Kiwi Mojito Popsicles

Frozen desserts happen to be my favourite….especially Popsicles! 🤗😍😍 I can have too many at a go ever since I was a kid😋 

The more fruity it is, the better it tastes! Last year too, I had shared some Popsicle recipes here..you can check those out. They are refreshing and too easy to make…maybe you could involve your kids this vacation season in some kitchen activities & make yummy Popsicles. 

Kiwi is one of the prettiest fruits according to me….so making summery delights using them was on my mind…and Virgin Mojitos happen to me my favorite drink. Hence, I combined the two and made these really delicious Popsicles! They are healthy and absolutely irresistible 😉😉 lets get started with the easy peasy recipe…

Yield: 5-6 small Popsicles

Equipment: measuring cups/ spoons, Popsicle mould, ice cream sticks, blender.

Ingredients:

2 nos. chopped kiwis

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

2-3 tbsp sugar (add more or less)

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Method:

Heat water in a pan, once it starts boiling, add the mint leaves and sugar. Let these boil on low flame for about 10 mins. Once done, cool completely and strain the mint leaves. Keep the strained water aside.

Next, add chopped kiwi in a blender along with lime juice and the strained water. Blender until smooth. Then fill the Popsicle moulds with this purée and cover with the lids and place the ice cream sticks. Freeze for 6-7 hours or overnight.

Enjoy these yummy Popsicles this summer☀️🌞

Dont they look pretty 😬

Love,

Shreya💗

Adapted from Gimme Some Oven

Herbed Focacia

An awesome aroma fills my home…yes, I am baking a bread! Nothing beats the flavours of a simple home baked bread. ☺️ 

It’s soft and absolutely melt in the mouth…so much so, that I just brush it with some olive oil, sprinkled a bit of sea salt and chomped down most of the bread…but one could even have these with some soup or pasta!

The herbs add an amazing earthiness to the bread….every bit worth the effort…which weren’t much to begin with in the first place! 😉 Yes…this is the easiest Focacia ever……

Let’s get started:

Yield: One 6″-7″ round bread

Equipment: a mixing bowl, baking tray, cooling tray, measuring cups/ spoons, rolling board, rolling pin.

Ingredients:

1 cup APF (Maida)

1+1/2 tsp active dry yeast

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 tsp salt

1-2 tbsp olive oil for the dough + extra to brush on later

2 tsp mixed Italian herbs + extra for topping

1 tsp chilli flakes + extra for topping

1 tsp garlic pwd + extra for topping

sea salt to taste for topping

Method:

Take 1/2 cup warm water in a small bowl, add sugar and yeast in the water. Cover and set it aside for 15 mins to let the yeast bloom.

In a mixing bowl, add APF, salt, Italian herbs, chilli flakes & garlic pwd. Add the frothy yeast and knead a soft dough. Knead it for 10-12 mins. Add some extra flour if it feels very sticky. Next, add 1-2 tbsp oil and again knead it for 5-6 mins. Grease the dough all over with some more oil, cover the bowl and set it aside in a warm place to prove. It should be almost double the size in about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Then, after it has doubled in size, press the dough lightly and release the air within. Dust some APF on a rolling board and roll it into a circle of about 3/4″ thickness & 6″-7″ diameter with a rolling pin. Place the rolled dough onto a baking tray and sprinkle the toppings over it. Drizzle some more oil over it. Again set it aside for another 30 mins for second proving.

Then, after 30 mins, pre-heat the oven @210’c. The rolled dough will have doubled again by now & bake it for approximately 20 mins or until it turns golden on the top @ 210’c.

Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few mins on a cooling rack before slicing it. Enjoy it with olive oil or garlic butter or even homemade pizza sauce 😬

This tastes so good…you won’t have leftovers! 😀

Love,

Shreya💕

Adapted from the book Nita Mehta’s Baking Recipes.

 

Marble Cake

How often do we crave a really good cake….I guess always! Perfect crumb….extremely moist…soft and absolutely melt in the mouth texture😊…it makes for that perfect slice of cake! 

Pair it with your evening tea/ coffee or just snack on a slice whenever you feel like it….😋 This cake’s very buttery and that’s why I love how beautifully it comes out every time I make it 👌🏼

I baked this today for my Mom…who’s visiting us for a few weeks and I wanted to pamper her to the fullest😍 And my hubby too loves this cake…so it’s a happy me!

