Lemon Vanilla Pound cake recipe

This Lemon Vanilla Pound cake is my first cake recipe I am posting in this blog. This I believe is the simplest of cake recipes with few ingredients.

If you just use the vanilla essence and leave out the lemon juice it will be a plain vanilla pound cake. As a variation you can also use the pineapple essence to make it a pineapple pound cake.

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour (Maida) – 2 cups
• Powdered Sugar – 2 cups
• Unsalted butter – 2 cups (4 sticks)
  
• Pure vanilla extract or essence – 2 tsp
• Lemon juice – 1/4 cup
• Baking powder – 2 tsp
• Plain milk – 1/2 cup
• Eggs – 3 nos
• Salt – 1 tsp salt

Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour, plus cooling

Cooking Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Take a cake pan and lightly coat it with butter including the sides and dust a little flour wherever the butter is coated.
3. In a blender or mixer on high speed beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Then add one egg at a time into the blender beat the mixture.
5. Transfer the blender content into a mixing bowl. Now add the all-purpose flour slowly and gradually into the bowl. Keep stirring the mixture in clockwise direction using a large spoon or spatula. You can use your hand as well. Do not over mix or over beat the mixture. Just ensure that flour is mixed well enough without any lumps.
6. Finally add the Vanilla extract, Lemon juice and milk. Mix everything together. Remember Lemon Juice is just to give another flavor to the cake. You can skip it if you want to. The pound cake with only the vanilla essence is just as good and very delicious.
7. Pour this mixture into the cake pan and bake for around 45 minutes. to test if the cake is done take a toothpick or knife and insert it into the center of the cake. If it is dry and clean when you remove it from the cake then it means it is done.
8. Let the cake pan cool for 15-20 minutes.
9. Run a knife around the sides of the pan and remove the cake by inverting it and then allow it to cool if it is still hot. Then you can cut the cake into thin slices and serve.

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Coconut Burfi (Nariyal Barfi) Recipe

The Coconut Burfi recipe is one of the simplest Indian sweet recipes to prepare and a favorite among the kids.

It is made with very few ingredients that includes coconut mixed with sugar syrup flavored with cardamom (elaichi).

Ingredients:

• Fresh grated coconut – 1 cup
• Green cardamoms – 3 nos (powdered)
• Sugar – 1 cup
• All purpose flour (Maida) – 1 tbsp
• Ghee – 2 tsp

Method:

1. In a deep vessel or a pan on a low heat, take freshly grated coconut. Cook it for one minute stirring it continuously.
2. Then add sugar and keep stirring frequently for 5 minutes.
3. When the sugar melts and begins to boil, add 1 tbsp of All purpose flour (Maida).
4. Mix the contents and then add cardamom powder. Keep stirring the mixture until it thickens.
5. Add ghee and mix well.
6. In about 10 to 15 minutes the mixture will thicken to a consistency where the sugar syrup is no longer clearly visible and cannot be separated from the coconut.
7. Now move the contents into a large enough plate and spread the mixture such that the height is around 3/4th of an inch. Make sure when you spread the mixture it does not tear in between. It should all be in one piece.
8. After a few minutes while it is still hot, cut into diamond or square shaped pieces with a sharp knife.
9. Allow it to cool completely at which time each piece would have hardened and you can easily separate out the pieces and store them.

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Vegetable Pulao Recipe

Vegetable Pulao is a flavored rice recipe which includes cooking rice with vegetables and spices. Long-grained rice varieties like Basmati are the best for preparing Pulao. You can also use Sona Masoori or Jeera Samba rice. In this recipe I have also used coconut milk, mint and coriander for added aroma and flavor.

 

Ingredients for Vegetable Pulao Recipe

• 2 1/2 cup Basmati
• 2 Onions (long slices)
• 2 Big Tomatoes
• 15-20 Beans (cut into 1 inch pieces)
• 2-3 Carrots (cut into pieces)
• 1 1/2 cup Cauliflower
• 1 cup Peas
• 1 tbsp Mint leaves (chopped)
• 1 tbsp Coriander leaves
• 1/3 cup Oil
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 inch Cinnamon stick
• 4 Cloves
• 1 1/2 tsp Kasuri methi (dry Fenugreek leaves)
• 3 Marathi Moggu (What’s this)
• 1 Star Anise
• 3 Cardamom
• 1 1/2 cup Coconut milk
  TIP: If you don’t have canned coconut milk you can prepare it yourself. Grate one coconut. In a blender grind the grated coconut with one cup of lukewarm water for a few minutes. Then strain through a fine sieve to get the coconut milk.
• Salt to taste

