A cake made without milk or eggs and is still, moist, dark and delicious! It was invented in the great depression era when ingredients were expensive n scarce.     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 35mins.       Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup white sugar 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 6 tablespoons vegetable oil Cooking Instructions: 1. Preheat oven [...]

Creating a riot of flavors that tantalize your tastebuds, this spicy-tangy dark paav-bhaji masala is an instant hit with hot butter-roasted paavs.     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 2-3 – CookTime 15mins     Ingredients: 1 large chopped onions 1 chopped capsicum 1.5 cups cubed brinjals/eggplant 2-3 medium chopped potatoes 1 cup chopped carrots (for a sweetish-spicy taste) 1 cup of chopped beetroot (optional; Good for color!) 2-3 drops red-orange food-color (if beetroot is avoided) 1/2 cup green peas 2 [...]

Fiona’s version of Maggie Noodles – Try this out: Its fast, its delicious & its innovative enuf to pleasantly surprise people with!     PrepTime 5mins – Serves 2-3 – CookTime 15mins     Ingredients: Maggie 2 Packets: 1 Glass Water- If you like it soupy add extra water. 1 tspn Pav Bhaji Masala 1 Bowl of mixed vegetables (Carrots, Beans, Lima Beans, Peas) Chinese Chilli Sauce- 1/4 tspn depends on spice level Soy Sauce- 2 tbspns Tomato Ketchup-1 tspn [...]

Another recipe customized by Venus with some changes to suit her family’s palette; She says its ‘Delicious”     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 2-3 – CookTime 30mins       Ingredients: 1.400 gm paneer 2.1/2 green capsicum diced finely 3.1/2 red capsicum diced finely 4.1cup shredded cabbage 5. amul cream cheese (dont know its equivalent your end of the world) For the marinade : 1. 1 youghurt (400g) hang in cloth for 20-30 minutes till water drains 2. 1- 2tbsp green [...]

I’ve had lunch at Sumedha’s once & I must say, her daal-makhni was simply  out-of-this-world; Seems like I can taste it just as I think of it!     SoakTime 6-8hrs – Serves 3-4 – CookTime 25mins     Ingredients: 1 cup Whole urad dal 1/3rd cup kidney beans (rajma a tiny cinnamon stick 2-3 cloves 2-3 garlic cloves 2-4 spoons of oil 1/2 tsp cumin seeds a pinch of hing 1/2 inch ginger – finely chopped 1 dried red [...]

This recipe is from my SIL’s SIL, Damandeep, who shares my passion for cooking. Its her version of Punjabi Channa/ garbanzo beans, which she describes as easy & yum!     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 20mins   Ingredients: 1 can chickpeas/ garbanzo beans (or soak a cup for 6-8hrs/overnight & boil with 1/2 tsp salt) For the dry masala/spice mix: 6-7 Dry Red Chilies 6-7 5-6 Green Elaichi (cardamom) 2  Black elaichis 1/2 tsp black peppercorns 1″ [...]

Here’s a rather unusual but excellent idea for vadas by my good friend Ajit Marathe – made with grated cabbage! Kobichi means ‘of cabbage’  & Vadi is an Indian cutlet.     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 15mins     Ingredients: 1 cup finely ground cabbage 2 cups jowar flour 1 cup besan/ gram flour 1/2 tsp cumin pwd 1/4 tsp red chilli powder 1/4 tsp turmeric pwd salt to taste 1 clove garlic – crushed oil for [...]

A traditional Iranian soup with barley and mild spices – healthy & nutritious – it can be made veg or non-veg, equally superb!     SoakTime 3-4hrs – Serves 3-4 – CookTime 30mins Ingredients: 3 -4 cups chicken stock (or veg stock) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 medium onion, diced 1 cup uncooked pearl barley soaked in warm water for 4-6hrs/ overnight 1 tsp turmeric Juice of 1 lime 1/4 cup tomato paste salt, to taste ground black pepper, to [...]

Here’s a novel way to cook spinach.. You basically use the same idea as a dessert souffle, which is folding your base into stiff peaks of beaten eggwhites & then bake it.     PrepTime 5mins – Serves 8 – Cooktime 15mins   Ingredients: 8 baking cups – buttered on the inside 1/2 kg baby spinach leaves 3 tbsp oilve oil salt & pepper to taste 1 white onion – minced 2 crushed garlic cloves 1/4 cup all purpose flour [...]

A brilliant, aromatic & simple dish of white rice fried with cumin seeds & basic condiments and cooked in a stock of your choice – chicken or veg.         PrepTime 2mins – Serves 2 – CookTime 20mins     Ingredients: 1 glass white rice 1/2 cup frozen peas 2-3 bayleaves 1 cinnamon stick 2-3 cardamoms 1 stock cube – chicken or veg a cup of milk 2 tsp jeera/ cumin seeds 2 tbsp ghee/ clarifying butter/ olive [...]