Baguettes

I was itching to try making bread at home... didn't turn out that bad at all.... At the end of the day m kinda proud! :D

It is a long process and needs some patience- recipe is fairly simple.
I'll say m not perfect at the moment and this was just my first attempt... hopefully I will master it soon!
All my learning has been through the web- thank you to the people who took out time to make a video- my Google's favorite keywords are always- "how to make ______ @ home"

So after a lot of nervousness and killing my yeast twice :'( I finally got my way round to making bread!

Here's what you need:

1 cup- luke warm water
1 tsp- yeast
1 tsp- sugar
1 tsp- salt
1 tbsp- oil
approx 3 cups of wheat flour (amount of flour depends on the temperature of surroundings- one needs to keep adding till the right consistency is reached)

For Egg Wash replacer:

1 tsp- sugar
1 tsp- milk
1 tsp- oil
Beat well to form a sticky liquid

•  In a deep bottomed mixing bowl put 1 cup luke warm water and mix sugar. Sprinkle 1 tsp of yeast- DO NOT MIX, cover the container with a dish towel. *** Make sure the water is neither too hot- it will kill the yeast or too cold- it will deactivate it. Yeast rises best at 70-80 degrees Celsius.
• Set it aside for 5-7 mins. You will notice bubbles in the mixture, to this add half cup flour and whisk well.
• Add 1 tsp salt and 1 tbsp oil and another half cup flour and mix well.
• Keep adding half cups of flour until the dough is not sticky and resembles a roti dough. Work the dough until the surface is even.
• Take a greased bowl and put the dough making sure the excess oil is evenly spread on dough. Cover the container with a dish towel and let it rest for 40 minutes.
• After this the dough should have risen, punch the dough a couple of times and cover it again with a dish towel and let it rest for 40 minutes.
• Once done, work the batter for a few seconds to take out the excess air, section it to three pieces.
• Roll and elongate each piece, make sure the top is stretched smooth and excess is scrunched at the bottom.
• Line the baking tray with butter paper and place each baguette. Give some space for it to rise.
• With a knife, trace stripes on top.
• Using a greasing brush or fingers lavishly bathe the baguettes with egg wash replacer- this will help give a beautiful golden colour as sugar caramelizes.
• Pre-heat oven at 190 degrees Celsius, bake the bread for 40 minutes on the middle shelf.
• Let the bread cool and rest, put in a plastic wrap in the fridge for later use.

So I hope my version turns out well for other too.

I will post more once I get around and master the recipe!

...till the... Foodie Out!

For those who hate to spend time in the Kitchen 102- Pasta Tomatina with Fresh Basil

In a hurry to leave for office.... tired of making the same poha, upma and parathas for breakfast??
Here's a simple recipe to the rescue and hardly takes any time.

All you need is:

1 cup- macaroni
water for boiling
1 tsp salt for cooking macaroni
***********************
2 tbsp- cooking oil
4-5 chopped tomatoes
1 tsp- red chilli powder
1 tsp- sugar
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp- black pepper
2 cloves, 1 black cardamom, 1cm star anise- finely ground
1 tbsp- fresh cream
2 cubes of cheese
5-6 leaves- fresh basil

• In a low bottom cooking pot boil water, add salt and cook the macaroni until done.  Drain excess water and keep aside.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a low bottomed pan, add the chopped tomatoes and sauté for a minute. Add salt to taste, 1 tsp of sugar, red chilli powder, black pepper and finely ground spices.
• Cook until the consistency is thick, add the boiled macaroni, fresh cream and grated cheese.
• All done, add fresh basil in the end and mix well.

Ready to go... can serve hot or can have it later when cold!

Fresh and Simple!

Foodie Out!

D.I.Y. .... Murukku (Chakli) @ home

Its monsoon and probably you are craving for a "pakora" everytime there's a splash.... My waistline's true enemy.... so lets stick to some basic deep fried stuff, which you don't gobble a plate at time ... Murukku is the best evening snack ...

As suggested by some of my friends, goes well with piping hot cha or tangy mango chutney.... I like to have it straight from the jar on the go! :P

Fairly simple and m sure many mommies still make them at home.

Here's what you need:

2 cups- Rice Flour

1/2 cup- Urad Flour

1/2 cup- Besan

1/2 cup- softened Butter

1 tsp- cumin seeds

1 tsp- red chilli powder

1 fist full- sesame seeds

salt to taste

water to knead

oil for frying

• First, mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl- rice flour, urad, besan, cumin seeds, red chilli powder, sesame seeds and salt.
• Add the melted butter and mix well till it looks like sand and then add normal water to knead into a soft dough, make sure the dough isn't too runny or else you can't get the right shape.
• Heat oil for frying in a low bottomed pan.

• Take a good amount of dough and put it in the chakli press/maker like the one in picture above and use the star shaped disk for murukku design.
• Map out spirals on a greased plate first, once done, with the help of a spatula pick the spirals and deep fry.
• Dry out on a kitchen napkin, cool and store in a dry jar.

Enjoy the crunchy chaklis/murukku at home! :)

Foodie Out!!