Currently Reading .......

The book by Tom Harford is more on the lines of 'Freakonomics' - and since I have already read 'Freakonomics', I don't find anything new in the book. However,  I am thinking I will rather finish it before returning it just like that. Meanwhile, I finally got to watch Ramleela during the weekend - and I just didn't like the movie :(. I am wondering how it managed to do 100+ crore ka business because the story line was just soo predictable. Ranveer Singh as usual was at his loudest best and even though Deepika did look beautiful and graceful, the dialogues of the movie put me off. Also I personally felt that the violent backdrop just didn't go with Gujrat - I mean maybe if they would have set the movie in UP, Bihar or Haryana, it would have been more believable. I don't know, I found the way SLB had shot Gujrat in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam so beautiful - but this movie sort of really disappointed me.

Tips that make you a Star Baker

It's that time of the year again - when all you want to do is snuggle up in bed in your comfy pyjamas and enjoy a mug of hot chocolate with a muffin yummm... life seems perfect doesn't it :). I really love winters - especially December. The air feels nice and crisp, kids seem happier, oldies seem to enjoy themselves more, I get to hear Christmas carols all evenings long because of a church near my house, and suddenly every second person on the road seems to be wearing a Santa hat :). During these days, my microwave oven always seem to be working overtime - baking yummy plum cakes, muffins, chocolate cup cakes ummmmm. I am still new to baking and there are times when my cakes goes phhhuuuuusssss..... and you know that feeling - when you are expecting a lovely smooth chocolatey cake but when you take it out from the oven it just goes flat :( Hurts doesn't it? So while looking for tips to be a perfect baker, I came across this article on a blog - Sweetapolita.. I love how the name sounds :). You can go through the article by clicking on the link below - hopefully this will help me be a star baker! Happy Reading !

50 Tips for baking better cakes

Recipe - Banana Muffins

Delicious banana muffins - a recipe so simple that even your child can whip it up.

 Ingredients:

1.5 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 large mashed bananas

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup melted butter

• Preheat the over to 350 degrees. Line the muffin pans with butter paper or paper liner. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt. Set aside.
• Combine bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture & mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans.
• Bake in preheated oven. mini muffins are usually done in 10-15 minutes while large ones may take about 25 minutes to be completely done.

Recipe - Chicken Cacciatore Pasta

Easy to make, this simple pasta is delicious to eat.

Ingredients:

Boneless chicken - 200 gms

Pasta - 2 cups

Finely chopped garlic - 2tsp

Finely chopped onions - 1 cup

Tomato puree - 1/2 cup

Strained pasta water - 1/4 cup

Vinegar - 1 tsp

Bay leaf/ Tej patta - 1

Dried oregano - 2 tsp
Dried thyme - 1 tsp

Sugar - 1 tsp
Oil (preferably olive oil) - 4 tbsp

Salt to taste

Chopped parsley or coriander -1 tbsp

• Boil 8-10 cups of water in a large pan. Add some salt and 1 tbsp of oil. Drop pasta in boiling water. Boil till pasta turns soft but is still firm. Remove from flame. Strain, reserving the water. Refresh pasta in cold water and strain again. Sprinkle 1-2 tbsp olive oil in the pasta and toss well. Keep it aside.
• Heat some oil. Add the chicken pieces and cook on moderate heat till about 3-4 minutes. Remove the chicken and keep it aside.
• To the same oil, add chopped garlic and fry till it starts to change color. Add chopped onions and cook till translucent.
• Add fresh tomato puree, strained pasta water, vinegar, bay leaf, oregano, thyme, sugar, pepper & salt. Boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10 mins till sauce becomes thick. Keep it aside.
• While serving, heat the sauce, add chicken, boiled pasta and chopped parsley. Mix well. Sprinkle some crushed peppercorns and serve hot with bread.

Recipe - Soya Nuggets in Hot Garlic Sauce

A quick fix recipes those surprise guest visits!

Ingredients

150 gms soya nuggets soaked in hot salted water

1 large capsicum chunks

1 onion cut into squares

1tbsp soya sauce

1tsp vinegar

2 tbsp Maggi hot and sweet tomato ketchup

1 tsp crushed garlic

1/2 tsp grated ginger

1/4 cup finely chopped spring onions

1/4 tsp black pepper powder

1/4 tsp cornflour
1 tbsp oil

Salt to taste

                                                                                    

• Soak the soya nuggets in hot salted water for 10-15 minutes. Squeeze the water out, wash them in cold water and marinate in salt, soya sauce & vinegar for 20-25 minutes.
• Heat some oil in a pan. Add crushed garlic and fry till golden brown. Add grated ginger and finely chopped spring onions. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the marinated soya chunks and save the marination paste. Saute on a low flame for 3-4 minutes.
• Add capsicum, onion, salt and crushed pepper. Cook on a low flame for sometime.
• Add 1/4 tsp of cornflour to the marination paste and stir in such that lumps are not formed. Add this to the soya nuggets along with some soya sauce. Cook till the gravy thickens and serve hot.

Recipe - Bharwa Tamatar Bonde



www.banaraskakhana.com



Puneites would know how we were cought unaware by sudden thunder and showers this Tuesday evening. Rains always call for chai and pakodas - but this time I wanted to make something different. That's when I remembered this recipe that I had read on www.banaraskakhana.com. Thankyou Sangeeta for making our Tuesday evening so special :). Please read the complete recipe by clicking on the link below :

Bharwa Tamatar Bonde



Food News - Chef Vikas Khanna's new book - Young Chefs

After Masterchef India - I am dead sure that there is not a single girl/woman in this country who hasn't fallen for Chef Vikas Khanna. God damn he is soooo cute - and that dimpled smile, that soft voice - how can any woman resist him. Imagine a guy who looks cute, has a dimpled smile, is soft spoken and to top it all, he is a world renowned chef - girls what more do we need??? And to all you guys out there - we find it really sweet when you try your hand at the kitchen to impress us. So no matter how kali your chai turns out, or how uncooked your eggs are - we still LOVE IT!.

Ok, so coming back to the topic, Chef Vikas Khanna has written a new book titled 'Young Chefs' which has simple recipes that any child (and by that I mean 12+ years olds) can whip up. He has dedicated this book to all the contestants of Master Chef Junior. To read his complete interview, click on the link below.

Chef Vikas Khanna reveals recipes that are a child's play