Shortbread Cookies - Scottish#EattheWorld

A quick delicious Scottish Shortbread cookies. Shortbread is one of the most famous Scottish biscuits and eaten around Christmas time and is an essential part of a traditional Scottish New Year.
Ingredients
170 g Butter
85 Grams Caster Sugar
½ Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
250 Grams All Purpose Flour
½ Tablespoon Milk Powder
A Pinch Baking powder

Method
Take a bowl add butter, caster sugar, cream it well. Add vanilla essence, all purpose flour, milk powder, baking powder, mix it lightly bring the flour together like a soft dough. 
Cling wrap the dough and lightly make it into a smooth round ball. Refrigerate the dough for at least 20 minutes. 
Using the rolling pin roll the dough like a slightly thin sheet and cut them with a fluted cookie cutter 
or a round one and transfer into baking tray and baking them into 180°C for 12 - 15 minutes. 
Let them cool dust them with icing sugar ( this is optional).

Labels: Scotland, International Cuisine, Biscuits & Cookies ,United Kingdom, Eat the World, Shortbread, Eggless 
Check out all the wonderful Scottish dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Click here to find out how to join and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us! 
 A Day in the Life on the Farm: Scottish Smoked Salmon Pate 
Sneha’s Recipe: Shortbread Cookies - Scottish 
Magical Ingredients: Scottish Tattie Scones 

Continue Reading
3 comments
Share:

Homemade Pineapple Rum#Improv

Since many of the imported liquor/liqueurs are so costly online, so I, love infusing alcohol, have made Homemade Limoncello, and this was a hit among my friends, made the Homemade Pineapple Rum too and this is a huge hit.
Although I am a social drinker, have it at a party or wedding celebrations, love making liquor infusions. This Homemade Pineapple Rum requires just 2 ingredients, one large pineapple and white rum, the process is super simple. Add freshly cut pineapple chunks/slices to a jar, top it with white rum, and then let it soak for 2 or 3 weeks, I soaked it for 3 weeks.

Ingredients
1 Whole Fresh Pineapple - cut into small chunk or thin slices
750 Ml White Rum

Method
Place the pineapple chunks/slices in a large, air-tight jar. 
Pour the rum over the pineapple, covering it completely. Seal the jar.
Allow the pineapple to soak in the rum for 2 - 3 weeks. Keep the jar in the pantry shelf. Lightly shake the jar and turn it over every day or alternate days.
After the infusion is complete, strain the liquor from the fruit.
I, started to strain then realized that, had, not taken a pic, so this half jar.
Store the infused liquor in an air-tight jar/bottle in the refrigerator for up to three months.
Enjoy this chilled, this is super delicious!!
Check this space to see the recipes for how I used this infusion.


Labels: Cocktail, Pineapple, Rum, Homemade, Improv Cooking Challenge, International Cuisine  
For Improv Cooking Challenge July’s theme is  Pineapple and Rum. Check out what the other bloggers have made:  

    Continue Reading
    4 comments
    Share:

    Stuffed Gunda/Lasoda Pickle With Mango#Foodieextravaganza

    Indian cuisine is incomplete without pickles. You will find hundreds of varieties in Pickles from different parts of India. Here is one type of pickle from North India, which is known as Leswa Ka Achar/Gunda/Lasoda Pickle. There are so many names for this Goonda, Gunda, Lasoda, Gumberry, Auriyaa Lasoda, Glueberries, Lahsyade in Himachal Pradesh.
    This is a homemade Lasoda Pickle. Made the traditional way with authentic Indian spices all in your kitchen pantry, used mostly daily for cooking. 
    Just 15 - 20 minutes of work and your will have a different spicy and yummy pickle. If you want less oil then please refrigerate this or else it will mildew and your effort will go to waste. This pickle fills  one kg jam bottle.

    Ingredients  
    250 Grams Gunda/Lasoda
    1 Tablespoon Sea Salt
    1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric
    1/2 Cup Grated Pickle Mango
    1/3 Cup Homemade Pickle Masala
    Gingelly / Sesame Oil as required
    1 Tablespoon Heaped Pickle Masala


    Method
    Heat 1 ½ to 2 cups of sesame oil till hot only, do not bring it to a boiling point. Let this oil cool completely.
    Remove the gunda from the bunch. Wash them very well and dry it.
    Then take each gunda and with cut it with a knife, press the gunda and remove/discard the seed, cap.
    like wise do these to all, the seeds are remove.
    The gunda's are ready for the next process.
    Take a tablespoon of sea salt and apply it inside of each gunda, keep this aside.
    Grate a medium pickle mango add the turmeric powder, pickle masala. Keep aside.
    In a bowl mix the grated mango and homemade pickle masala well. 
    Fill it in each gunda. 
    They all are filled and ready. Sprinkle a tablespoon heaped pickle masala on the gunda and mix well.
    Fill these stuffed gunda in sterilized bottle.
    Ready for the finale.
    Pour oil over it, the oil should be at least 2 inch above the gunda's. Check after 2 days the gunda masala will absorb some of the oil. Add oil again to cover it at least an inch above the gunda. 
    Cap it and cover it with a clean cloth, enjoy after 15 to 20 days.
    Enjoy this Stuffed Gunda / Lasoda Pickle With Mango.. yum yum..
    My Notes
    If you do not want to add too much oil then mix in ½ cup of oil and refrigerate this pickle, this shelf life is only 2 to 3 weeks.

    Check the recipe index for other pickle recipes.

    Labels: Pickle, Achar, Mango, Gunda, Lasoda, Homemade Pickle Masala, Gujarat, Foodie Extravaganza Party
    We are celebrating National Pickle Month  at Foodie Extravaganza.
    Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla invited the members of Foodie Extravaganza to join her in celebrating this month. Let's take a look at what pickles are done for this party.  

