Thursday, 24 May 2018

GRILLED CHICKEN AVOCADO CAPRESE SALAD

GRILLED CHICKEN AVOCADO CAPRESE SALAD


PREP TIME: 35 mins
COOK TIME: 10 mins
TOTAL TIME: 45 mins
SERVES: 4


INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp. olive oil
3 tsp. brown sugar
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. ground basil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
2 chicken breasts, cut into smaller pieces
1 avocado
¼ cup basil, chopped
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved



DIRECTIONS
1.Combine the first 8 ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
2.Put chicken in another bowl and top with about 3-4 tbsp. of the dressing/marinade. Turn to coat.
3.Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
4.Grill over high heat for about 10 minutes or until no longer pink. Cut into bite sized pieces.
5.In a large salad bowl combine the rest of the ingredients.
6.Add chicken and dressing and toss.

Saturday, 19 May 2018

CAESAR SALAD

CAESAR SALAD

A Caesar salad is a green salad of romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.
In its original form, this salad was prepared and served tableside.

The salad's creation is generally attributed to restaurateur Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant who operated restaurants in Mexico and the United States. Cardini was living in San Diego but he was also working in Tijuana where he avoided the restrictions of Prohibition.[3] His daughter Rosa (1928–2003) recounted that her father invented the salad when a Fourth of July 1924 rush depleted the kitchen's supplies. Cardini made do with what he had, adding the dramatic flair of the table-side tossing "by the chef."  A number of Cardini's staff have said that they invented the dish.

INGREDIENTS

200g sourdough baguette, cut into 1cm cubes
olive oil cooking spray
6 rashers rindless bacon, chopped
1 large cos lettuce
50g parmesan cheese, shaved

CAESAR DRESSING

2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 large garlic clove, chopped
4 anchovies, chopped
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil


DIRECTIONS

Step 1
Make Caesar dressing Place egg yolks, mustard, garlic, anchovy and vinegar in a food processor and process until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add oil until dressing thickens. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Step 2
Preheat oven to 200°C. Arrange bread on a large, flat baking tray. Spray with oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss bread pieces gently to coat, spraying with more oil if necessary. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden. Set aside to cool completely.
Step 3
Meanwhile, heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add bacon. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes or until bacon is crisp and golden. Drain on paper towel.
Step 4
Tear lettuce leaves into 3cm pieces and place in a large bowl. Add bacon and croutons. Pour dressing over salad. Season with salt and pepper. Toss gently to combine. Top with parmesan. Serve.

Tuesday, 15 May 2018

FISH TACOS - The Traditional Mexican Dish


FISH TACOS



A taco is a traditional Mexican dish consisting of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling. A taco can be made with a variety of fillings, including beef, pork, chicken, seafood, vegetables, and cheese, allowing great versatility and variety. Tacos are generally eaten without utensils, often garnished with salsa, chili pepper, avocado, guacamole, cilantro (coriander), tomatoes, onions, and lettuce.

Beginning from the early part of the twentieth century, various types of tacos have become popular in the United States and Canada. An early appearance of a description of the taco in the United States in English was in a 1914 cookbook, California Mexican-Spanish Cookbook, by Bertha Haffner Ginger. The most common type of taco in the US is the hard-shell, U-shaped version, first described in a cookbook, The good life: New Mexican food, authored by Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert and published in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1949. These types are sold by restaurants and by fast food chains, while kits are readily available in most supermarkets. Even non-Mexican oriented fast food restaurants have sold tacos. Mass production of this type of taco was encouraged by the invention of devices to hold the tortillas in the U-shape as they were deep-fried. A patent for such a device was issued to New York restaurateur Juvencio Maldonado in 1950, based on his patent filing of 1947 (U.S. Patent No. 2,506,305).Such tacos are crisp-fried corn tortillas filled with seasoned ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and sometimes tomato, onion, salsa, sour cream, and avocado or guacamole.


