Cinnamon rolls..

Cinnabon's Classic Cinnamon roll..

Inspired to make like the one above..and what I got was this...




I tasted the cinnamon roll for the first time in Cinnabon's and immediately after having the first bite I fell in love with it..It was soft,moderately sweet and perfectly coated with the glaze..
I badly wanted to try this at home( I know,this is a daring attempt)..So I browsed for the recipe in the internet and found one easier and which didnt call for the eggs..It wasn't so soft as the Cinnabon's but tasted good..Here it goes..



You will need:
5 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast dissolved in 1 cup of lukewarm water
2 1/4 cup milk(lukewarm)
1 tsp Cinnamon powder
1 cup + 2 tsp butter(at room temp)
A pinch of baking soda
1 cup equal amount of brown sugar and white sugar + 2 tsp of white sugar
1 tsp salt
For the glaze
1/2 cup icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract



Mix together 3 1/2 cups of flour ,milk,yeast water,salt,baking soda ,2 tsp butter and 2 tsp of white sugar using a wooden spoon.


Add the remaining flour and knead well with you hands until the dough is shiny.Use more flour if required.Add a tsp of oil to prevent sticking in hands..


Knead well for 8 mins and cover with a cloth .Allow to sit for 2 to 3 hours.The dough will be raisen..


Gently punch and let the air out and roll out into 1/2 inch thick circle..



Mix the brown sugar,white sugar ,cinnamon powder and half of the butter.


Apply the remaining butter on to the rolled out dough into a thin layer and spread the cinnamon filling evenly.


Roll them to a log as shown..



Cut them into 1 inch pieces..
Preheat the oven for 250 C and bake for 10-15 mins or until its slightly browned..


Mix the icing sugar,vanilla extract and water to make a thin paste ..

Drizzle them on the baked cinnamon rolls and allow to cool them on rack..



Serve them with a cup of coffee or tea!



I sprinkled some icing sugar on it..It tasted pretty good..The whole home was having the aroma of cinnamon when it was baking...

A close look at it...


Im sending a batch of Cinnamon rolls to Sunita's Think Spice ..think favourite (Cinnamon) event!

Semiya(vermicelli) upma!

A tiffin in a jiffy yet delicious ,wholesome and comforting thats what I can say about upmas.
They can be made in multifarious ways like with broken wheat,rava(semolina),rice,semiya(vermicelli),oats,bread etc..
There was a last batch of vermicelli laying in the pantry so me and mom decided to make vermicelli upma for dinner today.I love the upma which my mom makes.She makes the simple upma into such a delight by throwing roasted cashews,and all my fav veggies..I made this upma for supper with mom's guidance and they were so perfect and filling...




You will need:
1 cup semiya(vermicelli)
2 tsp chopped onion
2 tsp chopped carrots
2 tsp capsicum
2 tsp tomatoes
2 tsp fresh green peas
2 green chillies finely chopped
2-3 curry leaves
5-6 cashews roasted in ghee
1/4 tsp mustard
1/4 tsp urad dal
1/2 tsp fennel seeds(saunf)
1 bay leaf
a pinch of turmeric
1 tsp of ghee
oil
salt to taste

The veggies are optional you can also use beans,corn,potatoes etc..
Roast the vermicelli for a couple of mins in a tsp of oil and set aside..



Heat a tsp of oil and add the mustard,urad dal,saunf,bay leaf..Let the mustard to splutter.




Add the onion and chillies and fry till the onion becomes transculent.Add the vegetables and saute a couple of mins..




Add 3 cups of water and allow to boil.Add the salt,turmeric and roasted vermicelli and give a stir.Cover and cook in low flame until all water is absorbed..



This is blisss!!

Butter Naan and Matar paneer..

I heard people saying Naan is really difficult to make at home and they assume it takes lots of effort and requires special equipments...so I took it as a challenge and tried this at home..Voila, it turned out so well and they are so easy too.And the taste?!ummmm..they are as spongy as the one u get in the restaurants..
We savoured them with 'Matar paneer'(cottage cheese and green peas gravy) and they are awesome!!

You will need:
Makes 3 Naans
1 cup of all purpose flour( u can use wheat flour too..in that case use wheat flour and all pur flour in 1:1 ratio)
1 1/2 tsp of curd
1/2 tsp of active dry yeast
a pinch of baking soda
1 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of sugar
1-2 tsp of oil
2 tsp of butter


In half a cup of lukewarm water disslove the yeast..



In a large mixing bowl seive the flour,baking soda,salt and sugar




Add the curd and the yeast water and mix gently to make a soft dough..Add a tsp of oil and knead gently ..
Cover and keep it undisturbed for 4-5 hours..This will allow the dough to raise..


