Friday, May 30, 2014

Homemade Chocolates!!

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATES


Making chocolate at home is not a tedious process as many assume. There are many methods to make chocolates.
During festivals like Diwali and Christmas, homemade chocolates make for excellent edible gifts. Wrap the chocolates in pretty colored papers and gift them to family, friends or your Valentine.

Ingredients:
  • Cocoa powder 5 tbsps
  • Milk powder 1+ 1/4 cups
  • Butter  1/4 cup
  • Sugar  2/3 cup
  • Water 1/2 cup

 Method:
1.       Sieve cocoa powder and milk powder and keep aside
2.       Take a pan and heat water in it. Add sugar to it and bring to boil. On low flame continue cooking till the syrup reaches one string consistency.
3.       Add butter to the to the sugar syrup. Mix it well. Turn off the heat.
4.       Add the cocoa powder & Milk powder mixture gradually and mix well till it looks glossy.
5.       Pour the mixture in the chocolate molds.
6.       Smooth the top with a saputala and allow it to set.
7.       Refrigerate it for 15 mins.   
8.       Chocolates are ready to serve!!

Tips:
Ø  Wrap them in colored papers and gift to family and friends.
Ø  Prepare a decorative chocolate bouquet.
Ø  You can add crushed nuts of your choice.
Ø  One can add different flavors like chocolate essence, vanilla essence, cinnamon or espresso. Crushed pistachios, cashew or almonds make for a good choice.
Ø  You can add 1/2 tsp of vanilla essence at the time of adding butter. Alternately, 2 tsps of strong coffee mixture can be added.
Ø  You can roll the finished chocolate in desiccated coconut.

































Thursday, May 29, 2014

Methamba or Sweet Raw Mango Chutney

Methamba
Sweet Raw Mango Chutney

Ingredients:
  • 1 raw mango
  • 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
  • 1/4 cup jiggery
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • pinch of asafetida
  • salt to taste


Method:
1. Peel the raw mango and cut into small pieces.
2. In a pan, heat the oil and then add the mustard seeds to it. Once the seeds start to pop, add the asafetida and then the Fenugreek (Methi seeds).
3. Add the chopped raw mango to the pan. Add a little bit of salt and let it cook.
4. Once the raw mango is completely cooked add jaggery and red chili powder. Mix well and allow it to cook for some more time.
5. Take it off from the heat and let it cool.
You can serve it with Bread and Chapati.




Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Kairichi Chutney or Raw Mango Chutney

KARICHI CHUTNEY or RAW MANGO CHUTNEY


Simple recipe for tangy, hot and sweet Kairich Chutney!!
Ingredients:
1 Raw Mango
1 Onion
2 tsp Chili Powder
1 bowl Jaggery
½ bowl powdered penauts
3tsp oil
1tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp fenugreek seeds (methi)
1 tsp turmeric powder
Pinch of asafetida
Salt to taste

Method:
  1. Peel and grate the raw mango, onions and jaggery separately.
  2. Combine grated mango and onions in a bowl, add jaggery, peanut powder, chili powder and salt and mix well.
  3. Keep aside for 10 to 15 minutes or till the jaggery melt properly.
  4. Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan and add the mustard seeds when the seeds crackle, add asafetida, fenugreek seeds and turmeric powder and sauté for 10 seconds.
  5. Pour it on above mixture. Mix well.
  6. Serve hot.
  7. You can eat it with chapatti or bread.