Junior's Joy Box from Domino's

Since my princess is going to go away to her grandparent's in two days, so i thought she deserved a treat. Hence i ordered the newly launched Junior's Joy Box from Domino's.

The Junior's Joy Box from DOMINO'S

First look of the box, it looked very colorful and attractive for a kid. And it had some pretty caricatures on top. And it came with a Mango beverage and a toy, Sponge Bob Square Pants.

The Joy Box from inside

 My princess finished all of it and said that it tasted divine. I agree with her although i didn't taste it, just smelled and looked at it.

Cheesy Pizza sticks, Garlic bread stick, Custard Pizza Stick

 So if i had to give a rating, i would give it a score of 4.5/5.

Sponge Bob ready to devour the Custard Pizza Stick

Chickpeas & Aubergine Masala

Hello all!! I know what you all must be thinking. Chickpeas and aubergines together is a very weird combination. But believe you me, it tastes awesome. Since my venturing into healthy eating to have a control over my hypothyroidism life, i have been on a road to discovering new combinations even after being a chef for the last 19 years of my life.

Healthy chickpeas with aubergine

Ingredients-

Chickpeas- 1 cup, soaked and boiled
Aubergine- 1 cup, cut into 2 cm dices
Onion- 1 small, chopped
Tomato- 1 small, chopped
Ginger & garlic paste- 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Turmeric- 1/2 tsp
Red chilli pwd- 1/2 tsp
Cumin pwd- 1/2 pwd
Fresh coriander- 2 tbsp, chopped
Olive oil- 2 tbsp

Method-

1. In a pan, heat oil.
2. Add onions and saute well till more than translucent
3. Add the ginger and garlic paste and cook till the raw flavor goes away and it turns golden brown in color.
4. Add the tomatoes and cook well till the tomatoes are cooked properly
5. Add the dry spices and mix well. You could also add about 2 tbsp of water to mix the spices well into the onion and tomato mixture.
6. Add the aubergine and saute well and coat well in the spice mixture.
7. cook for about 7-8 minutes.
8. Now add the chickpeas and stir to mix all together.
9. Cook for another 7-8 minutes and add 2-3 tbsp water if the mixture gets stuck to the pan.
10. check for seasoning and add salt.
11. Take off fire and garnish with fresh chopped coriander.

Note- this could be served with chapati or even had with rice.

Mushroom & Baby corn Enchilada

Good morning all!!
In my previous post i forgot to mention Enchilada which is also made from corn or whole wheat tortilla.

Enchilada- is a rolled and filled corn tortilla which is then smothered in a spicy tomato salsa or sauce. It can have any number of fillings or combinations of ingredients, such as meats, vegetables or even potatoes.

I made Enchilada but without cheese and did not smother it with any sauce. Why? Because am trying to shed some of my excess baggage due to hypothyroidism. Hence am trying to eat healthy.

Mushroom and baby corn Enchilada

Ingredients-

Mushrooms-5 nos sliced
Baby corn- 5 sliced
Red bell pepper- 1/2, juliennes
Onion- 1 small, sliced
Olive oil- 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Salsa- 2 tbsp
Corn Tortilla- 2 nos

Method-

1. Blanch the baby corn in boiling water for 2 minutes. And refresh in cold water.
2. In a pan, heat the olive oil.
3. Add the onion and saute till translucent.
4. Add the mushroom and saute till all moisture has evaporated.
5. Add the baby corn and toss to mix.
6. Add the salsa and mix well. Check for seasoning.
7. Remove and put on the tortillas and roll.

RAW BANANA & PANEER KEBAB

HHmmm its been really looong!!!!!!!!!!!

What can i say???????????

"How u doin????"

Hope all is well at your end..........

so here goes.........

Ingredients-

1 medium boiled potato, grated

100 gms paneer grated

2 small raw banana, boiled and grated

3 tbsp chopped coriander

1 small onion chopped

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp black pepper powder or freshly crushed

salt to taste

Oil to shallow fry

4 tbsp breadcrumbs

Method-

1. Mix all the ingredients together except the oil.

2. Add the breadcrumbs, if the mixture is little too soft.

3. Take about 50 gms of the mixture and shape into long cigars.

4. In a non-stick pan, sprinkle a few drops of oil and heat through.

5. Put the kebab cigars and cook on all sides till golden brown on all sides.

6. Have it just like that as a kebab with mint chutney. Or roll it inside thin tortias with some shredded lettuce to make kebab rolls.

Zucchini & Potato Roesti with Mushroom Ragout

Today after so many days i felt like posting as my Boss is not in town. And that is treated like a working holiday. I knew about this yesterday when i was leaving for the day. Hence i made lunch for my colleagues today.

