Strawberry-Cheesecake Muffins

        Welcome to February, a month of love and romance.. Love is in air this month, pretty shades of pink and red are popping up all around, everywhere, just loving it..! Approaching any festive season or day , mind just gets overflow with  bubbling with some ideas, they become more impassion and dynamic as the day comes closer. I insist you all to put more efforts to show your love little more on this V-Day to the most loving people around you by serving my V-Day specials recipes. I'm definitely positive these recipes will win their heart on this V_day!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

             I'm staring this month with some sweet love treat for all love ones. From today till next couple of weeks I'm planning to share some sweet treats for Valentine's Day. Some ideas for Valentine's Day party desserts or Kid's Valentine's Day party recipes, so keep enjoying sweet tooth love with me for next couple of weeks. Impress your Valentine with my recipes throughout the Valentine's Day with love.

      I'm ready with my first recipe, which is all about "Strawberry-Cheesecake Muffins"!! -A dessert-type Muffins that disappears in minutes:)) A perfect combination of pink and red shades with delicious taste for your love one.The aroma of baking of this muffins are still in my house even thou I baked it yesterday.., no need to blow candle today:).
   It's also our 25th #foodiemonday #bloghop so 'Meetha to Banta Hai'!! A Big congrats to all co-bloggers of #foodiemonday #bloghop, Cheers! Keep working hard on every #foodiemonday #bloghop...

Ingredients:
8 ounce cream cheese(room temperature)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour(Maida)
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar(sugar powder)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup fresh chopped strawberries
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Method:
* Mix room temperature cream cheese and 1/4 cup of confectioners' sugar(sugar powder) very well in a mixing bowl.

* Add 1/4 cup fresh chopped strawberries in it and mix softly with help of spoon or fork.

* Set aside.

* Take another big mixing bowl.
* Combine all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt well.
* In a separate bowl, beat together egg, milk, rest of the sugar(1/2 cup), butter and vanilla extract.
* Stir egg mixture into dry ingredients, stirring just until moisted.
* Add remaining fresh chopped strawberries in to better and mix them gently.

* Preheat oven on 375* F and grease the muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
* Spoon half of batter into muffin cups.

* Top each portion with 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture.

 

 

* Spoon remaining muffin batter on top.

* Bake in preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden.

* Cool in pan for 5-7 minutes, then remove muffins and cool on rack.

* Store in airtight container.
* Serve them to kids at this Valentine's and show them your love to them..

"It's The month of kisses, surprises, proposals and dates, chocolates & gifts, hugs & love songs... It's February!!! Wishing you a love filled Valentine Month!!!"
    Stay connected with more coming up V-Day recipes.
Until we meet again, Happy cooking!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
 

Dhokla Samosa

      Amaze your family and friends with this innovative Dhoklas, which is so so delicious that everybody will be astonished when you tell them,it's 'Dhokla samosa"!!!

     Amalgamation of any original or ethnic recipe can be given a different twist by adding or omitting new ingredients to create a new fusion recipe. This recipe is really proven to be the best of a fusion cuisine Try it and agree with me.Check the Notes for some variation.

Ingredients::

For Dhokla;
1 cup Dhokla-Hadhva flour( rice & tuvar dal  flour mix)
2 tablespoons  Besan flour
2 tablespoons  semolina (ravo)
2 tablespoons  rice flour
1/2 cup + 2 tbls Yogurt
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons Fruit salt(Eno)
Salt to taste
Some chopped cilantro
Some red chili powder

For Stuffing;
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon  cumin seeds
1 teaspoon Urad dal
4-5 Curry leaves(Limdo)
1 tablespoon red chili powder paste(Red chili mix with some water)
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder
Pinch of asafoetida
2 medium size boiled and grated potatoes
1/4 teaspoon  Garam masala
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon sugar powder
1/4 teaspoon Chaat masala
Some chopped cilantro

