Summer retreat - Baked yoghurt

This year, 2018 summer has arrived early even though we haven’t prepared for it. And today to beat this heat, I have brought to you this magical recipe which is simple to bake with basic three ingredients. The main hero of the recipe is Yogurt “Dahi” in local. It is consumed by all age group and well known as baby food too. Yogurt is the dairy product and also has a good source of protein, calcium, Vitamin, and magnesium. Yogurt has friendly bacteria called “probiotics” stimulate the healthy digestive system and also help to produce other mention sources. So quality yogurt is essential for this recipe.

Ingredients -

Yogurt – ½ cup

Fresh cream – ½ cup

Condense milk (milkmaid) - ½ cup

Cardamom powder – 1 tsp or

Vanilla Essence – ½ Tsp

Saffron – Few for garnish

 Method -

1    1.  In one bowl, mix yogurt, fresh cream and condense milk together with the whisk.

2    2.  Blend it well and then add the flavor of your choice.

3    3. Pour the mixture in small mold or ramekins and bake @ 150 degrees C for 25           minutes in the oven.

      4. The product is done when you see the jiggly texture in the center of the mold.

5    5.   Remove from the oven and lightly pour the saffron water with some strands and set in the refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight.

6    6.   Serve chill in the form of dessert with the mold or ramekin.

Precautions -

1   1. Take a good quality of yogurt.

2   2. Amul fresh cooking cream can be used

3   3.  Preheating oven is not mandatory

4   4.  Avoid over mixing or over the beating of the mixture

I am sure; this easy baking recipe and the benefits must have mesmerized you.

Wish you all happy summer days, till then have fun while baking.

My iconic food stops

I am sure everyone on this planet celebrate their special days in their own different way. And for the same, I have set the same vision for my day - Our 5th wedding anniversary. I am always organize with the plans so started collecting ideas diversely and very much in prior. This time, my idea was to keep my day unusual but yet simple by avoiding romantic candle light dinner, weekend getaways or to feature a blockbuster of the week (movie time) .The rule of the day was already set to get detach ourselves from home and our routine.



This post comprehend some of the iconic eateries in Mumbai town and by sharing my personal experiences and tasting on food. Basically, we both are food lovers and also share common love toward travelling which keeps us highly spirited. So I started planning accordingly by considering all our likes and dislikes.On open note, the notion of celebration kept me awake the previous night and thrilled too. Obviously, the summary of the day was told in a very murky way to him....

Finally, the D-Day arrived and we had started off early morning at 5 am. Certainly it was a long drive from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai (Nariman point) to snap and hook up with the sunrise of Mumbai. Yes, my first delighted destination - Nariman point where we embraced our memories with serene morning walk accompanied by Garam cutting chai....

I believe and follow the quote  - "All happiness depends on leisure breakfast". By 8 am ..we headed to Colaba, Causeway at Leopold Cafe for breakfast. It's a very popular resto bar also known as historic cafe after the 26/11 terrorist attacks. I visited this place after long time with high hopes but was let down with the coffee service and the quantity of food served. The Chicken Omelette which we ordered was served with only one bread slice and Kheema Pav sided small toasted pavs which was not at all justifying the rates and the serving portion. I felt, it has lost the Iranian touch and has started giving more importance to foreigners likes and their culture.

Still relished our first meal and geared ourselves for our next ride towards High street Phoenix mall, Lower Parel to get a dose of our favourite sequel of Fast n furious. This was my husband's addition to the plan. The movie was splendid and the Dolby atmos surround sound was icing on the cake.



We were on the roll by 12:30 pm and following the plan sheet, we took off to a posh locality which often called as "Queen of suburbs" - Bandra. It has large collection of chapels, graffiti, colonial bungalows, and more from local eateries to broader ones.We stretched ourselves to drove through bandra worli sealink and reached a trending cafe in Bandra, Candies for luncheon. Our second meal for the day, and actually sense the crowd visiting the place which was enough evidence to reflect the amazing place and it's popularity. "Must-try" listed products are the burgers, lazagane, pizzas along with peach iced tea. The ambiance has adapted the European style culture and the walls have some amazing works that made us click some selfies too.The outlet also consist a small shop of fancy and antique small items for sale. Cozy dark seat ups with comfort food lead to good vibes and moreover the take away were prevailed.

