Paneer Sandwich

Quick, easy and tasty sandwich for kids as well as for anyone. It is a yummy, nutritious snack and great for breakfast, brunch and even school lunch boxes.

Ingredients:

8-10 bread slices
1 cup paneer, grated
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tomato, finely chopped
1 tsp oil
1 tsp red chilli powder
salt to taste

Masala to grind:

1/2 cup coriander leaves
2-3 green chillies
salt

Method:

1: Grind coriander, green chillies and salt with very little water and keep aside.

2: Heat oil in a pan and fry the onions till they become soft.

3: Then add tomatoes, red chilli powder, salt and fry till the tomatoes become soft.

4: Then add the paneer, mix well, stir for 2-3 minutes and turn off the fire.

5: Take a bread slice and spread the coriander chutney and keep the stuffing and cover it with another bread.

6: Repeat the same for other slices and toast the sandwich till crispy and golden.

7: Serve with tomato sauce.

Note:

1: If you want to skip the grinding masala (coriander, green chillies, salt), then add finely chopped green chillies in the oil before frying onions.

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Chilli Baby Corn

Chilli Baby Corn is a spicy Indo-Chinese appetizer and served as side dish with noodles. It is a combination of capsicum and baby corn in a Chinese style. Enjoy spicy chilli baby corn in cold days.

Ingredients:

1/4 kg baby corn, cut into 1" pieces 
1 onion, cut into cubes
1/4 cup spring onion whites
3-4 tbsps spring onion greens
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tsps soy sauce 
2 tsps vinegar
2 tbsps corn flour+5 tbsps water
1 capsicum, cut into thin slices
2 tbsps tomato sauce
1 tsp green chilli paste
salt to taste
1 tbsp oil + oil for frying

For Marinade:

1/4 tsp black pepper powder
1/4 tsp ginger garlic paste
salt to taste
1 tbsp corn flour + few tbsps water

Marinade baby corn with the above ingredients and leave aside for 10 minutes.

Method:

1: Heat oil in a pan, place the thinly coated baby corn and deep fry till brown. Remove and keep aside.

2: Heat oil in a pan, add ginger garlic paste and saute for few seconds. Add spring onion whites, onions and saute for 2-3 minutes.

3: Add capsicum and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Add tomato sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, green chilli paste and mix.

4: Now add deep fried baby corn and saute for a minute. Then add 1/4 cup water and adjust salt if necessary.

5: Add corn flour water and saute for 3 minutes. You notice that it becomes thick due to corn flour.

6: Garnish with spring onion greens and serve hot as starter/appetizer.

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Chilli Garlic Papdi

As the name sounds, we get the taste of chilli and garlic in this papdi. Usually papdi's are tea time snacks. They goes very well with tea or you can make papdi chaat also. You can store in airtight container upto 1 month. Hope everyone in your family likes this delicious and yummy tea snack.

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour (maida)
1/2 tsp ajwain 
salt to taste
2 tbsps ghee
2 tsps red chilli powder
2 tsps garlic paste
oil for deep frying

Method:

1: In a bowl mix maida, ajwain, ghee, salt. Rub with your palms for better results.

2: Now add chilli powder, garlic paste and mix thoroughly.

3: Knead the flour into a firm dough using little water and keep aside for 30 minutes.

4: Pinch off some dough and make a medium ball. Roll it into thin rotis. Do the same with the remaining dough.

5: Prick the rolled dough with fork on both sides so the papdi do not puff while frying and cut them in triangle or diamond shape with sharp knife.

6: Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. To check if the oil is ready, just put a small piece of dough in the oil. The dough should sizzle right away but come up to the surface slowly. If the dough rises immediately, let the oil cool slightly and try again.

7: Make sure to place just enough papdi to cover top of the oil in the frying pan in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd.  Fry the papdi until both sides are a light golden-brown.

8: Remove cooked papdi with a slotted or mesh spoon and transfer to a plate.

9: Let it cool down in room temperature. Store it in an air tight container.

Sending this recipe to Snacks Mela by Cooking4allseasons 

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Kothimbir Paratha

Kothimbir is also known as kothmir, cilantro, coriander. These parathas are very easy to make and the ingredients needed are usually available in any Indian household so no prior preparations is needed as well.

Ingredients:

1 cup wheat flour
1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp garam masala
2-3 green chillies, finely chopped
salt to taste
oil for frying parathas
water

Method:

1: Mix wheat flour, red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, chopped green chillies in a big bowl.

