut in a spring onion on top to garnish.

This might not be very authentic but it tastes so good that, you will be making it again and again, like I do:-)

It's a meal on its own and is great with tomato sauce!!

Chicken Biriyani

There are many ways to make biriyani and this is my favorite method!!

I've made this chicken biriyani many times and it's always been a heart warming meal with the eggs, raitha and Pappad.

This picture was taken when I cooked for my best friend in Shillong who came over for lunch and being the hungry foodies that we are had no patience to click a perfect picture of the mouthwatering meal ;)

With a little prep ahead this meal will come out beautifully.To start with..

1) soak 2 cups of long grain basmati rice in water for 15-20 minutes . Drain and keep aside.

2) sauté in one spoon of hot ghee

-one whole cinnamon stick

- two cardomom pods

-3 cloves

- 4 whole black pepper cones

- one- two dried bay leaf

- one star anise

- one skin dried inner skin of nutmeg.

To the roasted spices add in the drained rice sauté for 2 minutes and keep aside.

3) In one spoon of ghee sauté a handful of cashews and once that sizzles and in a handful of raisins. Sauté till the raisins get puffed up. Keep aside for garnish .

4) sauté 

-4-5 finely diced red onions till light golden and keep aside half of it for garnish and to the rest of the onions in the pan,

In low heat, Add in

- a spoon of ginger garlic paste

- one teaspoon of turmeric powder

- one teaspoon of coriander powder

- one teaspoon of Kashmiri chilli powder

- one teaspoon of garam masala.

- salt and pepper .saute together and

- add puréed or finely diced two tomatoes..

-let everything come together, sauté in medium heat till oil seperates.

- add in half kg or 2 cups of chicken with bone.(medium sized.)

- mix together and cover and cook for 10 minutes till the chicken is half cooked and juices have come out.

- At this stage, add in 3 and a half cup of chicken stock to the chicken, let it boil,check salt.

- now add in the roasted rice to it.

-cover tightly and cook for 15-20 minutes..in medium heat. It's good to check after 15 minutes. And lower the heat if needed.

- remove from heat , let is rest for 10- 15 more minutes.

5) In that time frame boil 2-3 eggs , peel and slice into halves .

6) to make the raita mix curd with some water to a paste like consistency.

- add in 2 diced green chillis

- one diced tomato 

- one red onion

- one grated carrot and a bunch of fresh coriander leaves- (optional)

- salt and pepper.

garnish the fragrant rice with the fried onions, roasted cashews and sultanas ,(fresh coriander leaves optional) eggs and serve with the raitha and Pappad and pickle.. Yummmm..:-)

Avocado Smoothie

Avocado Smoothie 

Avocado is such a wonder fruit..used in so many ways..one of my favorites!!!
Ive never seen such luscious creamy green in any other fruit.This smoothie is definitely a soul food.
Everytime i buy avacadoes,i make sure it is not too firm.It doesn't matter if the skin looks lil dark not too ripe though.To make this smoothie-

1) Cut the avacado in half,scoring on the flesh on top of the seed in the middle.split open,discard the seed and scoop out the flesh. Discard the skin.

2)In to a blender add one
-Avacardo flesh,
-Two cups of cold milk( if you are lactose intolerant you can try almond milk and even coconut milk works well)
-Half a cup of honey and blend.

3)When you serve it sprinkle some roasted almonds and drizzle some extra honey on top.I like to make this in bulk and store it in the freezer,and indulge like icecream later;)

What more can you ask for..its Simple,healthy,and pretty :-)

Churro balls with blueberry sauce.

This is my reinvented version of the Classic Churros with chocolate sauce...its soo easy but the end result looks suprisingly exotic!

All you need to do is,
-mix one cup of water with the satlted butter in a saucepan and boil over high heat.
-Stir in the flour slowly in low heat till it forms a ball.It might take a minute or two.
-Remove from the heat and slowly beat in two eggs.This is the Churros dough.Spoon this mixture into a pipping bag and drop it into hot oil and fry till golden.

-Here's my twist! Instead of the cinnamon and sugar coating i have used cardamom and light brown sugar.Coat it soon after frying.

-For the Blueberry sauce- Heat the blueberries with brown sugar and butter...Serve!

Meatloaf with mushroom sauce!

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This meatloaf is to die for! Seriously!Ofcourse with a spicy,Indian twist... 

All you have to do is 

1)Mix half cup minced beef,one pork sausage.

2) To that add the stirfried veggies.....ie 

-one carrot,

-few spinach leaves,

-one onion,

-one clove of garlic, 

-salt , pepper,

-a teaspoon garam masala, 

-a teaspoon paprika or kashmiri chilli powder stir fried together

3)Add in one egg and bread crumbs to the meat mixture.

4) Mix all together,form a loaf shape in a baking tray and bake in a high oven for 45 minutes.

The sauce makes it unique..and irresistible .The base is bechamel sauce or white sauce with mushrooms. 

1)Cook the mushroom with 

-onion, 

-butter,

-salt and pepper till the water from the mushrooms are reduced, 

2)In a separate pan add in

- a spoon of all purpose flour

- a spoon of butter once thats cooked for 3 minutes on low heat,

-add in half a cup of water and the mushroom sauce.

This is definitely a crowd pleaser! Must Try!

Chocolate- coffee brownie

 Chocolate Coffee cake!!

This brownie literally melts in the mouth! and the best part is its healthier than the normal brownies..i guess;)

 coz all it has is 

-one spoon of all purpose flour with a cup of ground almonds.

-a teaspoon of baking powder 

-a cup of light brown sugar, 

-1 spoon of coca powder

-one teaspoon of instant coffee.

- half a cup of butter

-one egg.

 All whisked together into a magical concoction and baked in 300 degree F or 150 degree C, preheated oven for 20 or 30 minutes. 

The icing is even more lovely..

In a sauce pan

-Add a cube of butter, 

- two spoons of brown sugar,

-half a teaspoon of instant coffee

- half a cup of chocolate 

- half a cup of milk.

stirr until bubbling and gooey.

It will thicken as it cools.spread the icing on the cake once the cake has cooled.

.yummmm :)!

2 )Homemade pizza-lasagna

This is amazingly simple..all you need is
1)a french bread or Baguette cut into halves,toasted on a pan or oven ,
2)topped with a spread of
-one egg,
-salt ,
-pepper,
-cream cheese,and cheddar cheese,
3) topped with minced meat stir fried until brown and cooked in tomato sauce with
-salt ,pepper
-one clove of garlic
-paprika
-onion powder or onions
4) then comes the third layer which is shredded mozzarella cheese.,salt and pepper.
5)bake until bubbling and golden on top.

Too good and of course a heart warming treat!