First timer: Risotto ;)

First time and successful I can say...Risotto with red Bell-Peppers

Ingredients: (serves 4)
400gms Risotto rice
1 red pepper
1 1/2 Onion
Garlic
2 Tablespoon Butter
salt
Grated Parmesan cheese

Method:
Chop the onions and Bell peppers finely. Chop the garlic (mostly 2 portions of the whole garlic)

Wash the rice and keep aside

Heat a large pan (preferred: Large Saucepan) and add butter
Add Garlic...after it heats and turns yellow-brownish, add onions...

onions should turn pinkish and less shade of brown...

Then add Bell peppers, leave it to cook a bit.

After it cooks, add the rice and stir... then add water, just enough for the rice to cook.

Leave the rice and stir in between....Dont forget the salt before this step!!

After the rice is cooked properly (it becomes a little watery) add some black pepper powder...

Then the main part, according to your taste, calorie consciousness, add the grated Parmesan cheese and mix in the hot cooked risotto..

Later add some herbs- Oregano/ Basil/ Thyme etc....

Serve real hot, can be accompanied with good Garlic bread tooo!! I had a good time with friends having some awesome Risotto rice, do it too!

Cheers till next time ;)

Woah! Dark chocolate, expresso and mixed nut cake!

Matthew Caldicott does not let me down ever!! Superb recipe on his blog... Sharing it here
http://www.makesyouscreamforicecream.com/2011/10/dark-chocolate-espresso-and-mixed-nut.html

Have fun making it! Cheers!

CookStudentsCook!

I intend to start a new edition of my so called Food blog. Staying in a new place with new people around and adjusting to their style of cooking is very difficult. you have to make your own food, suited to your own needs. And it is worst if you had never cooked in your life. It really gets tough then!

I am starting a new topic for the next year. CookStudentsCook. Its just a way to share my own experiences as a full time cook (from a leisure cook ;)) So here we go, I shall keep posting daily, of what I eat, what I make and Where I go to eat. So in case any gets to Loughborough University, just use it as a food guide! :) :)

Hope to bring in the best in me
Cheers!

Simple Cooking!! Part 1- Breakfast

Holaaaa....I am starting a new topic in my cooking blog which will help people all around to cook simple vegetarian food...this is really helpfull for students who are going away from home to study and want to cook something healthy and nutritious. I was preparing some things, tasting and now ill write them...hope u enjoy the simple cooking! Lets start with basic breakfast:

Just rememebr one thing...always go simple for the morning part, since you will have to run for your lectures or presentations. One more thing- keep it light but filling, so avoid frying...

Mashed Potatoes and Toast
The easiest and filling ;)

1-2 Potatoes
2-3 tablespoon butter

Bread
Boil the potatoes
Mash the potatoes along with butter, mix it..till then toast the bread and put the mashed potatoes on the bread....enjoy it with a bit of dries parsley on top....u can have tomato sauce on top too :) :) haha! have it with fresh juice!!

Always make sure you engage in some kind of physical exercise when you are off in some other country or in some other place... bouts of home sickness and loneliness are bound to happen...but some exercise and healthy food will keep you just fit and fine!!x


* Adding masala to the boring cornflakes

If u are tooo bored of making anything else and want to survive on Cornflakes, add some colour too the cornflakes...

honey instead of sugar, chocoflakes for some days wont do harm to your figure! add fruits to your flakes and cold milk...strawberries will be the best! You can replace flakes with POHA (dry ricke flakes) and sugar/honey...trust me it tastes awesome!
Adding marie biscuit/ glucose biscuit in stead of sugar is healthier and gives more energy!!

* The good (i dont know, i hate this dish) old Upma

Upma:
The most simple upma recipe..courtesy Tarla Dalal-- http://www.tarladalal.com/Upma-(-Mumbai-Roadside-Recipes-)-33445r

More coming up in some days!! And next time- proper hard core recipes, not like this...this is very basic alright....keep cooking and eating..till then cheers! x

Something to 'Cheer' about (Part 1)

People have their easy way out these days.. They opt for hanging out and then studying the passing marks wala study, then they opt to go have a Beer rather than making something good at home !! Beer is goos\d, but only sometimes ya...not everytime...I got some nice tasty drinks to make at home...simple and good...shove the beer and vodka away for sometime, it would be better :D

The most easiest and the first i learnt:

Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 cup non-fat yogurt
• 1 tbs honey
• 1 cup ice, crushed

Preparation:

Combine ingredients and blend until smooth


 Virgin Mary

My favorite :)

Ingredients:
4 small glasses Tomato Juice
1 dash Lemon Juice
1.5 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
little bit/ tinge of Tabasco sauce

Fill and glass with ice and then add the tomato sauce. later add other ingredients to it and garnish it with some lemon juice :)


Lassi (Sweet)

Who cannot like it ;) This is with a twist

Ingredients:

Yoghurt/ Curds a cup.
Sugar  your preference
Water, if required
Chat masala (this is the twist)

Chat masala is added only to Chaas, but adding this 2 a sweet lassi, will give a great taste to the Dahi :)
Method:mix everything in the blender and then add the chat masala in the end.


