Showing posts with label indian Christmas recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indian Christmas recipes. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Spicy Ginger Cookies, Indian Way (Eggless), Paired With Dragon Fly Tea


Everyone knows that tea to English is like picnic indoors, so what if they can’t grow it-but it is indeed their national drink. In time of a crisis or mid-afternoon when one is feeling a bit peckish, nothing else will do but a nice cup of tea. India is the hub when it comes to tea cultivation, but what Indians have is black tea with some milk and sugar. Only after coming to the UK I saw innovative flavours of tea such as mint, jasmine, fruity, winter spice, white tea and what not.

Being a tea lover/addict, I am always keen and ready to try new fresh teas. DragonFly’s Pure Camomile organic infusion is my current obsession. Camomile literally means 'earth apple' because the scent of the flowers is reminiscent of fresh apples. This tea is mildly sweet, delicate and fragrant with intense golden colour-comforting and soothing for sure. Another thing that I loved and enjoyed about Dragonfly tea was the excitement to tear the sachet and read a tea quote; all the quotes are so creative that it will surely bring a smile on your face. Go to http://dragonflytea.com/ and explore yourself a world of tea that is loaded with fresh, original and new tea flavours.



With hot and delectable under tones of warm earthy essence of tea, all you need is something sweet and sharp to nibble. Ginger cookies came into my mind-these cookies have spiky ginger taste and are mildly sweet. This is an eggless recipe and all you need are four ingredients and there you will have perfectly crunchy ginger cookies. This is one bowl recipe, no melting, kneading, chopping is needed- just mix and bake-how simple is that?? These are not typical Christmas ginger cookies, not at all- they are spicy, crisp and a bit Indian.
Below is the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour/maida
5 tablespoons cold butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch baking soda
2 tablespoon grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon chai massala (see notes)


Method:
In bowl mix everything together and from dough.
Cover the dough and put in the fridge for 1 hour.
After 1 hour preheat the oven at 170C.
Line a baking tray with grease proof paper/baking paper and keep it ready.
Divide the dough in 10 equal portions and make small smooth balls and arrange them on the baking tray, keeping gap in between.
Take a fork and applying little pressure flatten the cookies (like a pattie) such that you see fork marks on it.
Bake in a preheated oven at 170C for 12-15 minutes. Keep an eye and see it doesn’t burn. You will know cookies are done when the colour changes. Cool them on a wire rack.

Notes:
These cookies might appear soft when they are hot, once cooled, it will be crunchy.
You can use any sugar-white, castor, brown, demerara sugar. I used brown sugar as it gives nice brown colour.
You can also roll out the dough and use any cookie cutter for different shapes.
Chai massala is available at any Indian grocery store. I used this one.
These cookies are not very sweet, if you like more sweet taste, then roll these cookies in icing sugar when they are slightly warm.
Baking time also depends upon oven to oven, so please keep an eye and use your own judgement.


Serving suggestions:
Serve with tea and coffee.
Just break these cookies roughly and mix with your morning cereals, smoothies, milk shakes, cold coffee.
Top these cookies on icecreams, brownies or cakes with some sweet sauce.
Wrap up these cookies and gift to your friends and family for new year or just like that.

Disclaimer: I was not paid or told to write positive review. The post is based on my experience and is unbiased. Thanking Dragonfly for sending tea for review.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Cook With Red Event 1 And Giveaways


Christmas and New Year is around the corner. Everywhere in London I see sparkling trees, snowy decorations and glowing lights- so jovial isn't it? Don’t you just enjoy witnessing the beautiful red- Santa caps, socks, jingle bells? I personally love red- the colour of passion, love and energy. So let’s follow the red trend in the blogging world as well and celebrate Christmas and New Year with red as themed colour this time.

Yes! all you have to do is cook with red ingredients’.  Some of the examples of red food are apples, red lentils, pomegranate,strawberries, red onions, carrots, red chilies, cherries, beetroot, tomatoes etc etc. Yup! Put on your thinking caps and cook anything red. Here is the collection of my recipes which were cooked with red things- roasted tomato soup, red lentils tadka, chocolate strawberry cake, nutty carrot salad, red onion paratha, Spaghetti in Arrabiata Sauce .

Rules for the event-
  • Cook with anything red. Red ingredient must be the main one and not just used in garnishing.
  • Looking for fresh entries thus try out new recipes. So, no archived posts will be entertained. Your post has to between November 2013- Janruray 2014.
  • Multiple entries are welcome and appreciated.
  • The event has to be linked back as Cook With Red Event announced at Merry Tummy. (Compulsory)
  • Usage of logo is optional but I would be happy if you could use it, as it helps spread word.
  • You have to like Merry Tummy's Facebook Page and Follow Merry Tummy. (Compulsory)
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Only after your first entry, share the event details at facebook page.(I want more people to know about the event). Keep your this post public in Facebook so that I can see it.(Compulsory- have to do only once)
  • Please use the linky tool to link your recipes below. (Mention the name of the dish you make and not your name.)
  • Else Send a mail to agrawal.shweta.n@gmail.com with the subject line as Cook With Red  and with the following details:
    • Your Name
    • Recipe Name
    • Blog Name
    • Recipe URL (Please send the Recipe URL and not the blog URL)
    • Pic of the recipe (If it is not on the blog)
  • Non bloggers are most welcome to participate. Just send me the recipe details with a click of the recipe to the above mentioned email.
Lucky Giveaway - Yes there is one giveaway. I will choose one lucky person through random.org. I will then ask the winner to choose from cookware, bakeware, cook books or kitchen accessories as prize. Once again, the giveaway is open for people who can give Indian address :) There will also be certificates for top contributor, best innovative recipe, best recipe, best click and participation award. 

Surprise Giveaway- I am also keeping one surprise prize. Anyone who comes with beautiful decorated cake will get one special prize. So keep baking. (This is valid for my friends in the UK and India both)

Here is a glimpse of what I have send so far to the winners of the events.

Cookware-Non Stick Frying Pan; Bakeware-Butterfly shaped 3 silicon cake moulds; Cookware- Branded pigeon cute small frying pan.

You all lovely people have made my events- Cook With white and Cook with Yellow a mega success. I have seen some amazing recipes and spotted passionate bloggers-kudos to you. Again, thanks very much- means a lot.

Hope you all will like the theme. Red is in the air :-). Send in the tasty dishes ladies :)


(Image Source: logo, Cutchi kicthen, babitha Costa and Spicy Foood)