Apple pie

Apple pie is one of my favorite desserts and i've always wanted to bake one. But it looked so daunting that it took me some courage to attempt it. The below recipe it a bit of trial and error, (i'm a dab and dash kinds cook, so measurements are always a task for me) but posting it here due to popular demand :). So here goes.

For the crust you need:

1. 1 1/4 cup maida (or all purpose flour)
2. 1 tsp salt
3. 110 gms of butter - chilled and cut in to cubes
4. 1/4th cup ice water

To make the dough, mix the flour and salt together. Rub in butter till the whole mixture has a flaky texture. There should be no flour left without a bit of butter rubbed in. Slowly start adding ice water to bring the dough together till it forms a ball. Do not knead much. Wrap in cling foil and refrigerate for at least an hour and up to 2 days.

NOTE: With these proportions I was able to make 3 mini pies and 1 7" pie.

For the filling you need: (NOTE: This filling is only for the 7" pie)

1. 4 apples - peeled cored and cut in to thin pieces
2. 1 tbsp lemon juice
3. Raisins - a handful
4. Bread crumbs - 3/4 cup
5. Brown sugar - 4 tbsp (optional, I like the flavor so added it)
6. White sugar - according to taste (I added almost 1/4 cup. Keep in mind that the crust is not sweet, so adjust taste accordingly)

To make the filling, heat a non stick pan. Add apples, sugar, lemon juice and cook till the apples are tender. You can also add some orange juice if you like the flavor and reduce it down as the apples cook. Add raisins. Add the breadcrumbs slowly, just enough to soak up the excess liquid. Check and adjust for sugar again. Remove from flame and keep aside to cool.

To make the pie

1. Preheat the oven at 180 degrees
2. Grease a 7" pie tin with butter. Grease it really well otherwise the pie may stick.
3. Take half the dough and roll out a circle on a floured surface. Large enough to cover the pie tin.
4. Take the rolled dough and place it in the tin. Firmly pressing it on the bottom and the sides of the tin. Trim and extra dough from the sides.
5. Put the filling in and press it down, keeping a slight mound in the center
6. Take a smaller ball of the dough and roll out another thinner circle, just big enough to cover the top.
7. Cover the filling with this rolled dough and pinch together the sides with the base dough, firmly closing it in.
8. Take a knife and place some cuts on the top to let the steam escape
9. Brush the top with some milk and place the pie in the oven on the third rung from the top. 
10. Bake at 180 degrees for at least 45 minutes. If the top is browning quickly, cover it with some aluminium foil once it reaches the desired color. You'll have to check in after 20 minutes or so to do this.
11. After the pie is done, take it out from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. Take it out of the pie tin and cool slightly on a wire rack before cutting.
12. Ready to serve with a dollop of cream or a scoop of icecream

Poached pears in red wine

I think I need classes in food photography, this looked much better than it does in the picture.

Anyway, for those of you who need a guilt free dessert, poached pears to the rescue. And it's quite simple too.

You need:

1. 2 pears
2. 1 cup dry red wine
3. 1/2 cup orange juice
4. 1/4 cup sugar (adjust according to taste)
5. A small stick of cinnamon

How to:

1. Take a deep pan and add the wine, sugar, orange juice and cinnamon.
2. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 2-3 minutes
3. Peel the pears without removing the step
4. Remove some portion from the bottom to make it flat so that the pear can stand
5. Put the pears in the simmer liquid. Cover and cook till the pears are cooked but firm. Turn the pears from time to time to ensure even cooking
6. When cooked, remove from flame and let the pears rest in the liquid. When cool, put in the fridge to chill. 
7. Before serving, bring the pear to room temperature, thicken the sauce on a flame if needed. Serve the pear with a spoonful of the sauce. 

Banana walnut cake

I was looking out for some eggless cake recipes on the internet and found many options. Made a few tweaks, experimented a bit and came up with this one.

You need:
Dry ingredients

1. All-purpose flour (maida) - 1 cup
2. Icing Sugar - 3/4 cup
3. Baking powder - 3/4 tsp
4. Baking soda - 1/3 tsp
5. Salt - 1/4 tsp
6. Cocoa powder – 1 tbsp
7. Cinnamon powder - 1 pinch
8. Walnut pieces - 1/2 cup

Wet ingredients

1. Ripe Bananas - 1 medium
2. Buttermilk (unsalted) – 1/2 cup
3. Melted Butter or vegetable oil - 1/2 cup
4. Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

How to:

1. Sift maida, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder and cinnamon powder and keep aside.
2. In a bowl add oil (I used vegetable oil, you can use melted butter also) and butter milk and mix well. (I gave it a quick whisk in the blender for a smooth finish)
3. Either mash or cut the banana into really small pieces and add to the liquid. Also add the vanilla essence.
4. Fold the flour mix into the liquid now. Don’t beat.
5. Dust the walnuts in some flour and add to this mix. Fold in. The mixture will be of a thick consistency.
6. Preheat the oven to 180⁰ C for 10 minutes. (You can turn it on while starting the preparation for the cake)
7. Pour the mix in a rectangular tin. You can add walnuts on top as garnish. Bake at 180⁰ C for 35-40 minutes. Do a check at 30 minutes as the cake may bake earlier if your layer is thinner.
8. Remove from oven and let it cool. Remove from the tin and cut into thick slices. Dust with some icing sugar.

