Til ke Laddo Til Phugga-Happy Makar Sankranti -Homemade and Microwaved...

As the Sun transmigrates and begins its ascendancy and entry into the Northern hemisphere, let all your lives be filled with resplendent joy and may you all have an year of success and prosperity.

Happy Makar Sankranti...

Happiness and sunshine..

OK ,I may be a little late...

OK,I may be a lot late....

But I am here.

I am not cribbing about the cold...that is being done to death...

I am cribbing about the binging that the cold is making me do.

I hope it is making a lot others do too...

Its cold and I feel peckish ...like always!
Like a bird ,I peck on seeds, but my appetite is positively garangutan compared to a birds appetite...
The worst part about Ranchi , was that there never was much available to binge ,so I baked and made and binged.
Here, there is so much...
That I now need to make the gym my second home,seeing that my new home is not yet ready for us to move into..
That explains my sorry state on the blog list...
I'm barely managing to make the daily food...

So, these are pictures from my past...
well, only the last months in Ranchi...
I was preparing...

Til Phugga or Bhugga...whatever you call it ...
Supposed to be auspicious, healthy,sesame seeds and milk and nuts...
Wow!
The ancients preferred to ignore the sugar and the cholesterol causing khoya...
Ignorance is bliss!!
And life was blissful then!
Essentially they are til laddoos made with sesame seed and Khoya(reduced milk).
Amazingly yummy-as Sanskriti says...yummilicious!!
There was this big brouhaha about the khoya and adulteration...so we skipped that and used condensed milk instead.
Condensed milk and milk powder.
Simple.
And microwaved!

for the

Til ke Laddo Til Phugga-Happy Makar Sankranti -Homemade and Microwaved...

you need

1/2 cup or 75 gms milk powder
1 can or 400 mils condensed milk we used MILKMAID
1/2 cup sugar ground with 2 green cardamom
1/2 cup white sesame seeds
handful of nuts and raisins
A little ghee to grease your hands
A little extra sesame roasted and coarsely pounded to roll the laddoos in

Measured out the milk powder in a microwave safe bowl.
You can do this in a pan on the gas...but whatever...If you do, take a heavy bottomed pan and cook on a medium to low flame.Keep stirring and cook till this all comes together like a ball...
Then do the rolling...

All the condensed milk in..

The sugar and the cardamom...

The til or sesame seeds, dry roasted in a pan, cooled and just buzzed in the mixie...don't powder the seeds you want the crunch.

Mix all the stuff well and nuke or microwave at 80%...you need to stir every two minutes...

Add in the nuts and raisins midway...

The total nuking time will be about 16 -20 minutes...take out a  little on a teaspoon,when a little cool ,see if you can make a ball and it holds shape...its done then...
If it does not hold shape, you need to cook it a little further...

You can pour it out on a greased thali or plate to set it, or cool it in this bowl itself...

We wanted authentic laddoos...
Grease your hands with ghee or oil and roll..
Warmth comforting little balls in the hand...roll the in the extra sesame ...

This was one of the last things that I made with friends Ritu Sharma and Kanchan Bhartari in Ranchi...
Sweet memories indeed.
Enjoy with a cup of hot ginger laced tea in front of a bonfire...
Happy new year...
Makar Sankrant is the Hindu new year...
Wish the new year is as sweet as this laddoo...

So what are you baking today???

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Restaurant Ware...

Lust.
Gluttony .
Greed.
Envy.
Pride...
Yes...
Almost of the seven sins...
Do you blame me???
Don't think so...


Here I was, blogging about my little endeavours in my kitchen,lusting after all the little serving platters and bowls on Just Desserts(Yeah...people lust after the desserts...but I lust after the things they serve the desserts in...)and I get a mail from Jane at Restaurant ware saying that she loved my blog♥♥♥♥(don't we all..)
She wanted to sponsor a post...
I jumped the link and my jaws just fell open....
Yum!!
That is where the seven sins come into play...

Such a pretty spoon...
Imagine 10 on a tray with small hors d'ouveres...
A little bite sized snack...

Or on this...
A grilled prawn...
Or a bite of a chicken pasanda/tikka stuffed with a yummy creamy dressing..

You do know that food loos more appetising on a pure white platter...
Picture this...
A vibrant red chicken tikka...
And maybe  a nacho with a pretty green guacamole....(we do get avocados here too!)

Maybe an olive on a skewer...
Or a strawberry on a skewer...

A skewer with a twist...
I haven't started with the platters ...Bamboo...

Serve a pretty canape on this...
Maybe on a skewer..

This whole set made out of bamboo...
A pretty serving boat and a cone...so cute!!
A tiny little serving of a curry on this...

Oh wait, there is one in white too...

I'd have added a cherry to make the red stand out...
Or maybe this ...
Two steamed dim sums per person(we call them momos...buy them from your local market...don't bother making them) The presentation will make the flavours amazing...from Plain Jane to Gourmet Central.

I haven't started with the desserts yet...
A shot glass...
Or maybe two...don't need the vodka...the dessert shots are enough...

