THE EASIEST EVER CHOCOLATE CAKE

Posted on December 15, 2011 by nituchugani

This has to be the easiest no fuss chocolate cake ever!!! Just mix and stick into the oven and then halve and spread with an equally easy chocolate ganache and sprinkle almonds. Its yummy and if served with ice cream makes an awesome dessert.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of white room temperature yogurt ( around 130 grams)
Using the same cup as a measurement for the following ingredients:
2 cups of sugar
3 cups of white flour (maida)
3/4 cup of cooking oil
2 eggs
2 tablespoons or more of cocoa powder
a pinch of salt
4-5 tablespoons of hot milk
1 envelope (2.5 teaspoons) of baking powder
METHOD:
mix the yogurt with all the other ingredients. Pour into a baking dish and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees till done. Should not take more than 30-40 minutes. Cool it thoroughly and then cut into half. Sandwich and top with the ganache and sprinkle with flaked almonds
GANACHE:
200 grams of milk chocolate
4-5 tablespoons of whole milk
a tablespoon of butter
METHOD:
in a double boiler melt the chocolate with the milk till smooth and then add the butter. Sandwich the cake with this and also top the cake. This makes enough to sandwich the cake and top it BUT… my daughter loves a LOT of ganache so if you want a lot of gooey sauce you need to make a  bit more..say 300 grams of chocolate with 8 tablespoons of milk and 2 tablespoons of butter.

this is the pic of a cake i baked with this recipe out of the pan! i just sandwiched it with melted chocolate mixed with a few tablespoons of milk and added some nutella to it ! Was yummilicious!!chocolate cake1

Posted in A Piece of Cake???, Breakfast, Floury Matter, Quick Recipes | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

TORRIJAS (SPANISH BREAD DELIGHT)

Posted on December 14, 2011 by nituchugani

“TORRIJAS” are a common sight in a spanish home. Its made of a few days old bread soaked in milk and then fried. Its an all time tea time favourite and very easy to make. In Spain they are also a sight in the bakeries. Its best eaten hot with a lovely cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate. If you have some left over baguette do try this out and let your family enjoy a nice different treat.
INGREDIENTS:
a few days old baguette, sliced into 1 inch thick slices
milk to soak the bread in
a few drops of vanilla essence
beaten egg white
sugar for sprinkling
cinnamon for sprinking
oil for deep frying
METHOD:
Mix the milk with vanilla essence. Soak the bread pieces in the milk till the bread softened. Beat the egg whites till fluffy and dip the bread pieces in it and deep fry them in hot oil till browned. Drain on kitchen paper and then sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
Absolutely delicious!!

Posted in Low Cost, Spanish Tapas | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

CALAMARI MASALA

Posted on December 13, 2011 by nituchugani

This is a different way to serve your calamari. It can be a main dish served with rice or naan bread. It is quite delicious and easy to make. If you dont have patience in browning the onions its quite ok coz you wont get a brown color but a reddish one. The flavor comes from the garam masala used and today i will teach you how to make a small concoction in your own kitchen to get a different aroma and flavor. This is also part of my low cost xmas campaign and this can be also made with prawns, fish or a combination of sea food. To enrich it you can add some butter/ghee which i didnt!!! So here we go with the recipe!!
INGREDIENTS:
350 grams of cleaned calamari or any type of fish or seafood
200 grams of chopped onions
1 tablespoons of ginger garlic paste
4 tablespoons of tomato paste
to be ground to a powder after heating in a pan: 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds, one teaspoon of cumin seeds, 3 cloves, 3 green cardamoms, 1 birds eye red chilli, 2 peppercorns Nitu Didi
coriander leaves chopped
4 tablespoons of olive oil or normal cooking oil
a pinch of salt to taste
METHOD:
heat the oil in the pan and add the chopped onions and let it brown. When it is browned add the ginger garlic paste and cook it till the raw smell disappears. Add some water (1/4 cup) and let it simmer till the gravy is all smashed and you can see the oil separates. Now its time to add the ground spice and the tomato paste. Cook this for half a minute and then add the calamari and cook it till it turns from transparent to opaque. Add the chopped coriander leaves and if you want some more gravy you can add a bit of water . Please do not overcook as the calamari/prawns tend to get tough when over cooked. If you want the dish to be richer add some butter. Serve hot.