Thats it for now.. will write the second part later !!
Cheers!

Asian Chickpea Salad ;)

Posting after long... Was waiting for this dish I guess... Simple and easy to make
http://www.makesyouscreamforicecream.com/2011/06/asian-chickpea-salad.html

Courtesy Matt Caldicott :) This Dish looks so awesome :D :D

Cheers!

Maharashtrian Pangat Jevan!

My Janmabhumi- Maharashtra and Obviously, Mumbai. I am a Maharashtrian and eating food related to maharashtra comes to me very naturally.
The first place which comes to my mind when it comes to Maharshtrian food is obviously a Maharashtrian wedding. The typical pangat and the typical brahman padhaticha jevan is always admired and loved by me! Being a vegetarian, the lagnatla jevan is a treat for me. Ranging from the koshimbir right to the shrikhand, everything is just perfect!
A typical plate would include--


1. salt, lemon slice
2. green chutney
3. Kakdi chi koshimbir.
4.bhaat, topped with tuup and Varan.
5. Puri
6.batatachi bhaaji
7.Alucha phadphada (Maharashtrians will understand what I am talking about!!)  or its called Alu chi Oli Bhaaji.
8. Masale Bhaat/ Wangi Bhaat
9. Wangyacha Bharit is also an option.
10. Shrikhand/Amrakhand/ Amras(depends on mango season)
11. And finally, Mattha/Taak

Such a platter! Wow! And whatever I have listed is just the basic. People add many many more things to this and it also varies according to the season and occasion. The most famous and the most unique item here is the Masale Bhaat and the recipe is-- (courtesy Tarla Dalal)


Masale Bhaat
Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked rice
1/2 cup Brinjal cubes
1/2 cup tendli cut vertically
pinch of hing/asafoetidia
piece of ginger
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 green chillies chopped
1 tsp oil
salt to taste

Powder the following---
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp coriander seeds
8-10 black peppercorns
3 cloves

Toppings--
1/4cup chopped coriander leaves
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 cup grated coconut

from tarladalal.com

Method--

1. Clean, wash and soak the rice for about 10 minutes. Drain and keep aside.
2. Heat the oil in a pressure cooker and add the asafoetida, ginger, turmeric powder and cumin seeds.
3. When the seeds crackle, add the onions and green chillies and sauté till the onions turn translucent.
4. Add the brinjals, tendli and the soaked rice.
5. Add the ground powder, salt with 2½ cups of hot water and pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles.
6. When the rice is done add the topping mixture and toss well.
7. Serve hot. 

Italian Food and Cravings!

When I was a kid, I never had the brains to experiment with food. And international cuisine meant- Chinese and that too Indian Chinese. I was never a fan of Indian Chinese except the soups(I still like hot n sour). But, when I tasted my first pasta and i remember where- Copper Chimney(ya :P), Worli (had a Sunday brunch)...fell for it immediately. The herbs, the sauces, the cheese...oooh just too good.

The best Italian, I dont think I have discovered any place which serves exclusive Italian. But...hold on, Little Italy, Malad does serve only Italian and exclusively Vegetarian so its a treat for the Veggies. They also serve Mexican which was good. I enjoyed tasting Enchiladas and some baked potatoes. Really tasty!

Now I am writing this because I am craving for some baked pasta and I am going to make some- either this weekend or this evening. Ill surely put up the Invention test on the blog. Watch this space for more..

Till then Cheers and eat healthy!

Cheese Cream! Cheese Cream

My hunt is over. Making Cheese Cake at home is a dream and for that i need The CREAM CHEESE. Wow! Tarla Dalal actually rocks! Got my hands on a brilliant recipe http://www.tarladalal.com/Low-Fat-Cream-Cheese-3485r.
Thought of sharing it with you guys--

Ingredients-
1 ltr low fat milk
1 tsp citric acid
 1/2 cup warm water

The Bagel is on the list to make!

Boil the milk in a pan. Once it is boiled, keep it aside for a little while till it is slightly lukewarm. Take another bowl and add the citric crystals and water and mix it. Pour the mixture into the hot milk and let it stand for 5 minutes till the milk curdles on its own. stir if required. Strain this mixture using a muslin cloth and leave the whey in the curdled mixture. Blend the drained milk solids in a food processor till it is thick and Creamy. 