Let’s get started….

Please note that original recipe uses 2 large eggs, I have replaced them with yogurt. All ingredients used are to be at room temperature. Also, I have weighed everything in grams using an electronic weighing scale.

Yield: makes one 9″ loaf

Equipment: an electric whisk (or manual), measuring cups/ spoons, cooling rack, baking tin, parchment paper, 2 mixing bowls.

Ingredients:

115 gms APF (Maida)

100 gms unsalted butter

1/2 cup thick yogurt

1 cup powdered sugar (adjust as per taste)

A pinch of salt

1 tbsp cocoa pwd

1/2 tsp baking pwd

1/4 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla essence/ extract or essence can be used

Method:

Line the baking tin with parchment paper. Pre-heat the oven @ 180’c. Please note that every oven works differently so adjust accordingly.

Take butter and sugar in a bowl, cream them using an electric or manual whisk. Once they look creamy and well incorporated, add the yogurt and whisk again until well incorporated. Next, add the vanilla extract/ essence and whisk again.

Seive in the flour, soda, salt & baking powder next. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet gently. Lastly, add the milk. Fold again. Divide the batter into two halves. Add cocoa powder to one half and mix well. Set it aside. Now, add the plain batter into the prepared tin. Spread it evenly. Add the chocolate batter on top of it and swirl it around a bit.

Bake it at 180’c for 35-40 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake, comes out clean or with a very few moist crumbs. Once done, remove from the oven and let it cool for 20-25 mins on a cooling rack before you slice it. This cake keeps well at room temperature for 2-3 days.

Happy baking folks!

Love,

Shreya💖

Adapted from Rasa Malaysia

Kala Chana Masala

North Indian meals are a must in my home on daily basis…they are filling, healthy and something that my hubby & I have both grown up eating😊 It’s our comfort food!

Kala Chana or  Bengal Gram/ Black Gram is full of vitamins, minerals & dietary fiber. It’s also has a very low fat content…..besides being an excellent source of iron & protein for vegetarians.

I remember having this ever since I was a child…and quite liked it too! Typical North Indian flavours…served with some rice or crispy, flaky parathe👌🏼 One can make it spicy or keep it on the mild side.

Besides, it’s easy to prepare….lets get started with my Mom’s recipe…

Yield: serves 2-3

Equipment: pressure cooker, measuring cups/ spoons.

Ingredients:

2 cups kala Chana (soaked overnight in 5 cups of water)

1 nos. large onion chopped

2 nos. chopped tomato

1 nos. cubed potato

2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

2-3 nos. slit green chilli

1/2 tsp jeera Dana (cumin seeds)

1 pinch hing (asafoetida)

1 tbsp each of coriander pwd & cumin pwd

1/2 tsp turmeric pwd

1 tsp red chilly pwd

1 tsp Garam masala pwd

salt to taste

2-3 tbsp oil (I use mustard oil)

chopped coriander as needed

water as needed

lemon juice as per taste

Method:

Heat oil in the pressure cooker, then add jeera and hing. Let this splatter. Then add the onions, green chillies & ginger-garlic paste. Stir and let these cook until the onions are golden. Then add the tomatoes & all the dry masalas mentioned above including garam masala. Season with salt. Cook on medium heat until the tomatoes are soft and the oil begins to seperate. Add the potatoes & the drained kala Chana (Keep the water in which the Chana was soaking aside for later use).

Keep stirring and sautéing the spices with the Chana and potatoes for about 5-7 mins. Then add chopped coriander leaves & the water kept aside. Add more water if needed in case you want a thinner gravy. Cover the pressure cooker with the lid and place the weight on top. Let it cook on medium flame for about 7-8 whistles (or more depending on the pressure cooker you are using). Once done, turn off the flame and let the pressure release on it own. Open the cooker & add lemon juice and mix well. That’s it..serve hot!

This is really quick and super yum!

Love,

Shreya💖

Grape Ice Cream

Summer is around the corner…felt a few waves of heat in the last couple of days. It’s the season to make my homemade ice creams again! 🤓🤗🤗 Yayyy!