TIME

Prep: 40 m
Cook: 20 m
Ready: In 1 h

INGREDIENTS

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup beer
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 lime, juiced
1 jalapeno pepper,minced
1 teaspoon minced capers
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 quart oil for frying
1 pound cod fillets, cut into 2 to 3 ounce portions
1 (12 ounce) package corn tortillas
1/2 medium head cabbage, finely shredded




DIRECTIONS

1. To make beer batter: In a large bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Blend egg and beer, then quickly stir into the flour mixture (don't worry about a few lumps).
2. To make white sauce: In a medium bowl, mix together yogurt and mayonnaise. Gradually stir in fresh lime juice until consistency is slightly runny. Season with jalapeno, capers, oregano, cumin, dill, and cayenne.
3. Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. Dust fish pieces lightly with flour. Dip into beer batter, and fry until crisp and golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Lightly fry tortillas; not too crisp. To serve, place fried fish in a tortilla, and top with shredded cabbage, and white sauce.

CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE


Molten chocolate cake is a popular dessert that combines the elements of a flourless chocolate cake and a soufflé.[citation needed] The name derives from the dessert's liquid chocolate center chocolate moelleux(fr), tortino al cioccolato con cuore caldo, and chocolate lava cake. It should not be confused with chocolate fondant, a recipe that contains little flour, but instead a lot of chocolate and butter, hence melting on the palate (but not on the plate)

The United States-based chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten claims to have invented molten chocolate cake in New York City in 1987, but the French chef and chocolatier Jacques Torres disputes this, arguing that such a dish already existed in France. According to Vongerichten, he pulled a chocolate sponge cake from the oven before it was done and found that the center was still runny, but was warm and had both a good taste and texture. Regardless of who invented the dish, Vongerichten has been credited with popularizing it in the United States, and it became almost a de rigueur inclusion on high-end restaurant dessert menus.


Recipe Servings: 2
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Total Cook Time: 40 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

135 gm dark chocolate
95 gm butter
100 gm icing sugar
2 egg yolks + 2 whole eggs
35 gm flour


DIRECTIONS

1.Pre heat the oven at 200 degrees.
2.In a microwaveable bowl add chocolate and butter. Melt it. (You can melt using the double boiler method too.)
3.In another bowl whisk together sugar and eggs.
4.Mix together the chocolate-butter mixture with the sugar-eggs mixture.
5.Fold in the flour.
6.Strain the mixture to remove any lumps.
7.Keep this in the fridge for 5-7 minutes to chill.
8.Pour the batter in greased ramekins.
9.Bake for 9-10 minutes.
10.Serve with whipped cream / vanilla ice cream or fresh fruits.

Friday, 11 May 2018

Red Velvet Doughnut With Cream Cheese Frosting

Red velvet doughnut with cream cheese frosting


This dessert (or breakfast or snack!) is perfect for all holidays, what with all the rich red color and the delicious chocolate flavor.

Donuts are always a crowd favorite, although they’re typically fried – which I’ve tried to do in the past, without much success – so the fact that these donuts are baked make them so much more loveable for how easy they are to throw together.

To make them you will need a donut pan for this recipe, so if you’d like to have homemade donuts in your house every week it would be worth picking one up. I was a little skeptical that the pan would work as well as they claimed, but as long as you don’t overfill it (pro tip: shoot for filling it half way) the donuts will turn out perfectly.

And even if you do overfill a few, don’t worry – those donuts will still taste just as good.

Because those less-than-perfect donuts?

They are the ones you get to eat on your own, fresh out of the oven with all the leftover frosting, before anyone else gets to have some.

Sometimes those are the donuts that taste the best.



In the past, I’ve decorated the donuts in two different ways: some I just dipped in powdered sugar, so the tops have a nice dusting of sweetness. It was a nice, light compliment to the moist donuts, and they looked beautiful.

But usually I whip up a super easy vanilla cream cheese frosting and drizzle it across the top, like the donuts pictured here.

I’m partial to the ones with the cream cheese frosting, but then red velvet always seems to go hand in hand with a little extra sweetness.

For the cream cheese frosting you will need cream cheese (duh), butter, vanilla extract, a touch of salt, and confectioners’ sugar. You’ll want to make sure your cream cheese and butter are both very soft before beginning this process.

