BUTTER COOKIES

Radhika of Tickling Palates is hosting a fun event named BLOG HOP WEDNESDAYS.This week I am paired with Vidya  of Sweet Karam Kapi.I made this delicious butter cookies from her blog. You can find the original  recipe here.

Ingredients

1. All purpose flour-1 3/4 cups
2. Baking powder-1/2 tsp
3. Salt-1/2 tsp
4. Butter(unsalted)-3/4 cup
5. Sugar-2/3 cup
6. Egg- 1 large
7. Vanilla extract- 1tsp
8. Pineapple Jam/strawberry jam or Melted chocolate-1/3 cup

Method

• Preheat oven to 180 deg C,line a baking tray with parchment paper.
• Whisk all purpose flour,baking powder and salt together.Keep aside.
• In another bowl ,cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy,for about 5 minutes.
• Beat in vanilla extract and egg.
• Now add the dry ingredients,mixing just until combined.
• Refrigerate the dough for 1 hr.
• Shape the dough into 1"  balls and lightly press with your thumb and fill the indentation with 3/4 tsp jam.You can also use a cookie mould.(if using chocolate filling fill the indentations with melted milk chocolate only after the cookies are baked and cooled)
• Bake cookies until the edges turn golden,for about 15 minutes.
• Cool the cookies on the baking tray.

Note:You can find the recipe for homemade pineapple jam here

WHOLE WHEAT SPICED PUMPKIN MUFFINS

Recipe source:Cooks.com

Ingredients

1. Pumpkin puree-1 cup
2. Water-1/3 cup
3. Egg-2 nos
4. Vegetable oil-1/2 cup
5. Whole wheat flour -1 2/3 cups
6. Sugar- 1 1/4cup
7. Cinnamon powder-1/2 tsp
8. Nutmeg powder-1/2 tsp
9. Baking powder-1/4 tsp
10. Baking soda-1 tsp
11. Salt-1/2 tsp
12. Raisins-1/4  to 1/2 cup(optional)

Method

• Preheat oven to 180 deg C.Line the muffin tray with paper cups.
• In a large mixing bowl,combine pumpkin puree,water,oil and eggs.Beat together for a minute.
• In another bowl ,whisk together all the dry ingredients ie whole wheat flour,sugar,cinnamon,nutmeg,baking powder,baking soda and salt.
• Slowly stir in the pumpkin mixture and mix thoroughly until combined.
• Fold in the raisins.
• Spoon this batter into the muffin cups .
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into a muffin comes out clean.

ACHARI MURGH (CHICKEN CURRY WITH PICKLING SPICES)

Recipe source: ecurry  with slight variations
You can find the original recipe here

Ingredients

1. Chicken (cleaned and cut into medium sized pieces)-1.5 kg
2. Yogurt-1/2 cup
3. Onion( chopped finely)-5 nos
4. Ginger (minced)-1 tbsp
5. Garlic(minced)-1 tbsp
6. Tomato(grated)-4 nos
7. Coriander leaves(chopped)-1/4 cup
8. Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
9. Chili powder-3 to 4 tsp(or according to taste)
10. Salt to taste
11. Vegetable oil
12. Water

To roast and grind

1. Whole dry red chilies- 10 nos(or according to taste)
2. Fenugreek seeds-1/2 to 1 tsp(according to taste)
3. Nigella seeds/kalonji/kalo jeera-2 tsp
4. Mustard seeds-2 tsp
5. Cumin seeds- 1tsp
6. Cinnamon-2"stick
7. Fennel seeds-3tsp
8. Cloves- 4 to 5 nos

Method

• Marinate the chicken pieces with yogurt,1/4 tsp turmeric powder and salt.
• Dry roast all the ingredients "to roast and grind' separately .Cool and grind coarsely,Keep aside.
• Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan add onion and saute till it turns light brown.Now add ginger and garlic and saute till done for about 5 minutes.
• Add the ground spice powder and saute for about 30 seconds.
• Add chicken pieces and cook over high flame till chicken is browned on all sides.
• Now add grated tomatoes,1/4 tsp turmeric powder,chili powder and salt to taste.Mix well.
• Cook over low heat until oil separates.
• Add  4 cups of water,bring to a boil ,then cover and cook till done.
• Uncover and cook till the desired consistency is achieved.
• Garnish with chopped cilantro.

EASY CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Radhika of Tickling Palates is hosting a fun event named BLOG HOP WEDNESDAYS.This week I am paired with Rajani  of My kitchen trials.I tried out this easy microwave chocolate pudding from her blog. You can find the original  recipe here.