All those of you, who have have been a regular around here will know how I adore making my own ice creams! 😍 If you are a fan of fruity ice creams then do have a look at my Orange Ice Cream or try my Custard and Rose Ripple Ice Cream. And if you’re a fan of Popsicles…then look no further😬

Well, coming back to the Grape Ice Cream….why grapes!? Because I had some sitting in my refrigerator and they were slightly sour. I could have easily macerated them with some sugar & vanilla extract…and they go really well with pancakes or any sponge cake. Sounds yummy…isn’t it. But I wanted to try an ice cream with them.

Wondering why the colour isn’t purple…well it won’t be considering the ingredients used here, which includes freshly pressed grape juice. So no preservatives or added colours!! 💃🏻 I took inspiration from the net..and made a few changes here and there to suit our tastebuds. Let’s get started…

Yield: 4-5

Equipment: measuring cups/ spoons, a blender, a freezer-safe container.

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh grape juice (use canned if you wish)

200 ml whipping cream (I used Amul)

1 cup sweetened milk powder

1/2 cup castor sugar or more as per your taste

2 tsp lemon juice (optional)

Method:

Squeeze the grapes in the juicer to extract their juice and set it aside.

In a blender jar, add the cream, castor sugar& milk powder. Give it a blend. Add the grape juice & lemon juice next. Blend again for a minute.

Pour this mixture into the container you have chosen to set the ice cream in…and put it in the freezer for about 3 hours. By this time, the Ice cream will have begun to set around the edges. Blend it once again for a minute in the blender. Pour back into the container & let this freeze for 6-7 hours. That’s it. Thaw it at room temperature for 5 mins before serving it.

Wasn’t that too easy 😉😉 go ahead…make some!

Love,

Shreya💞

Adapted from Cooks.com

Onion Uttappa/ Uttappam

So..what’s for breakfast?!….Asks my hubby every morning. Okay…so I am one, tiny person battling sleep and I have to think of breakfast/ food the first thing once I am up 🙄🙄🙄!!! Hellloooo…yes I love food! But I don’t think about it 24*7..Lol!! 

But we have to eat…..and I like to serve something healthy for my hubby too…breakfast being the most meal of the day. I truly believe it’s important to kick start your day with healthy & wholesome food😊

As a rule…I usually have some Dosa/ Idli batter sitting handy in my refrigerator..it could either be store bought or homemade…& I either make dosas or some spongy idlis in minutes when I am pressed for time! That’s when these Udupi Style Onion Uttappams come to my rescue. They are quick, delicious and something that my hubby & I, both enjoy😁 One can add any variation of toppings…but I keep it simple with the onions.

It’s my Mom’s Peanut & Curd Chutney that we enjoy with these Uttappams. This chutney is simply too yummy…..bursting with flavours & gets ready in minutes. The perfect dip even for my Sabudana Wadas or Rava Dosa 😍

Common, let’s get started..

Yield: 4 Uttappams & 1 bowl of chutney

Equipment: non-stick pan, a spatula, a ladle, measuring cups/ spoons, mixing bowl.

Ingredients:

Uttappam:

2 cups thick dosa batter (seasoned with salt, I used store bought)

1/2 cup chopped onions

chopped chilli as needed

1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves

1 tsp Idli Podi (I used store bought)

oil as needed to cook the Uttappam

Chutney:

1/2 cup roasted, husked and coarsely ground peanuts

1/2 cup thick curd (not hung)

salt to taste

red chilli pwd to taste

1/2 tsp roasted jeera pwd (cumin)

To temper:

2 tsp oil

few curry leaves

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

a pinch of hung (asafoetida)

Method for Uttappam:

Heat the pan, once it’s hot enough, spread a ladleful of the batter. Keep it thick and perfectly round. Drizzle oil around the batter. Top the Uttappam with the chopped chillies, onions, coriander leaves, Podi pwd. Let the bottom crisp up before flipping it over. Cook for another 2-3 mins to get a rich golden color on the topping. Once done, serve hot with the Chutney.

Method for chutney:

Take the coarsely powdered peanuts & curd. Season with the spices mentioned above. Give them a mix. Next, heat the oil in a pan, add the ingredients mentioned in “to temper” above, let everything crackle for a minute or two, then add them to the peanut-curd mixture. Mix well and serve. This chutney keeps well in the refrigerator for a day.

This is a finger-licking good combo…do try!