To bake the donuts you’re going to preheat your oven to 350 degrees (F). Pro tip: Make sure you generously grease your donut pan before filling the molds. If you don’t, they will stick.

Bake the donuts for 9-10 minutes, or until they’re just firm enough to spring back slightly when touched. Make sure you cool them completely before frosting them!



Don’t be surprised if you find yourself dreaming up any excuse to bake these.

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #bakerbynature on Instagram! Seeing your kitchen creations makes my day. ♥


Red Velvet Donuts
prep 10 mins
cook 10 mins
total 20 mins
author bakerbynature
yield 6 baked donuts
Baked red velvet donuts topped with cream cheese frosting! Ready in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

For the red velvet donuts:
1 cup all-purpose baking flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 teaspoons red food coloring
For the cream cheese frosting:
3 ounces cream cheese, VERY soft
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, VERY soft
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1-2 tablespoons milk
Instructions

For the red velvet donuts:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Generously grease a doughnut pan and set aside.
In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Gently fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture - don't over mix! Fold in red food coloring and stir until combined.
Spoon mixture into prepared doughnut pan, and bake for 10 minutes, or until the doughnuts spring back when lightly pressed. Allow doughnuts to cool a few minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire wrack to cool for a few more minutes.
For the cream cheese frosting:
In the bowl of a stand-mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using an electric handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until completely smooth; about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the sifted confectioners' sugar. Add in the milk. Once the milk is combined beat frosting on high-speed for 1-2 minutes.
Spread frosting on cooled donuts.

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Nutella & Hazelnuts Churros


NUTELLA AND HAZELNUTS CHURROS



Churros are a Spanish doughnut recipe prepared from choux pastry, the same dough that dessert items like cream puffs and éclairs are made of. The most familiar version of the churro to North Americans is the long piped doughnut, but their shapes can vary from being spiraled or straight. One of the most usual ways to eat a churro is dipped in dulce de leche or hot chocolate, which turns this sweet treat into a heavenly dessert. It is no wonder that Tessa, the author of ‘Handle the Heat’ recipe blog, decided to fill her churro recipe with Nutella hazelnut spread for a dessert that is over the top.

The most common way to make churros recipes is with a choux pastry dough, which is prepared on the stove. Choux pastry is an eggy dough that is common in French cuisine to prepare cream puffs, éclairs, and the classic French cruller recipe. The dough is so light and airy that when baked or fried, it can form a hollow in the center, which is ideal for filling with pastry cream. The ingredients for churro dough recipes are very simple, involving just six ingredients, like flour, butter, and eggs. The dough is combined on the stove with one egg being incorporated one at a time. The eggs are the most important component of a proper choux pastry recipe because they are what leaven the dough and give the dough their texture. The process for how to make churros always ends up using a piping bag and large star piping tip as well. The star piping tip allows each doughnut to have its signature crispy edges when fried in the oil.Often churro recipes will involve piping the dough directly into the oil, which sometimes result in odd shapes for the churros. For more uniform shapes, Tessa has the genius option of piping out the churro dough onto a baking sheet and chilling it so that it is firm enough to drop into the preheated oil. Every churro will end up the perfect shape rather than curved banana shapes. If desired, you can even experiment with knotting the churros or twisting them into pretty designs.




INGREDIENTS

50 grams unsalted butter

1 teaspoon sugar

Pinch salt

100 grams flour

4 tablespoons water

4 tablespoons milk

4 medium eggs

100 grams Nutella

50 grams roasted hazelnuts

2 tablespoons popping candy

2 liters oil for deep frying

50 grams caster sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon powder



DIRECTIONS

1.Place the butter in a pan with water and milk, sugar and salt.

2.Bring to boil and add the flour, beat to form a paste.

3.Gradually incorporate the eggs little by little to get a thick paste.

4.Place into a piping bag with 1.5 centimeters fluted nozzle and pipe into 4 centimeters lengths.

5.Pop this into the freezer to firm up or pipe the mixture directly into the oil, pre-heated to 160C, snipping 4 centimeters segments as you go.

6.After 2 minutes or so, drain the churros on kitchen paper and toss in the sugar and cinnamon mixture.

7.Grab a straw and push all the way through.

