Party food collection

Happy New Year to all my readers!
May the New year bring joy, peace and happiness to you!!
Start your New Year with a bang :)
Here is collection of some of my favourite party foods from 2015
Take your pick :) :)
Eggless chocolate cake

Cheesy bread pops

Tandoori aloo chaat

Mac n cheese muffins

Poached pears with kesari rabri

Caramel filled cupcakes

Soya chaap stuffed potatoes

Loaded potato cups

Caramel mochasicles

Cookie bowl ice cream

Triple layered panna cotta

Kashmiri kahwa truffles

Red velvet double deckers

Baked pasta in a bun

Double baked creamy herbed potatoes

Stuffed mushrooms

Earl grey and orange tea cupcakes

Nutella fantasy

Mocha cookies

Cheesy party poppers

Cheese bombs

Veggie pops

Stained Glass Cookies

Planning some last minute christmas bakes, enjoy these fun to bake stained glass eggless christmas cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar(white)
• 1/2 cup softened butter (unsalted)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp or more milk at room temperature
• 5-6 hard candies (  have used jolly rancher here)
  

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Resting time: 1-2 hour 
Baking time: 7-8 minutes
Yields: 10 cookies
Kitchen equipments required: mixing bowls, cookie cutters, measuring cups and spoons, aluminum foil or parchment paper

Directions:

• In a mixing bowl cream together sugar and butter till light and fluffy, keep aside.
• In an another bowl sift together all purpose flour and baking soda.
• Now incorporate the flour into creamed sugar and butter, add in vanilla extract, vinegar into the mixture.
• Knead into a soft pliable dough. Cover the dough with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least and hour.
• Divide the dough into 10-12 equal parts.
• Take one part, roll into a ball and flatten into 1/4 th thickness.
• Cut into desired shape. I used a star cutter
• Using a smaller cookie cutter cut a smaller star in the centre.
• Put the candies in a zip lock bag, crush the candies using a rolling pin.
• Line a baking tray with a parchment sheet or aluminum foil, 
• Place the cookies on greased and lined baking tray.
• Fill the cavities with crushed candies.
• Pre heat the oven at 170 degree c for 10 minutes.
• Bake the cookies for 7-8 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
• Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wired rack before serving.
• Decorated or plain you'll enjoy these cookies.
  

Pav bhaji

Mumbai's pav bhaji is one of the famous and most loved street foods of India. During my short stay in Pune six years back, I gorged on pav bhaji, vada pav, dabeli, and whatnot, almost daily. With Delhi's winter chills taking a peak, I ended up trying my favorite street food's recipe at home 
Quite an easy recipe that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes, let's see how to make it step by step.

Ingredients

• 3 medium sized potatoes peeled and chopped
• 1 medium sized cauliflower chopped
• 1 chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup fresh/frozen green  peas
• 2 tbsp finely chopped raw turmeric (optional)
• 2 onions  finely chopped
• 3 large tomatoes finely chopped
• 1 medium sized capsicum finely chopped
• 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• Salt to taste
• Red chilly powder to taste
• 3  tbsp pav bhaji masala
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• Water as required
• 3 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Some fresh coriander leaves
• Few sliced onions.
• Pavs as required
• Butter for pavs

Directions:

• Boil potatoes, cauliflower,carrots, turmeric and peas in a pressure cooker. 
• I generally add a small piece of  fresh raw turmeric in all my vegetable preparations in winters because of its health benefits and also it gives a beautiful colour to the gravy.
• Lightly mash the boiled vegetables using a potato masher, keep aside.
• In a pan heat add 1 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp oil, add cumin seeds,when they start to splutter add chopped onions, saute till they become translucent.
• Next add  ginger-garlic paste and chopped green chillies, saute till the raw aroma is gone. 
• Now add tomatoes and cook on medium flame them till they become soft.
• Next, add chopped capsicum, saute for 2 to 3 minutes, do not overcook the capsicum.
• Now add all the dry spices and mix well,  add the mashed vegetables and give it a good mix.
• Add water as required, keep stirring occasionally and let it cook on medium flame for 10-15 minutes. 
• Check the seasonings and switch off the flame.
• Add some lemon juice and garnish with fresh coriander leaves and onion slices.
• Top it with some butter and serve hot with pavs.

For serving pavs, slice them from the center, spread melted butter  generously and fry them on a hot greased tawa/pan.

Eggless Chocolate cake

Rich, moist, egg-less chocolate cake that i made on my son's 7th birthday.
The recipe is simple but the cake is very special to me, so decided to share the pics and recipe here.
I also made his favourite  party poppers, veggie pops, nutella fantasy, mocha cookies for the party.
Will share the recipes for other dishes I  made for the party very soon.

Egg-less Chocolate cake with nutella frosting
Ingredients:
Dry ingredients:
1/2 cup wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
Wet ingredients:
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup milk(room temperature)
1/2 cup water(room temperature)
1 1/2 tbsp curd
1 tsp vanilla essence

Directions:
In  a mixing bowl sift together all the dry ingredients, keep aside.
In an another bowl, add water and oil, whisk till completely incorporated, add milk and curd to this mixture, add vanilla and whisk well.
Now fold the sifted flour mixture into the wet ingredients gently.
Pour this batter into a greased baking dish.
Bake for 30-35 minutes in a pre- heated oven at 170 degree C.
Let it cool for 15 minutes in the dish and invert onto a rack and let it cool completely before doing the frosting.
I made two cakes with the same proportions and frosted it with nutella, added fresh fruits in the middle and decorated with all his favourite goodies :)

Dhabbe wala Kadhai Paneer

Paneer/cottage cheese cooked with colourful bell peppers in a delicious and mouthwatering tomato based gravy along with aromatic spices, making it irresistible.

Let's learn how to make kadhai paneer step by step Dhabba style

Ingredients:

• 200 gms cottage cheese
• 2 onions finely chopped
• 1 onion diced
• 2 tomatoes finely chopped
• 3 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
• 2 green chillies chopped
• 1 tsp kasuri methi
• 1 small green capsicum diced
• 1 small yellow bell pepper diced (optional)
• 1 small red bell pepper diced (optional) you can use capsicum only
• Salt to taste
• Red chilly powder to taste
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 1/2 tsp kadhai masala
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 tbsp oil

Ingredients for kadhai masala

• 2 tbsp coriander seeds
• 2-3 dried red chillies
• 1/4th stick cinnamon
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp kasuri methi

Dry roast all in the ingredients in a hot pan till you get nice aroma, let them come to room temperature and grind them to a fine powder.

Directions

• Heat oil in a pan, add ginger garlic paste and green chillies, saute till the raw aroma of ginger garlic is gone, next add chopped onions and cook till the onions become translucent.
• Now add chopped tomatoes and cook till the tomatoes are soft.
• Add tomato puree, salt, all dry spices, kadhai masala and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Now add diced peppers, cover the pan and cook on medium flame till the peppers are 80% cooked , we don't have to cook capsicum completely
• At this stage add diced onions and kasuri methi, cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Next add milk to the gravy and let it boil for 3-4 minutes.
• Add cottage cheese cubes, cover and cook for 2 minutes on medium flame.
• Switch off the flame, sprinkle garam masala powder and cover the pan.
• Garnish with fresh coriander leaves, serve hot with paratha ,naan or rice.

Cheesy Bread Pops

A quick snack/appetizer for kids that can be made in a jiffy when you are running out of time.
Ingredients:

• 4 slices of brown bread.
• 1/2 bowl mozzarella cheese
• 1 medium sized boiled and mashed potato
• 1/4 cup assorted finely chopped vegetables of your choice( I have used corn, bell peppers and tomatoes)
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp oregano seasoning
• 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
• Candy sticks/cake pops stick

For more kids friendly recipes click baked pasta in a bun, nutella fantasy,cheesy party poppers,Gary-the snail

Preparation time :10 minutes
Cooking time :10 minutes
Yields: 4 bread pops
Kitchen equipments required: round cookie cutter, knife, chopping board, grater

Directions:

• In a mixing bowl add boiled potato and 2-3 tbsp grated cheese, black pepper powder, salt and oregano seasoning, mix well and keep aside.
• With the help of a cookie cutter cut round slices of bread.
• Spread tomato ketchup on one slice, top it with 1 tbsp of cheese and potato mixture.

• Cover this with another bread slice and lightly press it with your hands.

• Now put some grated cheese and vegetables of your choice on the top slice.

• Sprinkle some black pepper powder and oregano seasonings.
• Preheat the oven for 10 minutes.
• Bake for 6-7 minutes at 180 degree C
• Insert sticks in the center between the two slices and lightly press it with your hands.

• Serve immediately.

Keema Gobhi Matar

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sized Cauliflower
• 2 onions finely chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger garlic green chilly paste
• 2 tomatoes pureed
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder taste
• 1 tsp dry mango powder/amchoor powder
• Salt to taste
• Red chilli powder to tast
• 1/2 tsp carom seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Pinch of asafoetida
• 1/2 bowl fresh green peas
• 2 tbsp oil to cook
• Few chopped coriander leaves
  

Preparation time :15 minutes
Cooking time: 20-25 minutes

Directions:

• Wash, clean and grate cauliflower.
• In a non stick pan, heat 3 tbsp oil, add cumin seeds, when the seeds start to splutter add carom seeds, bay leaves and asafoetida.
• Next add ginger garlic and green chilly paste and saute for few seconds.
• Now add chopped onions and saute for 4-5 minutes or till they change colour.
• When the onions are done add tomato puree and cook on medium heat till the oil leaves sides.
• Add all the powdered spices and cook for few seconds.
• Now add green peas, cover the pan and cook for 6-7 minutes or till the peas are half done 
• Next add grated cauliflower, sprinkle few drops of water in the pan, cover and cook on medium flame till both the vegetables are cooked.
• Sprinkle some lemon juice
• garnish with fresh coriander leaves and ginger juliennes 
• Serve hot with Roti, paratha or tawa naan
• 

Indian Masala tea

If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited it will calm you. ~William Ewart Gladstone

One of the life's simple pleasures lies in sipping a hot cup of freshly brewed tea leaves with fragrant spices and condiments and biting a spicy VADA PAV , KACHORI OR FRITTERS on a cold winter day.

Sharing today traditional Indian masala chai recipe.

Ingredients:

• 20-25 green cardamom
• 1/4 th cup ground dry ginger powder/sounth
• 20-25 black pepper corn
• 10 -12 cloves
• 1 stick cinnamon
• 1 star anise(optional)
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds(optional)
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder(optional)

Directions:

• Grind all the  spices mentioned above in a blender to a fine powder.
• Store in an air tight bottle.
  

For making masala tea:

• 3/4th cup of water
• Sugar to taste
• 1 tsp tea leaves
• 1 tsp chai masala
• A small piece ginger (crushed)
• 2-3 basil leaves(optional)
• 1/4th cup milk

Directions:
Boil water in a pan, add sugar, tea leaves, chai masala powder  along with crushed ginger and basil  leaves. Boil it for 3-4 minutes on low flame, add milk and boil for another 3-4 minutes.
Serve hot. 

For iced tea lovers  try  these refreshing flavours orange spiced tea or Earl grey & rose iced tea or Peach & apple iced tea