Caramelized Pears

Caramelized Pears are perfect when you have to make a quick and a light dessert.

What you need:

2 tblsp unsalted butter
2 medium pears, quartered and cored
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Vanilla ice cream/Whipped Cream, for serving

Method:

1. In a pan heat the butter and the sugar add the vanilla extract and once the sauce thickens switch off the flame and let it cool
2. In a sauce pan put some water and pears and cook for 5 mins.
3. Remove the pears on to a plate or bowl and add the butter sugar sauce and serve warm with some ice cream:)

Eggless Butterless Chocolate Cake

I always look out for new and different recipes, this one calls for no butter and no egg so I gave it a try. It was one of friends wedding anniversary and since they are vegetarians I tried this recipe.

Source: Raks Kitchen

What you need :

All purpose flour - 1& 1/2 cups
Unsweetened Coco powder - 3 tblsp
Sugar -1 cup ( Iused dermerara)
Oil (I used sunflower oil) -1/4 cup
Baking Soda -1 tsp
Vinegar -1 tblsp
Water -1 cup
Salt -1/4 tsp
Vanilla essence- 1/2 tblsp 

Method :

1. Pre heat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 5 and sift the dry ingredients together.
2. In another bowl take the required amount of water and dissolve the sugar completely and add the vanilla,oil and vinegar and combine
3. Finally add the dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Bake for 30-35 mins.
5. I topped it with some chocolate ganache:)

Recipe for Chocolate Ganche is here.

Eggless Chocolate Cake (Using Yoghurt)

I usually don't bake egg less cakes or cookies unless I have guests who are vegetarians. I baked this sometime when my cousin visited us. To my surprise the cake turned out quiet moist and yummy.

I have adapted it from Edible Garden.

What you need:

1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder
A pinch of salt 

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4 and grease a pan of choice. Sift the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. In another bowl beat the butter, sugar and add the vanilla extract and yoghurt and mix well.
3. Now add the dry ingredients to this mixture and fold into the mixture.
4. Bake for 40-50 mins till the skewer inserted in the cake comes out clean.
5. I frosted the cake with a very thin layer of ready made chocolate sauce.

Lemon Cupcakes

Cupcakes are fun to bake and decorate. If you love decorating and experimenting with different nozzles colors etc its really great, except for the cleaning all the mess after its done :P .. I woke up one morning with this urge to bake lemon cupcakes :) and once it was all baked and decorated i felt so satisfied and happy. I usually bake with some of my favorite music playing in the background, with my kid permitting it (if you know what i mean;))

Well getting to the recipe; this makes 12  medium sized cupcakes.

What you need:
100 grams unsalted butter softened
100 grams self-raising flour
100 grams caster sugar
1 zest of lemons or 2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 medium eggs
1 tsp baking powder

For the lemon frosting
75 grams unsalted butter softened
175 grams icing sugar sifted
2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 zest of lemons

Method:

1. Beat the butter and sugar till pale and creamy. Add the lemon juice and beat, add the eggs one at a time beating after each addition. Finally add the flour and baking powder and combine well.
2. Bake in a pre heated oven of 180C/350F/Gas Mark 6 for 10-12 mins.
3. Cool completely prior to frosting.
4. For the frosting beat the butter with the lemon juice well till pale, add the sugar in batches and beat till its combined.
5. Finally add the zest and combine. Check the consistency and pipe as per your choice.:)

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Marble Cake

Marble cake or zebra cakes are so pretty and i love making them. I have tried them before from here.
Recently I bought a book by Anneka Manning - Mastering the Art of Baking and I love the book i have tried few recipes from the book and they turn out great.

This recipe was in the book and i was instantly drawn towards it.So here it goes I made it for my boy's 2nd Bday.

What you need:

6 & 1/2 oz unsalted butter softened
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs at room temp
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup self rising flour ( All purpose flour with a pinch of salt and pinch of baking powder)
1/4 cup milk
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1-2 drops of red food coloring

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4/350 F and grease a pan of your choice with butter flour.
2. Use an electric beater to beat the butter, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.Sift the flours and fold into the butter sugar mixture alternately with the milk until combined and smooth.
3. Now divide the batter into 3 bowls. In one bowl add the red food coloring and mix well
4. In the second bowl add the cocoa powder and mix well, leave the 3rd one as it is.
5. Now drop spoonfuls of each mixture alternately into the baking pan and bake for 50 mins.

I covered my cake with Vanilla Butter cream, the recipe calls for Chocolate butter cream. so its your choice.

The recipe for the vanilla butter cream is below, it makes about 1 cup of butter cream.