For Chutney;
1 teaspoon  oil
1/4 teaspoon  Cumin seeds
1/2 cup Water
3 tsp Aamchur powder
1/4 teaspoon  garam masala
1 tablespoon Jaggery (gur)
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon  Black salt(sanchar)
1/4 teaspoon  Dhanajeeru(cumin-coriander blend)
Some Chaat Masala
Some Mint powder(optional)

For Serve;
Some chopped cilantro
Some grated cheese or paneer(optional)

 

Method:
for Chutney;
* Heat the pan with oil and add cumin seeds.
* After cumin seeds gets cracked add water, red chili powder, aamchur powder, garam masala, salt, jaggery, black salt, chaat masala and mint powder.
* Cook till boiled and gets little thick consistency.
* Turn off the stove and keep it on side.

For Stuffing;
* Heat the pan with oil.
* Add cunim seeds and urad dal.
* Cook for 1-2 mins.
* Add chopped curry leaves and red chili powder paste, turmeric powder and asafoetida.
*  Cook for a minute and add boiled and grated potatoes in it.
* Mix well.
* Add garam masala, salt, sugar, chaat masala and chopped cilantro.
* Mix well for another 1-2 mins and turn off the stove.
* Let it cool down.

For Dhokla;
* Add Dhokla-Hadhva flour, Besan flour, semolina (ravo),rice flour, yogurt and water in a mixer blender cup.
* Mix in a blender till gets smooth batter.
* Pour dhokla batter in to a bowl and let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes.

* Turn on the Dhokla steamer.
* Add fruit salt(Eno) in batter along with 1 tbls water on it and stir briskly & quickly.

* Pour the little amount of batter(should be very thin layer) in the greased pan.
* Place the pan in a steamer and stem for 5-7 mins.

* After 5-7 mins take out the pan from steamer and spread the stuffing all over on dhokla evenly.

* Pour the little amount of dhokla batter on stuffing.
* Sprikle some red chili powder and chopped cilantro on it. 

* Put it again in to steamer and let it steam cook for about 10-12 mins.
* After it done, take out from steamer and place on to serving plate.

* Prick the dhokla with knife.

* Apply chutney all over the Dhokla. 

* Garnish with some chopped cilantro and grated cheese or paneer.

* Cut them in Pieces and Serve.

Variation Note:
* You can use white Dhokla better (Idla) or Idli better instead of my Dhokla recipe method.
* Remaining procedure will be same.
   Stay tune for Valentine's Day Marathon Recipes from Coming up Monday...
Happy Cooking!!!

Fruits & Yogurt Parfaits

    Healthy, delicious Fruits & Yogurt parfaits are layered with fresh peaches & oranges, vanilla flavored yogurt, some your favorite granola and fresh kiwis & pears for a lovely morning breakfast or afternoon snack or sweet treat for kids.!! Amazing, Hummmm!!!!

    Welcome back to another #foodiemonday #bloghop. Let's enter with this super healthy and kid's friendly recipe into today's # tricolor challenge. It's Republic Day for India. "May the Indian tricolor always fly high... Warm wishes on, the grand occasion of India's Republic Day." Today's recipe is totally dedicated to all Indians all over the world.

     There are endless possibilities in Parfaits' Recipe. I'm sharing my Daughter's favorite Parfait as a after school snack. She just love these combinations of fruits and yogurt with her favorite Granola bar. You can use any Granola or Cereal in this recipe but, I used Granola Bar(crumbled it) because my kids love the Granola Bar anytime. So just open your imaginations and try out this recipe with your favorite fruits, granola and flavored yogurt. Layer the ingredients into a glass container, starting with fruits and ending with fruits. I think the combination of peaches & oranges with kiwi & pear is especially tasty and pretty because it has sweet and sour flavors in it. When you combine this with soft vanilla flavored Yogurt, it will be heavenly delicious!
Ingredients:
For 2 servings:
1 cup Mix chopped kiwis and pears
1 cup Mix chopped peaches and oranges
1 cup Vanilla flavored yogurt
2 Granola Bars
some honey and color sugar for top of glasses
Method:
* Dip tops of glasses in to honey, then colored sugar. Set them aside.