    Continue Reading
    5 comments
    Share:

    Homemade Pickle Masala/Achar Ka Masala

    Indian cuisine is in complete without pickles. You will find hundreds of varieties in Pickles from different parts of India. In summer, generally pickles are made which can be stored for years and pickle masala is heart of any pickle. To make this pickle all ingredients are there in your pantry, there is nothing special that you will have to hunt for.
    You can also add this masala to your vegetables and curries. If you are making sprouts salad add a pinch of this masala and your bland salad will be chatpata. It also tastes awesome with paratha, khakhra, roti or can be used in dal, veggies etc. Read my notes before you start making the pickle masala. 

    Ingredients 
    45 Grams Red Chilly powder 
    25 Grams Turmeric Powder 
    100 Grams Yellow Mustard Seeds 
    ½ Teaspoon Asafoetida 
    45 Grams Fennel Seeds 
    30 Grams Fenugreek Seeds
    1 Tablespoon Sea Salt
    1 Cup Mustard Oil

    Method
    Dry roast the salt a minute or two on a slow flame in a pan/tawa, so that all the moisture evaporates. Let it to cool completely before adding to the remaining ingredients.

    In a small pan/pot, heat the oil on slow flame. Oil should be smoking hot. Let this cool completely.
    Coarsely powder the yellow mustard and fenugreek seeds separately then mix all the rest ingredients well, in a bowl and keep aside.
    Pour the cooled oil on to the spices and mix well. Make sure each spices blends perfectly..
    Store in a air tight glass jar/ container tightly packed.
    Easy, tasty, preservative free Homemade Pickle Masala/Achar Ka Masala is ready! Keep this mix handy and you can make pickles with minimum work load/effort. 
    This is very handy for making any type of pickle(instant or long storage/yearly). If you have this ready Pickle Masala/Achar Ka Masala handy then you can make pickle instantly. Just make a big batch of this ready masala once and use it when ever needed. This masala stays good for 3-4 months on the pantry shelf or for a year if refrigerate (in the refrigerator the color does not change and is the same).
    This  Pickle Masala mixed in oil is packed my sister in law. 
    My Notes
    When I make this masala for me, I do not add oil, but store it dry in the refrigerator in a airtight container.

    The reason I, do not add hot oil to the masala is because if you add hot oil then the masala will turn blackish and you will not get this bright color to your pickle.  

    In most pickle masala the salt content is more, I, do not add more salt, since when pickle is made with any ingredient salt is added to it. I try to keep the salt content less.

    If you like the taste of asafoetida or any other spices more in your pickle masala then increase it according to your taste. For me the Pickle Masala is perfect.  
    Labels: Pickle, Homemade, Pickle Masala, Preservative free

    Continue Reading
    No comments
    Share:

    Spot Idli - Hyderabad Street Food

    This a very popular street food in Hyderabad, this special spot idlis is different from regular ones, they are not steamed but cooked in a delicious masala mixture in a frying pan and crispy on the outside and soft inside. 
    I have served them with fresh thick whisked yogurt, your can serve this with any chutney of the your choice, but, let me tell you that these taste divine with yogurt and spicy masaledar soft idli this combo is fantastic. 

    I have used store bought Idli batter or you can make this recipe of Idli batter.
    Makes around 7 -8 Idli's
    Ingredients

    2 Cups Idli Batter
    For the Karam Podi Masala
    1 Tablespoon Heaped Chana Dal
    1 Tablespoon Level Coriander seeds
    8 Grains Methi seeds/Fenugreek seeds
    ½ Tablespoon Urad Dal
    ½ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
    1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
    ½ Teaspoon Desi Ghee
    2 Cloves Garlic - roughly chopped
    5 Curry Leaves
    3 Pieces Tamarind
    2 Teaspoons Kashmiri Red Chilly powder
    1 Teaspoon Salt 
    For the Spot Idli Tadka 
    1 Small Onion - finely chopped
    1 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves
    1 Small Tomato - finely chopped
    1 Green Chili - de seeded & finely chopped
    1 Tablespoon Karam Podi Masala
    2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
    Extra Karam Podi Masala - as required to sprinkle on top
     
    Method 
    For making Karam Podi
    In a pan, add chana dal, coriander seeds, methi, urad dal, sarso, jeera and few drops of ghee. Cook everything over low flame for 2 minutes or until its light golden. 
    Then add garlic, curry leaves and tamarind. Continue to cook everything until it’s golden. Transfer the mixture in a plate, add Kashmiri red chili and salt, and allow it to cool completely.
    Once cooled, blend the mixture to powder consistency, not too coarse and not too fine. 
    Karam podi is ready, set aside.

    For making the Spot Idli 
    Once the batter has risen, using a spoon give it a good mix. Add water if required and stir in one motion only, clockwise or anti clockwise. Idli batter is ready.  
    In a pan, add the onions, coriander, tomatoes, green chilies, podi powder and butter. This quantity is for 3 idlis.
    Cook all the ingredients over low flame for 2 minutes; divide the mixture into three portions.
    Take a spoon full of the idli batter and pour each spoon of the batter on each divided masala mixture.
    Sprinkle the karam podi on each idli portion
    Cover and continue to cook for 5 minutes over low flame.
    After 5 minute check the idli, if the batter is still runny then continue to cook for further 2-3 minutes.
    Flip the idlis add a little butter, continue to cook for few minutes. 
    Spot idlis are ready.
    Serve the hot Spot idlis with some homemade coconut chutney, we enjoyed this with fresh whisked yogurt.
    These are super delicious, a must try recipe.
    Labels: Idli, South Indian, Hyderabad, Street food, Main course, Breakfast, Gluten free, Vegetarian, Eggless, Homemade

    Continue Reading
    No comments
    Share: