Me As Chef

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1/2 Kg Chicken small pieces 2) 300 gems Rice 3) 1 Teaspoon Fennel seeds 4) 2 Teaspoon Coriander Powder 5) 2 Onions Sliced 6) 3-4 Green Chilies 7) 1 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder 8) 3-4 Green Cardamom 9) 1 Black Cardamom 10) 3 - 4 Cloves 11) 1 Stick Cinnamon 12) 6-7 Whole;e black Pepper 13) 2 Star Anise 14) 1 Cup Water 15) 1 Teaspoon Jeera/Cummins Seeds 16) 1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste 17) Salt to taste 18) 4 Tablespoon Clarified butter/Ghee PREPARATION TIME: 1 Hour HOW TO PREPARE: * Heat Butter in a pot and fry onions, and ginger garlic paste * Add Chicken and sauté for few minutes * Add Fennel seeds and coriander powder * Add whole spices when the chicken changes color * Add turmeric, salt, green chilies and water * In a separate pan, boil rice with star anise, cumin and salt * Drain the almost cooked rise and add a rice layer on top of chicken * Pour ghee on top of it and cover * Cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes or until done * Mix and Serve Hot wi

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) 2½ Cups Self Raising flour 2) 1½ Cups of castor sugar 3) 1 Cup Vegetable oil/Melted butter/Malai 4) 3 Eggs 5) 100ml Milk 6) 1 Tablespoon lemon rind 7) 1/2 Cup Lemon juice 8) A pinch of salt 9) 1/2 Cup Sugar for glaze 10) 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice for glaze 11) Finely grated Lemon rind to garnish PREPARATION TIME: 1 Hour 15 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease the cake ton and keep aside * Sift flour into a bowl. Stir in caster sugar * Whisk the butter, eggs till fluffy and light * Add milk, lemon rind and 100ml of lemon juice, Whisk until combined * Add the lemon mixture to the flour mixture and stir until well combined * Pour into greased tray and Bake for 40-45 minutes * Turn onto a wire rack to cool completely FOR LEMON GLAZE: * In a pan, add sugar, 2 teaspoon water * Mix till sugar dissolves * Finally add lemon juice and mix well * Put the cake on serving tray and make holes with skewer on top * Pour over lemon glaze and let i

INGREDIENTS: 1) 2 Cups Curd/Yogurt 2) 1/2 Cup Chopped Apple 3) 1/2 Cup Chopped Grapes 4) 1 Teaspoon Red Chilly Flakes 5) 1 Teaspoon Green Chilly 6) Salt to taste 7) Black pepper to taste PREPARATION TIME: 15 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Finely chop the green chilly and keep aside * In a bowl whisk the curd to form a smooth paste * Add in chopped apples and grapes * Add salt, pepper, red chilly flakes and green chilly * Mix and serve chilled with pulav, parathas, or as a dip

INGREDIENTS: 1) 4 Cups Mixed salad leaves 2) 1/2 Cup baked beans without sauce 3) 1/2 Cup Grapes 4) 1/2 Cup crumbled paneer 5) Salt to taste 6) Pepper to taste 7) 1/2 Cups Bread Crumbs 8) Few roasted peanuts 9) 1 Teaspoon lemon juice PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Wash the salad leaves and keep aside to drain excess water * These leaves are baby spinach, chard, rocket, and tatsoi * Cut the grapes into halves and keep it in a bowl * Add peanuts, baked beans, bread crumbs to grapes * Add in leaves, crumbled pander, salt and pepper * Mix well and finally sprinkle lemon juice

INGREDIENTS: 1) 6 Chicken drumsticks 2) 5-6 Garlic cloves 3) 1-2 Cloves/Long 4) 1 Lemon 5) 2 Tablespoon Curd 6) Salt to taste 7) Black pepper to taste 8) 1 Teaspoon Red Chilly Flakes 9) 1/2 Cup Spring Onions 10) 1/2 Cup Orange juice PREPARATION TIME: 1 Hour HOW TO PREPARE: * Wash the chicken and make slits on it * In a bowl put chicken and add curd * Add grated garlic and rub it on chicken * Add salt, black pepper, chilly flakes and long * Mix properly and keep the marinated chicken for 30 minutes * In a wok, add the drumsticks and lemon * Let it cook in curd, if needed add a little water * Cook covered so that the chicken cooks in its own juices * When done, take out the chicken drumsticks in a bowl * You can serve as it is as a snack * To make curry or gravy, add orange juice in the wok * All the left over things get mixed up with juice * Give it a boil and curry is done. Pour over the chicken * Serve hot with rice and garnish with spring onions

Bathua/Cheel bhuaji/chill bhaji/Chenpodium/lamb's-quarter/ Paruppu Keerai is popularly found during the winter months in india. Its a wild relative of spinach plant. It is rich in vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, trace minerals, iron and fibre. It is the most nutritious wild herb that people can eat. INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Bunch Bathua/Chenopodium Leaves 2) 3 Cups Curd/Yogurt 3) 1 Teaspoon Roasted Jeers/Cummin Powder 4) Salt to taste 5) Black Pepper to taste 6) 1 Teaspoon Sugar or Honey 7) 1/2 Cup Boondi (optional) PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Wash and boil the bathua for 5 minutes * When cooled, take the leaves in your palm and squeeze water * When all extra water squeezed out, grind the leaves coarsely * In a bowl, beat the curd till smooth * Add water for a thinner consistency * Add roasted jeers powder, black pepper, salt and sugar * Rock salt can also be used here, mix well * Add bathua and mix well * Serve

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Packet Baby Potatoes 2) 1/2 Packet Mixed Salad Leaves 3) 6 Cherry Tomatoes 4) 1/2 Cup Roasted Ground nuts 5) 1 Lemon juice 6) Salt to taste 7) Black Pepper to taste 8) 1 Teaspoon Chilly Flakes 9) Coriander / Dill leaves for garnish PREPARATION TIME: 20 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Wash the potatoes boil them till soft * Drain the potatoes and cut each one in four halves * Do not peel the potato as the skin gives extra crunch * Wash the salad leaves and keep aside to drain water * These leaves are baby spinach, chard, rocket, and tatsoi * In a bowl mix salad leaves, and cut potatoes * Add half sliced cherry tomatoes and roasted ground nuts * Sprinkle salt, black pepper and chilly flakes * Squeeze lemon juice just before serving and mix well * Garnish with dill leaves and serve with any meal

INGREDIENTS: 1) 2 Cups Lobhia/Black Eyed Beans 2) 2 Tablespoon Ghee/Clarified Butter 3) 1 Teaspoon Jeera Seeds 4) 1 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder 5) 1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder 6) 1/2 Teaspoon Red Chilli Powder 7) 1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala 8) Salt to taste 9) 1 Onion Chopped 10) 1 Tomato Chopped 11) 1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste 12) 1 - 2 Bay Leaves 13) 2 - 3 Cloves/ Long 14) 2 - 3 Elaichi/Cardamom Pods 15) Fresh Coriander leaves Chopped for garnishing PREPARATION TIME: 45 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Soak the lobhia overnite or for minimum 5 hours * In a pressure Cooker heat Ghee, Crackle jeera seeds, long and elaichi * Add Bay Leaves, and Ginger Garlic paste. Cook for few minutes * Add Chopped onion and when it turns translucent, add chopped tomatoes * Add Salt and cook for few minutes till tomotoes become soft * Add Turmeric, Coriander powder, Garam Masala and Red Chilli powder * Finally add soaked and drained lobhia and add 4 Cups of water * Close lid and cook for 4 -

INGREDIENTS: 1) 6 Pieces Chicken Drumsticks 2) 1 Onion chopped 3) 1 Tomato Chopped 4) 1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste 5) 1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder 6) 1 Teaspoon Chicken Masala Powder 7) 1 Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder 8) 1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala 9) 1 Tablespoon Curd/Yogurt 10) 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder 11) Salt to taste 12) 1 Cardamom pod 13) 2 Cloves 14) 1 Tablespoon oil PREPARATION TIME: 40 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Wash chicken drumsticks, make slits and keep aside * Take chopped onion and make a paste of it, keep aside * In a bowl, keep chicken, add turmeric powder, coriander powder * Add Salt, red chilly powder, garam Masala, chicken Masala and curd * Mix well and keep it for an hour to marinate * In a wok, heat oil, and crackle cardamom and cloves * Add onion paste and cook for few minutes, add ginger garlic paste * Cook till Masala turns color to pale yellow or light brown * Add marinated chicken and cook for 10 minutes before adding water * Amount of wat

INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Pkt Button Mushrooms 2) 1 Cup Peas 3) 1 Onion Chopped 4) 2 Tomatoes Chopped 5) 1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic paste 6) 2 Tablespoon oil 7) 1 Teaspoon Coriander powder 8) 1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala 9) 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric powder 10) 1/2 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder 11) Salt to taste 12) 1/2 Teaspoon Jeera Seeds/Cumin 12) Coriander for Garnish PREPARATION TIME: 15 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: * Wash and Chop the mushrooms and keep aside * In a wok heat oil and crackle jeera seeds * Add in onions and cook till they turn translucent * Add Tomatoes and ginger garlic paste * Cook till all moisture dries up * Add Turmeric powder, coriander powder and red chilli powder * Add Peas and Mushrooms in wok and keep mixing * Add Salt and mix well, cook till done * Sprinkle some garam masala and Coriander leaves * Serve hot with chapatis or nans!