My workshop on dips , dressings , salads/

http://chat-with-pushpee.blogspot.com/2009/05/tangy-taste.html

Festive Season ...sindharas..pampering , food , fun .

It was already 9 am .Too late to start my day , an especially if the day is my Sindhara day.So much to do, too much to arrange , so much to experience. Every year since i came into this world as a princess to my parents , i have been experiencing this day of pampering , fun , food n frolic.thank god for bringing me in this world as a girl.Sindharas are not only for the privileged daughters but also for the daughter in laws.Yes being a daughter in law delights me , and when i get pampered in all kinds during theese sindhara days.And the best part is sindharas are done by all the elders who wish to seek an opportunity to pamper the girls or women in the family.Lucky me , my dad , my elder sister and my mother in law don't leave this opportunity of pampering me.So today was the sindhara get together at my pad . And my husbands sister , my elder sister , my cousin sisters , cousin sister in laws , nieces were invited for lunch .And yes cant ignore the male folk , so they were invited too for the sumptuous lunch.(only )Where as the girls , beautiful women were all given small tokens of love n pampering in form of gifts keeping in mind what would they like .Mehendi was put on my hands , and on all the hands of pretty women present at the occasion.

What should i make ? something different than my routine get tog ethers , was in my mind .Had to keep in mind every ones choice n taste. Finally i zeroed down on asparagus soup , yes that would do justice to the gloomy weather.

Asparagus soup :

8- 10 asaparagus spears

4 cloves of garlic

1 med potato (cubed)

1 med onion chopped

2 pcs of bay leaves

pinch of salt 

pinch of black pepper powder

pinch of nutmeg powder

1 cup milk 

1 tsp fresh cream

1 tbsp butter.

Method : 

Chop the asparagus in small pieces.Take a pressure cooker .Add the butter , heat it on slow flame.add the bay leaves.Then add the garlic, sauté it.Add the bay leaves.Add the onions sauté it till soft n pink.Add the potato, sauté it for 2 min.Add the asparagus and sauté it for 2 min.Add pinch of salt .Add 1/2 cup water and pressure cook this mix till 3 whistles.Now cool the mix before grinding it into a very smooth purée.Once the purée is ready, heat some butter in a pan.Add the purée , add the milk  and simmer it till it comes to a boil.Add the pepper powder and nutmeg powder. Serve it in the soup bowls  and garnish with a dash of fresh cream.Serve hot.

My guests thoroughly enjoyed the soup , and why wouldn't they when it was served with warm cheesy parsley garlic toasts, favourite of each and every one.

Cheesy parsley garlic toasts:

8-10 pcs of crisp toast

5-6 cloves garlic finely chopped

4tbsp butter

4 tbsp grated cheese

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.

Method :

Toast the toasts in a oven.In a blender , blend the butter , parsley and chopped garlic to make a smooth green coloured butter.Apply this butter generously on the toasts.Sprinkle some grated cheese on the toasts .Toast it in the hot oven for 3 min and serve hot.

Ideal to serve with any kind of soups, can be served as a an appetiser, or even with pastas , risottos and baked dishes.

Aanchal Adukia: Caramalised onions and flavoured cheese burgers

Aanchal Adukia: Caramalised onions and flavoured cheese burgers: "Caramalised onions and flavoured cheese burgers ; Ingredients ; Burger bread, 1 tbsp caramalised onions,1 tbsp flavoured cheese, lettuce..."

Caramalised onions and flavoured cheese burgers

Caramalised onions and flavoured cheese burgers ;

Ingredients ; Burger bread,  1 tbsp caramalised onions,1 tbsp flavoured cheese, lettuce, dollop of butter, toothpick.

Method ;  

Butter both the sides of burger bread and toast it on a gridle/tawa. 

Place the lower half of the burger bread on a plate. 

Put lettuce on it. Spread a layer of cheese.

 Add ½ tbsp caramalised onion. Place the patty.

 Add remaining caramalised onions. 

Place a slice of cheese and top it with lettuce. Cover it with the other half of the bread

Flavoured Cheese ;

Parsley garlic ;

Ingredients- 1 tbsp chopped parsley, ½ tbsp fresh garlic, 2 tbsp fresh cream, 4 tbsp grated cheese, salt to taste, pinch of black pepper

            Method – In a blender, mix well all the ingredients /whip it with spoon.