2: Now add oil, coriander leaves and knead the flour into a soft stiff dough using water and keep aside for 30 minutes. Cilantro is going to release some water when you let the dough rest, so do not add too much water to the dough.

3: Make equal sized balls of dough. Roll the ball in dry flour and make a round paratha.

4: Heat a tawa and and put the rolled out parathas on it and cook for a minute.When bubbles start appearing, apply a little oil and flip it over to the other side. Do the same on the other side.

5: Parathas are ready! Serve hot with curd or pickle of your choice.

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Curry Flavored Papdi

Curry flavored papdi is a twist to normal papdi. As the name sounds, this papdi is made with maida, curry leaves and curry powder. Here is the best recipe to have curry leaves. This papdi goes well with tea or you can make papdi chaat. Hope you all enjoy this tea time snack.

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour (maida)
2 tbsps ghee
salt to taste
2 tsps curry powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp black pepper powder
15-20 curry leaves
oil for deep frying

Method:

1: Microwave curry leaves for 2-3 minutes on high to get crispy and keep aside.

2: In a bowl mix maida, ghee, salt. Rub with your palms for better results.

3: Now add curry powder, turmeric powder, black pepper powder and mix. Crush crispy curry leaves and add.

4: Knead the flour into a firm dough using little water and keep aside for 30 minutes.

5: Pinch off some dough and make a medium ball. Roll it into thin rotis. Do the same with the remaining dough.

6: Prick the rolled dough with fork on both sides so the papdi do not puff while frying and cut them in triangle or diamond shape with sharp knife.

7: Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. To check if the oil is ready, just put a small piece of dough in the oil. The dough should sizzle right away but come up to the surface slowly. If the dough rises immediately, let the oil cool slightly and try again.

8: Make sure to place just enough papdi to cover top of the oil in the frying pan in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd.  Fry the papdi until both sides are a light golden-brown.

9: Remove cooked papdi with a slotted or mesh spoon and transfer to a plate.

10: Let it cool down in room temperature. Store it in an air tight container.


Note:

You can make this papdi in different shapes like, diamond, triangle, cone, square, round etc. I made in all shapes.

Sending this recipe to Snacks Mela by Cooking4allseasons 

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Vegetable Paratha

Vegetable Paratha is one of the best parathas as it contains all the vegetables. It is easy to make and healthier too. These parathas are very good for the kids who don't eat vegetables or hate vegetables. Try ands let me know..

Ingredients:

wheat flour
1 cup mixed vegetables - carrot, cabbage, beans, cauliflower, potato etc
1" ginger piece
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
salt to taste
few coriander leaves, finely chopped
oil for frying

Method:

1:  Boil the vegetables along with ginger pieces till soft.

2:  Grind the boiled vegetables in a mixer to a paste without adding water. The paste need not be very smooth, it tastes great when there are a few pieces of vegetables

3: Add cumin seeds, chilli powder, salt, garam masala, coriander leaves and mix well.

4: Add the ground mixture to wheat flour. Mix it into a dough (like chapathi dough). Apply oil to the dough. Leave the dough for around 30 minutes.

5: Take a big amount (bigger than chapathi) of the dough and roll it into parathas (parathas should be slightly thicker than chapathis to get the actual taste of it).

6:Heat tava and fry the paratha from both sides. Apply ghee.

7:Serve with pickle and curd.

  

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Eggless Apple Cupcake

Apple cupcakes are easy to make and delicious! These crazy dark moist, soft and tender cupcakes will keep well for several days. Its 1st time i prepared and they turn out very well. I got good compliments from my hubby and neighbours. What about you? Go fast to kitchen and bake these yummy and softy EGGLESS APPLE CUPCAKES.......

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour (maida)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
2 apples, grated
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 tbsps condensed milk
2 tbsps raisins (optional)
1/4 cup milk

Method:

1: Preheat the oven at 350 deg F. Place paper cups inside muffin tray.

2: Sieve together all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt twice and keep aside.

3: Beat sugar and butter together. 

4: Combine all the ingredients. Stir until mixture is smooth and without lumps.


5: Slowly pour the cupcake mix in each cupcake holder half way through using a laddle.


6: Bake it for about 25-35 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

7: Remove from the oven and let it cool for sometime.

ENJOY HOLIDAYS WITH YUMMY EGGLESS APPLE CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!!

