KEEMA MATAR

• Mutton mince and green peas cooked with spices  Preparation Time : 15 minutes  Cooking Time : 45 minutes Servings : 4

  INGREDIENTS Green peas : 2 cups Mutton mince (keema) : 750 grams Oil : 4 tablespoons Onions, chopped : 2 medium Garlic, chopped : 8 cloves Ginger, grated : 1 inch piece Green chillies, minced : 2 Coriander powder : 1 teaspoon Cumin powder : 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder : 3/4 teaspoon Fresh coriander leaves, chopped : 3 tablespoons Salt : to taste Garam masala powder : 1 teaspoon Lemon juice : 1 1/2 tablespoons

  METHOD  ; Heat oil in a thick-bottomed pan and add onion.  Fry till lightly browned.  Add garlic and stir-fry for a minute. Add mutton mince, ginger, green chillies, coriander powder, cumin powder and red chilli powder.  Stir-fry for five minutes breaking up any lumps if formed. Add three-fourth cup of water, bring to a boil.  Cover, lower the heat and simmer for half an hour.  Add peas, coriander leaves, salt, garam masala powder, lemon juice and another half cup of water.  Mix well and simmer covered for about ten minutes till the peas are cooked well.  Adjust seasoning. Serve hot.

CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

A delightful combination of chocolate, strawberry and yogurt.

Preparation Time : 2-3 hours  Cooking Time : 2-3 minutes

Servings : 4 INGREDIENTS Chocolate, grated : 1 cup Chocolate chip biscuits, coarsely powdered : 8-10 Strawberry jam ; 2 tablespoons Strawberries,as required Butter, melted : 2 tablespoons Fresh cream:  chilled, 1 cup Sugar : 1/2 cup Hung yogurt : 1 cup Gelatin : 2 teaspoons Strawberry essence : 1 teaspoon METHOD Add the melted butter to the coarsely powdered chocolate chip biscuits and mix.  Transfer the mixture into a spring bottom cake tin, spread evenly and press gently.  Keep it in the refrigerator to set.  Add one tablespoon water to the strawberry jam and mix well. Place fresh cream in a bowl. Add sugar and beat with a hand blender.  Add hung yogurt and continue to beat.  Take quarter cup water in a bowl and heat in the microwave.  Add gelatin and set aside to melt. Melt the chocolate in the microwave on HIGH for one minute.  Take it out and whisk till smooth.  Add the melted gelatin to the cream mixture and mix well.  Add strawberry essence and mix.  Pass the mixture through a muslin cloth into another bowl. You will get a smooth mixture and there will be no lumps.  Remove the spring bottom tin from the refrigerator and pour the cream mixture over the biscuit layer. Level the top.  Take the diluted strawberry jam in a spoon and gently draw a line over the cream mixture.  Make more such lines.  Similarly take the melted chocolate in a spoon and draw lines after each strawberry line.  With the tip of a knife swirl the surface to get a marbled effect.  Arrange the strawberries along the outer edge of the cheesecake and place it in the refrigerator to set for two to two and a half hours.  If you wish to decorate it further, you can place a heart shaped stencil over the cheesecake, once it is well set, and spread strawberry jam.  Gently remove the stencil to get a strawberry heart in the centre of the cheesecake.  Cut into wedges and serve.

