Mocha Cream Cheese Mousse

In a small bowl, microwave 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips, 3 tbsp + 1 tsp half-and-half cream and a tsp of coffee granules  for 45-60 seconds or until chips are melted; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

In another bowl, beat 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Add  3 tbsp confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Add 3 oz of softened Cream Cheese and a ½ tsp of Vanilla extract to cooled chocolate mixture; beat until smooth. Fold in whipped cream.

Spoon into serving dishes. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls. 

Anabhakaya Kura (Bottle Gourd Curry)

Wash, peel and cube a medium sized Bottle Gourd and keep aside.

Cook the bottle gourd pieces, a finely chopped Tomato, 3-4 slit Green Chillies, a tsp of Turmeric Powder in a cup of Water until soft. Add Salt to taste, 2 tsp of Tamarind Paste and cook for 5 more minutes, remove from heat and mash with a ladle to a semi paste. 

Heat a tbsp of Oil in a pan, splutter ½ tbsp of Mustard Seeds, ½ tsp of Cumin Seeds and 2 sprigs curry leaves. Add and saute a tbsp of Channa Dal and a tbsp of Urad Dal till golden brown. Add and saute a roughly chopped Onion till transparent and then add the above bottlegourd mixture to the curry. Cook for 3 minutes, garnish with Coriander Leaves and serve hot with steamed rice.

Poori and Potato Curry

Poori - Mix a cup of Wheat Flour, Salt to taste and tsp of Oil and Water as needed to make a soft dough. Keep aside covered for 10 minutes. Make small lemon sized balls of the dough and roll them into thick round shaped.

Heat 2 cups of Oil in a frying pan. Once the oil is hot, slide the poori into the hot oil and using the laddle press in the center and gently along the edges. Once the pooris start to puff, turn the poori other side fry till light golden brown. Remove it from oil and keep it on tissue paper.

Potato Curry - Wash, peel and boil 3 Potatoes in microwave till you are able to crumble them.

Heat a tbsp of Oil in a pan; splutter ½ tsp of Mustard Seeds, a tsp of Urad Dal and 1 tbsp of Channa Dal. Add and sauté fresh Curry leaves, 4-5 slit Green Chillies and an inch of finely minced Ginger for a few seconds. Add and sauté finely sliced 2 Onions, a pinch of Turmeric Powder till the onions turn transparent. Add the crumbled potatoes and adjust Salt. Cover cook for 3 minutes, add a cup of Water, increase the heat and cook for another 3 minutes. Sprinkle a tbsp of Besan / Senaga Pindi and and cook till the curry thickens. Garnish with Coriander Leaves and serve with puris

Dondakaya Kobbari Vepudu (Ivy Gourds and Coconut Stri Fry)

Wash and nip the ends of 250 gm of Ivy Gourds. Slice them into rounds and sauté on medium heat in a pan with a tbsp of Oil for 3 minutes. Cover cook for 15 minutes sautéing in between till the Ivy gourd pieces are wrinkled. Remove the lid and saute on low for 4-5 minutes.

Heat ½ tbsp of Oil in a pan; splutter ½ tsp of Mustard Seeds, ½ tsp of Cumin Seeds and few Curry Leaves. Add and sauté a large sliced Onion, Salt to taste and a pinch of Turmeric Powder on medium heat for 5-6 minutes. Add ½ tsp of Ginger Garlic Paste and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add a tsp of Red Chilli Powder, a pinch of Coriander Powder and a pinch of Garam Masala Powder and combine. Add the sauted Ivy Gourds, ¼ cup of Fresh Grated Coconut, mix and cook on low heat for 15-18 minutes without lid. Remove from heat and serve hot with steamed rice.

Creamy Cream cheese Grapes

In a large bowl, beat 8 oz softened Cream Cheese, 8 oz Sour Cream, 1/3 cup of Sugar and 2 tsp of Vanilla until blended. Add 2 pounds of halved Red Grapes, 2 pounds of halved Green Grapes and toss to coat. Transfer to a serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Sprinkle with 3 tbsp of Brown Sugar and 3 tbsp of chopped Pecans just before serving. 

Yields 21-24 servings

Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks

Marinade - Wash, skin and make 1-inch slits with a knife to the 6 Chicken Drumsticks. Place them in a box, add a tbsp of Lemon Juice, 1½ cups of Yogurt, 2 tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste, a tsp of Red Chilli Powder, a tbsp of Tandoori Masala Powder, a tsp of Coriander Powder, Salt to taste and few drops of Red Food Color and mix well. Store in the refrigerator to marinate overnight.

Baste - In a small cup, mix ½ cup of Lemon Juice, ½ tsp of Tandoori Masala Powder, Salt to taste and few drops of Red Food Color.

Bake & Broil - Preheat the oven for 10 minutes at 450 F. Prepare the baking tray by placing an aluminium foil and spraying oil. Place the chicken pieces on the prepared tray and put the tray in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, basting in between and flip the pieces and bake again for 20 minutes. Broil the chicken for 5 minutes turning the pieces once in between. Serve hot.

Paneer Biryani

Preparation - Par-boil 2 cups of Basmati Rice in 3-4 cups of Water and set aside. Cut 500 gm of Panner into 1-inch pieces and lightly sauté in a tsp of Butter.

Heat a tbsp of Oil in a pan; splutter a tsp of Cumin Seeds and sauté 2 finely sliced medium Onions, 5-6 slit Green Chillies on medium heat till golden brown. Add and sauté a tbsp of Ginger Garlic paste, an inch of Cinnamon, 2 Bay Leaves, 7-8 Peppercorns, 4-5 Cloves for about 2 minutes. Add 2 finely chopped Tomatoes, Salt to taste, a tbsp of Red Chili Powder, a tbsp of Coriander Powder, a tsp of Garam Masala, a tsp of Cumin Seeds and cook till the gravy dries up. Add the sautéed paneer pieces and cook for 5-6 minutes till it forms a thick, rich and dry gravy base.

