KFC Style Fried Chicken

We love kfc chicken..but here we don't have any kfc outlet and...So finally i tried to make them in my kitchen n this recipe is very very close to it !!! So,now we can have them in our home whenever we want without any big hole in pocket ;)

INGREDIENTS

1 Chicken(in 8 pieces)

2Cup Milk

2 Eggs

2-3 Bay leaves

2.5Cup Flour

1/2 Pack of Tomato soup powder

1/2tbsp Salt

1/2tbsp Oregano

2tbsp garlic powder

1/2tbsp thyme

1tbsp Ginger powder

1/2tbsp Basil

1tbsp Black pepper

1tbsp dry mustard

1tbsp paprika

Oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

• Mix milk and egg thoroughly,add bay leaves and marinade chicken in it for atleast 6hrs.
• Mix all the remaining ingredients other than oil in a bowl.
• Heat oil in heavy bottom pan.
• Roll the chicken pieces one by one in the above dry mixture and fry on medium heat for 15-20 minutes.
• Place fried chicken on paper towel then serve hot with your choice dipping sauce.

# You can do dip the chicken in milk egg mixture again after rolling in dry mixture,than again roll it in four...It will make thicker crispier skin.

Semolina(Suji) Laddoo

this one is sweet popular in north india...We have many variation to make suji laddoo.This one we prepare in makarsankranti !!! Because of no mawa it can be stored in airtight container for months.

INGREDIENTS

1Cup Semolina 

1/3Cup Sugar

2tbsp Ghee

2-3 Cardamom powder

3tbsp waters

1tbsp wheat flour

2tbsp Dry fruits(chopped) 

2tbsp coconut(shredded)

DIRECTIONS

• Heat 1tbsp of ghee in heavy bottom pan.Add semolina and roast on low het.When u get a aroma of roast semolina add wheat flour and coconut,roast untill it turns into light brown color.
• In separate pan heat sugar and water together until u get 1thread consistency.Remove from heat and add roasted semolina,dry fruits and cardamom powder.Mix well.
• After 2-3 minutes just take 1tbsp of mixture in your hand and make ball of it tight hands.
• Keep them in fridge for a while so that they ll get firm.
• Press some shredded coconut on top of each laddoo.

# You can top the with nuts.

## its important to make laddoo when mixture is warm with tight hands as it will get hard as soon as it get cool down.

Whole wheat Scone

 Its a appropriate snack for evening tea time when u r craving for something...and best part it really healthy substitute to oil fried snacks !It can be prepare in advance and kept in fridge...just reheat for 2 minutes and you are done :) I served them to myself with warm tomato soup n loved it !!!

INGREDIENTS

1Cup Wheat flour

1tbsp Butter

1/2 Cup Milk

1tbsp Baking Powder

1/2tsp Baking Soda

1 Spring Onion

1 Carrot

1 Onion(small)

1/2 Cup Cabbage(shredded)

1tsp Salt

1/4tsp Cumin 

Pinch of Sugar(optional)

DIRECTIONS

• Cut the veggies in small pieces.
• Sift flour,baking soda and baking powder together.Mix butter in it .
• Add all veggies,cumin,salt and sugar.
• Make a soft dough with the help of milk.Leave it for 5minutes.
• Roll it in about 1" thickness.Cut it in desired shape.Brush some butter on top.
• Bake it for 25 minutes on 180'C.
• Serve warm with tea or ketchup.

# You can add 1egg in it if you like.

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Chicken Changezi

Its a Shahi recipe which have many versions.traditionally it got very much rich flavor,but i tried bit lighter version..!! For any chicken lover its a MUST TRY !! 

INGREDIENTS

1 Chicken(cut in 8 pieces)

4 Onions

3 Tomatoes

4 Whole red chilies

3Tbsp Curd

1Cup Milk

8-10 Garlic

1.5" Ginger

1tsp ginger garlic paste

1 Black cardamom

2 Green Cardamom

1tsp Cumin seeds

7-8 Black pepper

5 Cloves

1" Cinnamon

1.5tsp Turmeric powder

1.5tsp coriander powder

1tsp Chili powder

2Tbsp Ghee

2tbsp green coriander leaves

DIRECTIONS

• Marinade chicken with 2tbsp curd,ginger-garlic paste,1/2tsp chili powder,turmeric powder and coriander powder for 2hour atleast.
• Now deep fry the marinated chicken untill golden brown on medium heat.
• Make fine paste of ginger,garlic and all whole spices with 1/2 cup of water.
• Heat oil in deap heavy bottom pan.Add finely chopped onions and chilies.Saute till it become golden brown.
• Add masala paste with powder spices(turmeric,coriander,chili,salt) and cook on low flame untill oil comes on top.
• Add finely chopped tomatoes and close the lid untill it get totally cooked.
• Now low the heat and add 1tbsp of curd and milk.Let it cook for 5minutes.
• Finally add fried chicken and mix well.Cook for another 5minutes on medium heat with closed lid.
• Garnish with green coriander and your chicken changezi is ready.