Zucchini & Potato Roesti:

Ingredients:

Potato- 2 large

Zucchini- 2 small or 1 medium

Salt

Crushed Black Pepper

Butter

Method:

1. Peel the potatoes and grate them.

2. Wash the zucchini and grate them.

3. Mix the grated zucchini and the potatoes together and mix salt and crushed pepper.

4. Squeeze out as much water from the mixture as possible with hands.

5. Heat a non-stick pan and melt some butter in it.

6. Make a small cake with some of the mixture and put in the pan.

7. Let it cook till golden brown on one side.

8. Flip over to the other side and add more butter.

9. Cook till golden brown on all sides and cooked through.

Mushroom Ragout:

Ingredients:

Olive oil- 1 tsp

Mushroom- 200 gms

Spring onions- 2 stalks

Red bell peppers-1/2

Salt

Crushed black pepper

Cheese-1 tbsp

Method:

1. Slice the mushrooms very thin.

2. Chop the red bell pepper and the spring onion finely.

3. In a pan add the olive oil and heat.

4. Add the spring onion and saute till turns bright green.

5. Add the mushrooms and saute till all moisture is evaporated.

6. Add the bell peppers and saute well.

7. Season with salt and pepper.

8. Add the cheese and mix well.

To Serve:

1. On a plate place a Roesti and spoon over some of the mushroom ragout.

2. Serve hot.

INDIAN-STYLE STIR-FRIED PUMPKIN AND POTATO WITH ONION SEEDS

This is one of the dishes that i love to eat and is also by far the easiest to make. It can be had with roti or even rice. And ias probably also a great side with roast chicken.What i like about this is the slight sweetness to this which is due to the pumpkin, which has to be a nice yellow and ripe.

Ingredients-

250 gms pumpkin, diced
2 large potatoes, diced
1/2 tsp turmeric pwd
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp sugar
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp onion seeds or nigella seeds

Method-

* In a pan, heat the oil and let the nigella seeds splutter.
* Add the potatoes and saute for 5 min.
* Add the pumpkin and coat well in the oil mixture.
* Add the turmeric, salt and sugar and stir well.
* Cover and cook on a medium flame for 10 min or till the veggies are done.
* Serve hot and enjoy!!!!

SNAPS OF LAUKI KE KOFTE

Lauki is bottle gourd. So this recipe is bottle gourd dumplings in tomato gravy. Very good to have with rice. Or can even be served with roti.

POTATO, COTTAGE CHEESE AND TOMATO BAKE

Ingredients-

2 potatoes, peeled and grated
1 cup cottage cheese, grated
2 tomatoes, sliced thinly
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 large onion, chopped
2 tbsp coriander, chopped
4 tbsp butter
Salt to taste
Black pepper, crushed, to taste

Method-

* In a pan, heat 2 tbsp butter and let it melt.
* Add the potato and onion and saute till all liquid is reduced but doesnt colour much.
* Season the potato mixture.
* Layer the cooked potato evenly at the bottom of a baking dish.
* Make a layer of tomato slices using half of the tomato.
* In a pan, heat 2 tbsp butter and let it melt.
* Add the cottage cheese and saute till all liquid id reduced.
* Season the cottage cheese mixture and add the choped coriander.
* Make an even layer of cottage cheese over the tomato layer.
* Make another layer with tomato slices.
* Mix the mayo and the parmesan cheese.
* Spread this evenly over the tomato layer.
* Bake for 20 min in a pre-heated oven at 160 C or till the top is golden brown.
* Serve hot and ENJOY !!!!
NOTE- If you want to make this recipe pure veg then instead of egg mayo, just add vegetarian mayo.

CORN AND BACON CASSEROLE

Ingredients-

2 cups corn kernels
6 bacon rashers, diced
1 large onion
1 tbsp leek, chopped
1 tbsp celery, chopped
1 tomato, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1 tbsp butter
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Method-

* In a pan,put the bacon and brown evenly.
* Add the leek and celery and saute for 5 min.
* Then add the butter and the corn and cook for 5 min.
* Add the tomato and saute for 2 min.
* Season well with salt and pepper.
* Take it off the fire and add the cheese and mix.
* Put in a greased oven-proof dish and bake in a preheated oven at 180 C for 10 min.
* Serve hot and ENJOY !!!!!

STIR FRIED VEGGIES IN CURRIED COCONUT SAUCE

Ingredients-

1 red bellpepper, cut into diamonds
1 yellow bellpepper,cut into diamonds
1 green bellpepper, cut into diamonds
1 large carrot, cut thinly into designs
1 large onion, diced
10 beans, stringed and diced
3 tbsp green peas
10 babycorn, cut diagonally
1 tbsp curry pwd
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup spring onion, chopped
1 tbsp celery, chopped fine
Salt to taste
2 tbsp oil

Method-

* Blanch all the veggies except the bellpeppers.
* In a wok, heat the oil.
* Add all the veggies and toss and saute.
* Add the curry pwd and salt.
* Mix well and let it cook for 5 min.
* Add the coconut milk and mix weel.
* Take off fire and add the spring onion.
* Serve hot with steamed noodles or rice. ENJOY !!!!