 Note:

You can use the same batter and make a cake using a cake pan. I made it and cake came out very well.I will post EGGLESS APPLE CAKE very soon.

Sending this post to Food of the month

Bake Fest #1 Event hosted by Vardhini of Zesty Palette

Christmas Delicasy hosted by Julie

Edible Entertainment: ♫ Jingle All The Way ♫ hosted by Kavi
 

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Grocery Saving Tips

Everyone looks for the places to save money. With bit of planning, you can save a lot of money each and every month on grocery. So, let's start planning and have a happy grocery shopping!

1: Never go for shopping when you are hungry.

2: Always make a shopping list before u go.

3: Check the expiration date on products.

4: Use store savings card.

5: Use grocery coupons from all sources.

6: Shop without kids. Better to leave the kids with grandparents or a trusted baby sitter or when the kids are in school.

7: Keep an eye on the scanner.

8:Pick up medicines, hygiene products at a discount store or pharmacy.

9: Buy the minimum amount you need.

10: Dont buy junk food.

11: Check the store’s website for printable coupons.

12: Get rain checks when sale items are out of stock.
 
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Spice and Herb Storage Tips

Spices and Herbs are used in cooking to enhance the flavour and aroma of foods. They are must have in any kitchen. It is very important to store them properly to get the real flavors of spices and herbs in recipe. Follow these storage tips to have a delicious flavor in any dish.

1. Whole spices and herbs maintain their freshness longer than ground ones.

2. Keep spices and herbs away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. Avoid storing spices and herbs over the stove or near a window.

3. Spices and herbs will keep for a long time if they are stored in airtight bottles. The shelf life of properly stored spices and herbs is approximately 4 years for whole spices, 2-3 years for ground spices and 1-3 years for leafy herbs, depending on the herb.

4. They don't spoil, but spices and herbs do lose their strength. Old and weak seasonings will not deliver the taste that they should.

5. There are three checks to use when verifying freshness: look, smell, and taste.

A visual check for color fading is a good indicator of flavor loss. Taste and smell your spices and herbs: if they don't taste or smell like much, they need to be replaced.

6. Don't sprinkle spices and herbs directly from the bottle over a steaming pot. Steam introduced into the bottle will hasten the loss of flavor and aroma. Steam will also result in caking of contents.

7. Make sure your measuring spoon is completely dry when you dip it into the bottle. Moisture introduced into the bottle will also result in caking and flavor loss.

8. Members of the red pepper family, including paprika and chili powder, will retain their color and remain fresher when stored in the refrigerator.

9. Replace bottle lids tightly immediately after use.

10. An inexpensive coffee grinder makes a great spice grinder for whole seeds, cloves, and cinnamon sticks--and it's faster than a mortar and pestle. Fresh-ground spices are especially pungent and flavorful.

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Tips to maintain a clean home

Cleaning home is an art. We have to clean our home regularly inorder to avoid infections, bad smell, diseases etc. Here are some of the tips that i thought to be useful to all. Follow this tips and maintain a clean and happy home.

1: Fold and put away the clothes as soon as you completes your laundry work.

2: Put things back in their places after you use them.

3: Never go to bed with a dirty kitchen.

4: Keep your bathrooms and sinks clean.

5: Take 15 minutes in a day to clean your home.

6: Buy good cleaning products.

7: Leave your shoes at the door.

8: Clean the windows, doors.

9: Keep doormats at every entrance.

10: Empty the trash regularly.

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Water Saving Tips

Water is essential element to life on earth. Without water life is impossible. It is required for all the day to day activities like, cooking, drinking, cleaning, washing, bathing etc. It is our responsibility to utilise water in a proper way and save. Let's follow these steps to save water.

1: When washing dishes by hand, dont leave the water running for rinsing.

2: Run your dish washer and clothes washer only when they are full.

3: Collect the water you use to clean fruits and vegetables and reuse it to water plants.

4: Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.

5: Check regularly for water leaks in toilets, sinks and fix them.

6: Avoid water toys that requires a constant flow of water.

7: Collect the leaky water to water your garden.

8:Turn off the water while washing your hair.

9: While you are washing your hands, dont let the water to run while you lather.

10: When you save water, you save money on your utility bills too.

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Electricity Saving Tips:

Saving electricity doesn't just save money, it also saves the environment. Here are some tips that really helps you to save money as well as environment also.