Dessert topping

Quick and easy to do :) and you can store it for later use. Can also be used as a filling in chocolates for that extra crunch.

You need:

A handful of cashew nuts ( or groundnuts)

A cup of sugar

How to:

Grind the nuts to a grainy powder. Heat a  nonstick pan and caramelise sugar. When it's turning a nice golden brown, remove from the flame and quickly add the powdered nuts and stir well. In a greased plate pour this mix out as small dollops and wait for it to set.

Once it's cool and hard. Give it a turn in the blender to a coarse consistency. Ready to be sprinkled!

To store keep in a sealed container and refrigerate 

Aate ka halwa (Kadah Prasad)

The simplest and quickest sweet dish to make in my opinion. Plus it tastes yum.

You need:

1. Wheat flour - 1 cup
2. Ghee (clarified butter) - 1/2 cup
3. Water 2 cups
4. Sugar - 1/2 cup
5. A handful of raisins and cashew nuts (optional)

How to:

1. Put ghee and wheat flour in a pan over a medium flame. Stir continuously to cook the flour evenly
2. In another pan add water and sugar and leave to heat on a low flame
3. When the flour is a dark chocolate brown (not burnt!) quickly add the dry fruits and give a stir. 
4. Quickly add the water and sugar mix and stir furiously till its a smooth finish. Make sure there are no flour lumps.
5. Cook till the ghee leaves sides.
6. Ready to eat :) 

Chocolate cake

This is by far my favorite recipe. I have picked it up from somewhere during the teenage baking experiments, so not original like the rest.. but great. This is a basic chocolate cake so u can dress it up as u like. My favorite topping is to add a scoop of chocolate/vanilla icecream and pour chocolate sauce on it.

You need:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (maida)
5 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3 tbsp powdered sugar
100gms butter
1 tin milkmaid
300ml pepsi/coke/soda
1 tsp vanilla essence

How to:
I make it on a gas oven, so someone has to help me with the oven temperature. But in any case pre-heat the as oven for 10 minutes.
Mix butter, milkmaid and sugar and beat well till all lumps dissolve.
Mix maida, cocoa pd, baking soda and baking pd and sift 2-3 times to evenly distribute all ingredients.
Add half this dry mixture to the milkmaid mix and fold in. Add some pepsi and flour alternatively and keep stirring. When all the pepsi and flour is added the mixture should be of a pouring consistency without any lumps. Add vanilla essence and stir. Add to the container of the gas oven and bake on low heat for 45 minutes. Insert a knitting needle to check if it is done (the needle should come out clean). Cook for some more time if not done. Remove from flame and let it stand for one minute. Loosen the sides with a butter knife and tap it out on a plate.

Cool and serve with the topping of your choice. If you want icing let me know and i'll put up a recipe.

Just Desserts

Every time some one comes home there is a nagging question: what to make! Normal food is fine but usually desserts take their own time. Getting into a time rush made me experiment with some recipes that are ready in a jiffy and look great.

Simple sundae

Icecream - any flavor (preferably chocolate/ vanilla) you can add 2 different flavors for a nice look to the dessert

Cookies - Oreo/chocolate chip/pure magic

Assorted chopped fruits/ jam/ jelly - pick any

Chocolate syrup - to drizzle

Roasted nuts - a handful

Candied cherries - a few

Crush the cookies and layer them in a goblet. Each goblet is individual serving. Add a scoop of icecream (2 if you are using different flavors). Spread a layer of fruits/jam/jelly on top. Garnish with crushed roasted nuts, drizzle chocolate syrup and top up with a cherry. Ready to eat :)

You can also put in sponge cake instead of cookies in case you want to go for a softer feel. Cookies make it crunchier.

Some more on desserts will be up shortly... please share your quick fixes too

Just Delicious - Strawberries and Bananas

I've always been a junk eater and so something that contains fruit is healthy in my opinion. It's another thing that it is coated in ice cream and chocolate sauce ;)

Verrryyy easy to make and just delicious.. I made it the other day as breakfast (!!) and had to repeat it for lunch and dinner.

You need:
Strawberries - 8-10
Bananas - 2
Ice cream - slightly liquidy (I used home made ice cream which is a better alternative)
chocolate sauce or drinking chocolate powder or grated dark chocolate

All you have to do is chop the strawberries and bananas, drizzle the ice cream over the fruits and garnish with whatever chocolate alternative you have available. It's perfect for that dessert craving. You can also use mangoes and pomegranate