How to clean your plastic containers ?

1. Add a small amount of dishwashing liquid, some warm water and torn-up paper towel to your container.

2. Put the lid on and shake for 45-60 seconds.

3. Remove the lid and the paper towel, rinse under warm water and give the container a further wipe if it needs it.

KFC Replica

Pizza in a pan

Recipe from Waitrose Cooking School. Serves 2-4 (2 x 30cm pizzas) | prep time: 20 minutes + proving | cook time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS  

For the dough 

• 7g dried active yeast
• ½ tbsp caster sugar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• ½ tbsp fine sea salt

For the pizza

• 1 x batch tomato sauce
• ½ x 250g pack grated mozzarella / any cheese you like 
• 150g pack essential  Italian mozzarella cherries, halved / any fruit you like
• ¼ x 25g pack basil, leaves only ( Optional if you dont like it)
• ½ tbsp olive oil ( Use alternative oil like Coconut / Mustard) 

 METHOD

1. To make the dough, mix the yeast, sugar, and olive oil with 325ml of warm water and leave to stand for 2-3 minutes until the yeast is totally dissolved.
2. Combine the flour and salt in a medium-sized bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and mix to bring together.
3. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until you have a smooth elastic dough. Place in a large flour-dusted bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave in a warm place for 45-60 minutes until the dough has doubled in size.
4. Preheat the oven to 250℃ fan and place a flat oven tray or pizza stone on the middle shelf.
5. Place a non-stick pan on a high heat.
6. Divide the dough into 3 and shape into a small ball. Dust the surface of the dough generously with semolina and press the dough, flattening using your hand until you have a round even shape.
7. Pick the dough up and stretch it out, rotating as you go to maintain a round shape. Place the dough on the surface so it catches the semolina on the bottom then carefully place into the hot frying pan.
8. Spread 3-4 tbsp of the tomato sauce evenly over the base. Sprinkle over the grated mozzarella, mozzarella balls and half of the basil leaves, then drizzle with the oil.
9. Place in the oven and cook for 12-15 minutes until the base is golden and crisp and the toppings are melted. Scatter the remaining basil on top and serve.

Chef's tip

Use this recipe as a base for creating your own pizza - try adding olives, anchovies, capers, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, cooked ham, spicy salami, gorgonzola, ricotta or any of your favourite toppings. Parma ham and rocket is delicious scattered over the pizza after it's cooked.

Kashmir Tea

Kashmiri Kahwa or Kehwa Chai or Kashmiri Tea is a traditional Kashmiri tea flavoured with cardamom and infused with cloves, cinnamon and saffron. It was traditionally prepared in a brass kettle known as samovar. It is basically green tea with flavours of spices

Kahwa tea drink is generally served with a sprinkling of chopped dry fruits like almonds, cherry pistachios or cashew nuts, almonds being the most popular.

It is usually served after meals in any Kashmiri household as it aids in digestion and burns the fat.

It reduces the risk of heart disease by keeping the deposition of cholesterol in check.

Saffron used in kahwa is rich in vitamin B12 and aids in immunity building and keeping the body’s defence mechanism in check.

Since it is rich in anti oxidants, it is a great stress buster and it also helps to improve metabolism. It is a great remedy for cold and cough and improves skin health.

The only thing to keep in mind while making Kahwa is that you should not add leaves while the heat is on.

How to prepare Kahwa?

Traditionally, kahwah is prepared in a copper kettle known as a samovar. A samovar consists of a “fire-container” running as a central cavity, in which live coals are placed keeping the tea perpetually hot. Around the fire-container there is a space for water to boil and the tealeaves and other ingredients are mixed with the water. Kahwah may also be made in normal pans and vessels, as modern day urban living may not always permit the use of elaborate samovars” – Wikipedia

Boil the water with spices and saffron and then switch off the heat. Let the water rest for a few seconds and then add the tea leaves. It helps to retain the nutritions in the tea intact and do not hamper with the taste.