Love,

Shreya💗

 

White Chocolate Treats

Ok…so this sounds mushy at the very best..but I did make some Chocolates for my hubby this Valentine’s 💓😍 lol! And he found them cute too 💃🏻

Well…to be honest…I wouldn’t really call it ‘making’ them…unless that’s what we are calling using ‘leftovers’ these days 😁😜

Why leftovers you may ask….well. I had some odd, broken pieces of Morde’s white Compound in my refrigerator post icing my Eggless Red Velvet Cupcakes. Also had some coloured sugar sprinkles lying around…so thought of using these along with my silicon chocolate moulds to make something quick! 😬😬…hence these Treats😊 Let’s get started….these take approx 30 mins to get ready …actually ready to eat!! Cool..ain’t it!?

A few pointers to keep in mind…

Do not try to melt the Compound Chocolate in the microwave…it could burn it as the chocolate is very delicate. Use a double boiler as far as possible.

Do not stir the the chunks of Compound Chocolate while it melts…that can make the melted chocolate very grainy.

Yield: 7-10 pieces

Equipment: a deep saucepan, a heat proof bowl (preferably borosil/ Pyrex), measuring cups/ spoons, silicon Chocolate moulds in any shape.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup chopped Morde White Compound

sugar sprinkles or sugar balls as needed

Method:

Heat water in the saucepan until it starts to boil, then place the heatproof bowl over the saucepan in such a way that the base of the bowl does not touch the boiling water below in the pan. Next, keep the chopped compound chocolate in the bowl and maintain the flame on it’s lowest possible level. Let the compound melt slowly and do not stir it.

While the compound melts, place the sugar balls/ sprinkles in the chocolate moulds, just a thin layer covering the base only.

Next, check the compound chocolate that is melting, it should be almost melted by now. Remove the bowl from the top of the saucepan. Stir the melted compound chocolate just once. It must be smooth and lump free.

Next, add 1-2 tsp of the melted compound chocolate over the sprinkles placed in the moulds. Fill the moulds to the top. Do the same for all the moulds and place them on a tray. Place this tray in refrigerator or the freezer for about 10-12 mins. They will be completely set and hard by then. When you break the chocolate in half, you should hear a ‘snap’! That’s the sound of a perfect homemade chocolate.🤓🤓😬

Follow the same recipe for Dark chocolate compound or Milk chocolate compound too. 😊

They keep well for 3-4 days under refrigeration.

I made a small batch of 7-8 pieces! Do try these out…

Love,

Shreya❤️

Paneer Tawa Masala

Another great recipe using cottage cheese (paneer) and an assortment of rustic spices. This makes for a great weeknight meal option which goes well with Wholewheat Naan or Phulkas too☺️

You can even make this on a weekend and indulge a bit👌🏼 …flavours of kasuri methi along with saunf (fennel) & the tang of chaat masala makes for a great palate pleaser!

Pretty easy to whisk up too…it was ready in about 30 mins! Let’s get started…

Yield: serves 2

Equipment: a non-stick pan/ tawa, measuring cups/ spoons.

Ingredients:

To marinate the paneer:

250 gms cubed paneer

2 tbsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)

1 tsp red chilly pwd

1/2 tsp turmeric pwd

1 tsp chaat masala

salt to taste

2 tbsp oil

To make the Tawa masala:

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp butter

1/2 tsp jeera (cumin seeds)

1/2 tsp saunf (fennel seeds)

1 cup chopped onion

2 tsp chopped green chillies

2 tsp garlic paste

1 1/2 cup tomato purée

1 tsp coriander pwd

1/2 roasted cumin pwd

pinch of sugar

1/2 tsp garam masala 

salt to taste

2-3 tbsp fresh cream

chopped coriander leaves to garnish

Method:

Marinate the paneer with the ingredients mentioned above except the oil and keep it aside for 15-20 mins. After 20 mins, sauté the marinated paneer in 2 tbsp oil for 5 mins in a pan/ tawa. Set it aside.

Next, add 1 tbsp oil to the remaining oil in the pan, once it’s hot enough, add the jeera & saunf seeds. Let these crackle for a few seconds. Then add the chopped onions, chillies & garlic paste. Cook until the onions turn golden.

Then add the tomato purée along with coriander pwd, sugar, roasted cumin pwd, salt & garam masala. Sauté for until the tomato purée cooks out and the oil seperates from the masala. Then add the cream, butter & cooked paneer. Mix well and cook for another 3-5 mins. That’s it! Turn off the heat and garnish with chopped coriander leaves & serve it piping hot..😀

Do try it out soon….you will love the flavours!

Love,

Shreya💞

Adapted from Tarla Dalal

Eggless Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes anyone!? I am guessing everyone would love some😉 They are eggless too! Perfectly spongy, soft and super moist. 

They are pretty easy to whip up & can be perfect for Valentine’s too❤️…

I followed a straight forward, no-fuss recipe and it gives me perfect results each time ☺️ ….lets get started…

Yield: 8-10 cupcakes

Equipment: a mixing bowl, measuring cups/ spoons, a wired whisk, cupcake tray, liners, cooking rack.

Ingredients:

Dry ingredients:

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Maida (APF)

1 tbsp cocoa pwd

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 tsp each Baking powder & Baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Wet ingredients:

1/2 cup milk at room temp.

2 tsp vinegar

5 tbsp oil

Red food colour as needed to make a bright red batter

1 tsp vanilla essence/ extract

Method:

Pre-heat the oven at 180’C. Prepare the cupcake tray with the liners and set it aside.

Sift together all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl including the powdered sugar. Give them a mix & set it aside.

In another bowl, add the milk and vinegar. Mix them well and let it stand until the milk curdles. It will take about 5-6 mins. Then add the oil, red colour & vanilla essence to the curdled milk. Whisk them well.

Next, add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well for about a minute. Do not over mix as that will give very heavy cupcakes. Fill the cupcake liners with 1 tbsp of the batter or up to 3/4th of the capacity of the cupcake liners. Bake @ 180’C for 20 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cupcake comes out clean. (Baking time may vary as every oven works differently).

Cool the cupcakes on a cooling rack for 30 mins before frosting/ icing them.

I frosted the cupcakes with some melted white chocolate (Morde) and sprinkled some crumbs and sugar balls over them. Or serve them plain! They taste good anyway 😃

Do try them soon….

Love,

Shreya💓

Adapted from The Chef in Me.

Veg Chilli Milli

Being a fan of restaurant style gravies/ sides….I am often looking forward to make them at home too! Veg Chilli Milli is one such side which tastes excellent and has many veggies which makes it healthy 🤓 

And it also goes very well with some Wholewheat Tawa Naan or Methi Makka Roti👌🏼🤗..however is served with some plain Parathas this time around as my hubby wanted to have them.

This definitely is something that you will want to have again and again…🍽🍛 and really easy to make too!

Let’s get started…

Yield: serves 2-3

Equipment: a pan, measuring cups/ spoons, ladle.

Ingredients:

1 cup shredded cabbage

1/2 cup sliced carrots

1/2 cup great peas

1/2 cup sliced capsicum

3/4 cup finely chopped onions

3 tsp ginger-garlic paste

1 cup chopped tomatoes

12-14 nos. cashews soaked in warm water for 15 mins

2-3 sliced green chillies

salt to taste

1/4 tsp turmeric pwd

1 tsp coriander pwd

1 tsp degi mirch

1-2 each of black cardamom, green cardamom, bay leaf & cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp jeera seeds

a pinch of hing (asafoetida)

1/2 tsp garam masala pwd

2-3 tbsp Amul cream

1 tsp kasuri methi

1 tsp lemon juice

coriander leaves to garnish

Method:

Make a smooth purée of the tomatoes & soaked cashews without adding any water. Set it aside.

Heat oil in the pan, add all the whole spices, jeera & hing. Let them splatter for a min. Then add the chopped onions & chillies. Cook until they onions turn golden. Then add the purée, turmeric, degi mirch, coriander pwd & ginger-garlic paste, stir well and cook until the raw smell goes away. The paste will start leaving the oil around the edges once it’s cooked.

Next, add the cabbage, capsicum, carrot & peas. Season with salt and mix well. Cover & cook until the veggies are soft. That takes about 7-10 mins on medium flame. Then add the cream and garam masala. Mix well. If needed, you can add some water to correct the consistency.

Let it cook for about 5-8 mins. Finally add kasuri methi & lemon juice. Stir well & garnish. Serve with Rotis/ Parathas.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!! 😊

Love,

Shreya💞

Adapted from VROI