Spinach Swirls - Desi Style

Time for a Savory Snack!!!!!!

This is a very buttery and flakey savory pastry. To make it more interesting I have tried to infuse some Indian flavors like garam masala and cumin. This is a very good party snack which can be made with a ease and the flavors can be adjusted according to one’s wish… And it is going to be one of the kids favorite finger food.

I would like to send this recipe to the event Veggie/Fruit A Month. For the theme Spinach, hosted by Reshmi of Rasoi. All the best for hosting the event....

Ingredients :
Puff pastry - 1 sheet
Fresh spinach - 1 cup packed
Onions - 2 tablespoon very finely minced
Shredded swiss cheese - ½ cup
Garlic - 2 cloves
Green chilli paste - ¼ teapsoon
Cumin powder - ¼ teaspoon
Garam Masala powder - ¼ teaspoon
Salt as required Melted butter for brushing

Procedure : 

Thaw the puff pastry on room temprature for 45 mins. Preheat the oven for 400 degree.

Heat oil in a pan and add onions and satue it then add the garlic and green chilli paste.

Chop the spinach to finely and add it to the pan and satue untill the spinach is wilted completely. Finnaly add the garam masala powder, cumin powder, salt and mix well. Let it cool completely.

Sprinkle the work space with some all purpous flour and open the puff pastry sheet. Take a rooling pin and roll it over to smooth out the inner side of the puff pastry.

Now brush the surface with melted butter. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Then top it with the spinach mixture.

Now roll the puff pastry to form a swril effect. Roll it tight. Now cut the rolled puff pastry into ¼ inch circles.

Arrange then on a cookie sheet leaving enough space in between. Now brush the top with some melted butter and bake it for 20 mins or untill the top is golden brown in color.

Note: Thaw the puff pastery completly. If it is still frozen in the middle, then increse the baking time till the pastry cook completly.

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Blueberry Ice Cream

Screaming for ice cream!!!!

This fruity ice cream, with all the goodness of fruit. I figured this recipe two years ago when I went for a berry picking festival. I got a lot of blueberries, I froze most of them. From that time I was hunting for some classic blueberry recipes and landed on this easy  creamy ice cream. Ice cream can be made without an ice cream machine. Of course it takes some time and work, but its all worth when you have a bowl of freshly churned ice cream made by yourself. YUM!

I would like to send this recipe to the event Fun N Sun of Tickling Palates. All the best for hosting this event....

Ingredients :
Heavy wipping cream - 2 cups
Fresh or frozen Blueberries - 1 cup
Sugar - ½ cup
Water - 1 tablespoon
Vanilla - 1 teaspoon

Procedure : 
In a sauce pan combine sugar, water and blueberries and let heat. The sugar will melt and the blueberries will start to burst. Let it form a syrup.

Switch off the flame and strain it through a fine sieve. Let the syrup cool completely.
Set a large bowl, and the beaters of a hand mixer into the fridge for 2 hrs. Now pour the cream into the chilled bowl and start whipping it. Add the vanilla extract and continue to wipe it.

When the cream is formed fold in the blueberry syrup. Check for sugar add more if needed. Cover the bowl with a plastic warp and keep it in the freezer for 1 hour i.e. the mixture should be half frozen.

Now remove the bowl from freezer and whip it again till it is fluffy.

Again cover the bowl with plastic wrap and return it to the freezer and do the same whipping process for 2 more times in 1 hour of intervals.

At the third time, after whipping transfer the ice cream to an air tight container and store it in the freezer. Now let it freeze for more them 3 hours and after that it can be served as desired.

The same process can be done in a ice cream machine also, just follow the manufactures’ instructions. Or this whipping process can be done in a blender or mixee if hand held betters are not available.

Note: The flavor of blueberry and sweetness can be adjusted according to ones taste buds. Frozen blueberrys can also be used if fresh one are not available.

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Strawberry Shrikhand

Happy Mother’s Day to the entire MOM’s in this world!!!!

Don’t forget to wish ur mom!!! I have made strawberry shirkindi for this mother’s day. Dedicating this to my mom.....

This is a classic Gujarati dessert originally flavored with cardamom and saffron. But some fruit purees can also be added to change its orginal charecterstic. I have tried with straberys, mangos and rasperries and once with pistatio paste also. Please let me know if any other flavor tastes good also.

Ingredients :
Low fat yogurt - 1 cup
Fresh strawberries - ¼ cup
Sugar - ¼ cup or more depends up the tartness of the berries
Saffron - 1 pinch soaked in 1 teaspoon of warn milk
Cardamom - ¼ teaspoon
Pistachios for garnishing.

Procedure : 

Place small strainer on the bowl. The bottom of the strainer should not touch the bottom of the bowl.

Now place a kitchen paper towel on the strainer.

Place the yourghut on the paper towel.

Close the side of the paper towel. Paper can touch the your hut surface.
Place this bowl in the refrigerator for overnight.

During the time of serving the dessert. In a blender mix strawberry and sugar and make a smooth puree.

Strain it through a fine sive and collect the puree and refridgerate it.

Remove the strainer from refregirator.







Now place the strained yourhut in a bowl and add the strawberry puree, saffron milk and the cardamom powder.

Wisk all together into a smooth paste. Transfer this to a decorative bowl and top it with pistachios..


Note: Whole milk yoghurt can be used if needed.

The flavor of strawberry and sweetness can be altered according to ur wish. But if u add too much of strawberry puree, ur shirkind will be watery.


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Hawaiian Pancakes - Pineapple Pancakes

Need some Hawaiian flavors for this spring!!!

Speaking about Hawaiian flavors, the first one which strikes my mind is pineapple. They have a strong floral flavor. Which goes very well in pancakes.

I have used a large cookie cuter to cut the pancakes just to make it more festive. This is totally optional. This pancake does not need any syrup as they may overpower the pineapple flavor.

Ingredients : 

All purpose flour - 1 cup
Fresh pineapple - ½ cup cut into cubes
Baking Powder - 1 teaspoon
Baking Soda - 1/2 teaspoon
Egg - 1
Sugar - ¼ cup
Buttermilk - 1 cup
Melted Butter - 2 tablespoon
Salt - 1/4 teaspoon
Vanilla - 1/2 teaspoon


Whipped cream
Maraschino cherries

Procedure : 

Mix the dry ingredients: flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar. Mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl: egg, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla.

Now mix the wet ingredients into the dry. Mix well and set aside for 1 hour. Toss in the pineapple cubes.

Heat the griddle and rub the butter on it. Then pour a medium ladle full of batter ads let still for 1 minute. Then flip the pancake and cook for 1 more minute.

Repeat the steps until needed. Using a large cookie cutter cut out desired shapes. Top it with some cool whipped cream and maraschino cherries.

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