# You can roast the chicken inspite of frying.

## DON'T add curd and milk on high heat otherwise both will simply curdle.

### You can add 1tbsp of cashew paste and 1tbsp of cream in last for richer gravy.

#### You can add some boiled eggs and fried makhanas.

Cream Honey Cake

These pictures were in my draft folder for almost a month..I made this for my sister when she came to meet me last month ! I don't know why when ever we are together,we cook allot,chat allot,shout allot :) !!! 

Well back to this cake,best part is that its really cream and honey cake ! ;) I don't know from where i got this idea....but turned out real real moist and soft cake !! 

INGREDIENTS

1Cup Flour
1/2Cup Honey
1tbsp Sugar
1/2Cup Cream
1 Big Egg
1 Lemon zest(optional)
1tsp Baking powder
1/8tsp Baking soda
2tbsp Tutti fruity 

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven on 180'C.
• Warm honey over low heat for about 1 minute.(make sure it doesn't boil).Remove from heat,let it cool down for 5 minutes than add cream and mix well.
• Separate egg white from egg yolk.add yolk in honey cream mixture and mix properly.
• Sift flour,baking powder,baking soda and sugar together twice.
• Whisk egg-white till you get soft peak.
• Add honey-cream mixture to flour mixture and mix well.now add tutti-fruity,lemon zest and mix again.
• Finally add egg white and fold in carefully.Don't over mix it.
• Transfer batter in 6" lined pan and bake for 30 minutes or until it passes toothpick test.
• Let it cool down for 1 hour.

#If batter is too thick,add bit of milk.
## Don't make batter to runny,otherwise tutti fruity will sink in the bottom while baking.
### You can replace lemon zest with vanilla essence.

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Stuffed Capsicum

This is my mom recipe,she use to make them in social gathering as a side dish!..You just need some boiled potatoes and some capsicum...this can be prepared in very few time !

INGREDIENTS

2 Capsicums (big size)

4-5 Potatoes(boiled)

1 Onion

1/2tsp Chili powder

1/4tsp Garam Masala

1/2tsp Coriander Powder

Pinch of Dry mango powder(optional)

Salt to taste

2tbsp Oil

DIRECTIONS

• Cut the Capsicum head around the stem carefully so that it come out as a cap.Scrap the seeds from inside of them very carefully with the back of spoon or sleek knife.(Don't throw the seeds & stem)
• Mash the potatoes in bowl,add all spices.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan.Saute chopped onion till it turns pink.Add mashed potatoes and fry for 4-5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let it cool down a bit.Now add capsicum seeds in it.
• Stuff the capsicum with prepared potato stuffing,close the whole with the stem.
• Heat remaining oil in deep pan on medium heat and gently place both capsicums on it.Close the lid immediately as it will splutter allot.
• Keep flipping the sides of capsicum in each 3-4 minutes until you get nice golden brown color all over it.

## Mixing seeds in stuffing will give very nice aroma in the stuffing.

## Don't stuff capsicums too tightly otherwise stuffing will come out while frying and also it will be hard to handle them in hot pan.

### Though out the process make sure you don't tear the skin of capsicum.

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Egg with Spinach

Its winter now,season of eggs ;) !! So,here is my another creation.Egg with Spinach..Really simple to make and apt for this sunny lunch ! just try it once and you will thank me for this ;) 

INGREDIENTS

4 Eggs(boiled)

1/2 Kg Spinach

2 Onion

3 Green chilies

1 Tomato

4 Clove Garlic

1' Ginger

1/2tsp Cumin 

1/2tsp Garam Masala powder

1/2tsp Coriander powder

1/2tsp Chili powder(optional)

Salt to taste

1tbsp Oil

1tsp Green coriander leaves

DIRECTIONS

• Heat oil in deep pan.Crack cumin seeds in it.Add finely chopped onions,ginger,garlic and green chilies.Saute for 2 minutes.
• Add finely chopped tomatoes and close lid for 1 minutes. Now add All spices and fry for another 1 minutes.
• Chop spinach finely and add them to pan.Close the lid and let it cook for another 5 minutes on medium heat.
• Meanwhile,Cut boiled eggs separate yolks from them.Cut egg whites in 4 or 6 pieces.
• Drizzle some oil in separate pan and fry egg whites till each side get nice golden brown color.
• Once the spinach is totally cooked and almost dries up,mix yolk in it very well.
• Finally add fried egg whites and coriander leaves.Serve hot with bread of your choice.

# You can use less or more spinach as per your liking.

Tamarind Chicken

Pankaj just love chicken in any form and want very often (proof is no of chicken recipes in my blog ;) ),which gives me great opportunity to try new tastes and ingredients.This one i made first time on our last night dinner and was absolutely smashing ! Tamarind gives totally different kick which works with star anise and fennel flavors.

