Bhetki macher Paturi

Sharing with you, Few dishes I am totally in love with, and this one had to top the list. What's better than a bone less fish with the traditional mustard and coconut seasoning for a bong. It's difficulty level is medium but it's worth all the labour you put in. I sticked to the traditional paturi recipe, (for a change), but it's damn perfect I just dont want to change anything about it.

Ingredients:

bhetki (sheephead) fish - 1   kilogram (20 medium size pieces)big banana leaf - 4-5
grated coconut - 2   cup
mustard seeds (paste) - 200   gramsmustard oil - 8   tablespoonsalt to taste
turmeric powder - 1  teaspoon
green chilies - 10
thread (preferably thick, to make tying easier)

Method

1. Take about 1 kg of boneless bhetki fish cut into medium sized pieces (20-22).
2. Take mustard seeds and chilies in a grinder along with 4-6 tsp of water to make a thick paste. 
3. Mix grated coconut, salt ,turmeric powder and mustard oil to this paste.
4. Coat the fish pieces in this paste from both sides and wrap it in a banana leaf. (One at a time).
5. Fold the banana leaf to wrap the content from all sides and tie with a piece of thread or a toothpick. Repeat the process for all the fish pieces.
6. Steam them for about 30 minutes. (You can use a steamer or idly maker for this). OR
7. Heat a frying pan coated with little mustard oil
8. Place the wrapped fish pieces on the heated pan and roast for 6-7 minutes covering the pan with a lid. Take off the lid to turn the wrapped fish pieces in order to roast the other side.
9. The baked fish and the gravy is taken out from the banana leaves and served as an appetizer. Steaming the fish in banana leaf makes it soft and adds to it flavours. Bon appetit!

Thandai Panna cotta (without cream)

The literal translation of this Italian word means cooked cream. But as you all know I am really trying hard to reduce my calorie intake these days, so here I am trying an all new version of this traditional Italian dessert with yogurt and milk. (You can also try buttermilk). And trust me you just won't be able to differentiate between the two. Also instead of any sophisticated Italian flavouring, I have tried our desi thandai for a change and it turned out equally well. A simple, tasty and quick dessert that's infact very healthy too, what more can we ask for? Try this recipe once and you're sure to fall for it.
Enjoy your cooking and do let me know how was it?

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoon yogurt
• 1 teaspoon sugar/honey (add more if you have really sweet tooth)
• 1 teaspoon gelatin crystals
• 2-4 teaspoon thandai syrup (optional)

Method:

1. Soak gelatin crystals in cold (room temperature) water for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile boil milk with sugar. Reduce the flame, add gelatin mixture to it and let it dissolve.
3. Let it cool down completely to room temperature and then mix 2 tbsp of yogurt and 2 tsp of thandai to it. Stir to dissolve.
4. Refrigerate for a minimum of 3-4 hours in any bowl or preferably silicone moulds of your choice. (De moulding silicon moulds are a lot easier).
   
   
   
5. Once it's set, de mould it and garnish with 2 more tsp of thandai syrup and chopped fruits. Your thandai panna cotta is ready. enjoy!!
   
   
   

Makhana Cookies

Inspired by a master chef contestant last season, this one was a must try. I just got a large packet of makhana's and now I am trying all possible stuff with it. The simpler ones are definitely shared here, give it a try yourself and do let me know how it turned out for you.

Ingredients:

2 cup sugar
3/2 cup melted butter
1 and 1/2 cup refined flour (maida)
1 teaspoon baking powder
20-25 roasted makhana's
a pinch of salt

Method

1. Mix sugar and butter well in a blender until it becomes a smooth paste.
2. Sieve maida, salt and baking powder into this paste, small quantities at a times till you get a semi solid mixture. (add more maida if required).
3. fold in roasted makhana's and chopped nuts.
4. Preheat oven at 180 degree centigrade. Grease a baking tray. Pour small lumps of this mixture, with the help of a spoon. Don't forget to keep a minimum of 3 cms distance between two cookie.
5. Bake it for 10-15 minutes.

Bon appetit..!

note- To check, shake the tray a little, if Cookies pop up, it's done otherwise check again after 3 mins.