Easy microwave chocolate pudding

Ingredients

1. Sugar-1/4 to 1/2 cup
2. Cocoa powder-1/3 cup
3. Cornflour-3 tbsp
4. Milk-2 cups
5. Vanilla essence-1tsp

Method

• Combine sugar.cocoa powder and cornflour together.
• Slowly add milk to the dry ingredients,whisking as you do so.
• Cook in microwave on high for 3 minutes.Stir well.
• Cook for another for 3 to 5 minutes or until it is thick and shiny,stirring well at one minute intervals.
• Add vanilla essence and mix well.
• Serve chilled.

EGG CURRY

Ingredients

1. Egg hard boiled- 2 nos
2. Onion (diced)- 2 large
3. Tomato(diced)- 1 large
4. Cashew nuts(soaked in water for 15 to 20 minutes)-6 to 8 nos
5. Ginger chopped finely-1/2 tsp
6. Garlic chopped finely-1/2 tsp
7. Green chili(cut vertically)-1or 2 nos( according to taste)
8. Chili powder-1 1/2 to 2 tsp(to taste)
9. Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
10. Coriander powder-3/4  tsp
11. Garam masala-1/2 tsp
12. Coconut milk- 3/4 cup
13. Cumin seeds- 1/4 tsp
14. Coriander leaves(chopped)- 2 tbsp
15. Oil
16. Water
17. Salt to taste

Method

• Add onion , tomato and cashew nuts into a blender and  blend to form a smooth paste.Keep aside.
• Heat oil in a pan ,add cumin seeds and let it splutter.Add ginger ,garlic and green chili and saute till done.Now add onion -tomato paste and cook until raw smell leaves.
• Now add chili powder,turmeric powder,coriander powder , garam masala and salt.cook till oil separates.
• Add coconut milk and required amount of water .Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes,or until gravy thickens.
• Cut the hard boiled eggs into two and place it over the gravy  ,carefully  cover it with the gravy.
• Cover the pan and cook for  one more minute,add chopped coriander leaves and serve with appam.

CHEMMEEN MURINGAKKA CURRY ( PRAWNS AND DRUMSTICK CURRY )

Ingredients

1. Prawns(cleaned)-250 to 300 gms
2. Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
3. Drumstick(cut it into 2" long pieces)-1 no
4. Kudampuli/Kokum(soaked in water)- 2 nos
5. Tomato(sliced)-1 large
6. Green chilli-2 to 3 nos(to taste)
7. Salt to taste
8. Water

To grind

1. Grated coconut- 3/4 cup
2. Shallots- 4 nos
3. Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
4. Chili powder-1/2 to 1  tsp
5. Coriander powder- 1tsp
6. Cumin seeds-1/4 tsp
7. Water- 1cup

For tempering

1. Mustard seeds
2. Fenugreek seeds- 1/4 tsp(optional)
3. Shallots(sliced)- 3 nos
4. Curry leaves-few
5. Dried red chili- 3 nos
6. Oil

Method

• Grind grated coconut with the the rest of the ingredients to grind to form a smooth paste.Keep aside.
• In a pan or a manchatti cook prawns with  turmeric powder,salt and about 1 cup water.
• When it is half done add drumstick pieces and cook till it is done.
• Now add the coconut paste,kudampuli,tomato,green chilli,water and salt to taste .
• Bring it to a boil and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.Switch off the stove.
• Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds,let it splutter.Now add fenugreek seeds,fry for few seconds.
• Add red chilies,curry leaves and shallots,fry till shallots turn golden brown.Pour this over the curry and serve.

Note:you can also use raw mango instead of tomatoes.

Sending this to Kerala kitchen event hosted by Khushi of A girl's diary

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CAKE ( CUPCAKE)

Recipe source:Authentic Suburban Gourmet
You can find the original recipe here.

For the cake
Ingredients

1. All purpose flour- 1 3/4 cup
2. Sugar- 2 cups
3. Unsweetened cocoa powder- 3/4 cup
4. Baking soda- 2tsp
5. Baking powder- 1 tsp
6. Salt -1/4 tsp
7. Buttermilk- 1 cup
8. Vegetable oil- 1/2 cup
9. Eggs-2 large
10. Vanilla essence- 2tsp
11. Freshly brewed hot coffee- 1 cup

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180 deg c
• Line the cake tins/cup cake trays with parchment paper/cupcake liners.Or just lightly grease the pan and dust with flour,tapping out excess
• Whisk together all purpose flour,sugar,cocoa powder,baking soda,baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
• In another bowl whisk together buttermilk,oil,eggs and vanilla essence.
• Slowly beat in the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
• Now slowly beat in the hot coffee and mix until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake  for 30 to 35 minutes or until  a cake tester inserted into the cake comes out clean.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for completely before removing .

Frosting
Ingredients

1. Whipping cream-2 cups
2. Sugar-2 tbsp
3. Instant coffee powder-1/2 tsp
4. Cocoa powder- 1 tbsp

Method

• Combine all the ingredients and whip to form stiff peaks.
• Spread this over the cake and serve.

Sending this to Bake fest event at zesty palette  hosted by vardhini