EGGLESS GINGER BREAD MEN COOKIES

Hello everyone

I know , I am a bit late for this post but no worries new year is coming so why not give it a try to cherish our new year celebrations. Anyhow there is no particular time to gobble up your favorite cookies , isn't it☺️. I tried this recipe using my mix and match of ingredients and it turned out definitely superb. This is so easy to prepare and have tendency to fascinate not only kids but elders too. I was always thinking to try this atleast once but after tasting it in a mall at Christmas celebration , I started craving for it. And finally tried and succeeded to , not exactly replicate, but near to the original one. Step wise recipe is given below, hope you will try it and let me know , how it turned out for you😊.

Recipe inspiration: spiceupthecurry 

EGGLESS GINGER BREAD MEN COOKIES

Yield: 18-20 cookies

Time: 30 mins ( leaving chilling time)

Ingredients 

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup butter/ margarine ,at room temp.

2 tbsp oil

1/3 cup brown sugar or jaggery

1/4 cup molasses or honey or maple syrup or dates syrup

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 pinches baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tsp ginger powder

1/8 tsp nutmeg powder

1/8 tsp clove powder

For icing:

1 tbsp hot milk

1 tsp sugar 

3-4 tbsp milk powder

1/4 tsp molten butter/ghee

2-3 drop vanilla essence

Edible colors ( optional)

Method:

First of all take butter/ margarine, oil and brown sugar/ jaggery in a deep bowl and beat till nice fluffy. 

Now add molasses/ substitutes and again beat to incorporate all well. 

Now in a separate bowl add all dry ingredients together and mix well or sieve together.

 Now add flour mix to butter mix in batches and keep mixing. When all flour is mixed , it will look like bread crumbs. 

Now using your finger make dough without applying much pressure. Now roll the dough in 1/2 cm thick chapatti. 

Cut cookies using cookie cutter. If you find your dough delicate to handle then let it chill for 30 -60 mins in fridge then roll and cut. In this way cut all the cookies by repeatedly rolling , cutting and collecting scraps. 

Now place cookies in a baking tray lined with butter paper. Keep all cookies at some distance as they expand a little while baking. Now cover it with cling wrap or plastic sheet to avoid drying, and keep it in fridge for 2-3 hrs or in freezer for 30-40 mins before baking. Now bake it in preheated oven at 180degree C for 8-12 mins. Keep an eye on it after 8 mins , as soon as its edges start to change color,keep it out and cool on a wire rack . 

If you like more crunchy cookies then let it bake for little longer as mine are little soft yet crumbly, the perfect texture for ginger bread men cookies. Let it cool completely before icing. 

For icing : 

Mix sugar in milk and stir till dissolve. Now add essence,butter/ ghee and stir. Now add milk powder little by little and stir to mix properly and without lumps. Use as much milk powder as needed to form a smooth batter that can be piped easily, neither too runny nor too thick . 

Add desired color and mix well ( I skipped). Now fill the icing in icing bag and with thinner nozzle make designs of your choice.

 Let it dry for atleast 1/2 - 1 hr, then store in an airtight container.

Your yummy kids friendly cute ginger bread men cookies are ready to serve.

You can use any substitute mentioned in recipe but then it may make a difference in taste, but be sure in every way it will taste great. I used jaggery and dates syrup in my recipe. 

If you don't like spices , then substitute it by cocoa powder to get chocolate flavored ginger bread men cookies. As small kids generally don't like spicy flavours in their cakes and cookies, like my younger one😐.

Though these cookies are Christmas special delicacy but you can make and enjoy these any time and at any occasion specially at kids birthday party, as kids love to relish on these beauties any time.

Hope you all will give it a try and definitely love it. Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

NO GRIND PALAK PANEER

Hello everyone

Serving new dishes daily on your dinner table is really a challenging job for anyone. Specially when you have fussy eaters at home. Yesterday I had spinach in bulk sitting in my fridge but not willing to have it as normal aaloo palak or palak dal. So scratching my head for almost half an hour , decided to go for corn palak but in half way of preparing my dish , I discovered that I ran out of my corn stock😱 now what to do what to do....... Thought to replace corn by cottage cheese ( paneer) as my kids and even we two are also fan of paneer dishes. So in this way , new avataar of palak paneer got discovered😂😜. But it was really worth this experiment, we just loved each and every bit of the dish . It came out delicious and definitely a pleasant new taste than regular palak paneer. I suggest you to atleast try it once you will definitely fall in love with it.