Posted in Fusion, Gluten Free, Low Cost, Something's Fishy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

VEGETARIAN SAVOURY CAKE

Posted on December 12, 2011 by nituchugani

I am very happy my low cost xmas campaign is being recieved well by everyone, not because its just xmas but also because these recipes can come into use for anyone at anytime of the year. Today my vegetarian followers can try their hand at this savoury cake. Its an eggless, vegan cake and can be made in advance. It is served cold and i was lucky that it did hold its shape!! I used a bit of cream cheese but that can be avoided totally… i used normal mayonaise but you can also use the eggless variety. I will also include a recipe on how to make an eggless mayonnaise at the end of my recipe which is not my own but taken from the internet.
INGREDIENTS:
slices of white or brown or grainy bread, edges removed ( i used white sliced bread,….courtesy BIMBO SPAIN)
grated cucumbers, carrots, apple,  finely chopped black and green olives, corn kernels, lettuce, de-seeded tomatoes capers etc
chopped nuts if you like and dont have an allergy
cream cheese of your choice and mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste and a dash of hot sauce if you like it spicy

METHOD:
mix the grated and finely chopped vegetables, olives and nuts with the cream cheese(if you use it) and mayonnaise making sure the mixture is a little dry as the vegetables tend to ooze out their own water. Take a silicon container ( you can also use a glass dish but then you wont be able to turn it out which is okay if you dont have a silicon dish or you can even use a spring form baking tin) and spread some of the mixture on the bottom. Add a layer of sliced bread and then again a layer of the mixture and bread and go on till the container is full and the last layer should be the bread.  Press it slightly with the palm of your hand to secure it well and cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours. To unmould…. remove the plastic wrap and then place a plate on top of the silicon container and carefully turn it over. Decorate it with olives, cucumber rounds or sliced tomatoes… Cut into slices and serve
NITU DIDI TIP: this is a little tricky to make… i made it for the 1st time and it turned out well , but please make sure not to have a wet filling or else the cake will not form well.
Low-fat vegan mayo recipe
1 300g silken tofu
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp mustard powder*
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp vinegar

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process for 1-2mins. Adjust seasonings to taste (sometimes add a little more salt and sugar and lemon juice)Chill before serving.Sometimes water forms on the top – just stir it back in before using it.

Posted in A Piece of Cake???, Everything Vegetarian, Healthy Options, Sandwiches, Veg Starters, Vegan | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH CREAMY ASPARAGUS SAUCE

Posted on December 11, 2011 by nituchugani

A nice way to serve up grilled meat or fish is with a nice sauce like this asparagus leek sauce. It is healthy and also different and low cost so perfect for my low cost xmas campaign. The sauce can be made up in advance and the chicken/fish/meat can be grilled and then the sauce heated and poured ontop. It is best served with either garlic bread or tossed pasta in butter.
INGREDIENTS FOR THE SAUCE:
1 cup of green asparagus , chopped …you can either use fresh or frozen
1/4 cup of leeks, use the green part for a better color
cream as needed or milk…i used semi skimmed milk
salt and pepper to taste
METHOD:
boil the asparagus and leeks in enough milk to just cover it till soft. If using cream boil it in water and then add the cream later while blending it. When the asparagus and leeks have softened let it cool and blend it in the blender till smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Heat when needed and pour over grilled fish, meat or chicken, Serve with flaked almonds and dots of tabasco sauce.
FOR THE VEGETARIAN VERSI0N
you can use this sauce to pour over grilled tofu/paneer steaks or even over pasta.
Let us all enjoy the festive season alike!!
NITU DIDI TIP: To make it richer you can add a dollop of butter when heating the sauce

