This is the first time I made cupcakes. I was a little bit worried about frosting, I have never done it before, and I did not have proper icing tips. But Ansh insisted he wanted cupcakes for the Spring festival in his Kindergarten.

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Keeping my fingers crossed I went ahead and made a batch. They tasted wonderful and looked good enough.

What You Need :

All-Purpose Flour / Maida : 1 1/4 cups
Baking Powder : 2 tsp
Salt : 1/4 tsp
Cocoa Powder : 1/2 cup
Boiling Hot Water : 1 cup
Butter : 1/2 cup, unsalted and at room temperature
Sugar : 1 cup
Vanilla Extract : 1 tsp
For Frosting:
Chopped White Chocolate : 150 gms
Butter : 150 gms
Icing Sugar : 160 gms
Vanilla Extract : 1 tsp

Preheat oven to 190 degrees C.
Prepare muffin tray by lining with muffin cups.
Mix cocoa powder and boiling hot water till smooth and let it cool to room temperature.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt, till mixed well.
With electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time and beat till smooth.
Beat in the vanilla extract.
Add the flour mixture and mix till just incorporated.
Then add the cooled cocoa mixture and stir until smooth.
Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full with batter and bake for about 20 mins till a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean.
Do not over bake or the cupcakes will be dry and crumble easily.
Remove from oven and let them cool.
After the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing.

Chocolate Frosting:
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a double boiler. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
With an electric mixer or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until smooth, for about 1 minute.
Add the sugar and beat until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract.
Add the chocolate and beat on low speed until incorporated.

You can spread this frosting on the cupcakes with help of a spatula, or pipe it with help of piping bag.

Mom’s Tips:
Cupcakes are usually best the day they are made.
You can also cover and store for a day or two.
If piping the frosting, I suggest to use a big open star tip to get nice swirl or a flower shape.I had a small sized tip, so the icing was not as pretty as I expected.

Weather is getting nice and warm these days. It feels so good to be soaking in the warm rays of the sun, sipping hot coffee in the morning. Watching the pretty flowers bloom, birds chirping happily and kids playing with water sprinklers makes me feel happy.

And obviously for us, summer is a synonym for grilling. These delicious Seekh kababs are our favorite for grilling. Ansh calls then chicken on the stick.

Enjoy the grilling season with these yummy soft and succulent kababs.

What You Need :
Ground Meat : 500 gms (Chicken / Lamb / Beef)
Red Chili Powder : 1 tsp
Coriander Powder : 1 tsp
Turmeric : 1/2 tsp
Ginger Garlic Paste : 1 Tbsp
Garam Masala : 1 tsp
Egg : 1/2, beaten
Coriander Leaves : a handful, chopped
Fried Onions : 3-4 Tbsp, Optional
Bread Crumbs : 2-3 Tbsp, if needed

Pre-heat oven to the maximum temperature.
Mix all the ingredients well. If the mixture has more moisture and is difficult to hold shape, add bread crumbs.
Take a portion of mixture and put it onto a skewer along the length, pressing it well with your hand and shaping it like in the picture. Repeat this until the mixture is finished.
Put them on the baking tray and bake till the meat is done and the color turns golden brown. Alternatively you can grill them.
Serve hot with some chutney, sliced onion and lemon wedges.

Mom’s Tips :
If you do not have an oven, after pressing the mixture on to the skewer, slowly pull out the skewer and fry the kababs in hot oil.
You can even add grated paneer to the mixture for extra taste.
If using wooded skewers soak them in water at least for 30 mins before using them, to prevent burning of the skewer.

After waiting for long time, which almost seemed like ages, Summer is finally here. We enjoyed our first sunny day with these delicious popsicles. They are healthy and very tasty.
My kid loved them. I am sure you will love them too.

For Telugu readers, please scroll down for link in Telugu. / తెలుగులో చదవడం కోసం పోస్ట్ ఆఖరులో ఉన్న లింక్ క్లిక్ చెయ్యండి.

What you Need:

Peaches : 5 (fresh or canned)
Banana : 1, ripe
Yogurt : 1 and half cups
Milk : 3-4 Tbsp
Honey : 1/2 cup (adjust according to taste)

Blend all the ingredients using a hand blender or normal mixer.
Pour the mixture into ice cream moulds and put them in the freezer.
Freeze for about 1 hour and then insert the ice cream sticks.
Freeze over night.

