Me As Chef

INGREDIENTS: 1) 2 Cup Sprouts 2) 1 Mango ripen 3) 1 Cucumber 4) 1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes 5) Rock salt to taste 6) Black pepper to taste 7) 1 Green Chilly 8) 1/2 Lemon Juice 9) 1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric 10) Fresh Coriander Leaves PREPARATION TIME: 15 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Boil the sprouts in salted and turmeric water till soft and let it cool * Dice the ripen mango and add to a salad bowl * Chop the cucumber and coriander leaves and add to salad bowl * Half or slice the cherry tomatoes and throw in the salad bowl * Add in sprouts, rock salt, black pepper and lemon juice * Finely Chop the green chilly(optional) and add it to bowl too * Mix everything and serve

INGREDIENTS: 1) 2 Slices Bread 2) 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon Powder 3) 1 Teaspoon Sugar 4) 2 Teaspoon Butter 5) 2 Tablespoon Yogurt 6) Few fresh grapes or any fruit of choice 7) 1/2 Cup dehydrated Cranberries optional 8) Chocolate coated Raisins/Almonds optional PREPARATION TIME: 15 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Melt butter in a pan and coat the pan with it * Sprinkle Sugar and cinnamon powder on pan * Put the bread slice in pan * Let it cook till sugar is melted and sticks to bread slice * Move the slice in the pan to get the sugar and cinnamon on the edges * Turn the bread slice and toast the other side too * Make sure there is no sugar or cinnamom before adding another bread slice * Serve hot with fresh fruits, dehydrated fruits, and dry fruits * Add some chocolate bites and yogurt to the serving plate

INGREDIENTS: 1) 2 Cups Rice or leftover cooked rice 2) 1 Broccoli 3) 4-5 Garlic Cloves Chopped 4) 1-2 Onion 5) Salt to taste 6) Black pepper to taste 7) 1 Tablespoon Clarified Butter/Ghee 8) 2-3 Eggs PREPARATION TIME: 30 minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Cook the rice in 5 times water and salt, when cooked drain water and keep aside * Wash and Chop the broccoli very finely and keep aside * Finely chop garlic cloves and onions too * In a wok heat up butter, add in the garlic and saute for few seconds * Add onions and saute till onions turn translucent * Add in chopped broccoli and mix well, let the broccoli cook for a few minutes * Add in Cooked rice or leftover rice and mix well till everything turns green * Sprinkle salt and black pepper according to ur taste * Prepare a sunny side up egg for each member * Serve the rice hot with sunny side up on the bed of broccoli rice

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Cup Besan/Chickpea flour 2) 1 Cup Powdered Sugar 3) 1/4 Cup Sooji/Semolina 4) 2 Teaspoons Elaichi/Cardamom Powder 5) 3/4 Cup Ghee/Clarified Butter 6) Few Raisins to decorate (Optional) 7) 1/2 Cup Almonds Powdered (Optional) PREPARATION TIME : 1 Hour HOW TO PREPARE: * In a Wok add half of the ghee and let it melt * Add sooji and besan together and mix well * Mix should look like a crumb mix. If required add more ghee * Mix and roast in wok till besan slightly changes color * Roast till its turned golden brown and gives a nice aroma * Take off the heat when done and cool it on the plate * Add cardomom, almonds and sugar powder in it and mix well * If too dry to make balls, add a little hot ghee * Make laddoos and keep in an air tight container * You can put one raisin on each laddoo to decorate it * During festivities you can put silver wark on it too and serve your guests

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Cup Papaya Pulp 2) 1 Cup Cream 3) 1 Cup Sugar 4) 3-4 Drops Vanilla Essence 5) 1/4 Cup Raisins PREPARATION TIME: 6-7 hours HOW TO PREPARE: * In a bowl, take cream and whip it till soft peaks appears * Make Papaya pulp by mashing ripe papaya in a smooth paste * Add granulated sugar to whipped cream and whip a little * Do not whip to much, otherwise the cream will separate into butter and milk * Add papaya pulp, raisins and vanilla essence, mix it well * Freeze the mix in freezer for 2-3 hours * After 2-3 hours take the mix and churn it again * Freeze again for 2 hours, * If ice-cream still not creamy in texture, then churn it again * Once creamy its done and can be served * Garnish with raisins or any topping of your choice

