Dine With Gitanjali - Page 28 of 29 - Recipes straight from the heart

Drinks

Warm Apple Toddy

January 2017 remains an epic and memorable winter for me! Temperatures had dropped to almost 10 Degrees and the cold wave was sending shivers in the air. While several suggestions were being floated to spruce up the bar at my annual winter party, I was looking for an alternate warm drink to the usual mulled wine. Guess luck was also in a mood to shine upon my party because just then my friend Harsh Shodhan-(Gourmet Catering Co.) stirred up this wonderful Apple Toddy, and before you know it, I had more friends dance to his awesome concoction than any other spirit or Bollywood Dhamaka, and the encores just didn’t seem to end!!!

Incidentally, this Toddy is just as gorgeous without alcohol and can be served as a warm Apple Tea!

This drink is at its original best when made with Apple Cider…So for the lucky ones who manage to get fresh pressed cider in their cities, please substitute the apple juice with it.

Cheers !!!

December 19, 2018 By Gitanjali

Appetizers

Vegetable Sooji Toast

Mom! What’s new for breakfast? I almost break into a sweat at such times wondering
what to churn out… Something interesting enough for my munchkins and some health
disguised into it to keep me at peace.
While I was mulling over the new task, I thought of this age-old recipe perfected by my
grandmother which used to be a favourite with my younger brother and me. You
guessed right! The Hero who came to save the moment was none other than the

“Vegetable Sooji toast”
Easy and quick to make, it’s an absolutely no fuss snack which packs in enough
veggies for the picky ones… A super breakfast item which also doubles up as a great
accompaniment to our favourite evening Chai !!
So, here’s the recipe of this extremely healthy and filling snack.

December 17, 2018 By Gitanjali

Drinks

Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Winters in India are synonomis for a lot of things, but my all-time favourite remains arrival of the luscious, juicy, red strawberries! Well if you are trying to guess the reason for my elation…, its simple. I’ve just received my first box of these awesome mouth-watering berries and can hardly wait to churn out those recipes really close to my heart… so friends in case you find them a little overwhelming please bear with me!

This recipe is a great way to spruce up the regular ‘Nimbu Pani’ or lemonade as we call it. The addition of chopped or muddled strawberries packs this otherwise beaten downNimbu Pani with tons of vitamins, fibre, antioxidants and gives it a beautiful hint of the red colour too!

Strawberries being a low-calorie fruit make this drink a perfect melange of “flavour &health”. Still, want to cut down on your calories intake … Just substitute the sugar mentioned in the recipe with honey or stevia… Even better, just avoid the additional sweating like I do by removing the sugar altogether!

For the extreme healthconscious…, Basil leaves are known to ease inflammation and reduce stress and anxiety, and the lemon juice aids in making your body alkaline. (An acidic body is one of the primary reasons for a lot of ailments).

With all these multiple health benefits I’ve surely found my perfect healthy refreshing cooler!. Those looking for a little Rock & Roll, just add generous amounts of Gin or vodka and add it to your cocktail menu!

Cheers!!!

December 12, 2018 By Gitanjali

Others

Fig and Pistachio Biscotti

My biscotti obsession started several years ago whilst I was on a family holiday visiting the breath-taking Tuscany in Italy.

Also known as “Cantucci di Prato” the biscotti is a crunchy almond cookie, a household favourite in Italy which has rapidly taken the world in its delicious stride.

Perfected over time, it’s relatively simple to create… typically the dough is first formed into logs, baked, cooled slightly, cut into slices and then baked again. Don’t let the sound of it deter you coz it’s literally that easy to make. Besides, once you get the hang of crafting these awesome goodies you are sure to enjoy experimenting with different flavours as well.

Biscottis are truly a provocative mix of textures, flavours and visuals, traditionally enjoyed by dipping in vin santo (sweet dessert wine). It’s also great dunked in coffee or tea. Even though originally made with almonds, I love mine with Pistachio and Figs!

Honestly speaking, for all those who get intimidated by baking or find it tedious, do try this recipe out once. It’s said that cooking is an art, and baking a science. Accurate measurements are just as important when baking, as they were back in our science labs. My advice …. Please try and stick to the measurements given in my recipe, one perfected after several disappointments. I’m sure that your journey won’t be as arduous given the step-by-step photos. Hope this one turns your passion into a baking obsession just as it did for me.

So I’m gonna get going whilst you try this out, grab my caramel Nespresso latte and dunk in these absolute favourite cookies.

Ciao.

December 4, 2018 By Gitanjali

Appetizers

Mushroom Pâté

The term pâté generally refers to a soft mixture of meat, fish or vegetables infused with various flavorings that are eaten cold. It’s usually served as an appetizer or listed as a “first course” in the French & Belgian cuisine.

This mushroom pate presented to you is a beautiful mince of mushrooms, shallots and cream cheese with a whisper of fragrant truffle oil.

It’s indeed awesome, easy to prepare n elegant looking with gorgeous flavors!

I learnt this recipe at a cookery school in the U.K. and each time I make it, rave reviews have been abundant and generous.

This can easily be made a day or two in advance to save time on that party day.

Serve it with crusty baguette slices and assorted crackers on a cheeseboard or set in individual small ramekins.