Mom’s Tips:
You can even add few drops of Vanilla essence while blending.
Or use Vanilla yogurt for extra taste.
You can even replace Honey with Sugar.

Peach Popsicles in Telugu /  పీచ్ పాప్సికల్

It feels as if only yesterday my son was born. I can still clearly remember the moment when I held him in my arms for the first time. The innocent angel staring into my eyes, it is an emotion which cannot be explained in words.

The other day I got a letter from the City, which says that it is time I have to register him for School. School? I have never realized that he had grown so big. As I called up the schools to have information and deciding which one is best for hin, I started to have butterflies in my stomach, the wierd feeling – as if it was me who had to go to the school for the first time.

I made these cookies the other day, for Ansh. He loved them, I hope you will love them too.

For Telugu readers, please scroll down for link in Telugu. / తెలుగులో చదవడం కోసం పోస్ట్ ఆఖరులో ఉన్న లింక్ క్లిక్ చెయ్యండి.

Recipe Source : Hershey’s
Makes 40 approximately
What You Need :
Creamy Peanut Butter : 3/4 cup
Butter : 1/2 cup, at room temperature
White Sugar : 1/3 cup or 65 grams
Brown Sugar : 1/3 cup or 65 grams
Egg : 1
Milk : 2 Tbsp
Vanilla Extract : 1 tsp
All Purpose Flour (Maida) : 1 and 1/2 cup
Baking Soda : 1 tsp
Salt : one pinch
Sugar : few Tbsp
Hershey’s Kisses : around 40

Pre-heat oven to 180 C.
Line a Baking tray with Butter/Parchment Paper. Keep aside.
With the help of a hand mixed or a stand mixer, peanut butter and butter till well blended.
Add in both the sugars and beat till nicely mixed and fluffy.
Now add in egg, milk and vanilla extract and beat well.
Sift together Flour, Salt and Baking Soda.
With the help of a spatula mix in the flour mixture into the butter mixture. You will get a soft dough.
Shape the dough into 1 inch balls, and roll them in the extra sugar and place them on the baking tray. Leave gap between each ball.
Put the tray in the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes, until the cookies are light brown in color.
Remove from oven, and immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie. Cookie will crack around edges and it is normal.
Cool completely before storing.

Mom’s Tips :
If you dot have brown sugar, use normal white sugar.
If Hershey Kisses are not available, then skip this step. The cookies taste amazing even with out the chocolate.

Peanut Butter Cookies in Telugu / పీనట్ బట్టర్ కుకీస్

This winter has been very long and cold this year. Every time I thought that this will be the last snow of the season, and everyday I woke up to see the white blanket covered streets. This gloomy grey and dark weather had made everyone very depressing.

So to brighten up the mood of my family, I made this delicious colorful dessert which is a treat both to eyes and tummy.

I tasted this for the first time when I was in London for the Plate to Page Program and it was love at first bite.

According to Wikipedia

Eton mess is a traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries, pieces of meringue and cream, which is traditionally served at Eton College’s annual cricket game against the pupils of Harrow School. The dish has been known by this name since the 19th century.
An Eton mess can be made with many other types of summer fruit, but strawberries are regarded as more traditional.

For Telugu readers, please scroll down for link in Telugu. / తెలుగులో చదవడం కోసం పోస్ట్ ఆఖరులో ఉన్న లింక్ క్లిక్ చెయ్యండి.

Makes 6 – 8 Servings
What you Need :
For Meringues
Egg whites : 3
Powder Sugar : 3/4 cup
Salt : a pinch
Rest of the Ingredients
Whipping Cream : 500 ml
Rose Water : 2 Tbsp
Sugar : 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp
Raspberries : 1 1/2 cups

For the Meringues :
Pre heat the oven to 150 C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Set aside.
Take Egg whites in a clean dry bowl, add in salt and whisk till soft peaks. Now slowly add in sugar while whisking continuously till stiff peaks form.
Scoop large tablespoons of the mixture on to the tray, with help of two spoons or using ice cream scoop. Or you can pipe the mixture using a piping bag.
Leave some space between each meringue.
Put the baking tay in the middle rack of the oven, and bake for at least 1 and half to two hours.
Once done, take them off the oven and allow them to cool.