INGREDIENTS: FOR CHUTNEY: 1) 4 Tomatoes 2) 1 Onion Chopped 3) 5-6 Garlic Cloves 4) 1 Tablespoon Yellow Moong Daal 5) 2 Dried red chillies 6) 1 Tablespoon oil 7) 1/2 Teaspoon Mustard seeds 8) 5-6 sticks dried tamarind 9) Salt to taste 10) A pinch of asafoetida FOR DOSA: 1) 1 Cup Maida 2) 1/2 Cup Besan 3) 1 Cup Suji/Rava 4) 1 Cup Rice Atta 5) Salt to taste 6) Water to mix PREPARATION TIME: 50 minutes HOW TO PREPARE: CHUTNEY * Wash the tomatoes and keep them on the fire to roast them * Roasting them gives a nice flavours and removes the skin easily * Remove the tomato skin and roughly chop them, keep aside * In a small wok, heat oil, crackle mustard seeds, dried red chillies and moong daal * Add in asafoetida and garlic cloves and let it cook for a minute * Add chopped onions and salt and saute till onions turn translucent * Add tomatoes and red chilly powder and further cook till tomatoes get soft * Take off heat and let it cool till room temperature * Add i

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Kg Baby Potatoes 2) 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil 3) 3 Teaspoon Chopped Garlic 4) Mint Twigs 5) Rosemary Twigs 6) Salt to taste 7) Black Pepper to taste 8) Chaat Masala PREPARATION TIME: 30 minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Wash the potatoes and keep them aside * If too large cut them into half * Prick each one with a fork and rub olive oil on them * Sprinkle salt, and pepper on the potato * Add chopped garlic and mix together everything * Put all potatoes on the baking tray * Add mint and rosemary twigs and put to bake * Bake for 30 - 35 minutes at 220 degrees * Look for golden brown color on sliced potatoes * Serve hot, sprinkle with some chaat masala!

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Packet Dosa batter 2) 2 Onions Chopped 3) 1 Cup Grated Broccoli 4) 1/2 Cup Grated Carrots 5) Salt to taste 6) Black Pepper to taste 7) 1 Green Chilly Chopped 8) 2 Tablespoon oil PREPARATION TIME: 15 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * In a bowl, put dosa batter and add salt and pepper to taste * I got a readymade batter from a superstore, you can always prepare batter for this * Add in chopped onions, chopped chilly, grated carrots and grated broccoli * On a hot non stick tawa, apply oil and pour in 1/4 laddle of batter on tawa * Pour in as many as fit on tawa, apporox 5-6 will fit * Let it cook for few minutes till its firm and cooked on the side * Apply oil on the poured batter and flip it to cook on other side * Once cooked arrange them on a tray and serve these coin uttapams with coconut and mint chutney * They are favourites among kids and a healthy tiffin option too

Curd rice or Dahi Chawal is a simple delicacy from south India. Mainly taken as part of a meal, but its a comfort food in itself. Easy preparation and is loved by kids, bachelors, and ready to go meals! Its very popular among the south states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Its a savoury dish as compared to the sweet dahi chawal of north India! INGREDIENTS: 1) 2 Cups Cooked/Leftover Rice 2) 2 Cups Curd/Yogurt/Dahi 3) 1/2 Cup Grated carrots 4) 1/2 Cup Grated Broccoli 5) 1/4 Cup Grated Ginger 6) Few Curry Leaves 7) 2-3 Green Chillis 8) 2 Tablespoon Oil 9) A Pinch of Asafoetida 10) 1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds 11) Salt to taste 12) Black Pepper/Red Chilly to taste 13) Pickle and coriander leaves for garnish PREPARATION TIME: 30 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * In a Pan heat oil, add Asafoetida and crackle mustard seeds * Add Curry leaves, Grated Ginger and green chillies, saute for a minute * Add Broccoli and carrots, saute at low heat till carrots get soft * Add ri

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Kg Baby Potatoes 2) 3 Cups of Spinach 3) 1 Cup of Sweet Corn Kernels 4) 1/2 Teaspoon of Garlic powder 5) Black Pepper to taste 6) Salt to taste 7) 1 Tablespoon Olive oil PREPARATION TIME: 40 minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Wash the potatoes thoroughly and cut them in half * Wash the spinach leaves and let the water drain * Chop the leaves roughly and keep aside * In a Oven safe dish put potatoes and oil * Sprinkle garlic powder, black pepper and salt * Mix the spices with potatoes till all potatoes covered * Roast the potatoes in oven for 20 minutes at 220 degrees * Add Chopped spinach and corns and mix well * Roast again for 5 minutes till potatoes get soft inside and crispy outside * Serve hot with dinners as appetizers or as snacks with drinks/tea. Its a hit with Kids too.