You can get tea leaves from Amazon UK  

Samosa or Veggie pasties

Total Time

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

1 hr 30 mins

1 hr 

Ingredients 

• Bay Leaf – 1
• Cinnamon Stick – 1 inch piece
• Cardamom – 2
• Whole Cloves – 2
• Onion – 1 large, finely chopped
• Ginger – 2 tsp, minced
• Garlic – 2 tsp, minced
• Green Chilies – finely chopped
• Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tsp
• Red Chili Powder – to taste
• Salt – to taste
• Coriander Powder – 2 tsp
• Cumin Powder – 1 tsp
• Ground (Minced) Meat – 250gm or +Vegetables of your interest (Carrot,Beans,cabbage,beetroot,peas)
• Frozen Green Peas – 1/2 cup
• Water – 1/2 cup or little more
• Cilantro – finely chopped for garnishing
• Potato-2
• Oil for frying
• Maida / White Flour

For Masala Mix,

1. Add Bay Leaf, Cinnamon Stick, Black Cardamom, Green Cardamom and Whole Cloves. Stir for 30 seconds in 2 tbs oil.
2. Add Onions and a little salt, mix well, cover and cook for about 15 minutes stirring frequently.
3. Add Ginger and Garlic, mix well and cook uncovered for another 5 minutes until Onions turn brown and oil starts to separate from the mixture.
4. Add Green Chilies and mix well, cover and cook for about 10 minutes. Be sure to stir a few times in between.
5. Remove cover and continue to cook until oil starts to separate from the mixture again.
6. Add Red Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Coriander Powder and Cumin Powder. Mix well and switch off stove.

So our masala mix is ready now :)

In Pressure cooker,

1. First chop the potatoes and cook for two whistle with minimum water, little salt and turmeric. After 2 whistles remove pressure cooker from heat and allow the pressure to go down before opening the lid.Drain the water and smash the potatoes.

2. Next add the chopped meat in the cooker and cook for two whistle. (Add little water to the cooker, as more water will be coming from the meat). After 2 whistles remove pressure cooker from heat and allow the pressure to go down before opening the lid.Drain the water mince the meat in mixi for 2 min.

Add the smashed potatoes and minced meat to masala mix to a pan and garnish with fresh Cilantro.   

Method:

To make Crust: 

Whisk together plain flour / maida and salt in bowl. Stir in oil until clumps form. Add 6 to 10 Tbs. cold water, 1 Tbs. at a time, until dough holds together. Shape into ball, cover with damp towel, and set aside for 20 mins. Roll out Crust dough to 11-inch circle on floured work surface. 

I used the dumpling mould dough to make the samosa (see pics in right- Fresh).

Heat Oil in a medium non-stick pan on medium heat

Deep fry the samosas on low to medium heat until light brown.

Serve with tomato sauce or any chutney you love.

Kovakka Ulathiyath /Ivy Goud Stir fry

One more entry to my cooking recipe. a vegetable stir fry,

Ingredients:-

• Kovakka (Ivy Gourd) - 250gm
• Green chili -2
• Garlic Chopped -1
• Turmeric Powder - a pinch
• Curry Leaves -3-4 
• Small Onions -3
• Mustard Seeds - 1tsp
• Oil -2 spoon
• Salt to taste.

Method:-

1. Clean and slice as above.
2. Heat Oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
3. Add chopped onion and curry leaves and fry for a minute.
4. Add chopped kovakka , chilli’s, garlic and turmeric powder mix and toss it well.
5. Sprinkle 2/3 tsp of water, cover the pan with lid and cook for 6/7 minutes.
6. Remove the lid and stir fry for another 3/4 minutes.
7. Remove and serve warm with roti /rice.

Health benefits  of this vegetable include,

1. Improved bowel movements of the body due to existence of vitamin A and beta carotene in vegetable.
2. Liver enzyme in vegetable controls the blood sugar level in a natural way.
3. Development of general structure of body due to increased Vitamin A,C, B1 and B2 in vegetable
4. It is used as a  medicine to cure asthma, bronchitis,jaundice.
5. Ability of detoxification acts ideal in cleaning our blood also.