3 &1/2 oz unsalted butter softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1&1/3 cup caster sugar

2 tbsp Milk

1. Use an electric beater to beat butter and vanilla in a small bowl until pale and creamy
2. Gradually add the caster sugar about 1/2 cup at a time until well combined
3. Test the consistency if its too thick add the milk 1 tbsp at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

Chocolate Banana Bread (Butterless)

This recipe is butterless and uses vegetable oil. Any oil which is odourless can be used, I used sunflower oil.

What you need:

2 &1/4 cups all purpose flour
1tsp baking powder
1tsp baking soda
3 large ripe bananas mashed
2 eggs room temp lightly whisked
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup walnuts/any nuts of your choice/semi sweer chocolate
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C/Gas Mark 4 and lightly grease and flour a loaf pan. Sift the flour baking powder, soda in a bowl. You need remove 1/3 cup flour and add 1/3 cup of the cocoa powder in this step
2. Put the mash bananas,egg,oil,sugar and vanilla in another bowl and combine well.
3. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and combine add the nuts. Smooth the surface with a back of the spoon
4. Bake for 50 minutes or till the skewer inserted comes out clean from the loaf.
5. Cool in the pan for 10 mins and turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.
   

Raspberry Jam

Here in UK we get gorgeous fresh raspberries and they are so perfect to make homemade jam. Jam can be of course used on a toast, but also in tarts, doughnuts and biscuits. The jam is so easy to prepare why buy the supermarket stuff!! My husband is a sucker for jams :)

What you need:

2 cups fresh/frozen raspberries 

1.5 cups granulated sugar

1 sterilized jar

Method:

1. Wash the raspberries and wipe with a soft cloth.

2. In a thick bottomed saucepan on low heat put the raspberries and the sugar 

3. Keep stirring and bring it to boil, mine took about 20 mins 

4. You can test the jam by taking some jam on a spoon and push it with your finger to see if it moves lives a jelly, if yes then its done. If no then boil little longer.

5. Once done transfer it to a clean sterilized jar and let it cool completely and put it in the fridge and use it within 3 weeks.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Once you try this trust me you will never wanna eat the restaurant stuff !! I have used white bread for this one but you could use the store bought baguette. Its real simple and easy to make:)

I made these as an accompanist with my mushroom soup.

What you need:

5 slices of white bread
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3-4 garlic cloves
Salt to taste
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
Oregano/Chilli flakes for sprinkling

Method:

1. Slice the bread into half triangles
2. You will need to press the garlic and get the juice, i used me masher for it
3. Add the garlic juice and the garlic to the butter with salt
4. Spread this on one side of the bread followed by the grated cheese and the oregano/chilli flakes
5. Pre heat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 6 and cook for 8 mins or so till the cheese melts

Enjoy!!

Mushroom and Leek Soup

Its still very cold where we live and nothing a like a warm soup in the evening:) That's the reason I am posting so many soup recipes.

What you need:

300 gms Mushrooms (chopped)
2-3 medium sized leeks (sliced)
1 Medium sized potato (Cubed)
2-3 Garlic cloves (minced)
1 Ltr Veg/Non veg stock
1 tbsp Pepper powder
Salt to taste
1Tbsp Butter

Method:

1. In a pan heat the butter when melted add the garlic and leeks and fry till tender
2. Add the mushroom and potato and close thelid and let them sweat for 5-8 mins
3. Add the stock and the seasoning and let itsimmer for a good 15mins
4. Add water if you feel the stock has reduced more than you wanted
5. Then blend it in a processor,the mixture need not be smooth can be coarse

Serve with some toasted bread or Cheesy Garlic Bread like me :)

Chocolate Cake (Using Sour Cream)

Well everyone loves anything with chocolate !! This is a classic old fashioned chocolate cake recipe its fail proof:) I had bought sour cream and had it lying in the fridge so i baked this cake with it. If you don't get sour cream you can replace it with yogurt. Sour cream makes the cake very moist and soft :) 

What you need:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa
• 3/4 cup soft unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ⅔ cup sour cream

Method:

1. Sift the dry ingredients and keep aside
2. Beat the butter sugar till sugar is incorporated.
3. Add the eggs and beat then add the vanilla.
4. Now add the sour cream fold in
5. Add the dry ingredients by batches and incorporate well
6. Bake in a pre heated oven 180C/Gas Mark 5 for 35-40 mins

Eggless Chocolate Mousee (Instant)

Well when your pressed for time and have lots to cook or just get a sweet tooth this mousee is the answer.

This is adapted from Nigella's website and its a must try :)

Note: You need marshmallows for the recipes and they contain gelatin so if your a pure vegetarian you may want to buy Marshmallow without gelatin. 

What you need: (With these measurement i got around 6 small cups of mousee)

• 1 ½ cups marshmallows
• 1/3 cup soft butter
• 1cup bittersweet chocolate chopped into small pieces ( not optional)
• ¼ cup hot water 
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

1. Put the marshmallows, butter, chocolate and water in a saucepan.
2. Put the saucepan over low flame and melt the contents, stirring continously. 
3. Remove from the heat and let it cool
4. Whip the cream with the vanilla extract until thick, and then fold into the cooling chocolate mixture until you have a smooth mixture.
5. Pour the mixture in your desired cups or glasses or ramkeins and freeze for about half an hour minimum.

