Home Made Granola - Instant Breakfast Cereal

Since the baking bug has bitten me, the love for baking and trying new things has gone to the next level..  As a part of Ramadan cleaning routine, I was setting up my breakfast counter and realized that I had the basic ingredients to make the  Yummy Tummy's Granola recipe.. I love Granola bars and the on the go breakfast - however we don't find them in India and if we do, they are super expensive..   I tweaked it a bit to make it simple and easier for the first time..

Ingredients:

Rolled Oats: 1 cups
Corn Flakes : 1/2 cup
Crushed Almonds: 1 cup
Black Currants: 3 tbsp
Brown Sugar: 3 tbsp
Honey: Half Cup
Cooking Oil: 2 tbsp.

Method:

Mix oil and honey in a mixing bowl.

In a large mixing bowl, add crushed corn flakes.. I used Wheat flakes instead of corn flakes.

To this add, 1 cup of rolled oats.

Followed up Crushed almonds, Black Currants and other dried fruits and nuts you want to add. 

Add half of your brown sugar at this stage, since we would be adding honey - add sugar in stages, of course to taste (I made it less sweet)

To this add the honey oil mixture and mix well so its all coated and spread evenly. Pop this into an oven pre heated to 180C for 10 min.

Every 10 minutes, mix the contents to ensure that the oats get toasted evenly. I realized that using a shallow dish works best here, so transferred the contents to a wider aluminum dish.

And after 30 min, I had an amazingly smelling home and a super yummy Granola mix ready!!

It tasted amazing, that I kept snacking on it a lot all day next and made some whole wheat granola muffins.. Though I burnt it a little, it turned out to be super amazingly delicious!!!

So, here's my version of the most famous granola.. Do leave in your comments and any improvement ideas ;)

See you all in the next post soon !!!


Cheers,
Amrin

Tandoori Chicken

Whenever I eat out, Tandoori/BBQ meat is one of my favorites - one for the low calories fact and the other for the smoky flavor it brings to the meat. I have tried BBQ'd Chicken, lamb and steaks and absolutely loved every one of them.

With an oven in hand, and after trying some bakes I knew I had to land into the savory world. Would it be any better to try the classic Tandoori Chicken?? Hell YES!!!!

So, I managed to click some pictures of the marination and through out the process.. So, here we go!!

Ingredients:

Chicken - 1 whole chicken cut into 4 pieces. (1.5 kgs)

First Marinade:

Lemon Juice - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 2 tsp
Salt - 2 tsp

Second Marinade:

Yogurt - 1 cup
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
Kashmiri Chilli powder - to taste (since its already added in step 1)
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
Vinegar - 1tsp (I used apple cider vinegar)
Food color - optional

Method:

• Cut incisions on the chicken and pat the chicken dry.
• In a large mixing bowl, add chicken and the ingredients for 1st marinade and leave it undisturbed for one hour.
• Then add the ingredients for the second marinade and marinate for 4 hours. You can leave it overnight as well.
• Massage the chicken with the marination and ensure that there is enough marination on the incisions as well.

Once the marinated, its time for grilling the chicken :)

Grilling the Chicken

• Pre heat the oven to 180C for 10 min in Rotisserie mode
• Place the chicken in a baking tray and I used the middle rack.
• Grill the chicken for 20 min on 250C and flip the chicken pieces and cook for 10 min on the other side.

That's all - So easy!! I served this with mint chutney.. 

And the meal is served!!!

Cheers,

Amrin

Chocolate and Almonds Muffin

I couldn't stop myself from exploring more and more of baking after a successful first cake. I went ahead and made a batch of muffins for evening chai..

I didn't have enough flour and I realized then only when the rest of the mixtures were prepared.. I still  managed to scape through the muffins and they turned out to be DELICIOUS!!

Here's the recipe, nothing grand but totally hearty

Ingredients:

All purpose flour : 3/4 Cup
Cocoa Powder: 1/4 cup
Almonds: 1/4 blanched
Baking Powder: 1 tsp
Eggs: 2
Olive Oil: 1/4 cup
Sugar: 1/2 cup
Honey: 2 tbsp
Vanilla essence: 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Cream Olive Oil, Sugar, honey, Vanilla essence, eggs together.
2. Sift flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder together and add to the wet ingredients.
3. Add almonds to the mixture.
4. Prepare your baking tin, line with muffin liners and spoon in the batter.
5. Preheat the oven at 180C for 10 min
6. Bake the muffin for 15 min at 180 or until done (follow the skewer method)

Final pic when done :)

Next time, I will click step by step pics :)

Cheers,
Amrin

New OTG and its first cake - Vanila Sponge Cake, Lemon Butter Cream Icing with Mangoes

 The current microwave oven I own, was giving me uneven baking due to a rotation problem. I have been eyeing an OTG oven for a while now - "the cooking range gas oven effect" you know!!! I ended up buying my very first OTG oven - a long time dream!!

