Sunday, October 31, 2010

Yeast Doughnuts: A Daring Baker's Challenge

Doughnuts!! That's what the Daring Baker's were challenged to create this October!! Whenever I think doughnuts, I am reminded of the the automated doughnut machine at a certain doughnut chain!! Every stage of making a doughnut is visible to the customer and by the time you reach the end of the line, someone hands you a hot fresh doughnut that just melts in the mouth. Luckily we live in a city where doughnut chains don't exist. Fewer the temptations the better!!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Trick or Treat: Cookies for Halloween

After making some delicious sugar cookies for Daring Bakers September 2010, I was inspired to make a whole new batch for Halloween. I made some decorated pumpkins and ghouls. They are headed to a Halloween Party at work tomorrow!!


This time I followed the DB recipe, using egg in the cookies. But I stuck to the eggless icing. Both worked well and I got some nice colourful and crunchy iced sugar cookies!!


Hope these happy fellas will win some hearts and taste buds tomorrow:)

These lovely cookies go out to Akhila @ Learning To Cook for her ongoing event Dish Name Starts With: C.

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Monday, October 25, 2010

Aloo-Paneer Parathas | Potato-Cottage Cheese Flatbread

Paneer or Indian style cottage cheese is both a delicious and low fat food. Its light and fluffy yet creamy texture combines well with potatoes, green chilies, and cilantro to make a lip-smacking filling for parathas. While I love parathas made with just paneer, blending it with potatoes and spices adds a whole new taste to the filling. I usually make these when we are travelling - they are so flavourful and healthy, and they make a wonderfully tasty replacement for sandwiches.


Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Toor Dal Amti (Spiced Sweet and Sour Lentils)

The first time I tasted Amti I thought that the flavour was just divine. Today I make many variations of Amti at home as this spicy, sweet and sour lentils is enjoyed by all in the family. This version uses tomatoes, lime, chilies, and jaggery for the seasoning. A good garnish of cilantro and its bursting with flavour.


Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Vrat ka Khana | Fasting Foods: Bhuni hui Arbi | Pan Roasted Taro | Colacassia

Bhuni hui Arbi is a particular treat if you are fasting during the festival period! Crunchy, spicy, and a delight to bite into, I like to make this vegetable whenever I find it in the local market. If you are fasting this Navratri, serve this dish piping hot, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro, and a bowl of chilled yogurt seasoned with rock salt and roasted cumin powder on the side. Mint Raita is also delicious with Arbi.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Vrat ka Khana | Fasting Foods: Sabudana Vada | Sago Fritters

Just about three years ago, when I began this blog, one of my posts was about Sabudana Khichiri. Extremely popular during fasts, this savoury made with sago pearls is as delicious as it is addictive. Sago is also used to make other delicious savouries during fasts including thalipeeth (pancakes) and vadas (fritters). Sweet kheer with sago pearls (milk based pudding) is prepared with sugar or gur (jaggery) as a Bhog (food offering to the Gods).

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Vrat ka Khana | Fasting Foods: Aloo aur Sakarkandi ki Chaat | Potato & Sweet Potato Savoury

This recipe is another favourite of festival times, especially in the Northern parts of India. Its very simple to put together and guaranteed to please. If you are the kind of person who enjoys a sweet-spicy-tang, this Aloo aur Sakarkandi Chaat is for you!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Vrat ka Khana | Fasting Foods: Aam ki Lassi | Mango Yogurt Smoothie

Aam ki Lassi is the most refreshing drink. Fresh sweet mangoes are blended with plain yogurt to get a supremely sweet and tangy drink. Mango Lassi not only quenches your thirst, its a nutrition powerhouse and will give you tonnes of energy, especially if you are fasting.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Vrat ka Khana | Fasting Foods: Aloo Raita | Potato Yogurt Salad

Aloo Raita is a favourite in North India. It is typically made in the winter and I always associate it weekend lunches in the warm Delhi winter sun!! It is also one of those foods that are made during festivals, especially Sharad Navratri. This year Sahrad Navratri falls between October 8 and October 17. During these nine nights and ten days, Hindus worship the nine forms of Goddess/Mother - Devi/Shakti. On the tenth day, Vijaya Dashmi or Dusshera is observed.

Friday, October 1, 2010

September 2010 Daring Bakers Challenge: Sugar Cookies

Making and decorating Sugar Cookies was a great challenge. The cookies turned out delicious. I made an eggless version of them! And the icing was eggless too. Used my new cookie cutter set to do Halloween shapes and some stars and butterflies.