I’ve had the good fortune of traveling to many cities around the world & in my quest for various cuisines, I found that you get Chicken Curry in SO many forms – Indian, Thai, English, Jamaican, Mexican, Japanese & so much more! Here are some of my favs.. Feel free to add some of yours!         1. CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA Ingredients: 3 chicken breasts  – cubed 4 tbsp cooking oil 1 large onion – chopped 2 cloves [...]

Here’s 10 things to remember when you’re preparing the turkey for thanksgiving & before you indulge in the very elaborate thanksgiving meal. 1. Have a bowl of light soup or salad to fill you up a bit before the actual Turkey meal. 2. Select a breast piece over the leg – it’s the leanest part. 3. If you’re cooking, bake or roast the turkey; don’t fry it. 4. Go for low-fat low-sodium broth, rather than your roast drippings. If you [...]

Oh no, you’re guests are almost here and your curry turned out spicier than you had expected! Here’s how you can fix it in 15 minutes.. You have the following options: 1. Peel & chop potatoes and boil them in the curry. 2. Add some coconut milk & simmer. 3. Add room-temp beaten cooking/fresh cream – 2tbsp at a time, stirring continuously so it does not break in the simmering curry. 4. Add beaten full-cream yoghurt/curd, at room-temp and in [...]

Just 4 ingredients, 5 simple tools & 10 quick steps to the perfect Black Forest Cake… Moist, Rich, Dark, Delicious & SO festive… A treat for any occassion!!! This is a super-quick recipe so you’re going to see ready/instant & canned ingredients; Here’s what you’ll need.. Ingredients: 1. A ready-made tall (about 6″ high) chocolate cake (OR) A freshly baked Betty Crocker’s dark chocolate cake. 2. A can of pitted cheries 3. A large tub of whipping cream 4. A [...]

Why bake a whole big cake & stuff it down when you really just have a craving for a LIL’Cake, don’t have company to share it with & just don’t feel like heading out to buy some? Do this.. QUICK! Hot-Cocoa Chocolate Cake-In-A-Mug Ingredients: – 9 Tbsp. hot chocolate powder mix – 4 Tbsp. self raising flour – 1 egg – 3 tbsp oil – 3 tbsp water – a pinch of salt Method: – Grease a strong thick large [...]

How about a cake made without milk or eggs and is yet, moist, dark and delicious?? This recipe was invented in the great-depression era by some smart cooks who wanted to bake a cake without expensive and scarce ingredients. You’ll need (for an BxB cake tin) – 1.5 cups all-purpose flour – 1 cup white sugar – 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa pwd – 1 tsp baking soda – 1/2 tsp salt – 1 tsp vanilla extract – 1 tbsp cider [...]

Meatloaf is SO MUCH FUN, I can’t get enough of it, really!! Here are  some fun ways to improve your meatloaf & some interesting variations. 1. For more flavor and a juicier meatloaf, add about 1/4 cup of tomato juice, wine, or broth for each pound of meat. 2. Bake in muffin tins or mini-loaf pans for individual servings. 3. Use leftovers sliced in sandwiches, burgers or crumbled in sauces or chili. 4. Replace some of the liquid in the [...]

Ever wondered how the best fries you’ve ever eaten are so crisp on the outside & soft ‘n tasty on the inside? Here’s the trick.. Actually, there’s more than just 1 trick.. Trick 1. Soak the cut potaotes in salted water for 10-15 mins. This enhances the inner taste. Trick 2. Drain & pat-dry them before frying. Trick 3. Heat oil to almost-smoking, not VERY hot, say 300deg. Trick 4. Deep fry the fries on medium heat for 6-8 mins [...]

This is for all my friends (& general people out there) who LOVE SEAFOOD, but dread buying or cooking it themselves.. This should get you going! Here are the basics of Selecting & buying fish, storing it & cooking it to perfection: Buying Fish: – Buy fish when its in season – it will be fresh, plentiful & hence, cheaper. – Buy fish from reputable stores or markets – where you know fish sales are brisk & so they get [...]

A fan from Dubai recently asked me a question that I’m sure, at some point in your lives, you all may have thought about too – How to make Biryani Masala? Well, here’s my take.. There are 2 types of Biryani Masalas I make – 1 basic & 1 a bit extravagant, and then, there are tips & variations to these to enhance the flavors in my biryani. Basic Biryani Masala Ingredients: 1. Cloves – 10 2. Green Cardamom -  [...]