Basic white bread

Here is recipe for basic white bread

Ingredients:
2 cup flour (216 gms)
1 cup milk (2 tbsp milk powder + warm milk)
1.5 Tsp dry yeast (bluebird brand)
1 Tsp white sugar
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp vegetable oil
1 Egg yolk (For brushing) (optional)

- Mix warm milk, yeast, sugar and set aside till it matures. (about 15-20 minutes, it should be frothy/bubbly)
- Sieve together flour & salt
- Add yeast mixture from step 1 to flour and mix well to form a sticky dough.
- Knead well for about 10-15 minutes, till dough becomes nicely stretchy and bounces back on light presses.
(use lightly floured surface, don't put too much flour though)
- Coat well with oil and keep aside for 2 hrs or till doubles in size (1st rising).
- Punch down after 1st rising and knead for 2-3 minutes.
- Prepare tin to bake bread and shape dough as per tin and set aside for 2nd rising (about 1 hr)
- Brush top of bread with egg white/milk
- Bake this bread in 180 degree Celsius pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes.


Enjoy :)

Focaccia

Focaccia is an Italian flat bread, many times confused with Pizza, but its not. Confusion arises as it is highly customizable toppings same as pizza. However this is bread is really like crispy from outside and spongy from inside, with lots of goodness from olive oil.

Here is my recipe:

Ingredients:
2 cup flour (216 gms)
1 cup warm water
1.5 Tsp dry yeast (bluebird brand)
1 Tsp white sugar
1 Tsp Salt
3 Tbsp Olive oil (any vegetable oil shall do)

Toppings:
de-seeded tomatoes, green bell peppers, onion, herbs

Method:
- Mix well warm water, yeast, sugar and set aside till it matures.
- Sieve together flour, salt, mix yeast mixture and 2 tbsp olive and knead into sticky dough
- Knead well for about 10-15 minutes, till dough becomes nicely stretchy and bounces back on light presses.
- Coat well with olive oil and keep aside for 2 hrs or till doubles in size (1st rising).
- Don't punch and knead vigorously. Just start spreading dough in rectangle shape.
- Poke dough generously with fingertips and spread little olive oil with brush
- Add toppings, herbs and set aside for hour for second rising
- Sprinkle some salt on top
- Bake in 200 degree Celcius pre-heated oven for about 25 minutes or till bread top becomes brownish.
- Once bake is finished apply little more oil with brush on top and let it cool on rack.
- Serve when bit warm.

Tip:
Coat your toppings+herbs in some oil for better taste.

Chicken sausage rolls

I had seen these in many fat food centers, and I absolutely love them. They are perfect for quick snacks, not much heavy on stomach. I was reluctant to try it out as I fail miserably in read making.
But ever since I got my hands on good quality yeast (Bluebird brand) I am back in bread baking :)
So here is my try for the same, I have referred several recipes and combined them to create one for me. My sincere thanks to many internet chefs out there for this recipe.

Ingredients:
2 cup flour (216 gms)
1 cup milk (2 tbsp milk powder + warm milk)
1.5 Tsp dry yeast (bluebird brand)
1 Tsp white sugar
1 Tsp Salt
3 Tbsp butter (Butter of your choice, adjust salt accordingly)
1 Egg yolk (Fro brushing)
Herb mix + chilly flakes
Chicken sausages (4)

This recipe shall make 4 chicken sausage rolls.

Method:
- Mix well 2 Tbsp milk powder, 1 Cup water, 1 Tsp sugar and 1 Tsp salt.
- Add yeast to above mixture and mix well, keep still in warm place for about 15-20 minutes or till it becomes frothy
- Add herb mix of your choice, along with chilly flakes to the flour (I used oregano, thyme and chilly flakes)
- On kneading surface, mix together frothy yeast and flour mix till its well combined.
- Add 3 Tbsp butter to this, and knead dough well.
- Coat with little oil and let dough rest till it gains double size.
(I allowed my dough to be cold rise for almost 48 hrs, as mentioned in some recipe. Cold rise means just wrap and keep in fridge. As I planned to make bread next days, I gave it a try and it was good).
- Punch down dough and knead dough, so that it becomes smooth and stretchy.

- Divide in four equal parts and and shape them as of rolling pin, i.e. thick in center and thin on sides, of length a bit bigger than sausages.
- Now wrap every sausage with rolled out dough and keep aside for 10-15 mins/till it rises again.
- Brush with egg yolk on top and bake them for about 25 minutes on 170 degree Celsius.

Enjoy. :)

Granola bars

I love these granola bars as they are healthy and pack lots of flavors. Plus they are good for little hunger as well :)  It is super easy to make, and plus one can make as per his/her taste as well.

Ingredients:
200 gms Oats (Quaker oats)
50 gms Corn flakes (Unflavored)
25 gms black resins
25 gms almonds
25 gms cashews
25 gms dried dates
100 ml honey
50 gms brown sugar
50 gms butter (One can use desi ghee i.e. clarified butter as well)
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 tsp water

Method:
- Mix water, honey, sugar, butter and bring to boil, and keep aside till it comes to room temperature. Then add vanilla essence and mix well. This will make a sticky syrup.
- Mix all dry ingredients, and then add syrup and mix well so that mixture is well coated.
- Spread on baking sheet, and pack them firmly (Min was 9" square tin)
- Bake for 20 minutes on 180 degree Celsius pre-heated oven. (Or till top side becomes golden brown)
- Make cuts after 5 minutes or so, while cutting they appear bit soft, but they get hardened later.

Granola bars

Enjoy :)

Chicken reshmi kabab

Chicken reshmi kabab

Besides tandoori chicken other dish I like, rather my daughter likes is chicken reshmi kabab. I believe its bit underrated kababs. People often ignore white kababs but I believe they are more flavorful and aromatic. 

As main base is on aromas not spice level my daughter loves them :)

Here is my version for the same.

Ingredients (for 4 drum sticks)
1 tsp coriander seed powder
1 tsp cumin seed powder
2 tsp salt
Pinh of garam masala
1 tsp white pepper powder/fresh cracked peppers are even awesome
2 tsp hung curd
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 tsp garlic paste (fresh)
1 tsp ginger paste (fresh)

2 tsp coriander+green chilly paste (De-seed green chilies before making paste)

1/2 cup grated cheese

2 tsp fresh cream

Recipe:
-Mix all ingredients in hung curd and make nice smooth paste.
-Make cuts on chicken drum sticks and nicely coat in marinade.
-Make sure marinade sets well in cuts, so that moisture retains inside chicken.
-Now apply oil on chicken thigh and let it seat in fridge for about 2 hrs minimum.
-Bake in oven on 230 degree celcius for about 30 minutes and then on 180 degree celcius for 5 minutes.
-If flesh is separated from bone, Thats the sign of perfect time and 100% cooked chicken.
-Let it rest in oven till you prepare side salad etc and then enjoy.
- Sprinkle some lime juice just before serving.

oeufs en cocotte

oeufs en cocotte is a french way of making baked eggs.
Its super easy and super yum. Here is how I prefer to make and eat them :)

Ingredients:

2 tea spoon creme fraiche

1 egg 

little bit dill for garnish/finely chopped coriander
oregano, thyme, chilly flakes
salt and black pepper for taste

Recipe:
-Put 1 teaspoon creme fraiche in a oven proof cup/ramekin
-Crack egg and drop straight on top of creme
-put salt and pepper for taste
-Add herbs and dill
-Put 1 teaspoon creme fraiche on top
- Take boiling water in oven tray, and keep cup in it. Bake on 180 degree celcius for about 20-30 minutes.

Note:

- French prefer to keep yolk little runny (just a tip)

- It can also be baked in double boiler.

- Creme fraiche is nothing but yogurt/dahi made of full fat/double cream. 

Tangadi kabab

Nothing I mean no other cuisine can beat a beautiful, moist, tender tangadi kabab. All time favourite starter for most of the Indians and I am no different than them :)

Here is my version for the same.

Ingredients (for 2 chicken thighs)
2 tsp coriander seed powder
2 tsp cumin seed powder
4 tsp salt
2 tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp black pepper powder/fresh cracked peppers are even awesome
2 tsp hung curd
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 tsp garlic paste (fresh)
1 tsp ginger paste (fresh)

Recipe:
-Mix all ingredients in hung curd and make nice smooth paste.
-Make cuts on chicken thighs and nicely coat in marinade.
-Make sure marinade sets well in cuts, so that moisture retains inside chicken.
-Now apply oil on chicken thigh and let it seat in fridge for about 2 hrs minimum.
-Bake in oven on 230 degree celcius for about 20 minutes and then on 180 degree celcius for 5 minutes.
-If flesh is separated from bone, Thats the sign of perfect time and 100% cooked chicken.
-Let it rest in oven till you prepare side salad etc and then enjoy.
- Sprinkle chat masala and lime juice just before serving.

Chicken tangadi kabab served

Note: One can change level of hotness with adding more chilly powder or adding green chilly paste in marinade. But key thing is aroma of masalas.