Christmas Cake

Ingredients:

3 Cup Mixed Dried fruits
1  Cup butter

2 Cup packed brown sugar

5 eggs

3 Cups flour

1/2 Cup Molasses
½ Tsp. baking soda

½ Tsp. baking powder
1/4 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Tsp. Ground clove

1/4 Tsp. Ginger powder

1 Tsp. Vanilla extract

1 Cup cognac

Soak dried fruits in 1/2 cup cognac for 24 hours at room temperature. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Butter a big a loaf pan.
        Add ½ cup of flour to mixed dried fruits . Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground spices. Cream the butter and the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until fluffy. Whisk eggs in a separate bowl. Add the flour to sugar, butter mix in three parts in between add whisked eggs, molasses and 1/2 cup cognac. Fold the dried fruits into this batter gently. Pour it into the pan. Bake for about 1 hr 20 minutes. Let it seat in oven for 10 min after the oven is shut off. Then cool it on a rack. After an hour or so when its completely cooled down, sprinkle 1-2 Tbsp. cognac on it.You can serve immediately or store it in an airtight container for up to a week.

Note: For dried fruits you can use dried cranberries, candied citrus peel, candied cherries, dried currants, Optionally add chopped walnuts, sliced almonds. You mix and match according to your choice.

Vangi Batata Rassa

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. Fresh coconut

3 pods of garlic

¼ Tsp. Peppercorn

1 Dried red chili

1 Tsp. Sesame seeds

2 Tbsp. Coriander seeds

6 small eggplants

1 medium onion finely chopped
2 medium potatoes

1 Tsp. mustard seeds

½ Tsp. Cumin

Pinch of asafetida

1⁄2 tsp. Turmeric

½ Tsp. red chili powder

1½ Tsp. goda masala
2 Tbsp. Jaggery
1 Tsp. Salt
¼ Tsp. Tamarind concentrate
3 Cups of water

2 Tbsp. Oil

3 Tbsp. Chopped Cilantro
　
Dry roast first 6 ingredients till you get the aroma and the coconut is pale golden. Grind it to smooth paste. Cut the eggplants and potatoes into medium size cubes.

Recipe for Mutton Biryani

Ingredients:

2 lb goat meat

Marinade:
3" Ginger
7-8 pods Garlic
3 Tbsp. Yogurt
2 Tsp. Salt
1 green chili
Handful of Mint leaves
1 Tbsp. Garam masala
3 Tsp. Coriander powder
1 Tsp. Cumin powder
1 Tsp. Chili powder
1 Tsp. Turmeric powder
Masala (Gravy):
4 Tbsp. Olive oil
4 Tbsp. Ghee
2 Brown Cardamom
2" Cinnamon
3-4 Bay leaves
4 medium size onions
3 small tomatoes
4-5 dried apricots
1 dried plum (alubukhara)
Rice:
2 Cups basmati rice
6-7 Cloves
3" Cinnamon
3-4 Green cardamom
1 Tsp. Salt
4-5 Tbsp. Oil
3½ Cups warm water
1 Tsp. Salt
½ Tsp. Sugar
Garnishing:
1½ Cup fried onions
½ Cups fried almonds, raisins
A pinch of saffron
2 Tbsp. Ghee
2 Cups potato fries
Extra:
1 tsp. Garam Masala
1 Cup chopped coriander leaves

Gently wash rice in cool water for 5-6 times or till the water is almost clear not cloudy. Soak the rice in cold water for at least 30 minutes. Drain the rice. Grind first 6 ingredients for the marinade to a smooth paste. Marinade the mutton with this paste and remaining marinade ingredients for at least 2 hours. Chop the onions finely. Also chop the tomatoes to small pieces. In a heavy bottom deep pan heat 4 tablespoon of olive oil and 4 tablespoon of ghee. Lightly fry brown cardamom, bay leaves, and cinnamon. Add onions to it and fry them till golden brown. Add tomatoes and fry till the oil starts to bubble on top. Now add the marinated mutton, apricots, and plum. Fry for 5 minutes on high flame. Now add 3 cups of water and mix very well. Cover and simmer till the mutton is cooked. Now remove the lid and cook till the gravy thickens a little bit. While the mutton is cooking, heat 4-5 tbsp. oil in a medium size pot add the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, stir and add the drained rice fry well till the rice looks opaque. Add 3 ½ cups of warm water, 1 tsp. Salt, and ½ tsp. Sugar. Cook on high heat till the water boils. Now keep the heat minimum and cook covered till rice is almost done. Preheat the oven to 300 F. When the mutton is cooked transfer it in a big casserole dish sprinkle 1 cup chopped coriander, 1 tsp. garam masala on it. Cover it with layer of rice. Pour 2 tbsp. ghee all over rice. Crush the saffron and add 2 tablespoon of warm milk to it mix well and sprinkle over rice. Garnish the rice with fried onions, fried potato fries, fried raisins and nuts. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
Serve with onion-tomato raita.

