Makhane and Pistachio kheer/ Foxnut and pistachio Pudding

 Makhane or Lotus Seeds or Foxnuts-Eat them raw or Roasted or Ground; just eat them. Snack on them; give it a spicy touch or turn it into something sweet;  just avail the benefits.
         It is not only low in fats but are highly nutritious too. They are a rich source of fibre, protein, calcium,  iron and zinc.
        Since it is low in sodium,  it's good for heart patients as well as blood pressure patients. It also helps in losing weight as it satiates your hunger whilst providing you with sufficient nutrients.

                Ingredients :
2 Litres Full Cream Milk
2 Tbsp. Ghee (Clarified butter)
150 gms. Makhane
100 gms. Brown sugar
1/2 tsp. Cardamom powder
1/2 tsp. Saffron strands
1/2 Cup Soaked and Slivered Pistachios
1/4 Cup Soaked and peeled, slivered Almonds

                     Directions:
1: Heat ghee in a thick bottom vessel and roast Makhane in it till its slightly brown.
2: Cool them and grind them to a coarse powder.
3: Boil milk.
4: Take 2 Tbsp.  milk out of it and add saffron strands. Keep it aside.
5: Add Makhane to boiled milk and boil it once more.
6: Simmer it till it reduces to half.
7: Add cardamom powder and sugar and cook for 5 minutes on low flame.
8: Add saffron milk, pistachios and  almonds.
9: Mix it properly and remove from flame.
10: Cool it and refrigerate.
11: Serve chilled, garnished with slivered almonds and pistachios .

Butter Chicken

        Butter chicken or Murg Makhani as we all know, was developed by Moti Mahal restaurant.

       
It's not only popular in India but is a hot stuff all over the world.
     A classic recipe where grilled pieces of chicken chunks or tandoori chicken tikka pieces are cooked in tomato -cream gravy touched zenith when it was ordered by Bill Clinton. 

  Ingredients :
2 Ktbsp Oil
2 Green chillies (chopped)
1 tsp Ginger garlic paste
2 Black Cardamom
4 Green Cardamon
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
2 Onions' slices
3 Tomatoes (chopped)
5 Tomatoes (blanched and pureed)
Salt , to taste

3/4 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1/2 tsp Kashmiri Red chilli powder
2 tbsp Honey
2 cups water
1 tsp Kasoori methi (roasted and powdered )
1/2 tsp Garam masala
1/3 cup Cream

For chicken tikka:
2 Chicken breast(cut into 1.5 "cubes)
100 gms. Yogurt
Salt , to taste
1/2 tsp. Red chilli powder
1/4 tsp Kashmiri Mirch
1 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste
1 tbsp Mustard oil
2 tsp Lemon juice
2 tsp Kasoori methi
Oil for cooking

                       Directions:
1: Clean and cut chicken into cubes.
2: In a bowl, add Yogurt,salt,  red chilli powder, Kashmiri Mirch,  ginger garlic paste, garam masala powder,mustard oil, lemon  juice and Kasoori methi.
3: Whisk it nicely and add chicken pieces to it.
4: Let it marinate for 4-6 hours or overnight.
5: Heat a grilling pan. Add oil and then chicken pieces;  often turning them so that they are cooked evenly.
Keep them aside.

Gravy:
1: Heat oil in a kadhai.
Add chopped green chillies,black Cardamom ,green Cardamom  ginger-garlic paste and Cumin seeds.
2: When it crackles, add onion slices and cook till golden brown.
3: Add chopped tomatoes and cook till it leaves oil.
4: Cool it and grind it into a smooth paste.
                

5: Heat kadhai and add ground paste.Cook for 2-3 minutes.
6: Add blanched and pureed tomatoes.
7: Add salt, red chilli powder, Kashmiri red chilli powder and honey.
8: Cook till it is thick.
9: Add roasted and ground Kasoori methi .
10: Cook for 2-3 minutes.
11: Add garam masala and remove from fire.
12: Cool it and add cream.Mix properly.
13: At the time of serving, add chicken pieces.
14: Cook for 2-3 minutes and serve.

Wholewheat Beetroot and Chocolate Cake

Yes , I know Indulgence is a Sin but who doesn't commit a sin when there is involvement of CHOCOLATE.

 Atleast I can't be manacled or should I say,I can be wheedled into doing almost anything for that last piece of scrumptious Chocolate cake.

But after delivering a harangue over HEALTHY EATING, I had to add some twists to make it less SINFUL...😉😉
    We all know that Beetroots are healthy.They can actually BEAT the roots of many diseases.They help in relieving Arthritis,cleansing the liver,combating Anemia, warding off Cancer,curing digestional disorders and preventing heart diseases. They have a pigment BETALAIN which is  Anti inflammatory ,Anti Cancer and aids in detoxifying the body.

    So I decided upon baking @NigellaLawson's Beetroot and Chocolate cake but I switched to wholewheat, Brown Sugar and Olive oil for a healthier version.

                       Ingredients:

175 gms. Wholewheat flour
2 tsp Baking powder
75 gms Cocoa powder
250 gms. Brown Sugar (Powdered)

3 Eggs (at room temperature )
250 gms. Beetroot (peeled,chopped and pureed)
200 ml Olive oil

                      Directions:
1: Preheat oven at 180 degree Celsius.
2: Grease and line 9 " Springbottom pan.
3: Sift whole wheat flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and sugar in a bowl.
4: Blend beetroot to make fine puree.
5: Add eggs and oil and blend it nicely.
6: Fold this mixture into whole wheat mix.