We wander through the streets of Bandra after crushing candies by chasing link road street shopping. Street shopping is loved by everyone and re-energize your soul. Cafe Theobroma is situated around the corner of the link road street. This cafe clinched with varieties of confectionery and bakery products and known as prime outlet at link road, serves delectable products and extravagant too. We had takeaway products without missing their signature brownies. In fact, I would like to try the other things on the menu on my second visit.

Ah!!!! now I enter a lavish milkshake center named "Keventers" - The original Milkshake. Its been situated off carter road and always over crowded. The ambiance of center is cramped and ambit with clumsy combo milkshake. Their shakes of the day are the bubblegum, Kitkat, Double chocolate Oreo and array of smoothies too. we grab bubblegum and double chocolate shakes and invested further time by hiking down the Carter street by recalling our old good memories and refreshing ourselves.

By then, realized the clock was ticking quickly and need to stream our next gastronomical plan. It's said "the good time passes quickly" and felt the same by the passing day. Our gastronomy ride and last stop of the day, The SpiceKlub for which we had already done the table reservation (mandatory) and awaiting since long. Spiceklub is a themed based restaurant, the theme being molecular gastronomy where one can see the twist in the preparations and equally in the flavor. The ambiance is very rustic and earthy. The menu include a wide array of dishes of Indian preparations. The must-try items on the list would be pani-puri shoots, kokum carviar, bubbling kulfis, Pav bhaji fondue, chocolate flower plot. Each creation in this restaurant is the masterpiece to delight your taste bud and I completely relished.




















Eventually, our spendthrift day ended and became a memorable day of my life. Hope you guys enjoyed reading and also pin your hope in planning your day/occasion. There are other iconic eateries in Mumbai like Cafe Madras, Britannia & Co., Baghdadi restaurant , Sardar (Pavbhajiwala) and some few ...on which you can hit to try and equally share the views.
Till then stay tuned for my upcoming posts.

Local affairs on Mohammed Ali street.

Its all about the Ramadan and the nightly feast during Rojas of Ramadan.

Around millions of Muslims start their Ramadan with intense prayers and dawn to dusk fasting for a month. This month for them is known to be Islam's holiest month of the year. The entire month, they worship God in form of prayers which is performed at least five times a day. They have to abstain themselves from road rage, fighting, any cursing and gossiping. They visit the mosque several times in a day and if possible also plan to visit the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. During the strict fast they detach themselves from foods and drinks and even avoid to sip a drop of water or the puff of cigarette- a strict fast.
Muslims traditionally break their fast at sunset by performing the prayer in the mosque and start with the sip of water and some dates -"power of food". After a sunset prayer, the large feast known as "Iftari" is offered and shared with their families. Non- Muslims are also equally enthusiastic and eager to be part of their celebration and enjoy Iftari together.

In same way every year, I look forward to be the share of this social event "Iftari" and experience the gastronomical adventure. There are some of the known place in India to do Iftari which is spotted as Charminar - Hyderabad, Jama Masjid - Delhi, Akbari Gate - lucknow, Hazaratbal - Srinagar and the one I visited was Mohammed Ali Road - Mumbai.This place is so alive all the night right from Biryanis, kebabs, raitas, rotis to Phirnis and one of my favorite Mawa Jalebis. Each items listed are in various colors and flavors.

It was completely insane to enjoy the food walk on street of Minara Masjid at Mohammed Ali Road. From my childhood, I have grown up relishing the sulemam mithias index as Aflatoons, Jelly liked colored Halwas, Dry fruit flavored fudges and flavored Phirnis. I still remember, the sweet box was the pleasure and the bonus for the day which my dad would use to gift me each year. Always awaiting for next - Kind heartedly.


This year I was on high to explore the alleys. Before to start, the believer or follower should be aware about the two meals that are "Sehri" and " Iftari". Sehri is the meal before sunrise which offers usually a simple and non - spicy affairs like naankhatais, biscuits, butter jam sheermal, fruit juices, dry fruits and nuts. "Iftari" is the meal after sunset which have the spicy combination of various meat and Indian breads/rotis and many more to spice up your evening which then continues with the array of attractive and inclined sweets.