Recipe for Tomato-Onion raita (Tomato Onion Salad)

Ingredients:

1 large tomato

1 medium size cucumber

1 medium size onion

1 Tsp. Salt
1 Tsp. Sugar
1 Tsp. Cumin powder

3 Cups plain yogurt

2 Tbsp. Chopped coriander

2 Tbsp. Chopped mint

1 Tsp. Chopped green chili

Dice tomato, cucumber, and onions to small cubes and toss together in a large bowl. Mix yogurt, salt, sugar, cumin, coriander, mint, and green chili very well. Pour over the diced veggies. Serve with biryani and other pulaos.

　

　

　

　

Recipe for Chicken Marsala

6 Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves -
pounded

½ Cup all-purpose flour

1½ Tsp. Salt

1 Tsp. Crushed black pepper

½ Tsp. Dried oregano

5 Tbsp. Butter

5 Tbsp. Olive oil

2 Cups sliced mushrooms

1 Cup Chicken stock

½ Cup Marsala wine

¼ Cup Harveys sherry
¼ Cup half and half ( or cream )

Mix together the flour, salt, pepper and oregano in a dish.

Recipe for Kesar Pista Biscuits

Ingredients:

1¾ Cups Flour

  ¾ Cup Butter
            (softened)
1 Cup confectioner’s
           sugar
1 Cup chopped
          Pistachios

2 pinches Saffron

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Recipe for Quick and Easy Dhokla

Ingredients:

For batter:
1 Cup besan

¾ Cup water

4 Tsp. Oil

4 Tsp. Sugar

1 Tsp. Salt

3 Tbsp. Yogurt

1 Tbsp. Lemon juice

2 Tsp. Ginger chili paste

1 Tsp. Eno fruit salt

For tempering:
1 Tsp. mustard
1 Tsp. sesame seeds
pinch of asafetida

Apply oil all around inside of a high rim pan which will fit in your pressure cooker and keep it aside.

Recipe for Bhel

Ingredients:

3 Cups dry bhelmix

1½ Cups puffed rice (Kurmure)

3 medium size potatoes boiled

1 small green chili
½ cup chopped coriander
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 tsp. Garlic chili paste

½ cup Tamarind-Date chutney

¼ cup water
2 tbsp. Sugar
1 tbsp. Lemon juice.
　
Chop the potatoes into small cubes.

Recipe for Matki Usal

Ingredients:

2 Cups Sprouted Matki

1 Tsp. Mustard seeds

½ Tsp. Cumin

a pinch of Asafetida

½ Tsp. Turmeric powder

1 Tsp. Chili Powder

1 Tsp. SKP masala

1½ Tsp. Goda masala

3 Tbsp. Fresh coconut

1 Tbsp. Lemon juice
2 green chilies
1 Tsp. Salt

Heat oil and temper with mustard seeds, cumin, and green chilies.

Recipe for Chavali Usal (Black Eyed Beans)

Ingredients:

2 Cups Chavali (Blackeyed Beans)

soaked overnight

1½ Cups Medium Onion, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. Garlic finely chopped

½ tsp. Turmeric powder

½ tsp. Chili powder
1 tsp. SKP Masala
1½ tsp. Goda Masala
1½ tbsp. Jaggery
3 tbsp Fresh grated coconut
1 tsp. Salt
2 cups Water
A pinch of Asafetida

Heat oil in a saucepan. Temper with garlic and asafetida.

Recipe for Ananas Aamti (Pineapple Curry)

Ingredients:

½ medium size pineapple
1 medium size onion
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp chanyache pith
1½ tsp sugar
½ tsp tumeric powder
2 medium green chili
2 tbsp fresh coconut
1 cup thick coconut milk
1 ½ cup thin coconut milk
2 tbsp splited cashewnuts
2 tbsp ghee

Grind fresh coconut, 1tsp cumin, 1 chili together to fine paste and keep aside.

Recipe for Nital (Tamrind Curry)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. Tamarind concentrate
½ mediumsize Onion
1 Green chili
¼ cup chopped Corrinder chopped
¼ tsp. Turmeric powder
2 tbsp. Oil
¼ cup Jaggery
¼ tsp Salt
1½ cup water

Mix all the above ingredients with hand and add water to it.