8.Place the Nutella in a piping bag and soften for 15 seconds in a microwave.

9.Pipe the chocolate into the churros and top with hazelnuts and popping candy.

OREO ICECREAM CAKE

OREO ICECREAM CAKE



Oreo is a commercial brand of cookie usually consisting of two chocolate wafers with a sweet crème filling in between, and (as of 1974) is marketed as "Chocolate Sandwich Cookies" on the package. The version currently sold in the United States is made by the Nabisco division of Mondelēz International. Oreo has become the best-selling cookie in the United States since its introduction in 1912. Oreos are available in over 100 different countries worldwide; in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, they are referred to as Oreo biscuits.


This Oreo Ice Cream Cake makes for the perfect no bake dessert during warm summer months. Best of all, it only takes 5 simple store bought ingredients! No one can resist the layers of crushed Oreos, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, Hot Fudge, Cool Whip, and MORE Oreos!

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Freezer Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
Servings 15
Calories 689 kcal




INGREDIENTS

1 pkg Oreos crushed and divided
1/4 c butter melted
1 Gallon cookies and cream ice cream softened
16 oz jar hot fudge warmed
8 oz carton whipped topping thawed.



INSTRUCTIONS

Add crushed cookie crumbs to a bowl reserving ½ cup for the top. Add butter and mix well. Press into a greased 9x13 pan.
Spread softened ice cream over crust and freeze for 2 hours.
Drizzle warm fudge over ice cream and freeze for 1 hour.
Add whipped topping and sprinkle with reserve Oreos and freeze for 2 hours. Remove from freezer and let it set out for 15 minutes before serving.

Monday, 7 May 2018

The Famous - POPCHIPS


POPCHIPS


Potato chips are deliciously addictive, but also undeniably unhealthy. This is likely the reason behind why many brands have turned to snacks that are popped or puffed as a healthier, lighter alternative. And according to Whole Foods, who named puffed and popped snacks one of 2018's top trends, new technology is behind this shift as well.

"New extrusion methods (ways of processing and combining ingredients), have paved the way for popped cassava chips, puffed pasta bow ties, seaweed fava chips and puffed rice clusters."



Original flavor Popchips

Popchips is a brand of processed potato and corn products marketed as similar to potato chips. They are manufactured by processing potato starch at high pressure and temperature, in a process similar to that used for puffed rice cakes.

The popchips people popped by the New Times office last week and left behind a basket of popchips in all flavors. I'd never had a popchip before -- I'm not much of a bagged-snack sort of guy -- but here are ten quick impressions:


1.The sour cream & onion, and sea salt & vinegar, are the two best flavors; the vinegar chips have an especially fetching tang.

2.A cheddar popchip is to a Cheez Doodle what a sausage patty is to a sausage.

3.Salt & pepper was my third favorite, although for some reason it was the first gone -- and therefore didn't make the team photo.

4.The barbecue popchips would probably be great if you like barbecue chips.

the original potato, either. It tastes too

much like a potato chip that didn't quite come out right. Whereas when

flavors are added, I think of them more as circular potato snacks

rather than as failed chips. 

Friday, 4 May 2018

LASAGNA SOUP - Recipe

LASAGNA SOUP 




Servings:8
Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium beef broth
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2-1/2 cups uncooked spiral pasta
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese


DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, cook beef, green pepper and onion over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, breaking up beef into crumbles. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain.
Stir in tomatoes, broth, tomato sauce, corn, tomato paste, Italian seasoning and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in pasta. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle with cheese. Yield: 8 servings (2-3/4 quarts).

DRY MARTINI - Recipe

DRY MARTINI




A classic martini technically should be made with gin, although if your prefer vodka that's no sin either. Order it up and stirred, not shaken (sorry 007).


Ingredients
4 oz. gin or vodka
1 oz. dry vermouth


Directions
Stir vermouth and gin with cracked ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with an olive.

Sweet RoLLed Ice Cream TaCos


Sweet RoLLed Ice Cream


Rolled ice cream is a sensational Thai frozen dessert. Unlike most ice creams made ahead of time in an electronic ice cream machine, rolled ice cream—also known as stir-fried ice cream—is made to order by hand.
One of the most traditional warm-weather treats is ice cream -- a frozen mixture of cream, sugar, milk and flavorings.