Wash the raspberries and roughly mash them. Add in 2 Tbsp of sugar and let it sit for few minutes.
Take cream and sugar in a bowl, add in rose water and beat till stiff peaks form.
Add in the raspberries and mix lightly with a spoon.
If serving individually, layer the cream and raspberry mixture and layer it with broken meringue pieces repeate two or three times.
Or Mix broken meringue pieces and cream and raspberry mixture and serve immediately.

Eton Mess in Telugu / ఇటోన్ మెస్

It has been so much travel from 2012 August. Trip to US twice and then a trip to India. It was so much travelling that I promised myself to give a break to travelling for another one year.

And I have been eating and drinking so much that I gave a lil break to my blog

So since it has been a while I made something special, we (ansh and me) decided to treat ourselves. So here I present, simple and humble Shrikhand. Since I made it with Mango pulp it is also called Aamrakhand.

Get a big spoon and dig in!

For Telugu readers, please scroll down for link in Telugu. / తెలుగులో చదవడం కోసం పోస్ట్ ఆఖరులో ఉన్న లింక్ క్లిక్ చెయ్యండి.

What You Need :
Thick Greek Yogurt : 4 cups
Mango Pulp : 3 cups
Vanilla Extract : 2 – 3 drops
Honey : 1/4 cup
Sugar : 2 Tbsp
Slivered Almonds : for garnish

Take a clean cheese cloth or muslin cloth. Spread it over a bowl and spoon the yogurt into it. Tie the loose ends together and let it hang over the kitchen sink for at least 4 hours, depending on how thin or thick the yogurt is.
If the temperature is very hot outside, place the cheese cloth in the colander with a bowl underneath and keep it in the fridge overnight.
When the hung yogurt is ready, add in vanilla, mango puree, honey and sugar. Whisk with a wire whisk till sugar and honey is dissolved and you get a nice, smooth mixture.
Pour the mixture into individual bowls or a single serving bowl.
Cover and chill shrikhand for 1 or 2 hours, until it is ready to serve. Sprinkle with almonds before serving.

Mom’s Notes :
Increase or reduce the amount of sugar/honey, depending on the sweetness of the mango.
You use either honey or sugar, instead of both.
For more exotic tastes you can add either saffron strands or crushed cardamom instead of vanilla.
For more richness, whip a cup of cream and add it to the mixture.

Aamrakhand / ఆమ్రఖండ్ : Recipe in Telugu

Meeting school friends after long time is so very exciting. Tanu and Sruj have been my friends since 4th grade, and our friendship grew stronger with age. We had a very fun filled childhood with sleepovers, slumber parties and movie nights. From reading comics in the bed with torchlight, talking for hours together in phone, reading Mills&Boons secretly.

The journey we started as 3 girls, talking about cute boys and crushes, is now at the stage of 3 moms, talking about husbands, kids and mother-in-laws.

Though we are spread out in 3 continents, one in India, one in US and one in Germany, and meet only once a year or once in two years, the time does not make any difference, and when we meet it feels as is we were always together.

And the recipe, we all loved seafood as kids and this one is for my girlfriends who are always there when I need them.

For Telugu readers, please scroll down for link in Telugu. / తెలుగులో చదవడం కోసం పోస్ట్ ఆఖరులో ఉన్న లింక్ క్లిక్ చెయ్యండి.

What You Need :
Raw Shrimp : 20 jumbo shrimp, shelled and devined with tail on
Salt : to taste
Red Chilli Powder : 2 tsp
Turmeric : 1/2 tsp
Ginger Garlic paste : 1/2 tsp
All purpose flour : 1/2 cup
Egg : 2, lightly beaten
Bread crumbs : 1 cup , for coating
Oil : 4 – 5 Tbsp, for shallow frying

Add all the ingredients to the shrimp, from salt to ginger garlic paste, mix till well coated.
Dredge shrimp in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Dip shrimp into eggs and then coat both sides with bread crumbs.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add half of the shrimp to the pan, placing them side by side so they don’t touch each other, cook about 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat procedure with remaining half of the shrimp. Add a little more oil if necessary.
Drain on paper towels.
Serve with Ketchup or Mayo.

Fried Shrimp : Recipe in Telugu / ఫ్రైడ్ ష్రింప్

City Tour of LA was fun. Especially the Rodeo drive, the street where Julia Roberts went shopping in Pretty Woman. It was an ultimate homage to fashion, facinating lables from Prada, Cartier, Gucci, Armani, Versace, Dior etc on either sides of the street displaying their expensive and exclusive goods. Though I did not buy anything there, I immensely enjoyed the window shopping. For a moment I felt was in shopping paradise

Continuing to be in the mood, I would like to share a heavely dessert – Chocolate Mousse!

For Telugu readers, please scroll down for link in Telugu. / తెలుగులో చదవడం కోసం పోస్ట్ ఆఖరులో ఉన్న లింక్ క్లిక్ చెయ్యండి.

You will need:

Egg Yolks : 2
Egg Whites : 4
Salt : a small pinch
Cream : 240 ml (1 cup)
Milk : 80 ml (1/3rd cup)
Sugar : 4 Tbsp
Vanilla Extract : 1 tsp
Chocolate chips or bar : 250 gms

Melt chocolate over a double boiler and keep aside.
In a small saucepan heat milk and sugar till they come to a boil.
Using a stand beater or hand beater, beat egg yolks till pale. While beating the yolks, slowly add hot milk in a very slow stream.
This is a very important step. So remember to add the milk very slowly or else you will end up with scrambled eggs.
Add in vanilla extract and whisk for an other minute.
Now add in melted chocolate and continue to whisk till well combined.
In a seperate clean bowl beat egg whites till soft peaks, add in salt and beat till stiff peaks form.
Add egg whites in three small batches to the yolk and chocolate mixture. Do not over mix it.
Now whisk cream till stiff peaks form and add again in batches to the chocolate mixture. Fold in gently. Do not over mix.
Pour the mixture into 8 medium sized cups, cover with cling wrap and refrigerate for minimum 4 hrs or overnight.
Serve cold.
You can even top it with fresh berries or fruit or whipped cream.

This week in LA was so very crazy for me. Hundreds of people flocked in malls for shopping, setting up tents before the shops 24 hrs before the black friday sale, people buying stuff enough for another 1 or may be 2 years.

Each and every thing was surprising. We do not have thanksgiving in Europe and we do not have such crazy mind blowing sales and it was kind of a fun experience.

And not to mention the Thanksgiving lunch we had at one of the restaurants. The turkey meal was amazing. Loved it to the last bite.
So keeping the spirit alive, here I am posting the delicious, lip-smacking Pumpkin Bread.

Enjoy!

For Telugu readers, please scroll down for link in Telugu. / తెలుగులో చదవడం కోసం పోస్ట్ ఆఖరులో ఉన్న లింక్ క్లిక్ చెయ్యండి.

What you Need :
All Purpose Flour : 1 and half cups
Baking Powder : 1 tsp
Baking Soda : 1/2 tsp
Salt : 1/2 tsp
Ground Cinnamon : 1 tsp
Ground Ginger : 1/4 tsp
Pumpkin Puree : 1 cup (200 gms approx)
Vegetable Oil : 1/3 cup (80 ml approx)
Eggs : 2, at room temperature
Sugar : 1 and 1/4 cup
Vanilla Extract : 1 tsp
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or Bar : 125 gms

Preheat oven to 350 F / 180 C.
Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with butter and flour.
Melt the chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar over a hot water bath(double boiler), over low heat, avoiding contact with water.
Or melt it in a microwave using a heat proof bowl. Keep it aside.
In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda , ground cinnamon, ground ginger and salt.
In another large bowl, whisk eggs lightly and add in sugar and oil whisk till it is mixed well. Then add in pumpkin puree and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
Using a spatula, fold in flour mixture until just combined. Do not over mix the batter.
Add the batter to the loaf pan.
Pour melted chocolate on top and swirl the chocolate into the pumpkin batter with a knife to get the marbled effect.
Transfer to oven and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just few crumbs.
Cool the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Invert the pan to remove the loaf.
Serve bread warm or at room temperature.

