Masala Paapad

Whenever I go to restaurant I always order this particular dish. This is very easy to make at home. For any party this can help us as a crunchy starter.

Paapad could be easily found in any Indian stores.

Ingredients :
Paapad : 1-2 ( I used Lijjat Punjabi Masala Paapad)
Oil for deep fry/ Or a micriwave
Cucumber : 1/4 cup (finely Chopped)
Tomato : 1/4 cup (finely Chopped)
Onion : 1/4 cup (finely Chopped)
Pepper Powder : 1/2 tsp
Salt According to taste

Procedure :
1. In a bowl take all the veggies (Tomato, onion and cucumber). Apply salt and pepper powder to it.
2. Microwave the paapad for 1 minute. Or deep fry in oil.
3. Sprinkle the veggies on the paapad.

Avocado and Cucumber Sandwich

Just to increase my good cholesterol I am trying to eat a piece of Avocado everyday. I came across this recipe in Cook-joy. And I liked it as Avocado tastes just like butter.

Ingredients:
Bread Slices : 2
Avocado : 1/4 (Mash it)
Cucumber Slices : 8-9 (To cover the whole bread)
Pepper Powder : 1/4 tsp
Salt According to Taste

Procedure:
1. Apply the mashed Avocado onto the slice just like to apply butter.
2. Cover the slice with cucumber pieces.
3. Sprinkle pepper and salt on top.
4. Cover it with another slice of bread.

Chana Chaat

I saw this recipe in one of the food group. I could not resist and went and tried it instantly. A chaat that can be made instantly.

Ingredients:
Haldiram Chana Dal : 1/2 cup
Onion : 1 tbsp ( Finely chopped )
Tomato : 1 tbsp ( Finely chopped )
Coriander Leaves : 1/2 tbsp ( Finely chopped)
Lemon Juice : 1 tsp
Garlic Powder : 1/2 tsp
Tomato Ketchup : 1 tsp ( Or vary according to your taste) ( Optional )

Procedure :
Mix all the ingredients and eat it instantly.

Strawberry and Choco Chip Cake

I love baking. But I do not like to put frosting on my cake and often it looks so plain. But the frosting consumes a lot of butter. Plus the kitchen gets too messy.But I couldn't resist myself when I saw this recipe. A real beauty this cake is. Plus it can be frozen in the refrigerator for a month.

When serving cut a slice and microwave for 10 to 15 seconds and serve hot. Ideal combination for tea in the evening.

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour : 1.5 cup

Baking Powder : 1 tsp (softened)

Salt :1/8 tsp

Unsalted Butter : 3 tbsp

Yogurt : 3 tbsp

Sugar : 1 cup or 3/4 cup or 1/2 cup (The choco chip gives sweetness of its own, so keep varying)

Egg :1

Milk :1/2 cup

Vanilla Extract : 1 tsp

Choco Chips : 1/2 cup + a little to sprinkle on top

Strawberries : Pieces to cover the whole cake (8-10)

Procedure:
1. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
2. In another bowl take sugar, butter and yogurt and beat it keeping it on high speed for 2 minutes till it turns fluffy.
3. Now the add the egg, and beat it again at a medium speed.
4. Add the milk and the vanilla extract and gently fold the sifted flour with it. Also fold the choco chips in the batter.
5. Now take a baking pan (I used a 9 inch pan spring foam pan), and apply butter on the sides and the bottom, so that its easy for us to remove the cake from the pan.
6. Pour the batter in the pan and press the strawberry pieces on the top till the whole pan is covered. (Cut the strawberry into small pieces). Fill the spaces on top of the cake with choco chips.
7. Preheat the oven to 350 Faranheit, and bake the cake for nearly 30 to 35 minutes. Please check if the cake is baked using the toothpick test.
8. Once its baked the top surface with turn into a golden brown color.

P.S : You can store this in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Cover it well using a cling film and keep it frozen,

Honey Toasted Almonds

Ingredients:
Almonds. : 1 cup
Sugar : 1/4 cup
Water : 2 tbsp
Honey : 2 tbsp
Oil : 2 tsp
Cinnamon Powder: 1/8 tsp ( optional )
Nutmeg Powder : 1/8 tsp ( optional )

Procedure:
1.Preheat oven to 350 faranheit and toast the almonds for 10-13 minutes.
2. In a pan heat add all the other ingredients and bring it to a boil.
3. Now add the toasted almonds in the boiling syrup; and cook till the syrup evaporates and the almonds are coated with the syrup.
4. Spread it on a baking sheet and allow it to cool.

Avocado and Chocolate Mousse

Sunday mornings are very frustrating for me as my husband sleeps and I will be up early and have to sit all by myself the whole morning. So it leads me to google for recipes. And I got this recipe from one of the sites. I varied it a lot from the original recipe. Even Vegan's can try this out.

Ingredients :
Avocado : 1
Cocoa Powder : 1 tbsp
Milk : 1 tbsp/ Almond Milk
Agave Nectar : 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup

Garnishing :
Almond : 1/2 tsp
Mint Leaves

Procedure :
1. In a mixer blend all the ingredients and put this paste in the frosting decorating cone.
2. Squeeze it out in a bowl and freeze for 30 minutes.
3. Serve cold .

Mushroom and Spinach Omelette

Around 6 months back I saw a movie called "The 100 foot Journey". In that they say that Omelette is the most difficult thing to cook as a chef. Check out the trailer here. Now another thing that fascinated me was this Omelette prepared by my friend Reshma. I have prepared this Omelette with just egg whites and the whole egg. I really loved the Omelette prepared with egg white. They turned out fluffy and soft.

 

Ingredients:

Egg White : 3 eggs 

Button Mushroom ; 4-5

Spinach : 9-10 leaves

Salt : according to Taste

Pepper : according to Taste

Procedure:

1. Whisk the egg whites or the eggs add salt and pepper.

2. In a non stick pan saute the mushrooms and spinach leaves and once they are slightly cooked.

3. Add the whisked egg on top and cook on one side. You can add cheese if you desire in top or in the whisked egg.