Baked Samosa

Samosa is one of the most popular snack of north India. It is a triangular shaped crisp and flaky pastry filled with spicy and tangy potato filling. The list of choices available for the filling is endless. It can be served at small get togethers like high tea or kitty parties alongwith a hot cup of tea or coffee. These are generally deep-fried but today i made them baked brushing a very little amount of oil on these and they came out very crisp and flaky.
Shaping these samosas becomes a fun activity for my 8-year old daughter who is always keen to know what i am making and will always accompany me in the kitchen.
So, try these healthy yet delicious samosas and am sure you will not miss the deep fried ones.

Ingredients:
For the pastry cover (dough)

• all-purpose flour (maida)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp carom seeds (ajwain)
• clarified butter or ghee
• water as required

For the filling:

• 6-7 potatoes (boiled and peeled)
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1-2 green chillies
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp mango powder
• 1 tsp rock salt
• salt to taste
• coriander leaves chopped
• 10-12 raisins
• 10-12 cashew nuts
• 1 tbsp oil
• oil for deep frying

METHOD:

1. Firstly, mix the ingredients of the covering and make a hard dough. Cover and let it rest for 30 min. 
2. Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and let it splutter. Add green peas and green chillies and cook for few min. add roughly mashed potatoes, raisins and cashewnuts and all the spices. Mix well. 
3. Divide the dough into lemon sized balls and roll out a thin roti. Cut the roti in two halves. now take one semicircle and make a cone, place a tablespoon of filling in the centre and apply little water to seal the open edges carefully and give the shape of a samosa.
4. Lightly brush all the samosas with very little oil and bake for 30-35 min. in a preheated oven at 200 degree celcius.
5. Serve hot with the coriander chutney or tomato ketchup.

Note:

• Do not over knead the dough of samosas else they will not be flaky and crisp.
• You may deep-fry these samosas instead of baking.

Eggless Chocolate Cupcakes

The other day my daughter who has a serious sweet tooth and wants something sweet now and then...asked me to make chocolate cupcakes at night.. as i generally avoid stocking up on eggs in summer, i looked for this recipe for chocolate cupcakes without eggs in an old magazine and made her happy in no time.
After eating this you will not complain about missing eggs because these are super moist and spongy and addition of coffee enhances the flavor and richness of chocolate to a new standard. Do try these quick and easy cupcakes or follow the same recipe to bake a cake.


Preparation time: 10 min.
Baking time: 20 min.
Makes: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour (maida)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
• 1 cup sugar (granulated)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup warm water
• 1.5 tsp instant coffee powder
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 6 tbsp oil

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degree celcius for 10-15 min. 
2. Place liners in the muffin/cupcake pan or lightly grease with oil.
3. Sift together all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
4. Add sugar in the dry ingredients and mix well using a whisk.
5. Add coffee powder to warm water and mix well.
6. Add vinegar, vanilla essence and oil in the brewed coffee.
7. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and make a lump-free batter.
8. Fill the lined cupcake pan till 2/3rd full and bake for 20 min. till a tooth-pick inserted comes out clean.
9. Let these cool on a wire rack and enjoy with a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

Jam Thumbprint Butter Cookies

Try these butter cookies with the goodness of your favourite jam in the centre making them kids favourite snack. Indulge your kids while making them and they will love to do the filling part.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 125 gm soft butter
• 125 gm sugar 
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• strawberry jam as required

METHOD:

1. Preheat oven at 180 degree celcius.
2. Line a baking sheet with butter paper.
3. Sift together maida, baking powder and salt.
4. Beat together butter and sugar for 5 min. well till fluffy add 1 egg and vanilla essence beat well.
5. Gradually mix in dry ingredients till resembles bread crumbs and stop the beater.
6. Gently mix to make dough.
7. Scoop out 1 inch balls using cookie scooper on the lined baking sheet.
8. Press a thumb print into the centre of each cookie about half inch deep.
9. Fill each centre with 1/2 tsp jam using spoon or piping bag.
10. Bake at 180 degree celcius for 12-15 min or until edges turn golden in color.
11. Let these cool on a wire rack and serve.

Mushroom Quiche

Quiche is a classic french dish with an open pie crust filled with egg and cheese custard along with cooked vegetables or chicken. It can be eaten hot or cold, during breakfast, lunch or dinner depending upon personal taste or preferences.
This is the first time i made a quiche and it came out so well and was liked by all.. the crust came out so flaky and the mushrooms and cheese combination was worth a try.

INGREDIENTS:

For the pastry crust:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 75 gm butter (chilled)
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 3-4 drops vinegar or lemon juice
• 2-3 tbsp chilled water

For the filling:

• 2 cups mushroom (chopped)
• 1/2 tsp garlic (crushed)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup fresh cream
• 1/2 black pepper
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp parsley or fresh coriander
• 100 gms mozzarella or cheddar cheese (grated)

METHOD:

For the pastry crust:

1. Mix together all-purpose flour, salt and butter using finger tips.
2. Add vinegar or lemon juice and mix gently.
3. Do not knead the dough, lightly bring together using chilled water.
4. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for atleast 30 min.
5. Roll out the dough and transfer to the pie mould.
6. Gently cover all the edges completely and trim the extra edges.
7. Lightly prick using a fork.
8. Blind bake for 10-15 min. at 180 degree celcius.

For the filling:

1. Heat olive oil and add garlic, stir for few sec.
2. Next, add mushrooms and cook till light golden in colour.
3. Add lemon juice and remove from flame.
4. In a bowl, beat eggs and cream together.
5. Add salt, pepper and parsley, mix well.
6. Add cooked mushrooms into the egg mixture.
7. Put about 2 tablespoons of filling on the base of the baked crust.
8. Pour the filling over the cheese and top with some more cheese.
9. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degree celcius till cheese melts and the crust gets nice golden brown in colour.

Banana Walnut Bread - Quick Bread Recipe

This is a simple and fool-proof recipe of delicious, moist and homemade banana bread which involves only mixing together of all the ingredients. Even a non-baker can bake this without going wrong. And you know what... it is the best way to use the most overripe black and mushy bananas that you might be planning to throw in the bin.. which will give you the super moist banana bread.

Preparation time: 5 min.
Cooking time: 40 min.
Type: Quick Bread
Serves: 4-5

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup castor sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 cup yoghurt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3-4 banana
• 1/2 cup walnut (chopped)

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven at 200 degree celcius for 10-15 min.
2. Sift together all-purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon powder in a large bowl.
3. Mash all the bananas and whisk together with eggs, oil, yoghurt, milk and vanilla essence.
4. Add sifted flour mixture gradually, mixing gently using spatula.
5. Finally add walnuts and mix well.
6. Pour batter in a greased and dusted bread mould. 
7. Bake at 200 degree celcius for 40-45 min. or till a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Note:

• Use overripe bananas for better results.
• Sprinkle little flour on walnuts to avoid them from turning black and sinking down while baking.