Excuse me for not giving stepwise pictorial recipe as it was not pre planned and just an experiment. But be sure to get detailed and explained written one as it's so easy and quick to prepare that you will not miss pictures here any more☺️

NO GRIND PALAK PANEER

Serves: 3-4

Time: 25-30 mins

Ingredients

2 cups spinach, finely chopped

1 cup cottage cheese( paneer), cubed

2 medium size onions, finely chopped

2-3 medium tomatoes, finely chopped

4-5 green chilies, finely chopped

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

1 cup milk

1/4 tsp asafetida (heeng)

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

2 tsp curry powder

1/2 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp chicken masala( optional)

1 tsp kitchen King masala

2 tsp kasoori methi, crushed in between palms

Salt to taste

Method:

Heat oil in a wok, add asafetida and cumin seeds. Let it crackle then add chopped onion and green chilies. When onions get golden then add ginger garlic paste and saute for 2-3 mins then add all dry masala powders except kasoori methi. Saute for 1 min then add chopped tomatoes and little salt. Let it cook till nice mushy and cooked well. Now add chopped spinach and let it cook for 4-5 mins or till it shrinks properly. Now add milk, slowly and stirring constantly to avoid cuddling. Let it boil then add some water ,if needed, to achieve your choice of curry consistency. Let it boil, add paneer cubes and salt. Let it simmer for 5 more mins and add crushed kasoori methi, mix well and switch of the flame. 

Your super yum , no fuss healthy side dish is ready to serve with roti , naan,rice or pulao . 

You can also replace paneer with corn or peas but then it will be called corn or peas palak and definitely taste will also suffer. But be sure in each way it will taste delicious.

Just prepare whenever you want to make something different but without much effort and gadgets. Can be served to guests too , and believe they will definitely love this.

Hope you all will love this easy peasy healthy yet yummy side dish. Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

EGGLESS SPARKLING SPRINKLES FOR CAKES AND COOKIES

Hello everyone

Today I have a very easy but interesting decoratives recipe for cakes and cookies. Who don't like cakes, cupcakes or cookies decorated with sparkling glittery sprinkles. Specially kids love to relish on decorated stuffs more than naked ones. But in market these decoratives are too expensive and generally available with eggs. So why not give it a try at home also, with easy available ingredients, eggless and in minimum time and effort. Today I am sharing glittery sparkling colored sugar sprinkles recipe, many more are coming in further days. Till then try and enjoy these super easy and attractive sprinkles at home and win your kids heart. Hope you all will definitely give it a try. 

Stepwise recipe is given below, do try and let me know how it turned out for you.

EGGLESS SPARKLING SPRINKLES FOR CAKES AND COOKIES

Yield: 2+ tbsp 

Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

2 heaped tbsp fine granulated sugar

1/4 tsp edible liquid color ( your choice)

2 drops vanilla essence ( completely optional, I skipped)

Method:

Mix sugar, colour and essence well. 

Spread in thin layer on a baking tray lined with butter paper .

Now bake in a preheated oven at 180 degree C for 10 mins.

Now break all the lumps formed in sugar with oven mitt when it's still warm. Or you can also use rolling pin to separate sugar granules. But use light hands to avoid powdering your sprinkles. Once cooled , keep it in airtight containers.  I made six colors red, blue, green, yellow ,orange and purple by mixing red and blue colors. Your glittery sparkling sprinkles are ready to use. 

You can use any color of your choice or can also mix and match different colors to get different shades of your choice.

Try to use fine granules sugar, neither powdered ones nor too big granules, to get nice glittery texture.

Avoid adding too much of color, it may make lots of lumps and also ruin taste of sprinkles.

You can prepare these in bulk and store properly to use later whenever needed.

Now decorate your sweet treats with these sparkling beauties and see the eyes of your munchkins glittering with happiness. 

You can also use these on your puddings, ice creams or others sweet dishes to add extra attraction and crunchiness.

Hope you all will love this eggless sprinkle recipe and please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

HOT N SOUR VEG NOODLE SOUP

Hello everyone

I am here again after almost one month of gap as was busy in relishing family time. But I am back with a very delicious and kids friendly soup recipe , just perfect for winter season. As kids love noodles in their every meal so added these with lots of healthy veggies to make sure that kids get more and more healthy diet along with yumminess. This is so easy to prepare and less time consuming, so serve hot to comfort everyone in this chilling winter. Hope you will like this easy yet healthy yummy soup. 

Stepwise recipe is given below, do try and let me know how it turned out for you.

Recipe adapted from yummy tummy.

