Chocolate Fountain

This thing is a must have if you're into hosting parties as often as I do! It was an instant hit! I only had Strawberries and Pineapple this time coz I had plenty of other food too. But if you're hosting, say, a cocktail party, with just some appetizers and desserts, then you can have a lot of stuff that taste great with hot, dripping chocolate. You can have some marshmallows, biscotti, cookies, strawberries, pineapple, pretzels etc.

It starts at $29.99 and goes all the way upto $250. I bought my 'Rival' fountain from Target for $39.99 and I am very happy with it. It worked great and the heat was just enough for the chocolate to keep running without me having to add too much oil (which I'm not too fond of doing!)

Chocolate Tip: Get the Ghirardelli slab of melting chocolate. They're great tasting and perfect for this fountain. You can get this at Sam's Club in the baking aisle.

Orange Nut Squares*

This is one of the easiest desserts you can ever make and it'll make you an instant star among your friends and family! I usually don't like desserts (except Tiramisu), but this one was too good even for me to resist!


Ingredients

• Sugar cookie dough - 1 packet (store bought Pillsbury will be great)
• Orange Marmalade - 1 jar
• Nuts (whatever you have on hand. I used almonds and Walnuts. You can also use Pecans or Hazelnuts)
• Chocolate chips - A handful (or your favorite bar of milk chocolate)

Method

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Spread the nuts in an even layer onto a baking and roast it in the oven for about 10-12 minutes.
• Also, spread the cookie dough on to a cookie sheet in an even layer about 1/4 inch thick and bake it for about 25 minutes.
• Let it cool completely.
• Now spread the orange marmalade over the cookie in a thin, even layer.
• Chop the nuts ito small pieces and sprinkle them evenly over the cookie.
• Now, microwave the chocolate chips (or a bar of chocolate cut into pieces) on medium power for a minute or two until the chocolate completely melts.
• Use a fork to drizzle the chocolate all over the nuts.
• Let cool.
• Cut them into squares and serve.

Tips

• When you microwave the chocolate, make sure to keep an eye on it. Stir it every 30 seconds. Alternately, you can also use a double boiler.
• Keep the cookie dough outside for 15-30 minutes. It's easier to work with it.
• You can also serve this with a scoop of vanilla or butter pecan ice cream.
• You can store this in an airtight container. There's no need to refrigerate it.

*Recipe Courtesy: Giada De Laurentiis

Tiramisu

Hello there! Sorry I've been away so long! Happy New Year! :-)

Here I am, starting the New Year off with one of my favorite desserts...Tiramisu. Until about a year ago, I didn't know that making Tiramisu was a breeze. Yes, it is! Of course you need the special ingredients for it but it is available in every grocery store. You will also need a hand mixer. But trust me, if you don't own one, it's well worth the investment. And it is not too expensive either.

So here goes! Do try it out and let me know how it went!

Ingredients

• 6 egg yolks
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 pound mascarpone cheese (you usually get it in 8 oz containers. Get 2)
• 1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled (you can use your regular coffee. Make it strong)
• 2 teaspoons dark rum (if you don't have Rum, you can skip this)
• 24 packaged ladyfingers
• 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish
• 2 tablespoons Cocoa powder or any hot chocolate mix of your choice (optional)

Method

• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. The mixture should be light yellow in color. Use low speed in your mixer, if not the egg will splatter everywhere.
• Add mascarpone cheese and beat until smooth. Keep the Mascarpone cheese outside for 30 minutes to bring it to room temperature. It makes it easier to mix. When completely mixed, the mixture should be a li'l thick. If not mix it again for a couple of minutes.
• Add 1 tablespoon of espresso and mix until thoroughly combined.
• In a small shallow dish, add remaining espresso and rum. Dip each ladyfinger into espresso for only 5 seconds. Letting the ladyfingers soak too long will cause them to fall apart.
• Place the soaked ladyfinger on the bottom of a 13 by 9 inch baking dish, breaking them in half if necessary in order to fit the bottom.
• Spread 1/2 of the mascarpone mixture evenly over the ladyfingers.
• Sprinkle half of the cocoa powder on top.
• Arrange another layer of soaked ladyfingers and top with remaining mascarpone mixture.
• Sprinkle the remaining cocoa powder on top.
• Cover tiramisu with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 8 hours.
• Before serving, sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

Mexican Omelette

Omelette is a quick and easy breakfast for those lazy weekend mornings. This is a recipe I came up with a couple of months ago. It tasted so good that I now make it only this way. I use 'Emeril's Essence' as an ingredient here. You can find it in the Spice Aisle in any grocery store. If you don't have this at hand, you can also use a mixture of Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Garlic and Onion powders. If not, you can make it without this and it'll still taste just as good.


