Watermelon Shaped Cookies

The moment i saw the video of making of these beauties i decided to make it.Look at them ..they are just beautiful.First i thought it will be a tedious job to do.But they are just easy to make. A basic butter cookie recipe with the addition of food colour and the time to set in the refrigerator.Its all done.

My first batch of watermelon cookies got burnt lightly.But they were soft and melted in mouth.My daughter had few of them even before they were cooled,so was me..:).She always love those freshly baked cookies,right from the oven;)...

Recipe for watermelon shaped cookies

ingredients

1. all purpose flour - 2 cups
2. baking powder - 1/2 tsp
3. salt - a pinch
4. butter - 3/4cup(1 1/2 stick)
5. sugar - 3/4 cup
6. vanilla essence - 1/4 tsp
7. egg - 1
8. food colour(red and green) - as per needed
9. chocolate chips - as required

How to make

• in a small bowl mix flour baking powder and salt and keep aside
• in another bowl beat butter and sugar until creamy

                                          

• add in egg and vanilla essence and mix well

                                               

• add the flour mixture little by little and mix to form a soft dough

                                                  

• take one cup of dough and keep aside

                                                  

• with the rest of the dough add enough  red food colouring to tint the dough 

                                             

• mix well so that the dough is nicely tinted
• roll it into a long cylindrical log and wrap it in plastic wrap or cling film and keep in refrigerator for one hour.

                                                   

• divide one cup of reserved dough into two halves

                                        

• to one half add enough green colour to tint the dough .leave the remaining half of the dough plain.wrap each half of dough seperately in plastic wrap and keep in refrigerator for about one hour.

                                    

• on a floured surface roll plain dough into a rectangle shape just to fit the red log of dough in it.
• roll up and cover the red dough with the plain dough
• now take the green dough from the refrigerator and roll it into a rectangle .
• place the re/white log of dough along the short end of green dough.
• roll up and cover the red/white log with the green dough
• cover the whole log with a plastic wrap and keep refrigerated for atleast 2 hours

                                        

• take the dough ,unwrap it and cut into desired thickness in slices.
• cut the slices into two halves as shown in the pic
• lightly press the chocolate chips into each slice to resemble the watermelon seeds

                                              

• place them in a baking tray and bake for about 6-8 minutes or until the cookies are firm but not brown

                                                 

• allow the cookies to cool down completely.the cookies are soft while hot and they become firm when cooled.

Cornflour Halwa

Cornflour halwa is also known as karachi halwa.During diwali,from my husband's office we get sweet boxes every year.I love those orange coloured halwa pieces in them.I was under the misconception that making halwa involves the addition of large amount of ghee.But in this halwa we add only 1 tbsp of ghee just to get that glossy  texture.still it tastes so good.

Cornflour halwa is available in different colours like orange,red,yellow and even green.I used yellow colour.Feel free to use your own colour preference:)

Recipe for cornflour halwa

ingredients

1. cornflour - 1/2 cup
2. sugar - 1 1/2 cup
3. ghee - 1tbsp
4. water - 2 1/2 cup
5. cashewnut - 1tbsp
6. cardomom powder - 1/4 tsp
7. yellow/orange foodcolour - a pinch

Method

• in a pan roast the cashewnuts in a teaspoon of ghee
• take a bowl and mix cornflour with 1 1/2 cup water and foodcolour
• mix well without any lumps
• in a nonstick pan add sugar and 1 cup water and bring to boil
• when the sugar gets dissolved ,reduce the flame to medium and add the cornflour mixture into it. 
• stir continously
• add 1 tbsp of ghee and stir continously withou forming lumps
• now add roasted cashewnuts and cardomom powder into it and mix well
• when the halwa starts leaving from the sides of the pan swith off the flame
• transfer the halwa into a greased plate which is kept ready
• cool down for about 2 hrs and cut into pieces or serve it in a bowl as such and enjoyy

Almond Cookies

Yesterday i was very lazy.I wanted to make  cinnamon rolls and some cookies which were bookmarked few days ago but didn't get that push from the inside.But when my little one came from school she kept asking for cookies.So i ended up making these gorgeous almond cookies:).

                                     I want to try the whole wheat version of these almond cookies.I often make oatmeal cookies.They are healthy and filling.For a change i tried these almond cookies and it was an instant hit.These almond cookies were mildly sweet, crisp and melted in mouth.My daughter absolutely loved them:)...

