_________________I am Mrs. Kalpana Mhaske, a Home-Maker, from the city of 52-Gates, one of the famous heritage- destination of the world- Ajanta - Ellora Caves, Bibi-Ka- Maqbara (The Taj of Deccan) and Deogiri Fort. i.e. AURANGABAD. I admire cooking - tryout and innovate different cuisines. Basically, both of my gorgeous daughters are foodie, they have always encouraged me in the kitchen and forced to carve a Food Blog, that’s why, I am happy to share the makings with you. I am an artist too. Painting – especially, Canvas-Painting is my one more hobby. In total - Ours is an ART-FAMILY, my husband is an Architect. In the end, I keep the same belief with Louise Fresco - “ Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy. It's not about nutrients and calories. It's about sharing. It’s about honesty. it’s about identity ”

Monday, 15 May 2017

ONION SAMOSA OR MINI SAMOSA

Onion Samosa with the Samosa Patti or spring roll sheet is one of the most common crispy samosa recipe easily available in college canteens, railway stations and even in parks. Moreover, it is also known as Irani Samosa or Mini Samosa. It is because it is sold by Irani tea shops and Irani cafe's. Initially, I thought of preparing this with the homemade spring roll sheets. But later on I tried it with the store brought samosa patti. I know that the store brought sheets are made with all purpose flour which is not that healthy but will try the next time with homemade samosa patti with wheat flour and all purpose flour which is quite healthy as compared to ready made samosa patti. This onion samosa is also called very popular hyderabad mini samosa which is usually served with tea in Hyderabad. The patti/ sring roll wrappers are used to give the best crispy and crunchy taste to the samosa which are usually available in markets. This is very easy recipe if we get to know how to make a cone shape or a triangle shape pastry and into it a stuffing or filling is added. Here I made this samosa with onion mixture but you may try out this with some other veg filling or chicken filling or kheema filling. This samosa really goes well with tea or coffee as a evening snack. This snack item is very hit and we all crave for various snacks be it savory or sweet recipes and below are the step by step instructions. This onion samosa is a big favorite of kids. So do try this recipe and share your experience.


INGREDIENTS:
10-12 Samosa Patti

For Filling:

1 very large Onion, sliced

½ teaspoon Red chilli powder

1/3 cup Poha, beaten or flattened rice

Salt to taste

2 teaspoon Coriander leaves, finely chopped (optional)

2 teaspoon Oil


METHOD:

STEP 1 – In a bowl, add flour, salt and lemon juice and mix well. Add warm water, little by little, to make smooth yet pliable dough. Cover with a damp cloth and leaves aside for 20 minutes.

STEP 2 – Meanwhile make the filling. Heat a cooking vessel, add oil.
STEP 2 - Once oil is hot, add sliced onions and sauté on low to medium flame for 3-4 minutes.
STEP 3 - Add red chilli powder and mix well. Turn off flame.

STEP 4 – Add the ground beaten rice and coriander leaves and mix well.
STEP 5 - Remove to a bowl and leave it aside for a while.


STEP 6 – Heat a tawa or skillet on medium flame. Place a patti on the tawa and allow to 20 seconds on each side. Do not allow to cool completely. Remove from tawa and slowly separate the two pattis.

STEP 7 – Prepare with rest of the pattis likewise and keep them covered with a kitchen towel.

STEP 8 – Cut each patti into two halves and keep aside. Add salt to the onion filling just before you begin to stuff the samosa patti with the filling.

STEP 9 – Follow the pictures on how to fold the samosa patti along with filling and seal them with the flour paste. Prepare samosas with rest of the prepared samosa with a kitchen towel and allow sitting for 10-15 minutes.

STEP 10 – Heat oil for deep frying in a heavy bottomed vessel. Once the oil is medium hot, reduce flame to low-medium, add 4 to 5 samosas into oil carefully and allow to cook on both sides till they become golden brown. Do not cook on high flame.

STEP 11 – Remove the fried golden brown samosas onto an absorbent paper.  
Serve these yummy, crispy and hot onion samosa with any dip of your choice.


Notes: You can use raw onions to make filling i.e. you need not sauté the sliced onions. I like to slightly sauté the onions. Coriander leaves is optional.

CHICKEN CHILLI WITH HONEY GLAZE

Sweet and sticky honey, chilli chicken for special occasions or a quick supper. This is palate pleasing and delicious non-vegetarian recipe that is loved by chicken lovers for its amazing flavors. It feels great and really worth when you see your kids relishing your food. This recipe is an easy dish blended with spice powders and honey. This is my favorite Chinese dish that takes less than 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish. The crispy honey chicken turns out incredible and is so loved by my family. You will definitely going to love this crispy coating and texture of this easy recipe. Try it once and you will be guaranteed to add this to your favorites.