INGREDIENTS

1Kg Chicken(medium sized pieces)
1/2 Cup coconut (grated)
6-8 cloves of Garlic
1" Ginger
1Cup Onions(finely chopped)
2″ cinnamon stick
6 cloves
4-5 Red Chilies(dried)
1 tsp cumin seeds
10-12 whole pepper
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 whole star Anise
1.5 tbsp coriander seeds
1 Black Cardamom
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp tamarind paste
Salt to taste
2 tbsp oil
Coriander leaves(for garnish)

DIRECTIONS

• Roast coconut on medium heat till it turns brown. Keep aside
• Grind in a spice to form a smooth powder.
• Grind the roasted coconut, garlic, turmeric powder, prepared spice powder and just enough water to form a really smooth paste.
• Heat the oil in a Deep pan and saute the onions till brown.
• Add the spice paste and saute stirring frequently om low heat till oil starts to separate.(around 10 minutes)
• Add the chicken pieces and mix well. Saute for 3-4 minutes on high heat.
• Add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add the tamarind paste and salt to taste and simmer till the chicken is cooked.
• Garnish with green coriander and serve hot.

# Adjust tamarind as per your taste buds.
## Whole red chilies are must.Powder will not give same flavor.
### I prefer fresh tamarind pulp over preserved one.

Sent to event : 

Adhirasam

This is the challenge in SNC contest as November challenge from Yashoda (South group) and i must admit it was totally worth !!! My first attempt was totally crap..My second attempt was worth all this effort,even though its not perfect one.I made them in bite size.. 

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup Rice
1/2Cup Jaggery
1/4Cup Water
1/2tsp White Sesame seeds
2Cardamom(powdered)
Oil for deep frying

DIRECTIONS

• Soak rice in water for 2hrs.Drain and let it dry on paper for 1hr.(untill it gets 3/4 dry).Grind it into fine flour.
• In an heavy bottom pan add jaggery with water and let it come to boil.Strain it to remove impurities.Again put it on heat and let it boil till 1thread consistency.
• Now add rice flour,sesame seeds and cardamom powder and mix it till gets dough consistency.Keep aside this dough for some time.
• Heat oil in pan to deep fry.
• Take small ball size dough at a time.Place it in between greased plastic sheets.Spread it with rolling pin in 1/2inch thickness.
• Let it fry on medium heat till golden brown.Remove from heat and press in between paper to remove extra oil.

*1thread consistency:when we take a drop of jaggery juice and pour it in water, it should not dissolve rather we should be able to make a ball out of it. It should not be hard as well.

#1 thread consistency is very important otherwise dough will split in the oil while deep     frying.
## If dough splits in oil.It can be because of more jaggery. So,just add some rice flour and try again.

Spinach Shakshouka

Its basically a Moroccan or Israeli dish in which egg poached in the tomato sauce..its really very easy but the end result is simply fantastic.We love this specially in winter season as there are lots of vegetables,we can use in it for texture. 

I just given some twist in the recipe as per our palate..this recipe is enough for 3-4 person.


INGREDIENTS

4 Eggs
1 Onion(medium)
2 Tomatoes(Medium)
1/2kg Spinach leaves
1Cup Cauliflower
2-3 Garlic
1 Green chili
1/2"Ginger
1/4tsp Cumin seeds
1/2tsp Black pepper(crushed)
1/2tsp chili flacks
1tsp butter/oil
2tbsp Cheese(optional)
Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

• Cut cauliflower in small chunks and boil in 1.5 cup of water for 2 minutes on medium heat.Drain and keep aside.
• Heat butter/butter in frying pan.Add finely chopped onion,cumin,ginger,garlic and saute till onion turns pink.
• Add cubed tomatoes and green chili.cook with closed lid for 2minutes.
• Now add finely chopped spinach,cauliflower and close the lid to let it steam for 5 minutes on medium heat.
• Open the lid and season it with chili flacks,salt,black pepper.At this point there will alot of water in the pan(released from spinach),so fry on high heat till ALMOST* all moisture dried out.Now reduce the flame at lowest.
• Make first make surface flat than make 4 small nest over it with the help of spoon.
• Now carefully break one egg in each nest in such way that yolk sits on it.Sprinkle some salt and black pepper.Close the lid.Let it cook at lowest flame for 5-6 minutes.At this time egg white will be cooked but yolk will be half set.Now,Remove it from heat.
• Now if you are using cheese than just top the dish with it and close the lid for 5 minutes so that cheese will be nicely melted.Serve with bread of your choice.

 * Atleast 2 tbsp moisture should be there at the time of placing egg.otherwise there will     be chances of getting burnt.
# You can add some sweet corns,broccoli,carrots,mushrooms etc.
## if you want yolk to be fully cooked than increase the final cooking time to 10 minutes.