MYSORE PAK & an update after 20 days!

I'm back! :) with a bang from a 3 week shopping + no internet + a dead laptop charger scenario at home  :) A big thank you to you my dear readers for still being interested in my blog :)

I have to be honest that inspite of me travelling extensively in the last few weeks, I still managed to cook/bake a lot of stuff but I'm having a huge sugar craving right now hence none came out into the limelight :)

Mysore pak was something I always wanted to try and I did last year...before I started my darling blog. But the end result was bitter and what not! And you wouldn't believe how upset I was with the result...and Aparna knows the rest! I am still so sorry :)

But no matter how many days,weeks & months passed by, it was one thing that I wanted to perfect upon...and I did it! YAY! Thank you Aparna & Srivalli for helping me out with the one-thread consistency for sugar. You see, twitter SOS works like a charm! :)

MYSORE PAK

You can check Aparna's blog for the recipe

For all those who have never attempted making this sinful Indian sweet at home, please go ahead ! This recipe is a marvel! My pics haven't done justice to the ghee-yellow colour the sweet had. It does look a bit dry on the outside, but when you bite into it...it just melts in your mouth!

INDIAN CHICKEN SAMOSA for the soul!

I am home alone... YES it isn't me who is travelling now! YAY! So definately I am a free bird now and can experiment in the kitchen as much as I want! :D But it does have it's pros & cons. I woke up to a cooking gas-less day! What a wonderful Monday! :D I had to seek the help of our neighbour to boil a packet of milk :D

This is a tried, tested and trusted recipe from my fave cook on earth-Amma :) She is the best! :)

These samosa's are one of her hits along with Mini Chicken & Bell Pepper Spring Rolls.

INDIAN CHICKEN SAMOSA

Recipe source: Amma

Ingredients:

For the wrapper:

Flour-500g

Water-as required

Salt -to taste

For the filling:

Boneless chicken-200g, boiled and shredded

Onions-4 big, finely chopped

Ginger garlic paste-1 tbsp

Chilli powder-1/2 -1tbsp [depending on your spice level]

Coriander powder-1/2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Oil-3 tbsp

Oil for deep frying

A thick paste made using flour & water [for sealing]

Method:

For the wrapper:

• Mix all the ingredients together and form a smooth dough.
• Divide the dough into lime-sized balls and roll them out into thin discs.
• Heat a flat bottomed pan and cook the discs slightly (only on one side) so that it doesn't taste raw anymore.
• Continue the same process for the other wrappers.

Spicy chicken filling: Recipe & video can be found here

Assembly:

• Cut the wrappers into semi-circles.
• Make a paste using water + flour to seal the edges.
• Form a cone with the cut wrappers and fill it with the chicken filling. It can also be filled like 'turnovers'. But for that you need to roll out the dough into rectangles and not circles.
• Seal it using the flour paste.
• Deep fry in hot oil.
• Serve with sauces of your choice.

These can be stored in the deep freezer,thaw and use them as needed. It is a simple but delicious make- ahead snack. If you need to serve it along with cocktails, make small samosa's which can hold a teaspoon of the filling.

So what are you waiting for? Dig in! :D

I am sending this post as an entry to Meeta's Monthly Mingle -BRUNCH

CHOCOLATE YOGHURT CAKE ~ for lil Appu ~

'Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today.That way, at least you will get one thing done. "
Author unknown

\Appu, 3 yrs old is my nephew. Yes, I am a lucky aunt to be blessed with 6 niece's and 15 nephews( and the list will have 2 more very soon! )! And each one of them have their own likes and dislikes . My mom, is very observant when it comes to each one's likes and dislikes and she asks me to help her make something accordingly. Last time it was a 1-2-3-4 Nutmeg Cake with Mocha Ganache for Navya, Neev and lil angel Nial.

Appu L.O.V.E.S our good ole chocolate cake. So the moment Amma knew that he would be coming over, she asked me to bake a chocolate cake for him. But somehow I couldn't make it ahead of their coming, instead made it with him. Sorry, I don't have any pics of the making...since managing a child + whipping up a cake batter + clicking pics would drive me insane!But I must mention that he is one the calmest , mature 3 yr old that I have ever seen!

A lil more about him... He is Neil and we fondly call him as Appu . He lives in Dar e Salam, Tanzania. He is in India with his Mama, who actually came down for her delivery ( which can happen in 2 weeks from now!). He adores & dreams all day n night about Spiderman! He even sings the title song of Spiderman movies for you!

Since Spiderman is his hero, he is always on the lookout for spiders . If you are not watching him, he is bound to catch hold of one and make it bite him so that he can become another Spiderman and make webs by pressing a button on his wrist... look at what the media can do to a 3 yr old! :)

Now, let's get back to the cake :) I made a bunny shaped cake for him.

CHOCOLATE YOGHURT CAKE

Recipe source: Valsamma aunty

Ingredients:

Flour-2 3/4 c

Sugar-2 1/2 cup

Butter-3/4 c

Yoghurt-1 1/2 c

Cocoa-3/4 c

Eggs-3

Baking powder-1 tsp

Baking soda-2 1/4 tsp

Boiling water-1/2 c

Salt-1/4 tsp

Vanilla essence- 1/2 tsp

Frosting:

Chocolate Ganache

Method:

• Sift flour with baking powder and baking soda.
• Make a paste using cocoa powder and boiling water.
• Cream butter with eggs, sugar and salt. Beat till the sugar dissolves.
• Add flour, yoghurt and cocoa powder in one go and beat well.
• Pour into a prepared tin and bake for 45-50 mins or till done.
• Cool in tin for 10 mins and transfer onto a wire rack and let it cool completely.
• Frost as desired.

It was truly a soft, moist cake. He ate a few pieces with us and packed some to take back home with him :) Okay, now I am waiting for the next niece/nephew to come home! :)

SUGAR DOUGHNUTS ♥ for my bro ♥

My brother L.O.V.E.S doughnuts and everytime I used to come home from my hostel in Bangalore, this was the only thing that he asked me to get for him. And it was the same story for 5 years!

I studied in Mount Carmel College, Bangalore and all those who studied there will give a testimonial for the famous sugar doughnuts that we used to get in our canteen. They were BIG and fluffy. I was warned by Tia, my cousin that that would be one thing all freshers were addicted upon :) And I proved it RIGHT! :)

I had tried some versions and all of them turned out like biscuits in texture :D But this one was really soft and nice.

SUGAR DOUGHNUTS

Recipe source: Kaipunyam

Ingredients

Flour-2c

Melted butter-2 tbsp

Egg-1

Baking powder-1 tbsp

Sugar-1/2 c

Milk-1/2 c

Salt-1 tsp

Oil-for deep frying

Powdered sugar- for dusting

Method:

• Mix together flour, salt ,baking powder and sugar. Add the melted butter.
• Add beaten egg and milk to it and form a smooth dough.
• Roll out into 1/4" thickness and cut out into doughnut shapes.
• Deep fry them in hot oil.
• Dust with powdered sugar.

It was an immediate hit! My bro agreed that it is OK! :P Anyway dad, mom and myself loved it!