INGREDIENTS:

1 Chicken

½ Cup All-Purpose Flour

½ teaspoon Salt [as per taste]

4-5 Cups Vegetable oil for frying

1/3 Cup Water

1/3 Cup Lemon

2 teaspoon Corn-Starch

4 teaspoon Chinese Chilli Sauce

2 teaspoon Soy Sauce

1½ teaspoon Fresh Ginger, minced

3 tablespoon Honey

6 green Onions, sliced thinly lengthwise[optional for garnishing]


METHOD:

STEP 1 – Rinse chicken and cut into small serving-sized pieces.

STEP 2 – In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.

STEP 3 – Add chicken pieces and toss.

STEP 4 – Make sure you coat each piece well.

STEP 5 – Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat.

STEP 6 – Add chicken, one piece at a time. Fry a few pieces at a time if you have small pieces, or they will stew instead of browning.
STEP 7 – Cook until golden for about 5 minutes.

STEP 8 – Drain on paper towels. Repeat with all the chicken pieces.

STEP 9 – Remove all but 1 tablespoon oil from the skillet.

STEP10 – Combine water, lemon juice, corn starch, chilli sauce and soy sauce in a small bowl. Mix well.

STEP 11 – Add oil to a skillet and then add ginger. Fry for 1 minute.

STEP 12 – Add honey. Cook and stir for 1 minute.

STEP 13 – Stir in corn starch- chilli mixture. Cook and stir till sauce boils.

STEP 14 – Add and stir the chicken pieces.

STEP 15 – Cook and stir until heated thoroughly for about 3 minutes.


STEP 16 – Stir the onion. Cook and stir for about 1 minute more.Your chicken chilli with honey glaze is ready to serve. Garnish it with spring onion and serve.



 Serve hot.

Wednesday, 19 April 2017

NACHOS WITH FRESCA SALSA

Try this for an easy meal that will be on the table in 15 minutes. A popular Mexican dish, Nachos are usually crispy tortilla chips covered in melted cheese and other delicious toppings- such as chicken and Jalapenos.Cheesy game day nachos with all the fixings is a must prepare for the party. Take your tastebuds to Maxico with these chessy nachos with fresca salsa. Very easy and quick to make and very tasty.I love salsa. That's why I never buy it. Homemade fresca salsa is a feast for the senses, known to inspire phrases like " feas for the senses". It's specially nice on a winter days, when tomatoes are in season. Preparing it takes a fair amount of knifework, but the end result is totally worthwhile. Salsa means " sauce" in Spanish, but that's where bottled salsa goes wrong. Good salsa should be crisp and refreshing, more like a salad.For a spicy kick you can use Harissa, which is a North -American chilli paste. It turned out awesome. I served the slasa scattered over corn chips/nachos with melted cheddar cheese. It was awesome I licked the plate afterward, then skipped dinner. Follow this easy recipe and create platters of irresistible snack food for your next big party.


INGREDIENTS:

1 cup Makai ka atta

½ cup Wheat flour

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon Black Pepper powder

2 teaspoon Oil

½ teaspoon Turmeric powder

½ teaspoon Caram/ Ajwain seeds


METHOD:

STEP 1 – Mix all ingredients together and knead a dough using lukewarm water. Make a soft dough.






STEP 2 – Heat oil in a wide pan.

STEP 3 – Now roll the dough like regular chapatti and cut it like nachos triangular shape as shown in below picture.







STEP 4 –Repeat this and make nachos with the rest of the dough and keep aside.

STEP 5 - Fry in hot oil till golden brown.

STEP 6 -  Drain the excess oil and Nachos are ready to serve.

Serve nachos with some fresca slasa, cheese spread, oregano and chilli flakes.

For Fresca Salsa

INGREDIENTS:

3 teaspoon Olive oil

Salt to taste

3 Red Tomatoes, finely chopped

1 Onion, finely chopped

3-4 tablespoon Green Coriander, chopped

Jalapeno Pepper pickled

1 teaspoon Oregano

1 teaspoon White Vinegar 


METHOD:

STEP 1 – Mix all veggies chopped finely together in a bowl.

STEP 2 – Add salt and white vinegar, jelpeno pepper,

oil and oregano.Season with salt as needed.

STEP 3 – Mix it well and serve it with nachos.