Grind the following ingredients into a thick paste:

• 20-22 Green Chilies
• 1 hand full of Mint (Pudina) leaves
• 1 hand full of coriander (Cilantro) leaves
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 6 Cloves
• 1/2 tsp Peppercorn
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
• 2 tbsp Dhania (Coriander) powder
• 1/2 medium sized Onion
• 4 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste 

Prep time: 15 min

Cook time: 30 min

Serving: 4 people

Vegetable Pulao Recipe Cooking Method

1. First wash and soak the Basmati rice for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Take a pressure cooker or deep pan. Add oil and when it is hot add Bay leaves, Cinnamon stick, Cloves, Kasuri methi, Marathi Moggu, Star Anise and Cardamom.
3. After a minute or so add onion and sauté for 3 minutes.
4. Then put all the vegetables and 1 tsp salt.  Cook for 6 minutes.
5. Add tomatoes and cook them till they are mushy or pulpy.
6. Then put the paste that was prepared earlier and mix well.
7. Cover and cook on simmer till oil separates.
8. Add coconut milk and 2 cups of water required for the rice to be cooked.
9. When the contents come to a boil. Taste the liquid and add salt if required.
10. Now add rice, mint leaves and coriander leaves.
11. Close the lid and cook till you hear 1 whistle (pressure release) if your using a pressure cooker. If you are using a deep pan then cook till most of the water dries up. You will know the rice is done when you press a grain between your thumb and index finger and it squishes completely. And you are done!

Serve piping hot Vegetable Pulao with tomato, onion and cucumber raita.

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Peas Rice Recipe with spices

The Peas Rice recipe has long been prepared in our household for generations. I learnt this from my mother. Traditionally it used to be prepared with broken rice. But I have used basmati rice.

Peas Rice Recipe Ingredients

• Rice – 2 1/2 cups
• Green chilly – 15 nos (split lengthwise)
• Tomatoes – 2 (medium sized)
• Onion – 2 nos (Big sized chopped length wise)
• Garlic – 8 nos (crushed)
• Ginger – 1 inch (crushed)
• Coriander leaves – 1/2 cup (chopped)
• Mint leaves – 1/2 cup (chopped)
• Peas – 1 cup
• Clove and Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
• Bay leaf – 1 nos
• Star Anise – 1 nos
• Cardamom – 3 nos
• Marathi Moggu – 2 nos
• Kasuri methi – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
• Oil – 1/3 cup
• Salt to taste

Peas Rice Recipe Cooking Method

1. Wash the rice and soak it in water for 10 minutes.
2. Take a rice cooker and add oil. When oil is heated put all the spices (Bay leaf, Star Anise, Cardamom, Marathi Moggu, Kasuri methi) in.
3. Add crushed ginger and crushed garlic. Sauté for 4 minute.
4. Then add onion,green chilly and sauté for 5 more minutes.
5. Now add coriander and mint leaves, mix well and cook for 2 additional minutes.
6. Then add tomatoes and turmeric. Cook till the tomatoes are mushy.
7. Add peas and mix well. Cook for 4 minutes and add water.
8. Bring it to boil and add salt.
9. Put rice and clove & cinnamon powder.
10. Now close the cooker lid and cook till your hear 1 whistle.

Serve hot with raitha or pudina chutney! Also try out other Rice recipes.

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Mutter (Matar) Paneer Recipe (Peas & Indian Cheese Recipe)

This paneer recipe needs no introduction. It is a very popular north indian recipe made with peas (mutter/mattar) and indian Cottage Cheese (Paneer) into a rich creamy gravy.

This is among my 3 most favorite paneer recipes. The other 2 being Palak Paneer recipe and Paneer Butter Masala recipe. If this is not your favorite yet then try this recipe and it will become one.