 

Now I am totally ready to make a cheese cake. Watch out for this space!

Till then Cheers! :)

Eating out in Mumbai!- Where to go?

If you are a hard core Mumbaikar and want to give a different taste to your taste buds, try and explore the best places to eat. I will try and list the 5 best places I have been. Will also specify what it specializes in:

1. If you want to have the best Pav Bhaaji in Mumbai, no one can beat Sardar Pav Bhaaji, Tardeo. Its the best Pav Bhaaji in Mumbai (Highly Recommended). The amount of butter on each Pav and on each portion of the Bhaaji is intimidating but very very appealing (Cal conscious people, dont even step there, u might faint!) But, a true Pav Bhaji fan needs to go there...

2. Total college hangout, my discovery of last year- Candies, Bandra. There are 2 outlets, but the Learner's Academy one it the best.. This is on Pali Hill naka... the other -near Lilavati Hospital. The food rocks! Especially the Lasagnes and the Rolls.. Me being a veggie would like 2 give a review only on the veggie section. But, I have heard the Non-veggie section to be great as well (Friends) The Drinks and Desserts and not to be missed. The Lemon Ice Tea- the best ive had in Mumbai! The best thing about this place- can spend any amount of time, without any disturbance...very good privacy, ample space, awesome food, great ambiance, economical ...what more we want????

3. Ovenfresh, Shivaji Park, Dadar. One of my favorite places in Mumbai to eat. A pure veggie restaurant, located near my Graduation College- D.G Ruparel and of course the heart of  Mumbai cricket- Shivaji park, Ovenfresh provides a variety of pure Italian and continental dishes. The best pizzas (very fresh, the best thin crust i have ever had!) best pastas-- amazing ones and also with different flavours (some unusual ones too!), perfect Sandwiches and Burgers, very good potato fries and cheese :) Real good drinks- Milkshakes (esp. the chocolate), Lime water, Ice Tea. Great desserts- The best Cheese cake I have had till date!!! Amazing!
The best pace to go for a date, a family Sunday lunch or a friends reunion!

4. Mani's Matunga- Authentic South Indian food! The Ambiance suits the food and one of the mindblowing idlies I have ever eaten in my life. Very economical, unlimited chutney and sambhar..one of the best hangouts for students from Ruia, Welingkars or Podar. I remember eating dosa- have not eaten a better one in Mumbai. I rate it as the best south indian snack hotel in Mumbai!

5. M.O.D - If you are in Mumbai for the past 2 years and have not heard about Mad Over Donuts, then sorry, you are not classified as a hardcore Mumbaikar. MOD is the best thing that has happened to the sweet toothies in Mumbai. Authentic American doughnuts ranging from the simple donut to great flavours like Double Trouble, Dark Night and manyyyy more. To have to eat to Believe it for sure. I rate it the best after food - dessert joint ever! Go to one right nowwww!!!

Go try these now :) Cheers!

Eating out in Mumbai! Part1

Copper Chimney, Oberoi Mall, Goregaon

Having visited the original Copper Chimney at Worli, I had high expectations from this one closer to home. I was accompanied by my family and my cousin and his family. Being Veggies, we ordered a veg platter for starters. For the appetizer, I had Masala Chaas. The veg platter offered a paneer kebab, kakori kabab, sweet corn tikki and peanut green kebab. All the starters were delicious. But the Chaas was a big disappointment. Too salty and sour, it did not fulfill my expectations at all. For the main course, we had Butter Naan, a kind of mixed vegetable (Guess it was called Subz something), Baigan ka bhaaji and a dal based vegetable. Along with this, we had Kaali Dal, which was the best of the lot! The mixed vegetable was too spicy. The dal based vegetable was okay. But as i Said, the best was the Maa ki Dal/ Kaali Dal or as it is said, Makhan ki Kaali Dal.

Here is the recipe for it:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cup Kaali Dal (Black Dal)
2 tsp ginger
2 tomatoes made into a puree
1/2 cup cream

For the Tadka(Tempering)
2-3 tsp ghee
clove, 2 garlic
1/2 tsp asafoetida
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp chilli powder

Onion rings, corriander leaves 2 garnish

Method:
Pressure cook dal along with the ginger, tomatoes, salt and use the same water for cooking.
after the first whistle, reduce the flame and allow 4 more whistles.
cook and mash a little.
Add more water and cook and boil the batter. Later add the cream and mix.
In a kadhai, add ghee. After heating it, add garlic, jeera, hing and chilli powder and add the tadka 2 the dal.

Garnish the dal with corriender leaves and onion rings. Tastes best with Ghee Roti, Kulcha paratha or butter Naan.