So choice is your try this dish :)

Regards

Ann

Onion Bhaji

Serves 1

Cooking Time : 30min

Vegetarian Recipe

Ingredients:-

•          50g gram flour/Maida

•          20g rice flour/Corn Flour

•          ½ tsp turmeric

•          1 tsp cumin seeds,

•          1 tsp medium Chili powder

•          Fresh /Dried Coriander

•          Asafoetida Powder/Kayam a pinch

•          Salt a pinch

•          One big Onion

•          One small potato

•          Water to make batter

•          Oil, to cook

Method of Cooking

In a bowl, mix all the batter ingredients together except oil and make a thick batter with water.  Batter should not be too watery. It should be medium thick. Add sliced onions, chopped potatoes and mix well. Keep aside this batter for 15 minutes.

Heat oil in a frying pan. Drop teaspoons of the batter (3/4 portions depending upon the size of pan) and fry till

golden color on both the sides.

Drain and place on kitchen towel to absorb excess oil.

Serve hot as an evening snack with Tomato ketchup or Mint chutney.

Enjoy #Onion Bhaji /  #Ulli Bhaji /  #Onion Pakoras / #Onion Fritters

Carrot lemonade

Prep time

45 mins

Total time 

45 mins

 

Serves: 3 cups

Ingredients

• 1KG carrots, cut into chunks
• 2 cups water
• 2 lemons juiced
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• ½ cup ice (optional)

1. In a pan /pressure cooker boil the carrots in the water and simmer for about 30 minutes.
2. Remove the carrots and let cool. Save the water.
3. Once cooled add the carrots, and lemon juice and sugar to your high powered blender/mixi and blend until smooth. Add about ½ to 1 cup of the water.
4. Blend.
5. Add ice
6. Blend

         

This post and contents belong to mum, she gave me this drink in my last holidays and it was really good and continued to make it back in UK on weekends , basically it is my saturday alternative for evening tea if I am at home. With the hope of you will also try this I am sharing her recipe.

Please consider drinking carrot juice which gives the body Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Vitamin E and many minerals. It is  good for  prenatal health, eyesight, bones and teeth, liver and nails, skin and hair as well as helping in cancer prevention.

Carrot juice reduce the risks of many different types of cancer including skin and breast cancer. The cancer-fighting properties of carrot juice are often thought to be excellent due to the high amounts of beta carotene. Beta carotene changes to Vitamin A in the body. 

Herbal Tea

Tea is commonly called as Chai / Masala Chai. Tea is one of my addiction in life, and I need at least 2 cups for my soul to be happy.Tea is the refreshing drink taken in the morning and when tired or stressed out.

I start my day with herbal tea and if I don't drink a cup of tea then for sure my day will be lost with headache. I can bet that most Indians have tea in the morning and most of us use herbs it to make it more healthy.

I am typing this blog post from my flat on May 26th 2014 one of the bank holidays in UK and it is called spring bank holiday. But the weather over here in UK is like Indian monsoon, is raining non stop for past 12 hours now. It is nice to see rain through window but rains pulls out the laziness out of your body.

I personally dont like Dip tea if I am at home and I make Indian Herbal tea. I wonder I have it everyday what took me so long to share this Indian Tea recipe with all of you. The herbal teas consists of simple herbs, which you can grow in your backyard. The aroma and taste of this Indian Herbal tea is awesome do try this.

The kind of herbs one can add in a herbal tea depends upon their medicinal value as some of the herbs like ginger, cloves will produce a lot of heat in the body whereas some herbs like mint, tulsi (holy basil), rose petals are cooling. on a cold climate you can have the tea hot. 

The herbs which I used for my herbal tea :

1. Ginger (sliced/grated)
2. Two  cardamom
3. Cinnamon powder (sometimes)

If you don't herbs in hand I would suggest  Tesco Finest Fragrant and Spicy  Tea it has same same effect. Try out local brands of spicy tea.

If you add Ginger to your tea it relieves nausea, combats motion sickness, inflammation, helps digestive processes, limits flatulence and minimizes symptoms of common cold, allergies and other respiratory conditions.