7: Pour into spring bottom pan and bake for 45 minutes.
8: Let it cool down and release from pan.
9: Pour chocolate ganache or have it as it is. (I slathered a liberal amount of Nutella over it)

Rose infused Chai Ice Cream

The quietude while reading morning newspaper with a cup of tea in hand or the camaraderie it sets between family and friends is not ambiguous. 

I still feel chatting over a cup of tea or coffee is far better than sitting alone with your gadgets.

My husband loves tea and whatever time it maybe, you pop up the question if he wants to have tea ; the answer would be banal.

The smile at my acquiescence to make tea for him on late nights is priceless. Though he doesn't have a sweet tooth, he loves to have Ice cream at times.

So this time , I gave my man ample reason to be happy and satiate his taste buds.

I mixed his Chai and dessert and came out with this delicious CHAI ICE CREAM. ..

Ingredients :

2 1/2 cup Milk (Full Cream)

1 cup Cream (I used Amul)

3/4 cup Powdered Brown Sugar

1/3 tsp Salt 

2 1/2 tbsp Cornflour

1/3 tsp Rose white tea

1 cup Water

3 tsp Darjeeling Tea

1" Cinnamon stick

3/4 tsp Fennel seeds

8-12 Black Peppercorns

3/4 tsp Cardamom Powder

DIRECTIONS:

1: Boil water and add tea, cinnamon, fennel seeds, Cardamom powder along with pepper corns.

2: Boil further till its half in quantity. Add 1/3 tsp Rose tea in it and let it steep for 3-4 minutes.Strain it.Add Cornflour in half of this concentrate. And stir nicely.

3:In a saucepan,  add milk, cream , brown sugar ,salt and rest of Chai concentrate. 

4: Simmer it and when it comes to a steady simmer , stir it with a whisk. Simmer it for another 5_6 minutes; stirring it with a whisk all the time.

5: Lower the flame and add Chai concentrate (one with cornflour)

6: Cook on medium heat for 2 more minutes while stirring it.

7: Remove from heat and strain it in a big vessel.

8: Keep the vessel in Ice Bath (lots of ice in water in a big shallow vessel)and keep on stirring till it becomes cold.

9: Pour it in Ice cream container and freeze it till set.

                                  ENJOY!!

Salted Caramel and Chocolate Tart

Ingredients :

25 Nos. Oreos
100 gms. Butter (at room temperature)
1 Cup Sugar
90 Gms(6 tbsp) Butter
100 ml Cream (I used Amul)

1/4 tsp Salt
150 gms Chocolate
100 ml Cream

                   Directions:
1: Blend Oreos in a blender.
2: Add butter and mix it properly.
3: Line a 6" Pie mould with this mixture.
4: Press it tightly.
5: Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
6: Heat sugar in a thick bottom pan and keep on stirring it so that it doesn't burn.

7: When it's completely melted and golden brown in color, lower the heatand add butter. Give it a nice swirl with a spatula till it mixes properly.

8: Pour cream and give it a nice whisk.
9: Add 1/4 tsp salt and mix.
10: Let it cool down. Spread it over cold Chocolate mix.
11: Refrigerate for half an hour.
12: Heat water in a saucepan and melt chocolate in double boiler.

13: Heat cream on low flame .Don't let it boil.
14: Pour it over chocolate and mix it thoroughly.
15: Pour over caramel and refrigerate it till its set.
16: Remove from the Pie mould and serve.

Paneer Butter Masala

 Butter Masala or Paneer Makhani is a dish with Paneer cubes dunked in a spicy tomato gravy which is cooked in butter.

Often eaten with Rice or Paranthas, it has its hold in every Punjabi family and in restaurants all over North India.

       This is one dish which is full of flavors and can give Butter Chicken a run for its money.

               

Ingredients :

500 gms. Cottage cheese ( cubes)
2 tsp Oil
1 tsp  Ginger paste
1 tsp Garlic paste
1 tsp Cumin seeds
2 Onions' Slices

500 gms. Cottage cheese ( cubes)
 2 Tomatoes (chopped)
1 Cup Tomato Puree
 1 No. Cinnamon stick
1/4 tsp  Black Cardamom Powder
 1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder

4 tbsp  Butter
 1 tsp  Honey
  2 tsp  Tomato ketchup
 1 tsp   Salt
  3/4 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1/2 tsp Degi Mirch

3 tsp Kasoori methi (roasted)

1 cup Water
2 tbsp  Cream
2 tbsp Chopped Coriander Leaves ( for garnishing)

Directions:
1: Heat oil in a wok.
2: Add ginger- garlic paste.  Cook for 2 minutes.
3: Add cumin seeds and when it crackles, add onion slices .
4: Cook till its golden brown in color.
5: Add chopped tomatoes and cook till it leaves oil.
6: Let it cool down and grind to a smooth paste.

             

7: Heat butter in a skillet and add cinnamon stick, black Cardamom powder and Cardamom powder.
8: Add ground paste.
9: Cook for a minute and add tomato puree.
10: Add honey,  ketchup , salt, degi mirch and red chilli powder.
11: Crush Kasoori methi with fingers and add to the gravy.
12: Add water and boil it till the gravy thickens.
13: Add cottage cheese cubes.
14 :Let it boil for 2 minutes.
15: Let it cool down and add cream.