Posted in Chicken, Gluten Free, Healthy Options, Low Cost, NO OIL RECIPES | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

EGGLESS BLACKBERRY CHEESECAKE ICECREAM

Posted on December 10, 2011 by nituchugani

Eggless blackberry cheesecake icream….another of my creations for my low cost xmas campaign!! It is very rich and delicious but you cant eat a lot of it…. so here you are.
INGREDIENTES:
250 grams of cream cheese, at room temperature
250 grams of whipped cream
150 grams of melted white chocolate
6-7 tablespoons of blackberry jam
10 digestive biscuits , crushed
3 tablespoons of melted butter
a small pinch of cinnamon powder
METHOD:
beat the cream cheese and add to the whipped cream. Carefully fold in the melted white chocolate . Add the blackberry jam and mix well. Taste for sweetness remembering when frozen the sweetness lessens. If you like it verry sweet you can add some more jam or melted chocolate. Freeze the mixture while you go to the next step.
Mix the biscuits with the melted butter and the cinnamon powder. Put into a dish flattening it and freeze it for 20 minutes. When it has hardened break it up into small crumbs and add to the half frozen icecream and mix well and refreeze. To serve keep the ice cream out for about 10-15 minutes till it softens a bit. Serve with biscuits of your choice

Posted in Eggless Sweet Temptations, Everything Vegetarian, Low Cost | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

SWEET INDIAN ROTIS (PESHAWARI ROTIS)

Posted on December 9, 2011 by nituchugani

This is my take on the popular restaurant side dish “peshawari naan”. Tho the dough i have made is not “naan” its of a soft rich paratha and easy to make 🙂 the filling is sweet and delicious and can be eaten anytime of the day !! You can fill these with any filling of your choice. Savoury  potatoes or spiced up minced meat is a good alternative or even crumbled spiced up cottage cheese. The main thing is the “dough” so here you go!!
INGREDIENTS FOR THE DOUGH:
2 cups of whole wheat flour or white flour, i used white flour
5 tablespoons of melted butter
a good pinch of salt
1 egg (optional…vegetarians please omit it)
a pinch of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
warm milk to knead the dough
METHOD:
mix all the ingredients for the dough and knead it with warm milk. Leave it aside for an hour covered while you prepare your filling
SWEET FILLING:
4 tablespoons of dessicated coconut
2 tablespoons of raisins
2 tablespoons of powdered almonds
condensed milk as needed
In a blender add the dessicated coconut with the raisins and pulse till its all a mushy mixture. Remove to a bowl and add the powdered almonds and enough condensed milk to bind it all together.
FOR THE ROTIS
Make small balls of the dough and roll each roll into a thin round. Smear one round with a bit of the filling keeping the edges clear ( i used a butter knife to smear the filling) and then cover with another round of the dough and seal the edges well. Roll it out a bit lightly to even it out.  Heat an iron gridle or a non stick frying pan till hot and cook the round on one side and then flip it over and cook it on the other . Smear with a little butter and serve it. Make all the rotis the same way!!!!

Posted in Eggless Sweet Temptations, Everything Vegetarian, Floury Matter, Indian Restaurant Dishes | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