For all my wonderful Telugu readers, I am for the first time posting the recipe also in telugu. Please click the link below for telugu version. / నా ప్రియమైన తెలుగు పాఠకులందరికీ మొదటి సారిగా మీ కోసం తెలుగు లో పోస్ట్ చేస్తున్నాను. తెలుగులో చదవడం కోసం కింద ఉన్న లింక్ క్లిక్ చెయ్యండి.

Recipe in Telugu / చాక్లెట్ పంప్కిన్ బ్రెడ్

Recipe in Telugu / చాక్లెట్ పంప్కిన్ బ్రెడ్

It has been packing time again on the weekend. This time flying to LA to visit my dear sis in law.
It has been very exhausting journey and the jet lag is making me crazy. But surprisingly Ansh got adapted very easily.

Me and my sis in law, got together after many years for some gossip and giggles with some comforting hot bowl of pasta and a glass of wine. I have never been to an italian restaurant when I was a kid. As a kid comfort food was always Dal Chawal(Rice and Lentils) for me. It was only after reaching graduation that I got exposed to more flavors and cuisines and among all the cuisines, I loved Italian the most.

If it were up to me, I would eat pasta 3 to 4 times a week. But now we have a pasta night on every saturday. It is generally with a movie or nice music.

Italian food is good food that is so diverse. From huge family size meals of good times that give a smile to the table and laughter. To romantic portions ment to bring togeather a young couple in love. To simple dishes that can be whipped up after a busy day.

This dish is one of those light but rich dish, bursting with flavors, that can be enjoyed on a cold evening. Soft pasta at the bottom with tasty tomato sauce and rich paneer balls and crunchy bread topping. Yumm.. just mouth watering, isn’t it

Please sit back, relax and enjoy!

Serves : 4 to 5
What You Need :
Linguine : a big fistful(i did not weigh for exact measurement)
Cook pasta in boiling water with salt added till al dente (approx 12-15 mins)
Drain and keep aside

For Paneer Balls : makes 16-18
Grated Paneer : 2 cups approximately
Boiled Potatoes : 3 medium, peeled and mashed
Bread Crumbs : 1/2 cup
Coriander Powder : 1 Tbsp
Jeera Powder : 1 tsp
Salt : to taste
Green Chilli : 3-4 , finely chopped, according to taste
Oil : 1/2 cup for shallow frying
Mix all the ingredients together to get a nice dough like mixture.
Divide the mixture into around 17 equal parts approximately and with palm of your hands roll into smooth round balls.
Heat oil in a wide pan and drop the balls in batches and fry on medium heating turning them in between to get a nice golden brown color on all sides.
Remove and keep aside.

For Tomato Sauce :
Arrabiata Sauce : 2 cups (I used readymade bottled sauce)See Notes*
Thick Tomato Cream Soup : 1 cup (I used canned soup) See Notes*
Onion : 1, finely minced
Ginger : 1 inch, finely chopped
Kitchen King : 1 Tbsp, completely optional
Salt : if required
Olive oil : 1 Tbsp
In a wide pan, heat oil and add ginger and onion.
Fry till onion is translucent.
Add in Arrabiata Sauce and Tomato Soup.
Simmer for a few minutes.
Add in Kitchen king if using, and salt if required.
Simmer for 3-4 minutes more. Turn off heat.
Drop the fried paneer balls in the sauce.

For Topping:
Whole Wheat Bread : 4 slices
Garlic : 3 – 4 cloves
Olive Oil : 1 Tbsp

Process all the ingredients together to get coarse crumbs.
Heat a pan and add the crumbs and fry till nice and crunchy.

To Serve :
Place pasta in a plate and spoon in tomato sauce with one or two paneer balls. Top with bread crumbs.
Enjoy hot with a glass of wine

Mom’s Notes :
You can use any kind of pasta instead of Linguine.
The paneer balls, you can bake them or even deep fry them.
You can make the Arrabiata sauce in advance. Or
You can use a combination of tomato puree and Cream and italian seaonings like dried rosemary, oregano, thyme and sage, to get the almost similar tasting sauce.

This goes to the give away by the Plate to Page team about Comfort Food.