Happy Cooking Turns One.

Happy Birthday My Blog. :-)

Dal - Roti. (Comfort Food.)

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Moong Dal
• 1 tbsp Ginger (grated)
• 1 tbsp Garlic (grated)
• 2 Dry Red Chillies
• 1 Onion , finely chopped
• 2 Tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tbsp Ghee (clarified butter)
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Corriander powder
• 1 tsp Cumin powder
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika powder
• 1/2 tsp Garam masala
• Salt to taste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1" Cinnamon stick
• Few Curry leaves
• Chopped Cilantro
• lemon to serve.

Method:

• Soak the dal for an hour.Then pressure cook the dal for about 2-3 Whistles.
• Heat oil in a pan and fry the ginger , garlic & onion till they are soft.
• Add the tomatoes & cook till it disintegrates & all in all the spices except garam masala.
• Let this cook well for about 5 mins & then add the boiled lentils to this.
• Mix thoroughly & let it simmer on slow flame for about 10-15 mts.
• Now heat the ghee , once its hot add the dried red chillies & stir around till fragrant.
• Add the garam masala , curry leaves & instantly pour it into the dal.
• This will fill up the kitchen with wonderful aroma.Remove.
• Check for salt & squeeze the lime, garnish with chopped cilantro, some raw onions & serve hot with rotis.

Garlic Naan.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp active dry yeast
• 2 tbsp yogurt
• 1 & 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tbsp water.

  Garlic-butter topping(Mix both) :

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp garlic

Method:

• Microwave water for 10sec.The water should be luke warm.
• Add yeast, sugar and salt. Leave it for 10mins till the yeast forms a froth(gets activated).
• Now add all remaining ingredients and make it into a dough.Knead for 3-4mins.
• Cover with a cloth or plastic wrap and leave it in a warm place for about 2-3hrs till the dough doubles in volume.
• Preheat the oven to 425F.
• Make balls from the dough and roll them. Do not make them too thick as they puff up when baked
• You can roll them a little thicker than chapathi/phulka but thinner than alu paratha.
• Apply a little butter on top. Line them on a lightly buttered cookie sheet.
• Bake in the oven at 425F for about 7mins till they puff up.
• Take out, apply the garlic-butter mixture on the top and keep it in the oven again.
• Bake for another 5mins till the top looks brownish.

Pineapple Pastry for New year

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 2 Cups All-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar (Confectioner's Sugar)
• 6 Eggs
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Pineapple Essence

For Filling & Frosting:

• 2 Cups heavy Whipping Cream
• 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
• 1 Cup Pine apple Chunks

For the Syrup:

• 2 tbsp Powdered Sugar
• 1/2 Cup cold water
• 1/2 tsp Pineapple essence

Method:

• Preheat oven to 300F.Lightly oil & flour the metal pan & set aside.
• Seperate the white from the yolks.Beat each separately adding pineapple extract & lil sugar at a time.
• The Whites should form stiff peaks & the yolks should be pale & thick.
• Slowly mix the beaten yolks into whites in a circular inward to outward motion. Do not beat or mix vigorously.
• Sift flour & baking powder twice & mix with the beaten eggs.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared pans.Bake for 20 mts till cake is done & springs back on touch or a toothpick come out clean when inserted.
• Let the pan cool for 10 mts& invert cake.let it cool completely before frosting.
• Chill the beater & bowl in which you will whip the cream.
• Whip cream while slowly adding sugar till cream is thick & stiff.(Do not overbeat , it turns to butter)
• Mix Sugar, essence & water in a bowl.Cut the cake into two equal halves.
• Place one cake & spoon the syrup all over the cake till it is moist (not till soggy)
• Spread an even layer of the cream, some pineapple chunks.Place the other cake on the top & again spoon some syrup over it like before.
• Spread an even & thick layer of cream on the top & decorate with the pine apple Chunks & cherries.
• Decorate the cake with the cream as per your imagination.Enjoy the pastry.

Happy New year Once again.