Hmm ,my neighbourhood fruit vendor did have punnets of strawberry ...maybe I'll do something like this...I know...raspberries they are-we get only strawberries...

Or mango...

Such a pretty way to pick up food...I'm bad with chopsticks,they always land up under the plate...so ...

theses tongs are made of bamboo...
Aww ..
With such pretty stuff to eat on...
Who wants food?
I only want these serving dishes...
And they are all BIO DEGRADABLE!

These serving dishes come in packs good enough for a party, or for your restaurant and they deliver.
I have my eye on a few adorable things...
I've just scratched the surface here...check out the website at Restaurant ware .com and see for your self.

Maybe my next desserts are served on these platter...
One can wish...right???

So what are you baking today???

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Happy 13th Birthday Upamanyu ...

"Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth." - J. K. Rowling.


No Fancy Cake Yet...but the celebrations were propah!!!
Some one else cooked and served...
And we enjoyed...

We may be unable to do the fancy things right now,but I promise you sweet child o'mine...I'll make it up to you...

At the Radisson...pre lunch desserts!!!!!!
Thirteen ...

A threshold...
A stepping stone...
Your first as a teenager...
Take each step carefully...
Live each day to conquer your fears...
Live each day to hone your talents...
Live each day to build your character...
Live each day to grow taller...
Live each day to learn about life...
Live each day to wonder...
Live each day to dare to attempt something new...
Live each day to learn from your failures...
Live each day to revel in your successes...
Live each day to appreciate and be grateful...
Live each day to stop and help someone less fortunate...
Live each day to become an honest man...
Live each day to be so tall that the world looks up to you...
Live each day to make us proud of you...
Live each day to be happy...

I could only manage and egg less cake with chocolate chunks..
and a ganache to top the cake...

This is the easiest cake that I doubled, to fit the 2 l borosil cake dish...
I had an overspill, and my ganache didn't set...
But in almost 4C , I baked at night in my tiny kitchenette....I only had a wooden spoon to help...
The cake- I used this recipe, and only added a cup full of chocolate chunks(it was so cold, that I had to put the semisweet chocolate into a zip pouch and hit it hard with a rolling pin...)
Turned out awesome...runny chocolate chunks inside and a runny ganache outside...
Just proves...a mother can do anything...
Anything at all...
Babes,I owe you...even if it is a god of war cake...
I will deliver...
In the meanwhile ...
Stay Blessed!

Happy 13th Birthday  Upamanyu!

So what are you baking today???

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Whole Wheat Foccacia with Olives and Jalapenos and Basil and Happy Tummies

“Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.” 
― James Beard

The winters have really dug their claws in...

Just feels like the Dementors from JK Rowling's imagination must be here...

Its cold already ...

Too cold by any standards...

And the sun is playing hide and seek.

Some one seems to have forgotten the count ...

So the sun just refuses to say BOO from behind the haze and clouds.

And this weather just makes one so grateful for the roof on our heads and the warmth in our home and hearth that we so take for granted.

The best way to banish the winter blues is CARBOHYDRATES!
I'd suggest ,banishing the diets and eating till your tummy and heart feels full and warm .
A loaf or two of warm bread,peppered with spices and jalapenos and fresh herbs...
Liberally dunked and smeared with EVOO...
I love , I mean love the taste of AMUL butter. For me, butter is synonymous with AMUL. I'm a purist.
However ,this whole wheat foccacia smelt mediterranian. Enough for us to ditch the butter and go for something better.
Extra Virgin Olive oil.
We were taking a break with the parents,and just to add some wow to our meals...I made at this whole wheat Foccacia.
The parents are big on health and low fat and low carb foods...
So it had to be whole wheat.
It is always a challenge to make a whole wheat bread tasty.
So we hugged and embraced the challenge- and mum and dad.

for the


Whole Wheat Foccacia with Olives and Jalapenos and Basil and Happy Tummies...

you need

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour-atta
2 tsp dried yeast
1 tbsp olive oil/melted butter or any vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 fist full fresh basil
1/4 cup drained olives
1/4 cup drained jalapenos
a fist full of chopped garlic chives and dried herbs-optional
Olive oil to brush

Since the cold had begun to creep in, I set the dough to rise at night for bread at breakfast.
You can do it in an hours time if you are in a hurry or enterprising.
Start with a cup of warm water in a large bowl.Add the sugar and the yeast and set it aside till the yeast creams.

When it does ,add the olive oil.You can add more oil if you want too...there is no limit to goodness!

Now add in 1 cup of the flour and mix.

I did the mixing with my hands.Gloppy ,gloopy mess!
That BTW is the sponge like the sour dough starter.
Cover and set aside.

After you see some bubbles and sponge , add in the rest of the flour ,salt and the fresh herbs-if you want to.Knead to get an elastic dough.You may need a little more flour or a little more water...to knead.Its "A" OK!
Cover and set aside to double in volume. Use a big bowl.