Do give this simple recipe a try! For all the mushroom lovers this is your next show stopper appetizer.

November 21, 2018 By Gitanjali

Appetizers

Mac & Cheese Muffins

Children’s day … cherished by kids, parents and grandparents alike! So let’s celebrate the innocence of our lil munchkins and create something special for them!

Macaroni and cheese or as popularly known “Mac & cheese” is a sure shot success with kids! In fact so yummy that you can’t stop until your stomach literally cries out No More! A favourite of both my kids, Anisha and Ayan, makes it truly more special for me! It’s even a great way to feed a few veggies to my son, which is otherwise a daunting task! These muffins are a great accompaniment in the lunch box or an after school snack.

I make a few variants of these muffins with truffle being my personal favourite. The bite size ones are a super party finger food and gets lapped up in a jiffy! Hope all your precious lil ones enjoy them as much as mine do!

Wishing them a very Happy Children’s day!!!

November 14, 2018 By Gitanjali

Soups & Salads

Farm House Special Salad

Just as the Diwali festivities end, it’s time for the usual “Diet Tamasha” at most homes including mine.

It’s fairly early in the morning for me, we have barely reached the breakfast table and my husband wants to know his salad options for dinner which are low carb and low calorie! Oh, and apart from being healthy, it must be filling, flavorsome and even appetizing to look at !! He makes it sound like a cake walk and here I am ready to rack my brains accepting his challenge to please him as usual.

With the early onset of winter in Indore, a cold salad was surely going to be a huge No !!!. So once again the Chef in me gets into a thinking mode and voila! I remember eating this just right for the moment salad at a restaurant called “Farmshop” at Bicester Village in the UK. This salad consists of bright and colourful roasted Capsicums along with the goodness of salad greens topped with a layer of perfectly grilled Haloumi cheese, making the dish delicious, wholesome and filling.

The perfect mix of colours makes it a visual treat and the delicate dressing gives it an absolutely gorgeous flavour. Finding just the right and fresh salad leaves and micro greens in a smaller town like Indore can often be challenging. Lucky for me, we grow some in our own farm and that’s where I got its name “The Farmhouse Special Salad”. Special, because it’s cooked for my husband especially.

A sure shot “Main Dish” at our dinner table most often nowadays. For those of you who, like my mother-in-law, detest cheese, can substitute it with paneer. But do marinate the paneer with oil and salt in advance and grill them later. However, the Haloumi cheese being salty in nature doesn’t require prior marination.

Please don’t mistake this cheese to be fattening. Haloumi is quite a healthy low calorie and low carb cheese and a good source of calcium. However since its salt content is on a higher side please ensure to limit the quantity, especially if you have high blood pressure issues.
Enjoy it as it is like we do, or, serve with a slice of toasted garlic bread, or a soup to make a perfect meal.

Bon Appétit !!!!

November 10, 2018 By Gitanjali

Menus, Meals and More

Traditional Marwari Diwali Thali

Lights, Fire crackers, festivity, and celebration is what instantly comes to my mind on the
auspicious occasion of Diwali !

The shopping, the parties, the Mithais and Namkeens are added childhood memories for me.
But what really stirs nostalgia is the traditional Diwali dinner, churned out of age-old recipes
which include an array of savoury and sweet dishes. This elaborate meal is served in our
Chandi Ki Thali (Silverware), a once in a year indulgence and truly a treat to the eyes as
well. This Diwali 2018 is no exception!

November 6, 2018 By Gitanjali

Mains

Kesari Meetha Chawal or Sweet Saffron Rice & Mogar or Sookhi Moong Dal

Merely the thought of this timeless dish makes my mouth water. However, every time I thought of making it, an apprehension gripped my mind. Will I ever be able to make it as well as my grandmother does? Initially, even my knowledge and experience of making complex western deserts did not give me the adequate confidence to make such great Indian / Marwari classics! The thought of making “Chashni” (Sugar syrup) always seemed like an uphill task, almost akin to the fear of a horror film!

Guess what… much to my initial chagrin I realised its actually not half as arduous as I just made it sound. In fact, it is extremely simple to prepare, something every novice cook and a budding chef will be able to create quite effortlessly.

Rice and sugar are the two primary ingredients of this beautiful dish. The garnish of almonds, saffron, and cardamom add to the visual experience while the dish releases a bouquet of lovely flavours.

Served along with Mogar this dish has to be eaten as a “Main” and not served as a sweet dish.

Hope you folks do try this out and relish the same as much as we do.

November 5, 2018 By Gitanjali

Desserts

Almond Praline Phirni

I have always detested milk and milk-based desserts since childhood. My mom not only struggled to flavour it but also disguised its whiteness before I would even consider having it.
Great Indian favorites like Rabri, Kheer, Phirni were a strict ‘No’ for me! However as things had to turn out, my husband simply loves all of them and any dessert with the remotest resemblance to them.
This reminds me of the maxim “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, is truly apt for him. This is when the idea dawned upon to me to create this recipe – a sure shot way to enchant
him. The praline topping adds the crunchiness to the Phirni’s intrinsic soft texture and also leaves a beautiful fusion of flavours on your palate. However, for those looking for a more authentic
preparation, can simply avoid the praline topping.

October 28, 2018 By Gitanjali

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