Vegan Aloo Rice With Fruity Nutty Veg Salad- A One Pot Meal

This is quick instant one pot meal.  Quick to make and really delicious.  A complete and comforting meal. Its Vegan and Gluten free too.   
Ingredients
1.1/2 Cups Basmati Rice
1 Large Potato - scrubbed and cut into wedges
1 Large Onion - sliced
1/2 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder
1/2 Teaspoon Pav Bhaji Masala
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1/2 Teaspoon Kasoori  Methi
3 Black Peppercorn
2 Petals Star Anise / Bardian
1 Bay Leaf
1 Veg Seasoning Cube
1/4 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
2 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander Leaves
3 Tablespoons Oil
2.1/2 Cups Hot Water

For the Fruity  Nutty Veg Salad
3 Green Grapes - cut into two
3 Black Grapes  - cut into two
2 Kiwi - cut into slices
3 Cherry Tomatoes  - cut into two
3 Iceberg Lettuce leaves -  finely chopped
1 Fried Green Chilly- de seeded and finely chopped
White Sendav Namak to taste
1 Cup Yogurt - beaten
2 Tablespoons Fried Masala Peanuts

Method
For the Fruity  Nutty  Salad

Mix all ingredients well into a serving bowl and refrigerate, till it time to serve.
For the Rice

Wash and soak the rice.  Keep aside.

In a pressure pan heat 2 tablespoons oil and fry the potato wedges on medium high flame till golden.  Remove it on to a plate with a slotted spoon.  In the same oil fry the onions till golden, remove them and keep aside.  In the same oil fry the green chilly for the salad.  Keep aside.

In the same pan add the remaining  tablespoon oil  , add the bay leaf, peppercorns and star anise, half of the fried onions and fry for a minutes.  Now add the rice , little coriander leaves, turmeric, chilly powder and pav bhaji masala fry for a minute.  Add the soup cube, kasoori methi and salt to taste.  Mix them well add hot water and close the cooker, on high flame take 2 whistles. 

Let the cooker cool, open and add the fried potatoes, coriander leaves and mix lightly with a fork.

Serve garnished with fried onions, coriander leaves.  

Enjoy with  Fruity Nutty  Salad  and roasted papad.    A delicious and comforting meal.  Very tasty.

Labels : Rice, Potato, Fried Onions, One Pot Meal, Vegetarian, Salads, Grapes, Masala Peanuts, Cherry Tomatoes, Kiwi, Iceberg Lettuce, Rice, Vegan, Gluten free

Alcohol White Christmas Cake

This is rich Alcohol White Christmas Cake, delicious and soft. You will love this cake.

Makes two rectangle cake tins of 10.1/2 x 8 inches.
Ingredients 

500 Grams All Purpose Flour
500 Grams Salted Butter
500 Grams Caster Sugar1/2 Teaspoons Salt  
12 Eggs
2 Tablespoons Baking powder
1 Teaspoon Mixed Fruit Essence
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
825 Grams Mixed Fruits

100 grams Each Cashew & Almonds  - chopped
4 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
3 Tablespoon Alcohol
1 Teaspoon Cake Spice - Homemade

Method
These fruits are soaked in alcohol for year, whatever alcohol - can use what alcohol you wish. I soak 800 grams of mix fruits ( cranberries, cherries, mixed peels, black raisins, sultanas and prunes) in alcohol mix of rum, whisky, beer , vodka , bourbon. Pour this in a jar and cover it with alcohol.  If you can,t soak for a year then it should kept in alcohol for at least a month.

Before using this mix I drain all the alcohol and then add 100 grams each of cashew and almonds chopped. Mix it well.
Grease and line 2 baking tins with parchment paper on all sides.
Mix the drained fruits with 4 tablespoons of flour and mix well keep aside.
Sieve the flour, salt, cake spice and baking powder well . Keep aside.

In a bowl break the eggs and keep aside. Add the essence in it and lightly beat them.

Cream the butter till light and fluffy then add the caster sugar in batches and continue beating till the batter turns creamy, add an egg at a time and continue beating till all the eggs are incorporated. Add the sieved flour again in batches and on low speed continue beating. When all the flour is incorporated, add the 3 tablespoons of alcohol, fruits and fold in with a spatula gently till the fruits are well mixed into the batter. 

Pour this into the prepared tins and bake in a pre heated oven at 180 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or till a skewer comes our clean.

When the cake is out of the oven immediately take a tea strainer ( it spreads evenly over the cake) and pour the drained alcohol 2 -3 tablespoons  over cakes (this is optional). I do it since it keeps the cake moist.  

Let them cool completely and then um mold. Enjoy!!

Labels : Cakes, Fruit Cake, Christmas Cake, Alcohol, Homemade

Milk Cream - East Indian

A dainty, delicate, taste so good, looks elegant , melt in mouth and is irresistible milk sweet. 