Next morning, the dough was more than doubled. I used my hands to spread it out on a floured surface to about 12 inches by 6 inches. Sprinkled the dried herbs...

the jalapenos and the olives and some of the basil...
And folded it over to get three layers. Rolled it out to the size of the baking tray and...pinched some dimples in it...

A series of dimples.I then sprinkled the basil over and covered it.
Preheat the oven to 230C/450F.
A little milk washed over the bread and it is ready to go in...

In for about 25-30 minutes....
And it was done...
Out ...
We smeared it with the EVOO- olive oil...

And had breakfast...

Check the texture and the crumb of the bread...
Flat out wholesome and whole wheat.

All meals should be made of this..
Wholesomeness ,bread, eggs and family.
And memories...
I made foccacia with plain flour and stuff here.The aromas were to DIE for.
The bread was sweet and tasted spicy...because of the jalapenos...the olives are always good to bite into and fresh basil and garlic chives are always great.

Bring some warmth in...
Expecto Patronum!!
Shoo the dementors...
Great way to begin your mornings...or to end the day.
Try this instead of your usual paranthas for breakfast.

So what are you baking today???

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Bru Coffee Panna Cotta- Lite/Light in Calories

Welcome the year 2013.

We've lived past the ominous predictions of Armageddon(Yeah Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck-Hot!) and The Apocalypse( I know not the stars..) and more melodrama..

We are past the winter solstice and have woken up to another doomsday prediction...

Do you really wanna know???

BTW January 1st,2017.

Lets just shed the winter blues and get our shots of caffeine.

Happiness!

I wanted to eat my coffee this time, but not as a gelato or as a granita or as an ice cream, but as a panna cotta.

Smooth! Like a baby's bum!!♥♥

After watching the super hot chef David Rocco,only cooking for his beloved Nina...with his fake Italian accent (You cant have been born and brought up in Canada on cookies and milk,and then come to Italy and get the accent right-but WTH! the rolling rrrr's and mwahs so totally rock on Rocco!)

I just made this Panna Cotta with yogurt/curd and non dairy low fat cream. The operative words are Low Fat . 

When you love sugar and coffee so much, that is smart.

I'm a Bru Coffee person.

Truth be told, I saw this on Deeba's blog. I had already been making low fat Panna Cotta thanks to David Rocco. But the Bru Coffee Panna Cotta was a HAVE TO DO!

And I roped in friend Kanchan Bhartari(so missing her company now-it was so much fun chatting midway between our houses...with the kids and respective hubbies throwing pointed glances through drawn curtains , and many missed call to come back home...and talk another day...Ahhh ...I miss you guys and Ranchi!) to make the Panna Cotta.
A wee bit extra, for the tasting....
Perfectly set!
And yum!
We had just gone through all the chocolate both of us had...so we had to top the Panna Cotta with Hersheys chocolate sauce...
But you can go naked-without the chocolate ..that is.

I seem to be an irresponsible parent. I feed my soon to be 13 year old as much tea or coffee as he wants. Do you think that's wrong???
I've always found the easiest way to avoid the whining...GIVE!

for the


Bru Coffee Panna Cotta- Lite/Light in Calories...

you need

500 mils non dairy cream/Amul UHT dairy cream
500 gms greek yogurt/yogurt made with Amul UHT milk
5 tbsp icing sugar(12-15 tbsp if you use Amul UHT cream)
5 tsp gelatin powder
5 tsp bru instant coffee powder
50 mils cold water

Chocolate ganache/chocolate cigars/kisses to garnish


The sugar is your choice. You can go bitter or sweet or bittersweet ...whatever the mood dictates.
Non Dairy Cream is sweetened, so one is just sweetening the yogurt essentially.
Start with the gelatin.
Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and allow it to bloom-absorb the water.
Now place over a double boiler and allow it to melt.Stir with a spoon.
                                      
Place the cream in a sauce pan and heat to scalding point.When you see bubbles on the side of the pan. Just don't allow it to boil.

Remove 3-4 tspns of the cream into a bowl and add in the coffee powder.Mix well.

Strain into the saucepan.

Mix in the melted gelatin and stir well.
Remove the yogurt to a big bowl and stir really really well. Kanchan advised passing it through a strainer,so  as to avoid all lumps. For a messy person...avoid! Sweeten the yogurt to your choice.

You can blend a few drops of the cooked cream and yogurt to check.
Keep stirring the cooked cream till it is cool.
Now pour the yogurt into the cream till well blended.

Taste!No tang,thanks to the Amul UHT! and absolutely smooth!
Add in whatever you think is less, pour into your pretty glasses, cover each glass with film and pop into the fridge to chill.

After 8 hours...
We got 6 glasses plus a 2 smaller glasses...a freebies.

Voila.

Yum YumYum!

So now you know why coffee is one of my major food groups!!

No bake, low effort, and gone soon. Tastier than cold coffee any day!

If you want to make Pomegranate flavoured Panna Cotta  ...try that too
Lets Live the Dolce Vita!!!
I'm back where I belong and will be blogging /baking more regularly...
Amen!
Wish you a happy new year...2013!!

So what are you baking today???

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