Candied Rose Petals Chocolate Cookies

These are simple chocolate cookies with a twist. This twist is coming by adding candied rose petals (better known as Gulkand in India). I found this recipe in "Good Food India". It has been  adapted from Chef Vikas Khanna. I have tried some of his other recipes and what I like most is his cooking of Indian trademark dishes with contemporary twist.

The all time American favorite classic cookie is Chocolate chip cookie. Chef Vikas Khanna has given this an interesting twist by adding Gulakand. The floral aroma of candied rose petals and

Sinfully Rich Chocolate Brownie

I am not a huge chocolate fan, But I just love "Sinfully Rich, Moist and Fudgy Chocolate Brownie. I have had  horrible track record with Brownies, somehow, I always manage to burn them. I have read lots of interesting stories about the origin of Brownies. The most popular story

Banana Bread

First time I had "Banana Bread" at  The Imperial Hotel Janpath. After that whenever I have tea in the afternoon I crave for it. I tried at least 18 recipes of banana bread but this was the best. I just hate bananas but I like the banana in the Banana Bread. This is an indirect way of getting the benefit of the fruit. (Bananas are good for our health :) ) In our house the consumption of Banana as a fruit is low and therefore most of the times we waste half of whatever is bought.
Having shared the benefit

Vanilla Cupcakes

Cupcakes, Cupcakes, Cupcakes!! Cupcakes are hard to resist and guilty to eat ;) . I love to cook but my passion is in baking. My friend "Amy Klassen"  always would carry all varieties of Cupcakes whenever she would visit us. This inspired me to bake. I am not a professional baker but I am learning and I hope one day I will open my own Bakery Shop :) . I believe Cooking or baking is learning and inspiring each other to cook or bake. This cupcake is very light, airy and fluffy. I frost it with Butter Cream Frosting. This cupcakes are best for birthday parties or any other special occasion.

Yields- 24
Ingredients

• 3/4 Cup Unsalted Butter
• 1 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 2 Large Eggs
• 2 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Tsp Salt
• 2 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
• 2 1/2 Cups Flour
• 1 1/4 Cups Warm Milk

Directions

• Preheat oven to 180 C degree.
• In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add in the eggs, vanilla, salt and baking powder.
• Add flour and milk in batches, starting and ending with flour. Stir until batter is smooth and satiny.
• Fill paper-lined muffin tins with batter.
• Bake at 180 C for 18-20 minutes.
• Cool it completely and frost with Butter Cream Frosting

Butter Cream Frosting

This butter cream frosting is very yummy, light and fluffy. Enjoy :)

Yields 3 Cups
Ingredients

• 1 Cup Unsalted Butter Softened
• 3 1/2 Cups Confectioners Sugar
• 1 Tsp Milk
• 1 Tsp Clear Vanilla Extract
• 1/8 Tsp Salt

Directions

1. In a bowl combine butter, sugar and salt. Blend till blended
2. Add the milk, vanilla and beat for an additional 3-5 minutes until smooth and creamy.

Notes:-

• Using clear vanilla extract is essential or else the frosting will turn brown.

Parwal Ki Mithai

This is very unusual use of a vegetable in a dessert.My husband is very found of this mithai. It is  popular in Bihar & West Bengal. Every sweet shop in Calcutta would stock this Mithai but in Delhi it is difficult to find. Whenever we go to Calcutta Dharmesh wants to have "Parwal ki mithai".When I was reading BBC Good Food,I found this recipe in that magazine.I tried this recipe today and it came out very well.

Serves-4
Samagri (Ingredients)

• 250 gm Pointed gourd (parwal)
• 2 cups Thin sugar syrup
• A pinch of Soda bicarbonate
• 500 gm milkcake from mithai shop
• Almonds 12 cut length wise
• Pistachios 12 chopped
• A few Saffron strands (wetted with a drop of water)
• Gold leaf (varq)

Vidhi (Direction)

• Peel the parwal,make a slit lengthwise and remove the core.
• Heat water in a deep pan,add pinch of soda bicarbonate and Parwal and boil for 3 to 4 minutes.  
• Drain and put them in the thin sugar syrup and cook in a medium heat till they soften.
• Crumble the milkcake. Add almond and pistachios to the crumbled milkcake.
• Stuff the Stewed parwal with the milkcake mixture and chill thoroughly.
• Garnish with saffron strands and gold leaf.