 
Turn off lights, appliances, TV's, computers, stereos when not in use.

Replace your old fridge with newer.

Turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room.

Clean or replace the A/C filter regularly to help your unit run more efficiently and trim cooling costs.

Use space heaters to heat only the rooms you're in (rather than a central system that heats the whole house), and turning off the heat when you're not at home.

Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot or warm water.

Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescents.

Sleep your computer When you are not using it.

Unplug electronic devices and chargers when they aren't in use-most new electronics use electricity even when switched "off".

Don't use the heat dry option on your dishwasher.

Do not put on the lights during the day

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Ras Malai

Ras Malai is a Bengali dessert, dumplings made with paneer and soaked in sweet, thickened milk flavored with cardamom and served after meal. Rasgullas are soaked in sugar syrup, ras malai is soaked in sweet flavored milk. It is commonly served in Indian weddings and other occasions. This recipe has 2 steps, making rasgullas and then to soak in sweet flavored milk. You can make rasgullas at home or you can use store bought also. Lets learn how to make Ras malai following these steps.

Ingredients:

12 rasgullas
3 cups of milk
sugar (adjust to your taste)
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
sliced almonds & pistachios for garnishing
2 pinches of saffron, mixed with few tbsps of milk

Method:

1: Boil the milk in a frying pan on medium heat, stirring frequently until the milk reduce to about 2 cups.

2: Add cardamom powder, sugar, saffron and boil for another 5 minutes.

3: Squeeze the rasgullas with a flat ladle such that it forms a patty shape and the syrup is drained out.

4: Add the flattened rasgullas or ras malai patties in the milk and cook on low flame for 5 minutes so that they will absorb the sweet syrup.

5: Garnish with sliced almonds and pistachios.

6: Refrigerate and serve chilled.

Note:
Instead of using sugar you can use 1 cup sugar syrup, which get from the rasgullas and the recipe follows same. 

Sending this recipe to  Love Lock with Sweets

 
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Chola Tikki (Chickpeas Patties)

Chola Tikki is a spicy, yummy snack made with boiled chole (chickpeas). In winter days these hot tikki or patties goes very well. I hope you like this recipe.

Ingredients:

3 potatoes, boil, peel and mash them
1 tbsp ginger, shredded
salt to taste
1 tbsp coriander leaves, finely chopped
2 green chillies, finely chopped
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp lemon juice
oil to shallow fry

Method:

1: Drain the water out of the chickpeas and dry the chickpeas using paper towel making sure there is no access water in chickpeas. Mash the chickpeas coarsely; do not make smooth.

2: Mix all the ingredients together, adjust salt and pepper to your taste.

3: With oiled hands, divide the mixture into 8-10 equal portions. Make them into the shape of patties keeping them about a half inch thick.

4: Heat the oil in a flat bottom pan on medium flame and shallow fry the tikkis on both sides until both sides are golden brown.

Serving Suggestions:

1: Serve tikki hot. Drizzle some yogurt, tamarind chutney and green chutney over the tikki or use any combination you prefer.

2: It can also be served with tomato ketchup.

How to bake tikkies in oven:

Heat the oven to 350 degrees, brush oil generously on both sides of the Tikki and bake them on a greased cookie sheet. Let them bake for about 20 minutes then turn and cook for another 10 minutes until the Tikki are golden brown.

Note:

1: Do not cool the potatoes under running water because the potatoes will absorb the extra water,making potatoes mushy.

Sending this recipe to Snacks Mela by Cooking4allseasons 

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American Sweet Corn With Butter

In Hyderabad, American sweet corn is quite famous, you can find them at high fi areas like imax, airport and near some malls. It costs Rs 25/- but that corn guy will give in a small cup, you just wont be full. I think if you get for Rs 100/- it will be quite enough. Then i thought, why can't i make this @ home and finally today i prepared it.  I added butter and it was awesome. Here is the procedure.

Ingredients:

2 cups boiled corn
1/4 tsp chaat masala
salt as per taste
1/2 tsp blackpepper powder
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tsps butter

Method:

1: In a bowl, add all the ingredients except butter and mix well.

2:  Now add butter and then stir again. The corn should be hot while mixing the butter and it should not be fully melted.

3: Serve hot! Its yummy!

Every ingredient in this recipe can be adjusted to your taste.

Sending this recipe to
Radhika's, Winter Carnival
Snacks Mela by Cooking4allseasons  

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