In a non-stick deep pan, put a layer of the paneer gravy, without the paneer. Add a layer of rice, topped with a layer of paneer. Alternate layers of gravy, rice and paneer till everything is used up. Make sure that the top layer is rice. Mix a pinch of Saffron into 2 tbsp of Water till the water catches colour. Pour the saffron water over the top layer of rice. Cover cook for 15 minutes on a low heat, without stirring. Garnish with fresh Coriander Leaves.

Gongura Pappu (Dal with Red Sorrel Leaves)

Wash the 75 gms of Gongura Leaves and finely chop them. Cook the gongura leaves with a cup of Water and ¼ cup of Toor Dal with a cup of Water in separate bowls for 3 whistles. Keep aside.

Heat a tbsp of Oil in a pan; saute a big pinch of Fenugreek Seeds, 2 tsp of Channa Dal, 1 ½ tsp of Urad Dal till golden brown. Splutter a tsp of Mustard Seeds, few Curry Leaves and add the cooked leaves, dal and mix well. Add a pinch of Turmeric Powder, a tsp of Red Chilli Powder, Salt to taste and water as needed. Mix well and cook till the desired consistency is reached. Remove from heat, stir well and serve hot with steamed rice.

Browned Butter Banana Walnut Cake with Frosting

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
Brown ½ cup of Butter in a small saucepan and cool it for 10 minutes. Take it into a bowl and whisk in a cup of Brown Sugar, an Egg, 2 mashed Bananas, 2 tbsp of Milk and 1½ tsp of Vanilla Extract and mix till soft. Add in a tsp of Baking Powder, ½ tsp of Salt, 2 cups of All Purpose Flour and mix till no streaks of dry ingredients remain. Add in ½ cup of toasted chopped Walnuts (optional) and pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for about 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs attached. Allow to cool completely before frosting with Brown Sugar Frosting.

Brown Sugar Frosting: Melt 3 tbsp of Browned Butter / Butter in a microwave-safe bowl and stir in 3 tbsp of Light Brown Sugar. Once the sugar dissolves, add 2 tbsp of Milk, a tsp of Vanilla Extract and 1½ cups of Confectioner’s Sugar, whisking until very thick and smooth (spreadable on the cake). If icing seems runny, stir in ½ cup additional confectioners’ sugar. Pour on top of cooled cake and use a spatula to spread it into the corners of the pan. Allow frosting to cool and set for at least an hour before serving.

Vankaya Kobbari Vepudu (Eggplant Coconut Fry)

Heat 1 tbsp of Oil in pan; splutter ½ tsp of Mustard Seeds and few Curry Leaves. Add and sauté a chopped large Onion till golden brown. Add quartered ¼ kg of Eggplants and sauté for 5-6 minutes. Add a tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste, 1¼ tbsp of Grated Coconut and mix well.  Add Salt to taste, a big pinch of Turmeric Powder and sauté without lid for 4-5 minutes till the rawness disappears. Add a tsp of Coriander Powder, ¼ tsp of Cumin Powder, a tsp of Red Chilli Powder and mix. Cover cook on low heat till the eggplants become soft. Remove from heat and serve hot with steamed rice.

Mushroom Biryani

Preparation - Wash and soak the 3 cups of Basmati Rice for 15 minutes. Heat a tbsp of Ghee in a pan and sauté drained basmati rice for 5 minutes on low heat. Remove to a dry plate.

In the same pan, heat a tbsp of Oil and ½ tbsp of Ghee and slutter an inch of Cinnamon, few Cloves, a Bay Leaf, 2 Cardamoms and a tsp of Fennel Seeds. Add and sauté a finely sliced Onion until golden brown. Add 6 slit Green Chillies, 1½ finely chopped Tomato and sauté till the tomatoes are mashed. Add 2 cups of sliced Mushroom, few Mint Leaves, a tbsp. of Ginger Garlic Paste and sauté till the raw smell disappears. Add a tbsp of Red Chilli Powder, Salt to taste and sauté till mushrooms are soft. Add the sauted rice, 6 cups of Water, mix well and bring to boil. Pressure cook or cook for 15 minutes till the rice is fluffy. Garnish with Cilantro leaves and serve hot with Raita.

Mushroom Curry in Coconut Milk

Heat a tbsp of Oil in a pan and splutter few Curry Leaves and a tsp of Fennel Seeds. Add and sauté a large finely chopped Onion, 3-4 slit Green Chillies till golden brown. Add and sauté 2 finely chopped Tomatoes, sprinkle some Salt and mix well. Add a tsp of Ginger Garlic Paste and sauté for 2 minutes and cover cook for 3 minutes. Add the washed and sliced cup of Mushrooms and toss well. Add ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder, a tbsp of Red Chilli Powder and mix well. Cook till the mushrooms are cooked, add a cup of Coconut Milk to the curry and bring it to a boil. Remove from heat, garnish with Coriander Leaves and serve hot.

Sarvana Bhavan Rava Kesari (Semolina Pudding)

Heat 4 tbsp of Ghee in a pan and saute 2 tbsp of Raisins, 2 tbsp of Cashewnuts and a cup of Rava till golden brown in color on low heat. Add 3 cups of hot Water and keep mixing until the rava is cooked. Add 1 1/2 cup of Sugar and mix well. Add a pinch of Food Color, a tsp of Cardamom Powder, 1/4 cup Ghee and mix well.  Keep stirring and cook till it starts leaving the sides of the pan.  Remove from heat and serve warm. 