Tips:

• Do not remove the peel of cardamoms as they impart good flavor and have lots of medicinal values.
• Never add cold milk and then heat the tea it spoils the taste of tea.
• Correct practice is adding milk to tea not tea to milk this way the amount milk can be regulated without spoiling the taste of tea.
• To get the complete flavor of herbs and spices boil the water for at least 5 min.
• Lastly don’t forget to add some love while making this tea.

There are many other varieties of herbal teas hope below pic helps you to try out the different herbal teas.

Table manners across the globe

Linda McCartney Vegetarian Sausages & Grilled Vegetables

It is lent season so experiments are progressing in vegetables and new spices 
The possibilities for this dish are limited only by what you've got fresh on hand, so don't hold back—add other summer vegetables, like peppers, eggplant, asparagus or sweet onions.


Cook Time :20 min

Serves :1

Ingredients:

Vegetables I Used:

1 Onion
2 Pickled pepper
5 Beans

Spices Used:

2 Table Spoon(tsp) Oil
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper Powder
1/2 tsp Basil 
1 tsp Lemon Juice

Main Ingredient:

Linda McCartney Foods - Vegetarian Sausages - 2 No's

Method :

• Heat up 2 tsp oil in a flat vessel , add Linda McCartney Foods - Vegetarian Sausages
• When it turns golden brown
• Add sliced onion, salt, basil, pepper and cook till it becomes soft.
• Mean while grill vegetables, I used #George Foreman Grill for by beans and peppers
• Grill vegetables uncovered over medium heat for 6 to 8 mins 
• Serve hot with Linda McCartney Foods - Vegetarian Sausages after sprinkling lemon.

Please try yourself and let me know feed back in your time.

If you are allergic to any of the ingredients please refrain from using it. 

Signing off..
Ann

Pic Courtesy: Iphone 

Measures

Spicy Cabbage Masala

Hi Guys and Girls,

Yet another attempt in Kitchen Lab, this time also victim is 'Self'. It is called Spicy Cabbage Massala, it turned out to be well so sharing it with recipe.This is my first recipe post in my blog so please do add comments so I can be better in my next post and in kitchen too.

Spicy Cabbage Masala

Ingredients:

Vegetables Used:

1 Tomato chopped
1/2 Cabbage shredded
1/2 Cup Coriander leaves(Optional)
1/2 Cup Green Peas(Optional)
1/2 Cup Chopped Mushrooms(Optional)

Spices Used:

3 Table Spoon(tsp) Oil
1 tsp Mustard seeds/ Fenugreek
1 tsp Cumin seeds (Optional)
4/5 Curry Leaves
Pinch of Hing / Asafoetida
5 to 6 cloves of Garlic/ Paste
1 Onion sliced
1 tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp Red chilli powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp Coriander powder

Method :

• Heat up 3 tsp oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, curry leaves, garlic and cook garlic till it changes its color.
• Add sliced onion and cook till it becomes soft.
• Add turmeric powder, garam masala, red chilli powder, coriander powder, mix and cook for 2 mins.
• Add tomatoes, mix, cover and cook till tomatoes get soft.
• Add sliced cabbage, mix, salt to taste, cover and cook till cabbage gets tender.
• Add Green peas mushrooms and other vegetables you  choose and cook for another 5 min.
• If you need a liquid curry in dilute form add milk/ curd and switch off the cooking hob.
• Serve hot with chapati, fulka or rice!

Please try yourself and let me know feed back in your time.
If you are allergic to any of the ingredients please refrain from using it. 

Spring started here in UK and new vegetables are also in farmers market so expect more recipes in coming weeks. Until then take care Guys

Signing off..
Ann

Pic Courtesy: Iphone 

Cabbage Thoran

Vegetable Cutlet

Recipe: Maria's Kitchen :)

Snack time ~ Mulaku Bhaji

Cauliflower Special with tomato

Chicken Biriyani + Veg Mushroom Curry

Recipes on request 👍

From the table

Recepies on request 😉

Omelet in a Mug