Spicy Chicken Soup

A warm, spicy, cozy soup on a cold, wintery evening is what most of us would dream of. My father- in- law likes different varieties of soups. In this cold weather, I made one of his favorite spicy chicken soup and here it is now on my blog.

This chicken soup is a hearty, comforting soup that's so easy and simple to make which only take few minutes. In this, I have added roasted corn which is optional. You can add boiled corn and any of your favorite veggies. When all the spices are added together, the flavors are very well blended with each other which gives a distinctive taste and enhances your taste buds. The spiciness can be adjusted to suit your taste. I have made different varieties of soups before, but this one is more Indian with the addition of spices. Hope you all might like this. Try this out and let me know.

Ingredients:

1. Boneless Chicken pieces- 1 Cup
2. Roasted Corn- 1/2 Cup
3. Water- 3 Cups
4. Pepper powder- 1 tbsp
5. Salt- as required
6. Cumin Powder- 1 Tsp
7. Grated Ginger- 1 tbsp
8. Grated Garlic- 1 tbsp
9. Coriander Powder- 1 Tsp
10. Freshly Chopped Cilantro- 2 tbsp

Method:

1. In a large pot, add all the ingredients except chopped cilantro, stir and boil on a medium flame.
2. After about 4- 5 minutes of rolling boil, simmer the flame and let this cook for another 5 minutes till all the ingredients get well blended with each other.. Switch off the flame.
3. Add the chopped cilantro leaves and soy sauce. Adjust the salt and pepper powder according to your taste levels. Enjoy a warm, spicy soup on a cold evening.

Mocha Cake with Coffee Mousse topped with a shiny Mirror Glaze- A wedding anniversary delight

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary and to celebrate the occasion I baked this mirror glaze mocha cake for the first time. I was looking for a chance to bake this amazingly scrumptious cake and so I got a reason.

This is the first time I am trying the mirror glaze effect and it came out perfect. I have followed my very own mocha cake recipe, the coffee mousse recipe and mirror glaze recipe I adapted from different blogs.
I choose the coffee flavor for our anniversary cake as we all love the flavor a lot. The glaze came out perfect and so I want to share the recipe with my lovely friends. The creamy white chocolate gives a mirror-like finish when poured over a smoothly frosted cake. The latest craze in this baking is this shiny mirror like a glaze and the glazing effect. I am very happy and excited to share this recipe with all of you. Hope you will try and let me know.

Ingredients:
For Mocha Cake

1. All Purpose Flour- 1 1/2 Cups
2. Sugar- 1 Cup
3. Baking Soda- 1 Tsp
4. Cocoa Powder- 3 tbsp
5. Oil- 1/4 Cup
6. Brewed Coffee- 1 Cup
7. Salt- a pinch
8. Vanilla Essence- 1 tsp
9. Lemon juice- 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees C.
2. Mix brewed coffee, sugar, lemon juice, oil and vanilla essence in a mixing bowl.
3. Sieve the all purpose flour, salt, baking soda and cocoa powder, keep this aside. Mix the dry ingredients along with wet ingredients till everything is well blended.
4. Pour this into a springform baking pan and bake for about 20- 25 minutes or a skewer inserted comes out clean. Let this cool.

For Norwegian Coffee Mousse:

1. Gelatine- 2 tbsp
2. Water- 1/3 Cup
3. Whipping Cream- 2 Cups
4. Sugar- 1/3 Cup
5. Strong Coffee- 3/4 Cup
6. Vanilla Essence- 1 tsp

Method:

1. In a glass bowl, sprinkle the gelatine and pour hot water. Mix until the gelatine dissolves. Let it cool.
2. In another bowl, whip the cream till stiff peaks are formed, add the sugar, strong coffee, vanilla essence and mix well.
3. In this add the cooled gelatine, mix and keep this aside.
4. Take the cooled cake in the springform pan and pour the prepared coffee mousse and level it using a spatula. Keep this refrigerated for 4 hours or overnight.

For the Mirror Glaze:

1. White Chocolate- 2 Cups
2. Condensed Milk- 2/3 Cup
3. Sugar- 1/4 Cup
4. Red color Gel- 4- 5 drops
5. water- 1/2 Cup +1/2 Cup
6. Gelatine- 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Heat the condensed milk, sugar and 1/2 Cup water on a low heat. In the remaining 1/2 cup water add the gelatine and mix until the gelatine gets dissolved.
2. Add this dissolved gelatine in the above made condensed milk mixture and stir until everything gets mixed well.
3. Pour this hot liquid in the white chocolate chips and whisk it slowly until the chocolate has melted well. Let the glaze cool.
4. Assembling the Cake:
5. Remove the cake from refrigerator and take out the springform by running a warm knife around the sides of the cake.
6. Pour the cooled mirror glaze on top of the cake and let it sit for another 2- 3 hours.
7. Half an hour before cutting the cake, take the cake out of the refrigerator and enjoy.

Chicken Puffs

In India, by evening the bakeries are filled with a different variety of hot puffs. Though I am not a big fan of these puffs, my family loves them a lot.

Here in the US as we get them very rarely, I bake them once in a while for my puffs loving daughter and husband. Now as my in-laws are here, I make sure they eat fresh homemade snack along with their evening tea and puffs have become a common one.

I usually bake egg puffs and paneer puffs. These chicken puffs, I made for the first time and is a huge hit. This is a perfect snack for guests. Make the chicken filling and fold it in the pastry sheet. Arrange them on a baking tray and when needed just bake and serve hot puffs.
Enjoy them as it is, or douse them generously with ketchup and bite into this splendid treat.