Beetroot Kobbari Vepudu (Beetroot Coconut Fry)

Preparation - Wash, peel and finely chop 2 big Beetroots and take in a microwaveable bowl. Sprinkle some Salt and microwave on high for 4-5 minutes. Grind 1/3 cup fresh Coconut, 3-4 Green Chillies and Salt to a coarse paste.

Curry - Heat a tsp of Oil in a pan; splutter ½ tsp of Mustard Seeds, ½ tsp of Cumin Seeds, a pinch of Asafoetida, a tbsp Chana Dal, a tsp of Urad Dal, 2 broken Red Chillies and few Curry Leaves and saute for a minute. Add the cooked beetroot pieces and stir fry for 2 minutes. Now add the ground coconut-green chili masala and saute for another minute. Remove from heat; add juice of ½ lemon and mix. Serve it with steamed rice.

Aritikaya Podi Kura (Mashed Raw Plantain Curry)

Roasting - Wash the 3 raw Bananas and prick them at several places with a sharp knife. Place each of them in a paper napkin and wrap them. Arrange the wrapped bananas in the oven and cook the bananas for 4 minutes. Turn the sides of the bananas and cook again for 4 minutes, or until soft. Remove them from the oven and the paper napkins, cut the ends and peel the skin. Mash the bananas well with a masher.

Coarsely grind the 4 Green chilles and an inch of Ginger.

Heat 3 tsp of Oil in a pan; splutter 2 tsp of Channa Dal, 2 tsp of Urad Dal, a tsp of Cumin Seeds and a tsp of Mustard Seeds. Saute the ginger-chili paste, ¼ tsp Turmeric Powder and few Curry Leaves. Add the mashed banana mixture and mix well till the mixture is combined well. Add Salt to taste, a tbsp of Lemon Juice and mix well till all the mixture is well mashed. Serve hot with plain rice.

Baby Potatoes Fry

Masala - Dry roast 2-3 Red Chillies, 1½ tsp of Chana dal, a tsp of Urad Dal, ½ tsp of Black Peppercorns, ½ tsp of Coriander seeds and grind to a fine powder.

Potatoes - Wash 500 gms of Baby Potatoes and pressure cook till soft. Once cool, peel and prick them with a tooth pick to make small holes. Keep aside.

Curry - Heat 2 tbsp Oil in a pan; splutter ¼ tsp of Mustard Seeds, ¼ tsp of Cumin Seeds ¼ tsp of Urad Dal, a pinch of Asafetida and few Curry Leaves. Add a finely chopped Onion and saute till golden brown. Stir in the cooked potatoes, a pinch of Turmeric powder, Salt to taste and toss gently. Add the ground spice powder and cook on low heat, turning the potatoes, so that it turns golden brown all over. Once potatoes get a lovely crisp brown texture with the spices, remove from heat. Serve hot with rice or with sambar rice.

Saggubiyyam Payasam (Sago / Sabudhana Pudding)

Wash and soak 1/2 cup of Saggubiyyam in water for an hour.

Grate 1/2 cup of Jaggery and keep aside. Heat a sauce pan with 3-4 tbsp of Water and add the jaggery to it. Once the jaggery melts, sieve it to remove all the impurities. Add the mixture back to the sauce pan and let it thicken till it reaches 1-string consistency. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.

In another saucepan, take 1 1/2 cups of Water, the soaked Saggubiyyam and let it cook until they turn transparent/cooked. Add a cup of Milk, a tsp of Cardamom Powder and cook until the mixture thickens. Add the cooled jaggery mixture and mix well. Remove from heat and transfer into a bowl.

Heat a tbsp of Ghee in a small pan and saute a tbsp of broken Cashews and few Raisins until golden brown. Remove from heat and add to the payasam.

Serve warm or chilled.

Note: Replace 1/2 cup of Jaggery with 1/2 cup of Sugar and add after the saggubiyyam is cooked.

Ghee Rice

Wash and soak 2 cups of Basmati Rice in 4 cups of Water for 30 minutes. Heat 4 tbsp of Ghee in a pan and sauté 10 broken Cashewnuts to golden color and keep aside. .

To the same pan, add an inch of Cinnamon, 4 Cloves, 2 Cardamom and let them splutter. Add a medium sliced Onion, 3 slit Green Chilies and sauté till onion turns into golden. Add a tsp of Ginger Garlic paste, ¼ cup of finely chopped Coriander and Mint leaves and mix well.

Drain the water from rice in to another bowl and keep aside. Saute the rice for about 3 minutes; add the drained water and Salt to taste. Mix well, cover and cook till done in a low heat. Garnish with sautéed cashews and serve hot.

Kadai Chicken

Masala - Dry roast 1 inch Cinnamon, 2 Cloves, 2 Cardamom, 5 Cashew nuts, 2 tsp of Coriander Seeds and grind to fine powder.

Heat 3 tsp of Oil in a pan; sauté a finely chopped medium Onion till light brown. Add and sauté finely chopped 4 Green Chillies and a tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste till the raw smell leaves. Add and sauté a finely chopped Tomato till it comes together like a gravy Add the ground masala powder and sauté till oil separates. Add an lb of washed, cleaned and diced Chicken, a tsp of Red Chili Powder, ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder, Salt to taste, a cup of Water (add more if gravy consistency is desired) and cook till Chicken is completely cooked and water is completely drained. Garnish with 2 tbsp of finely chopped Coriander Leaves and serve hot. 