HOT N SOUR VEG NOODLE SOUP

Serves: 4-5

Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

3/4 cup finely chopped veggies ( beans, carrot, capsicum)

1 cup finely chopped cabbages( red and white) and spinach

1 medium onion, finely chopped 

4-5 cloves garlic, minced

1 spring onion, finely chopped

50 gms or as per like, Spaghetti noodles

1 1/2 tbsp corn flour

1 tsp vinegar 

Soya sauce, red chilli sauce, tomato sauce, black pepper and salt , as per taste

Method:

Heat some oil in a wok, add minced garlic. When it get golden then add chopped onions and fry till transparent.

 Now add chopped veggies and saute for 3-4 mins. Add chopped cabbage and spinach, saute for 5 mins. 

Add spaghetti and 4 cups water. Let it cook for 6-8 mins at medium flame or till spaghetti gets cooked.

 Now add all sauces,vinegar, salt and black pepper as per your taste. 

Now add cornflour in 1/4 cup water and add to soup. Keep stirring and let it cook for another 5 mins. Switch off the flame and add chopped spring onions and mix. 

Your yummy hot and sour soup is ready to serve. 

You can use any veggies as per your like and availability. Add sauces as per your taste as everyone has his/her own unique taste buds. 

I like it quit hot and tangy so added chilli and soya sauce in plenty rather than tomato one. If you like sweet side , then add more tomato sauce or add some sugar to your soup.

You can also use water as per your preference of consistency of soup.

Enjoy this comfortable soup with your family or serve to guests in this chilling winter, they will surely gonna love it.

 Hope you all will like this simple yet delicious soup recipe and definitely going to give it a try. Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

EASY MALAI LADDOO

Hello everyone 

Festive season is on its peak these days one after another , festivals are knocking every other day. And without sweets, festivals are incomplete. Today I have a very easy yet super yummy sweet which I made with cuddled milk. Accidentally one litre milk got cuddled and I thought why not to try something new with this and suddenly dimag ki batti jali and the outcome is tempting delicious malai laddoos. These are so easy to make that even an amateur can make it perfectly and also is perfect use of cuddled milk. This is a perfect tasty and eye treat to sweet tooth.

Step wise recipe is  given below, hope you will definitely try this.

EASY MALAI LADDOO

Yield: 12-15 pcs

Time : 20 mins

Ingredients 

1 cup fresh chhena ( crumbled cottage cheese made of 1lt milk)

3/4 cup milk powder

1/4 cup sugar

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp ghee 

1/2 tsp kewda essence ( optional)

12-15 strands of saffron (kesar), soaked in 1 tsp warm milk

Method:

Heat a nonstick wok at low heat and add chhena. Let it be warm then add sugar, ghee , milk and milk powder.

 Mix well and cook till it become little dry and starts leaving edges of wok and not leaving water trail behind it. Switch off the flame and let it get warm. 

Now add kewda essence and mix well. 

Grease your hand with some ghee and Make laddoos of desired size . Now garnish it with saffron strands and serve.

 Your delicious sweet is ready in minutes. Whenever you have cuddled milk at your home and wondering what to do, then try this and win praises. 

Make sure to use fresh chhena to make this sweet . As moisture of fresh paneer is must for a perfect malai texture of the sweet. While straining whey from chhena don't squeeze hard . 

You can increase or decrease sugar as per your taste. 

Kewda essence can also be replaced by cardamom powder.

This is a perfect festive sweet, as takes minimum time and is much more delicious than store bought ones. 

Hope you all will love this delectable sweet recipe and definitely love to try once. Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

DHANIYA LAHSUNI CHICKEN

Hello everyone

After experimenting a lot with paneer , I thought to apply some of my paneer experiments with chicken too and viola it turned out super yummy and tempting. Some time back I posted dhaniya lahsuni paneer recipe , which was a hit. Today I am sharing the same curry but with chicken and some minor twists. This curry is too simple to prepare and extremely yummy, and a must try for chicken lovers. You will definitely fall in love with this one.

Step wise recipe is given below, hope you will love to try it atleast once.

DHANIYA LAHSUNI CHICKEN 

Serves: 4-5

Time: 30 -40 mins

Ingredients 

1 KG chicken drumsticks
1 1/2 cup fresh yogurt ( curd), beaten
1 cup finely chopped green coriander leaves
20-25 cloves garlic , finely chopped
3-4 green chillies, finely chopped 
4-5 medium onions, finely chopped
1 1/2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp curry or chicken masala powder

1 tsp cumin powder

2 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp kasoori methi, crushed between palms

1/2 cup cream, optional
Salt to taste

For marination:

1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp salt

Method:

First of all marinate chicken pieces in turmeric, chili and salt for 20-30 mins.Heat  oil in a non stick pan ,add cumin seeds and let it crackle . Add chopped onions and fry till golden brown . Then add ginger garlic paste,turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder , curry or chicken masala and red chilli powder, saute for a minute then add marinated chicken pieces. Cook on high flame till it get white from all sides, lower the flame and add green chilli, coriander leaves and minced garlic along with one cup of water and salt.