It's a Morphy Richards 24" oven - nothing fancy. I found that one of the blogger Sharmi from Sharmi's Passion had mentioned this in her blog about baking, oven and some tips. After tons of research on the size, blah, blah, I ordered it from Amazon

To start with I baked my simple vanilla sponge cake and used butter cream icing. I was a little scared to be honest, after reading some first OTG baking disasters.. But the cake came out spongy and nice..  I was looking for a simple cake, but adding mangoes to top made it  a super star!! I also made chocolate muffins, recipe to be shared soon!!!!

I didn't manage to click pics in the making - no plans on blogging it, but here is the recipe I used..

Sponge Cake:

Butter - 200 gm (approx)
Sugar - 1 cup
Flour - 1 cup
Baking Powder - 1 tsp
Eggs - 3
Vanilla Extract - a dash

Butter/Oil for greasing the tin

Butter Cream Icing

Butter - 200 gm
Icing Sugar - 200 gm
Lemon Juice - Tbsp
Lemon Zest

Topping

Half a Mango cut into Tiny Pieces


Method:

Sponge Cake

• Whisk eggs and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl until ribbons are formed. I used a hand blender for this.
• In a separate blend cream butter and sugar until a smooth creamy paste is formed
• Add the butter sugar mixture to eggs and slowly incorporate them
• Add flour using cut and fold method.. Don't use the blender at the stage. I used a silicon spatula ensuring the incorporated air doesnt escape
• Pre heat microwave at 180C for 10 min.  Grease the tin - transfer the mixture to the tin and bake for 30-35 min (mine was done in 25 min)
• Cool the cake for atleast an hour or two before you proceed to the next step.

Butter Cream Icing

• Mix together the ingredients for the icing and blend until a creamy paste
• The temperature was too hot causing the butter to melt and become all goey.. I was keeping the icing in and out of the fridge to maintain the consistency.

Now the final Picture.. 

No doubt, it tasted super yummy.. It was a visual treat.. Didnt want to cut the cake - but nevertheless, total yummitos!!

Confession: Adding mangoes was due to sheer laziness of icing the whole cake, lol... 

Next post, Chocolate Almond Muffin, Alas final pics only :(

Cheers,
Amrin

Chettinad Chicken Masala

My family is spread across the globe and with the fast paced life - I have lost access to some simple yet soulful dishes we used to make at home - those that were regulars at home, once upon a time. From simple daal to shaami kebab, khattey saalans made by naanima, idli sambar, gajar ka halwa, veg biryani, macroni made by my Khalas (maternal aunt) , sheer khurma by my grand dad , all types biryanis to rumaali dum ke sevaiyyan made by my phuppu (paternal aunt) and of course, the pearl on the crown - Prawn Biryani and Crab fry made by my mom!!!! Oh yeah - I am a great foodie


I have planned  to pen and recreate their classic recipes and create a recipe journal here, so my cousins/aunts/friends or maybe my kids would someday reference this blog for their favorite gal's recipes ;) However I will be posting authentic Chennai Muslim recipes and a few recipes that is cooked at home.. Soulful home food and some gourmet at times.. Which goes unsaid - mostly non vegetarian dishes!!!

I recently learnt to make Chettinad All spice powder, a.k.a Garam Masala Powder from my SIL's mom - which happens to be a closely guarded recipe.. Though this type of chicken is not made at home, I still gave it a try - Though this is not called Chicken Chettinad, but known as Chicken fry/chicken thokku in common households. I will post the recipe for making the garam masala - Duh! I didn't click pictures when I made the masala last time.


Ingredients:

Chicken - 250 gms approx (since its just for 2 pax. with little appetite)
Onion - 1 big sized
Tomatoes - 1 mid sized
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Green chillies - 1 split and cut
Coriander - a handful chpped
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Garlic - 5-6 cloves
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tsp
Chettinad Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder -  1/4 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - 3 tsp


For Marination:

Ginger Garlic Paste - 1tsp
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Coriander leaves -  a handful (I used the stalks)
Garam Masala - 1/4 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Yogurt - 1 tsp


Method:

Prepare the marinade with the ingredients for marination and chicken. Keep aside for 30 minutes

Prepare the ingredients for curry.