CHEESY CUCUMBER CANAPES

Posted on December 8, 2011 by nituchugani

This is the first of my “low cost christmas campaign” which i am going to do for my followers. Everyone knows what Spain is going through and its sad…so i am starting this campaign for all of those who are going through a financial crisis. I would also like to thank BIMBO SPAIN for the hamper they sent me and i would like to talk about their sliced bread.  I got a hamper from them 2 weeks ago and believe me even after 2 weeks their sliced bread was as delicious as ever. I made these canapes from their bread tho they do have a special pre cut bread for canapes.
INGREDIENTS:
100 grams of cream cheese,  i used the herbed garlic one which is also low in fat
100 grams of grated cucumber
100 grams of grated apple
a pinch of black pepper, i did not put
a few raisins and pomogranet seeds for decorating or any other nuts or fruit you would like to add
Sliced bread
METHOD:
soften the cheese by keeping it out of the refrigerator for a while and then add the grated cucmber and grated apple and mix well. The amount of cucumber and apple you use is upto you. Add the pepper. Using a cookie cut cut the sliced bread into the shapes you like. If you dont have a cookie cutter you can cut the slices into triangles. Spread the cheese mixture on the cut bread and sprinkle with raisins and pomogranet on top and serve!!
To make home made cream cheese i have a video on you tube…
You can also add finely chopped ham to this. I have kept it vegetarian for all my vegetarian followers.
For vegans you can use silken tofu… just add herbs to it to enhance the flavor

Posted in Everything Vegetarian, Healthy Options, Low Cost, NO OIL RECIPES, Sandwiches, Veg Starters | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

SAVOURY BALLS

Posted on December 6, 2011 by nituchugani

This is just an idea of how to serve up a snack for a party or xmas dinner. You can make any kind  of savoury balls from meat, fish, chicken , turkey , tuna or vegetables and deep fry them and then just insert a pretzel stick ( i had to halve them) and serve them in a bowl or a deep platter.
I made these balls out of cooked chicken, this recipe of mine is dairy and gluten free .
2 cups of shredded cooked chicken, i used the chicken which i boiled to make chicken soup
1/4 cups or more of potato mash powder
1-2 eggs beaten (depends on the mixture)
salt and pepper to taste
a bit of chopped coriander leaves
a pinch of Nitu Didi cumin powder
a pinch of Nitu Didi chilli flakes
you can also add garam masala, coriander powder, tumeric powder and oregano to give it more flavor..i did not
pretzel sticks or thin breadsticks to insert
METHOD:
mix the finely shredded cooked chicken with the potato mash powder and the spices and coriander leaves. Add some beaten egg to bind it all together. Leave the mixture to harden in the fridge. Shape into balls and deep fry . Inset a pretzel stick or breadstick and serve.
TIP: to test if the balls will fry well take a tiny piece and put it in the oil…if it doesnt break up means your mixture is perfect. If it does you can add more potato mash powder or beaten egg. If you have added too much beaten egg by mistake and the mixture is soggy add some more potato mash powder. If you are not allergic to gluten you can substitute the potato mash powder for breadcrumbs. You can make this with fish or cooked meat and even boiled vegetables. You can also add some grated cheese to this.

Posted in Chicken, Gluten Free | Tagged , | 2 Comments

EGGLESS CARROT CAKE BY PINKY NAGDEV

Posted on December 4, 2011 by nituchugani

EGGLESS CARROT CAKE . This recipe and pic has been sent to me by my dear follower Pinky Nagdev and it looks soo delicious. In my home no one likes carrot cake so i have asked Pinky for her permission to use her picture and recipe for all of you and she has soo sweetly agreed. Thank you soo much sweety Pinky

INGREDIENTS
1 cup (250 gms) white flour
1 cup (250 ml ) vegetable oil
1 cup (250 gms)castor sugar
1 heaped cup of finely grated carrot
2 tsp. Baking powder
pinch of soda bi carbonate
1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
3/4 cup of soda water approx
half tsp salt
icing sugar for dusting on top

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Sift together the flour, baking pwd , cinnamon and half tsp salt in a bowl. In another bowl whisk oil , sugar and eating soda nicely. Add dry sifted ing and soda alternately and gradually till all the flour is used up. Make sure the batter is thick( later wen u add grated carrots it will leave water and get perfect consistency )U can reduce or increase the quantity of soda water accordingly.Fold in the grated carrot. Pour the batter in a greased cake tin n bake @ 180°C for min 45 mins. Or till a toothpick comes out clean wen inserted in the middle of the cake . Let cool . Dust with icing sugar before serving.

Posted in A Piece of Cake???, Eggless Sweet Temptations, Everything Vegetarian, Floury Matter, Vegan | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment