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.

I made them finally!!!

My Lamingtons---
I finally made that aussie dish :)

 Hope they have come out well!!!

Experiments in the kitchen part 2

Milk Chocolate Cake with Marsh mellows!

Sanjana's Birthday. An opportunity for me to make a cake! and yes i did.! Its simple and easy. The Basic cake taken from a recipe by tarla dalal and the decoration, my way!


Ingredients

1/2 tin (200 grams) condensed milk
140 gms self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
60 ml melted butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

1. Sieve the flour, baking powder and soda bi-carbb together.
2. Mix the flour mixture, condensed milk, melted butter, essence and 75 ml. (2 1/2 fl. Oz. ) water and beat well.
3. Pour the mixture into a greased and dusted 150 mm. (6") diameter tin.
4. Bake in a hot oven at 200 degree c (400 degree f) for 10 minutes. Then reduce the tempreture to 150 degree c (300 degree f) and bake for a further 10 minutes.
5. The cake is ready when it leaves the sides of the tin and is springy to touch. When ready, take out from the oven and leave for 1 minute. Invert the tin over a rack and tap sharply to remove.
6. Cool the cake.
7. Now for the decoration: You will need- One cup whipped cream, One cup melted White compound chocolate, Grated Dark compound chocolate.
8. Mix the melted white compound with the cream and fold it till it becomes soft and not so thick. 
9. Added the grated dark compound chocolate to this mixture and put it evenly on the sponge cake.
10. To decorate it add grated chocolate on the sides of the cake, and decorate the cake with marsh mellows. 
11. Refrigerate it for 4 hours minimum.

Experiments in the kitchen part 1

With my new OTG in the kitchen (thanks to mum-dad) im having some cooking experiments in the kitchen. The theory is been taken via net/ cook books/ my inventions etc...

The first baked dish--good old Nankhatais

Ingredients
1 cup refined flour
1/2 cup butter(desi ghee preferred)
3/4 cup powdered sugar
vanilla essence/ cardamom essence (your preference)

I made them :)

Method-
1. Preheat your oven for 10mins at 200 degree. Simultaneously get your materials ready!
2. Mix all the ingredients and for a soft dough. Grease your over plate with ghee.
3. make small balls of the dough and flatten it a little as you place it in the greased oven plate. Make as many such balls. If you already added vanilla essence, good! if not. add the cardamom powder as garnish along with powdered pistachios, it will give a traditional look :)
4. Place your plate in the centre oven and bake it for 15minutes of till the top gets light brown for 180degrees.
5. Let it cool down in the rack it self and remove it when its done. Enjoy it with tea :)

Lamingtons!

Masterchef Australia inspired me to cook and actually start hunting for nice recipes. Lamingtons was one of my favorites on the show. I am yet to make it..but ill make it soon. Here is the most favorite cake of the Aussies:

Ingredients:

For the cake:
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4th teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4th cup granulated white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

Chocolate frosting:

4 cups (1 lb.) (454 grams) confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

1/3 cup (30 grams) cocoa powder

3 tablespoons (42 grams) unsalted butter

1/2 cup (120 ml) milk

2 cups unsweetened desiccated coconut, finely ground

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place oven rack to middle position.  Butter, or spray with a nonstick cooking spray, the bottom and sides of an 8 inch (20 cm) square cake pan.  Set aside.
In a large bowl sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

In bowl of electric mixer, beat the butter until soft.  Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with flour.  

Spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula.  Bake in a preheated oven for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Cool the cake in its pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  Place a wire rack on top of the cake pan and invert, lifting off the pan.  Re-invert.  Once the cake has completely cooled cut it into 16 two-inch (5 cm) squares.  Wrap the cake in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or even overnight.  The reason for doing this is that it is much easier (less crumbs) to coat a cold cake with frosting.

Chocolate Frosting:  Place the confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, butter and milk in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water.  Stir the mixture until it becomes smooth and of pouring consistency.

Make a production line; put the 16 squares of cakes on a wire rack that is placed over a

baking sheet (to catch the drips).  Have ready the coconut on a large plate and the chocolate frosting.  Spoon or ladle the chocolate frosting over each square of cake, making sure you cover all sides. (It is best to do a few squares at a time.)  With a small offset spatula or knife transfer the chocolate covered cake to the plate of coconut and roll the cake in the coconut, covering all sides.  Gently transfer the lamington to a clean wire rack to set.  Repeat with the rest of the cake squares.  Once the Lamingtons have set, store in an airtight container for several days.

 
courtesy:

http://www.joyofbaking.com/Lamingtons.html#ixzz16su7i6Ki