Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies

                                                                      

                                                                           

Ingredients:

• All purpose flour - 4 cups
• Unsalted Butter - 1 cups
• Sugar - 2 cups
• Baking soda - 1 tsp
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp
• Egg - 2
• Salt - 1/2 tsp

                                                                   

                                                                     

 Method:

==> In a bowl combine the flour, salt , baking soda and baking powder.

                                                          

==> In another bowl whisk together the butter, sugar and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. And add in the eggs and beating well.

==> Finally add in the flour mixture and mix it well to form a smooth dough. Then wrap in plastic wrap or ziplock cover and refrigerate the dough for about an hour.

==> Preheat oven to 350 degree F for 5 minutes. Then unwrap the dough and roll on the floured surface till 1/4 inch thick cut the dough with cookie cutters. Place it on the parchment paper lined baking sheet.

==> Bake the cookies cutouts in a 350 degree F 9 to 12 minutes or until lightly golden brown around the edges and allow them to cool completely.                                      

 Notes:
* The dough can be refrigerated overnight, however when you remove it from the fridge, you will likely need to let it rest room temperature for some time before it's soft enough the roll.

                             

Christmas Fruit Cake

Christmas Fruit Cake

   Ingredients:

·                   All purpose flour (Maida)- 1 1/2 cup

·                  Sugar -1/3 cup

·                  Butter – ¼ cup

·                   Baking powder – 1 tsp

·                   Vanilla extract – 1 tsp

·                   Cinnamom powder – 1 tsp

·                   Nutmeg powder – ½ tsp

·                  Grated orange & lemon peel – 1 tsp

·                  Egg – 2

·                   Honey – 3 tbsp

·                  Water  - 1 cup

·                  Dry fruits & Nuts :

        1.      Golden raisins – 25 gms                                                                   

         2.      Black raisins – 25 gms

         3.      Apricots  - 25 gms

         4.      Cranberries – 25 gms

         5.      Dates – 25 gms

         6.      Almonds – 25 gms

         7.      Pista – 25 gms

         8.      Walnut – 25 gms

                                                                 

Method:

==> Take pan add dry fruits, sugar, butter, honey and water boil in medium flame for 5 to 10 minutes. once the fruit come out soft and cooked. Then switch off the flame and set aside until it cool down.

==> Take another bowl beaten a egg keep aside. And take another bowl mix the flour and baking powder and keep aside.

==> Now take fruit mixture , add grated orange and lemon peel, vanilla extract, beaten eggs and mix it well.

==> Now slowly add flour mixture and mix it well. Preheat 350 degree F( 180 degree C) for 30 minutes. 

==> Place the batter to the already prepared pan and spread it. Now bake it for another 45 - 60 minutes or until a long skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

==> After that remove the cake from oven and place on the wire rack and let it cool completely for an hour. Cool it completely overnight for atleast 5- 6 hours before cutting the cake.

Notes :

* I used unsalted butter in this recipe. so i added salt in this recipe. If you use salted butter avoid salt otherwise it is not necessary.

* You can add dry fruits for your choice to the cake.

* I have used white sugar. But if you want half the amount brown sugar. It will be come dark brown color cake.

                                                                                   

 

                                                                                  

Tilapia Fish Puttu / Scrambled Fish

Tilapia Fish Puttu / Scrambled Fish

    Ingredients:

• Fish Fillets - 2  ( you can use any fish, I've used Tilapia )
• Onion - 1 (finely chopped)
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Coriander powder - 1 tsp 
• Chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
• Garlic - 2 cloves (finely chopped)
• Green chillies - 2 
• Garam masala - 1 tsp
• Coriander leaves - 2 tsp (finely chopped)
• Curry leaves - 5
• Mustard seeds / urad dal -1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds  - 1/2 tsp
• Oil  - 2 to 3 tbsp
• Salt - to taste                                                                                                                                                             

• 
                                                                                             
    
                                                                                                                                             Methods :                                                                                                                                             1. Wash the fish fillets and add them to the boiling water by adding salt and turmeric. Cook them for 5 minutes or till they are tender. When the fish turns white drain the water.                
  
