MUTTER PANEER aka PEAS & COTTAGE CHEESE DISH (INDIAN STYLE)

Now that you have started reading my blog and enjoying it too( Do i sound conceited? :O just kidding :P But I do hope you ARE enjoying), I’ll be generous enough to let you in on one of my little secrets! Which is, if given a choice, I will have dessert for breakfast, lunch AND dinner every day, for the rest of my life!!! I have a bad case of sweet tooth syndrome, I guess!!! :D Yeah! That’s how much I love my dessert! But for your benefit I’m gonna throw in an occasional savory recipe! Let’s start with an Indian dish called Mutter Paneer. Paneer or firm cottage cheese is most popular with the northern Indians. It is a healthy substitute with a meaty bite to it for when you are craving for something non-vegetarian. There are many yummy versions of Mutter Paneer. This one, I found in one of the many cook books I own. The recipe is very easy yet rewarding. It goes well with hot, thick parathas (Indian bread). Trust me, it was as yummy as it looks. Do try! :)

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Ingredients:

6 tbsp ghee or vegetable oil
225 g/8 oz paneer/firm cottage cheese, cubed
1 onion, finely chopped
few mint leaves, chopped
50 g/2 cups/2 oz fresh coriander(cilantro), chopped
3 fresh green chillies, chopped
3 cloves garlic
1 piece fresh ginger, 2.5 cm/1 in long, sliced
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp chilli powder(optional)
1 tsp garam masala
salt, to taste
225 g/8 oz/3 cups tiny button mushrooms, washed and left whole
225 g/8 oz/1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed and drained
175 ml/6 fl oz/3/4 cup natural(plain) yogurt, mixed with 1 tsp cornflour(cornstarch)
mint sprig/coriander leaves, to garnish

Method:

Heat the ghee or oil in a frying pan(skillet) and fry the paneer cubes until they are golden brown on all sides. Remove and drain on kitchen paper(paper towel).
Grind the onion, mint, coriander(cilantro), chillies, garlic and ginger in a pestle and mortar or food processor to a fairly smooth paste.
Remove and mix in the turmeric, chilli powder if using, garam masala and salt.
Remove excess ghee or oil from the pan leaving about 1 tbsp. Heat and fry the paste until the raw onion smell disappears and the oil separates.
Add the mushrooms, peas and paneer. Mix well. Cool the mixture and gradually fold in the yogurt. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Garnish with a sprig of mint or coriander leaves and serve hot.

VEGAN CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Who would have thought you could bake an equally delicious cupcake without the very obvious ingredient “Egg”. At least I never did, until I came across this wonderful vegan chocolate cupcake recipe on allrecipes.com. These cuties fluff up so gorgeously in the oven; it is almost bewitching to look at. And the recipe is ever so simple. To get more of the chocolaty yumminess with every bite, I tossed in small chunks of milk chocolate in my batter! The result was splendid as you can see. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

3 cups white sugar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup vegetable oil

3 cups water

3 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, soda and salt. Add sugar and mix together. Add oil, water and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture into lined cupcake pans 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.