Recipe for Almond Cookies

ingredients

1. all purpose flour - 1 1/4 cup 
2. baking powder - 1/2 tsp
3. butter - 1/2 cup
4. sugar - 1/2 cup
5. almonds - 1/4 cup
6. vanilla essence - 1/4 tsp

How i made

• preheat oven at 180 degrees
• dry roast the almonds

•  when cooled grind them in a mixer into  powder

• sift together all purpose flour, baking powder and the powdered almonds and keep aside

• in a bowl mix butter and sugar until creamy

• then add the egg and vanilla essence and beat well

•      now add in the flour mixture little by little 

•          mix the flour to form a soft ball

• take a tablespoon full of dough and shape into cookies

• you can garnish with almonds on top of each cookies 
• bake for about 10-12 minutes .

Notes

• keep an eye on the cookies after 10 minutes so that they are not burnt.it depends on your oven
• you can use 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk to form the dough if needed.

Watermelon Mojito

Watermelon is one fruit which one can always find in my refrigerator ...A glass of watermelon juice or a slice ,i find them very filling.My husband love to have watermelon juice with a pinch of chaat masala after dinner almost everyday.

Traditionally mojito is a cocktail that uses rum,limejuice,sparkling water/sodawater alongwith mint.Here i have replaced rum with watermelon ;)...The combination of lime juice and mint complement the watermelon juice.

Recipe for watermelon mojito

ingredients

1. watermelon  - 1 cup sliced into cubes
2. mint leaves - a handful
3. lime juice - 3 tbsp
4. sugar - 1 tbsp
5. soda water/sparkling water - 1/4 cup
6. crushed icecubes - to fill the bottom of glass

how to make

• blend the watermelon cubes and sugar  using a mixer
• slightly crush the mint leaves using a pestle 
• now take a tall glass add crushed ice cubes
• pour the watermelon juice to the half of the glass
• add lime juice and crushed mint leaves
• then fill the glass with soda water
• now mix well using a spoon
• garnish with mint leaves and serve

Notes

• you can even sprinkle a pinch of chaat masala also
• sugar can be replaced with honey 
• you can omit soda water if you don't have 

Dates Tamarind Chutney/Sweet n Sour chutney

This sweet n sour chutney is must for chaat.I often make chaat at home.This sweet chutney has a pretty good shelf life of about one month also.You can make it in bulk and store in refrigerator.This chutney goes well with samosas, pakoras etc.

recipe for dates tamarind chutney

ingredients

1. dates - 1/2 cup
2. tamarind - small ball
3. roasted cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
4. red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
5. chaat masala - 1/2 tsp
6. jaggery - 3 tbsp
7. salt - to taste
8. water - 1/2 cup

method

• remove the seeds from dates and chop them
• in a pan add chopped dates, tamarind ,cumin powder, redchilli powder, jaggery, chaat masala and salt along with 1/2 cup water.
• cook covered in low heat for about 15 minutes or until thickened
• when cooled grind into a smooth paste using a mixer
• sweet n sour chutney is ready to serve

Dry fruit laddoos

A week ago my husband told me that he has to go to Bangalore for an official meeting coming friday.It was actually a one day trip but yesterday night suddenly he told me he will be visiting his mom and sister who is staying there.So i thought i would pack something for them.But it was already 9.30 pm and i had to quickly decide and start making whatever i wanted to because he has to leave at 4.00 in the morning.First thing that came to my mind was dry fruit laddoos.But when i searched my pantry there weren't any dry fruits:(..then i pleaded my husband to buy some dry fruits from the nearby shop which he happily agreed.By the time he got the dry fruits i started making Ghee cake.Luckily i had all the required ingredients. . I will be posting ghee cake recipe later by the way:).

My husband helped me click the pictures:).Since i had to pack the laddoos and the cake then itself i didn't get the chance to click the pictures in the daylight.And walnuts and pistachios weren't available in the shop he went.So i had to be satisfied with cashewnuts and almonds.I am definitely going to make them again using walnuts, pistachios and all.They were so delicious even without walnuts and pistachios.i had eaten these dry fruit laddoos from Sri Rami Reddy sweet shop here.They are absolutely healthy and tasty with no amount of sugar too.So try making these lovely laddoos and enjoyyyyyyyy:).

Recipe for dry fruit laddoos(got 17 laddoos)

Ingredients

1. dates - 1/2 cup
2. anjeer/dried fig - 1/2 cup
3. mixed nuts - 1/2 cup(any nuts of your choice like cashew nuts,almonds,walnuts,pistachios etc)
4. ghee - 1 tbsp
5. honey - 1 tbsp(optional)
6. dessicated coconut(optional) - to roll the laddoos

Method

• deseed the dates and chop dates and fig and keep aside.

• roast all the nuts in low flame without getting it burnt.

• when cooled coarsely grind the nuts in a mixer.should not be too powdery.just pulse it
• in a nonstick pan add ghee and add  dates and figs and cook until you get a sticky mixture.be careful not to burn the mixture.

• then add the powdered nuts into this dates mixture and mix well

• switch off the flame
• add honey (if you are using)and grease your hands and roll the mixture into laddoos of small ball shape
• roll the laddoos in dessicated coconut.

Notes

• i didn't have any walnuts or pistachios or pumpkin seeds.you can use any nuts of your choice
• you can roll the laddoos in sesame seeds or powdered sugar also, though dessicated coconut is my personal preference.

Chicken Pizza

We stopped eating pizza outside since more than three years.But very often i crave for pizza.So i started making it at home.And trust me this homemade pizzas are more tastier..and of course healthy too.My husband is not a pizza fan.But he likes this chicken pizza.He suggested that i could have made the pizza base little more thinner.Otherwise it was perfect.Our perfect dinner that day:).I loaded the pizza base with loads of chicken and vegetables.And less cheese.This recipe is slightly adapted from raks kitchen.

I used homemade tomato sauce as the base filling..recipe of homemade tomato sauce i will be posting soon.This seems to be veryy lenghty post.But never mind.Its sooo easy only thing i just tried to post it in a step by step process..This is how i made this easy peezy fool proof :) deliciously  yummyyyy pizza:).

Recipe for chicken pizza
ingredients

to make the pizza base(makes one large pizza)

• all purpouse flour - 1 1/2 cup
• active dry yeast - 1tbsp
• milk - 1/4 cup
• water - 1/4 cup
• olive oil - 1/8 cup
• salt - 3/4 tsp
• sugar - 2 tbsp

for the chicken topping

• boneless chicken - 150 gm(cut into small cubes)
• red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
• turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
• soya sauce - 1 tbsp
• ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
• curd - 1 tbsp
• salt - 1/2 tsp

 topping 

• onion - 1 medium sized
• tomatoe - 1 medium sized
• capsicum - 1 small
• pizza chesse - 1/2 cup(i used mozarella cheese)
• pizza sauce - 3 tbsp
• italion seasoning to sprinkle on top

• in a wide bowl mix salt sugar olive oil .boil water and add to it and mix well till sugar gets dissolved
• add milk and yeast and keep aside for 10 minutes for yeast to dissolve.
• then mix thoroughly until yeast is well dissolved
• add in flour and mix to form a soft dough
• cover it with a wet cloth and keep aside to let the dough rise for about one and half hour

• mean while make the chicken topping.
• marinate the chicken with the red chilli powder turmeric,pepper powder,soyasauce,gingergarlic paste,salt and curd and keep aside for 15 minutes
• heat a pan and add 1 tbsp oil and cook the  marinated chicken.when all the water is evaporated and chicken is cooked switch off flame.

• cut the onion,capsicums,tomato and keep aside
• once the dough is doubled punch down the dough and knead it briefly.

• preheat oven to 210 degrees
•   roll the dough  into desired thickness for the  pizza base.
• then fill the base with pizza sauce.(i dint have pizza sauce . so i used homemade tomato sauce
• then spread chopped onion,capsicum,and tomato on top of that
• then spread cooked chicken pieces

• then cover the vegetables with cheese
• sprinkle italian seasoning on top of that generously
• place the pizza on baking tray and bake at 210 degrees for about 10- 12 minutes
• cool and slice and enjoyyyyyyy:)

                       

               Somebody is not able to control herself;)...that's my daughter's little hands hovering over the pizza while i was clicking the pics:)

Notes

• you can customize the topping used here.you can try anything like mushroom, paneer,corn etc
• any type of capsicum(bell pepper) can be used.i used red ,yellow and green
• i dint have pizza sauce.so i used tomato sauce.it dint make much difference in taste though.