Brocolli Leek Soup

Brocolli and Leeks are both healthy foods and in form of a soup they are super healthy.. So i am getting straight to the recipe:)

What you need:

1 Medium sized brocolli (chopped into florets)
2  Medium size leeks (Chopped)
2-3 garlic cloves (minced)
1ltr - Veg/Chicken Stock
2-3 peppercorns/pepper powder
1 tbsp Olive oil or butter
Salt to taste

Method

1. In a saucepan heat the oil/butter and add the garlic and leeks and fry for 2mins
2. Add the brocolli and give a stir and close the lid and let them steam for 3-4 mins
3. Add the pepper powder and stock and let it simmer for another 15 mins till the brocolli is tender
4. Once cooled run in a blender and make a smooth paste
5. Garnish with cream or sour cream and Enjoy !!

Blueberry Pancakes

Picture this morning breakfast with warm pancakes served with maple syrup and a glass of fresh fruit juice..Umm Heaven :) that's the way to start the day :P

This recipe uses blueberries, if they aren't available to you please use any fresh fruit available (Banana,Strawberries,Apples)and if you don't have maple syrup use the good old honey :)

What you need :
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tbsp Sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup blueberries

Method:

1. Mix the dry ingredients together.
2. Whisk the egg and add the vanilla,yogurt and milk.
3. Make a well in the dry ingredient bowl and pour the wet mixture and fold in well
4. Finally add the blueberries

This is how the batter will look

Now drizzle the pan with some oil and pour a small spoonful:

Let it brown on one side and then flipover and cook well. The Pancakes are ready :)

With some maple syrup:

Aloo Methi (Dry)

Well aloo methi is really a comfort food for me, I make it quiet often and we eat it with rotis or rice dal.
I love greens whether its palak, pudina,dill or methi, also I try and make 2-3 varieties in a week.This way we get our iron intake :)

What you need:
4-5 medium sized potatoes (boiled and sliced)
1 bunch of Methi leaves ( I use only the leaves)
2 medium sized onions chopped
1/2 tsp black mustard seeds for tempering
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp corainder powder
1-2 tbsp sunflower oil or any vegetable oil
Salt to taste

Method;

1. Boil the potatoes and slice them, wash the methi leaves well to remove any dirt
2. Heat the oil in the pan when hot add the mustard seeds once they split add the onions
3. Fry the onions till transparent and add the methi leaves and fry till the water is evaporated and the leaves are almost dry 
4. Add all the powders and fry for 2-3 mins
5. Add the potatoes and fry well.

The dish is ready!!

Carrot Soup

Soups are a great way to get our daily dose of veggies. Me and my husband both love soups and we had a sudden craving for soup!!So i made this carrot soup on a really cold evening and we both loved it..

Carrots are great source of carotene and vitamin A which is essential in our daily diet. If you are like me and don't like them in your salads then this soup is a saver. You can also accompany this soup with some toasted bread and have it as a meal.

What you need:

3-4 Large carrots diced
2-3 Baby potatoes diced
3-4 medium garlic cloves minced
1 medium size onion chopped finely
1.5 ltr Veg/Chicken Stock
25 gms Butter
2-3 Peppercorns or 1/2 tbsp Pepper powder
2-3 Tbsp double cream/sour creamor youghurt to garnish
Salt to taste

Method:

1. In a saucepan heat the butter,when it melts add the garlic and onions sautee till they are soft
2. Add the carrots and potatoes and stir and close the lid and let them steam for 2-3 mins
3. To this add the pepper corn/powder and salt
4. Now add the stock and let it boil for about 30 mins till it simmers
5. Once simmered let it cool for a bit and then add it to processor or a blender
6. Make it smooth and serve it immediately with a dollop of cream.

Eggless Choco Chip Cookies

Choco chip cookies are yummy..and these are eggless too,so if you are a vegetarian then this is the recipe to try out. These cookies are so easy to make, I made them in 20 mins flat :). I usually bake when my little one is asleep that's the only time i get to bake and to be precise he sleeps for an hour everyday so i try to utilize the one hour well :p

What you need:

1/3 cup butter at room temperature
1/3 cup caster sugar or powdered sugar
1/3 cup choco chips
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/4 tsp baking powder
4-5 tbsp Milk
Pinch of salt

With these measurements i got 15 medium size cookies.