Ingredients

• 1 small Onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 small Tomato, coarsely chopped
• 2 Green Chillies, coarsely chopped
  
• 1/2 medium Green Pepper, coarsely chopped
  
• 1 clove Garlic, coarsely chopped
• 3-4 sprigs Cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 tsp Emeril's Essence1 tsp black pepper
  
• 1 tsp dried Herbs
• 3 Eggs
• 2 tbsps Olive Oil
  

Method

• Heat the oil in a pan. Add the onions, green chillies and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent.
  
• Now add the tomatoes and green pepper and fry till the tomatoes are a li'l tender.
• Grind this mixture into a coarse paste.
  
• Beat the 3 eggs and add the above ground mixture to it.
• Add the Cilantro, Emeril's Essence, dried herbs, pepper and salt to taste.
• Heat the pan, spray some cooking oil and pour the egg mixture to into it. Wait till the edges are cooked and the egg starts bubbling in the middle to flip it over.
• Serve the Omelette with Onion Roll (or any bread of your choice) and ketchup.
  
  

Pear Panini

I'm a huge 'Food Network' fan and my favorite chef is Giada De Laurentiis and this is one of her recipes. I've modified it to make it a li'l more spicy. This has become one of my favorite sandwiches ever. Try it and you'll be surprised how tasty and simple it is.

Ingredients

• 4 slices bread (any dense bread will do. I used the Tomato Basil bread from Panera Bread)
• 1 red pear, sliced into flat pieces
• 1/4 Big onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup Cilantro, finely chopped
• 1/2 Lemon
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder (or garlic paste)
• Tellagio Cheese (available in the gourmet cheese section)
  
• Salt to taste
  
  

Method

• Mix the pear, tomato and onion with salt to taste and put it in a colander for 10 minutes. This drains all the moisture from these ingredients so that the Panini doesn't get soggy.
• Now mix the remaining ingredients except cheese with this drained mixture.
• Preheat the Panini Maker. You can also use a stove-top grill pan. Just make sure you put something heavy on the bread to weigh it down.
• Slice the Tellagio Cheese and layer it on each slice of the bread
• Spread the pear mixture on the bread.
  
• Grill till the cheese melts and the bread has nice brown ridges on it.
  
• Serve hot.
  
  
  

Masala Toast

This is something that every Bakery in Bangalore has. It has been one of my favorites ever since I was a kid. It's very easy to make and a great evening snack on a weekend.

Ingredients

• 4 slices Bread
  
• 2 Carrots, grated
• 1 medium Onion, finely chopped
• 3 Green Chillies, finely chopped
• 2 strands Cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 strand Curry Leaves, finely chopped
• 1 Tomato, finely chopped
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
  
• 2 tsp Oil
• Salt to taste
  

Method

• Heat oil in a pan. Add the onions and the green chillies and fry till the onions are translucent.
• Add the carrots and the salt and cook for 3-4 minutes on low heat.
• Now add the tomatoes and red chilli powder and cook for 4-5 minutes till the tomatoes and the carrots are cooked.
• Cook on high flame for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously until the water evaporates.
• Now spread this mixture evenly on all the bread slices.
• Preheat the oven to 425 F and bake the slices for 5-6 minutes. Turn the broiler on for 2-3 minutes so that the bread becomes crisp.
• Serve hot with tea/coffee.
  

Onion Pakoda

I have never believed that Pakodas are meant for rainy days and they're good with a hot cup of tea! :) I can eat pakodas any day, any time! I even save a few when I make them and eat it with Rice and Dal. Tastes awesome! Anyway, this past Monday evening I was pretty depressed that the long weekend was gone and so I made these to cheer myself up.

Ingredients

1. 1 big onion, finely sliced
2. 1/2 cup rice flour
3. 1/2 cup corn flour
4. 1/2 cup rava (sooji)
5. 2 tbsp chilli powder
6. 1 tsp ginger paste
   
7. 5-6 green chillies, finely chopped
8. 2 strands curry leaves, finely chopped
9. A handful of cashews broken in half
10. Salt to taste
11. Oil to fry

Method

1. Slice the onion really thin and sprinkle half the salt over it an keep aside for 10 minutes. This helps the onion leave all the water.
2. Mix the flour, remaining salt and the chilli powder together.
3. Add the green chillies, ginger, cashews and the onions.
   
4. Mix everything without using water. If you need a li'l extra moisture, add a couple tsps of oil. Use very little water if you have to.
5. Take a small amount of the batter in your fingers, press with your thumb to make them flat (but not like patties) and fry them in oil.