You get to see the festive passion all over the lane and the shades of lightnings. As I mentioned, Suleman Mithaiwala, Zam Zam mithaiwala, Maasha alhah, Bademiyan, Burhanpur Jalebi centre, Noorani milk centre, Janata restaurant are superior options to be contented. These outlets made my food street journey more convincing for Faloodas, Shawarmas, Aromatic kebabs, Bheja fry and to stop on Hyderabadi Haleem and Bara handi biryani (take away). As you walk down the lane, you dwell more into it and cant resist to have such type of delicacies and so did I, went for it without the blink.

My fondest eats from the street is mawa jalebi, viscous flavoured Phirnees, Chicken dum biryani, Shawarmas, Seekh Kebabs, Baida Roti and most delighted Dahi wada from famous Shalimaar. My lengthy  food journey was enchanted with lots of take away and eventually the  memories was box up until next Ramadan.
And now since, Ramadan is going to end, quickly experience your local affairs on explicit non- vegetarian spread and ripe yourself to celebrate the occasion of  EID.

Eid Mubaraka to all and stay tune to my upcoming posts.

Healthy banana muffins

Everyone knows the importance of banana whether one on diet plan or on routine basis. By the research I came to know, Banana is the berry fruit of the tropical people with good source of vitamin B6, manganese and dietary fibers which find very informative and interesting. Wikis reveals other several benefits of banana consumption. The ripened bananas are more tasty and easily available. So far it's been very basic and known fruit from our childhood and familiar to our taste buds. This fruit is easily available in different forms. Cavendish bananas - the longer ones tends to come from Latin America are highly sold for our daily consumption and also been used in many traditional delicacies.
This post relates in style of making banana muffins in healthy way. there are various integrated products in Indian and international cookery world. Being all aspect mention and taken into consideration I have chosen to bake muffins with the simple ingredients in easy way.This muffins recipe contains high amount of wheat flour, bananas and walnuts which are truly nutritious and make the recipe hearty. The ingredients used in this recipe are easily all time available and speedy to make.
Banana muffins are always been desiring to children and elder ones. In today's bakery world its been trending and ruling the taste buds and highly rated product in the upcoming cafes.
Being basic product nevertheless its extravagant. So extremely considering this point, I came with the healthy home- baked banana muffins.
I remember the first time, I tried the recipe and came out perfect, amazed me in taste too. Its completely a sweet deal to dwell in and fun to bake at the same point. After relishing, it gave the importance of health and wellness.
Many of us just enjoy to peel and eat but the process of healthy baking give us the variance and the pleasant experience overall. So track your daily meals and kick start your journey to a healthier life.
Pleasing you with the recipe ahead. Suggestion to try and make your diet chart interesting with these kind of recipes.

Banana muffins :

Whole wheat flour : 100 gms
Flour                   : 25 gms

Ingredients to follow

Icing sugar           : 125 gms
Butter                  : 125 gms
eggs                    : 2 nos.
ripe bananas       : 2 nos.
walnuts               : 30 gms
grain sugar          : 50 gms
baking powder   : 1/4 tsp
banana essence  : 1/4 tsp

Method :
1. Caramelize the grain sugar and cook the chopped bananas.

Caramelized Bananas 

2. Start creaming the butter and icing sugar together till light and fluffy.

Creaming Method

3. Beat the eggs stiffly and add to the creamed mixture of butter and icing sugar.

Mixing of eggs.

4. Add banana essence, caramelized bananas and wlanuts for the enhancement and mix the batter with the whisk.
5. Fold in the mix flour (whole wheat flour & refine flour) to the batter gently. The batter should be in drop-consistency and can be adjusted with few amount of water/milk.
6. Portion out the batter in muffin moulds by filling it 3/4th of each.