Pistachio and Almond Rasmalai

Ever heard of pista and almond rabri in less than 25 minutes? Last Saturday, when I was just not in a mood to have my regular pista badam complan milk so I tried making a rabri out of it. It turned out so well even my nephew didn't complain about having milk. It was yumm! A quick recipe is here so you can relish it as well. Sharing is caring! I thought of making this again today, just something sweet for my dad to relish (I mostly don't let him have a lot of sweets but father's day, we can be a little lenient u know :P). On a more foodie note, do surprise your dad's and your family with this quick recipe and let me know how it turned out for you and most importantly did they like love it??

Serves: 3-4
Cuisine: Indian desserts
Cooking time: 25 minutes

Ingredients required:

• 2 cups of full-fat milk
• 1 cup condensed milk (milkmaid)
• a pinch of cardamom (elaichi) powder
• 4 teaspoon of pista badam flavour complan
• (you can also use any other flavour you like)
• 6 store-bought rasgulla. (You can also make these yourself with cheena, regarding which I'll describing in my next post, stay tuned).

Method:

1. Boil milk in a thick bottom pan stirring occasionally till it reduces to half.
2. Mix complan powder followed by 2-3 tsp of sugar to it. Stir to dissolve. (Be careful while adding sugar because rasgulla and condensed milk is already very sweet).
3. If cream layers forms on top, shift it aside and continue boiling.
4. Add condensed milk to it. 
5. Gently squeeze the rasgulla to remove excess sugar syrup and dunk it into warm milk.
6. Reduce the flame to minimum and cook for 1-2 minutes for the milk to get absorbed. (Overcooking may break the rasgulla).
7. Add chopped pistachio, almonds and raisins to garnish. Your pistachio and almond rabri is ready. Serve chilled. Bon appetit!
   
   
   
   

Method (with pictures):

1. Boil milk in a thick bottom pan stirring occasionally till it reduces to half.
2. Mix complan powder to it followed by 2-3 tsp of sugar. Stir to dissolve. (Be careful while adding sugar because rasgulla and condensed milk is already very sweet).
   
3. If cream layers forms on top, shift it aside and continue boiling.
4. Add condensed milk to it.
5. Gently squeeze the rasgulla to remove excess sugar syrup and dunk it into warm milk.
   
6. Reduce the flame to minimum and cook for 1-2 minutes for the milk to get absorbed. (Overcooking may break the rasgulla).
   
7. Add chopped pistachio, almonds and raisins to garnish. Your pistachio and almond rabri is ready. Serve chilled. Bon appetit!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Random thoughts

A teenager's take on life

A lot of things need a mention here. Firstly, This is going to be a very personal post so please dont take things for everyone in general and most importantly I really don't care if you judge me, why waste your time then?
India, the rapidly growing economy. Tell me something who is behind this rapid development? Is this just the well stabilised,  7 digit salaried people who only knows just to work with pen, paper and computer? Well, my friend if India would just depend on services provided at the mercy of MNC's, I guarantee you we wouldn't have been alive to see this spectacular growth. It is because of the era of entrepreneurship, that as a nation we are able to grow.

If entrepreneurship has contributed so much in the last few years, I really don't get why are people so averse it?
Why do people don't want to get their hands dirty in it?
why the hell do we assume that if a person is into startup he/she is not qualified for a job? Why can't we be just okay with the fact being an entrepreneur was a choice and not a necessity!! seriously, these questions are driving me crazy and the best part is people who have such mentality don't want to answer them.

I don't really get, why can't our elders behave like elders. someone whom we can look up to and not someone who just want us to fulfill their unfulfilled dreams.  From our grandparents to parents and now us, this vicious cycle will continue, until someone just speak against it. Why can't they just except their child dreams if she chooses something which she thinks she 8s good at? Why is education so over hyped in our country?

I agree a minimum level of education is necessary and entrepreneurship has poor success rates but my point is give them a chance!! A simple chance is all they want. If they don't try how can you so sure they are bond to fail.
In the words of law:
"A person is absolutely innocent until his wrongs have been proved"
(Zada filmy hogya, nhi? But actually real life mein bhi yehi hota hai!!)
Coming next to education, tell me something what will the poor child do with history if he wants to pursue engineering.(again a profession which is better left unsaid). Yes, Indian education system is flawless, testing a person by how much he/she can memorise a night before and vomit on paper the next day, if that's education is all about then what else can we say!!
Everyone has a time in life, when they have problems with everything, from education system, to government officials and your elders views, just everything!! And we don't really know what to do or how exactly do we deal with it. (Probably I am in that phase). But again I feel, such issues can only be resolved with time, the best healer and revealer. Till then on a positive note, just enjoy the journey and these tangles of life.

