Strawberry Granita

Strawberry Granita

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Cool Strawberry Granita tastes even better during a terrible hot summer day. It is made with simple ingredients but the process and freezing consumes some time.

Ingredients:	Quantity
Fresh Strawberry	3 cups
Sugar	1 Cup (or according to taste)
Water	1 Cup
Lemon Juice	1-2 tbsp

Preparation:
1) Blend the chopped strawberries, water, lemon juice and sugar together.
2) Place it in a strainer and strain it. Discard the seeds and have a smooth strawberry mixture.
3) Add the strawberry mixture into a big box(freezer safe) and freeze it for 40-45 min's.
4) Take it out of the freezer when it starts to freeze on the sides and still wobbly at the center. Use a fork and scrape the frozen parts from the sides to the center and return back to the freezer. Make sure to scrape the entire mixture well.
5) Repeat the process in step-4 every 30-40 min's for a couple of times. Freeze it for couple of hours or overnight.
6) Remove from freezer and scoop the strawberry granules into a cup and serve immediately. You can return the box into the freezer and use it within a couple of days.

Carrot Halwa

Gajar Ka Halwa

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Carrot Halwa is a simple and easy to cook dish. The basic dish can be done with just four major ingredients. You can add the spices and garnishing to enhance taste and look.

Ingredients:	Quantity
Carrot Grated	1 cup
Sugar	1 cup*
Milk	1 cup
Ghee	1-2 tbsp
Cardamom Powder	1/4 tsp
Saffron (Optional)	2-4 strands
Nutmeg (Optional)	a pinch
Raisins roasted	5-6 nos
Cashews roasted	5-6 nos
Almonds/Pista Silvered (Optional)	2-3 nos

Preparation:
1) Heat the ghee in a pan and add the grated carrot and sauté for few(10-12) min's until the raw smell disappears.
2) Add the sugar and sauté for another 1-2 min's and add the milk into it and let it cook until the carrots are cooked and tender.
3) Meanwhile soak the saffron in 2-3 tbsp of warm water or milk.
4) Mix the soaked saffron, cardamom powder and nutmeg into the Halwa.
5) Garnish with the raisins, cashews and other nuts if using them.
6) It can be served hot and tastes yummy when served with cold vanilla ice cream.

Carrot Halwa with Condensed Milk

Note:* You can adjust sugar according to your taste. You can also substitute or add half quantity of condensed milk to make it more rich. Khoya is mostly used in this dish. I do not prefer to use it.

Crème Brûlée

Chocolate Cream Brûlée

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White Chocolate Crème Brûlée is a very tempting and tasty dessert, made with very few ingredients. It is definitely a treat for people with sweet tooth.

Ingredients:	Quantity
Cream	500 ml
White Chocolate*	90 gms
Sugar	1/4 cup + Extra for Caramelizing
Egg Yolks	4 nos
Vanilla Essence	2-3 drops

Preparation:
1) Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat the cream in a sauce pan.
2) Beat the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla essence.
3) Remove the cream from heat and add the chocolate.
4) Once it melts, add the beaten egg mixture very little at a time. Whisk them well and add the mixture into two 14" ramekins (or 4 small ones).
5) Fill a bigger baking tray with hot water and place the ramekins in them and bake for 30-40 min's. It should be slightly wobbly and not completely firm.
6) Let it cool and then place it in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours or overnight.
7) Before serving time sprinkle sugar and use a blow torch and caramelize the sugar or broil/grill for 30-40 seconds. Serve immediately so that the sugar doesn't get soggy.

Mixture added into Ramekin	Ramekin placed in hot water tray
Ramekin out of the Oven	Ramekin from the fridge
Caramelized Crème Brûlée

Note:* You can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate or make it plain, without adding chocolate.

Pumpkin Halwa

Pumpkin Halwa

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Ingredients:	Quantity
Yellow/Orange sweet Pumpkin Grated	1 LB
Sugar	3/4 cup*
Ghee	1/4 cup
Milk	1/2 cup
Saffron	2-3 strands
Cardamom Powder	1/4 tsp
Nutmeg Powder	A Pinch
Cashews Roasted	8-10 pieces
Raisins Roasted	1-2 tsp
Rose Water (optional)	2-3 drops
Chopped Nuts (Almond, Pista...)	1-2 tsp To Garnish

Preparation:
1) Heat half the ghee in a pan and add the grated pumpkin and sauté for couple of min's (for about 5-6 min's) or until the raw smell disappears.
2) Once the raw smell disappears add the milk and let it cook until the liquid evaporates. Stir often.
3) Soak the saffron in 1 tbsp warm water/milk and add it to the Halwa. Stir in the remaining ghee, cardamom powder, nutmeg, roasted raisins & cashews and rose water. Let the flavors blend for 1-2 min's.
4) Garnish with the chopped nuts and serve.**

Note:* Adjust sugar according to your taste.
** You can pour the Halwa into a sheet and let it cool and cut into cubes and serve.