Milk cream is a must Christmas sweet in every East Indian household. Loved by all -  children as well as adults.   Its a sweet made with milk,  the process is tedious and requires lots of patience but the end product is really worth the effort taken.  Again this is another sweet which has no eggs, a complete vegetarian and gluten free.
Ingredients
A Liter Of Milk - (I used full cream milk)
425 Grams Tea Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cashew nut powder
1 Tablespoon Rose water
1 Tablespoon Ghee

Method

In a heavy bottomed base kadai or pan boil the milk and reduces half of its quantity on a very low flame stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, taking care it doesn't stick to the bottom. Add the sugar,  continue stirring till the sugar melts and again reduces , half of its quantity, now add the cashew powder and keep stirring it continuously, till it thickens, add ghee, continue stirring.

Once it starts leaving the sides take a  teaspoon full and check if you can roll it into a soft ball if its rolled easily,  the mixture is now ready or  when touched does not stick to your hand.

 Transfer to the greased plate and before it cools completely, form  small balls and press into  silicon moulds - shapes of your choice.  Take them out of the mould and store in a airtight container,  4 to 5 days at room temperature and then refrigerate (not in the freezer)..

My Notes

Stir this continuously on very low flame, to achieve a beautiful white color. 
Do not add too much of cashew powder if you want it white and creamy.

Labels: Milk, Festival Sweets, Christmas Sweet, East Indian, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Cashew Meal, Festival Sweets

Cream of Mushroom Soup With DIY/Homemade Cream Of Soup Mix#Soupswappers

This is excellent for a party. Place this in a large bowl and keep small individual soup bowls at the side. Let each one serve themselves.

This is so delicious and easy to make from start to finish it take just 30 minutes and you are done with a quick meal.

Serves 3 as a meal and 4 -5 as an appetizer
Ingredients

1/2 Cup Level Cream Of Soup Mix -DIY/Homemade 

1 Big Vegetable Stock Cube
4 - 5 Cups Water
1 Cup Sliced Fresh Mushrooms
2 Cloves Garlic - minced
1 Small Onion - finely chopped
A Dash of Black Pepper powder
Salt to taste¼ Teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg - optional
1 Tablespoon Butter

Method

In a sauce pan add the butter , garlic and on medium low flame saute till it start to turn brown, immediately add the onions and saute till its translucent. Add the cream of soup mix and stir it with a whisk for a minute or two. Now add the chopped mushrooms and saute them for 2 minutes. Add the stock cube and water and whisk till it is lump free. Continue to whisk on medium low flame till it comes to a boil.

Continue to whisk till it thickens, taste for salt and pepper, if you like nutmeg add at this stage . Give the soup a good mix. Remove half of the mushrooms and puree it in a blender. Add this puree back into the soup and again give it good whisk and heat it if necessary. 

Serve this into big bowls, garnish with a dash of pepper powder and few fresh basil leaves. Enjoy it as a meal.

Labels : Mushroom, Vegetarian, Creamy, Healthy, Preservatives free, Main course, Appetizer, Soup, Soup  Swappers, Homemade Cream Of Soup Mix

Check the other recipes for Soup Swappers this month, our host is Camilla M. Mann.  Thank you dear for hosting this event.

• Cream of Mushroom Soup With DIY/Homemade Cream Of Soup Mix by Sneha's Recipe
• Italian Wedding Soup by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• New Year's Soup by Making Miracles
• Pear and Sweet Potato Soup by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Potato Leek Soup with Herbes de Provence by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Trinidadian Corn Soup by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Velouté de Châtaignes by Palatable Pastime

DIY/Homemade Cream Of Soup Mix / Condensed Soup Mix

This is a super delicious and easy way to make your quick creamy soup.  Just mix this in milk or water and you will have creamy soup ready in minutes.

250 Ml Cup measurement

Ingredients 
1 Cup Level Dry Milk Powder - I used Full Cream
3/4 Cup Level All-Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Dehydrated Onion Flakes -Homemade

¼ Cup Level Potato Starch 
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Herbs 
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Thyme
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Basil
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Parsley

 ¼ Teaspoon Heaped Black Pepper powder 

Method

In a blender add all the ingredients and just pulse it once or twice.

When you are ready to make your condensed soup mix 1/2 Cup level of the mix  for Cream of Mushroom Soup

My Notes

 Label and store this in the refrigerator.  It stay's good for months.

To Make it Gluten free use Gluten Free All Purpose Flour.
To Make this Vegan / Dairy Free, use Coconut Milk Powder instead of Milk Powder,
If you do not have Potato Starch Powder then use Corn Flour Powder

Labels : Full Cream, Milk powder, Potato Starch, Soup, Dehydrated, Onion Flakes, Dried Herbs, Thyme, Basil, Parsley, Vegan, Gluten free