Batter fillings

muffin moulds lined

7. Place the muffin tray in pre heated oven at 180 C for 25 minutes.

Baking process 

8. Check the muffins and demould it for cooling at room temperature.

Texture - Light & Fluffy

9. Muffins are accompany with the caramel sauce or dusting cinnamon powder.

Presentation time

Muffins are the tea time products and mainly serve warm with side accompaniments as mention. Presenting muffins draws the attention of the crowd surrounded. Muffins making is the good start for new bakers to get it right in small portion.

I am sure your going to enjoying baking and eating and soon it will be added in your inbox hit listed recipes.
Keep calm and enjoy Baking .

Tea time for Mumbaikars...

Mawa cake is all time favourite of all "Mumbaikars". Mawa cakes are popular from the outlets like Persian bakery, B. Merwan in Grant Road and old Irani Cafe. My relation with the mawa cake has been something to the distant cousin. I don't see them everyday but whenever I crave for it , I rush in my kitchen to bake the perfect recipe. So today in my post I am going to reveal my secret recipe of making mawa cake which taste exactly the same of the original.



Enjoy the recipe to experience the originality of Mawa Cake.

Ingredients

Flour                        85 gms
Mawa                      35 gms
Icing sugar               115gms
Butter/margarine      70 gms
Eggs                        2 no.
Baking powder        1/4 tsp
Cardamom powder  1/2 tsp
Paper cups              10 no.
Water/milk                2 tbsp (if required)

Method:

1. Grate the ordinary mawa finely. sieve the flour with the baking powder and mix with mawa and fat (butter/margarine).

2. Cream the fat until light and fluffy.

3. Add the beaten eggs to the cream mixture.

4. Fold in the flour mawa mixture lightly.

5. Add water if needed to get dropping consistency.
6. Pour the mixture into the cake tin or paper cups placed in muffin trays and bake at 180 C for 25 minutes.

NOTE : Raisins are optional can added in the flour.

Relish the mawa cake with Garam chai accompanying an old time cinema.
Ahaaa ! What else...from busy life of mumbai....(being true mumbaikar).

Season delight.....fruit cake

Oh ! it's end of the year. Loads of memories has been assemble of year 2014. Adios 2014.... and ready to cherish upcoming memories of 2015. So, this blog is based on seasonal delight that is known as "fruit cake". Fruit cakes bring to mind the christmas festive followed by the new year celebration. I just simply wait to relish this cake in December and it is mine favourite month too.


Fruit cake is also been named as plum cake which contains lots of dry fruits, plums soaked with various spices and rum for months. This pre-preparation can be done well in advance before making it. Soaked fruits for long months or even years are much better in taste and aroma.
So, here I start with the recipe to enjoy and celebrate the end of the year.

Fruit cake

Yield - 1/2 kg

Ingredients:
Flour                       115gm
Margarine               85gm
Icing sugar              115gm
Eggs                       2 no (large)
Caramel                  30gm (2 tbsp)
Baking powder       1/2 tsp
Cocoa powder        20gm

 For soak fruits:
Sultanas                 20gm
Candied peel         40gm
Angelica                40gm
Cashewnuts           20gm
Lime                      1/2 no.
Lemon essence       1 tsp
Cinnamon powder  1 tbsp
Nutmeg powder      1/2 tsp
Clove powder         1/2 powder
Dark rum                to soak
 Port wine               50ml


Method:

1. Chop the dry fruits (plums and prunes are optional) and soak in rum, wine lemon juice and essence and with  spices and store the mixture for 15 days prior of preparation of cake.
2. On the day of sponge preparation, start creaming fat and icing sugar till its fluffy.












3. Aerate the eggs along with vanilla essence and add in the cream mixture slowly.

4. Add hot caramel in the mixture.

5. Dridge the soak fruits with dry ingredients and atlast mix with cut and fold method.

6. Grease and dust the cake or loaf tin.

7. Pour the batter in the tin and bake at 150 C for 45 minutes.

8. Cut into even portion and serve warm with vanilla ice cream as dessert.

9. Can be serve as high tea cake.

NOTE : 

The color of the cake should be dark brown.
Can serve with red wine.
Before baking tap the top surface of sponge mixture with water. It prevents the cake to form hard crust.

Enjoy this month while making the fruit cake .......