Chocolate Chip Cookies

" It is the most wonderful time of the year " as they say ...and indeed it is ! It is so festive everywhere.. To contribute to all the festivities I have been baking these cookies lately for our  family and friends (yes....read myself ) and I really thought they are super easy to make ! I had got this recipe from a friend who had sent me this Nestle link . Baking can be an awesome stressbuster ! If you have not given it a try still, please do ! You would not regret your decison..Our promise :)

Ingredients :

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup margarine, softened ( I almost never use butter these days for baking cookies.. Just trying to eat healthy ;)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 (12 ounce) package  Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped cashews

Directions:

Step 2 : Add eggs one at a time; add dry ingredients to wet ingredients gradually before adding nuts and choco chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt ( dry ingredients) in small bow. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract ( wet ingredients) in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. 
3. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. They are soft when you take them out but gradually hardens perfectly as they cool.

Cookie dough before baking on cookie sheet

Cookies right after took them out of the oven

Merry Christmas to all of you who takes time out of your busy schedule to drop by our blog ! Have a Fantabulous Holiday Season ! And enjoy baking :)

Cookies being cooled on a wire rack

Ajanta from Amherst

'Phulkopir Dalna'- Bengali Style Cauliflower Curry

This is one popular vegetarian dish in Bengal especially in winter. I cook it quite often here; thanks to all year long cauliflower supply in this part of the world! Recipe courtesy goes to my mother-in-law who has not yet tasted the one I cook so it might not be as authentic as her's :) but a few friends of mine really like this dish, I thought it might be worth sharing!


Ingredients :

•   One cauliflower cut into medium sized florets
•   2-3 potatoes cut into medium sized cubes ( Skip if you are not a big fan of potatoes)
•   2 tomatoes cut into medium sized pieces
•   Ginger paste 1-2 tbsp
•   Whole garam masala 1 tbsp
•   Cumin , coriander. turmeric, red chilli powder 1 tbsp each
•   Canola oil
•   Salt and sugar to taste

 Directions :

•  Shallow fry cauliflower and potatoes separately till they turn golden brown. 
•  Heat oil in a non stick pan and add whole garam masala. Fry till the oil is flavored for ~ 3 mins.

Fried poatoes and cauliflower ; Flavoring oil with whole garam masala

•  Mix cumin, coriander, turmeric, chilli powder in little water to make a paste. Add this to oil and fry for around 2-3 mins.

Make a paste of cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powder

• Add ginger paste an fry for -2 mins.
• Add fried cauliflower and potatoes and saute for 5 mins.

Stir potatoes and cauliflower with spices

• Add tomatoes and mix well.
• Add salt and sugar to taste. 
• Add 1/2 cup of water and cook with lid closed for 15-20 mins . Add more water and stir in between if you think it is becoming too dry

Serve with rice or any kind of Indian bread.

Alu-kopir Dalna

Happy cooking and eating  !!


Ajanta from Amherst

Blueberry Muffin

Blueberry Muffins are my FAVORITES !! I have to admit I was very skeptical to give them a shot ; Firstly, coz I knew if they turn out not as good I would sulk a lot about it..Secondly, if they are good I would eat a lot having so many muffins at home staring at me !!! It turned out that it is the second factor which is bothering me at present :) I combined recipes from Martha Stewart and Laura Vitale this time and came up with my own version. Here it goes  !!

Ingredients :

• 1 & 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar -
• 2 eggs 
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup whole milk ( or 1/2 cup sour cream if available to make it softer)
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh blueberry
• A pinch of salt

Directions:

•  Preheat oven to 350 F and bring butter and eggs to room temperature.
•  Blend butter, sugar and eggs in a mixing bowl till smooth.

Blending butter, sugar and eggs

• Add in whole milk, vanilla extract and salt.
• In a separate bowl add blueberries in the flour so that blueberries are flour coated ( this is to avoid sinking of blueberries in the batter later on) and then add to the rest of the mix.

Blueberries coated with flour

Blueberry-Flour mixture added to rest of the batter

• Add baking powder and mix well.
• Use ice cream scoop to equally fill lined