Chilli Chicken

Marinate – Clean 500 gm of Chicken, dice into small cubes and marinate them with ½ tbsp of Soya Sauce, an Egg, Salt, a tsp of freshly ground Pepper, a tbsp of All Purpose Flour, a tbsp of Corn Flour, ½ tbsp of minced Garlic and ½ tbsp of Green Chilli Sauce for an hour.

Fry - Heat a shallow pan with about ¼ cup of Oil and lightly fry the chicken pieces until golden brown. Set aside.

Chilli Chicken - In a pan, heat a tbsp of Oil, add ½ tbsp of minced Garlic, 2-3 slit Green Chillies, a tsp of Dry Chilli Flakes and saute for 2 minutes. Add a cubed Onions, cubed ½ Capsicum and saute until soft for 5-6 minutes. Add ¼ tsp of Vinegar, fried chicken, ½ tbsp of Soya Sauce, ½ tbsp of Green Chilli Sauce, Salt and a pinch of Sugar. Stir until well combined and saute for another 3-4 minutes. Garnish with chopped spring onions and serve hot.

Grilled Pineapple

Combine 2 tbsp of Honey, a tsp of Olive Oil, a tbsp of Lime Juice, and a tsp of Cinnamon and whisk to blend in a small bowl. Set aside.

Prepare a hot fire in a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill. Lightly coat the grill rack with cooking spray. Position the cooking rack 4 to 6 inches from the flame. Lightly brush an inch of Pineapple round slices with the marinade. Grill or broil, turning once and basting once or twice with the remaining marinade, until tender and golden, about 3-5 minutes on each side. Serve warm with icecream or by itself.

Andhra Kodi Vepudu 2 (Chicken Fry)

Marinade - Wash and cut 500 gms of boneless Chicken. Grind ½ Red Onion into fine paste. Marinate the diced chicken with the ground onion paste, 1½ tsp of Red Chilli Powder, ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder, 1 tsp of Ginger Garlic paste, ¼ tsp of Garam Masala powder, 1 tbsp Lemon Juice for an hour. 

Chicken - Add and cook the marinated chicken in a pan with ½ cup of Water till the chicken pieces are tender. Drain the cooked water from the chicken and keep aside.

Curry - Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan; add and saute a finely chopped Red Onion, 5 slit Green Chillies and few Curry Leaves till brown. Add the retained cooked water and cook till gravy comes together. Add the cooked chicken and saute till the moisture is evaporated. Garnish with chopped Cilantro and serve with rice, dal or rasam.

Gongura Chicken (Chicken in Red Sorrell Leaves Gravy)

Marinade - Clean and dice a kg of Chicken into bite-sized pieces. Marinade the chicken pieces in a cup of Curd, ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder, a tbsp of Red Chilli Powder, 1½ tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste and keep aside for 30 minutes.

Garam Masala - Dry roast and powder 4 Cloves, 3 Cardamoms, 3 tsp of Coriander Seeds,  1½ inch Cinnamon and keep aside.

Gongura Paste - Boil ¼ cup of Water in a saucepan, add and cook 2 cups of fresh Red Sorrel Leaves, a bunch of Coriander Leaves (optional), 4 slit Green Chillies and ½ cup of Mint Leaves for 3 minutes. Keep aside to cool and grind to a fine paste.

Curry - Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan; add and saute finely chopped 2 Onions, few Curry Leaves till light golden color. Add the marinated chicken and cook on high heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat, cook for another 10 minutes, add the gongura paste and combine well. Add Salt to taste, ground masala powder and cover cook till the chicken pieces are tender. Serve hot with white rice or chapatis.

Lucknowi Moongdal

Dry roast a small cup of Moong Dal in a sautepan for 3 minutes. Wash the dal and pressure cook with 2 cups of Water, a pinch of Turmeric Powder, 1½ tsp of Ginger Green Chilli paste and a chopped Onion, till soft.

Once the pressure is off, remove lid and mash the dal lightly, add a pureed Tomato and cook for 5 minutes. Add ¼ tsp of Cumin Powder, ½ tsp of Red Chilli Powder, a Pinch of Garam Masala, 1½ tbsp of Fresh Cream, mix and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Heat a tsp of Ghee in a sautepan, saute few Mint Leaves till crisp. Add and saute a finely sliced Onion till transparent. Add them to the dal, mix and serve hot with rice or rotis. 

Nuvvula Undalu (Simple Sesame Seeds Laddoos)

Roast a cup of White Sesame Seeds on medium heat until they turn golden brown. Keep aside to cool.

Chop a cup of Jaggery into a fine powder. Grind both the roasted sesame seeds and chopped jaggery into coarse powder. Make round balls using few drops of milk, if needed.

Dondakaya Vepudu (Ivy Gourd Fry)

Wash  250 gms of Ivy Gourds and cut out the tip and tail ends. Slit each of them into 3 lengthwise strips.

Heat a tbsp of Oil in a pan; splutter a tsp of Cumin Seeds, 3 dry Red Chillis, a pinch of Asafoetida and few Curry Leaves for a few seconds. Add the sliced dondakayalu and combine. Add Salt to taste, a pinch of Turmeric Powder; mix well and saute on medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Now reduce to low heat, add a finely sliced Onion and let it cook, approx 15-18 minutes (till they begin to have a wrinkled appearance and turn to a deeper color). Add 1¼ tbsps of Toasted Sesame Seeds; combine and let it cook uncovered for another minute and remove from heat. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Naan (with yeast)

Yeast - In ¾ cup of Lukewarm Water, dissolve 1 tsp of active dry Yeast and keep aside for 10 minutes.