Ingredients:

1. Puff pastry Sheets- 10 square sheets
2. Boneless Chicken Pieces- 1 Cup
3. Green Chillies (chopped)- 2 tbsp
4. Pepper Powder- 1 Tsp
5. Red Chilli Powder- 1 Tsp
6. Turmeric Powder- 1/2 Tsp
7. Salt- as required
8. Tomato Sauce- 1 tbsp
9. Garam Masala- 1tsp
10. Fennel Powder- 1/2 Tsp
11. Onions (chopped)- 1 no
12. Ginger and Garlic Paste- 1 tbsp
13. Oil- 1 tbsp
14. Egg- 1 no

Method:

1. Depending upon the instructions on the pack of puff pastry sheets, thaw them for some time. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Chop the washed and drained chicken pieces into small cubes. Keep this aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan, add the chopped onions, green chilies. Stir till they turn translucent. Add the ginger- garlic paste, fry for about 1 minute.
4. Add the red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, fennel powder. Stir till the raw smell disappears. Add the tomato sauce along with salt.
5. Saute well, add the chopped chicken pieces and cook until done. If any moisture is left cook till the gravy becomes dry. 
6. Take one squared pastry sheet and place a tbsp of chicken masala in the middle of the sheet and fold in the desired shape.
7. Repeat with the remaining till the sheets and chicken masala is finished. Beat the egg and do the egg wash on top of the folded puffs for a shiny finish.
8. Arrange on a lined tray and bake for about 15- 20 minutes. The top will turn golden brown color.
9. Serve them along with hot tea or coffee.

Focaccia with roasted Garlic, olives and Rosemary with a Herb Dip

Focaccia is a type of bread which is very easy to make and tastes so rich and wonderful with the addition of chopped garlic, fresh rosemary, and olives. In my house, we all are great bread lovers. The smell of the fresh warm bread that emanates from a bakery while walking on the streets of Bangalore still makes my mouth watering.

Before Baking

My daughter is fond of this focaccia with any topping. I decided to make for her school snack. This time our MFB challenge is to "add an ingredient" i.e "olives" and so I have added chopped olives for topping focaccia. I like my focaccia to be thin, you can make it thicker by rolling in the desired thickness.

Dough before baking..

Just whip up a simple batch of dough, once it has risen, proofed and rolled onto a baking sheet. Use your fingers to poke dents in the dough, drizzle the garlic, herb infused olive oil and spread the chopped olives and fresh rosemary needles. Bake till done and enjoy warm focaccia with your choice of dip.
Ingredients:

1. All-Purpose Flour- 2 Cups
2. Yeast- 2 tsp
3. Warm Water- 3/4 cup
4. Salt- as required
5. Olive Oil- 2 tbsp+ 1 tbsp
6. Chopped garlic- 2 tbsp
7. Chopped Olives- 1/4 Cup
8. Dried Herbs- 1 Tsp
9. Fresh rosemary Leaves- 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Sprinkle yeast in the warm water and stir with a fork. Let this stand for about 10 minutes.
2. In a mixing bowl, drop the all-purpose flour along with salt and 2 tbsp olive oil. pour the above warm water little by little till blended. the dough will be sticky.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth and elastic. If the dough is sticky just add enough flour and knead well.
4. Grease the mixing bowl with olive oil, place the dough ball and cover with a cling wrap and place it in a warm place. Let it rise for about 50- 60 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of oil and add the chopped garlic, roast for a minute and add the dried herbs, mix well. When the oil is infused with the aroma of garlic, switch off the flame.
6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Turn the dough on a floured surface and roll it out in the form of a circle or a rectangle. Let it rise for another 15- 20 minutes.
7. Transfer this dough to a baking tray and poke deep holes on the dough using fingers. Drizzle the garlic and herb infused olive oil in the holes evenly. Spread the chopped olives on the top of the dough and sprinkle the rosemary needles evenly.
8. Bake for about 20 minutes or till the dough is cooked through. When done, remove from the oven, slice, and serve warm along with herb infused olive oil dip.

Olive oil Herb Dip

Ingredients:

1. Olive Oil- 1/4 Cup
2. Dried Herbs(Oregano, Basil, Thyme)- 1tsp
3. Minced Garlic- 1 tsp
4. Salt- a pinch

Method:

• Mix everything together until blended and serve with fresh bread.

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Carrot Laddoo/ Gajar ke Ladoo

                      Happy New Year To All!!!
Carrot laddoos are the most popular Indian sweets made for festive occasions. This is one of the easiest desserts which can be prepared within no time. Usually, sugar is added in this, but compared to sugar I prefer jaggery which is a healthy option. These laddoos are a perfect to gift to friends and family.

In this, the carrots are cooked well in milk and jaggery till combined and shaped in the form of laddoos. Every bite is a melt in the mouth. This will be an instant hit among kids as well as adults. Next time when thinking about making a dessert, this carrot laddoo is the best to prefer as it is very easy to make and with fewer ingredients.

Ingredients:

1. Carrots (grated)- 2 Cups
2. Milk- 1/2 Cup
3. Jaggery- 1 1/2 Cups
4. Cardamom Powder- 1 Tsp
5. Cashews (chopped)- 2 tbsp
6. Ghee/ Clarified Butter- 2tbsp

Method:

1. Heat the ghee in a nonstick pan, roast the cashews and when they turn golden brown keep this aside.
2. In the same pan start roasting the grated carrots till they start changing color. Add milk and cardamom powder, over a medium flame stir well till all the milk gets absorbed.
3. Add the powdered jaggery and mix well till everything gets well blended. This takes almost about 10- 15 minutes on a medium flame.
4. At this stage, all the jaggery melts and mixes well with carrots, add the roasted cashews. All the water evaporates and the mixture thickens.
5. Switch off the flame. After sometime when the mixture becomes warm, shape them in the form of round balls using hands.  Store in airtight containers and enjoy when needed.