Method:
1. Sieve the flour,salt and baking powder and keep aside
2. Beat the butter and sugar. Add the vanilla essence and combine well.
3. Add the flour,salt and baking powder to this and then add the choco chips and form a soft dough
4. If the dough is dry add the milk 1 tbsp at a time till the dough is soft.
5. Make small balls of the dough and flatten with your hands
6. Place on baking tray with a baking sheet and bake in 180C/Gas Mark 5 for 15-20 mins.

Cool on a wire rack completely and store in a air tight container for up to 4 days (mine never lasts beyond 2 days:)

This is the dough.

The cookies ready to be baked.

 The end product :) Yumm..

Vanilla Pound Cake

It was my little boy's 23rd Month Bday ! Yeah we celebrate his monthly bday and this would be the last since he's turning 2 next month.

I made the vanilla pound cake since my baby  loves it:) This cake is so down to earth and makes it perfect for tea time. Also anyone wanting to bake for the first time can try this.

What you need:

1 cup butter (room temperature)
1 cup caster sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
2 eggs (room temperature)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
A pinch of salt

Method:

1. Beat the butter and sugar well till light and fluffy
2. Add the eggs one by one beating well each time, add the vanilla and combine
3. Add the flour,baking powder and salt
4. Mix all without forming lumps

Heat the oven to Gas Mark4/180C and bake for 35-40 min or till the knife inserted comes clean.

The cake is now ready !! It's yumm without any frosting too!!

Garlic Pepper Mushroom

This mushroom recipe is what i learnt from my mom. Its simple,quick,easy and yummy!! I love recipes which are quick and easy to make:) Mom used to make this very often when we were kids and we used to love it.

Mushrooms are very versatile and can be used in many recipes. Well if you dont eat garlic or dont like the taste you can omit the garlic in this recipe and it still turns out great.

What you need:

1 pack - Button Mushrooms

1 - Onion medium sized

2-3 - Garlic Cloves

2 tbsp - Cooking Butter/ Oil

1/2 tbsp - Pepper powder

Salt to taste

Method:

1. Slice the mushrooms and cut the onions into small cubes
2. Slice the garlic well.
3. In a pan heat the butte/oil and once hot add the garlic and 2-3 secs later add the onions and fry till translucent
4. Then add the mushrooms,salt and pepper
5. A lot of water comes from the mushroom which helps it cook.
6. Close the lid and keep stirring in regular intervals.Once the water is almost evaporated, you can switch off the flame
7. Cook in medium flame throughout.

Done the mushrooms are now ready. They go well with rice and dal, jeera rice or rotis:)

Sinful Chocolate Brownies

Well brownies are my favorite:) and this recipe is fool proof. I have tried it a zillion times and comes out just perfect every time. Its adapted from my favourite blog.

These brownies go well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some chocolate sauce or even just plain. I usually add walnuts but are great even without any nuts in them. They are real easy and quick to make,so when you have some guests you can bake them in a jiffy with a few basic ingredients and the butter need not be in room temperature too.

Here are a picture of my sinful brownies that i bake now and then. Sorry the pic isnt great will get a good shot next time around.

Ingredients:

Well its the pic of what you need,additionally you would need butter. The list is below:

1/2 cup butter and not at room temperature :P

1/2 cup maida/all purpose flour

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup regular sugar ( i always use demerara sugar)

2 eggs

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup walnuts

A pinch of baking powder

Method:

1. Melt the butter either in stove top or microwave,stir in the sugar and vanilla
2. Add the egss one by one and beat well
3. Add the cocoa powder and combine
4. Add the flour and nuts and combine all well 

The mixture will look very shiny,preheat the oven to 180 C/Gas Mark 5 and bake for 35 mins/20 mins.

Cool and sprinkle caster sugar. You can also put it in a frdige once cool to get nice pieces when you cut them.

Enjoy your brownies:)

Banana Walnut Bread

This is my first post so I thought why not start with something sweet. So here is my all time favorite Banana Walnut Bread recipe. It is one of the first things i ever baked:)

The recipe is adapted from Edible Garden. I am personally not a big banana fan but love it in this bread. I also make muffins with the same recipe and it turns out great. This bread is baked almost every week since we all love it :). Its great to carry for picnics or day outs too. Whenever we go for short breaks this bread is always packed in our backpacks.

Lets gets started with the ingredients:

1 ripe banana ( fully ripe for best results)
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup regular sugar , I use demerara sugar
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 tsp  pure vanilla extract


Method:

1. Beat the butter and sugar together until sugar has blended well and add the eggs and beat more.  
2. Mash the banana well and mix it well with the butter sugar eggs mixture.
3. Add the vanilla extract and mix, next add the flour and nuts and combine well.
4. Grease a loaf pan or muffin tray and bake in a pre-heated oven at 350F/180C for 40-50 mins or Gas Mark 5 for 30 mins 
5. Once done transfer on a wire rack, cool completely and Enjoy !!!

This is the banana cake with the same recipe i made a while back.