  
  2. Then take out the fish and add turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder and slightly mash the cooked fish. Mix it well and keep it aside.                                                                                                  
  
  
   3. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, garlic and fry till garlic turn golden colour. Add onion, green chilli and salt mix it well.                                                                     
  
  
  
   4. Saute them onion till it turns to light brown colour. Add the fish mixer and cook them for 6 to 8 minutes.                                                 
  
  
                                                                                                                                                         5. Mix it well and finely garnish chopped coriander leave.                                                                         
• 
  6. Serve hot with white rice.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                           

Poondu Kuzhambu

Poondu Kuzhambu

     This is one of my favorite recipe. This is a style of recipe which i learnt from my mom.

Ingredients:

• Garlic - 10
• Tamarind - a small lemon size
• Onion - 1/2 cup (finely chopped)
• Tomato - 1 
• Garlic finely chopped - 1 tsp (Optional)
• Coconut - 2 tbsp
• Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp
• Red chili - 2
• Asafoetida powder - small pinch
• Curry leaves - 5
• Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
• Chili powder - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp
• Salt - to taste 
• Gingelly oil - 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Add a tsp of oil and roast the tomato, onion and coconut. Allow it to cool and grind a paste and keep it aside. Soak tamarind in warm water, leave it for 10 minutes. Then extract tamarind water and keep it aside.
   
2. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard , fenugreek seeds and red chili. After a minutes, add finely chopped garlic and curry leaves. Fry till garlic turn golden color.
   
3.  Add garlic and fry till golden color. Add finely chopped onion and fry for 2 minutes.
   
4. Add the tamarind liquid and add salt to taste allow it to boil for few minutes. After a minutes add turmeric, coriander powder and red chili powder mix it well.
   
5. Now add the ground paste and allow it to boil till it becomes a thick gravy. Finely garnish coriander leaves and switch off the flame and Serve with hot rice.
   
   

   
   
    
   
   

   

   
   
   
   

    
                                                                                                                         . 

Kadai Mushroom Masala

Kadai Mushroom Masala

Ingredients:-

• Mushroom - 200gms
• Capsicum - 1/4 cup chopped
• Onion - 1 medium size ( finely chopped )
• Tomato Puree - 1 cup ( 3 medium size)
• Ginger & Garlic paste - 1tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Chilli powder - 1tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2tsp
• Coriander powder - 2tsp
• Garam masala powder - 1tsp
• Coriander leaves - 2tsp (finely chopped)
•  Salt  - to taste
• Oil - 2tbsp            

Method :-

1. Clean the mushrooms ,wash and chop the mushrooms.  
2. Heat oil, add cumin seeds and allow them to splutter. Add onions saute well till golden brown.   
   
    
3. Add ginger & garlic paste saute for few minutes. Add chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and garam masala. Saute in low flame for 2 minutes.
   
4. Add capsicum and saute for few minutes. Add tomato puree saute till oil level out from sides in kadai.
   
5. Add little water if its very thick. Then add the mushroom and mix it well.
   
6. Close it with a lid and allow it to cook for 5-8 minutes in low flame. Once the mushroom get soft, simmer for 2 minutes then garnish with coriander leaves.
   
7. Kadai mushroom masala is ready to serve hot with chapathi, Naan or with any Pulao. 
   
   
                                                                                                          
   
         

Badam Halwa

BADAM  HALWA

 Ingredients :

• Badam - 1 cup 
• Sugar - 1 1/2 cup
• Ghee - 1/2 cup
• Cardamom powder - small pinch
• Milk - 1 cup
• Saffron strands - a few

Method :

1.Soak almonds for 3-4 hours in enough water or Soak almonds in hot water for half an hour.





2.Peel the skin and grind to fine paste with milk in blender.




3.Soak saffron strands in 2 tbsp of warm milk.

4.Take a heavy bottom pan or non stick pan. Add 5 tbsp ghee and allow to heat.




5.Now add almond paste and stir in low flame cook for 10-12 minutes.




6.Once it come thickens, add remaining milk and saffron soaked in milk and stir well.





7.Keep further for 8-10 minutes and now add sugar and cardamom powder.





8.Keep stirring till the mixture thickens and halwa consistency. And add remaining ghee and mix it well.





9.Finally garnish with almond slices and saffron strands.