Take the raised dough and knead the dough gently with some oil applied in hands..

Divide them into 3 equal portions and dust them in flour..


Put a plastic sheet or cling wrap on the kitchen counter and roll the dough balls in oval shape in 1/4 inch thick using a rolling pin..Dust in the flour if required..


Wet your hands with water before placing the rolled out dough on the baking stone..(this would prevent the Naan getting dry)
Bake them in a 250 C preheated oven for 5 mins or until the bread is puffed up and brown spots appear..
This can be done on a stove top iron griddle also..
Brush some smelted butter on the Naan and serve hot..



Matar Paneer


You will need:
250 gms paneer -cubed
1/2 cup fresh green peas
2 tomatoes
1 onion
1 green chilly
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp red chilly powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
a pinch of turmeric powder
1/2 tsp of garam masala powder
1 tsp of cumin seeds
salt to taste
1/2 tsp of sugar
oil

Fry the paneer cubes in 2 tsp of oil till golden brown.


Blend the tomatoes,onion,ginger garlic paste to a smooth paste.Heat 2 tsp of oil .Add 1 tsp of cumin seeds and let it splutter.Add the blended mixture and chopped chillies.Add turmeric,chilli,coriander powder and salt.And cook till oil separates..


Add the fried paneer cubes and peas .Add garam masala powder and sugar.Add 1/2 cup of water.Cook in low flame for 2-3 mins.
Garnish with chopped coriander and fresh cream and serve..

Vegetable Biryani..

Biryani is a one pot meal which is exotic,nutritious and involves mess-free cooking.People make Biryani in many ways..But I love the Biryani made by my best friend's mom...The following recipe is given by her..I tried out last sunday and it came out so well..








You will need:

2 cups basmati rice(soaked for 30 mins and drained)
1/4 cup fresh green peas/corn
1/4 cup carrot chopped
1/4 cup beans chopped
1/4 cup cauliflower chopped
1/4 cup tomatoes chopped
1/4 cup soya chunks boiled and drained
2 cups coconut milk
2 cups water
1/2 cup scallions/small onions
6 green chillies
6-7 cloves garlic
1 inch ginger
6-7 sprigs of fresh coriander
10-12 mint leaves
1/2 inch cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 cardomom
1 star anise
1/2 tspoon jeera/saunf
1 bay leaf
6-7 cashewnuts
1/2 tspoon red chilly powder
1/2 tspoon turmeric powder
1/4 tspoon coriander powder
1/4 tspoon jeera powder
2-3 tspoon ghee
2 tspoon oil




Grind onions,garlic-ginger,green chillies,coriander and mint leaves to a smooth paste.



Coarsely powder the spices..


Heat the oil in heavy bottom pan..Add the bay leaf and cashews and fry till golden brown.



Add the ground paste and saute for a couple of mins..



Add the ground spice,turmeric,chilli ,jeera and coriander powder .Add the tomatoes to the mixture and cook till the oil separates..


Add the vegetables and stir fry for a minute..



Add the drained rice and stir for a min..Add the water and coconut milk and bring to boil..Add required amount of salt .Cook them for 10-15 mins in low fire with lid covered.



Add ghee and mix well before serving..
This is aromatic and draws all the inmates of ur home to the dinning table..
You can serve this spicy dish with cool cucumber-onion raitha.

Penne in alferdo sauce..

Pasta dishes are probably the fastest meals you can cook and really enjoy..They can be made in innumerous ways with lots of nutrition in it...And for this reason I love pastas!!
In India,Pastas are gaining popularity in the form of instant pastas..
Alferdo sauce is a sauce named after a restaurant and it has full cream,butter and cheese as its basic ingredient.Try this at home,and feel being in Italy...




You will need:
250 gms pasta
1/4 cup full cream
1/4 cup milk
2 tspoon butter
1 clove garlic chopped
1 tspoon tomato ketchup
2-3 tspoon grated parmesean and cheddar cheese
1 tspoon Italian spice mix(oregano,basil and thyme)
Salt and pepper to taste



Boil water in a heavy bottom vessel.Add generous salt and few drops of oil.Cook the pasta till tender(approx 10 mins) and drain.



Melt the butter in a saucepan and fry the garlic in it.
You can also add onions if you like.



Add the cream and milk and keep whisking..



Add the ketchup ,some salt and whisk well..Turn off the heat and add the cheese.Mix till it melts..


Add the pepper and other spices and stir well..


Mix the pasta well with sauce..


Serve hot!
Mamma mia!!