12 Ways to Feed Your Valentine

By Taryn Galewind
If Food Be the Music of Love, Play On
Eat, drink, be merry, and don’t forget the foods of love when you plan yourValentine’s Day celebrations. Terrifically sexy food is the quickest way to put someone in the mood. You don’t need a dictionary of aphrodisiacs, just walk through the gourmet section of your market or browse a few cookbooks. There must be fifty ways to feed your lover – we’ll look at twelve of them here.
1. Aphrodisiacs – foods that make lovers hot. You’ve heard there’s no such thing? Well, age-old wisdom says there are foods that fire desire because of their shape, taste, feel, or aroma. Think marshmallows, abalone, chiles, and coconut water.
2. Red wine – it just can’t be argued. The earthy, fruity, warm, sensuous nature of grapes-gone-giddy is downright sultry. Ask your local wine expert about the masculine wines, heady Cabernet or oaky Merlot. Serve at 62 degrees in a round, wide glass.
3. Bananas. I don’t have to tell you why a banana is on the list, do I? If you’re not a visual person, try slicing it up and layering with ice cream, hot fudge, and some cherries. It may not be a sex aid, but it sure is sensual and packed with energy producing nutrients.
4. Cinnamon. Go with upscale cinnamon buns slathered in frosting or plain old snickerdoodle cookies. Try adding cinnamon extract to cream cheese and spreading it on incredible crackers. Cinnamon has been proven in more than one experiment to be the sexiest smell for men.
5. Assorted berries and cream. Valentine’s Day dessert – layer the freshest, plumpest, sweetest berries available with sweetened cream or whipped cream in a beautiful goblet. Feed them to each other – no spoons allowed.
6. Shellfish with spicy cocktail sauce. These treasures of the sea are said to have interesting powers. Everyone knows oysters do something magical, right? Capsaisin, the stuff that makes spicy foods hot, actually raises body temperature.
7. Foods high in zinc. Men can’t make seminal fluid without zinc. Stock up on these: Oysters, low fat roast beef, tasty seeds like watermelon, pumpkin, squash, and chocolate. If you can’t get him with these, you aren’t trying.
8. Lean and mean foods. When you conjure up that perfect Valentine’s Day dinner, focus on lean, low fat, delicious choices. A diet high in transfats lowers testosterone levels and sexual response in men.
9. Garlic? Are we serious? Yes, indeed, garlic is a powerhouse sexual mood enhancer according to a Fox News story that says, “Perhaps known more as a “turn off” than a “turn on,” garlic is a very effective aphrodisiac. Garlic contains a potent ingredient called allicin that increases blood flow and libido.”
10. Sushi, the romantic experience. Sushi is unprocessed, often uncooked, unadulterated sexy food. It’s beautiful to look at. The tastes tickle tongue and palate, the aromas are subtle and soft. A sushi meal is an exotic experience.
11. The traditional heart-shaped box of fine chocolates. Choose the dark, rich kind and you’ll be adding antioxidants to your health regime while you increase your Serotonin and Phenylethylamine levels. What? Those are hormones that excite and stimulate us.
12. Dinner for two. Candlelight, soft music, quiet surroundings. It doesn’t matter what the food is – we all respond to this scenario and it never loses its appeal.
If you choose to feed your lover this Valentine’s Day, do it up right. Use the best ingredients you can get andcarefully put together a delicious, sensual meal. Sharing food is an age-old intimate experience that combines sustenance with pleasure and companionship. I agree with that sexiest of tenors, Luciano Pavarotti, “One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.” And to each other

SLOW ROAST GARLIC AND LEMON CHICKEN

Slow cooked juicy chicken legs flavoured with garlic and lemon. Preparation Time : 10-15 minutes Servings : 4

INGREDIENTS Chicken Legs-8 Pcs. Garlic- 8 Cloves Lemons- 2nos. cut into 8 wedges Thyme-2 Tsp Olive Oil-3 Tbsp Salt & Pepper to Taste. Stock-1 Cup

METHOD:- Preheat the oven at 150°C. Place the chicken legs on a roasting pan.  In a bowl mix garlic, lemon, thyme and oil.  Spread this mixture over the chicken legs.  Pour the vegetable stock and some black pepper powder.  Cover tightly with a foil and cook it in the oven for two hours.  Remove the foil and turn the oven to 200°C.and cook uncovered for half an hour or till the chicken turns brown. or... Simply Caramalize the Chicken in a pan cover with marinade and microwave in full power till 15 mins. Serve Hot with fresh bread rolls.

Letters To My Daughter..... AASTHA ...MY RAY OF HOPE

Letters To My Daughter..... AASTHA ...MY RAY OF HOPE

The discovery of a new dish does more for human happiness than the discovery of a new star.

Happiness: is a good bank account, a good cook and a good digestion.

Sliced Chicken Breast in Mint and Cilantro Sauce...

Ingredients :
Chicken Breast : 500 gms. (Sliced and Cleaned)
Mint : 1 Bunch ( Grounded to a fine Paste)
Cilantro : 3 Bunches ( Grounded to a fine Paste)
Ginger Garlic Paste: 2 tsp.
Cloves : 3-4 nos.
Oil / Butter : 3 tsp.
Lemon Juice : 3 Tbsp.
White Pepper : 2 tsp.
Salt : To Taste
Sugar : 2 tsp
Cream : For Garnishing

Method :

• Marinate the sliced Chicken breast with 1 tsp. Ginger garlic paste, 2 Tbsp. of mint and cilantro paste, lemon juice, salt and pepper for about 1/2 an hour.
• Heat Frying Pan / Tawa. Grease with a Tbsp. of oil and sprinkle the sugar for caramelising.
• Now place the marinated Chicken pieces on the pan.
• Allow to absorb the colour of the caramelised sugar. Cook till tender.
• Heat a tsp. of oil in a pan. Add the Cloves till smoking point.
• Add the remaining Mint and cilantro paste.
• cook till the sides of the gravy leave the pan.
• Add the chicken pieces and allow to absorb the juices.
• Add 2 Tbsp. of Cream.

Serve hot on a bed of Rice noodles flavoured with garlic butter.