P.S. I don't intend to stir your agitation, just some personal thoughts which has come out of my diary for the first time, and that's it:)

Caramelized Pineapple Salad

The season of this thorny yet sweet and juicy fruit is here. Instead of consuming it directly, I thought of caramelizing it and adding some mint and lime. It indeed enhanced it's natural strong flavours, and apparently it became even more sweeter. Here is instant pineapple salad recipe,

You'll need:

1. 1 Pineapple (peeled, deseed and chopped in cubes)
2. 6 teaspoon of brown sugar
3. 15-20 mint leaves
4. 1 teaspoon lime juice
5. 4 teaspoon of honey.

Method:

1. Caramelize Pineapple cubes by placing it on a hot tawa for 1-2 minutes. (Keep an eye that it does not burn and only grill marks are formed)
2. Grind mint and brown sugar together, until you get moist green mixture that is well combined. 
3. Sprinkle this mixture over caramelized pineapple followed by lime juice and toss it few times.
4. Pour honey to glaze it up and make it even more sweeter.
5. Your caramelized pineapple salad is ready. 

Enjoy!!

Oats Custard Pudding

How many times have we looked hungrily at a tempting slice of dessert but had to forego it ? Simple reason being, it's calorie count and we have become a little diet conscious. We'll, this is everyone's story!! So after few request, I finally came up with this post.
The use of oats and honey makes it healthier. moreover, custard and fruits makes it tastier. So no preservatives or added flavours, but still the divine taste of sweetness..! Have fun making and do let me know how it turned out for you.

Bon appetite..!

Serves- 2-3

Ingredients:

1. 4 teaspoon custard powder
2. 2 cups + 4 teaspoon of milk
3. Sugar/honey to taste
4. 1/4 cup oats
5. Any desired chopped fruits (Here I have used:

• 1/4 cup of ripe mango pulp
• Few pieces of ripe papaya and black grapes)
  

Method:

1. Mix custard powder with 4 teaspoon of cold (room temperature) milk till it forms a smooth paste.
2. Boil the remaining 2 cups of milk. 
3. Lower down the flame and add custard powder paste to it, stirring continuously so that no lumps are formed.
4. Add oats to it and cook for another 5 minutes on medium flame, stirring occasionally.
5. Turn off the flame and add sugar/honey to it. (I had used honey).
6. Let it cool for some time, and add your desired chopped fruits for garnishing.

P.S I had churned it in a blender with mango pulp, so that everything blends well.

Bon appetit..!

You can also try other oat desserts:
mango-banana-oats-smoothie
oats-chocolate-cup-cake
oats-and-coffee-mug-cake

Makhana pudding

Ingredients:

100 + 50 grams makhana
1/2 litre milk
Refined oil or ghee for roasting- 6 teaspoon
Sugar to taste

Method:

1. Roast makhana's on medium flame till it turns slightly golden brownish in colour. It should be very crisp.
   
2. In a separate bowl, continue boiling milk till it reduces to half. (You can add 1/4 cup of milk powder to fasten the process).
3. Add sugar to it and stir well.
4. now add 100 grams or 2/3 of roasted makhana's to it. leave it for not more than 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let it cool.
   
5. While serving top it up with left over roasted makhana's and it's done. Pretty easy, isn't it??
   
   
   
   

Bon appetit!!

DIY old dupatta's into jackets

I had a lot of old and dupatta's lying around my place, so thought of reutilizing it. I knew, since they were unused my mum wouldn't allow to cut it and make something out of it, but I can definitely change its wrapping style.
I was trying to make a top kind of thing but it looked more appropriate as jackets. It's pretty easy as you can check from my pics below and the best part is, you just have to open few knots and safety pin to use it as your regular dupatta. Multipurpose clothes you see..! :D

P.S. some failed attempts in making a proper video, but hope you can understand the steps if not my voice :(

1. take both the ends and attach it to the centre of your dress with the help of a safety pin.
2. Tie a double knot around your arms.
3. Take the extra sides of the dupatta and tie a knot on the backside.
4. Your jacket is done☺
   

Note: for the other wrapping styles a knot has been tied around the neck taking the two ends together or around one of your arms, (pretty much evident from the pictures though).