The popular dessert was originated by street vendors in Thailand. This isn't an ordinary soft-serve ice cream; rather, it's rolled and hand-crafted in front of each customer

Stir-fried ice cream "I-Tim-Pad" "ไอติมผัด" in Thai, ice pan ice cream, rolled ice cream or ice cream rolls is a hand made ice cream dessert made with milk poured on an iced grill, mixed with fruit or different ingredients on the ice-pan.Stir-fried ice cream "I-Tim-Pad" "ไอติมผัด" in Thai, ice pan ice cream, rolled ice cream or ice cream rolls is a hand made ice cream dessert made with milk poured on an iced grill, mixed with fruit or different ingredients on the ice-pan.


Many people believe the dessert first became popular in the United States after the wives of early presidents served it in the White House. According to the White House Historical Association, Dolley Madison, the wife of President James Madison, served ice cream there for the first time. That was in the early 1800s.

But ice cream has changed a lot in the last 200 years.

And now, a new style of ice cream that started in Southeast Asia is spreading in the United States: rolled ice cream.
This summer, rolled ice cream could be found at street festivals from New York City to Nashville, Tennessee. At Sweet Charlie’s, a store in Philadelphia, customers often wait in line for over two hours to order their rolled ice cream.




Some people call it “Thai stir-fried ice cream.” That is because it looks like it is made on a hot grill, in the same way people cook meat and vegetables.

But the grill used for making the treat is actually extremely cold.

The ice cream “chefs” add things like cookies, candy, and even pizza into the ice cream mixture. Then, the ice cream begins to freeze. Next, the chef spreads it in a thin layer over the cold surface. After a few seconds, the chef uses a tool to scrape the ice cream off the cold surface and turn it into a roll. The rolls are then put in a cup and covered with fruit or flavored syrup.

One serving costs about six dollars in most places in the United States.

Thailand most often gets credit for the creation; a popular YouTube channel called “Ice Cream Rolls” reports that the dessert started there. Millions of people watch the channel’s latest videos each week.



ADDRESS: - C-9, Market Road, Block I, Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110024
                      - 10 Mott St, New York, NY 10013, USA

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

TOMATO SOUP WITH BASIL


TOMATO SOUP WITH BASIL


Servings: 6
Time: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.


INGREDIENTS

3-1/2 pounds tomatoes (about 11 medium), halved
1 small onion, quartered
2 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
12 fresh basil leaves
Salad croutons and thinly sliced fresh basil, optional

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400°. Place tomatoes, onion and garlic in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat. Roast 25-30 minutes or until tender, stirring once. Cool slightly.
Process tomato mixture and basil leaves in batches in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a large saucepan; heat through. If desired, top with croutons and sliced basil. Yield: 6 servings.

Chicken and Poppy Seeds Pasta - Recipe


Chicken and Poppy Seeds Pasta




Servings: 8

Ingredients
10 oz. bow tie pasta (about 4 cups)
2 cups cooked and cooled, diced chicken breasts (I used rotisserie)
12 oz. red grapes halved (about 2 cups)
1 cup diced celery
3/4 cup Fisher Sliced Almonds
1/2 cup sliced green onions green portion
1/3 cup dried cranberries (optional)

Dressing
1/2 cup fat free plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 cup full fat mayonnaise
3 Tbsp white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp poppy seeds
1/2 tsp salt then more to taste
Instructions

Cook pasta to al dente in salted boiling water according to directions on package. Drain then rinse with cold water and let drain completely. Set aside and let cool.

For the dressing:

In a mixing bowl whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, honey, sugar, poppy seeds and 1/2 salt.

Add drained pasta to a salad bowl. Add in chicken, grapes, celery, almonds, green onions and cranberries then pour dressing over top and toss to evenly coat. Season with more salt to taste and toss. Chill at least 30 minutes (and up to 1 day) before serving (this allows some time for the pasta to absorb the dressing and time for the flavors to meld). Serve chilled.