Recipe for Kuval (Coconut Curry)

Ingredients:

2 cups coconut milk
1 tbsp. Tamarind pulp
½ medium size onion
1 green chili chopped
¼ c chopped cilantro
¼ c jaggery
½ tsp. salt
Crush all the ingredients with hand.

Recipe for Rasgulla

Ingredients:

4 cups milk
5 tbsp. Lemon juice
4½ cup water
1½ cup sugar
1 tbsp. all purpose flour


Boil milk in a heavy bottom pot. Add 3 tbsp. water to lemon juice. Line up a muslin cloth to a colander and keep it ready in the sink. When the milk starts to boil put lemon juice in it and stir. Boil till you see milk solid (chenna) and water separating. Strain it through a muslin cloth and wash the milk solid in cold water properly. Now squeeze the water from the chenna and keep some heavy pot on it while still wrapped in the cloth and in the colander so that all the water squeezes out properly.
Meanwhile in a pressure cooker bring sugar and water to boil. When most of the water has drained, remove the chenna and knead and make it smooth, dust a little bit of flour and make a smooth dough. Divide the dough into twelve equal parts. Roll into balls and put into boiling sugar water. Cover the pressure cooker lid. Take three whistles. Shut off the heat. Let the pressure cooker cool down. Open it and transfer the rasgullas into a bowl. When they are cool refrigerate them. Serve cold.

Recipe for Kolambi Bhat (shrimp Rice)

　Ingredients:

For marinade:

1 green chili

4 cloves of garlic

2 tbsp. Chopped fresh cilantro

16-18 medium size shrimps

1 cup basmati rice

1 medium size onion thinly sliced

3 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. Turmeric powder
1 tsp. Skp masala (optional)
1 tsp. Red chili powder
1 tsp. Dhane powder (cilantro powder)
½ tsp. Garam masala
1½ tsp. Salt
2 cups hot water

For tempering:
1 inch Cinnamon stick
1 black cardamom
3 cloves
2 bay leaves

For garnishing:
2 tbsp. Cilantro
2 tbsp. Grated fresh coconut

Wash the rice 3-4 times. Drain and spread it on a cloth to drain properly. Grind the marinade ingredients to a smooth paste. Apply the Marinade, ½ tsp. Tumeric powder, ½ tsp. Chili powder, ½ tsp. SKP masala, ½ tsp. salt to shrimps.
Heat the oil and add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves. Saute for a minute. Add onions to it. Saute the onions till they are soft. Add the washed and drained rice. Saute the rice till the grain looks white and opaque say for 5-7 minutes. Add marinated shrimps and saute for another 7-10 minutes or till the shrimps change color and curl up. Add remaining turmeric powder, SKP masala, chili powder, dhane powder, garam masala and salt to it. Mix everything very well and add hot water. Cover and let it cook on low heat till rice is cooked.
Garnish with chopped corriander and fresh coconut.

Recipe for Kairi Panha (Mango Drink)

Ingredients:

2 raw mangoes
1½  cups sugar
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
a pinch of saffron strands.

Remove the stems from the mangoes. Boil them in pressure cooker. Take three whistles. When it cools down, remove its skin and seed. Blend the pulp with sugar and cardamom powder in a blender. Pour it in a glass jug and add crushed saffron to it and mix well. Refrigerate. When you want to serve, fill half the glass with the mixture and top it up with chilled water.

Recipe for Mango Murramba (Mango Murrabba)

Ingredients:

3 cups Firm Alphanso

   Mango peeled and cubed

3 cups sugar

1½ cup water

6-7 Cloves

7-8 Pods of Cardamom

Pinch of saffron strands

Heat water, sugar, cardamom, cloves and saffron in a pan. When the sugar dissolves add the mango pieces and cook uncovered until the syrup has two string consistency. Remove from the heat, cool completely and bottle it in a sterilized glass jar. Store refrigerated for up to 1 year.

Recipe for Jilebi ( Jalebi)

Ingredients:

Batter:

1 cup Maida
2½ tbsp. Cornstarch
1 tsp. Yeast
1 tsp. sugar
2½ tbsp. Yogurt
2 tbsp. Oil

Syrup:
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
5-6 strands of saffron (crushed)
1 tbsp. Lemon juice

Ghee for frying

For batter:

In a bowl dissolve 1 tsp. sugar with lukewarm water and add yeast to it. Dissolve the yeast in it and let it sit for about five minutes. Mix the flour, cornflour, and turmeric powder together. Add yogurt, oil, yeast and lukewarm water to make a smooth paste like batter. Cover it and let it rest in a warm place for one hour. If the batter looks bubbly that means it is fermented and ready to use.
For Syrup:

In a saucepan, boil sugar and water together. Add saffron to it. When it starts boiling add lemon juice stir well and turn the heat off.Now heat the ghee in a frying pan. When the ghee is hot enough (check this by putting a drop of batter in it, if the drop sizzles and come up immediately.) Fill the batter in an empty ketchup bottle.Now squeeze the jilebi batter in hot ghee in a circular coil shape. Fry until light gold in color and feel hard when you touch it with a fork. Remove from ghee and immediately soak in the warm syrup for 15 to 20 seconds, then remove. Serve hot.

Recipe for Chicken Kolhapuri

Ingredients:

　

1 pound skinless chicken thighs

Marinade:

3 tsp. Ginger garlic paste

1 tsp. Kashmiri chili powder

1 tsp. Lemon juice

½ tsp.Garam masala

1 tsp. Salt

Gravy:

3 tbsp. Oil

1 tsp. Cumin seeds

1 tbsp. Coriander seeds

1 tbsp. Poppy seeds

1 tbsp. Sesame seeds
2-3 garlic pods
2 cloves
6 peppercorns

½ tsp. Fennel

1 bay leaf

1 green cardamom

2 tbsp. Dry coconut

1 tsp. Kashmiri chili powder

1 big onion

1 big tomato

Mix all ingredients for marinade and marinate chicken in it for at least 2 hours in the fridge, overnight would be better. Now chop onions thinly and fry till golden brown and keep it aside. Fry rest of the gravy ingredients except tomato in 1 tbsp. Oil. When this gives off nice aroma take it off the heat. Grind these spices, onion, and tomato together with water to get a thick paste consistency. Heat the remaining oil in a heavy bottom pot and add the spice paste to it. Fry it for a while and add chicken to it. Mix everything very well and add two cups of water. Cover and cook till the chicken is tender. Serve it with chapati or rice.

Recipe for SKP Karanji (Gujia)

These karanjies are a must-have in the Somvanshi Khsatriya Pathare community for Diwali.

Ingredients:

2 cups Maida (all purpose flour)

½ cup Cornflour (cornstarch)

1 cup Ghee

1 cup Grated dried coconut
¼ cup Chopped pistachios
¼ cup Chopped almonds
¼ cup Raisins
1½ cup Sugar
2 pinches Saffron
½ tsp. Nutmeg powder
1 tsp. Cardamom powder
2 tbsp. Poppy seeds
2 tbsp. Wheat flour
Make the filling a day earlier.
Filling :
Soak the nuts for 1 hour and shell them. Let them dry on a paper towel. Now slice them thinly. Dry roast coconut. Put it in a plate. In ½ tsp ghee fry the chopped nuts till their color changes slightly. Put it in the same plate as coconut. Like this fry poppy seeds, raisins, and wheat flour separately and add them to coconut. Grind the sugar in a grider to make it very fine. Mix coconut mixture and sugar. Also add cardamom powder, nutmeg powder and saffron to it. Now mix everything very well.
On the day you want to make karanjies follow the following steps.
Saran:

Put ½ cup of ghee and soften it by using your fingers and make it fluffy. Add cornflour (cornstarch) to it and mix it so as to get smooth and fluffy texture. Keep it aside.

Cover :
Melt the ghee. Mix maida (all purpose flour) and ghee. One should get crumbly texture.
Add chilled water to it so as to get dough which is a little firm, not too soft. Cover with a damp cloth.
Stuffing the Karanji :
Knead the dough very well. Divide it into 3 equal portions. Roll them into three thin chapaties.
Now take one chapati and spread thin layer of saran evenly on it. Place second chapati on top of it and again spread saran on it. Place the third chapati on it and roll the whole thing evenly from all the sides to make it little bit thin. Now spread the saran evenly on it. Start to roll these three chapaties together like a log. Slowly squeeze the log to stretch it a little longer. Cut it into evenly into ¾ inch discs. Take a disc and roll it flat and thin. Put 1½ spoonful of filling in the center and apply milk around the edges. Fold it over and join the edges and seal it very well. Now take a karanji cutter or fork to give it a nice shape. Now put it in a plate and cover with a damp cloth. Like this make 5-6 at a time and deep fry them in ghee on medium heat till its pale pinkish in color.