Heat oil in a pan and add 3 tsp of oil. When the oil is hot, add 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, garlic cloves, curry leaves, green chillies followed by onion and cook until onion turns golden brown

 

Add ginger garlic paste, and when the raw smell goes away add tomatoes. Close the lid and cook on low flame until oil separates.

Add chicken pieces, followed by coriander leaves and dry spices.

Let the chicken cook in its own water - add water if required.

Tadaaaa.. The final Presentation!!!

You can serve this with rice, chapati, paratha.. However I served this with Ghee rice (Bagharya Khaana), Aloo Gosht ka Khurma, Chettinad Chicken and some Raita to beat the heat!!

Hope you enjoy and do let me know your comments on how this turned out to be !!

Cheers,

Amrin

Hands on Microwave baking - chocolate orange cake with chocolate butter cream frosting

Its been a while I tried baking, thanks to my not so good oven that is mostly a trouble maker these days..

I had bookmarked a page on microwave baking, I saw some cakes, quiches and a lot of other good stuff.. I tried to make a chocolate cake and went upscale and made it in a tupperware box.

Here is a sneak peak and how I made it...

Its a simple cake, I sifted 1 cup of flour with 1.5 cups of sugar, 1 tsp baking powder , 0.5 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2tsp orange rind and 2 eggs..  Mixed wet and dry ingredients and cooked it in the microwave for 5 minutes. Voila, here is the end result..

Frosting:

200 gm butter, 1 cup icing sugar, 2 tsp cocoa powder and a few drops vanilla powder.. I also added some walnut and chocolate shavings for that ooomph!!!

Final Product:

Just keeping this simple to record my cooking and creations in this space!!!

Amrin

A sneak peak to my tea station and Cafè Brasilerio

To begin with, I love Tea... I love tea in any form, and I love the idea of exploring different teas from all over the world..

My love with chai started as a child, where I would secretly throw away milk and drink tea, from the kitchen.. Of course, my mom didn't know it.. And as I grew up, I would make tea, before mom came back from office. When it tasted good, and I gathered fan following - I started make tea often. I still remember, when my relatives would come home and ask me to make tea!! What else could motivate a 12 year old more??

Fast forwarding to the present, when the green tea was slowly seeping through Indian market, I managed to get my hands on lemon, lime, orange, jasmine, hibiscus, earlgrey, peppermint tea, nigella seeds, carrom seeds and what not.. I wanted to broadcast my love for tea, and wanted to have my own tea station at home.. Coming from an Indian conservative family, the thought of a tea station would crack up many.. So, I set up a small tea station in my office desk.. People would come, stop by asking "Amrin, can I borrow your orange tea??", "Ooooh, what is Roobis tea??"  I would still get comments like, "Stop wasting money?", "Are you crazy, why are you hoarding" and blah blah.

When I was moving things around and organizing my house, we had a IKEA cabinet that we decided to throw, but I decided to move it to the dining area, to display my mom's precious chinaware. And I stole one compartment and converted it to my tea station.

`

A closer image of the teas I am drinking at the moment, earlgrey, jasmin, yoolong, chamomile...  and ooh.. There is the hero!!!

I am super excited to have a tea station, like my own space - a space filled with my colorful teas.

Well there is something else here along with my tea, my Brazilian coffee - Cafe Pele!!!

Working with people from different parts of the world, and traveling to different parts of the world, indeed turned out to be a boon.. I always always always, trade Indian Spices to Irish, Chinese, Japanese, even Filipino tea.. However, I have a BFF from Brazil, who wanted me to get Filipino dried mangoes.. And I asked for Coffee this time - I was thinking why??!! I could have asked for chocolates, but decided to ask coffee??!!


My friend Dani, got me a 1 kg pack of coffee - I had no clue what to do with it!! I unpacked my coffee maker from its packaging and made my first coffee - of course black!!! And fell in love with it.. The aroma, the flavor.. Nothing like anything I tasted before..

I take very less quantity of the coffee to keep the freshness intact..

Talking about gifts, I got a Chinese Yoolong tea from a darling friend. 

I took one sachet and steeped into hot water, and loved it.. Nothing like I had before..  The packaging is super cute that I don't want to drink the tea, but just keep staring at it every day!!!!

Talking about tea, my Filipino Matcha tea with coffee jelly.. Its vibrant green milkshake, with typical green tea flavor!!

I will soon share a perfect cup of my chais, when my Brasilian Cafe obsession is over!!

This post is inspired from Yasmina's organizing blog on http://www.minaandherblog.com/31-days-to-a-pretty-organized-home-creating-a-coffeetea-station-day-7/

Cheers,

Amrin!!