Hearty Spices

Paneer - Saute  200 gms of Paneer  in a tbsp of Ghee till golden brown and remove into a dish. To it, add  a cup of Hot Water and keep aside for 5 minutes. Drain the water and keep aside. Veggies - In the same pan, saute a big diced Tomato and  a big diced   Green Capsicum for 2-3 minutes and remove from heat. Make a paste of 3 medium Onions and keep aside. Make a puree of a big Tomato and keep aside. Curry - Heat 1½ tbsp of Ghee / Oil in a pan; add and saute the onion paste till oil separates. Add a tsp of Ginger Garlic paste and saute for 3 minutes. Add a pinch of Turmeric Powder, a tsp of Coriander Powder, a tsp of Red Chilli Powder, a tsp of Cumin Powder, Salt to taste  and mix well. Add the Tomato puree, mix and cook for 5 minutes. Add ¼ tsp of Kasturi Methi , fried paneer cubes and cover cook for 2-3 minutes. Add a cup of Water, ¼ tsp of Garam Masala Powder , sauted capsicum and tomatoes;...

Chop a Carrot, 8-10 French Beans, a cup of roughly chopped Cabbage and a medium Potato into fine pieces.  Heat a tbsp of Butter in a saucepan, add and saute a finely sliced Onion till golden brown. Add the finely chopped Vegetables and saute for 5-6 minutes. Add 3 cups of Water and cook till the vegetables are soft. In a bowl, mix 1½ tbsp of Corn Flour / All purpose Flour with a cup of Milk to a smooth paste.   Add this mixture, Salt to taste  to the vegetables and cook for 5-6 minutes. Serve hot garnished with 2 tbsp of Grated Cheddar Cheese .

In a heavy bottomed bowl add 2 cups of Whipping Cream and 2 tbsp of Sugar . Using a hand mixer whip the cream until you get soft peaks. Now slowly incorporate 3 cups of Mango Pulp little at a time to the whipped cream mixture. Gently fold in the mango pulp with out over mixing. Transfer the mixture into individual bowls or any serving dish. Garnish with Slivered Almonds and freeze the Mango mousse until set.

Parboiled Veggies - Boil few cups of Water in a saucepan; add  ½ tsp of Salt, few florets of Broccoli, a Carrot cut into thick pieces, a cup of finely chopped Cabbage, 8-10 French Beans cut into 1" pieces and cook for 7-8 minutes. Remove from heat, drain the water and keep aside. Noodles - Heat a tbsp of Oil in a wok; add a pinch of Salt, ¾ tsp of Red Chilli Powder, ½ tsp of light Soy Sauce, a tsp of Tomato Sauce and mix. Add 3 cups of Boiled Noodles and fry till the noodles are browned a bit, approx 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and keep aside.  Veggie Mixture - Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a large wok; saute  8-10 Cashewnuts or Walnuts  to a golden shade, remove and keep aside. Add 3 crushed Cloved of Garlic, ½ tsp of grated Ginger and saute for a few seconds, add 2-3 dry broken Red Chillis and saute for few seconds. Add  2 sliced Onions , cook on high heat for a minute. Add the parboiled vegetables, 4-5 diagonally cho...

Heat a tbsp of Oil in a pan; splutter a tsp of Mustard Seeds, a tsp of Cumin Seeds, a Bay Leaf, an inch of Cinnamon and 2 broken Red Chilli . Add  a non-peeled, shredded Zucchini to it and sauté for a minute. Add 1½ cup of Basmati Rice, Salt to taste, ½ Lemon’s Juice and sauté for a minute. Add 3 cups of Water and cook till the rice is cooked. Garnish with few chopped Coriander Leaves  and serve hot.

Methi - Heat 2 tsp of Oil in a pan; add and sauté a cup of washed Fresh Methi Leaves for 7-8 minutes or till they turn crisp. Remove and keep aside. Onion - Yogurt Paste - Heat a tbsp of Oil in a pan and saute 2 large Onions till golden brown. Make a paste of the browned onions with ¼ cup of Yogurt and keep aside. Cashew Paste - Soak 7-8 Cashewnuts  in few tsp of Warm Water and make smooth paste. Curry - Heat the a tsp of Oil in a pan; add and saute ¾ tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste, 2-3 finely chopped Green Chillies  for 3-4 minutes. Add a pinch of Turmeric Powder, ¾ tsp of Red Chilli Powder, ½ tsp of Cumin Powder, a tsp of Coriander Powder and combine. Add  a pureed Tomato and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onion-yogurt paste and cook for another 3 minutes. Add  a kg of washed and diced boneless Chicken and combine well. Cook on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes, reduce head and cover cook till three fourth done. Add Salt to taste, t...

Preheat oven to 350F and prepare a baking sheet.  In a bowl, cream together a cup of Butter and 1½ cups of Sugar until light. Beat in 2 Eggs, one at a time, followed by  ½ cup of Cocoa Powder,  ¼ cup of Instant Coffee/ Espresso powder and a tsp of Vanilla Extract . Mix ingredients for 1-2 minutes, or until completely combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually blend in 2 cups of All Purpose Flour, a tsp of Baking Soda and ½ tsp of Salt until no streaks of dry ingredients remain. Stir in  ½ cup  of Semisweet or Bittersweet Chocolate Chips . Shape dough into 1-inch balls and drop onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes, until cookies are set but still soft. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container. Makes about 3½ dozen .