Dough – In a bowl, take 2 cups of All Purpose Flour, a tsp of Sugar, a tsp of Salt, a pinch of Baking Soda and mix well. To it, add 2 tbsp of Oil, 2½ tbsp of Yogurt and mix well to make dough. Add yeast mixture and knead to make smooth and soft dough. Cover the dough and keep in a warm place for 3-4 hours till the dough becomes double in volume.

Naan - Heat a pizza stone in the oven for 30 minutes at 500 F and then put it on high broil. Knead the dough for about 2-3 minutes and divide the dough into six equal parts. Take each piece of dough, one at a time, and roll into 8-inch oval shape. Dust lightly with dry flour to help with the rolling. Lightly wet your hands and take the rolled Naan, and place onto the pizza stone in the oven. In about 2-3 minutes, the naan will have golden brown color on top and is cooked. Take it out of the oven and brush lightly with Ghee.

Chikkudikaya Tomato Vepudu (Broad Beans and Tomato Fry)

Wash ¼ kg of Chikkudukaaya / Broad Beans, string and cut them into 1″ pieces. Par-boil them in a saucepan till half-cooked.

Heat ½ tbsp of Oil in a pan; saute 3 slit Green Chillis, a dry Red Chilli, few fresh Curry Leaves, a finely chopped Onion and saute on medium heat for 4-5 minutes till the onions turns transparent. Add ½ tsp of Red Chilli Powder, Pinch of Turmeric Powder, Pinch of Cumin Powder, ¾ tsp of Coriander Powder, Salt to taste and combine. Add a chopped Tomato and cook till they turn soft or till oil separates. Add the par-boiled broad beans, a tsp of Jaggery and combine. Sprinkle approx 5-6 tbsp of Water and cover cook for 10 minutes. When the beans are cooked, remove from heat and garnish with fresh Coriander Leaves.

Instant Pot: Carrot Halwa

Wash, peel and grate a pound of Carrots (approx 4 cups). 

Press "Saute" and add grated Carrots, 1/2 cup of Whole Milk, 1/2 cup of Water to the pot. Close the lid, set the pressure valve and cook for 1 minute at high pressure. Open the valve to quick release. Press "Saute", add 1/2 cup of Sugar and cook for 7 minutes stirring continuously in between. Add 4 tbsp of Ghee and cook further until the halwa becomes dry. Add a tsp of Cardamom Powder and sliced Pistachio and Almonds. Mix well and serve.

Miriyala Kodi Vepudu 1 (Pepper Chicken Fry)

Masala Powder – Dry roast an inch of Cinnamon Stick, 4 Cloves, ½ tsp Cumin Seeds, 1 ½ tsp Corainder Seeds and 1 tsp of Peppercorns and grind to fine powder.

Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan; add and sauté a finely chopped medium Red Onion till translucent. Add 1½ tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste and sauté for 3 minutes. Add and sauté 2 finely chopped medium Tomatoes, 3-4 slit Green Chili till mushy. Add 2 lb of cleaned and diced Chicken, ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder, Salt to taste, a tsp of Masala Powder and cook for 10-15 minutes till chicken is cooked on medium heat. Remove from heat, add remaining masala powder, few Curry Leaves and garnish with 3 tbsp of Chopped Corainder Leaves. Serve hot with rice or rotis.

Pudhina Kothimeera Kodi Kura (Coriander Mint Chicken Curry)

Coriander Mint paste – Grind a cup of Mint Leaves, a cup of Coriander Leaves and 6 Green Chilies into a smooth paste and keep aside.

Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan; splutter ½ tsp of Mustard Seeds. Add and sauté a large finely chopped Onion, ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder till golden brown. Add 1½ tsp of Ginger Garlic Paste and sauté till the raw smell disappears. Add a large finely chopped Tomato and sauté till mushy. Add the ground paste and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add an lb of washed, bite-size diced Chicken, ½ tsp of Garam Masala, a tsp of Chicken Masala Powder, a tsp of Red Chili Powder, a tsp of Coriander Powder, Salt to taste and sauté for 2 minutes. Add a cup of Water and cover cook till the chicken pieces are cooked and oil seperates. Serve hot with roti or rice.

Masala Mushroom Curry

Heat a tbsp of Oil in a pan. Once hot, add and saute a Bay Leaf, 4 Cloves and 1" of a Cinnamon Stick for 10 seconds. Add in ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder, a large finely chopped Onion and saute. Add Salt and allow the Onions to cook for 5 minutes. Add a finely chopped tbsp of Garlic, finely chopped 3-4 Green Chillies and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add a finely chopped large Tomato, mix, cover cook for about 10 minutes; stirring in between to make sure it does not burn. Add a tsp of Cumin Powder a tsp of Red Chilli Powder, mix and add ¼ kg of cleaned and quartered Mushrooms. Mix and allow them to cook uncovered. Once the Mushrooms are cooked, add a tbsp of Fenugreek Leaves, mix and serve hot with Rotis or Naans.

Mint Chocolate Delights

Preheat oven to 325F.

Beat a cup of Butter along with 2/3 cup of White Sugar, 2/3 cup of Brown Sugar and a tsp of Vanilla Extract into a creamy mixture. Add 2 eggs to it one at a time, incorporating into the creamy mixture. Gradually add in ½ tsp of Salt, a tsp of Baking Soda, 2/3 Cocoa Powder and 2 cups of All Purpose Flour to make a cookie batter. Stir in the 1 2/3 cup of Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels. Drop well-rounded tbsps of cookie batter onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and centers are set. Cool for 2 minutes before storing in air tight container.

Indo-Chineese Noodles

As per the instructions, boil water with 1 tbsp of Oil and 1 tsp of Salt. Once the water is boiling, drop a pack of Chineese Noodles in boiling water and cook as per instructions in pack for 4 to 9 minutes. Drain the water and run some cold water through the noodles so that they don't stick to each other.

In a wok, heat 2 tbsp of Oil and saute a tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste for 30 seconds. Add and saute a finely chopped Onion for 2 minutes. Add Salt to taste, 2 cups of finely chopped / length wise Vegetables (Carrots, Beans, capsicum, Cabbage) and cook till they are almost cooked. Add a finely chopped Spring Onion, mix and immediately add the noddles, 1-2 tbsp of Tomato Ketchup, a tsp of Venigar, 1-2 tbsp of Soya Sauce, 1 tsp of Chilli Sauce, a tsp of Black Pepper Powder and combine.

Stuffed Banana Peppers

Wash, slit and deseed 6 large Banana Peppers and keep aside. Roast ¼ cup of Roasted Peanuts, a tsp of Cumin Seeds and ground them together.

Wash, peel, cook and mash 2 Potatoes in a bowl. To the mashed potato, add and mix a finely chopped Onion, 5 finely chopped Green Chillies, 2 tbsp of Coriander Leaves, ½ tsp of Garam Masala ½ tsp of Amchur, ½ tsp of Coriander Powder, 1 tsp of Chilli Powder and Salt to taste. To it, add the ground Peanut mixture, mix well and stuff the banana peppers with this potato masala mixture.

Preheat the oven to 500 F. Grease a baking tray place the stuffed peppers on it. Brush them with the remaining oil and bake for 20 minutes, turning once in between.

Potato & Leek Soup (Julia Child's)

Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add 3 large cleaned, thinly sliced Leeks (only white part) and 4-5 peeled and roughly chopped Medium Potatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have begun to soften and brown slightly, about 8-12 minutes. Add 6 cups of Vegetable Stock / Water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Blend until smooth either using an immersion blender, or by carefully transferring to a blender in batches. Add  ½ cup of Heavy Cream, and season to taste with Salt and a tbsp of Lemon Juice. Ladle into bowls and garnish with a dollop of ½ cup of Sour Cream, and a tsp of 1/3 cup of minced parsley.

Caramel Bread Pudding

Caramel - Heat ½ cup of Sugar in 2 tbsp of Water on high heat. Swirl the pan frequently till the sugar has melted and turns a dark golden brown. Pour it into a 6" inch cake tin, working quickly; tilt the dish to coat the base completely. Keep aside for a few minutes to set.

Tear 8 slices of Bread into small pieces into a bowl; pour 1½ cups of Milk over it and soak for a while. Mash the bread with the back of a spoon till the mixture is smooth. Mix in 2 tbsp of Sugar, a tsp of Vanilla Essence and few roasted Nuts. Pour the Bread Mixture over the caramel; cover the top of the dish with aluminium foil and steam cook in pressure cooker for 15-20 mins. Remove and when cool enough, invert onto a dish and cut into pieces. Refrigerate till it sets and serve cold.

Spicy Andhra Chicken Curry

Marinade - Wash 400 gm of Chicken pieces and place in a bowl. To it add ½ tsp Turneric Powder, ½ tsp Red Chilli Powder, 2 tbsp Yogurt, 2 tsp Lemon Juice, 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste and ¼ tsp of Salt. Mix well and marinate for over 30 minutes.

Masala Powder - In a pan, dry roast 1 tsp of Poppy Seeds, 6 Cloves, ½ tbsp. Black Peppercorns, 2 tsp Fennel Seeds, 6 Red Chillies, ½ tsp Cumin Seeds, 2 inch Cinnamon Stick and make a fine powder after it cools down to room temperature.

Gravy - Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan and sauté a chopped Onion till they turn translucent. Add 2 tsp of Ginger Garlic paste and saute for 1-2 minutes. Add 2 chopped Tomatoes and cook until the oil separates from it. Add the masala powder, 1 cup of Water and continue cooking until the gravy comes together. Add the chicken with its marinade and continue cooking over a high heat, stirring constantly. Add Salt to taste, ½ cup of Water and mix well. Cover cook for 10 minutes on low heat. After 5 minutes, remove the cover and mix well cooking till the chicken is cooked. Sprinkle a tsp of Lemon Juice and 2 sprigs of Curry Leaves before serving hot with Steamed rice.

Gongura Pulihara (Red Sorrell Leaves Rice)

Rice - Cook 2 cups of Rice; sprinkle a pinch of Turmeric Powder, Salt to taste, a tbsp of Oil and 10-15 Curry Leaves to the cooled rice and keep aside.

Red Sorrel Mixture - Heat 1 tsp of Oil in a pan, saute a tsp of Mustard Seeds, ½ tsp of Fenugreek Seeds, 2-3 dry Red Chillis and roast till they turns red in color. Remove from pan, cool and grind into a coarse mixture.
In the same pan, heat ¾ tbsp of Oil, add and roast the 2 cups of washed Red Sorrel Leaves on low heat till they wilt for about 7-8 minutes. Remove from heat, cool and grind them together with the mustard seeds mixture to a fine paste without adding water. Remove and keep aside.

Tempering - Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan; splutter a tsp of Mustard Seeds. Add and saute 1-2 dry Red Chillis, ¼ tsp of Cumin Seeds, a tbsp of Channa Dal, a tbsp of Urad Dal for a minute till light brown in color. Then, add 3-4 slit Green Chillies, pinch of Asafoetida, 4-5 Curry Leaves and saute for a few seconds. Add this tempering along with Red Sorrel misture to the cooled rice and combine well. Adjust the Salt and sprinkle ½ cup of Roasted Peanuts and mix well. Let it sit for at least an hour for the all theflavors to set in. (You can squeeze some Lemon Juice if needed). Serve with Yogurt. 

Dosakaya Tomato Kura (Lemon Cucumber Tomato Curry)

Peel a large Dosakaya, slice into half, remove the seeds and chop into bite sized pieces.

Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan; saute ½ tbsp of Channa Dal, ½ tbsp of Urad Dal, 2 Red Chillies, ½ tbsp of Cumin Seeds, ½ tbsp of Mustard Seeds. When the mustard seeds splutter, add few Curry Leaves. Add and saute a chopped Onion, 3 slit Green Chillies and ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder till the onions turn brown in color. Add 2 chopped Tomatoes, Cucumber pieces, Salt to taste and mix well. Cover cook on medium heat for 15 minutes. Add a tsp of Red Chilli Powder, a tsp of Coriander Leaves, mix, remove from heat and let it stand for 5 minutes. Serve with hot rice and roti.

Sunnundalu (Powdered Urad Dal Dumplings)

Heat a pan and dry roast a cup of Whole Urad Dal on low heat till they turn light brown in color. Cool off and grind to very fine sand-like powder. Sieve the powder and use the fine powder that gets down through the sieve and grind the coarse particles leftover on the sieve again to a fine powder.

To the powder, add a cup of powdered Sugar and mix well. Pour ½ cup of Melted Ghee to the mixture and make medium balls.

Munagakaya Tomato Kura (Tomato Drumstick Curry)

Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan; saute  and sauté ½ tsp of Mustard Seeds, Pinch of Hing, 1 broken Red Chilli and them splutter. Add a twig of Curry Leaves, a chopped Onion, 3 slit Green Chillies, ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder and sauté till onions turn translucent. Add a tsp of Ginger Garlic Paste, a tsp of Red Chilli Powder and saute for couple of minutes. Add 2 chopped Tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes become soft and mushy about 5-6 minutes. Add Salt to taste, 4-5 Drumsticks, cut into 2 inches, 1½ cup of Water and cover cook on a low heat. Keep stirring in between till the drumsticks are soft, for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot with rice.

Corn Pulav

Masala - Grind a chopped Onion, 4 pods of Garlic, chopped ½" Ginger, ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder, 1 tbsp of Coriander Powder, ¼ tsp of Garam Masala and 1 tsp of Red Chilli Powder to a fine mixture.

Rice - Wash and soak the a cup of Basmati Rice for 10 minutes. Heat a tsp of Ghee in a pan, fry the drained rice until the water is evaporated, for 2 mins and keep aside.

Heat a tbsp of Ghee in a pan, add 3 Cloves, 2 Cardamom, a Biriyani Leaf, an inch of Cinnamon and fry for a minute. Add 2 sliced Onions to it and fry till they turn brown in color. Add the masala mixture to it and fry until ghee separates from the mixture. Add ¾ cup of Fresh Corn to it and fry for another couple of minutes. Add slightly roasted rice, mix well and add 2 cups of Water, Salt to taste and mix. Transfer to a pressure cooker and cook for 1 whistle and simmer the flame for 8-10 mins. After the pressure is released open the lid; add a tsp of chopped Coriander Leaves, 10 ghee fried Cashewnuts and mix.

Serve hot with raita.

Sheekh Kabab (Minced Meat Kabab)

Heat a pan; dry roast 2 tbsp of Coriander Seeds, 3 Dry Red Chilies (broken) and ½ tsp of Whole Black Peppercorns until golden brown. Remove from heat; allow cooling and grind to a fine powder.

Wash, drain the water from the 1 lb of Ground / Minced Chicken or Mutton and blot with a paper towel. Add a cup of Fried Onions, finely chopped 20 sprigs of Coriander Leaves, finely chopped 5 Green Chilies, 2 tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste, a tsp of Garam Masala, a tsp of Dry Mango Powder, ground masala powder and Salt to taste. Mix well, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to marinate. Remove from fridge, and mix in ½ of a beaten Egg. (you could add bread crumbs if the kabab doesn't hold it's shape).

Heat 2 tbsp of Oil on a skillet. Shape the Meat mixture into 3 inch ovals, slightly flatten them and place them in the skillet. Brown the kebabs on one side then flip them over and brown on the other side. Serve hot with Mint Chutney.

Note - Place the kababs on an oiled baking sheet, spray them with cooking oil and broil them on High in the oven for 5-7 minutes on each side.

White Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies

Beat 1/2 cup of Butter,1/2 cup of White Sugar, 1/2 cup of Brown Sugar and a tsp of Vanilla Extract until creamy and fluffy in a bowl. Add a large Egg, a tsp of Baking Soda, 1/8 tsp of Salt, 2/3 cup of Cocoa Powder, a tbsp o Milk and a cup of All Purpose Flour. Stir in 1 1/4 cups of White Chocolate Chips and mix well.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Drop a well-rounded tsp of cookie batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving at least 2 inches gap between the cookies. Flatten the cookie batter rounds a little on top. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until the centers are set. Cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to cool completely on wire racks.

Mokkajonna Vada (Corn Patties)

Grind ½ cup of Roasted Gram Dal / Dalia, ¼ tbsp of Garam Masala Powder, ¼ tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste, ½ cup of chopped Coriander Leaves, ½ tbsp of Cumin Seeds and make a dry powder. Add 1 cup of Fresh Corn, Salt to taste and grind again to a coarse mixture. 

Take small amounts of the corn mixture and make balls out of them. Press them gently to look like a round shaped Pattis, place each one in a plate of All Purpose Flour and dust roughly on it. Once dusting the patties with the flour is done, heat 2-3 tbsp of Oil in a nonstick pan and shallow fry them turning them for every 3-5 minutes until they are fried. Place them on a tissue paper to absorb excess oil and serve hot with ketchup.

Pudhina Kheema (Minced Lamb/Goat with Mint Leaves)

Marinade - Take the cleaned 500 gm of Minced Lamb/Goat, 2 tsp of Red Chilli Powder, 2 tsp of Salt, a tbsp of Ginger Garlic Powder, ½ tsp of Turmeric Powder, ½ tsp of Thick Yogurt and a tbsp of Garam Masala in a bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon and keep aside.

Curry - Heat 3 tbsp of Oil in a pan at medium heat; add and sauté the 3 Cloves, 2" Cinnamon Stick and 2 Green Cardamoms for a minute. Add the a large sliced Onion, ½ tsp of Salt and stir fry them till they are golden brown in color. Add the marinated minced meat and mix well using a wooden spoon. Cover with a lid and cook for about 5 minutes. Open the lid and break up the lumps of meat using a wooden spoon, add a finely chopped Tomato and stir well to mix. Cover the lid and let it cook for 20 -30 minutes, stirring it occasionally. Once the water has completely dried, add the 4 sliced Green Chillies and ½ cup of chopped Mint Leaves. Let it cook covered for a minute more.

Serve warm with steamed rice or rotis.

Godhuma Rava Upma (Cracked Wheat Pudding)

Heat a tbsp of Olive Oil in a pan; saute a tsp of Mustard Seeds till they splutter. Add and saute a tbsp of Bengal Gram Dal, Black Gram Dal, few Curry Leaves, 2 tbsp of Peanuts till the dals turn golden brown. Add and saute a sliced Onion, 4 slit Green Chilies, 1" minced Ginger for 2 minutes. If using tomato, add a chopped Tomato and sauté on medium heat for 4 minutes. Add Salt to taste, 4 cups of Water and bring to a boil. Now, reduce heat, slowly add 1½ cups of Wheat Ravva to the water and mix continuously. Cover cook on low heat for 12 minutes. Remove fom heat, garnish with Coriander Leaves and serve hot. 

Godhumarava Halwa (Cracked Wheat Halwa)

Heat 1 tbsp of Ghee in a pan; add a cup of Cracked Rava and saute on medium heat till golden brown. Add a cup of Milk, 2 cups of Water to the rava and mix in slowly. Keep sitrring till the rava is cooked thoroughly on low heat till the mixture thickens. Add a Cup of Sugar, 3 powdered Cardamoms and mix well till the desired consistency is reached. Remove from heat, garnish with toasted and crushed Almonds, Pistachios and serve at room temperature or chilled.

Butter Capsicum Rice

Heat ½ tbsp  of Ghee and a tbsp of Butter in a pan; add and sauté ½ tsp of Mustard Seeds, a tsp of Cumin Seeds and allow them to splutter. Add a tbsp of Black Gram Dal, an inch of Cinnamon Stick and saute till the dal turns light brown. Add few Curry Leaves, 6 slit Green Chillies, 1½ tbsp of Broken Cashewnuts and saute for a few seconds. Add a large diced Capsicum, and fry them for 7 minutes, taking are not to over cook and retaining their crunchy texture. Add Salt to taste, Black Pepper Powder to taste and mix well. Reduce heat,  add and mix 2 cups of cooked rice. Cook for 2 minutes and add 2 tbsp of Grated Coconut (optional) and mix with the rice. Remove from heat and serve hot.

Kobbari Paalu & Kodi Kura (Coconut Milk & Chicken Curry)

Marinade – Clean and cut 1 kg of Chicken into bite-sized pieces. Marinate the chicken in ½ cup of Yogurt, 1 tbsp of Coriander Powder, ¼ tsp of Cumin Powder, ¼ tsp of Turmeric Powder, Juice of ¼ Lemon and ¾ tbsp of Ginger Garlic Paste for 15 minutes.

Curry - Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan; sauté a Star Anise and 1” inch of Cinnamon Stick. Add 2 medium Onions, chopped, 4 slit Green Chilies and sauté for 4 minutes. Add ¾ tbsp. of Ginger Garlic paste and sauté for another 4 minutes. Add in 1 tbsp of Red Chili Powder, mix well and add the marinated chicken to the pan. Cook on high heat for 4 minutes, mixing once in a while.
Reduce to medium heat, add Salt to taste, 1 tbsp of Poppy Seeds soaked in little milk and mix well. Cook for 8-10 minutes till oil seperates. Add 1½ cup of Water and bring to boil; reduce the heat and cook for 12-14 minutes. Add 1½ tsp of Garam Masala Powder, ¾ cup of thick Coconut Milk and cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh Coriander Leaves. Serve hot with steamed whie rice or rotis.

Vankaya Chikkudikaya Kura (Brinjal & Broad Beans Curry)

Veggies - Chop 6 Brinjals to small chunks and keep aside. Trim the ends of 15 Broad Beans / Chikkudikayalu and cut into 2 halves. Keep aside.

Curry - Heat 2 tsp of Oil in a pan; saute 3 cloves of Crushed Garlic and 3 Slit Green Chillies on medium heat. Add and saute few Curry Leaves, a tsp of Cumin Seeds, a chopped Onion and a pinch of Turmeric Powder till the onions turn to golden brown. Add the brinjal chunks, broad beans pieces and Salt to taste. Cover cook on low heat till the veggies turn soft, for about 10-12 minutes. Add a cup of Water, mix, cover cook on medium heat till the beans are cooked, about 6-8 minutes. Add a tsp of Red Chilli Powder, if needed and a cup of Milk; cook till a thick gravy consistency is reached. Garnish with few Coriander Leaves and serve hot with steamed rice.