Sandwich Ice-cream sundae

Here a quick recipe to my not-so-elaborate sandwich ice-cream sundae. Its components along with their links are here,
vanilla Ice-cream
chocolate-ice-cream and
chocolate Ganache

Method;

I had made the vanilla and chocolate ice-cream a day before to simplify the whole assembling process. So on that day I quickly made the chocolate Ganache, (which will take roughly 20 minutes).

Pour the chocolate Ganache over biscuits, followed by tuity-fruity bits.



let it set in the fridge till it's hard enough and does not drips.

Sandwich chocolate and vanilla ice-cream In-between these biscuits and arrange it in a bowl.

Sprinkle tuity-fruity and chocolate crumble to garnish. Refrigerate until set.

you are all set to Indulge in this heavenly dish..! (thank me later :P)

chocolate ice-cream

To make a chocolate ice-cream, all you need is just 3 components, cream, condensed milk and chocolate (obviously) and you are all set to go.

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk (milkmaid)
• 1 cup chopped chocolate (or chocolate chips)
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (optional)

  

  Ice-cream sundae with chocolate and vanilla ice cream

Method:

1. Beat cold heavy cream on medium until stiff peaks form.
2. Slowly pour cold condensed milk into it and continue beating. 
3. Stir in chopped chocolates and cocoa powder (if you want to make it more chocolaty).
4. whisk again on high speed until the mixture is thick and stiff peaks are formed.
5. Freeze at least 3 hours. When it is half set, take it out and whisk again on high speed so that no crystals are formed and it's nice and creamy. Enjoy your ice-cream right away or you can store it up to for 2 weeks in an air-tight container.
   
   
   
   

Chocolate Ganache

I was making a sandwich ice-cream sundae and chocolate ganache was a component in it. Enjoy your Sunday with this homemade sandwich ice-cream sundae.

For the chocolate ganache you will just need two components;

• Chocolate or chocolate chips (semi-sweet preferably) and
• Heavy cream

Method:

1. Heat the cream for about 5 minutes or until it starts to simmer, stirring occasionally. Turn off the flame and fold in chopped chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips till you get a smooth texture.
2. Let it sit for 5 minutes. (it will get thicker as it cools down).

Servings: you can top your cake and ice creams (like how I did) with it or mix it with latte to get a tasty mocha in no time.

I have spread it evenly over biscuits to make an ice-cream sundae, like this:

Vanilla Ice-cream Sundae

I made a sandwich Ice-cream sundae some time back with typical ice cream flavours like vanilla, chocolate and tutty-fruity. Common flavours can be made interesting too!! You can just enjoy this simple vanilla ice-cream or try out an ice-cream sundae like how I did here,

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk (milkmaid)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1 vanilla pod

Method:

1. Beat cold heavy cream on medium until stiff peaks form.
2. Slowly pour cold condensed milk into it and continue beating. 
3. Stir in vanilla essence and seeds of vanilla pod.
4. whisk again on high speed until the mixture is thick and stiff peaks are formed.
5. Freeze at least 3 hours. When it is half set, take it out and whisk again on high speed so that no crystals are formed and it's nice and creamy. Enjoy your ice-cream right away or you can store it up to for 2 weeks in an air-tight container.
   

MANGO BANANA OATS SMOOTHIE

  INGREDIENTS :-

• Mango - 1
• Banana - 1
• Oats - 1 tbsp  
• Honey - 2 tspn
• Nutella - for decoration (optional)
• Milk - 4 tbsp
   
  
  

  METHOD :-

  1.  Blend all the ingredients in a blender. Pour in a glass and add some crushed ice cubes, mango pieces and a dash of nutella on top. And your healthy smoothie is ready.

      

     😋 Perfect for breakfast.

     😋 Very healthy and nutritious and yummy

     😋 Makes awesome snack too especially for summers.

     😋 You can add any fruit of your desire.

     😋 Add chopped fruits and dry fruits for extra deliciousness.