Ricotta Cheesecake

Baked Ricotta Cheesecake

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Baked Ricotta Cheesecake with a almond meal base. I have substituted the usual biscuit/cracker base with almond meal.

Ingredients:	Quantity
For Base*:
Almond Meal**	1/2 cup***
All purpose Flour	1/2 cup***
Sugar	4 tbsp
Unsalted Butter	6 tbsp
Salt	1/4 tsp
For Filling:
Ricotta Cheese	15 oz
Cream Cheese	4 oz
Sour Cream	1/2 cup
Caster Sugar	3/4 cup
Eggs	3 nos
All purpose Flour	4 tbsp
Vanilla Extract	1 tsp
Orange/Lemon Juice	2 tbsp
Orange/Lemon Zest	1/2 tsp
Berries (optional)	To Garnish

Preparation:
1) Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease a 8" round baking tin with butter.
2) Mix all the ingredients for the base and fill it in the baking tin and press it evenly. Bake it for 12-15 Min's in the preheated oven.
3) Beat the eggs and sugar and vanilla extract. Then add the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, flour, orange juice and orange zest and blend them with an electric blender. Pour it into the cake tin over the base. Tap lightly to remove any trapped air to avoid air bubbles.
4) Bake it in the preheated oven for 50-60 Min's. Let it cool and then refrigerate it until it is cold and sets well.
5) Serve slices topped with berries.

Note: *You get a nice thin base with the recipe above. If you prefer a thicker base, then you can add a little more of the ingredients in the same proportion. ** You can use store bought almond meal or just make a fine powder of unblanched almonds. *** You can crumble digestive biscuits or plain biscuits substituting the almond meal and all purpose flour.

Mango Milkshake

Mango Milkshake

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Ingredients:	Quantity
Medium sized Mangoes	4 nos
Milk	2 cups
Sugar	1-2 tbsp
Rose Water Essence	1 tsp
Saffron soaked in warm water	2-3 strands
Cardamom Powder	A Pinch
Crushed Ice (Optional)	1/2 cup

Preparation:
1) Peel and cut the mangoes. Reserve a few tiny pieces for garnishing.
2) Puree the mangoes in a blender/juicer and then add the milk, crushed ice (if using) and rest of the ingredients and pulse it for few seconds.
3) Garnish with the reserved mango pieces and serve chilled.

Note: Do not add crushed ice and mango pieces if it is for little ones. You can use berries, banana or any other fruit of your choice or a combination.

Cup Cake

Ingredients:
Self raising flour 1 1/4 cups
Powdered Sugar 1 cup
Eggs 2 nos
Milk 1/2 cup
Butter 125gms (Room temperature)
Vanilla Essence few drops
Pink Food color - 2-3 drops (optional)
Pinch of salt

Preparation:
1) Preheat oven to 180 o C or 350 o F. Place the cupcake papers in a 12 cup capacity cupcake tin.
2) Beat the eggs and vanilla essence.
3) Beat in the butter and sugar and food color.
4) Mix the above two mixture and add the seived Flour and a pinch of salt.
5) Add the milk and beat until the mixture is smooth. There shouldn't be any lumps of flour.
6) Pour the mixture into the cupcake paper and place the tin in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 mins or until done.

Chocolate Brownie

Ingredients:

Plain chocolate 90 gms
Unsalted butter 150 g + extra for greasing
Plain Flour 125 gms (1 cup)
Cocoa powder 15 gms (1 tbsp)
Soft light Brown sugar 300 gms (1 1/4 cup)
Baking powder 1/2 tsp
Salt a pinch
Eggs 2
Vanilla extract 1 tsp
Chopped pecan/walnut 100 gms (optional)

Preparation:

1) Preheat oven to 180• C / 350• F. Grease a non-stick baking tin with butter
2) Break the chocolates into a bowl placed above another bowl of simmering water.
3) Once the chocolate starts melting add in the butter and stir occasionally. Once they are melted let it to cool.
The chocolate and butter can be melted in the microwave.
4) Sieve the flour, baking powder, cocoa and salt.
5) Beat the eggs and add the vanilla extract and the sugar and stir well.
6) Add the melted chocolate and butter mixture and stir.
7) Add the flour mixture and the nuts if it is used.
8) Pour the mixture into the baking pan and place it in the pre heated oven for 35-40 mins.