INGREDIENTS: 1) 2 Cups Self - Raising Flour 2) 1/4 Cup Butter 3) 1/2 Cup Condensed Milk 4) 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips PREPARATION TIME: 40 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * In a bowl add melted butter and condensed milk, mix well * Add Flour and chocolate chips and mix well like a dough * Make round balls and flatten them * Place them on a baking tray and bake at 200 degrees for 20 minutes * Cool them at wire rack for the best cookies

After a long and hectic week at work one tries to find comfort and rest in weekend! What a great idea to start the weekend with a hot, delicious, nutricious, wholesome, easy to digest comfort food like khichdi for lunch. With fried red onions, a papaddom and a spoonful of melted ghee on top is just what is called a comfort life! This is very simple one pot dish generally prepared with rice and dal. INGREDIENTS: 1) 3/4 Cup Rice 2) 1/2 Cup yellow moong dal 3) 1/2 Cup Peas 4) 1 Cup Chopped Spinach 5) 2 Tablespoon Ghee/Clarified Butter 6) 1 Teaspoon Jeera/Cumin Seeds 7) 1/4 Teaspoon asaefotida 8) Salt to taste 9) Black pepper to taste 10) 1 Teaspoon Garam Masala 11) 1/4 Teaspoon Red Chilli powder 12) 1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder 13) 1 Cup sliced onions for garnish 14) 2 Papaddoms PREPARATION TIME: 30 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Soak Rice and Dal in hot water for an hour before cooking * In a pan heat ghee and crackle jeera seeds and asaefotida * Add turmeric powder and peas, sau

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 1/2 Cup Besan/Chickpea Flour 2) 1/2 Cup Suji/Semolina 3) 1 Cup Chopped Broccoli 4) 1 Teaspoon Garam Masala 5) 1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder 6) 1/2 Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder 7) 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder 8) 1 Teaspoon Jeera/Cumin Powder 9) 1 Teaspoon Chopped Ginger 10) 1/2 Teaspoon Chopped Green Chilly 11) Salt to taste 12) Water to make batter PREPARATION TIME: 45 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * In a Bowl take besan and mix it with water to make a smooth paste * To the paste add semolina, mix it , if thick then add water to make it runny * Add broccoli, ginger, green chilly and mix well * Add Turmeric, Coriander, Garam masala, Red chilly powder, salt and Jeera powder, mix well * Keep the above mix aside for 30 minutes to blend in all the flavours * Semolina will absorb water and can make batter thick, add little water after 30 minutes * Take a Tawa or flat pan, heat it up, Brush up a little oil on tawa * Take 1 Laddle full of batter and pour it on tawa a

Bake this lovely treat this new year and surprise you family and friends! Its very easy and simple to prepare, eggless, less sugar, less butter, kids love it! Ask your kids to help you out with it this winter vacations! They will surely love it. INGREDIENTS: 1) 225 gms Plain flour 2) 50 gms Butter Cold 3) 100 gms Sultanas/Raisins 4) 40 gms Castor Sugar 5) 150 ml Milk 6) 1 Egg beaten for egg wash/Milk PREPARATION TIME: 30 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Line the baking sheet and pre heat the oven at 220 degrees * In a bowl mix flour and butter till breadcrumb consistency * To above mix add sugar and sultanas * In the middle pour milk and fold in the mix till no dry flour left * Knead a little to gather the dough together * Flatten with the hands till 2 cm thick disc * Cut 12 small rounds or 8 big rounds with cutter * Place them on baking sheet and brush the top of scones with egg wash or milk * Bake for 15-20 minutes till top is golden brown in color * Cool on wire rack and se

Besan Laddoos are easy and healthy sweets from India. Its prepared in festivals and also prepared for kids to improve their immune system. INGREDIENTS: 1) 2 Cups Besan/Chickpea flour 2) 2/3 Cup Ghee/Clarified Butter 3) 3 Pinches Cardamom powder 4) 1 Cup Sugar( granulated/powdered) (Keep it granulated for extra crunch or can use powdered sugar) 5) 1 Cup Almond powdered 6) Few Pistachios for garnish PREPARATION TIME: HOW TO PREPARE: * In a wok, Melt ghee * Add in the besan and stir constantly on the low flame * Cook till its golden brown in color and a nutty flavor comes out * Add Cardamom powder and almond powder and mix well * Cook for a minute and take off flame and put into another dish to cool it * When cooled, Mix in the sugar and make small balls out of the mixture * These round balls are laddoos * Garnish with pistachios and serve fresh homemade sweets

