Easy Cucumber Sandwich

Easy Cucumber Sandwich.

Quick and easy cucumber sandwich.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2 to 4

Ingredients:

1. Cream cheese - 1/2Cup
2. Garlic,minced- 1/8 tsp
3. Fresh dill, chopped-  1 tbsp 
4. Whole wheat bread- 8 to 10 slices
5. Butter- as required
6. Cucumber,sliced-1/2 of a large
7. Black pepper powder- to taste
8. Salt- to taste

Instructions:

In a bowl combine together cream cheese,garlic,dill and salt to taste.Mix well until smooth.

Spread a thin layer of butter onto each slice.( this will keep the bread from getting soggy).

Spread the prepared cream cheese mixture evenly on each piece of the bread.

Evenly distribute the cucumber slices on 4 (or 5) slices of bread and sprinkle pepper powder on top.Press the other bread slices,cream cheese mixture side down on top of the cucumber slices.

Trim the crusts from the sandwiches,if desired.Cut into half and serve.

NOTES

• You can use cilantro instead of dill.or use 1 fat pinch of dried rosemary /dill/tarragon or Italian seasoning mix.
  

EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Easy Chocolate Fudge

Quick and easy chocolate fudge ,ready in less than 15 minutes.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Makes: 15 to 20 ,1.5" squares
Ingredients:

1. Milk powder / dairy whitener- 200 gms(  appr 1.5 cups)
2. Cocoa powder- 1/4 cup
3. Sugar - 1 cup
4. Water - 1/2 cup
5. Butter - 3 tbsp
6. Vanilla extract - 1/4 tsp

Instructions:

In a mixing bowl combine together milk powder and cocoa powder using a fork.Keep aside until required.

Melt together sugar and water in a pan.Cook this sugar mixture over medium low flame until it reaches single thread consistency.To check this , take a drop of sugar syrup between your thumb and index finger and pull gently ,if a single thread is be formed the sugar syrup is ready.( Note: the sugar syrup will be very hot.).Now add butter and stir well until combined.

Immediately add the cocoa - powdered milk mixture and stir well until combined.Add vanilla extract and stir until well blended.

Pour this mixture into a  tray lined with parchment paper or foil and level using a spatula.Allow to cool slightly.

Cut into small squares .Allow to cool completely before removing from pan.

NOTES

• Add chopped nuts / raisins  /caramelized nuts ,if desired.
  

Milk Peda | Paal Peda | Easy Diwali Sweets Recipes

Milk Peda

Milk Peda using milk powder and condensed milk-quick and easy diwali sweets recipe.
Recipe source:Jeyashri's Kitchen,you can find the original recipe here.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 8 to 10 minutes
Makes: 30 to 35 pedas
Ingredients:

1. Milk Powder- 2 Cups
2. Condensed Milk - 1 Can ( 400 gms)
3. Saffron - 1 Pinch
4. Ghee / butter - 2.5 Tbsp

Instructions:

In a pan combine together milk powder,condensed milk,saffron and ghee.Mix well until combined,to form a thick paste.( Add 1 tbsp milk,if it is too thick.)

Cook over medium-low flame for 8 to 10 minutes or until it starts to leave the sides of the pan,and form a soft ball.Transfer to a large bowl and allow it to cool slightly.

Take 1.5 to 2 tbsp of the mixture and roll it into a  ball.Use the bottom of a patterned glass to stamp a design on the peda,if desired.Brush the bottom of the glass with ghee or butter to avoid sticking.

Place the peda on the bottom of the glass and gently press to flatten it .Carefully transfer it onto a serving tray.Repeat with the remaining peda mixture.

OR ,Transfer the mixture onto a greased surface and roll it to a thickness of 3/4".

Cut into desired shapes using a cookie cutter.Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for upto a week.

NOTES

• Do not over cook the peda mixture,if you do so it may turn hard / chewy.
  

Aloo Paratha| Potato Masala Stuffed Indian Flatbread | Step by Step Recipe

Aloo Paratha

Potato masala stuffed Indian flatbread.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Makes: 6 parathas
Ingredients:

1. Whole wheat flour- 1 Cup( extra for dusting)
2. Water - as required
3. Salt - to taste
4. Oil / Ghee - as required

For Potato stuffing:

1. Potato,boiled and cubed- 2 medium
2. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
3. Onion,finely chopped - 1/4 cup
4. Green chilies,finely chopped - 1 ( or according to taste)
5. Ginger ,finely chopped - 1/4 tsp
6. Kashmiri chili powder- 1/4  tsp( or to taste)
7. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
8. Garam masala powder- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp
9. Coriander leaves,chopped - 1 tbsp
10. Salt- To taste
11. Oil- as required

Instructions:

In a bowl,combine together whole wheat flour,salt and sufficient quantity of water and mix well.Knead to form a soft dough.Cover and keep aside for atleast 15 minutes.