Recipe for Boti Kababs

Ingredients:

1½ tsp. cummin

3 tsp. Corriander seeds

2 green cardamom
10 peppercorns
1 shell of mace
4 cloves
1 inch cinnamon
¼ tsp. Nutmeg
1½ pound lean meat
(lamb, or chicken, or sirloin beef)
1 cup yogurt
2 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1 ½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. Kashmiri chili powder

　

Dry roast first seven ingredients till you get the aroma of spices. Do not over roast it. Now grind this in a grinder into powder. Cut the meat into 1½ inch cubes. In a glass 9x9 inch baking tray whip the yogurt and add ground spice powder, ginger paste, garlic paste, salt, chili powder. Mix everything very well. Now put the meat cubes in it and mix it so that the meat is coated with marinade from all sides. Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight or for at least four hours. Now put them in skewers and grill it from both sides till done say about 8-10 minutes each side.

Serve it with grilled onions and lemon wedges.

Tip: If you are using lamb it is better to marinate it overnight.

Recipe for Badam Pista chikki (Almond, Pistachio brittle)

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
1 cup raw almonds

1 cup pistachios
pinch of saffron threads
2 Tbsp. butter

In a heavy bottom saucepan fix a candy thermometer. Heat sugar, cornsyrup, and water together and stir till the sugar dissolves. Cook over medium heat till the thermometer reaches 250 degrees. Now add Saffron, almond and pistachios. Stir often and cook till the temperature reaches 290 degrees i.e hardcrack stage on thermometer. . Now remove from heat and add butter stir very well. Pour it on a silpat mat or a buttered pan. Quickly spread evenly with a spatula. When it is cooled slightly make square shapes with a knife. When completely cold break along the grooves with your hand.

Tip: Use the silicon silpat mat its not messy and much easier. If you have edible rose petals use ½ cup and add it at the same time as nuts and skip saffron, it tastes even better.

Recipe for Farjbee Bhaji (Green Beans)

Ingredients:


2 cups green beans chopped
1 potato chopped into small cubes
2 green chilies chopped
pinch of asafetida (hing)
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp goda masala
½ cup grated fresh coconut
2 tbsp chopped coriander
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp oil
¼ tsp sugar
salt to taste

Method:
Heat oil and temper with asafetida, cumin, green chilies, and turmeric. Add the chopped potatoes and chopped green beans. Mix well, add goda masala and cover it with a lid. Put little water on the lid and cook till the beans and potatoes are tender. Now add salt, and sugar. Mix very well and cook for a minute or two. Take the pot off from heat and add lemon juice, fresh coconut and chopped coriander. Serve with chapati.

Recipe for Tomatocha Saar (Tomato Curry)

Ingredients


1 large red tomato
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp ghee
1 small green chili
1 sprig fresh cilantro
2 tsp grated jaggery
¼ tsp tumeric powder
¼ tsp red chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup thick coconut milk
½ cup thin coconut milk
½ cup grated fresh coconut

½ tspconcentrated tamarind

Grind coconut, ½ tsp cumin seeds, green chili, cilantro together.Heat ghee in a pot. When its smoking add cumin stir and add ground paste. Now add tumeric powder, chili powder, salt, tamarind, jaggery, thin coconut milk and chopped tomato. Mix everything very well and cover it. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Now add thick coconut milk. Simmer for 5 minutes or so, do not let it boil. Remove from heat. Sprinkle chopped cilantro.
Serving suggestion: Serve with plain white rice, papadums, lemon pickle.

Recipe for Ukdiche Modak

Ingredients (makes 12 modaks)

1 cup rice flour
1¼ cup water
2 tsp ghee
¼ tsp salt
1 cup grated fresh coconut
½ cup jaggery
1 tsp cardamom powder

Filling:
In a heavy bottom pot mix coconut, jaggery and cook over slow heat covered. When the jaggery melts take off the cover and cook till it becomes soft and there is no more liquid. Now add cardamom and let it cool.

Covering:
Now take a medium size pot and add water cover it. When the water boils add salt and ghee. Now reduce the flame to minimum and add flour. Mix it very well and cover, after 2-3 minutes shut off the flame. After 10 minutes knead the dough with hands till its soft and smooth. This is called Ukad. Divide Ukad into 12 equal balls.

Putting the modak together:
Take two small bowls in one take couple of tablespoon water and the other take a tablespoon of melted ghee or oil.Smear oil and water on both hands and keep the Ukad ball in left hand and with the thumb of your right hand make indentation onto the ball. Keep on doing this, also smear water and oil on both hands as you are doing it so that the dough doesn’t crack. Now make a small bowl out of this. Add two teaspoon coconut filling in it. Now start pinching the rim all around and make it like a frilled skirt. Now a modak by sealing at the top. Keep them under a wet cloth so that they don’t dry and crack. Put these modaks in a modakpatra (a steamer) and steam it for 15 minutes.

Serve warm. You can make a small opening at the top and pour ¼ tsp of ghee and serve, it really tastes amazing.