Patty;

Ingredients – 2 tbsp cottage cheese, 2 tbsp grated boiled potatoes, 1 small green chilli, salt, black pepper and cilantro.

Method –

 Ina bowl, mix all the ingredients. 

Make small balls and flatten it to form a patty. 

Take a gridle/tawa and cook the patties till they are golden and crisp.

Caramalised Onion;

Ingredients ;  1 medium sized sliced onion, 1 tsp butter, 1 tbsp sugar, salt.

Method ; 

In a pan, heat the butter. Add sliced onions and sauté it till it becomes golden brown.

 Add sugar and salt for taste. Saute it for 2 to 3 minutes, till the onions are glazed.

Caramalised onion burgers can be served with potato chips and mustard sauce.Mini size burgers are ideal for cocktail snacks and regular size are good enough for main course.

Mexicana Burger with Burnt Salsa

Mexicana Burger with Burnt Salsa;

Ingredients ; Burger bread,  burnt salsa,  patty,  Mexicana beans, torn pieces of lettuce,  cheese slice,  red and yellow bell pepper, toothpicks, dollop of butter.

 Method; Butter both the sides of burger bread and toast it on a griddle/tawa.

              Place the lower half of the burger bread on a plate.

              Place some torn lettuce leaves over it.

              Layer it with some salsa.

              Place the patty on it.

              Cover it with a spoonful of Mexicana beans and salsa. 

              Top it with a slice of cheese. 

              Cover it with the other half.

                                                                                                                           

Burnt Salsa:

Ingredients  ; 

            1 green pepper, 1 red bell pepper,1  yellow bell pepper, 1 tomato, 1 medium sized onion, 2 tsp        tomato ketchup, ½ tsp lemon juice, ½ tsp honey, ¼ tsp red paprika powder, ½ tsp chopped cilantro, salt, black pepper, oil.

Method;  

               Brush tomato, peppers and onion with oil and put it on flame, till the skin starts peeling. 

               Now, de-skin all the vegetables and chop it finely.

               In a bowl, take the chopped vegetables; add ketchup, salt, pepper and red paprika powder. 

                    Squeeze half a lemon over it.             

              Now add honey and mix well. Garnish with cilantro and chill.

Patty;

Ingredients –

 2 tbsp cottage cheese, 2 tbsp grated boiled potatoes, 1 small green chilli, salt, black pepper and cilantro.

Method ; 

                 In a bowl, mix all the ingredients. 

                 Make small balls and flatten it to form a patty. 

                 Take a griddle/tawa and cook the patties till they are golden and crisp.

Mexicana Beans;

Ingredients;

                  2 tbsp baked beans, 1 tsp tomato chilli ketchup, salt, pepper, 1 tsp butter.

Method; 

             In a saucepan heat the butter.

             Add beans, tomato ketchup, salt and pepper.

              Stir it for two minutes. Mash the beans coarsely.

Enjoy the mexicana burger with burnt salsa with french fries or simply with tomato ketchup.

Mini burgers can be made and served as cocktail starters for get togethers and dinners or even as an Hi tea snack.

                                                     

Tantalising your taste buds

Cooking a bare necessity can become a passion ,only if one knows the basic science behind it .And the science  is love,Any recipe made with love will trigger the five senses , enhance the flavours,arouse the aromas,authenticate the textures,rekindle the taste buds and take one to serenity through food.In this blog i present recepies which are inspired by different cuisines of different countries,but with a personal touch and flavour.In my workshops I not only try to impart culinary skills but also concentrate on basic culture of Indian society,"Atithi Devo Bhavo "Present the palate of your personal preference ,with the insight of presenting your palate to your almighty superior , and experience the bliss.

Lets start a journey ...way to bliss ....

 I Aanchal ,have been conducting various cooking workshops in Mumbai , along with giving demonstrations in esteemed ladies organisations and ladies club.I have completed my Bcom from a reputed instituion in Mumbai , and then pursued ECCE .Only after marriage did i started exploring my hands on cooking till i finally realised ithe outcome finally has lead to passion.

I would appreciate comments  and your valuable feedback on my art of cooking.Any recipe of  particular interest would come up soon on my blog on request.
Discover your passion to cook with me.