Ingredients for Mutter Paneer Recipe:

• Paneer – 250gms
• Mutter (Peas) – 1 1/4 cup
• Green chilly – 2 no
• Onion – 1 (medium)
• Tomato – 2 (medium)
• Ghee – 2 tbsp
• Butter – 1 tbsp
• Oil – 1 tbsp
• Jeera (cumin) – 1tsp
• Chilly powder – 1tsp
• Poppy seeds (Khas Khas) – 1 tbsp
• Garam Masala powder – 2 tsp
• Ginger Garlic paste – 1 tbsp
• Cashew nuts – 5 no
• Kasuri methi (fenugreek leaves) – 1 tsp
• Sugar – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
• Food color (a pinch)
• Salt to taste
• Coriander leaves for garnish

Cooking Method for Mutter Paneer Recipe:

1. Take oil in a pan. Add onion and fry lightly.
2. Then put green chilly, ginger garlic paste, jeera, poppy seeds, kasuri methi, cashew and fry till you get aroma of poppy seeds.
3. Remove the pan from heat and add 1/2 cup of water and set aside for 30 minutes. Now grind the contents in to a paste.
4. Blanch the tomatoes in hot water, remove the skin and make puree out of it .
5. Cut the paneer into cubes and roast them with little ghee in a pan. When the paneer cubes turn light golden brown remove them from heat and set them aside in little warm water so that they stay soft and tender.
6. In the same pan in which you fried the paneer, add the paste from step 3 and sauté for 3 minutes.
7. Then add tomato puree, mix well and cook for 3 more minutes.
8. Now put chilly powder, turmeric powder, garam masala  powder, food color and butter. Mix the contents well.
9. At this stage add mutter. If you are using fresh mutter from the shell, boil them for a few minutes in water and then add them. If you are using frozen mutter, you can add them without cooking. Cook the contents till the oil begins to separate.
10. Then add 1 cup of water, sugar, salt and bring it to boil.
11. Now add paneer and cook for five more minutes and the recipe is done

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with paratha, naan, chapati, poori and any other kind of indian bread. You can also serve it as a gravy item for jeera rice and ghee rice.

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Insane(Sand)wiches!!!

It’s a cell phone…no wait…it is a toy phone… no no wait….it is a SANDWICH !!! Yes you read it right. It is a sandwich in the form of a cell phone. Who says a sandwich should merely be two slices of bread separated  by some cheese and meat or veggies. It can be a work of art.



I found these photos on a website completely and solely dedicated to showcasing world’s craziest  sandwich constructions. Check out the website for more bizarre sandwiches which is rightly called insanewiches.com
Images courtesy insanewiches.com

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Gajar halwa Recipe (Carrot halva)

Gajar ka halwa (Carrot pudding) recipe is a delicious Indian dessert recipe made with grated carrot, milk, khoya and loaded with nuts and dried fruits. It is one of the most popular recipes in most Indian wedding ceremonies and family occasions served as dessert with scoops of vanilla ice cream. This recipe also forms an integral part of many Indian festivals.

Ingredients for Gajar halwa Recipe:

• Carrot - 1 kg
• Milk - 1 1/2 cup
• Khoya or mawa (Use Ricotta cheese to make Khoya. See below.) - 1/2 cup 
  
• Sugar - 1 1/2 cup (as per taste)
• Ghee - 1/2 cup
• Cardamom - 35 no
• Arrowroot powder – 2 tbsp
• Cashew nut - 1/2 cup
• Raisin - 1/2 cup
• Food color as required

Preparation:

• Grate the carrot and set aside.
• Peel the skin of 25 cardamoms. Take the peeled cardamom with the unpeeled ones in a blender. Add 2 tsp of sugar to the the blender and made powder.
• Cooking Tip: Home made Khoya/Mawa from Ricotta cheese
  In a heavy bottom pan cook the ricotta cheese on medium heat. Stir frequently until all the liquid evaporates. Now you are left with crumbled Khoya or Mawa which you can use for this recipe.

Cooking Method for Gajar halwa Recipe

1. Take a non stick pan or kadai. Put grated carrot and fry for around 8 minutes on low heat.
2. Then add milk and cook on medium heat till it is fully absorbed while stirring frequently.
3. Add khoya (Ricotta cheese) and cook till the khoya blends fully into the carrot. This usually takes about 15 minutes.
4. Now add sugar and mix well until the sugar melts.
5. Add ghee and mix well and cook for another 5 minutes.
6. Add the arrowroot powder and mix well. As you mix you will observe that the contents are now become a little sticky which is when you know the recipe is almost ready.
7. Meanwhile in another pan fry the cashew nuts and raisin for a couple of minutes in a little ghee and add it to the carrot mixture.
8. At this stage add the cardamom & sugar powder and mix well.

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