Notes

• For thin Sugar syrup - Heat 2 1/2 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar, boil for 2 minutes.
• You can add pinch of green color in sugar syrup while cooking parwal.

Milk-Gourd Halwa/Doodhi Halwa

Milk gourd or Bottle gourd are one of the favorite vegetables of Indians and  have numerous health benefits. Dharmesh (Hubby) and my daughters do not like to have Lauki in any form ,but they love to have "lauki ka halwa" 3 times in a day. Lauki is rich in minerals and vitamins, so I really want my kids and hubby to have this vegetable in any form and "Bottle gourd halwa" is the best option I have.

Ingredients

• 1 kg Bottle gourd
• 2 tbsp Ghee
• 1 liter milk
• 1 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp chopped Cashew or Almond flakes 
• A few Raisins
• A pinch of Green food color (optional)

Vidhi (Direction)

• Peel ,discard the seeds of bottle gourd and grate it.
• Heat a pan with ghee add the grated bottle gourd and fry it until the raw smell goes.
• Pour in the milk and stir well.
• Let the Bottle gourd cook on medium heat till milk is nearly absorbed.Stir occasionally.
• Add sugar.Cook for 10 to 12 minutes.
• When halwa becomes thick turn off the stove and add Cardamom powder and chopped Cashew and Raisins.
• Serve warm with an ice cream or Chilled.

Mini Pirates Cupcakes

My friend (Ivleen) called me last Sunday and informed me about the Theme Party she was planning for her elder daughter's 9th birthdayThe theme was "Pirates"This inspired me to bake these mini cupcakes for her party.I really enjoyed making them and I am sure you will also enjoy looking at them..When my younger daughter Aaesha(she is 2) came home from school and said "Mumma tame keklu saru banayvu chhe".That means Mumma have made so beautiful cakes.I felt I have satisfied and had sense of achievement. :)She helped me to put little flags on it and said mumma see I can make these too.I have used butter cream icing for frosting.My friend Amy used  to make these cupcake for various special occasions.

Cupcakes

Samgari (ingredients) 

• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1 1/2 cup castor sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 cup warm milk
• 1/2 oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla

Vidhi (directions) 

• Preheat the oven to 180 degree celcius.
• Mix ingredients together in the order given.
• Beat for 2 minutes.
• Pour into paper lined mini muffin tins filling under just 2/3 full
• Bake for 12 to 10 minutes or until the cupcakes test done(do not over bake as they will be dry).
• Cool completely before frosting

Butter Cream Icing

Samgari(Ingredients)

• 1cup butter
• 3 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 tsp milk
• 1 tsp light vanilla
• 1/8 tsp salt

Vidhi(Direction)

• In a bowl combine butter,sugar and salt.
• Beat till blended.
• Add the milk and vanilla.
• Beat for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until smooth and creamy. 

•   I created these flags at home and enjoyed doing that. It was a very spontaneous thought of getting the printouts of the "pirate" symbol. It reminded me of Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean"
• As for eggless recipe you can substitute 2 eggs with half a cup of curd.
• Wish you a very Happy and Funfilled Baking.
• My expectations are your comments. Do let me know if you have any experience.

Sugar Cookies

I made these cookies for my daughter's christmas party and they were huge hit.:)

Cookies

Samgari (ingredients)

• 85 Grams Butter
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 1 Large Egg
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla
• 11/2cup All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp Baking powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt

Icing

Samagri (ingredients)

• 1Cup Powdered Sugar
• 2 tsp Milk
• 2 tsp Light Corn syrup
• 1/4 tsp Vanilla
• Food coloring

For cookies 

Vidhi (directions)

• Preheat the oven 180 degrees celcius
• Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy,then beat in the egg and vanilla.
• In another bowl, combine the flour,baking powder and salt.
• Add the dry ingredients to the butter and eggs and mix gently.
• Wrap in plastic wrap,and let rest in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
• Then roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutter,and place the cookies on lined cookie sheets.
• Bake for 8 to 12 minutes.

For Icing

Vidhi (directions)

• stir the powdered and the milk together until smooth.
• Beat in corn syrup and vanilla until icing is smooth and glossy.

• If it's too thick,add more corn syrup.
• Divide icing into separate bowls and stir in food coloring as desired.
• You can dip the cookies,paint them with a paint brush or spread them using a knife or the back of a spoon.