PEPERED CORN AND PEAS

Ingredients-

200 gms babycorn, diced
1/2 cup corn kernels
1/2 cup peas
1 tsp oil
1 onion, choped
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp coriander, chopped
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Method-

* In a pan heat the oil and splutter the cumin seeds.
* Add the onions and saute for 3 -4 min.
* Add the babycorn and saute well for 5-7 min.
* Add the corn kernels and peas.
* Mix well and saute for 6 min.
* Add salt and peper and mix well.
* Cook on a slow flame for 4 min.
* Take off fire and garnish with coriander.
* Serve hot and ENJOY !!!!!!!!

TAMATAR WALE BAINGAN---AUBERGINE WITH TOMATOES

Ingredients-

1 large aubergine or about 10 small ones
1 large tomato, finely chopped
1 tbsp oil and oil for frying
1 tsp kalonji or nigella seeds
1 tsp ginger, chopped
1 tsp cumin pwd
1/2 tsp turmeric pwd
salt to taste

Method-

* If using small aubergines, slit them till the stem.
* Or dice the large aubergine.
* Deep fry the aubergine till lightly golden.
* In a pan heat the oil.
* Add the kalonji seeds and let them splutter.
* Add the ginger and saute well for 3 min.
* Ad the tomatoes and saute well for 5 min.
* Add the spices and mix well.
* Add half cup water and cook weel for about 6 min.
* Add the aubergine and coat well in the spice mix.
* Season with salt.
* Serve hot with chapati.

MUSHROOM AND ASPARAGUS BISQUE

Ingredients-

1 cup rice, half cooked(about 70% cooked)and blended
1/2 cup dried mushrooms
1 cup water
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
200 gms asparagus, cut into 1/2" pieces
4 cups vegetable stock
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
3/4 tsp dried thyme leaves, crumbled
1/2 cup cream
2 tbsp cornstarch
Zest of 1 lemon

Method-

* Place dried mushrooms in 1 cup of boiling water. (I used a combination of porcini, straw, and shiitake mushrooms)
* Allow to soak for 20 minutes. Strain, reserving the water, and chop mushrooms.
* Set aside, along with soaking water.
* In large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
* Add onion and garlic, and saute for 2 minutes.
* Add asparagus and saute an additional 3 minutes.
* Add mushrooms and saute.
* Add rice and thyme, and stir well.
* Add reserved mushroom water and vegetable stock, and season with salt and pepper.
* Bring to a boil over high heat.
* Cook till the rice is cooked.
* In small bowl, whisk cornstarch into cream, and pour into pan.
* Bring back to a boil and boil for 3-5 minutes, until thickened.
* Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest.
* Serve and enjoy!

NO OVEN PIZZA OR FRIED PIZZA

Yes, u read it right. Pizza without any oven. Just the same italian taste but without the traditional wood fire pizza ovens. All u need is a non stick pan. Thats all. Heat olive oil in the pan till its hot. then put the rolled pizza dough on it. Let it brown on the bottom. Then turn it and put hot toppings on the brown side, like tomato sauce. Put the grated cheese also. Then brown the other side. And while the bottom is browning, the toppings will also melt and get cooked at the same time. But if u want to put lots of cheese then u need to cover the pan.
The result is a very crispy pizza like u've never eaten before.
Try it n let me know how it is.

BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Ingredients-

Flour-31/2 cup
Salt-2 tsp
Warm water-1 cup
Yeast-2 tbsp
Sugar-2 tbsp
Olive oil-1/2 cup

Method-

* Pour warm water into a bowl. Test it with your hand. It should feel very warm, but comfortable.
* Add the sugar and salt. Mix until well blended.
* Add the yeast and mix. Let this mixture sit for about 5 minutes.
* Add 1 cup of flour and the olive oil and mix until well blended.
* Add the rest of the flour and mix well.
* The dough should turn into a ball. If the dough does not ball up because it's too dry, add water one tablespoon at a time until it does. If your mixture is more like a batter, add flour one tablespoon at a time. Adding water or flour as needed to get the right consistency will assure you always get a perfect dough.
* Once the dough is balled up, place the ball on a floured board and knead for about a minute. This builds the gluten which helps the dough to rise and become fluffy when cooked.
* Place the dough in a covered bowl and store in a warm, dry area to rise.
* After about 45 minutes the dough should have about doubled in size. Give it a good smack so it deflates.
* Let it rise for another hour to an hour and a half.
* The dough is now ready to be rolled out.

SCALLION CREPES

Ingredients-

1 ¼ cup maida
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 ¼ cup cold water
3 tbsp melted butter
½ tsp salt
1 cup chopped spring onion


Method-

· Mix first 6 ingredients with the help of a whisk.
· Add the spring onions.
· And make pancakes.
· Can be made small and topped or made big and filled.