 Let them boil then cover and cook till chicken become nice tender . Now add beaten curd and let it boil stirring constantly to avoid lump formation.

 Now add garam masala and mix well. Finally add cream ( I skipped) and kasuri methi and simmer for 5 more mins and done. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.

You can add water as per your gravy consistency preference. You can also use any chicken pieces you prefer instead of drumsticks.

Your finger licking super tempting chicken dish is ready to serve with roti, naan or rice. Enjoy this different flavour of chicken with your family and friends . 

Hope you will like this easy and delicious chicken dish, please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

PANEER, SOYA AND VEGGIE STUFFED BRAIDED BREAD

Hello everyone

Who don't like freshly baked bread... And if it is home made and stuffed too then just heaven to bread lovers. This bread is a complete meal in itself as full of cottage cheese, soya granules and lots of healthy veggies. You can use any stuffing of your choice to make it of your taste. Kids too love to gobble these bread slices in minutes as these are yummy and also an eye treat too.

Recipe is given below, hope you will definitely give it a try.

PANEER, SOYA AND VEGGIE STUFFED BRAIDED BREAD

Serves: 4-5

Time : 50 mins ( leaving resting time)

Ingredients 

For dough:

3 cup all purpose flour/ chapatti flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp oregano ( optional)
1/2 tsp rosemary ( optional)
2 tbsp oil
1/2 cup Luke warm water
1 tsp dry yeast
More warm water to knead dough

For stuffing:

1 cup cottage cheese( paneer), crumbled or cut in small pieces 

1 cup soya chunks, soaked then grind to small pieces 

2 cup mix veggies ( carrots, cabbage, spring onions, beans, capsicum, peas, corns etc), finely chopped

2 medium onions, finely chopped 

2 tsp ginger garlic paste

3-4 green chilies, finely chopped 

1/2 tsp Garam masala powder

1 tsp curry powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder 

1/2 tsp red chili powder 

1/2 tsp chaat masala

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 tsp asafetida ( heeng)

Salt to taste

Some sesame seeds to sprinkle ( optional)

Little milk to brush on top

Method:

First of all add  sugar and yeast in 1/2 cup Luke warm water and stir. Let it rest for 10 to 15 mins or till it become frothy.

Now mix all ingredients of dough section and mix well, using sufficient water make a soft dough. Knead the dough for atleast 8-10 mins or till it become non sticky and shiny. Now apply some oil all over the dough. Cover it and place at a warm place , like closed oven , for 2-3 hrs or till it become double in volume.

 In the mean while lets  prepare stuffing. Heat oil in a wok, add cumin seeds and asafetida let it crackle, then add chopped onions and chili.

 Fry till golden then add ginger garlic paste and saute for a min. Now add all dry masala powders except chaat masala and saute for a min.

 Add chopped veggies, saute for 3-4 mins. Now add ground soya granules and again saute for 5 minutes. 

Now add paneer , salt and chat masala . 

Add chopped green coriander leaves , Saute for 5 more mins and done. Let it cool .

Dough is doubled in 3 hrs. This time may vary according to weather conditions so make sure to let dough rise to its double volume for nice spongy bread.

Now punch the dough and cut it in 4 equal parts. Now sprinkle some dry flour on working surface and roll one dough in a thick rectangular shape. 

Now with help of a pizza cutter or sharp knife ,cut 1 inch thick strips as shown in pic.

Now spread 1/4 of stuffing on uncut portion of dough and make braid in crisscross pattern as shown in pic.

Similarly make all the four parts. Now gently transfer it in a baking dish, sprinkle some sesame seeds on the top, cover it and let it rest for another 1/2 hr. 

After second rise ,brush some milk on its top and bake the bread in preheated oven at 180 degree C for 15 mins , then increase the temp to 230 degree C and bake for another 5 mins or till the top of bread become nice golden brown. Keep an eye on it after 15 mins as different oven take different baking time.

You can also knead the dough by half water and half milk. I used only water.

You can use any stuffing of your choice, like potato stuffing or only paneer stuffing or chicken stuffing. Let your imagination work and discover new tastes of your own.

Transfer it on a wire rack and let it cool. Then slice and serve with your choice of chutney or sauce.

It tastes good as it is , no need anything to accompany. This is a full healthy meal you can have any time. Can be given in kids tiffin or as picnic snacks, enjoy this as you like.

Hope you all will like this yummy bread ,and definitely going to try it.  Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking.....