* Crumble granola bars and keep on side.

* First layer mix of chopped kiwis & pears  in any glass.
* Pour vanilla flavored yogurt on it.
* Layer crumbled granola bar on yogurt.
* Layer mix of chopped peaches and oranges.
* Serve with spoon-they are good to the very last bite:)

Variations Note:
   As I said, this simple recipe has endless variations so here are some::
- Use plain yogurt in place of the vanilla yogurt.
- Use any fruit flavored yogurt in place of vanilla yogurt.
- Use any granola or cereal or oats in place of granola-bar.

- Drizzle some honey on cereals or oats or granolas - Use some honey, if you are using plain granola or cereal.
- Use other combinations of fruits.
-Use some chopped nuts on the fruits.

-Topping with chai-seeds or Flax-seeds on top.      Be the  change you want to see in this world & feel proud to be an Indian...
                                      Happy Republic Day
 

Indian-Style Brussel Sprouts

         Brussel Sprouts are similar to small cabbage but have strong flavor. It's not very commonly used vegetable in Indian cooking, but here is the great, must try once recipe for all my blog family. Even though Brussel sprouts are not a vegetable seen in Indian markets or at Indian tables, I have always been intrigued by them. They always look like baby cabbages for me. I love cabbage and so I figured that I have to give Brussel sprouts a try. But when I tasted this cute little vegetable first time, I was like it's baby cabbage.(just has little more flavor) Cabbages are my all time favorite. This recipe is totally inspired by very common Indian curry/sabji. The brussel sprouts retain a hint of the center, while the common garam masala, ginger-garlic paste and tomatoes also onion add a slight sweetness that offsets the brussel sprouts' flavor perfectly.

       Brussel sprouts  are rich in many valuable nutrients. they are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B1, potassium, dietary fiber & omega-3.

Let's include this totally healthy vegetable in our meals with this delicious recipe. I'm going to submit my this recipe with unique vegetable into #foodiemonday #bloghop challenge. Let's see how does this "Indian-Style Brussel Sprouts" stand in our #wintervegetable challenge.

 " Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors..-It's how you combine them that sets you apart."

Ingredients:
1 lb Brussel sprouts(outer leaves removed & halved or quarter cut lengthwise)
3/4 cup Chopped onions
1/2 cup Chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup Chopped bell-peppers
1 tbls Tomato puree
4 tbls Oil
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
1/4 tsp Cumin seeds
1/2 tsp Cumin-Coriander(dhanajereeru) powder
1 tsp red chile powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1 small Bay leave
1/2 tsp Garam masala(I used Sabji Masala)
1 tbls Ginger-Garlic Paste
Salt to taste
Some chopped cilantro for garnish

Method:
* Heat 1 tbls oil on the high in a medium skillet or pan.
* Add Brussels sprouts.
* Turn heat on medium and let the sprouts brown for about 5 min.

* Toss them in between.

* Turn off the stove & remove them from the pan to plate and let them cool.

* Heat 2 tbls oil in the same skillet or pan.
* Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds and cook till fragrant,20 -25 seconds.
* Add Bay leave, cumin-coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chile powder & garam masala in it.
* Stir them for another 5 seconds.

* Add ginger-garlic paste along with chopped onions. 

* Cook on medium high heat, stirring occasionally till translucent, about 5-6 minutes. 

* Add chopped tomatoes and tomato purée  along with chopped bell-peppers and stir and cook another 5-6 minutes. 

* Add Brussel Sprouts and toss them & cook for another couple of minutes.

* Add 1 tbls oil and season with salt.

* let it cook 1 minute.

* Remove from heat, top with some chopped cilantro and serve warm with Roti, Paratha or Naan.

* Enjoy the unique dish with delicious taste.

           Don't forget to drop your comments below and catch me on FB for more short and instant recipes.  Catch me for visual treat on Insta. Also Pin me......
Happy Cooking until next time..