Heat oil in a pan,add cumin seeds and saute for few seconds.Add onion,green chilies and ginger.Saute until onion turns golden brown.

Now add kashmiri chili powder,turmeric powder and garam masala powder.Saute for few seconds.Add potato , coriander leaves and salt to taste.

Mix well until it is smooth.Divide the stuffing into 6 equal parts.

Divide the dough into 6 equal parts and roll a portion of the dough into a circle of 4" diameter on a lightly floured surface.Place the filling ball in the center.

Bring all the sides to the center and seal tightly.Pinch off the excess dough,if desired.

Press it lightly using your finger tips to form a circle.

Dust the surface with whole wheat flour ,roll the stuffed dough lightly to form 6 to 7 " circle.(Lightly dust the parathas with flour,if it sticks to the rolling pin or the  working surface.)

Heat a nonstick /iron tawa ,place the paratha and let it cook until the color changes slightly for about 15 seconds over medium high heat.Flip the paratha and cook for few more seconds.

Drizzle 1 tsp oil over the paratha.Flip the paratha again and gently press using a spatula.Cook until golden brown spots appear on both the sides.Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.Serve hot with pickle and yogurt.

NOTES

• For best results, drizzle ghee over the parathas. 

Stuffed Bread | Chicken Stuffed Bread

Stuffed Bread

Bread stuffed with creamy chicken filling.
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4 to 5
Recipe source: Fauzias Kitchen, You can find the original recipe here.
Ingredients:
To Prepare the Dough:

1. Yeast - 1 tbsp
2. Sugar - 1.5 tsp
3. Warm water - as required
4. Egg - 1
5. Milk Powder - 2 tbsp ( or use milk)
6. All purpose flour - 4 cups
7. Oil - 4 tbsp
8. Salt- to taste

To prepare the Filling:

1. Butter - 2 tbsp
2. Chicken,cooked and shredded -1.5 to 2 cups
3. Onion ,chopped- 1 medium
4. Black pepper powder - 1 tsp(or to taste)
5. Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
6. All purpose flour - 2 tbsp
7. Milk - 1 cup
8. Coriander leaves,chopped - 2 tbsp
9. Green chilies,chopped -4
10. Salt - to taste

Other Ingredients:

1. Egg - 1( for egg wash)
2. Water - 1 tbsp
3. Sesame seeds- as required

Instructions:

In a bowl combine together yeast,sugar and 1/4 cup warm water.Keep aside for 8 to 10  minutes or until frothy.

Beat the egg lightly,keep aside.

 

In a bowl,combine together milk powder, all purpose flour and salt.Add oil,yeast mixture and egg.

Add sufficient quantity of warm water and mix well to form a smooth dough,Knead well for about 5 to 10 minutes .Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Lightly brush the top of the dough with oil.Cover it with a clean kitchen towel and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume for about 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours.

To prepare the filling,heat butter in a pan.Add onion and saute until it turns soft.Now add salt,black pepper powder,garam masala powder and all purpose flour.Mix well until combined.

Now add milk and cook until the mixture turns thick,stirring continuously. 

Add cooked chicken,coriander leaves and green chilies.Add more salt and pepper powder if required.Allow it to cool completely.

Now punch down the risen dough with your fist.Divide the dough into 2 or 3 parts.Take one portion of the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface( or place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper or foil,so that you can transfer the bread to the baking tray easily.).Roll it to form a rectangle.

Place the filling in the center.Using a knife make  inclined cuts on both the sides to form 1" strips.

Fold the top most dough strip diagonally over the filling.Fold the strip from the opposite side to overlap the previous strip.Continue by alternately folding the left and right strips.Beat egg and 1 tbsp water together and brush this over the bread.

Sprinkle sesame seeds on top ,Transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment paper or foil. Preheat oven to 200 Deg C.Bake for about 25 minutes .After baking ,brush with butter and cover with a clean kitchen towel for  few minutes to keep the bread soft.

NOTES

• I scaled down the recipe to 1/2 as you can see in the pics.
• You can also use beef or mutton instead of chicken
• Adjust the quantity of black pepper according to your taste.
  

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