INGREDIENTS: FOR CAKE BASE: 1) 1 Cup Malai/ Clotted Cream/ Devonshire cream 2) 1 1/2 Cup Cheeni/ Granulated Sugar 3) 4 Eggs 4) 2 Cup of Flour 5) 1/2 Cup of warm Milk 6) 1 1/2 Spoon of Baking Powder 7) 1 Pinch of Salt 8) 2 Tablespoon Lemon juice 9) 2 Tablespoon Sugar (for sugar syrup) 10) 1/2 Cup water(for sugar syrup) FOR CHEESE CAKE: 1) 500 gms Cream Cheese 2) 1 cup Castor sugar 3) 500 gms Double cream/Whipped Cream 4) 2 Tablespoon Lemon juice FOR GARNISH: 1) 1/4 Cup Lemon Rind 2) Lemon Peel for lemon flower PREPARATION TIME: 1 hour and 40 minutes HOW TO PREPARE: CAKE BASE: * Mix Malai, eggs, and sugar till light and fluffy and till sugar is dissolved * Add in flour, salt and baking powder and mix well to form a smooth batter * Finally add in milk and lemon juice mix well * Grease a baking tray and pour in the batter * Bake at 200 degrees in oven for around 20 minutes, Keep a watch in between * When done then take it out and let

INGREDIENTS: 1) 500 gms Desiccated Coconut 2) 500 gms Sugar 3) 2-3 Elaichi\Cardomom 4) Vanilla ice cream 5) Strawberry sauce\ Chocolate sauce (market purchased) 6) 2 Tablespoon water 7) 1 Tablespoon lemon juice PREPARATION TIME: HOW TO PREPARE: * In a wok, dry roast the coconut till it turns golden color, keep aside to cool * In a pan add sugar and water and let it caramalize * Add lemon juice and mix well * Add roasted coconut and mix well * Take it off the stove and set it in a flat dish with 1-2" thickness * Cut with knife in a desired shape and let it set in refrigerator * Take it out before serving to get it into room temperature * Serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce * Can also sprinkle some sliced nuts to decorate  

INGREDIENTS:  1) 500gms Potatoes  2) 3-4 Garlic Cloves  3) Salt to taste  4) Black pepper to taste  5) 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil  6) 100gms Cherry Tomatoes for garnish  7) 100gms Spinach Leaves  8) 4 Slices of Bread PREPARATION TIME: 40 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Chop the garlic cloves and keep in a bowl * Add olive oil and mix well * Dice the potatoes and cut the bread into 1" pieces * Pour olive oil mix on potatoes and bread separately * Sprinkle salt and pepper on potatoes and bread * Toast the bread in oven till it gets crisp and brown * Till then the potatoes get a good marinate time * Roast the potatoes in the oven at 220 for 20 minutes * When done sprinkle some dried mint for extra flavor (optional) * Take out the potatoes on the serving dish * Sprinkle some chopped spinach leaves, halves of cherry tomatoes * Garnish with toasted bread croutons and a lemon wedge

One of my favorites is DOMINO'S garlic breadsticks. Recipe for this is easy and can be found on web as many people have tried it out. I didn't want to follow the suit but secretly wanted to give it a try at least once. As I didn't have oregano at home, I made a different version of the breadsticks with garlic and dried mint. It tasted awesome and fresh. So the recipe following is my version. To make the original breadsticks just replace dried mint and chilly flakes with oregano!! INGREDIENTS:  1) 1/2kg Flour/Maida  2) 1/2 Sachet Active dry yeast  3) 1 Tablespoon Sugar  4) 1 Cup Lukewarm water  5) 6 Garlic Cloves Chopped  6) 3 Tablespoon Olive oil  7) 1 Teaspoon Salt  8) 2 Teaspoon dried mint  9) 1 Teaspoon chilly Flakes 10) 1 Cup Corn kernels 11) 1 Cup grated Cheese 12) Black pepper to taste PREPARATION TIME: 1 hour (knead and bake) and 24 hours(rest and prove) HOW TO PREPARE: DOUGH: * In a bowl take yeast and add sugar. * Add lukewarm water and leave for 10minutes to activ

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Packet Egg Noodles - any brand 2) 1 Carrots 3) 2 Capsicum 4) 2 Onions 5) 2 Eggs 6) 2 Teaspoon Chings Noodles Masala 7) Coriander leaves for garnish 8) Water to boil 9) 3 Tablespoon oil 10) 1 Tablespoon Soya Sauce 11) Salt to taste 12) 5 - 6 Cloves garlic chopped PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * On a tawa, apply oil and make an omlete with eggs * Shred the omlete into small pieces and keep aside * In a pot boil water, add 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon oil * Add noodles and boil till al-dante state * Drain the noodles and pour 1 tablespoon oil and mix gently * In a wok add oil and garlic, saute for few minutes * Add Carrots and capsicum, saute for few minutes * Lastly add onions and chings noodles masala mix well * Add noodles and soya sauce and keep mixing * Finally add omlete pieces and give it a last mix * Serve hot garnished with coriander leaves